Boston office demand is spread across a few districts, and the numbers show which ones are full. CBRE put downtown office vacancy at 18.5% in the third quarter of 2026 with positive absorption, and in the second quarter Back Bay was the tightest submarket at 13.9% vacant while the Seaport sat at 20.1% and gave back 313,516 square feet. Longwood is its own market with nearly 68,000 jobs, 32% more than Kendall Square. Kendall keeps growing anyway, with AstraZeneca's 570,000 square foot tower opening in 2026 for up to 1,850 employees. Milk Street Cafe and Viga both sit downtown, and Milk Street lists the Financial District, Back Bay, Seaport and Cambridge in its delivery area. Rebecca's names Longwood, and Basil Tree works out of Cambridge and covers Boston, Somerville, Medford and Watertown.
Seven of the fifteen caterers publish some pricing. Metro Catering lists an assorted sandwich platter at $12.95 per person and complete lunches from $19.95 to $26.95, with a six person and $100 food minimum. Fresh City Kitchen's ordering site shows boxed lunches at $21 to $27 and hot buffets at $24 to $28 with a 10 person minimum. Flame Cafe and Arsenal post boxed lunches at $14.99 to $27.99 and buffet packages from $13.99 per person for 30 people. El Pelon prices by the tray, $55 to $195, with 48 hours' notice. Johnny Burke is the full-service end, $48 to $55 per person packages with a $1,000 delivery minimum. Metro, Viga and Boston Catering & Events all take same-day weekday orders, and Viga's minimum is $80. Basil Tree wants orders by 4pm the business day before. Milk Street, Rebecca's, Sam LaGrassa's, Bonapita and Perillas run online ordering too.
Massachusetts charges 6.25% meals tax and Boston adds the 0.75% local option, so budget 7% on top, and a separately stated service charge counts as part of the taxable meal unless it is paid out to service staff. Metro adds a $20 delivery fee and a $25 service charge on downtown drop-offs, Boston Catering & Events charges $25 within 10 miles of Woburn, and Johnny Burke's delivery starts at $75. Radii vary: Boston Catering & Events guarantees online delivery within 45 miles of Woburn, while Basil Tree stays inside Boston, Cambridge, Medford, Somerville and Watertown on weekdays only. The Catered Affair and Above and Beyond are proposal-only event houses, not drop-off lunch options. Perillas' ordering site blocked our check, so confirm its pricing by phone. Big weeks at the Menino Convention Center, like WE26 in November with 15,000 plus attendees, are worth ordering ahead for.