By By David Royster, News Correspondent

The bumpy ride down Cambridge Street on the Harvard/Holyoke Gate-bound 69 bus reveals a clear difference from the exclusivity of Boston’s Back Bay area or tourist-oriented Downtown hub. Free of T stops and tourists, East Cambridge borders one of the hidden gems of the Greater Boston area:’ Inman Square.
Vibrantly-colored storefronts, welcoming, albeit busy, residents and a host of restaurants and boutiques are commonplace in Inman Square. It is a trendy area for young families, and what one visitor described as the new ‘tattooed and pierced parent generation.’
The square is Starbucks-free, so residents flock to 1369 Coffee House (1369 Cambridge St.) for a welcoming atmosphere:’ rustic wooden furniture, local art on the walls and more than 20 varieties of coffee from across the globe. Among the coffeehouse crowd are young graduate students from nearby Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University, professionals and elderly locals, all engrossed with their pens and pads or laptops. Expect to spend around $2.25 for a doppio, two shots of espresso, $3.60 for a large latte and $4 for homemade soups, salads and a variety of sandwiches.
Inman Square has an interesting mix of stores, speckled with businesses that have been around for decades as well as newer ones making their own mark on the ever-changing community. Lulu Davis and Debbie Bowman own Bird by Bird (1361 Cambridge St.) a smart, chic and charming boutique for urban moms and their equally urban tykes. This shop boasts a nice selection of cool and spunky children’s clothing and tinker toys, all lined up against the stylish brick walls and hardwood floors.
‘We just love the community,’ Davis said. ‘It’s full of local businesses. There aren’t many chains, and it’s a really big walking community.’
White painted tree branches coat the ceiling of Boutique Fabulous (1309 Cambridge St.) a former vintage clothing store that now sells a variety of antiques, tapestries, furniture, kitchenware, clothing and jewelry. The store’s collection, which is organized in a manner where customers are able to encounter something new any way they turn, epitomizes Inman Square.
Recently under new management, the Druid Pub (1357 Cambridge St.) continues Inman Square’s identity of mixing new with old; With the older crowd sitting at tables enjoying one of the Irish pub’s regional beers and the crowd of younger professionals enjoying some of the tavern’s great dishes.’
The Druid looks like it is inspired by Ireland-meets-Brazil. Charming orange Christmas lights and winged sculptures called ‘Druid Ghosts,’ hang from the ceiling blending in with the crowd of mostly locals.
The menu at The Druid has an Irish base and large portions. The homemade Druid burger, $9, is grilled and comes with homemade, hand-cut french fries. Sunday brunch, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., boasts an Irish breakfast special:’ Bacon, eggs, sausage, black and white pudding, potatoes and beans for $10.’
Much like The Druid, Christina’s Homemade Ice Cream (1255 Cambridge St.) is on the must-visit list in Inman Square. The parlor has more than 40 homemade flavors of ice cream, making it easy to satisfy almost any craving. Christina’s offers everything from Carrot Cake to Sex on the Beach, with many seasonal choices, including Apple Cider and Toasted Marshmallow.
Don’t expect a place to park at night. Students and young professionals from all around the city go to bask in the swanky atmosphere, leaving restaurants and bars packed and the streets filled.
For the average outsider, Inman Square may seem a little intimidating at first glance – residents are not the type to start up a conversation, but do seem interested in informing an outsider of the reasons they enjoy calling the area home. Still, the hip, eclectic and safe atmosphere makes this hidden gem something to check out during a visit to Cambridge.