Your Guide to Davis Square
When Tufts students want to grab dinner off-campus or settle into a cozy coffee shop to study, Davis Square is often the destination at the top of the list. Just a fifteen-minute walk from the Medford campus, Davis Square is also easily accessible via the free Davis shuttle from the Campus Center. It’s one of my favorite spots to visit when I want a change of scenery without venturing into downtown Boston. If you come to Tufts, you'll likely find yourself in Davis Square often—so here are a few of my favorite spots to help you feel like a local from day one!
Favorite Coffee Shop/Study Spot: Diesel Café
By far my favorite cafe and study spot is Diesel Café. This is a pretty popular pick among Tufts students, but it’s for a reason. I highly recommend their chai lattes and avocado toast. It’s also a great place to get some homework done if you’re like me and love to work in a cozy cafe.
Favorite Boba Place: Gong Cha
This might be more of a controversial pick, but I am a big fan of Gong Cha over Kung Fu Tea. We have both in Davis Square, so if you prefer Kung Fu Tea, there’s one too!
Favorite Place to Go to with Friends: The Somerville Theater
The Somerville Theater is a historic theater that shows new movies, special screenings of classic films, and even has live music and other events! The theater is absolutely beautiful on the inside as well—it feels like you’ve been transported back in time!
Favorite Weeknight Activity: Trivia at the Burren
On Monday nights, The Burren, an Irish pub, hosts trivia. The questions can get pretty tricky, but it’s a fun way to see how much random knowledge you’ve accumulated. Pro tip: bring a friend who knows ALL of the presidents, as those kinds of questions come up often!
Favorite Restaurant(s):
There is truly no shortage of delicious restaurants in Davis Square, but here are a few of my favorites: Daksen, Marta on Elm, Waikiki Poké and Sushi, and Foundry on Elm. My all-time favorite has to be Dakzen, though, it’s a delicious restaurant specializing in Thai street noodles!
Favorite Dessert Spot: J.P. Licks
J.P. Licks is the ice cream shop I always wished my small town had. They have tons of flavors to choose from and toppings galore!
Favorite Activity for a Nice Day: the Somerville Community Path
On a beautiful, sunny day, there is nowhere I’d rather be than the Somerville Community Path. You can access the path right from Davis Square and go as far as you’d like to! It’s also a great place to go to take a break from studying and enjoy nature. You will probably see quite a few other Tufts students enjoying the path as well!
Favorite Event: The Somerville Flea
The Somerville Flea has just about everything one could want, from handmade jewelry to vintage records, you can find everything you need for your dorm and your wardrobe. During the Holidays, they also have a Holiday flea!
Honorable Mention: H-Mart
A brand new H-Mart just recently opened in Davis Square, and it is quickly becoming one of my favorite places in Davis Square. You can groceries there, of course, but they also have an adorable stationary and home section as well!
One of the things I love most about being a Tufts student is having a lively and vibrant community space like Davis Square just a five-minute shuttle ride away. Beyond being a great spot to study or spend time with friends, Davis also offers Tufts students the opportunity to engage with the broader Somerville and Boston communities. It’s a place to build connections, have new experiences, and immerse ourselves in life beyond campus. I hope you find these recommendations helpful and take the time to explore Davis Square for yourself!
Cover image taken at the Somerville Flea!