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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.
The name of this mega sports bar, which stays open 1½ hours after TD Garden events, pays tribute to the many Boston Bruins and Boston Celtics championship banners that are hanging from the rafters of the TD Garden right next door. From the biggest indoor LED TV screen in New England to the second-level TopGolf Swing Suites to excitable game-day crowds, everything here is supersized. The beers, burgers, and other bar classics won't disappoint.
Your true-emerald Irish music pub pulls in devoted locals and all fans of craic (enjoyable environment). Enthusiastic staff and professional bartenders expertly pour Guinness on tap and serve comfort food (some of the best fish-and-chips in the area, bangers and mash, Irish stew, shepherd's pie). Dark decor; a tiny, sunny, west-facing patio; an old-wood library bar; and slate specials add to the allure of live Irish music—acoustic groups—most nights in both the front and back rooms.
You can have two completely different experiences at The Fed—midweek and not. Tuesday through Thursday the "British-inspired cocktail bar with a sophisticated New England twist" tends to be absolutely jammed with nearby finance and banking workers, but over the weekend, the vibe is a bit more quiet. With low lights, leather high-top stools at the bar, and a fancy take on casual food, you'll feel like you're truly out for a night on the town. And don't forget the divine cocktails.
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 1 am. The pub food is great; order a sky-high plate of loaded nachos if you dare.
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.
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.
Although it's named for the amendment that ended Prohibition, this long-standing, convivial bar is no speakeasy. Its location right across the street from the State House draws a mixed crowd of legislators and locals, but not too many tourists since it's a bit off the beaten path. Beer, burgers, steak tips, and fish-and-chips are on the menu. Check out the JFK booth in the back, a favorite spot where the former president used to meet colleagues. Anyone looking for a no-frills bar where you can loosen the tie or fit in with jeans, this is your place.
This local hangout tries to be seen as a dive bar, but it's much too nice and too new to be called one. The menu features bar bites, hearty entrées, and a burger of the week, all made from scratch in the kitchen, while the bar serves craft beers on draft and craft cocktails. To find the 4th Wall from Tremont Street, look for the small, brick building with a gable roof squeezed among much taller buildings.
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 across from the Granary Burying Ground where the Founding Father is interred. The bar is always lively no matter the time of day. It's a fine place to watch multiple sports events on television, shoot pool (bring some quarters!), or people-watch. There's also a standard pub menu, usually served until midnight. Fun fact: Beantown Pub cooks up baked beans and brown bread, a traditional Boston dish. No kids are allowed after 6 pm.
Watch the sun set over the Zakim Bridge as you peruse the extensive list of 34 rotating drafts, elite bottled beers, cask ale, draft wine, craft spirits, an extensive whiskey (Irish and otherwise) and bourbon list, and custom cocktails. 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).
Famous for its enormous garage window which looks into Fenway Park, this spot is an especially cool place to be on game days as it's a sneaky way to see a Red Sox game. It's also a fun place to relax with friends, nosh on nachos or fries, and catch all sorts of sporting events on TV.
This speakeasy hidden above Central Kitchen is easily one of the coolest places in Cambridge to grab a drink. A boozie heaven (although there are a ton of mocktails as well), there are craft cocktails, pops, and shooters all served in a dark and sexy modern space. The four-shot DTO (daiquiri time out) is a fun opener to the evening, and the martini menu offers creative variations on the classic. The small menu is great for snacking, with deviled eggs, tinned baby scallops, and stuffed dates on the list.
Venture down Beacon Street past the Massachusetts State House and Boston Common and you'll cross paths with this cocktail bar and restaurant that channels romantic notions of a 1920s speakeasy. Jazz music, a checkerboard floor, antique photo gallery, art deco lighting, and dark leather set the tone. Famous for its Sunday Drag Brunch, an interactive drag show with cocktail specials and a buffet brunch—reserve a ticket online.
Whether you call it Cheers or its original name, Bull & Finch Pub, this local hangout turned tourist hot spot celebrates Sam Malone's watering hole from the now-classic hit 1980s NBC television show, Cheers. But why? This pub, which was dismantled in England, shipped to Boston, and reassembled, served as the inspiration for the TV bar and its cast of characters, Diane, Frasier, Norm, Cliff, et al. Today, enjoy typical pub grub and burgers alongside a beer, Cheers' award-winning Bloody Mary, or Sam's own Screaming Viking. Children are not allowed after 10 pm.
This unpretentious, cozy bar on a quiet corner attracts old-timers and young professionals with modest drinks and affordable comfort food like tacos, paella, and sandwiches. 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 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.
Packed with bachelorettes and fraternity bros with straws stuck into potent Scorpion Bowls, this party spot serves up $1 chicken 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.
In Somerville's Union Square, this comfortable neighborhood bar is a good spot to hit for a pint, a whiskey-based cocktail with a quaint name, quality brews (25 drafts, 10 bottles/cans), and a long listing of spirits that come together for a mad menu of house cocktails.
You don't have to be a hotel guest to enjoy skyline and harbor views at this seventh-story rooftop bar. The vibe is lively during warmer months, as you might expect, with people crowded on cabana-style bench seating and the occasional fire pit. Premium classic cocktails and seasonal sips (think a frozen lychee "frosee"), and really tasty food mean that you'll go home satisfied. Stop by in the winter for a "snow globe" experience inside heated, transparent geodesic domes.
Cocktails are the star of the show here, and not classic ones at that, but there's also a great selection of local draft beers and a few wines by the glass. There are also a handful of snacks to counteract the alcohol. 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.
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. You can also book a private lounge. The unique destination does offer food in the form of raw oysters, pizza, tacos, and fried seafood, plus there are a number of food trucks that park on-site. 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.
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 music 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.
Inventive cocktails wash down Southern comfort grub at this hip, retro joint packed with a younger crowd. The original drinks are just that—original—with concoctions like the Rockin' Chair (black-tea-infused bourbon, canton ginger cognac, and lemon) and the Fallen Angel (a spicy mango margarita with a barbecue-dusted rim). Their buttermilk fried chicken is well loved, and the mac and cheese with Ritz crackers and hot dogs is your new guilty pleasure.
Recently named one of the most beautiful restaurants in America by People magazine, this hidden-away gem is all about escaping with a tropical tiki. Drinks include the Scorpion Bowl, made with Appleton estate rum, lemon, mango, orange, pineapple, and hibiscus grenadine, as well as the Jungle Bird, a marriage of two types of rum, Campari, pineapple and lime juices, and demerara syrup. The menu offers up Asian American bites, such as a pupu platter that can also be made vegan, short rib lo mein, and Aloha sliders.
