First time visit to Fenway

[cymru sox]

Hi
Looking for some advice please. Travelling from.the UK to catch my first games at Fenway against the Cubs and Giants later this month. Been a wish of mine for a long time to visit so want to make the most of our time.
How long do we need to arrive before first pitch? What bars would you recommend for pre and post match food & drinks
The yard, cask and flagon and Lansdowne keep coming up. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Hoping it's celebratory drinks. Thanks Alun

 

[ColdSoxPack]

Pray you don't have obstructed view seats.

Edit: have a great time.

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

Pray you don't have obstructed view seats.

What a negative reply to such an exciting visit!

i would plan to enter the stadium when the gates open, to enjoy as much of Fenway as you can.

Yard House is a chain. A good one, but a chain. I'd suggest you go to Time Out Market, which is up Brookline Avenue from the ballpark and enjoy the options there.

 

[cymru sox]

It didn't look like it from the seatview. I'm in the grandstand block 17 for the Cubs and bleachers 37 for the Giants game. Just looking forward to it anyway

 

[cymru sox]

What a negative reply to such an exciting visit!

i would plan to enter the stadium when the gates open, to enjoy as much of Fenway as you can.

Yard House is a chain. A good one, but a chain. I'd suggest you go to Time Out Market, which is up Brookline Avenue from the ballpark and enjoy the options there.

Brilliant Thank you. I went to the games in London a few years ago and found that a great occasion. A lot more pre game build up than in the British sports. I'll have a look at Time out. Thank you

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

It didn't look like it from the seatview. I'm in the grandstand block 17 for the Cubs and bleachers 37 for the Giants game. Just looking forward to it anyway

If you are beyond the 4th or 5th row in 17 and have a low numbered seat, there could be a pole blocking 1st base. Bleachers will be fine

 

[ColdSoxPack]

If you are beyond the 4th or 5th row in 17 and have a low numbered seat, there could be a pole blocking 1st base. Bleachers will be fine

Same thing! Prayers can be helpful.

 

[Cassvt2023]

Time out is great. Both indoor and outdoor seating and a short walk. BeerWorks and C&F are both adjacent to park, classics, and likely to be super crowded, especially before the game. There are also several bars on Landsdowne St., with many of them having free live music on game days. Have fun!

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

Time out is great. Both indoor and outdoor seating and a short walk. BeerWorks and C&F are both adjacent to park, classics, and likely to be super crowded, especially before the game. There are also several bars on Landsdowne St., with many of them having free live music on game days. Have fun!

Beer Works has been gone for awhile, IIRC. Cask and Flagon is the traditional place to go. Game On for a more modern sports bar (and where @CaptainLaddie used to spin discs). Bleacher Bar if you want to eat/drink under the bleacher seats with a view into the park during batting practice.

 

[Max Power]

Beerworks closed a few years ago. It was a vegan bar and now a taco place. I can't vouch for it.

If you're looking for beer and food, Time Out is good. There's also Hojoku and Sweet Cheeks on Boylston, Thornton's on Queenberry, and the unfortunately renovated Cornwalls and The Kenmore in Kenmore Square.

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

Sweet Cheeks is a great suggestion. Best BBQ in Boston, which isn't saying much, but it is quite good. And pricey. The chef/owner is a regular on Food Network, etc.

I can't believe they renovated Cornwalls!

 

[kfoss99]

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong. Gate D is the entry closest to home plate. The walk up to the seats and having the field and Green Monster revealed through the narrow view between the seats and upper deck is awe-inspiring as it grows into focus. It's much cooler than Gate B, where you enter on the right field side.

So, if you can enter from Gate D, do so.

 

[Max Power]

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong. Gate D is the entry closest to home plate. The walk up to the seats and having the field and Green Monster revealed through the narrow view between the seats and upper deck is awe-inspiring as it grows into focus. It's much cooler than Gate B, where you enter on the right field side.

So, if you can enter from Gate D, do so.

A and D are basically the same now. It's just either end of Jersey Street. But yes, if you enter there, you'll be under the home plate grandstand area when you walk into the park.

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

Gates open 90 minutes before the game starts. Like Lose suggests, entering the park as soon as it opens gives you all kinds of time to tour around the inside of the park. There are lots of displays to look at between concession stands, for example. If you go right to your seats, you should be able to watch the visiting team finish up batting practice. I always enjoy watching the grounds crew prepare the field after batting practice ends. There's a lot they do that you wouldn't even consider if you've only ever watched on TV.

My favorite thing to do before I go into the park is to do a lap around the exterior. Typically I'm coming over the bridge from Kenmore so I turn left and head up Lansdowne under the shadow of the Monster seats and loop around the park clockwise. The statues outside Gate B along Van Ness are a must see also. Then I enter Jersey St near Gate D. I usually try to time this so I'm arriving ~2 hours before game time so that by the time I get to Gate D, they're just about ready to open.

Nothing better than being in the park, enjoy it.

 

[RS2004foreever]

Beerworks closed a few years ago. It was a vegan bar and now a taco place. I can't vouch for it.

If you're looking for beer and food, Time Out is good. There's also Hojoku and Sweet Cheeks on Boylston, Thornton's on Queenberry, and the unfortunately renovated Cornwalls and The Kenmore in Kenmore Square.

Second Sweet Cheeks. Take a tour.

 

[cornwalls@6]

Hi
Looking for some advice please. Travelling from.the UK to catch my first games at Fenway against the Cubs and Giants later this month. Been a wish of mine for a long time to visit so want to make the most of our time.
How long do we need to arrive before first pitch? What bars would you recommend for pre and post match food & drinks
The yard, cask and flagon and Lansdowne keep coming up. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Hoping it's celebratory drinks. Thanks Alun

I recommend Cornwalls. Try to get there by 6.

 

[YTF]

If you like Mexican Food, this is where my wife and I usually go to grab a bite before game time. The food is very good and will not break your budget. There are just a couple of small tables inside and large picnic tables outside. It's probably just about a 5 minute walk from Fenway and likely a much quicker option than some of the other places.
https://elpelon.com/

 

[pokey_reese]

After the game (or before, really), if you don't care about being in a sports bar, Citizen is a decent option very close by. A bit expensive, but good.

 

[DJnVa]

Do the Fenway tour.

https://www.mlb.com/redsox/ballpark/tours

 

[Ale Xander]

Hi
Looking for some advice please. Travelling from.the UK to catch my first games at Fenway against the Cubs and Giants later this month. Been a wish of mine for a long time to visit so want to make the most of our time.
How long do we need to arrive before first pitch? What bars would you recommend for pre and post match food & drinks
The yard, cask and flagon and Lansdowne keep coming up. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Hoping it's celebratory drinks. Thanks Alun

Enjoy! I like that you said match

I recommend the short rib @ Sweet Cheeks but pretty much everything there is good.
https://www.sweetcheeksq.com/scqgrid/menu

Other options that haven;t been mentioned, for a quick casual chain but good chain bite, are sweetgreen for big salad, Saloniki for Greek, Wahlburgers (named/co-owned after Boston celebrity brothers Donnie (New Kid) and Mark Wahlberg (Marky Mark), and their chef brother Paul), for burgers, Honeygrow (get the garlic chicken noodles), Cava for meditteranean salad, kind a hybrid between Saloniki and Sweetgreen but growing fast nation-wide, Regina's pizza (more "Boston" than Blaze), or Eventide for seafood. All on the west/south side of FEnway, very close. Tatte for breakfast, especially the shakshuka.

In that area, I would second the Citizen's suggestion for drinks.

If you're staying in Copley, I would post-drink at Oak Long Bar at the Fairmount, and feel like a Kennedy.
https://www.powerstripstudio.com/oak-long-bar-copley-hotel

 

[MFYankees]

SOSHers - can you still sign the Pesky Pole? If so, our guest should bring a sharpie.

 

[Dr Strangeglove]

Section 17 seats are terrific. I saw my first Sox game from that section in 1957. 64 years later got to sit there again. Hope the weather is sunny. Walking up the ramp to get to our seats, emerging into the sunshine, a riot of color which I had only seen before on a black-and-white TV, was a formative moment for that ten-year-old boy. May you have a similar experience.

 

[cornwalls@6]

@cymru sox , Another one to consider, if you're into craft brews, or want to sample some pretty good New England IPAs for the first time. Sounds like a good pre or post game hang.


https://www.boston.com/food/beer/2024/03/14/mighty-squirrel-brewing-fenway-location-opening/

 

[Muddy Chicken]

Also, if you go to Time Out, walk outside to Trillium for a beer. Mighty Squirrel also just opened a big spot in Fenway and they have decent beer.
Food wise, Blue Ribbon Brasserie is in the Commonwealth Hotel is great and if you like Indian, India Quality is awesome. Tasty Burger makes my favorite fast burger in the area.
The above mentioned Sweet Cheeks is worth the attention, and don’t skip their biscuits.

Edit: @cornwalls@6 beat me to it.
Edit 2: (wrong thread)

 

[VTSox]

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong. Gate D is the entry closest to home plate. The walk up to the seats and having the field and Green Monster revealed through the narrow view between the seats and upper deck is awe-inspiring as it grows into focus. It's much cooler than Gate B, where you enter on the right field side.

So, if you can enter from Gate D, do so.

I'd suggest this, regardless of where your seats are. It's been 40ish years, but I still remember that first view coming up the ramp.

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

You can still sign the pole. Eventide is more Portland than Boston, seafood wise. Good, but there is better.

 

[The Napkin]

Second Sweet Cheeks. Take a tour.

of Fenway not Sweet Cheeks. Just to be clear.

 

[naclone]

I just want to say that in 1999 I worked at an internet startup that was essentially a bunch of message boards and on my first day i saw a post from a kid in the UK asking for people to explain the rules of baseball to him and dozens of American kids eagerly took the time to explain baseball in loving detail with zero judgement and I thought to myself that the internet was going to be the most incredibly positive thing that ever happened to humanity.

And that was a fucking lie.

But this thread is giving me life.

Thank you.

 

[cymru sox]

Many thanks for all your suggestions. A load of great options for us to ponder over.
Love IPAs so the craft pubs are a big attraction. Every food option is not off the agenda. Only got 5 days in Boston but will try to sample as much as possible.
Already planned on doing the Fenway tour amongst many other sightseeing stops.
Can't wait to walk up and see the monster on the way to the seats. I'll be looking up to the night sky and thanking my dad for introducing my brother and i to the Red Sox after doing the marathon in 1980.
Unfortunately wishing my life away to get to the game against the Cubs.
Hopefully they'll bring their early season form home.
Once again I really appreciate all your help to my question.

 

[Saints Rest]

It didn't look like it from the seatview. I'm in the grandstand block 17 for the Cubs and bleachers 37 for the Giants game. Just looking forward to it anyway

In honor of SOSH lore, be sure to have a sausage while in your seats during the Cubs game.

 

[cymru sox]

In honor of SOSH lore, be sure to have a sausage while in your seats during the Cubs game.

No problem. Will do

 

[Ale Xander]

BarTaco is new to me too. Across from back side of Wahlburgers. Is it any good!

 

[tims4wins]

BarTaco is new to me too. Across from back side of Wahlburgers. Is it any good!

We had one down in North Carolina. It was perfectly fine in my experience. Decent drinks, tacos, corn, whatever.

 

[cymru sox]

Just a follow up to my original post. We had pregame drinks in the Yard and Lorettas. Took the advice and went to sweet cheeks. Really good food but to be honest we've either been very lucky or you've got some of the best food around. Everything has been amazing.
Got into the Royal Rooters pregame and thought that was brilliant with all the memorabilia.
Great game day experience completed with the walk off win. Loved the atmosphere and camaraderie and was way better than the London series we attended a few years ago.
Looking forward to the game against the Giants and try out some of your other suggestions.
Thanks once again Alun

 

[nvalvo]

Just a follow up to my original post. We had pregame drinks in the Yard and Lorettas. Took the advice and went to sweet cheeks. Really good food but to be honest we've either been very lucky or you've got some of the best food around. Everything has been amazing.
Got into the Royal Rooters pregame and thought that was brilliant with all the memorabilia.
Great game day experience completed with the walk off win. Loved the atmosphere and camaraderie and was way better than the London series we attended a few years ago.
Looking forward to the game against the Giants and try out some of your other suggestions.
Thanks once again Alun

I am so delighted to hear that Sunday's game was your game, and that you found it enjoyable. It was a fun one on television!

I have spent a fair amount of time in Europe, and I always try to make time to attend soccer/football matches in different places: not yet in the UK — I've generally been during either the summer or winter breaks — but in Italy, France, and Germany. It's such an interesting view of local culture. I am glad to hear that New England showed you its best!

 

[Ale Xander]

Just a follow up to my original post. We had pregame drinks in the Yard and Lorettas. Took the advice and went to sweet cheeks. Really good food but to be honest we've either been very lucky or you've got some of the best food around. Everything has been amazing.
Got into the Royal Rooters pregame and thought that was brilliant with all the memorabilia.
Great game day experience completed with the walk off win. Loved the atmosphere and camaraderie and was way better than the London series we attended a few years ago.
Looking forward to the game against the Giants and try out some of your other suggestions.
Thanks once again Alun

Glad you had a fun time. I hope the MLB sends the Red sox to Italy or France, or Morocco, for your case.

 

[Curt S Loew]

SOSHers - can you still sign the Pesky Pole? If so, our guest should bring a sharpie.

It's not cordoned off like Plymouth Rock, but I believe they still paint over it.