Charlie from WFNX’s The Sandbox shares his hometown picks.
Charlie from WFNX’s The Sandbox shares his hometown picks.
Fine Dining: 62 on Wharf (62 Wharf Street, Salem, 978.744.0062)
Nice one STUFF; I’m so with you. It’s well worth wading through the throngs of tourists to get to this unassuming restaurant that’s run by husband and wife team Tony and Valerie Bettencourt. Insider tip: These two really know how to treat a couple out for a romantic dinner (works on my wife every time, wink, wink).
Nightlife: Tavern in the Square (189 Washington Street, Salem, 978.740.2337)
In my opinion, this place really sets the standard for what a restaurant/bar should be in Salem. It’s big, loud, and fun, with windows that open up onto the streets and TVs in the booths so you can watch Sox games (in case you can’t see the giant HD projection screen in the back).Yah, guy!
Cheap Date Night: Two words — Cinema Salem (1 East India Square, Salem, 978.744.1400)
Get in and out of a first-run film for half of what you’d pay at your local Googolplex. There’s no stadium seating, individual climate control, or nacho bar, but there’s also no cop directing traffic on the way in or gang bangers in the lobby. It’s usually showing the top four movies in the country, as well as hipster-friendly indie films in the “Screening Room.”
Only tourists go to: The Salem Witch Museum
Instead, try the Salem Witch House (310 1/2 Essex Street, Salem, 978.744.8815). It’s undergoing some renovations right now, but it’s still open. Why go? Because I said so. Trust me — I know what I’m talking about.
One last thing … I second the Peabody Essex Museum (161 Essex Street, Salem, 978.745.9500). It really is genuinely beautiful and packed with non-boring museum stuff. And yes, the reconstructed Yin Yu Tang house is worth the extra charge.
See what STUFF had to say about must-see Salem spots here.
