24 Best Nightlife in Boston, Massachusetts

This longtime neighborhood soul-food and jazz hangout still looks spiffy, and features real Southern cooking and live bands nearly nightly at light cover charges. Come for favorites like mac and cheese or glorified chicken and waffles, and on Sunday there is an all-you-can-eat blues brunch starting at 11 am.

Family-owned and -operated since 1909, J. J. Foley's Cafe (or "Foley's," as regulars call it) is one of the most authentic Irish bars in Boston. There's an intimate dining room, as well as a more casual bar area where everyone from former Boston mayors to Justin Timberlake have enjoyed a pint. Better yet, it's open until 2 am. The pub food is great; order a sky-high plate of nachos if you dare.

This stunning flagship bar in the 1912 Fairmont Copley Plaza hotel is a see-and-be-seen hot spot, with the original sky-high coffered ceilings, catbird views over Copley Square, and top-notch bartenders. Inside, coveted barstools are filled with an upscale crowd, while outside in warm weather, patrons can sit at outdoor tables while perusing a menu of signature martinis, single malts, shareable platters, and desserts. People-watch and enjoy a panorama that encompasses the Boston Public Library and Trinity Church in this historic spot.

This sumptuous nightlife spot is billed as a "British-inspired cocktail bar with a sophisticated New England twist." Sink into swivel, leather high-top stools at the bar, barrister chairs, or banquettes, and order up fancy food made casual, including the signature three-cheese toastie. They serve excellent craft cocktails and two dozen wines by the glass. In nice weather, The Fed features an outdoor terrace.

This is where local hipsters make their home. Bands, beers, and burgers sum up this snug and amiable little Porter Square hideaway attached to Christopher's. The bar is maple, the toads ceramic, and microbrews on tap are a dozen-plus. Nightly music comes in many a stripe Wednesday through Saturday nights, and sometimes in double bills at 5 and 9 pm. Record lovers unite on Saturday from 5 to 7:30 pm for vinyl sharing, drink sipping, and "favorite music?" chatting.

Whether you're staying at The Ritz or just stopping by for a drink, the decadent and modern Avery Bar serves some serious, handcrafted cocktails, including a few without alcohol. While this is a hotel lobby bar to be sure, the experience is anything but. The warm ambience attracts a fortysomething crowd, and there are a few select small plates for anyone who's hungry.

The name of this bar pays tribute to the championship banners for the Boston Bruins and Boston Celtics that are hanging next door from the ceiling of the TD Garden. This is a sports bar to the max, featuring beers, burgers, and other bar classics, plus the biggest indoor LED TV screen on the East Coast and the second-level Topgolf Swing Suite, which hosts a variety of sports simulation games.

Beantown Pub cleverly posits itself to be "the only pub in the world where you can drink a cold Sam Adams while viewing a cold Sam Adams." And it's true, since this casual bar sits on the Freedom Trail, across Tremont Street from the Granary Burying Ground where the Founding Father is interred. The bar is a fine place to watch multiple sports events on television, shoot pool, or people-watch. There's also a standard pub menu, usually served until midnight. No kids are allowed after 6 pm.

Watch the sun set over the Zakim Bridge as you peruse the extensive list of 34 rotating draughts, elite bottled beers, cask ale, draught wine, craft spirits, and custom cocktails (hello, Margarita Mondays). Located along the Freedom Trail at the end of the Charlestown Bridge, this watering hole is a favorite among locals to hang out and watch the game (expect crowds). Drinks like the Navy Yard Old Fashioned have ties to history, while their Bloody Mary flights and table mimosa with housemade purees are tasty options. The eclectic menu is full of tavern favorites like burgers, chicken wings, and flatbread pizzas, along with interesting twists like the Pitmaster Daily BBQ plate, moule frites, seafood bowls, and fried seafood.

Served by a no-nonsense bar staff, this narrow barroom has a literary flair and more than 100 brews for your sipping (or chugging) pleasure. You'll see many a beer nerd hanging out at the bar, but hungry folks also come to the funky joint for the creative burgers, hot dogs, and other comfort foods.

Right around the corner from the Massachusetts State House, this bar channels speakeasy vibes with jazzy tunes, tasty food, and fantastic cocktails. On Sunday, check out the buffet brunch and drag show; you'll need to reserve a ticket.

This pub—dismantled in England, shipped to Boston, and reassembled—formerly known as The Bull & Finch, later became the inspiration for the now-classic TV series Cheers. Enjoy a burger at the model bar of the Hollywood set and imagine Sam and Diane walking in the door and calling your name. The crowd tends to be heavily tourists, so locals stay away. No children after 10 pm.

This unpretentious, cozy bar on a quiet corner attracts old-timers and young professionals with modest drinks and affordable comfort food. The quesadillas are worth the wait for a table. Yellowing posters, dim lights, and a ’60s soundtrack add to the quirky, retro vibe (did we mention it's covered in Elvis memorabilia?). The wine list features a couple of reds, whites, and sparklers.

A neighborhood institution, the Franklin's renowned for creative cocktails, local microbrews, fine wines, and modern American food. There's no sign: just look for the white martini logo (or folks waiting for a dinner table) to know you're there. A full menu is served until 1:30 am every single night of the week, and the bar is open until 2 am.

This funky bar in a heritage flatiron building mixes exotic martinis and fresh-juice cocktails and boasts a whopping selection of international vodkas. The basement level lounge draws eclectic crowds for dancing and live music.

This quintessential grad-student hangout is cavelike, low-lit, and brick-walled. During early evenings, tasty entrées like buffalo chicken dip, burritos, brisket nachos, and burgers are half-price with a $4-per-person drink (inside only; not on outdoor patio). Named after Grendel, the antagonist in the Old English poem Beowulf, there's nothing but neighborhood love here as you raise a pint in this half-century old hangout.

Located on a corner midway into the Fort Point area, this hangout was here well before anything else called the neighborhood home. Low-lit and subterranean, it replicates a Rat Pack–era speakeasy as much as it can in modern-day Boston. On the menu, find a mix of Southern-inspired dishes, Asian plates, and other snackable, shareable fare. Lucky's is known for its live music, too.

In order to score 90 minutes at a table in this exclusive bar (the waitlist to get in is booked up months in advance), you must be dressed up, charm the person guarding the door, and most important, first find the entrance—it's not obviously marked. Craft cocktails have a flair for the dramatic, made with unique premium and small-label brands, creative liqueurs, and other interesting juices, syrups, and ingredients. The food is fantastic, but secondary to the cocktails.

With a wall lined in tropical wallpaper and a neon purple sign, this cocktail bar offers a rare nightlife outpost in the Beacon Hill neighborhood, and a trendy one at that. On the menu, the ingredients that make up the drink offerings are just as creative as their names and include such things as butterfly pea flower–infused gin and Aztec chocolate bitters. This place is popular, so reservations are strongly recommended.

The crowd spilling through French doors onto the sidewalk café in warm weather consists of trendy cosmopolitans, fun-loving professionals, local sports celebs, and scenesters who have flocked to the contemporary spot for decades. The sophisticated jazz-rock soundtrack remains at a civilized volume as you dine, sip, and people-watch. Order any of the martinis that earn a solid rep among the locals, and follow with a brick oven pizza off their late night menu.

At the end of your Charlestown trip, hit up this pub with a 50-plus beer list and classic pub fare with an Irish flare. With a backdrop of live music and traditional Irish seisiún (informal sessions), it's the spot to grab a lager with a snack of curry fries or calamari or satisfy a huge hunger with a shepherd's pie and the perfect Guinness pour. Weekend brunch Bloody Marys sit sidecar to traditional Irish breakfasts. Bonus points for the Airbnb right above the tavern that sleeps up to 16 (and has a pool table).

Named for the amendment that ended Prohibition, this longstanding convivial pub, right across the street from the State House draws legislators, lobbyists, and neighborhood regulars who trade gossip and insider info over notched wooden tables and beers. The food is surprisingly good.

Packed with bachelorettes and frat guys with straws stuck into potent Scorpion Bowls, this party spot serves up $1 teriyaki skewers, drafts, and shots, and hosts daily karaoke with contests and weekly dating games for revelers on the dance floor. A frequent stop on bar crawls, the Hong Kong does a big trade in tacky gear and earned souvenirs like Buddha mai-tai cups.

This historic-style ship sidles up to an East Boston pier and features outdoor drinking, games like corn hole, live music, and more alfresco fun. The unique destination does offer some food in the form of raw oysters and a couple of snack boards, and drinks are slightly overpriced, but let's be honest: you're paying for the view. If you happen to be dining in the area, there's a free shuttle to the ship from local restaurants on the weekends. The ship is 21+ after 7 pm.