Ball Square often gets overshadowed by the larger and busier Davis Square. While the square is best known for its breakfast spots and vibrant nightlife, there’s lots more to discover in the area. Students can easily access Ball Square from Tufts campus by walking past 574 Boston Ave., or by heading to the traffic circle in Powderhouse Square and walking a short way down Broadway.
A great first stop in Ball Square is checking out this bakery. If you only have time for one thing, make sure it’s Lyndell’s. Open since 1887, it’s hands down the best business in the square and holds the title of New England’s oldest from-scratch bakery. They’re well-known for their elaborate cakes — my go-to is the Bavarian Cream Cake. If a full-size cake is too much to eat, their specialty cupcakes are the perfect size — they had a lovely Boston Cream cupcake on my trip. I’m also a fan of their half moon cookies. Every so often, they run “Moon Madness,” where they offer a buy one, get one free deal (perfect for a fun date). And if you really can’t get enough, they even have a giant cake-sized version of the half moons. It’s worth stepping inside just to breathe in the delicious smells. I never visit Ball Square without stopping here.
Lyndell’s Bakery is located at 720 Broadway in Somerville and is open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday and 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Monday.
Ball Square T Station Public Artwork — Tour Jeté series
While visiting Ball Square, don’t miss the public artwork on display at the Ball Square MBTA Station. The large-scale geometric designs by artist Christine Vaillancourt can be seen on the elevator’s glass panels and the backs of some of the map panels. Vaillancourt is a former art teacher who has called the Seaport home since 1995. She resides in a warehouse that’s been converted into artist live-work lofts. Her work is inspired by her industrial surroundings and movements like Bauhaus, geometric Art Deco and concrete art. The colors for her installation were drawn directly from the walls of the shingled homes around the station. This artwork is a perfect fit for the Ball Square station, adding a fresh and dynamic energy to the area.
The Ball Square T stop elevator is pictured on Feb. 11.
Avenue kitchen + bar
This place is definitely underrated by Tufts students (though it might be because it’s a bit pricey). It’s one of the more upscale restaurants in Ball Square. They have an excellent brunch; I love the salmon potato cake and the fried chicken eggs benedict, plus they have a great selection of cocktails for a Sunday morning brunch. Besides brunch, the place is known for its Detroit-style pizza. For dinner, I really like the “Togarasi Fries” with truffle mayo.
Stop by Avenue kitchen + bar at 158 Boston Ave. The restaurant is open 4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 4 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday.
Kelly’s Diner
Kelly’s Diner is a Ball Square classic. Set inside a 55 foot-long 1953 Jerry O’Mahoney two-piece dining car, Kelly’s Diner spent the first 42 years of its life on Route 13 in New Castle, Del. and was transported to Ball Square in 1996. While the diner food is middle of the road in my opinion, the novelty and the convenience of being so close to Tufts makes it a go-to spot — sometimes you just crave those greasy home fries or a big plate of French toast. Like most diners, it has counter seating and plenty of booths. One thing to note is that they only accept cash, so it’s a good idea to bring your own rather than relying on the ATM outside to avoid the surcharge.
Kelly’s Diner is located at 674 Broadway and is open from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. every day except for Sunday, when it closes early at 2 p.m.
Kelly's Diner is pictured on Nov. 11.
Ball Square Cafe, Sound Bites Cafe and True Grounds
When it comes to breakfast, the classic dilemma is choosing between Ball Square Cafe and Sound Bites Cafe, both of which are sure to have lines on any given weekend. These two unassuming restaurants have a wild history. For nearly a decade, the two restaurants were locked in a bitter feud, which included a public brawl and multiple acts of sabotage. Then, in 2023, the owner of Sound Bites was indicted and convicted on federal charges for threatening an employee over an overtime dispute. As a result, Sound Bites was sold to a new owner in December 2023. If all of this drama is too much to stomach early in the morning, the best option is to skip both and head to True Grounds right across the street. While it’s more of a coffee shop than a traditional breakfast spot, it’s still a great choice. The shop serves fantastic breakfast sandwiches and has a pleasant, conflict free atmosphere. So next time you’re ready for some breakfast, decide for yourself between these three and Kelly’s Diner.
Sound Bites is located at 704 Broadway and is open 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Friday and 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday.
Ball Square Cafe sits directly next door at 708 Broadway and is open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday through Monday.
True Grounds stands across the street at 717 Broadway and is open 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. during the week and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the weekends.
Neighborhood Produce
Neighborhood Produce is a fantastic recent addition to the square. As their name suggests, they focus on offering local produce. I was already impressed by their surprisingly wide selection for such a small store, but they completely won me over when I discovered they sell Sophia’s Greek Yogurt, made by Sophia’s Greek Pantry in Belmont. This is the best Greek yogurt I have ever tasted. I could easily eat it by the gallon. I’ve also bought ground lamb from them and it was top-notch. Their prices are similar to Whole Foods, but the quality and convenience make it worth it.
Neighborhood Produce sits on the corner at 691 Broadway and is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.
Taco Party
While Ball Square is famous for its breakfast spots, it also offers a fantastic variety of cuisine. Taco Party is a unique Mexican restaurant that only serves vegetarian dishes, which is pretty rare for Mexican food. If you’re vegetarian, this is definitely a place to check out. The interior is fun and quirky with mostly counter seating, and they offer chips and guacamole. It’s a great spot to try something different beyond Picante Taqueria and Anna’s Taqueria. Definitely worth a visit!
You can find Taco Party at 711 Broadway. It is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday.
Blue Elephant
The Blue Elephant is a great spot for Thai food. The dishes are delicious and budget-friendly. I’m especially a fan of their Thai iced tea (it tastes different from the one at Yoshi’s). The mango sticky rice is also a must-try. I’ve sampled several of their rotating specials, and honestly, you can’t go wrong with anything the servers recommend.
The Blue Elephant stands at 719 Broadway and is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. during the week, and 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on the weekends. It is closed on Mondays.
The Pub
No article about Ball Square would be complete without mentioning The Pub — a true staple for Tufts students, particularly on Tuesdays (for better or worse). It’s the go-to spot for many, but if you’re looking for a bit of a change, check out their trivia nights on Wednesdays. That said, if The Pub has been your only experience in Ball Square, I highly recommend taking the time to explore the other nearby businesses. There’s more to the area.
The Pub is located at 682 Broadway and is open from 12 p.m. to 1 a.m. every day of the week.
