Yesterday afternoon, Mike and I had a great time shopping at South Shore Plaza in Braintree, Massachusetts. Our go to place to shop is typically Providence Place in Rhode Island but we wanted to check out something new. Plus we were tired of driving around looking for parking at Providence.

Note: Mall stores change frequenclty. Please check the South Shore Plaza website for a full directory of all shops and restaurants.

South Shore Plaza is the largest shopping mall in New England. I really liked this mall – it was not overly crowded (plenty of walking space with the wide aisles). It had a bright and airy feeling with the ceiling windows. Overall, the mall had a nice clean and classy look.

I was satisfied with the diverse selection of stores and restaurants. We had lunch at The Cheesecake Factory. My Spring Vegetable Salad was a great choice for a lunch that filled me up but didn’t drag me down all day. The fried zucchini sticks were a treat. I didn’t try any cheesecake but they all looked fabulous – plenty of flavors and options are available. I would love to come back for Christmas to try the iconic Peppermint Bark.

This mall was home to all the usual stores and then some that you don’t come across that often such as The North Face, Juicy Couture, and A/X Armani Exchange. Another nice bonus was having a CVS and Target inside the mall (convenient if you want to shop and also pick up basic essentials the same day).

Update: Juicy and A/X Armani Exchange are now closed.

There is a Dave and Busters although you have to either walk or drive your car over as it is not attached to the mall. Dave and Busters is always a great add on activity after shopping or dining. It’s so much fun to enjoy some old-school fun at this arcade (I love the basketball game!). There are plenty of promotions available if you sign up for their email club. Overall, it was a nice day out. This mall is the nicest out of all the Rhode Island and Massachusetts malls that I have visited.

Dave and Busters basketball game

Pros:

  • Free covered parking (came in handy with the snow storm!)
  • Great variety of stores
  • The North Face and Armani Exchange
  • Dave and Busters
  • Clean and not overcrowded
  • On-site Target and CVS 

Cons:

  • Dave and Busters and some restaurants not connected to the mall
  • Lack of dining variety
  • A movie theater or IMAX in the mall would be nice

While you in the vicinity, I recommend enjoying an authentic Italian dinner at La Scala in Randolph. It’s just a 10 minute drive from the mall, but so worth it. I love the Baked Ziti here and the ambiance here is wonderful!

UPDATE: Mike and I have been enjoying exploring the city and suburbs for the past few years. There are so many great things to do in Boston you don’t want to limit all your time to the mall. Check out my city attraction guide for some fun things you can do for free.