Jamaica Plain, also known as JP, is a popular target for home buyers. It sits along Boston’s famed Emerald Necklace, with green spaces threading through a tight-knit neighborhood of classic triple-deckers, brick brewery buildings, and Centre Street storefronts.
On weekends, joggers circle Jamaica Pond while visitors head up into the Arnold Arboretum, Harvard’s 281-acre landscape of trees and trails.
JP’s footprint runs from the Forest Hills transit hub up to Hyde and Monument Squares near Brookline. It’s known for gardens, community arts, and a food scene that rewards casual strolls.
Outdoor Activities in the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood
JP lives outdoors for much of the year. The neighborhood anchors the southern arc of the Emerald Necklace, designed by renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, so leafy walking and biking routes link parks, ponds, and playfields.
Spring brings lilacs, summer brings boats on the water, and fall lights up the hillsides with color.
Parks and Nature
Start at the Arnold Arboretum, a 281-acre National Historic Landmark and the oldest public arboretum in North America. It’s free and open daily, with paved paths, hillside views from Peters Hill, and seasonal events like Lilac Sunday each May when picnicking is allowed on Arboretum grounds for one day only.
Jamaica Pond has a flat 1.5-mile lakeside loop for walkers and runners, plus a historic boathouse. Rowboats, kayaks, and sailboats are available seasonally through Courageous Sailing at Jamaica Pond. Fishing is permitted with a license; the pond is stocked by MassWildlife.
To the southeast, Franklin Park sprawls across meadows and woodlands with the Franklin Park Zoo at its heart. It is part of the Emerald Necklace and a reliable all-ages outing any time of year.
Sports and Recreation
Golfers play the municipal William J. Devine Golf Course at Franklin Park, one of the country’s oldest public courses.
The Southwest Corridor Park runs from Forest Hills toward Back Bay with bike paths, tennis and basketball courts, gardens, spray decks, and playgrounds. It doubles as a neighborhood greenway and a practical bike commute. Bluebikes stations dot the corridor.
In winter, the DCR Kelly Outdoor Rink by Stony Brook Station hosts free public skating with low-cost rentals.
Adventure and Exploration
Rent a sailboat, kayak, or rowboat at Jamaica Pond and cruise under the tree canopy on a calm afternoon.
If you prefer wheels, the Arboretum permits biking on paved routes at slow speeds, which makes for an easy plant-tour loop.
History buffs can join free Saturday walking tours with the Jamaica Plain Historical Society to see 18th- and 19th-century architecture up close.
Arts and Culture in Jamaica Plain
JP’s culture is neighborhood-scale and hands-on. You can step from a gallery pop-up to a century-old community theater, then catch a pint where there’s live music most nights.
Small institutions carry real weight here, and most are within a short walk of Centre Street.
Museums and Galleries
The Loring-Greenough House is the last surviving 18th-century residence in Sumner Hill, listed on the National Register of Historic Places and open for Sunday tours in season. It also hosts outdoor programs on the lawn all summer.
Nearby, the Eliot School of Fine & Applied Arts offers classes and workshops in woodworking, fiber arts, and more.
Forest Hills Cemetery functions as an open-air museum of Victorian landscape design and sculpture, with seasonal tours.
Music and Theater
America’s oldest continually producing community theater, The Footlight Club at historic Eliot Hall, stages shows year-round.
For live music and late-night scenes, the Midway Cafe on Washington Street hosts everything from local rock to Queeraoke, and the cozy Brendan Behan Pub fits the classic neighborhood-pub bill with session music and a deep drink list.
Local Events and Festivals
JP’s community calendar is stacked.
In May, the Wake Up the Earth Festival brings parades and performances to the Southwest Corridor.
Later in summer, JP Porchfest turns front porches and stoops into stages across the neighborhood.
Each fall, Jamaica Plain Open Studios opens artists’ workspaces for a weekend of browsing.
Dining and Nightlife in Jamaica Plain
The food scene reads like JP itself: independent, inventive, and unpretentious. Most spots congregate around Centre and South Streets, with a second cluster by the Brewery Complex near Stony Brook Station.
Reservations help on weekend nights; patios appear as soon as the weather turns.
Restaurants and Cafes
For seasonal New England plates and a thoughtful wine list, Vee Vee is a long-time favorite. Brassica Kitchen + Cafe shifts from coffee and pastries by day to creative tasting menus at night.
Craving casual? Noodle Barn serves Vietnamese and Thai comfort food, JP Seafood Cafe handles sushi and Korean staples, and Purple Cactus has been rolling hefty burritos since the 1990s.
For sandwiches and local groceries, City Feed & Supply is the neighborhood standby.
Bars and Breweries
JP’s original Samuel Adams Boston Brewery runs tours and tastings at the Germania Street campus.
For Scottish fare, whisky, and cheeky banter, The Haven runs all-day service on Amory Street.
Music heads migrate to the Midway Cafe, while the Brendan Behan Pub pours pints in a classic JP room.
Sweet Treats and Coffee Shops
JP is the birthplace of J.P. Licks, still scooping late on Centre Street.
Blue FrogBlue Frog Bakery Bakery turns out rustic loaves and pastries on Green Street.
For a full-service coffee shop with breakfast and lunch, Ula Cafe anchors the historic Brewery Complex.
Shopping in Jamaica Plain
Most shopping here is small-scale and local.
You can cover a lot by drifting Centre and South Streets from Hyde Square through Monument and down toward Forest Hills, with quick pauses wherever something in the window pulls you in.
Farmers’ Markets
The Jamaica Plain Farmers Market runs on Saturdays at 677 Centre Street, with a Tuesday market in season.
On summer evenings, Thursdays on the Lawn at the Loring-Greenough House pairs a beer garden and food trucks with lawn space for lingering.
Local Boutiques
For gifts and JP-themed gear, On Centre is the reliable neighborhood shop.
Vintage fans make a beeline to 40 South Street, while readers camp out at woman-owned indie Papercuts Bookshop near Green Street. Cyclists gravitate to Ferris Wheels Bike Shop on South Street for service and gear.
Shopping Centers and Malls
If you want a larger retail run, hop the Orange Line or the 39 bus to Back Bay for the Prudential Center and Copley Place, or head west to The Shops at Chestnut Hill and The Street Chestnut Hill.
Activities For All Ages in Jamaica Plain
Families rotate among the Franklin Park Zoo, the Arboretum’s wide paths and wildlife, and boat rentals at Jamaica Pond when the boathouse is open.
The Southwest Corridor Park adds playgrounds and spray decks along a car-free path that doubles as a scooter and bike practice zone.
Winter brings free public skating at the DCR Kelly Rink behind Stony Brook Station.
Seasonal Things to Do in Jamaica Plain
Spring and summer swing outdoors.
Lilac Sunday draws crowds to the Arboretum, JP Porchfest spreads stages across the neighborhood, and Thursdays on the Lawn turns evenings into a standing picnic with food trucks and local vendors. Boating returns to Jamaica Pond with Courageous Sailing.
Fall is peak color on the Arboretum’s hills and Franklin Park’s trails.
When temperatures drop for real, go where the neighborhood skates: the Kelly Outdoor Rink runs free sessions with inexpensive rentals, weather permitting.
Day Trips and Nearby Attractions
Fenway is a straight shot north for Fenway Park tours and a ballgame.
Two world-class museums sit just beyond JP’s edge in the Longwood–Fenway area: the Museum of Fine Arts and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.
If you want big nature, Blue Hills Reservation has 125 miles of trails and skyline views, while Boston Harbor ferries run out to the Boston Harbor Islands for beaches, forts, and summer programs.
Tips for Visiting Jamaica Plain
JP is easygoing, but a little planning makes the day smoother.
Transit is usually simpler than parking near Centre Street, and many favorite spots are small, so check hours and reserve when you can.
Bring layers; a breezy loop around the Pond can feel cooler than Centre Street, a few blocks away.
Best Time to Visit
May through October is the sweet spot, from lilacs in bloom to fall foliage under bright, dry skies.
Boating at Jamaica Pond and lawn events at Loring-Greenough happen in the fair-weather months; winter belongs to Kelly Rink and hot chocolate stops after long neighborhood walks.
Getting Around
The Orange Line serves JP at Forest Hills, Green Street, and Stony Brook, and the high-frequency Route 39 bus connects Forest Hills to Back Bay through the Longwood Medical Area.
The Southwest Corridor Park is the neighborhood’s bike spine, and Bluebikes stations are widely available if you want to ride without bringing a bike.
Where to Stay
Hotels are sparse within JP itself, so most visitors stay nearby.
Options include Hilton Garden Inn Boston Brookline in Brookline Village, The Inn at Longwood Medical by the Longwood hospitals, or music-themed The Verb Hotel by Fenway Park.
FAQs About Things to Do in Jamaica Plain
Stroll the Arnold Arboretum, loop Jamaica Pond, and ride the Southwest Corridor Park path. Time a spring visit for Lilac Sunday, which adds art and family programs alongside the blooms.
No. Swimming is not permitted; the City reiterates that closures apply only to boating and fishing during rare algal blooms. When advisories lift, boating and fishing resume, but swimming remains off-limits. The City’s pond page has current notices at Jamaica Pond.
The loop is about 1.5 miles on a level path. Seasonal rentals for kayaks, rowboats, and sailboats operate from the boathouse through Courageous Sailing.
Yes. The Jamaica Plain Historical Society offers free Saturday walking tours in season, and the Loring-Greenough House runs Sunday house tours during much of the year.
Like most Boston neighborhoods, safety can vary by block and time of night. Around Centre Street, Hyde Square, and near the Orange Line stations, you’ll often see people out late at restaurants or walking home from the T, which helps keep the area active and well-lit. Side streets can be quieter, so it’s smart to use your usual city awareness. Many residents say they feel comfortable going out in the evenings, but as with anywhere in the city, it’s best to stay alert and travel with a friend when you can.
