2 Best Restaurants in Salem, Side Trips from Boston

This contemporary seafood restaurant on Salem Harbor treats patrons to prime canal views. There is an extensive sushi and sashimi menu, plus lots of other seafood favorites, including sesame-crusted tuna and steamed lobster. Burgers and steaks are also available for meat eaters. Nab a seat on the outdoor deck when the weather's fine and eat practically among the boats.

Housed in a 200-year-old building that was once a bank—Ledger takes its name from the massive amount of banking ledgers found in the building—today diners enjoy a modern-day spin on traditional 19th-century dishes, especially live-fire cooking. Grab a cocktail while checking out the multitude of original features incorporated into the restaurant, including deposit boxes and a huge safe that serves as the restaurant’s walk-in refrigerator. Grab a peek of the private dining room, where the wooden chair rails are sourced from pews in an old church near Boston Common.