Unique outdoor skate spot! Storage lockers on site, validated parking near by! Staff is attentive, well priced, nearby to food and shops! read more

Skate at Canal District Kendall - Outdoor ice skating Rink - Skating Rinks Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

We went on a Sunday afternoon with our preschooler for his first time on the ice. Not the least expensive around but better than the Frog Pond and way less crowded. The staff are friendly. The music is good but not too loud, which is a must for my kiddo. They do not have assists but the rail at the top of the boards isn't too high so he was able to hang on. Slow pokes do stay to the edge and learners right in the center. It's an odd shaped small rink which makes it easy to move between rails and center without passing a (frozen) sea of people . Definitely a good place for a nice casual skate. We will be going back. read more

Skate at Canal District Kendall - Skaters on an outdoor rink - Skating Rinks Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Small ice skating rink and choppy. The ice along the borders slope so be careful if you need to hang on to the sides. You can't go very fast because of the limitations of the rink, but it is a good time for the younger kids and newbies. read more

My friend and I came here. She was visiting from South Carolina and got a Groupon ticket for this skate skating area. I came with her that day. She was only visiting for a day with her mother. It was pretty crowded when we got there but the line was pretty fast so that was ok. The employees are very nice and helpful as well. We chose our shoe sizes and then we started going to the rink. I honestly don't know how to skate so my friend just dragged me the whole time. Thankfully I didn't fall lol which was an accomplishment for me. The skating area wasn't very big but enough to accommodate a few people skating all at once. We skated for a few hours but we got too cold and we ended up going to the mall after that. Would love to come back next time if some of my friends would come with me. read more

I really enjoyed my time at this place. I went on a Thursday night around 6:30 and the place was practically empty. I prefer here over Frog Pond because this place was much cleaner and very well-kept. Entrance and rental are much cheaper here as well! I also really liked their customer service. Staff members were very polite and helpful! The only downside might be it is very difficult to find street parking. Other than that, I think this place is a gem! read more

Skate at Canal District Kendall - Skating Rinks Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I absolutely love going to this skating rink. It's just awesome. The guy running it is such an amazing, nice guy. Been going there for a couple of years now, often with my girlfriend as it has this romantic feel to it. And because of it's size it is very, very well maintained. It's also like 10 feet away from Acceituna which is a great restaurant to grab a snack before or after you skate. The shape of the rink itself is very unique, it's almost like a kidney shape. I can't describe it. It's a shame that it's not a bit more symmetric but who cares? It's still a lot of fun. You can rent out the entire rink through their website at a fee if you want to and they also have some decent rates when it comes to renting skates through them. The skates are in excellent condition and they also have a sharpening service available. Overall I highly, highly recommend this awesome rank which is a very, very nice alternative to the Frog Pond which gets packed every other day during the winter. read more

Don't waste your money at Frog Pond, come to Kendall Square for ice skating! We went right before their Nutcracker performance (11am on a Saturday) because it was free to skate until the show at 1:30pm. 11am is obviously early for most twenty somethings so the place was overrun with parents and 4-10 year olds, but they weren't too bad. Mostly it consisted of parents skating and literally dragging their kids feet over the ice with tiny little skates on their feet. Some kid got left behind by his dad (this kid was like four years old) and he saw my black coat and just hit me so hard thinking i was his dad and we were like "no no your dad is over there he just walked away". jeeze. the only problem is their "shop" area where you have to rent skates ($8 for adult skates) and where you also have to rent a locker, put your skates on, and make sure not to hit children with the spikes of your skates. They do validate parking (so amazing) so it was only $2 for 2 hours. this was the second time i've been to the kendall square community skating rink, and i'll probably keep coming back considering my boyfriend is completely against braving the Frog Pond (which is also a rip off). It's an interesting location to put it nicely, but there's a lot more room to skate, and hold on to the edge - if you're an ice skating noob. read more

Skate at Canal District Kendall - Skating Rinks Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Ice skating is always fun. Outdoor ice skating is even more fun. So, it's hard not to like this place. But it does have a few shortcomings: it's small; oddly triangular-shaped; and doesn't have the best ice upkeep (a few holes and wet spots). But otherwise, it's fine. And it's one of the few things that makes winter likeable. It wasn't too crowded on a non-freezing Saturday afternoon, but we were definitely the only adults there without kids. The location is great -- just a short walk from the Kendall T stop. They offer lockers for $1, and ice packs for free in case you fall (which I, proudly, did not do). You can also purchase some hot chocolate and small snacks if you feel so inclined... but I would just wait to go to Leisure Station for a ginger milk tea afterwards! $3 admission with student ID, $5 otherwise. $8 skate rental. read more

Found this deal on Groupon and I figured "why not?" Prior to purchasing, I've never been ice skating so I decided to grab a few friends and run with it. Overall, I had a great experience! It was easy to find parking, it wasn't crowded, and the staff were extremely friendly and helpful. For my first time ice skating I had fun with no injuries! I will be making my way back. :-) read more

The rink is quite small (and a strange triangular shape) but it's an adorable public rink. The staff there is fantastic - they're extremely helpful and very friendly. The rink is located a little out of the way, but it's only a 10 minute or less walk from the Kendall T stop. The ice itself is a little bumpy and uneven, and a lot of their ice skates are rather ill fitting, lopsided or are a bit dull. However, none of the ones I tried on were bad enough that you'll be uncomfortable skating if you manage to put them on correctly, and the rink is small enough that you're probably not doing anything fancy during community skate. In my experience it doesn't get super crowded, but it does get pretty full. It's a great place for first time skaters, and young children, especially since they have a lot of staff on the ice (they were marked with red lights on their skates when we go). Quite affordable too. read more

Great rink that I want to visit again. Just a few minutes' walk from the subway. The skates they rent are clean and in very good condition, something I immediately noted. Also impressed by how attentive the staff is to keeping the ice nice and clean, which compensates for the rink being on the smaller side. Within minutes of you noticing that the ice could use a sweep, you're being asked by the attending staff to clear the rink so they can BRING OUT DA ZAMBONI! Well-maintained facility that I definitely wanna return to for future skating. read more

Here are the rates for adults: $5 for full date of skating $8 + tax for skate rentals (figure or hockey) I came here with a groupon (skating for 2 adults including skate rentals) for $13. Unfortunately, the groupon did not include taxes, which came up to $1. Luckily, I had $1 and was able to pay. TIP FOR MY LADIES: Do not bring a bag. There are lockers, but not that many lockers. I saw a few women carrying crossbody bags while skating, but you don't want to do that. Keep everything in your pockets! TIPS for ladies & gentlemen: As there are limited lockers, most people leave their shoes outside under the benches. You may not want to wear your most expensive Louboutins here. The ice: Well maintained. They regularly re surface the ice with a zamboni. Its not a large rink but its ok. The crowd: Lots of kids, Its a great place for beginners. There is railing along the whole rink so you can grab onto it! read more

Awesome local space to skate. Truth be told I never really knew how to skate before coming here. I'm ashamed to say I was a rail grabber. So I decided to sign up for some lessons. They have a couple of sessions during the snowy months. Classes were about 7-10 of us and we got the ice all to ourselves an hour before it's open to the public on a Sunday. As good and patient as the teacher was I still wasn't all that confident. Then she suggested I try a helmet. My main issue was fear of falling which she also taught us how to fall and get back up. By the 3rd session most of us in the class, including yours truly let go of the rail. Turning and stopping were other issues but I felt thoroughly accomplished having abandoned my safety rail (which really isn't all that safe since you can really bang yourself up if you hit your head on it). The rink itself isn't all that big but that's a good thing for people, like myself who don't go out for too long on the ice. There's plenty of parents and kids who come here as well. Some of those kids have really good moves, they put me to shame. But the people running it are friendly. There are lines during the weekend but those move fairly quick. They also offer free hot cocoa. It's much more affordable than skating at MIT, not as packed as Frog Pond and an incredibly friendly staff who are always on the ice in case anyone needs assistance. I couldn't ask for anything more. read more

Yes, yes, yes, this section of town is fast becoming my favorite in all of Cambridge thanks to the new restaurants, the proximity to the Charles River, and my recent love affair with this little outdoor rink. There is nothing quite like strapping on your skates on a crisp winter evening and skating under the stars. Even though you are surrounded by modern architecture and not the pine trees and mountains of your youth, you can't help but feel rejuvenated by some great exercise on the ice. Rented skates are sharp and clean so if yours disappeared in the last yard sale, you can pick some up here. (Tie your laces tightly so your ankles do not start to droop.) You can get hot chocolate, have a lesson or even rent the whole rink for a birthday party. There's a great music sound track so you can shake your bootie while you glide. How much fun is that? Hockey games would be tough here, due to the shape of the rink, but a little innovation could lead to some new form of hockey game. After all, this is innovation territory. You can get a season pass, a day pass, and there are discounts for people who work in the surrounding buildings, seniors and kids. The rink opens at 11 or noon, depending on the day of the week, and you can skate until 8 or 9. The rink's odd shape takes a little getting used to, and there are lots of kids teetering about, but this is good old-fashioned fun and would be a fantastic date night activity, especially if you go off to Abigail's, Fuji or EVOO afterwards. (EVOO even gives you a 10% discount if you show your receipt. Nice!) I am happy to report that skating is like riding a bike. Once you know how, you can do it for life. It felt great to get out there on the ice again under the night sky. I'll be back during a lunch hour next time! read more

The water was frozen solid. One star. Oh, but I kid. The rink at Kendall Square is a great place to glide with the grace of Nancy Kerrigan* (too soon?). Any fumbles or wobbly knees displayed (yes, definitely too soon) were simply indicative of my skating skill - the rental equipment is comfortable and in solid shape, and the ice is glazed regularly with the sounds-like-macaroni prowess of their Zamboni. A sizable surface means even if it gets to be bit kid packed, you've still got room to tumble around them, and you might even blend in to the pack when you're craving a post-session candy bar and Mountain Dew (sodas and snacks sold in the hut). Parking is hit or miss, as the garages are prohibitively expensive and the street spots are few, but hell, you don't want clingy slush to melt on your new cowhide seat covers anyway, so take the T, walk a smidge and tackle that oval before it tackles you. Spoiler alert: it tackled me. Ice skating ain't easy! *Harding-har-har. read more

If I gave this place a tagline, it would be: The Perfect Alternative from the Frog Pond! Likes: -Forget those old school, smelly, banged up skate rentals. The skates here are super nice and fit well. -Not crowded, so the ice stays smooth longer, and doesn't get choppy within minutes. Plus, with less people you don't have to skate in a boring circle like drones, there's room to play! -I dug the music, PG good old hits from my middle school days. Dislike: -There was this weird patch of bumpy ice near where the zamboni enters and exits the rink. Avoid or face a possible butt plant. read more

I came, I saw, I skated, I had fun, and I nearly made it the whole time w/o falling.... nearly. Yep, it bit it, and although it was a somewhat graceful fall -- I still had bruises on my knees. Nonetheless the rink is small, and oddly shaped, but I really liked this rink. The skates fit me better than most rentals do... the price is not as expensive as the frog pond and other rinks, and you're in a really good location. Kendall square is easy to get to, but away from the hustle and bustle of other squares. Good times! read more

What a great ice skating spot! The rink is pretty small, but it's right in the heart of Kendall Square. I thought the prices were good, though I suppose if you were to come often and have to rent skates all the time, it would add up. If you can bring your own, you save $8 per adult. I love that it's right in the city. There's parking, and it's pretty easy to get to. Lots of families go, but it's not terrible crowded. The indoor portion is really small, and there's not a lot of bench space, but once you have your skates on and your things stashed away, it's actually alright. They sell hot chocolate (with whipped cream!) for only $2. Sure, it's the instant kind, but it's warm and sweet. The skate rentals were actually quite good. They run almost a whole size too big, though. Fortunately they let you trade if they don't fit right. I didn't realize this until later, but they actually also have helmets that you can use, free of charge. I wish I had seen it when I first got there, but I will certainly grab one next time. I was also really impressed with the staff there. After previously eventless skating, I fell and needed a ice pack. They were so attentive, making sure I was okay. They even called me the next day to check in on me! It was very sweet. read more

I got the Groupon here and figured it would be a great date for me and the bf. We NEVER go ice skating. This rink was really easy to get to and has a great set up. It is just oddly shaped and a lot smaller than I expected. Also I just couldn't get the right size skate, but that's really my fault for not having my own skates. Can't expect rentals to really do everything! I suspect we will be back at some other point next season! read more

Great spot for some outdoor winter fun! Fortunately my skates fit fine on the first try because I got the vibe that the man behind the counter had no intention of helping me figure that business out. I think he might have said two words total to me even though I asked about 5 different questions. Amazing how grunting and pointing can be considered communicating! Despite the lack of customer service, the ice skating was so fun! They kept the rink pretty and smooth, had some great music playing, and offered food/drink options to purchase. It really was a nice, but inexpensive, night out! read more

SO MUCH FUN! As others have said, this place is a little small and oddly-shaped, but we went this afternoon and it wasn't crowded at all. There was a good mix of young and old(er), decent skaters and first timers on the ice. If you're driving, either park on the street or in the lot that they validate from. Don't park in the big garage down the block or they'll charge you a ridiculous amount (found this out the hard way!) read more

This place is great!!! I took my 7 year old Little Sister here for our first match activity and we had a blast!! There were no collisions. I only fell once! They have a smooth system for admittance, straight down a line to pay and rent skates. The staff went above and beyond the call of duty. They were helpful with the awkward shoe sizes associated with figure skates, and they were so nice about getting first aid when my Little took a spill (she was ok! don't worry!) Best of all, the zamboni driver beeps his horn (the crucial icing on the cake, if you will). It was a fantastic afternoon and I will certainly be back there before the season is over. read more

This awesome little kidney bean shaped rink just opened in December 2006 right between the Kendall T and the Cambridgeside Galleria. It's pretty affordable and very romantic. They only rent hockey skates in boys sizes for women which made me less graceful than usual but the staff is helpful and friendly and the rink is the perfect size for skating around with your friends or sweetie this winter. read more

We went last night and had a total blast. The staff is extremely helpful and friendly; inside they helped me lace up my skates and once on the ice we got a hockey-stop tutorial. Super fun, we'll definitely be back. read more

I knew that it was going to come up. I had been anticipating it, and dreading it. I really thought that it would be somewhere else that it would happen the frog pond perhaps or the rink in the North End but the fates conspired in an odd way and it ended up being the Kendall Square Skating Rink. right by familiar places but tucked a little off to the side so I almost missed out again the concession was small shack of a building there were looks of awe when I pulled out the black leather antiques aged like my face but really a decade older scuffs on the toes blades that made the sharpener tired trying to restore their edge I squeezed my feet in choked the laces up my knuckles going white trying to pull everything an eighth of an inch closer ginger steps forward and I was sliding on the ice teeter forward teeter back legs pausing and bracing then feet angle push to the side try to have a conversation with the frozen water some other people around me are keeping a slow pace one or two just fly by the little kids seem like they are practicing so that they can be even better than me I don't seem to improve as my ankles strain and weaken pauses at the hand rail and on the bench waiting for the Zamboni just allow me to inflict more pain upon my legs the music takes a turn for the better and I somehow pull off a hop-step to Thriller though there were no other zombies shuffling about things started to go dark for the nigh I sat on the bench and extracted my feet from their leather casings I never fell read more

I came to this friendly little rink on Sunday expecting it to be deserted - like the rest of Kendall square when offices are closed. It was anything but! The rink was busy - mostly with families and swarms of little kids. My date and I were constantly tripping over the hundreds of little reminders of why NOT to have sex. All in all, it's a great little spot, especially if the other person has no idea it exists. I was totally surprised! read more

A convenient and relatively inexpensive ice rink. It's definitely on the small side but it is a great place to skate outdoors during the wintertime. If you go on any weekday it's usually pretty empty as well. read more

never a long line. great location (now that there's some food options! like Za - pizza and salad and a bar - and Evoo - fine-ish dining featuring local produce and other local stuff). skate amongst concrete, brick, and glass buildings of Genzyme and other med tech-y pharmaceutical type companies. and then follow up by walking along the new bridge toward the river. there are places to park, too, whether in a garage or on the street. read more

A winter wonderland is happening outside! Just because its cold doesn't mean you have to hibernate until April. Grab your skates or drop the 5spot for a rental pair and get on the ice at Kendall's rink! On a weeknight, it wasn't too crowded but its very family friendly so I'd watch the f-bombs with those rugrats zipping by your ankles. Everyone was definitely friendly and accommodating. The hot cocoa flowed, the camera flashed brighter than the razor's edge of the skates, people of ALL abilities made their way around the unique shape of the rink. The Zamboni even made an appearance to smooth things over and give us skaters a little break! I vote that the Kendall Square Community Rink is a must for anyone. I think that it could even make a cute date. Maybe stop off for a drink or hot beverage after. Hmm... now that's the best idea I've had all day! read more

I originally went here because I had bought Groupon tickets for two passes and rentals for ten bux. Having only skated on the Frog Pond ice, I was a little nervous and excited for this new venture. I maybe hooked, however. The rink is small, but the music they play is a far cry from the bland and boring recycled pop music at the Frog Pond. The skates are all brand new and they fit like a glove, and are extremely comfortable (I just rented skates because of the Groupon deal). The atmosphere is beautiful, especially in the dark. All of the lights surrounding the rink are reflected off the shiny Kendal area buildings, and it's just amazing. The ice is slipperlier. Yes, I said that. The ice feels much more slippery here than the FP ice. It may be smoother because there are less people there, or I may be insane, but that's how I felt. The only downside is that the bars around the rim of the rink are made out of metal, and for a full grown adult, is the perfect size of slamming your knee caps into. Ouch. Lesson learned, now skate straight! read more

Great Ice Skating and not crowded. This was a super fine right in the middle of an ever revitalizing and growing Kendall Square. I've taken my lunch hour's here; good music - fun skating and never too crowded but a friendly mix of young and older folks - and workers from the nearby buildings. Can't beat the fresh air and well grooomed ice. Friendly staff and good hot chocolate - a great pick me up before heading back for the afternoon stint at work. read more

The skating rink is pretty awesome, the people working were friendly. Went on a Friday night and it was hardly crowded. It's a beautiful place and friendly people on and off the rink! Remember to get your parking validated if you're parking at the garage. I saved $4 off parking. read more

Took the whole family here over Thanksgiving. A great way to enjoy the holiday season. Excellent place for some beautiful photos! Our kids love to skate here every year and had a great time. The staff was very helpful. Enjoy read more

This is a great outdoor skating rink. The rink itself and the skates are well maintained. It often closes due to weather, but they are very communicative though the website and Facebook page. They play good music and the prices are very reasonable. My kids have loved coming here. read more

I'm so glad I found this rink thanks to Yelp. It's a great little rink that's very convenient to get to by car or the T. The rink isn't your typical oval shape and it's smaller than the frog pond, but the advantage is smaller crowds. The music is great so no need for an ipod if you're going alone. The staff is very helpful and friendly too. read more

I don't mean to sounds like a square, but I'm not crazy about ice skating on an amoeba shaped rink. That being said, this place is cute for the winter and they are definitely taking advantage of the space. This is one of those places that is a great date spot but also a great to take the kids out. By far the best part was the people watching. Some kids were fearless, others held the railing as if their lives depended on it. They pulled themselves at a sloth like speed around the rink with giant grins on their faces. I guess what I'm saying is you don't have to be great. Sure there were the folks who looked like had been born with ice skates on their feet, but it's ok to stumble, and even wipe out. Embrace the winter. Brrrr, where's my hot chocolate? Not here. :-/ read more

Small, weired shape. But friendly staff. Music. Cool urban locate, with new coffee shop adjacent. And rental skates in good condition. Bummer that ice skating season ends early, on March 14. read more

Wow! What a great time we had skating at this rink. The staff was great, the music was fun...it was reasonable and they validate parking! Definitely going back soon. read more

I completely realize that this is an off-season review, but I love this place so much that I felt it warranted such. Let me just start off by saying this, the Frog Pond is good (and I think tourists visiting Boston in the winter should try to experience it), but Kendall Square is better for the rest of us. The crowd is smaller, and that is definitely a plus in my book. Some people have commented on the odd shape of the rink, but I personally liked it. In fact, I found it refreshing. How often do you get to skate on something that isn't a rounded rectangle? I thought the rates for both admission and skate rental were pretty reasonable. Also, as others have said the rental skates are in great condition. If you live in the Boston/Cambridge area, I'd definitely recommend checking this out this winter. It's easily accessible from the T, and if you enjoy skating, it'll be worth the ride. read more

I read about this place, and was convinced by all the positive reviews. Going there, I can tell you it certainly lives up to the hype. Nice rink, nice people, good skates. They refresh the ice every hour, and it wasn't too busy. Stop reading about it and just go! read more