
After more than a year of staying close to home, it is fitting that my first neighborhooding guide is for my own neighborhood, Nantasket Beach in Hull, Massachusetts. The bones for this post were drafted in March 2019, when I started this blog, which was promptly abandoned in the fall of that year, as we started to plan a wedding in France and a round-the-world honeymoon. Corona had other plans for us, and for this blog, which I’ve rediscovered in the Summer of ’21 as I update this guide.
Surrounded by snob towns like Cohasset and Hingham, Hull has a unique working-class beach town vibe. Fresh off my Outer Banks obsession, I’d say we’re a town of Pogues a quick 23-minute ferry ride away from the big city (of Boston).
Sleep

Nantasket Beach Resort: Kind of the only gig in town; decent(ish) rooms for around $200/night. The exterior has a grand-beachfront-resort-of-the-early-20th-century vibe, it’s right on the water, and it’s within walking distance to everything on Nantasket Beach. Website
Do Fun Stuff

Paragon Boardwalk: Full disclosure: I was not allowed to hang out here as a kid/teenager growing up in Scituate a couple towns over. Hull had kind of a rough rep and nothing good was going down if you were between the ages of 12 and 18 hanging out on the boardwalk playing skeeball. But now, thanks to a local Hingham family, Paragon Boardwalk has been given a major face lift (new arcade games, cheffed-up food options like Mexican street corn, an art walk, daily exercise classes, beach volleyball courts, outdoor movie nights) and plans are in the works for basically turning it into an awesome beach boardwalk a la Venice Beach. Summer ’24 Update: TBD on whether or not the Boardwalk will be open this summer, which is a major loss to the town. Website | Instagram
Paragon Carousel: One of the few remaining vestiges of Nantasket Beach’s former life as THE place to spend a summer weekend in the early 1900s. Back then, the ferries from Boston would dock at Steamship Marina (instead of way out at Pemberton Point like they do now, though there is a free summer trolley that’ll bring you from PP down to Nantasket) and thousands of people would flood the beachfront hotels and boardwalks all summer long. The carousel was originally opened in 1928 and you can take a trip down memory lane (and see the process of its recent renovation) in the nearby Paragon Park Museum. Website
Other ways to pass the days:
- Learn how to surf or paddleboard
- Rent a kayak to explore the Weir River Estuary
- Grab fresh lobsters off the back of a boat at Pemberton Point
Eat Like it’s an Olympic Sport
Breadbasket Cafe: Avocado toast, the best freakin’ blueberry muffin I’ve ever had, and awesome gourmet sandwiches make this breakfast & lunch cafe a not-to-be-missed spot. I haven’t tried them yet but all the egg benedicts and stuffed French toasts sound amazing too. You can take your food to go or eat at one of the 4-5 tables inside. You can also stock up on freshly baked baguettes, sourdough and croissants. Website
The Drift: Nestled into the Steamboat Wharf Marina across the street from Paragon Boardwalk, Drift will be the newest spot to open in Hull in Summer ’24. From the same team behind two of my favorite Quincy spots (Dotty’s, Pearl & Lime), I’ve got high hopes for Drift. Instagram

The Parrot: This multi-level restaurant right on the beach is from the same guy who owns a few other South Shore spots (Trident, Bia Bistro, The Galley, Tinker’s Son). Head up to the rooftop indoor/outdoor bar for a skinny margarita and views of the Atlantic. Website | Instagram
Local 02045: Local’s got it all: live music, theme brunches, a KILLER deck where you can watch the sunset over the Boston skyline, and an out-of-this-world Painkiller. My only complaint is that I wish it was open year-round, rather than seasonally (April-October). Sip on some frose and order the bacon flatbread with a sriracha honey drizzle. Website | Instagram
Toast: A breakfast institution in Hull, serving 7am-2pm every day. The servers can be a tad surly, but I feel like that’s part of the job description if you’re working a 7am to 2pm shift. Website | Instagram
Shipwreck’d: Way out at the very end of Hull by the high school (and where the Boston ferry docks), this is a seasonal spot with new ownership reopening for Summer ’24.

A few more spots (new and old) that I haven’t had the chance to check out:
- Sandbar Website | Instagram
- Nantasket Sweets by Swedes Website | Instagram
- Scoops Ice Cream & Candy Shop Website | Instagram
Steal Free WiFi
You’re at the beach; forget about WiFi!
Drink Like a Local

Mambo’s: Head to the second floor roof deck bar for unobstructed views of the ocean and what my sister Riona calls “Thailand vibes” due to the massive tangle of electrical wires off to a corner. The Islander Pizza (grilled chicken, bacon, BBQ sauce, pineapple, cilantro) is my go-to pizza if you’re hugry. Website
Doctor’s Island Brewing: Just opened in the summer of ’23, this is a tiny brewery with a handful of indoor seats and a wraparound deck. It’s named after the tiny island off Black Rock Beach on the border of Hull and Cohasset. Good beers and pretzels. Website / Instagram
Jo’s Nautical: The first time I stepped into this dark underground bar, I could have sworn the music screeched to a stop and I felt like a trespasser wannabe in the midst of a weathered troupe of regulars. If you can get past that initial feeling, Jo’s is where you can escape the beating sun for a killer bloody mary best enjoyed from the dank recesses of a worn leather couch. Or, take your cocktail out onto the back deck and enjoy the water and Hull Gut boat scene a mere 10 feet in front of you. And don’t forget to keep an eye out for the door to the underwater tunnel system that connects all the Boston Harbor Islands. NOT an urban legend. Website | Facebook
Daddy’s Beach Club: Right on Nantasket Beach, Daddy’s is where you go to black out on vodka sodas served in little plastic cups, dance to middle-aged cover bands, and eat New Haven-style pizza that is way better than it needs to be. Don’t believe me? The first summer we lived in Hull, we left Daddy’s after last call with a full pizza to go and someone offered us $75 for the pizza. And they weren’t even that drunk. Website
Grocery Shop
Best to leave town if you need to buy groceries. There are some quickie marts and a local grocery store chain (The Village Market), but your best bet is stopping at The Fruit Center in Hingham before heading onto the peninsula. There is also the Hingham Farmers Market on Saturdays and the Cohasset Farmers Market on Thursdays. Or order Whole Foods via Amazon Prime.
Stalk the Stylish Locals
View this profile on Instagram
Local dad who shoots short videos to promote local businesses.
View this profile on Instagram
Inspo for where to shop, eat & more on the South Shore.
Worthwhile Excursions
If you must leave the neighborhood, these spots are worth the haul.
Holly Hill Farm: Enjoy the drive along Jerusalem Road in Cohasset to get to this local farm stand. There’s also cute animals. Website

Roht Marine: Located at the mouth of the North River where Scituate meets Marshfield, Roht is where you can rent a boat to chill at The Spit (a sandbar that turns into a boat party) for the day, drink coconut mojitos, eat spicy shrimp pizza and boat watch all from the dog-friendly deck. Facebook


Lucky Finn: A tiny one-room cafe that overlooks Scituate Harbor. Order inside then take your coffee and breakfast sandwich out back to the deck for views of the fishing boats and lighthouse.Website | Instagram
The Raw Bar at Island Creek: Alllll the way down in Duxbury, Island Creek is an oyster farm that sells to the best restaurants in the country. Their seasonal raw bar on the water is a dog-friendly spot for beers, caviar & chips, tinned fish and a few dozen oysters. Website | Instagram
Salty Days: If we’re not heading to Scituate Harbor to buy fresh local seafood from Mullaney’s to cook at home, we’re going to Salty Days in downtown Cohasset. After operating a fish market in Hingham, they opened up a restaurant in Cohasset that is full-service with indoor and outdoor, dog-friendly seating overlooking downtown Cohasset. The crispy rice tuna tartare is great, as is the Louisiana Roll. Website | Instagram

Untold Brewing: Located in a former one-room school house, this brewery is within walking distance from the Greenbush commuter rail stop near the Driftway in Scituate. On the weekends, they have live music and food trucks. Website / Instagram