10 Best Shopping Malls in Boston

Copley Place in Back Bay offers a selection of elegant luxury stores with tons of options for quality merchandise, along with stunning architecture and design. The walkways are extra wide here so you won't feel cramped even when it's busy, and you can shop such names as Tiffany & Co, Barney's New York, and Neiman Marcus, among others. The mall is also decorated with towering marble columns and marble floors, with a wide, airy rotunda.

The mall is attached to a variety of restaurants and even two hotels, so it's not only gorgeous, it's convenient. You can also take a glass pedestrian bridge straight to the Prudential Center from here and go mall hopping.

Faneuil Hall Marketplace offers an outdoor, open-air marketplace in a historic locale offering more than 100 shops and eateries in the heart of Boston. This market was established in 1742 as a merchant, fisherman, and vendors' market and later hosted such notable figures as Sam Adams and George Washington. That's why today it's known as the Cradle of Liberty. It received a major renovation in the 1970s and today stands as among the premier urban marketplaces in the United States.

Many of the stores here are unique to Boston and feature arts and crafts by local artisans. Some shops can't be found anywhere else, like the Boston Sports Store and Lucy's League.

Prudential Center is often billed as among the top shopping destinations in the Northeast and offers over 75 retail stores representing big-name brands, dining, and entertainment. The brands represented here include Saks Fifth Avenue, Barnes & Noble, Lord & Taylor, and others. If you're looking to grab a bite to eat while here, the mall food court is pleasant and airy. For sit-down eateries, you can enjoy plenty of onsite restaurants like Cheesecake Factory and Legal Seafood.

This Back Bay mall is so large and connected you can cover much of the neighborhood without ever going outside. The Skywalk Observatory also offers unbelievable views of the city from high above.

CambridgeSide is a hip and contemporary indoor mall that is beloved by locals for its wide range of brand-name stores representing a wide mix of goods and services. Here you can browse Ann Taylor, Best Buy, Victoria's Secret, the Gap, Old Navy, J. Crew, and others. The mall is serviced by MBTA public transport so it's easy to reach. The food court is solid, and for those who want something more formal, several sit-down eateries are onsite.

The mall also hosts many events throughout the year, so you can catch some live entertainment or festivals. It's all located right in the heart of the city's Cambridge suburb.

Assembly Row in the Somerville suburb offers visitors outdoor outlet shopping just minutes from downtown with plenty of entertainment and dining options in a lifestyle concept layout. This is an outlet mall that offers something for the whole family, including special spots built just for kids, like Legoland Discovery Center and the waterfront play area. You can even catch a movie at the onsite theater, and you'll find many restaurants ready to serve up great food.

Whether you want to just get your shop on or you want to enjoy the whole family, you'll find something at Assembly Row. From Orvis and Banana Republic to Sax Off 5th Avenue, this lifestyle center offers great deals and fun for all.

The Mall at Chestnut Hill is a wonderful place to spend an afternoon offering classic retailers, specialty goods, and a middle-class urban and trendy atmosphere. The mall manages to combine a casual, welcoming atmosphere with an upscale vibe that's welcoming to everyone. Some of the major retailers here include Bloomingdales, Gymboree, an Apple Store, and Coach. Eateries onsite cover the range from Tokyo Japanese Steakhouse to Besito Mexican Restaurant or the Cheesecake Factory.

The mall is open and airy, but not overwhelming in size, and hosts regular events all year long. You can catch musical performances or take a class to benefit a charity. This mall is popular for the range of activities and entertainment it offers.

South Bay Center is among the top malls in Boston, and among the largest, offering over 113,000 square feet of shops, restaurants, and services with all the biggest brands. The mall is vast and majestic in scope and is designed top to bottom to ensure comfort and relaxation. Whether you're looking for clothing, shoes, sporting goods, or housewares, you're sure to find it here. The food court offers tons of options, and a selection of sit-down restaurants take it to the next level.

South Bay Center is a one-stop destination for anything you need to pick up. You can even head for the onsite cinema to catch the latest Hollywood blockbusters.

Harvard Square on the southeastern corner of Harvard University in Cambridge offers a cluster of boutiques, indie specialty shops, restaurants, bookstores, and bars. This is more of a shopping area than an actual mall or shopping center, but it offers a bohemian vibe populated by youthful students and a wide range of goods and services you probably won't find at your typical mall. You can also head for a sidewalk café to sit with a cup of joe and just people watch.

If you're looking for a great vintage vinyl store, used and collectible books, or other specialty items, Harvard Square is the place to be. Many of the shops here have been doing business for decades.

Mercantile Mall sits downtown on the waterfront along Cross Street and is a historic outdoor shopping mall that consists largely of specialty stores and a sit-down restaurant. This is a place that attracts local businesspeople for power lunches and quick upscale shopping experiences. You won't find big-name brands here; it's mostly upscale boutique stores combined with luxury apartments and office complexes.

The mall offers gorgeous views of Boston Harbor and is located in a historic building. It's a good place to come to relax among a more refined crowd on a nice day outside while browsing indie specialty shops to support local businesses.

Porter Square Shopping Center offers a unique location along Massachusetts Avenue, featuring an eclectic mix of local, regional, national, and independent retailers. Indeed, one of the anchor stores of this outdoor shopping center is a grocery store, marking it as a shopping center popular with locals. It's in a dense, urban area north of Harvard Square, serviced by local rail and bus lines. Here you can find everything from donuts to pharmaceuticals, hardware, book stores, and a dentist.

The shopping center is also a green construction area with solar power, electric vehicle charging stations, and bike racks. It even features solar-powered trash compactors, so if you're eco-friendly, this is a place to shop.