Gameday

Ballpark Tours

We really don’t need to sell the merits of a ballpark tour very hard. Fenway is one of the most historic and captivating stadiums in the world, and having the chance to get a close-up look at it when it’s empty is an opportunity that you shouldn’t pass up if you’re a ballpark aficionado.

We took the standard non-gameday tour, which included the following (it may vary day-to-day, but this is a good set of expectations):

• Concourse points of interest (including the World Series ticket booths and Bullpen Cart)
• Seating Bowl
• Visitor’s Clubhouse
• Green Monster (on top, in the seats)
• Fenway Farms (from above)
• Press Box
• Sam Adams Deck
• Ted Williams seat (from above)
• Royal Rooters Club (combo museum/season ticket holder bar)

(The field was under significant construction during our tour, which would have negated any opportunity to do anything on the field or in the dugouts. We don’t know if that would normally be included, but it’s possible).

We thought the tour was excellent. It was supposed to be 60 minutes, but drifted to more like 75 (no complaints here!), and the tour guides were really fantastic (with perfect Bahston accents to match, which made everything even better). Having said that, it’s important to note that of the list of stops above, only the clubhouse, press box, and Royal Rooters Club are things that you couldn’t access on your own when inside the ballpark for a game (plus the Green Monster if you don’t have a ticket for it). Nevertheless, for $27, we thought this tour was well worth it to have time to check out the park, along with the commentary from the guides.

The Red Sox have other tours to choose from, including gameday tours, pregame tours, and a new 8am Field Tour. We haven’t been able to get further details about these, so if you’re unsure of which tour might be best, you can contact the Red Sox at tours@redsox.com with questions.

The Bleacher Bar

Tucked underneath the bleachers at Fenway is the Bleacher Bar. It’s open 364 days per year, but even though it’s located within the structure of the ballpark, it’s not owned by the Red Sox. It’s a very cool space, with a garage door facing into the stadium that is opened both before and after games (but is closed during games). You don’t need a game ticket to be a patron here, but there are also no reservations taken – it’s first come, first seated.

Here’s the truth: if you’re able to get one of the three tables or handful of railing spots that look directly out onto the field when the garage door is open, then this is a really cool place to hang out. If you can’t get one of those spots, then honestly, it’s sort of just a bar, and a very crowded one on gamedays at that, with very limited seating (on gamedays they remove several of their tables and also all of the bar stools).

So how do you get one of those tables? Well … you show up really early. The bar limits patrons to 90 minutes at those spots which have a view, so we say the best strategy is to get there three hours prior to game time, spend your 90 minutes eating and drinking while looking out onto the field, and then you’ll have another 90 minutes before game time to wander around either the Kenmore area or inside the stadium. (You can try to time your visit so that you’re the one who gets a table when the first early arriving group is leaving, but that seems like a strategy that will be more miss than hit). Your other best bet is to visit on a non-event day, when it’s far less busy.

TSI TIP: the Bleacher Bar also has outdoor tables right on Lansdowne Street, which is a great spot for people watching as fans walk up and down the street.

Cask ‘n Flagon

If you’re looking for the oldest bar in the neighborhood, you’ve found it. Located right across from the northwest corner of the ballpark, Cask ‘N Flagon has been a gameday staple since 1969. You can reserve a table by calling the restaurant at 617-536-4840. They typically have a per-person deposit which varies based on the day/date/opponent, but that deposit goes towards your tab (but table reservations require the purchase of food – you can’t just drink there or they’ll ask you to leave). But even a $40 per person deposit equates to a sandwich and two beers, so it’s pretty easy to cover.

Cask ‘N Flagon gets very busy on game days (and especially on weekends), so either be prepared to show up early, or call and make that reservation.

Lansdowne Pub

It’s been around since 1979, and is another local favorite. It’s just down the street from Cask, and has a handful of outdoor tables.

Best outdoor patios

There are a bunch of outdoor patios where you can post up for a pregame session. Yardhouse probably has the largest outdoor seating area, and it’s shaded by way of some nice tree cover. Wahlburger’s also has a small patio and serves alcohol, so it’s a workable spot. Finally, Lansdowne Pub, Cask ‘N Flagon, and the Monster Bar all have a handful of outdoor tables as well.

Best places for kids

There aren’t a ton of great kids things to do in the neighborhood, but Lucky Strike does have a location right around the corner from the stadium. If you need a place to let your kids run around and tire themselves out, this will be your best bet.

Quick and cheap bites (and carry-out)

Looking to grab a quick sit-down bite instead of eating in the stadium? Here are a few options for you:

• Pizza slices: Sal’s Pizza is one good option off the northwest corner of the ballpark, and Regina’s Pizzeria on Boylston Street is another. Regina’s has a value deal of two slices and a 20oz soda for $10-12. Can’t beat that inside the stadium.
• Burgers: Tasty Burger will run about $10 for a burger with fries, and they have many other options as well. They also have a takeout window if you want to grab some food to take into the ballpark. Wahlburgers is more expensive than Tasty Burger, but they have an outdoor patio with a cool Instagram-worthy Fenway Park scoreboard.
• Healthy option: there’s a Sweetgreen next door to Wahlburgers if you really need something green.

Sit down food options

There are plenty of good choices if you’d like to sit down and have a full meal:

• Taste of Boston: Time Out Market is located just a few blocks away from the ballpark. It’s a food hall packed with local Boston favorites, so there will be something for everyone.
• Seafood: for a little local fish fare, check out Eventide. During the season they have a fish and chips special (around $20), and cold lobster rolls as well.
• Mexican: if you’re up for some tacos … or a huge variety of tequila … Loco is right across from Jersey Street. Their specialty is the grilled street corn and Iberia tacos. Their menu is also 95% gluten free.

Best places for bottled water or snacks

There’s a 7-11 on Commonwealth Avenue on the route between the Kenmore T station and the ballpark, and there’s also a Target on Boylston and Kilmarnock Streets to the southwest of the ballpark. Both are great options for stocking up on some affordable bottled water or snacks so you can avoid overpaying in the ballpark. (Don’t forget to leave those bottles sealed – you can’t bring opened beverages into the ballpark).

Best place for watching sports

If you can get a seat in the front of the bar where the large TV’s are, then our pick is Game On!, which is right across from Cask ‘N Flagon. Tables can be reserved on Resy. Their specialties are their sweet chili wings and pizzas.

Best retail spots

The official team store pretty much dominates the local Fenway area. It’s huge, has a good inventory of team gear and souvenirs, and is right across from the ballpark on Jersey Street. Of course it’s full retail pricing in here, so if you’re looking for a deal, you may want to shop online before you come to Fenway.

Best spots for a picture

• On Lansdowne Street, right in front of the House of Blues, you can take a picture with the Fenway Park / Home of the Boston Red Sox sign.
• The corner of Van Ness and Ipswich St. at Gate B is where you’ll find the statues of Ted Williams, Carl Yastremski, and the Red Sox Teammates statue

Points of interest at/inside the ballpark

• Jersey Street: it’s closed off on gamedays, and you’ll need to scan your ticket to enter. But it’s where the best food options at Fenway are, plus live music and the team store.

• The Green Monster: it’s absolutely glorious. There’s no perfect place to get your picture from (that isn’t being occupied by other fans), so just find your best angle and snap away.

• The Concourse: there are a ton of things to see on the concourse, from random items hanging on the walls, to the Bullpen cart, to the World Series ticket booths. Get there early on at least one of your gamedays and do a complete loop around the concourse, including up on the Pavilion level.

• Fenway Farms: on the Pavilion level, this is a small rooftop farm where they grow some of the vegetables used in foods at the ballpark. It’s not a must-see, but if you happen to be up there, take a look.

• For Kids: there’s a kids concourse with a pitching cage, batting cage, and a few other things to do. There’s also face painting and such on Jersey Street. And kids can run the bases on certain games – check the schedule here.
  

• Sam Adams Roofdeck: you can purchase tickets up here, or just visit for a birdseye view of the ballpark.

Royal Rooters Club

This is both a bar area as well as the closest thing that Fenway has to a hall of fame, with some really cool memorabilia. Unfortunately, it’s only accessible by season ticket holders. If you want to see it, you can do so by taking the standard ballpark tour. 

Food

As we mentioned earlier, Fenway just isn’t a great food ballpark. Yes, they have all of the expected ballpark staples, plus some local stuff like lobster rolls. But it’s just not very good. If you want to eat at the ballpark, it’s widely agreed that the food options on Jersey Street are your best bets – especially the Italian sausages. This is one of the rare ballparks where we suggest eating either before or after the game, and to limit yourself to just light snacking in the stadium.