Riverside is a primarily residential neighborhood located along the Charles River.
It is bordered by the area’s most bustling commercial centers — Harvard Square (which sits west of the Harvard Yard in Mid-Cambridge) and Central Square (just south of Riverside and north of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology campus).
Due to its proximity to Harvard University, most of the college’s students reside in Riverside, where there’s a population of around 11,000 people in 3,300 households. Riverside is also home to some of Harvard’s and Cambridge College’s academic and administrative facilities.
Riverside offers plenty to do for students, young professionals, and families as it’s nestled between some of the most lively parts of Cambridge. Locals spend time at the parks, the Cambridge Community Center, which hosts community programs for all ages, and the Charles Square Farmers’ Market.
There are also plenty of restaurants and coffee shops, like Hokkaido Ramen, Zinneken’s Belgian Waffles, Cafe Sushi, Alive & Kicking Lobsters, the Coast Cafe, and Andala Coffee House.