Guide to Worcester & Central Massachusetts

Table of Contents:

It is easy to be distracted by the history of Boston or the shiny lights of New York City and forgo spending a few days in Worcester before or after the wedding. Give Worcester a chance – it might just surprise you!

Whether you refer to it as the “Heart of the Commonwealth”, the “City of Seven Hills”, or even “Woo-town”, Worcester is a wonderful place to visit. It’s only an hour away from Boston, Providence (Rhode Island), or Hartford (Connecticut) and has an incredible foodie scene and world class museums. It is the second largest city in New England and has been undergoing a significant revitalization over the last few years.

Just don’t pronounce it “Wor-chest-er”; it’s “Woo-ster”!

A little history lesson: The area that we now know as Worcester was once home to the Nipmuc tribe, and it was then called “Quinsigamond”. English settlers reached Worcester in 1674 and the town was incorporated in 1722. Industrialization helped Worcester grow and boom in the 19th century and saw both canal and railroad brought to the city to accommodate the booming manufacturing industry in the city. It boomed and thrived as a hub of manufacturing until after the Second World War, when it began to decline. And within the last 10 or so years the city has enjoyed a revitalization within some neighborhoods and a particularly strong foodie scene, with many good restaurants appearing along Shrewsbury Street and within the Canal Street neighborhood.

Note: Double check opening times on the venue’s website as these were accurate when the article was published in early 2020, but they could change.

Museums

Worcester Art Museum

  • Website: https://www.worcesterart.org/
  • Address: 55 Salisbury Street, Worcester, MA 01609
  • Times: Open: Wednesday-Sunday, 10am-4pm

The shining gem of Worcester’s culture scene the Art Museum should not be missed. It includes amazing displays from some of the masters – Monet, Rembrandt, Pollock, Renoir, Matisse and many others. It also acquired the much of the Higgins armory collection and has these dotted throughout the museum while they work on building a dedicated wing for the collection. If you do choose to visit don’t forget to check out the chapel and mosaic in the main courtyard. I’d also recommend the cafe at the museum for lunch as they have a great menu there.

Ecotarium

  • Website: https://www.worcesterart.org/
  • Address: 222 Harrington Way, Worcester, MA 01604
  • Times: Open: Tuesday through Saturday 10:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. & Sunday 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Great for families and kids (big kids too)! A hands on museum dedicated to nature and science – including things like a hurricane chamber, various wildlife, a planetarium and a small model steam train that can be ridden around the property.

Old Sturbridge Village

  • Website: https://www.osv.org/
  • Address: 1 Old Sturbridge Village Rd, Sturbridge, MA 01566
  • Times: Open: Open Wednesday – Sunday | 9:30 am – 4:00 pm

This gorgeous living museum is a huge attraction for central Massachusetts and spans over 200 acres. It depicts what life was like for the settlers during the 1790s and 1830s in Massachusetts. Within the museum there are 59 buildings, a working farm and 3 working mills. From Worcester you will need a car to get to Old Sturbridge Village and it will take roughly 30 minutes to get there.

Worcester Historical Museum

  • Website: http://www.worcesterhistory.org/
  • Address: 30 Elm St, Worcester, MA 01609
  • Times: Open: Tuesday to Saturday, 10am – 4pm

A Museum that depicts the history of the city of Worcester and the region. The collection includes many historical artifacts from the region and has both temporary and permanent exhibitions. It spins the tale of Worcester’s industrial history and spans the lifetime of the city.

The Sprinkler Factory

  • Website: https://sprinklerfactory.com/
  • Address: 38 Harlow St, Worcester, MA 01605
  • Times: Open: Saturdays and Sundays 1-4pm

An Art gallery hosted within a historical factory building which used to produce industrial-sized sprinkler systems. An unusual place in the city and recommended mostly for the events they hold, but also to see what the local art scene is like in Worcester.

Shopping

There are a variety of strip malls (Lincoln Plaza) that can be visited for the usual shops. Or the larger Shoppes at Blackstone in Millbury, which will have a variety of stores from Target, to Marshalls, to Barnes & Nobles, etc. Google will be your friend if you’re looking for a specific chain store. However, Worcester also has some lovely smaller local shops that I can recommend visiting.

Crompton Collective

  • Website: http://www.cromptoncollective.com/
  • Address: 138 Green St, Worcester, MA 01604
  • Times: Open: Mon 11-4/ Tue 11-5/ wed 11-6/ Thur 11- 8/ Fri 11-6/ Sat 9-6/ sun 11-5

Located in the revitalized Canal District the Crompton Collective is an adorable shop of oddities – local items as well as antiques and unique pieces. It’s got a fabulous eclectic vibe and a really artfully managed. They also have the “White Room” which holds a farmer’s market on most weekends. And if you’re in the building be sure to check out Bedlam Book Cafe and Birch Tree Bread Company. If you’ve made it down to the Canal District I’d recommend wandering around in general as it has a great number of places, including the newly opened Worcester Public Market.

Worcester Public Market

  • Website: https://www.worcesterpublicmarket.org/
  • Address: Kelley square, Worcester, MA 01604
  • Times: Tuesday – Friday, Sunday | 11 am – 7 pm // Saturday | 9 am – 7 pm // Friday & Saturday, food court remains open until 9 pm

Opened in 2020 this venue is meant to hold stalls for local farmers, artisans and other vendors. Worcester Wares, a shop focused on local Worcester apparel and souvenirs, is one of the vendors in this building. There are a variety of different food stalls as well, including a large taproom for Wachusett Brewery. You can view an extensive list of the vendors here: https://www.worcesterpublicmarket.org/vendor-list

That’s Entertainment

  • Website: https://www.thatse.com/
  • Address: Lois Lane: 244 Park Ave, Worcester, MA 01609
  • Times: Open: 10am – 8pm

Local comic book storm stocked with a variety of items from comics, to board games, to sports memorabilia. A must visit for any geeks to appreciate the crammed aisles carrying a wide variety of items and a wonderful atmosphere.

Culture

Worcester and the surrounding area has a lot of opportunities to get out and experience culture – from brewery visits to local landmarks and to performing arts centers.

Wachusett Brewery

  • Website: https://www.wachusettbrewingcompany.com/index.html
  • Address:
    • Worcester: Worcester Public Market
      Westminster: 175 State Rd E, Westminster, MA 01473 // 12pm-8pm Weekdays, 12pm-10pm Weekends

There are 2 locations for the Wachusett Brewery Taproom – one in Worcester Public Market and the other in Westminster at the physical brewery location. Whether you’re visiting Worcester or Westminster I’d definitely recommend trying a flight of their beers, which are exceptional. If you’re visiting the Westminster brewery on a Saturday they run tours of the facility at 12, 2:30 and 5pm: https://www.wachusettbrewingcompany.com/brewyard_tours.html

Wachusett Mountain

  • Website: https://www.wachusett.com/
  • Address: 499 Mountain Rd, Princeton, MA 01541

Wachusett Mountain is barely large enough to be considered a mountain, only 2006 feet tall, and has 3 ski lifts that run in winter. During autumn there are lovely hikes around the mountain and a road that leads all the way to the top for some incredible views (for a fee).

Check out the Events Calendar to see if there are any festivals on to visit: https://www.wachusett.com/Events-Activities/On-Mountain-Events/Event-Calendar.aspx

The Hanover Theatre

  • Website: https://www.thehanovertheatre.org/
  • Address: 2 Southbridge St, Worcester, MA 01608

Beautifully renovated performing arts space that hosts a variety of touring shows. Check our their “Upcoming Shows” section to see if anything good is on during your visit: https://www.thehanovertheatre.org/shows

Worcester Red Sox

  • Website: https://www.milb.com/worcester
  • Address: Polar Park, 122 Madison St, Worcester, MA 01610

The Red Sox’s minor league team are moving their home from Pawtucket to Worcester by 2021. A new stadium, Polar Park, is in the process of being built and will be ready by April 2021. While visiting Worcester you could check out the new stadium or try and catch a game (if you arrive early enough to catch end of season).

Pixels & Pints Arcade Bar

  • Website: https://pixels.bar/
  • Address: 179a Grafton St, Worcester, MA 01604
  • Times: Open: Tues/Wed 4:30pm-10pm, Thurs/Fri 4:30pm – 11pm, Sat 12pm-12am, Sun 12pm-10pm.

This retro arcade bar is the latest intro into Worcester’s culture scene and bar market. It’s located on Grafton street, nearby to the popular Canal Street district. The bar has a wide variety of classic games – from Pac Man to Mortal Kombat. They feature a variety of craft beer and cocktails as well.

Bancroft Tower

  • Address: Bancroft Tower Road, Worcester MA 01609

This stone and granite tower looks like it belongs in Europe as part of a castle estate. It tops the hill at Salisbury Park and was built in 1900. It’s an unusual structure but beautiful outdoors space. Take a drive up to see it and have a wander in the park.

Wormtown Brewery

  • Website: https://wormtownbrewery.com/
  • Address: 72 Shrewsbury St #4, Worcester, MA 01604
  • Times: Taproom Tuesday – Thursday: 12:00-9:00pm // Friday – Saturday: 12:00-10:00pm // Sunday: 12:00-7:00pm

Wormtown are another of the local craft breweries in the Worcester area, and are known for their IPA called “Be Hoppy”.

Their taproom is open all week, except Monday, and they offer brewery tours on the weekends (Sat & Sun) at 12:30, 1:30 and 2:30pm: https://wormtownbrewery.com/#section-visit-us

Escape Games

  • Website: https://www.escapegamesworcester.com/
  • Address: 108 Grove St, Worcester, MA 01605
  • Times: Open: Thurs: 4:45pm – 9pm // Fri: 4:45pm – 10pm // Sat: 12pm – 10pm // Sun: 12pm – 9pm

If you’re looking for an activity to do while in Worcester an Escape Room can be great fun. The concept is that you’re “locked” in a room with a team of your friends and you have to solve a series of puzzles or games in order to find clues on how to “unlock” the room. You have an hour to solve it or else you lose. This particular company run a few good rooms and I’ve done their “Museum” room and had a blast of a time. I would recommend that you book in advance, as they almost never have openings on the day.

Where to Eat

Worcester’s renaissance has been built on the back of an extremely strong foodie scene in the city. There have been a number of restaurants that have cropped up and have delicious offerings. Beyond the popular Canal District and Water Street there’s the traditionally popular Shrewsbury Street and a variety of other restaurants dotted around the city.

BREAKFAST & DINERS

Parkway Diner

  • Website: http://www.parkwayma.com/
  • Address: 148 Shrewsbury St, Worcester, MA 01604
  • Times: Open: 6:30am – 10pm

This was my father’s lunch spot during his career, and though it’s grown past the point of being a traditional lunch car diner it still has amazing food and a large selection. If you want to go for the more traditional lunch car feel you can visit the Boulevard Diner (almost across the street from Parkway) as an alternative. There is parking for the Parkway across the street, or on-street metered parking.

Bagel Inn

  • Website: https://www.thebagelinn.net/
  • Address: 785 Main St, Holden, MA 01520
  • Times: Open: 6am to 2pm

This is a favorite of mine for many years and has great bagels that are made on site with a wide variety of cream cheese spreads. They make great sandwiches as well. It’s in my home town and is a family business so definitely give them a try! They have some tables inside so feel free to “eat in”!

Lou Roc’s Diner

  • Address: 1074 W Boylston St, Worcester, MA 01606
  • Times: Open: 6am – 2:30m

This classic diner has a great vibe and endless coffee. The portions are huge and the food is delicious. It is absolutely packed in the morning so be prepared to wait for a table, but I promise it is worth it.

Hangover Pub

  • Website: https://www.thehangoverpub.net/
  • Address: 102 Green St, Worcester, MA 01604
  • Times: Open: 11am – 9pm

Part of the Worcester revitalization scene this unusual spot has become hugely popular and comes highly recommended. It is not a light eat but has a good variety of food on the menu and a unique atmosphere.

DINNER

I’ve broken down the recommendations into subsections around what style of dinner you’re looking for – whether it be a casual pub style atmosphere, or if it’s a bit more stylish and hip, or even if it’s one of the classics in the Worcester Restaurant Group. I’d also recommend checking Google or Trip Advisor for additional recommendations

The Boynton

  • Style: Classic
  • Website: https://www.boyntonrestaurant.com/
  • Address: 119 Highland St, Worcester, MA 01609
  • Times: Open: 11am – 1am

Local restaurant and bar that I’ve been eating at since childhood. They have a huge selection of food, and if you’re looking for drinks I can highly recommend the “Boynton Bucket”.

Armsby Abbey

  • Style: Classic
  • Website: https://armsbyabbey.com/
  • Address: 144 Main St, Worcester, MA 01608
  • Times: Open: 11:30am – 12am Weekday / 10am – 12am Weekend

Gorgeous gastropub that has been highly acclaimed in Worcester for years with a farmhouse style menu. Also known for their great Belgian beer selection (Order the Orval or the Drie Fonteienen Gouze for something special).

Lock50

  • Style: Stylish
  • Website: https://lock50.com/
  • Address: 50 Water St, Worcester, MA 01604
  • Times: Open: Closed Monday // Tues to Fri 11am – 10pm // Sat 9am – 10pm // Sun 9am – 8pm

Award-winning upscale restaurant in Worcester’s revitalized Canal District. Incredible food with a seasonal menu that is contemporary and delicious. In colder months they have heated igloos outside that are very charming for a more quiet atmosphere. Their bar is well stocked and I can definitely recommend their unique cocktails.

Bocado

  • Style: Stylish
  • Website: https://www.bocadotapasbar.com/
  • Address: 82 Winter St, Worcester, MA 01604
  • Times: Open: 4:30pm – 1am

Spanish style Tapas Wine bar with small dishes to be shared.

Deadhorse Hill

  • Style: Stylish
  • Website: https://www.deadhorsehill.com/
  • Address: 281 Main St, Worcester, MA 01608
  • Times: Open: 5-10pm Weekdays / Sat 5-11pm / Sun 4-9pm

One of the newer resturants on the Worcester scene it’s a restuarant with a seasonal menu with locally sourced food and a unique menu.

111 Chop House

  • Style: Worcester Restaurant Group
  • Website: https://www.111chophouse.com/
  • Address: 111 Shrewsbury St, Worcester, MA 01604
  • Times: Open: Mon 4:30 – 9pm / Tue to Thurs: 4:30 – 10pm / Fri & Sat: 4:30 – 11pm / Sun: 4:30 – 9pm

Award winning steak house in Worcester.

Sole Proprietor

  • Style: Worcester Restaurant Group
  • Website: https://www.thesole.com/
  • Address: 118 Highland St, Worcester, MA 01609
  • Times: Open: Mon 4:30 – 9pm / Tue to Thurs: 4:30 – 10pm / Fri & Sat: 4:30 – 11pm / Sun: 4:30 – 9pm

Award winning seafood restuarant. Definitely a recommendation for out of town guests who have not had New England seafood menus before this visit to Worcester!

VIA Italian Table

  • Style: Worcester Restaurant Group
  • Website: https://www.viaitaliantable.com/
  • Address: 89 Shrewsbury St, Worcester, MA 01604
  • Times: Open: Mon 4:30 – 9pm / Tue to Thurs: 4:30 – 10pm / Fri & Sat: 4:30 – 11pm / Sun: 4:30 – 9pm

Award winning Italian restaurant with a widely varied menu.

BARS

Beer Garden Pavillion

  • Website: https://beergardenma.com/
  • Address: 64 Franklin Street, Worcester
  • Times: Open: Mon – Thu: 4PM – 12AM // Fri – Sat: 11AM – 2AM // Sun: 11AM – 12AM

A new feature in Worcester with outdoor igloos in colder months and a beer garden vibe during warmer months.

Whiskey on Water

  • Website: https://whiskeyonwater.com/
  • Address: 97 Water St, Worcester, MA 01604
  • Times: Open: Wed – Sun, 5pm – 2am

Located in the heart of the Canal District revitalization this bar has an incredible collection of whisky to order from, and a variety of other drinks for those of less discernible tastes.

Ralph’s Diner

  • Website: http://www.ralphsrockdiner.com/
  • Address: 148 Grove Street, Worcester, MA 01605
  • Times: Open: Everyday: 4:00pm – 1:45am

A truly eclectic bar that I’m particularly fond of. It’s another of Worcester’s famous lunch car diners but this particular one was turned into a bar and rock venue.

Citizen Wine  Bar / Stir & Still

  • Website: https://www.stillandstir.com/
  • Address: 90 Commercial St, Worcester, MA 01608
  • Times: Open: Mon to Thur: 5pm – midnight // Fri & Sat: 5pm – 2am

This bar comes recommended for it’s craft cocktails, and is located within the Citizen Wine Bar

(see above)

  • Armsby Abbey
  • The Boynton
  • Wormtown Brewery
  • Wachusett Brewery

Want some tailor suggestions from the bride? Reach out to jamie@andresonshere.com.