We may earn a commission from links on this page, at no cost to you. Disclosure
Two restaurants named Alma are open in the City of Boston, and they could hardly be more different: Alma Cantina, a Mexican cantina at 15 Union Street across from Faneuil Hall, open daily until 2 a.m., and Alma Gaucha, a Brazilian steakhouse serving all-you-can-eat rodizio at 401 D Street in the Seaport. A third, Alma Nove, is on the waterfront in Hingham on the South Shore, not in Boston.
Pick Alma Cantina for tacos and margaritas on a Freedom Trail day or a late night downtown, and Alma Gaucha for a long, meat-heavy dinner near the convention center.
Alma Cantina: Mexican food and margaritas by Faneuil Hall
Alma Cantina is a casual cantina on Union Street, the short block that also holds Union Oyster House and the Bell in Hand Tavern, facing Faneuil Hall Marketplace. The menu is built for sharing and grazing: tacos sold in twos, threes or fours (al pastor, Baja fish, carne asada, chicken tinga), nachos, elote and empanadas, with enchiladas, pozole and a carne asada plate as mains and churros or tres leches for dessert.
The bar leans on margaritas and house cocktails. What sets it apart downtown is the late kitchen: food is served until 1:30 a.m. every night, with a separate late-night menu after 11 p.m., so it works after a game or a show when most dining rooms nearby have closed. It takes reservations and handles private events and catering.
Alma Gaucha: Brazilian steakhouse in the Seaport
Alma Gaucha serves the traditional southern Brazilian rodizio: a prix fixe meal in which servers carve fire-roasted beef, chicken, pork and lamb at the table, alongside a salad bar with aged cheeses, cured meats, hearts of palm and smoked salmon. It is at 401 D Street, near the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, and serves lunch and dinner seven days a week.
Rodizio rewards an appetite and an unhurried evening, so it suits groups, celebrations and convention visitors staying in the Seaport more than a quick bite. Book through OpenTable or by phone; the restaurant notes that special dates may have different hours.
Which Alma should you choose?
| Alma Cantina | Alma Gaucha | |
|---|---|---|
| Food | Mexican: tacos, shares, margaritas | Brazilian rodizio and salad bar, prix fixe |
| Neighborhood | Downtown, by Faneuil Hall | Seaport, near the convention center |
| Best for | Casual lunch, late night, groups of friends | Big appetites, celebrations, business dinners |
| Open late? | Kitchen until 1:30 a.m. daily | Dinner until 9 to 10:30 p.m. |
What about Alma Nove?
Alma Nove, the restaurant many people mean when they search for "Alma," is at 22 Shipyard Drive in Hingham, a South Shore town outside Boston. It is a separate business from both Boston restaurants above, so check the address before you book.
Planning the rest of the day? Our guides to things to do near Faneuil Hall and Boston at night pair well with Alma Cantina, and getting around on the T explains how to reach both.