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Boston is a Cinderella city, aglow with delights that for some end all too soon. With the T (subway and bus) making its final runs between midnight and 1 am and taxis sometimes scarce, most nightspots follow accordingly, with "last call" typically by 2 am. Though night owls may be disappointed by the meager late-night options, except in Chinatown, visitors find plenty of possibilities for stepping out on the early side. The martini set may stroll Newbury and Boylston streets in the Back Bay or Downtown, selecting from swank restaurants, lounges, and clubs. Coffee- and tea drinkers can find numerous cafés in Cambridge and Somerville, particularly Harvard and Davis squares. Microbrew enthusiasts find viable options at sports bars and brewpubs, especially near campuses and sports arenas. For dancing, Lansdowne and Boylston streets near Fenway Park have a stretch of student-friendly hangs, DJ rooms, and techno clubs. The thriving "lounge" scene in Downtown’s cooler hybrid bar-restaurant-clubs provides a mellower, more mature alternative to the collegiate indie clubs. Tourists crowd Faneuil Hall for its pubs, comedy spots, and dance scenes. The South and North ends, as well as Cambridge and Somerville, cater to the "dinner-and-drinks" set, while those seeking rock clubs should explore Allston and Cambridge, especially Central Square. College-owned concert halls regularly host homegrown and visiting ensembles. Prominent among these are Harvard University’s Sanders Theatre, New England Conservatory’s Jordan Hall, Berklee College of Music’s Performance Center, MIT's Kresge Auditorium, and Agganis Arena at Boston University.
Crowds of cool Allston students and greater Boston music fans rock hard until closing at Great Scott, which books an impressive lineup of local and visiting indie rock bands (from 9 pm) in live double and triple bills on a varying rotation nearly every night.
This is a subterranean dive with gritty charisma. Live bands hit the stage Thursday to Sunday, including one of the hotspot's most popular events: Sinatra Sundays, where a live Sinatra Band takes the stage at 8 pm. The story goes: when its signboard wasn't ready for the 2001 opening, the owners shrugged, "Ah, so what?" and let the joint go incognito.
This iconic bandbox near Boston University is famed for bringing up big-name talent (think U2), hosting Coldplay, and nurturing local rock and hip-hop acts. Two tiers of booths provide good sight lines from all angles, even some intimate, out-of-the-way corners. Four bars quench the crowd's thirst, and food is available. Some shows are for 18-plus only; many sell out. The newer Paradise Lounge next door is a more intimate space to catch local (often acoustic) songsters, literary readings, poetry slams, and other artsy events.
Since 1989, this intimate and amiable venue overlooking the Charles River has presented top names–-Harry Connick Jr., Chris Botti, Michael Bublé, and Wynton Marsalis, to name a few–-in jazz, Latin, and contemporary, but also blues, soul, R&B, cabaret, and world music. There are full bar and cocktail menus, as well as food and dessert selections. Performances are Thursday through Saturday 8 and 10 pm; tickets range from $25 to $50 and are discounted if you come for dinner. Advance purchase is recommended.
Browse an eccentric collection of books and magazines at this crowded, pleasant café, then have coffee or tea while you read. This is a nice spot for a meal with a date, solo journal writing or reading at the bar, or surfing the net with free Wi-Fi. The windows facing Newbury Street (not to mention the patio) are great for people-watching. Open daily from 8 am until midnight.
