Amtrak station guide: South Station
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The hustle and bustle of South Station. Photo: Mike Deehan/Axios.
One of Boston's key selling points is its proximity to the rest of the Northeast megalopolis via train — but our Amtrak hub lacks many amenities riders from other states take for granted.
Why it matters: South Station isn't the worst of the big Acela stops, but Boston riders don't have access to the higher-quality seating areas, dining and shopping that have become commonplace in New York and Washington, D.C.
Zoom in: South Station's food options have never been great, but the current collection of chain kiosks and suburban mall favorites is particularly sad compared to what's available in other cities.
- For food, there's McDonald's, Master Wok, Pizzeria Regina and Auntie Annie.
- To drink, you've got Nero Express, Dunkin, Starbucks and Gond Cha.
- The Tavern in the Square serves a limited menu with a few dozen draft beer choices and a cocktail menu.
Where to eat: The Melting Sun Diner, a newcomer in the South Station concourse, serves subs, salads and pastries for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It's real food in a space long dominated by chains and prepared meals.
- Try the Supremo Italian: salami, pepperoni, ham and cheese on a sub roll.
Where to wait: South Station has traditional benches near the ticket counters and tables closer to the food vendors.
- If you're willing to walk a block or two, the Corner Pub is a cozy neighborhood bar with surprisingly tasty food options.
Where to work: The tables are laptop-friendly and the Wi-Fi works well enough, but power outlets are few and far between.
One ray of hope is the new liquor store that opened recently in the shuttered restaurant space that last housed a Mexican place.
- There's plenty of wine and higher-end spirits to bring home.
- The extensive single-serving collection of wine coolers, craft cans and tallboys suggests riders could lighten up their commute home — though drinking is still against the law on MBTA trains.
There haven't been many other changes to South Station's concourse since 2014, when the Tavern in the Square kiosk bar and two-story CVS opened.
Where to wee: The 2013-14 revamp included promises of an "airport-quality ladies' room" and "expanded high-quality men's room."
- Anyone who's used those facilities in the last half-decade can tell you that if you found these bathrooms at an airport, you probably wouldn't feel safe flying from it.
What's next: South Station is currently a construction site, with crews putting up a massive mixed-use tower on a platform over the tracks. Part of the project is already complete: an expanded bus terminal and parking garage.
- Once complete, the new tower will house offices, residences and restaurants accessible from the station.