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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.
If you walked right by this bar without realizing it's a bar, you wouldn't be alone—its signage makes it look just like a European pharmacy. But don't be fooled, as the Chemist's elixirs have more to do with alcohol than medicine—think classic cocktails (the Vesper, the Boulevardier) and house-created ones. Local DJs spin tunes nightly, adding to the atmosphere.
Open in a part of the Ciao Roma space, this apothecary-inspired cocktail bar boasts only nine seats and hundreds of cocktail potentials. During one of his ticketed progressive journeys, creator Phillip Rolfe (of Wink & Nod fame) creates individually tailored concoctions made from high-end spirits, homemade syrups, infusions and tinctures, and freshly cold-pressed juices. House-made pickles, dips, roasted nuts, and gelato pair nicely but aren't meant to fill you up. Because it's so small, Farmacia is booked two months out, so plan accordingly.
This Downtown bar has quite a story behind its moniker (think castles, wizards, and yup, hobgoblins), and that theme carries throughout its food, drink, decor, and entertainment. Try one of the magic potions (cocktails) meant to spell fertility, prosperity, or healing among other things. The menu features gastropub fare with a strong Asian influence. Stop in Thursday through Saturday nights for live piano music.
Whiskey (loads of it), wine, and atmosphere: they're all staples within this bar at the Omni Parker House hotel, where mahogany club chairs and silver-tray service might make you feel a bit rich. The Last Hurrah also serves up tradition—many politicians across the 20th century stopped in regularly to drink and do business at its various past locations within the Parker House.
Head down an alleyway to find the unmarked door to this place---c'mon, it's fun, not sketchy! Only about two dozen seats fill the place, and you might have to wait, although table service is limited to 90 minutes (reservations are essential, if you can get one). The espresso martini is what we'd call a specialty, but all the cocktails are tasty and incredibly unique.
Tucked under the Staypineapple Boston inn, this gay bar is popular with the local after-work crowd, who enjoy live performances from local artists and apps like nachos and chicken fingers. Casually dressed locals drop by for the large beer list and classic breakfast dishes during the hopping weekend brunches starting at noon, which feature long, tall mimosas, and bloodies.
A resident DJ curates the music at the W's chic lounge and bar. Large-format drinks that serve four people are fun to dive into, alongside some elevated snacks, flatbreads, and a few dinner platings. Crowds tend to gather early in the evening and go to about midnight before making a move elsewhere.
