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Where to drink in Boston right now

A photo of Red logo
by Carley Thornell-Wade
Updated 15 December 2023

Whether you prefer brews, bubbles, wines, or whiskeys, there’s a bar for you in the City on a Hill. After all, Cheers was set in Boston for a reason. An industrial-chic spot in Back Bay boasts one of the country’s largest Greek wine lists. Craft cocktails and a quirky Oz-like scene entice revelers at a Beacon Hill lounge. In Downtown Crossing, a late-night stalwart is all about local draft beers and classic burgers. In Back Bay and beyond, there’s something here to quench everyone’s thirst. Read on for a guide to 11 top Boston bars where you can grab a drink right now.

A photo of The Bowery Bar restaurant
4.7
4.7 (999)
$30 and under
American
Dorchester
About the restaurant

There are almost as many seats at the bar as there are rotating draft beers at the Bowery Bar. This local favorite in Dorchester’s Lower Mill neighborhood is perhaps most famous for its winning outdoor dining space, with tables, lounge couches, and seating at an open-air bar. But the vast whiskey program here is also noteworthy. The wine list showcases varieties meant to complement executive chef Dan Davis’s seasonally rotating menu (blackened fish tacos, spicy southern fried chicken with hot honey sauce, street corn arancini, and more), while the bar team whips up its own syrups and handmade juices for the cocktails.


Top review
Sarah
Dined 5 days ago
The Bowery Bar never disappoints. Every time we go, the service is amazing and the food even more so! We rent the private yurts on the back patio for special occasions, and I cannot recommend them enough. They provide the perfect cozy atmosphere for a winter’s evening out! They are well heated, just the right size (although technically they can fit 8 people, I wouldn’t personally exceed a 6 person party as it would be a bit tight), and the service is always a delight. We look forward to coming here every year!
A photo of Krasi restaurant
4.8
4.8 (1820)
$31 to $50
Greek
Back Bay
About the restaurant

Despite its intimate interiors, Krasi boasts one of the largest Greek wine lists in America, thanks to sommelier and wine director Evan Turner, who lived in Thessaloniki as a teen. Diners will find varieties from Liatiko to Savatiano, with a selection that showcases bottles from protected destination of origin areas, along with rare grapes. Cocktail lovers will want to devote extra time to visit Hecate, the 24-seat European-style cocktail bar just below Krasi that features wines, beers, and signature drinks.


Top review
HilaryVIP
Dined 3 days ago
I almost never write reviews, but there is a reason you have to book weeks in advance for a table here. Everything was incredible from the moment we walked in. The staff were welcoming, incredibly kind and knowledgeable, and the food and drinks were divine. We had the pleasure of having Maria assist us - thank you Maria for a wonderful evening! We LOVED the fresh catch in the tomato broth with some bread to dip - oh my goodness, delicious - it was our absolute favorite dish of the night. I am gluten free (my family is not) and they made sure I was accommodated every step of the way. We are looking forward to our next time back as soon as we can get in again.
A photo of Brassica Kitchen restaurant
4.8
4.8 (1685)
$31 to $50
French American
Jamaica Plain
About the restaurant

Hop on the Orange Line and make your way to this laidback restaurant and cafe for a carefully curated international wine list. The vino pairs well with a chef’s choice tasting experience, drummed up by co-chefs Jeremy Kean and Philip Kruta (formerly of Boston favorites No. 9 Park and L’Espalier, respectively). Though the two have a fine-dining foundation, Brassica offers a more easygoing experience with creative locally sourced fare (pork belly with sambal and buttered marshmallow and grilled mushrooms with green curry sauce and Spanish rice, for example) and cocktails. The drinks menu often changes, but staples include the spicy and floral All Power, (featuring cachaça, chile liqueur, grapefruit, and violet liqueur) and the Gray Gardens (a blend of mezcal, lavender, elderflower, orange blossom, and lime).


Top review
Melissa
Dined 5 days ago
Georgia,Evan, Nazia and Brenna are the best at what they do it was great. I love Brassica will always go back.
A photo of Citrus & Salt restaurant
4.6
4.6 (2026)
$30 and under
Contemporary Mexican
Seaport
About the restaurant

Citrus & Salt is an explosion of colors and flavors, which will surprise no one familiar with chef-owner Jason Santos. The blue-haired chef and Bar Rescue regular knows a thing or two about successful hospitality ventures, and this Back Bay favorite brings a bit of the Baja Peninsula to blustery Boston. Citrus & Salt is synonymous with tequila cocktails, featuring fruity and frozen libations such as the Yuzu Cute, which features rum, yuzu-lime bubbles, guava, and mint. Those in the mood for a party can order one of the larger drinks, which serve up to six. The restaurant also serves non-alcoholic options such as Fruity Pebble Ice Tea and a zero-proof strawberry piña colada.


Top review
Hemilkumar
Dined 5 days ago
Amazing food, great vibe , prices are reasonable, and perfect place for a date night.
A photo of Roxanne's restaurant
4.6
4.6 (310)
$30 and under
American
Downtown Crossing
About the restaurant

Beacon Hill is notoriously staid, but you wouldn’t know it stepping into Roxanne’s. Despite being just a stone’s throw from the State House, the lounge has a playful Oz-like vibe with vibrantly patterned wallpaper, textured banquettes, and a back-lit bar that makes the liquor bottles glitter. The focus is on craft cocktails with a menu that’s a passport stamper—rum from the Caribbean, tequilas evoking Mexico, and the aptly named In Tokyo, featuring vodka, matcha, vanilla, and fresh cream. Wines and rotating local draft and bottled beers round out the drinks menu. While Roxanne’s is more of a drink-first-eat-second spot, there’s an excellent selection of sharable bar snacks, including a standout house burger.


Top review
Christie
Dined on 11 Nov 2024
Great vibe, fun decor. Drinks were good and different. We sat at the bar and only got drinks. I would definitely go back.
A photo of The Haven restaurant
4.7
4.7 (1197)
$31 to $50
Scottish
Jamaica Plain
About the restaurant

Boston is renowned for its Irish heritage and pubs. But the Haven stands out for being the city’s only Scottish bar and restaurant—and an ideal spot to watch Premier League Football. The Haven’s menu is all about Old Word-inspired specialties such as Scotch eggs, haggis ravioli, and Scottish salmon. To wash it all down, there’s a robust list of independent and top-shelf whiskeys, which diners can learn more about during Thursday DRAMnights with owner Jason Waddleton (and a rotating selection of liquor educators). If you’re not into the hard stuff, the Haven also carries a robust selection of Scottish beers on tap, ideal for weekly comedy night toasts, dance nights with live DJs, and trivia evenings.


Top review
RoisinVIP
Dined 5 days ago
Absolutely fantastic from start to finish! Upscale but not pretentious Scottish cuisine! “It’s a vibe!” Service, food, ambience all 10/10! The owner himself is a fantastic ambassador for his culture, kind, fun and a friend to all. Can’t wait to go back!
A photo of Troquet on South restaurant
4.7
4.7 (1718)
$31 to $50
French
Theater District
About the restaurant

The dining room and menu at Troquet on South evoke a Parisian bistro, so it’s no surprise that the drinks follow suit. Bubbles lovers can rejoice, thanks to a hearty selection of by-the-glass Champagnes. Owner Chris Campbell is also the lead sommelier, and oversees what he’s dubbed “the grain and grape experience,” encouraging guests to pull up a barstool and stay awhile. Troquet’s extensive wine list includes varietals from France, where Campbell lived for almost three years.


Top review
hubertVIP
Dined 5 days ago
Enjoyed black cod, wagyu steak. Clubby atmosphere.
A photo of Carrie Nation restaurant
4.2
4.2 (750)
$30 and under
Contemporary American
Beacon Hill
About the restaurant

Although Carrie Nation is one of the few places in Boston that offers wine by the carafe—a happy medium between a glass and bottle—there’s nothing middling about this sexy speakeasy. A visit here is like stepping back in time, which makes a signature old fashioned a logical choice. Beyond that, there’s an indulgence for every taste, including a refreshing southern mint tea with bourbon, lemon, honey, and iced tea. Don’t miss the pool tables, nestled in the back.


Top review
Dominique
Dined on 28 Dec 2024
Good drinks, great staff, good food, nice place to have a drink or food, the place is nice
A photo of Hue restaurant
4.3
4.3 (225)
$31 to $50
Global, International
Back Bay
About the restaurant

Hue has quickly become one of the city’s must-visit haunts for cocktail connoisseurs since opening in spring 2023. There’s dinner and a show here in more ways than one, as bartenders stir up foamy and smoky cocktails across the three separate concepts that include the airy Rose Bar, an intimate supper club, and a secluded speakeasy with nightly music. Locally themed drinks, such as the Tea Party (vodka, elderflower liqueur, sake, and raspberry tea) or the Huntington (vodka, sake, cucumber juice, and ginger syrup) are on offer alongside globally accented plates such as Szechuan pepper rock shrimp and steak frites.


Top review
SuzanneVIP
Dined 4 days ago
It was a vibe cuz it was my birthday!!! Thanks again. I'll be back.
A photo of Longfellow restaurant
4.7
4.7 (349)
$30 and under
American
Cambridge
About the restaurant

Award-winning chef and restaurateur Michael Scelfo gives Boston foodies serious bragging rights, thanks in no small part to this iconic bar. Nestled on top of Alden and Harlow, his Harvard Square dining institution, the Longfellow features elegant bar bites meant for sharing and pairing. The cocktail list is as stunning as the bar’s cathedral ceilings and Carrara marble bar top. Standouts include rum-based drinks such as the Control, with corn liqueur, smoked pineapple, and lemon.


Top review
AaronVIP
Dined 4 days ago
Great space, friendly staff, and creative cocktails
A photo of Banyan Bar + Refuge restaurant
4.7
4.7 (1371)
$31 to $50
Asian
South End
About the restaurant

Happy hours featuring alcohol specials aren’t allowed in Massachusetts, but bars and restaurants get around that with inexpensive snacks just before the dinner rush. At Banyan Bar + Refuge, the discounted dumplings and spring rolls (from 4 pm to 6 pm nightly) are just one reason to visit. The others include a mighty cocktail list: Bartenders perk up spirits such as vodka with Thai chiles for the coconut water and lime-infused Supreme Leader and standout mocktails including the lemongrass, lime, and ginger-forward Malaysian Mule. Decor features birch wood trunks and massive branch lighting fixtures—a homage to the bar’s namesake trees. While Banyan’s interior is a cozy cold-weather escape, its expansive patio is one of the South End’s most sought-after spots in the summer months.


Top review
Skylar
Dined 4 days ago
Went for drinks and apps with friends. We sat at the bar and it was the perfect spot! Tuna crispy rice was phenomenal!
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