Best Boston Clam Chowder

This is a chowder trail for Boston locals and visitors who want to taste how many ways the city makes its signature soup. The bowls are spread between Faneuil Hall, the North End waterfront, Long Wharf, Fort Point Channel and Back Bay's Boylston and Newbury Streets.

Boston Chowda Co. in the Quincy Market colonnade serves surf clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl. Saltie Girl's version is rich enough to stand a spoon in, and it tops several national chowder lists. The Barking Crab adds a tented deck on Fort Point Channel and a wood stove for winter, while Boston Sail Loft's chowder is popular enough to ship nationwide. Legal Sea Foods on Long Wharf sets the benchmark many visitors measure others by. Saltie Girl's room is tiny, so book ahead or go at an off hour, and ask for a harbor window at the Sail Loft.