SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS TRAVEL GUIDE - A “LOCALS” GUIDE FOR TOP FOOD, SHOPS AND ATTRACTIONS!

Visiting Salem this fall (or any time of year)? Here is a very long and detailed list of some of my top spots to visit in and around Salem, Massachusetts! I would consider myself somewhat of a “local” - I lived in Salem for a while and have a few October’s under my belt. Living in Boston now, I’m always traveling up to visit my favorite spots and try out new places. Below I’ve listed the best (in my opinion!) cafes, restaurants, spooky attractions, and photo spots in Salem. I included a wide range of price points to fit your budget and also noted a few things you can skip if you’re short on time to make sure you get the best bang for your buck on your trip!

Keep in mind, Salem gets BUSY from September-November. I mean busy busy! There will be big crowds and long wait times. However, it’s worth all the wait! Salem and the towns around are lovely to visit year round but especially during autumn. If you can travel during the week, I would suggest to do so. Friday-Sunday is extra busy.

Looking to do a photo session in Salem? Reach out, I love doing spooky Halloween photoshoots! Here is an engagement session that took place Halloween weekend.

TRAVELING AROUND

A lot of what you probably came to see in Salem is concentrated in Downtown Salem which is very walkable. Once you get off the commuter rail, you’re right in downtown! If you’re driving here, keep in mind most of the city is resident-only parking in October. Some years it’s 24/7 all 31 days of October, some years it’s only certain times of the day. If you’re accommodation in Salem offers parking, I would suggest for most of the list just keeping your car parked to avoid traffic and potential tickets. The Salem Skipper is an affordable alternative to Uber I would highly recommend. It can only take you around Salem, but it’s operated locally and very cheap!

COFFEESHOPS

Odd Meter - Less than five minutes from the commuter rail, this is my go-to in Salem! The coffee is exactly what I’m looking for - strong and delicious! I love the funky interior (I mean, the cute otters on the wall?!) and I’ve always had a wonderful experience interacting with the baristas and owners. If you’re looking for the top coffee spot in Salem, this is it! 60 Washington St, Salem, MA 01970

Brew Box - Situated on Essex St near the Commons, this woman-owned shop is small but mighty! They have great to-go snacks and I’ve never had a bad cup of coffee here. 131-2 Essex St, Salem, MA 01970

Atomic Coffee - Located in Beverly (one town over!), Atomic is one of my favorite local roasters. I often have their coffee on hand to brew at home, and their cafe is big enough to sit and enjoy. They often partner with local artists on designs, and I’ve tried quite a few of their roasts so I can safely say the coffee is good. Even the decaf is amazing. 268 Cabot St, Beverly, MA 01915

Kid Dream - This cozy shop is located in Beverly, right over the bridge. The pastel color scheme makes for an inviting stop, great coffee and you MUST try one of their toasts. 5 W Dane St Unit A, Beverly, MA 01915

Front Street Coffee - Another Salem staple, this cafe offers drinks made with Atomic Coffee and a solid breakfast and lunch menu. There are also a lot of cute shops around this general area, so get your fuel and get ready to explore (and also probably spend money!) 20 Front St, Salem, MA 01970

A & J King Bakery - The line here can get long, but the pastries are absolutely worth it! Local bakers in Salem, I have trouble not buying the entire pastry case. Everything I’ve had here is so good! They also make fun, seasonal drinks alongside traditional coffee shop offerings. 48 Central St, Salem, MA 0197

RESTAURANTS

Koto - This is one of my favorite restaurants ever, not just in Salem. It’s Chinese/Japanese cuisine with fun drinks. I’ve never had a bad meal here and I’ve tried a lot on the menu. Another the reason why I love Koto is the “vibe”. They have karaoke, host local shows, and monthly goth industrial nights. It’s the perfect spot that fits that fun quirky and spooky Salem vibe with amazing food! If you go, get the scallion pancakes. 90 Washington St, Salem, MA 01970

Bambolina - Great hand crafted pizza with an extensive menu of white and red sauces plus a cool selection of wine with indoor and outdoor seating. This place gets packed, so plan accordingly to have dinner a little early or be okay with waiting. 288 Derby St, Salem, MA 01970

Settler - This is a wonderful spot to go with a friend or your partner. Small, and cozy with delicious comfort meals. The menu is “small” compared to other larger restaurants, but you can tell every dish is carefully crafted to be absolutely amazing. 2 Lynde St, Salem, MA 01970

Howling Wolf - Fun tex-mex spot with good drinks. I dream about the nachos here. Actually, I dream about most of the food I’ve had here…so good! 76 Lafayette St, Salem, MA 01970

Sea Level - Salem is a coastal town, and with that comes great seafood! Sea Level is right on the water front, and everything is very fresh! The open air atmosphere right next to the ocean makes for a great dining experience. 94 Wharf St, Salem, MA 01970

Turner’s Seafood - A cozy seafood restaurant located a few minutes from the commuter rail, it’s located in the old Lyceum Hall which I found out when I visited was where Alexander Graham Bell first displayed the long-distance telephone! I prefer the seafood here over Sea Level, but this restaurant is not located by the water. They’re both amazing! 43 Church St, Salem, MA 01970

Goodnight Fatty’s - Giant, ooey and gooey warm cookies served late nights and on the weekends. The menu is always changing between different fun flavors. Can be hard to miss as it’s located behind a wall but there is a giant red food truck to signal your way. If you’re in Salem and want a sweet treat, you have to visit. They’re a must eat! 1 Washington Square, Salem, MA 01970

Whimsy’s Sweet Life - A lovely ice cream shop that also has a ton of candy and cute trinkets! 26 Front St, Salem, MA 01970

DRINKS

Notch Brewery - This local brewery has a great selection of beers they make, and has a biergarten. They also have snacks, and allow you to bring outside food! You have to walk down a small alley to end up at the parking lot and entrance, so don’t feel like you’re going the wrong way! 283R Derby St, Salem, MA 01970

All Souls - A vintage inspired cocktail bar, they’ve managed to mix the laid back feeling of a pub with the cool aesthetic of the vintage drinks they serve! They have outdoor seating, and while I’ve never had the food there I’ve heard great things of their grilled cheese! 282 Derby St, Salem, MA 01970

The Indo - An Irish pub located in Beverly, it has a cool and close knit atmosphere. The food here is classic bar food but also really good also if you’re feeling peckish or are like me and need to order fries at every bar. This is one of my personal favorites! 298 Cabot St, Beverly, MA 01915

Bit Bar - Drinks! Arcade! Weird fun food like donut burgers! What more can you want? Even if you don't have tons of time to spend in here, the atmosphere is super fun. 278 Derby St, Salem, MA 01970

The Lobster Shanty - This is a very casual spot to grab a beer with friends. The food is great, but I’ve always been here to have a few casual drinks and amazing tater tots! If you’re looking for a more affordable, laid-back spot in Salem this is a good option. Plus, Guy Fieri was here and if that’s not the ultimate stamp of approval I don’t know what is. 25 Front St, Salem, MA 01970

Ledger - A bit on the fanicer side, they do have good food but I love coming here to sit at the giant 4-sided bar located right in the middle of the restaurant. Great drinks and atmosphere, it does get busy so be prepared to wait especially during peak hours! 125 Washington St, Salem, MA 01970

The Tavern/Hawthorne Hotel Bar - I love the atmosphere bar at The Tavern, the bar inside the Hawthorne Hotel. It’s dark with a lot of old wood and couches. I’m adding this to the list not because the drinks are out of this world amazing (it’s a standard bar, so expect just okay/good enough drinks) but because Hawthorne Hotel is noted as being one of the most haunted hotels in America. The first time I walked in there I thought to myself yep this place is definitely filled with ghosts! 18 Washington Square W, Salem, MA 01970

The Hotel Salem - I spent many hours of my life at the rooftop bar here. You get a cool view overlooking the town in the spacious bar. There’s a good amount of seating and standing room. The food here is simple, and probably a bit overpriced so I’d skip that but the drinks and view are worth it! 209 Essex St, Salem, MA 01970

SHOPS

*HausWitch, The Coven’s Cottage, Oak + Moss*

HausWitch - A Salem staple, this woman owned shop sells a lot of witchy self care oriented items. You can find essences, oils, candles, scrubs, plus jewelry and home decor. They also have spell kits, tarot, and tons of other witchy stuff. They also offer aura photography with a reader there that you can book ahead of time. 144 Washington St, Salem, MA 01970

Oak + Moss / Spruce - Oak + Moss is of my absolute favorite stores! They’ve changed the setup a little to include more plant items alongside kitchen and decor, but they opened up sister shop Sruce next door with more home decor items. They’re always changing up what they offer, and it's always such good items! 143 Washington St, Salem, MA 01970

Blackcraft - Okay the first time I walked into Blackcraft I just took at the door way to take it all in. You have to visit! This is a a very cool, dark goth aesthetic. There is a giant witch hanging from the ceiling, it’s super dark except for some low red lights so you kinda have to browse for a bit before your eyes settle. Everything they sell is very alt and goth. I have trouble going into the store because I want to leave with half of it, truly some very cool clothing and accessories. 253 Essex St, Salem, MA 01970

VampFang - It’s a small store, but out of all the small witch stores on this small strip on Essex St it’s the one I prefer. Plus, if you have the time, you can get custom fitted vampire fangs! 244 Essex St, Salem, MA 01970

The Coven’s Cottage - This is the one store I say definitely wait in line! It feels like stepping into an apothecary in a fantasy novel. It’s a little dark and cozy, plus they sell basically everything and anything you could ever need to cast a spell. You can’t take photos inside, but they have an amazing set up every year outside. 190 Essex St, Salem, MA 01970

Hive and Forge - This is a very eclectic shop selling everything from handmade soaps to taxidermy. I always make a stop here when visiting Salem, and frequented often when I lived there. They just sell so much cool stuff! They have an amazing collection of vintage books, tons of tarot cards, fun jewelry, plus art and clothing from local artists. 30 Church St, Salem, MA 01970

Biss - Another locally owned shop for adorable home decor and trinkets! 12 Front St, Salem, MA 01970

Wicked Good Books - I would not be authentic to myself if I didn’t include a bookshop in this list. A small and cozy bookstore on Essex St that also has a lot of Salem history books! UPDATE: They closed down this super cute location and moved to a bigger space! 260 Essex St, Salem MA 01970

ATTRACTIONS

Witch House - Okay obviously if you’re coming to Salem, you’re gonna want to see the Witch House.It’s one of the last standing structures with direct ties to the Salem Witch Trials. My suggestion is if you want to take a ton of pictures, get here as early as possible. It’ll be packed all day, every day. They decorate the outside with pumpkins, it makes for a very cute photo! If you just want to take a picture outside, no need to pay. Just be mindful of timing when you’re there as 100% there will be a line of people in front of you and behind you when you’re taking pics. 310 Essex St, Salem, MA 01970

Peabody Esssex Museum - Definitely make time to go and see the museum. I love museums, it’s the one thing I always try to do when visiting a place. They always have a Salem Witch Trials exhibitions around autumn, which I think is the best way to learn about the trials versus spending money at other locations (see below on things you should skip…). But aside from that exhibition, they have so much amazing artwork and exhibits! 161 Essex St, Salem, MA 01970

Ropes Mansion + Garden - Two doors down from the Witch House, you’ll find the Ropes Mansion aka the Hocus Pocus house. If you want to take photos here and want to get as much of the mansion in your photo, I would suggest taking them across the street as the house is pretty big. Make sure you step behind the mansion on your right to the garden! It’s one of my favorite spots in Salem. 318 Essex St, Salem, MA 01970

Essex St - Another obvious, if you’re coming to Salem you’re definitely going to want to walk down Essex St! I would suggest starting by the Witch House and walking the entire length stopping at the Hawthorne Hotel. You get to see a lot of shops and attractions like this, and then once you get to the hotel you can either head to the commons on your left, or take a right to head towards Derby st.

Derby St - Derby St has some cool spots mentioned on this list, such as Bambolina, All Souls and Notch Brewery plus some other good spots. If you keep walking, you’ll stumble upon more shops, waterfront restaurants, and the Salem Maritime Historic Park.

Chestnut St - This is a residental street, so be mindful of noise. The houses are big, beautiful, decorated and lined with trees. I just love walking down this street.

House of the Seven Gables - The house that inspired the novel, you do have to pay to go inside but it’s a beautiful home! Great stop if you love literature and history. 115 Derby St, Salem, MA 01970

Salem Willows Park - About a 10 minute drive from downtown Salem is Salem Willows Park. It’s a beautiful waterfront part that has an arcade and fair type food. 165 Fort Ave, Salem, MA 01970

Salem Maritime National Historic Park - This is one of my favorite spots in Salem. You can walk a path that is surrounded both sides by water out to the lighthouse. Beautiful at sunset! They also have a replica ship with limited hours, a store, and a museum across the street. 160 Derby St, Salem, MA 01970

The Satanic Temple - The Salem location is the international headquarters for The Satanic Temple. If you go, just be mindful this is a religious space and to treat it with respect! They have an art gallery (although the temple itself is basically a gallery it’s stunning!), offer walking tours, and other religious/ceremonial events. Also, they have a baphomet statue meant for photos. 64 Bridge St.
Salem, MA 01970

SHORT ON TIME? MAYBE SKIP…

Basically every tiny shop that has a “museum” inside it. They’re all over Essex street. Over priced and small, better spend your money supporting the Peabody Essex Museum right on Essex St (an actual museum). If you have money and time to spend and you REALLY want to see one, I think the The Nightmare Gallery is cool because I love horror films. Some of the stores themselves are cool, but don’t get roped into spending $30 to go into a small room with some wax figures.

Salem Witch Museum - Not that impressive especially for the price and the long line. Go to the PEM instead and see their Salem Witch Trials exhibit alongside all the other cool exhibits!

Tarot/Psychic Readings (within reason…) - There seems to be a general uptick in tarot/psychic readings around this time of year in Salem. Do I believe in that kind of stuff? Honestly, yes! I think at worst it’s fun and at best a very interesting experience. Just be weary of spending tons of money from people who have no idea what they’re doing and are just here for the season to exploit you and your money! Make sure to shop around if you have the time as prices and vibes vary from place to place. Don’t just go for the first one you find (unless it really resonates with you!) At the end of the day, you do you but some good reviews I’ve heard are from:

Magika-Chapel of Archangel Michael

Pentagram

Hex Old World Witchery

I hope you found this guide helpful! If you want to see more Salem and the surrounding areas, come check out my Instagram @magicinsalem