Visiting Fenway Park: Hotels, Getting There, Food & Drinks, and Fun Facts
There's nothing quite like watching a game at "America's Most Beloved Ballpark." Fenway Park has been hosting Red Sox fans since 1912, and a trip here is as much about the neighborhood as it is about the nine innings. Here's your guide to planning the visit — where to stay, how to get there, where to eat and drink, and some fun facts about MLB's oldest stadium.
Tips for Visiting Fenway:
Gates open 90 minutes before the game starts allowing fans to catch the end of the visiting team's batting practice.
The weather can be drastic so come prepared: there was a heat wave when we visited in the summer and I had friend's that watched a game in the snow
Each person is allowed 1 unopened 16 once plastic bottle of water in the stadium. On hot games, they have bottle refill stations.
Small, clear bags are recommended or leave your bag at home.
Check the calendar for special events before or after the game. The kids got to run the bases after the game when we went and it was a special way to celebrate their 1st time at Fenway!
1st time to Fenway Park? Visit Fan Services booths - located at Gate E, D, and B to receive your "First Timers' fan items including a digital First Timer Certificate.
Hotels Within Walking Distance
You don't need a car (or even the subway) if you pick the right home base. A few standout options at different price points:
Hotel Commonwealth — Widely considered the top pick for baseball fans; it's the Red Sox's official hotel and sits right in Kenmore Square, a short walk to the park.
Residence Inn Fenway — Just around the corner from the ballpark, with spacious suites and a rooftop bar that overlooks Fenway itself — a great choice for families who want extra room.
The Colonnade Hotel — A few blocks away in Back Bay, offering a more upscale, downtown-Boston feel while still being walkable (20 minutes) or a quick UBER ride to games.
The Eliot Hotel — About a half-mile out, elegant and quieter, still an easy stroll to Fenway.
[Add Stay22 map widget here — Fenway/Kenmore/Back Bay hotel options]
How to Get There from Downtown
Fenway is one of the easiest ballparks in the country to reach without a car:
Green Line (subway): The simplest option from most downtown hotels. Take any Green Line train to Kenmore station, and you'll be steps from the park. This is the route most locals use on game day. We took the Green Line from downtown to and from the park and it was super convenient especially with kids.
Walking: If you're staying in Back Bay or the Fenway/Kenmore area, walking is often just as fast as the T, especially pre-game when trains get crowded. It's roughly a 15–20 minute walk from most Back Bay hotels.
Rideshare/taxi: Doable, but note that streets around Fenway close to traffic on game days and rideshare pickup can be a hike post-game. If you go this route, set your pickup a few blocks away from the immediate ballpark area.
Driving: Not recommended unless your hotel includes parking — Fenway itself has limited, pricey lots, and traffic gets snarled well before first pitch.
Bottom line: if your hotel is anywhere near a Green Line stop, take the train in and skip the parking headache entirely.
Best Food and Drinks Nearby
The blocks around Fenway — especially Lansdowne Street and Brookline Avenue — turn into a full pre-game party on game days. A few favorites:
Cask 'n Flagon (62 Brookline Ave) — A true Boston institution right next to the park, known for BBQ, burgers, and a wall of Red Sox memorabilia. Arrive early on game days; it fills up fast.
Bleacher Bar (82A Lansdowne St) — Tucked beneath the center-field bleachers, this spot has a garage-style window looking directly into the stadium. One of the most unique views in the city, paired with solid pub food.
Game On! (82 Lansdowne St) — A big, family-friendly two-floor sports bar with its own batting cage and cornhole, plus a pizza and wings menu that goes over well with kids.
Lansdowne Pub (9 Lansdowne St) — Irish pub vibes, hearty comfort food, and frequent live music.
Loretta's Last Call (1 Lansdowne St) — A country-themed spot with line dancing nights and a serious BBQ menu — a fun change of pace from the typical sports bar.
Royal Roosters Club - A sports bar located within Fenway Park. Great for checking out the historic Red Sox memorabilia.
Trillium Brewery - Fenway - Best beer in Boston especially if you like IPAs. Time Out Market is located next door to give you lots of food options. We visited the Trillium Fort Point location (near Boston Harbor) for beer, pizza, wings, and salads. Family friendly and our crew of 9 (4 adults and 5 kids) gave it 5 stars!
Did You Know?
Fenway Park opened on April 20, 1912, and is the oldest active ballpark in Major League Baseball — it has never closed.
The Green Monster, the 37-foot wall in left field, wasn't originally built for drama — it went up largely to block people outside the park from watching games for free.
The Green Monster's paint color is officially called "Fence Green," and the supplier has never publicly shared the exact formula.
Pesky's Pole, the right-field foul pole, sits just 302 feet from home plate — the shortest home-run distance in any MLB park. It's named for Red Sox infielder Johnny Pesky, even though he only hit six home runs at Fenway in his career.
Look for the lone red seat in the right-field bleachers (Section 42, Row 37, Seat 21) — it marks the spot where Ted Williams' 502-foot home run landed in 1946, the longest ever hit at Fenway.
The center-field wall forms "The Triangle," the deepest part of the ballpark at roughly 420 feet from home plate.
Neil Diamond's 1969 single "Sweet Caroline" plays in the middle of the eighth inning at every home Red Sox game.