The Best Gyms, Healthy Food, and Places to Get Outside in Fenway
Use our healthy neighborhood guide to stay fit in this neighborhood.
CorePower Yoga at Fenway / Photo by Cindy M. Loo / The Boston Red Sox.
Before you head to Fenway for a Red Sox game and savor pre-first-pitch brews at Bleacher Bar, why not try switching your routine up for something, let’s say, a little more wholesome? Okay, maybe this is more for the residents and commuters of the fever-pitch neighborhood but it doesn’t hurt to try to healthify your pre (or post) game ritual either. Here are the best spots to grab healthy food in Fenway, break a sweat, and breathe in some fresh air.
Where to Work Out
The Handle Bar: This local spin studio, which has quite the fan following, will deliver a dance club feel while you’re working out. Get sweaty in a dark room with blaring music, punctuated by sudden moments of pure darkness, where you can focus on nothing but yourself and your bike. Complimentary shoe rentals are offered for those who don’t have their own, but don’t expect lockers or a changing room—the three different locations (two others are in Harvard Square and South Boston) were meant as neighborhood hubs for people to get in and out. Small cubbies and restrooms are available. 141 Dorchester Ave., Boston, 617-451-1270, handlebarcycling.com.
CorePower Yoga: Whether you’re a newbie on the yoga mat or a seasoned pro, CorePower yoga has an array of classes suited for every level of yogi. They’re most known for their approach to yoga being a little more fitness-forward and challenging, as opposed to relaxing and rejuvenating. Drop in for a Yoga Sculpt class that combines free weights with sequencing and cardio movements from the CorePower Yoga 2 class to intensify each move. You’ll mix squats, lunges, and bicep curls with down dogs and warrior poses for an integrative and sweat-inducing workout. 20 Bond Dr., Boston, 617-925-5570, corepoweryoga.com.
BodyScapes: Swing by this all-inclusive gym if you need one-on-one personal training, a high-energy group class, or a spot to drop in and get a quick lift in during lunch. Located in the Longwood Medical Area, it’s easily accessible by the Orange or Green Line and within walking distance of basically everything in Fenway. They have free day lockers and towel service as well as a fully equipped free-weight room, treadmills, stair climbers, and bikes. Group classes include BodyPump, Zumba, yoga, and more. 77 Ave. Louis Pasteur, Boston, 617-738-9229, bodyscapesfitness.com.
Where to Eat
Cava: We’re not saying that this Cava location serves the most over-flowing bowls of all the Cava locations, but we’re not saying that it doesn’t either. This mediterranean fast-casual joint prepares bowls and pitas chock full of greens, hummus, and proteins of your choosing. The food is completely customizable to your palate, and no matter what toppings you reach for among their speciality dips and spreads, you can rest easy knowing they don’t contain any artificial additives or preservatives. 669 Boylston St., Boston, 617-286-8927, cava.com.
Saloniki: Settle into this little Greek kitchen built on filoxenia, traditional Greek hospitality, and try everything from salads piled high with mixed greens, Greek olives, fresh herbs, and feta to traditional souvlaki, which are locally-sourced, marinated, and chargrilled skewers. Or try one of the classics, which can be made into a pita or served as a plate, like the lemon-oregano grilled chicken, tzatziki, secret sauce, greens, tomato, onion, and fresh herbs. Just make sure to split the addicting (but delicious) Greek fries. 4 Kilmarnock St., Boston, 617-266-0001, salonikigreek.com.
Photo provided.
Honeygrow: This national chain, with locations from Philly to Chicago, is nestled on Boylston Street right between The Viridian + The Verb Hotel and CorePower Yoga. The fast-casual joint prepares stir fry dishes full of locally-grown and sourced ingredients, and you can choose from suggested stir fry options, such as spicy garlic or red coconut curry, or make your own. Try the exclusive-to-Boston stir fry with Maine lobster, freshly made egg white noodles, lobster-tomato broth, fennel, bell peppers, red onions, peas, and herbed bread crumbs. 1282 Boylston St., Boston, 857-991-1647, honeygrow.com.
Where to Get Outside
Kelleher Rose Garden/Emerald Necklace: Escape for a stroll among more than 200 different varieties of roses (during peak season) in the Kelleher Rose Garden. Apart of the Emerald Necklace, the park has stone dust pathways for easy navigation, as well as benches, cherubs, and a fountain for sitting and enjoying the warm sun on particularly nice days. It retains a “secret garden” feel despite the bustling city around it and will leave you feeling grateful for the quick-access we have to so many green spaces.
Kelleher Rose Garden, in the Fens by Leslee_atFlickr on Flickr/CreativeCommons.
