50 Best Cocktail Bars in Boston

“TOURIST’S TAKE!!! ——-> I recently visited the Time Out Market in Boston and had a great overall experience, especially when comparing it to the Lisbon location. One of the first things that stood out was how much cleaner the Boston market felt. Even during busy hours, the seating areas and food stalls were well maintained, with staff regularly clearing tables and keeping the space tidy. It made the whole experience more comfortable and less chaotic than what I remember from Lisbon. Pricing was another pleasant surprise. While food halls can sometimes feel overpriced in tourist-heavy cities, Boston’s Time Out Market felt noticeably more affordable. Portions were reasonable for the price. The variety of options was also a positive note. There was a strong mix of local favorites and creative concepts. It’s a good place to bring a group! The atmosphere was also better as there was a Red Sox game that evening so there was definitely excitement in the market combined with live music made it an exciting place to be. Overall, I’d give the Boston Time Out Market four stars. It’s cleaner, more budget-friendly, and offers a more versatile food selection compared to the Lisbon location!“

“The Dungeon Master Roll the Dice“

“Genuinely my favorite restaurant in Boston these days. I've been here more times than I'd like to admit - Food, drinks, customer service and ambiance are just unmatched. Absolutely need a reservation - the walk-in line is always long when I've gone.“

“Had dinner at Lucy's while adventuring and it was hands down incredible! Everything was outstanding. The staff, the food, the environment, right down to the ice cold water and beer! 🤣 I will definetly be going again, because I wanted everything on the menu! Thank you Lucy's!“

“Piatti buoni e curati , cucina meditteranea ben interpretata“

“food was amazing. ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥“

“Had one incredible night this past weekend The management and staff were amazing! A truly fantastic experience. Thank you!“

“Great menu. Beautiful presentation of excellently prepared choices. Delightful competent staff. You’ll be lucky to have Carlos as your waiter.“

“Phil’s team always does a fantastic job. Well worth the money for a unique experience, delicious cocktails, and a charismatic bartenders who are experts in their craft. Every menu has a clear vision and creative plays on known cocktails, or just great brand-new ideas. You won’t regret booking a night here (or a season pass)! If you can’t get a reservation, late-night walk-ins are also an option. Huge shout out to Suzae, Trevor, and Skye who always make the night so much fun.“

“May 2026
I was anticipating an amazing wagyu beef burger given the $35 price tag, but it was very ordinary and forgettable. It was cooked well-done even though I asked for medium-well, and it had absolutely no flavor, not even a hint of salt and pepper. The fries were dry and not very good either. But the corn bread was absolutely delightful and probably some of the best I’ve ever had, and the pita bread with hummus and pimento cheese was delicious, as well. Overall, about 4 stars considering the appetizers saved the day, as the wagyu burger was a flop.“

“Perfect experience. I had a gluten allergy restriction that the staff catered to and I had no reactions. Cocktails were like others said, curated perfectly with the meals, we left full and satisfied. The desert cocktail was unlike anything I’ve ever had. Both of us want to come back and do it again when we are back in town.“

“Better Sorts is a great spot to hang out. The decor is great, it’s chill, and the drinks and snacks are great. The space is beautiful and the details, like glassware and cocktail accessories, are top notch. Hidden gem I. Downtown Boston!“

“The wait staff is incredibly friendly. We heard the onion rings were heavenly. We were not disappointed. However the salad we ordered and shared was one of the best salads I have ever tasted. I think it was the Hot Cold Chicken Salad. Absolutely delicious! After 10 pm the sandwiches are half price and they all looked delicious too!!“

“Service is excellent and my salmon was perfect. Apps are good but smaller in size. Beer is cold. I would recommend you visit.“

“My husband and I had dinner last Sunday night. It was a beautiful experience with impeccable service. I am going to remember my quail dish for a very long time. Highly recommend“

“extremely attentive staff, our meal was brought very promptly. bathroom could accommodate my wheelchair easily. we loved spending a special night there, and are already looking forward to our return visit“

“A treasure of a restaurant on busy Cambridge St - walk through the door and you’re in a different world. Servers quickly become friends. Great spot for a romantic dinner for two but still a place where a solo diner feels welcome. Wonderful menu with choices for the adventurous and not so adventurous eater. My new favorite spot for lunch or dinner in Boston.“

“The hype around this restaurant was insane. After weeks of trying, I was able to snag a reservation 30 days out and as the date got closer, I was sure I was in for a hell of a let down.

It was actually quite the opposite. We had a reservation for 2 at 8:30 pm and were seated within 10 minutes of our arrival (we arrived 15 minutes early). The restaurant does a great job of staggering their seating so the kitchen can properly flow and doesn't get backed up.

The atmosphere was really nice, warm and enjoyable. My wife and I were able to talk the whole time. The waitress was very kind and friendly. She kept us entertained and ensured our anniversary dinner was special. The drinks were really good and the food was ridiculous. Everything we had was amazing and I would be hard pressed to identify a dish I would consider not ordering to be able to taste something different.

This place is definitely worth the hype and am hoping I can snag another reservation in the months to come.“

“one of the best meals we've had in a long time. highly recommend.“

“Wink and Nod delivers exactly the kind of speakeasy experience you hope for when you duck down into a hidden bar. The real standout of the night was our bartender Jonathan — genuinely one of the best I've encountered in Boston. Personality-wise, he struck that perfect balance of engaging and attentive without ever hovering or making the conversation feel forced.
What impressed me most was his depth of knowledge. He walked us through several of the scratch-made liqueurs they craft in-house, explaining the botanicals and infusion process behind each one like he'd built them himself (because he probably had). When we couldn't decide between a few options, he took the time to actually taste-test ingredients with us and adjust recommendations based on what we liked — real patience, no rushing us along even as the place got busier.
The cocktails themselves were excellent: well-balanced, creative, and clearly made with care rather than just poured from a formula.
Then came the food. James Beard nominee Chef Valentine Howell's pop-up, Black Cat, brings a unique fusion of Afro-Caribbean flavors to the menu, and eating here felt like a spiritual experience. The menu offered so many tempting choices it was hard to narrow down. We started with the goat patties as an appetizer — seasoned to perfection, moist, and packed with flavor. We also ordered the griot, twice-cooked pork belly served with pikliz, pickled onion, and ti malice. It was tender and bursting with flavor, the kind of dish that makes you slow down and savor every bite.
We finished with the Jamaican ginger cake, topped with cream cheese frosting and a toasted coconut crumble — totally sumptuous and the perfect ending to the meal.
The owner even stopped by our table to check in and make sure we were enjoying ourselves — such a kind, welcoming touch that made the whole night feel even more special.
The drinks, the food, and truly exceptional service — made it well worth it. Will definitely be back. Hands down, 5 stars.“

“Food was great and delicious and the staff were excellent“

“So much fun! I highly recommend!“

“Great experience on the simulators with my 12 year old son. Great, friendly service and enthusiastic, helpful staff.“

“Great food, excellent service, and a welcoming atmosphere. Everything was fresh and delicious. A special shoutout to the manager, John, for making sure everything was perfect and for providing outstanding customer service. I’ll definitely be back!“

“Nice and chill environment.“

“Baleia is a small Portugese Tapas restaurant, serving up a wide range of dishes in the Ink Block area. The dining room has a polished, lively energy with a stylish atmosphere that makes it feel equally suited for a date night, special occasion, or a longer dinner with friends. The space leans upscale while still feeling welcoming.

The menu takes Portuguese flavors and presents them through a more modern lens, with several dishes consistently standing out. The Portuguese sweet rolls appear to be one of the signatures of the restaurant, with a great taste to start off the meal. The Shrimp Mozambique is another standout, served with a flavorful broth that works well when soaked up with extra bread. For those looking to explore more of the menu, the tasting option offers a broad introduction to the kitchen's approach, though many diners seem equally happy building their own meal from individual dishes.

Service is one of Baleia’s strongest qualities. Staff are warm welcoming, knowledgeable, and genuinely enthusiastic about guiding guests through the menu. The dining experience feels polished without being stiff, with attentive pacing and thoughtful recommendations contributing as much to the meal as the food itself. While opinions occasionally vary on specific dishes or seasoning levels, the consistency of the hospitality stands out across a wide range of visits.

What makes Baleia especially appealing is how it combines the comfort and familiarity of Portuguese cooking with a more contemporary restaurant experience. Between the inviting atmosphere, strong service, and a menu filled with dishes designed for sharing and exploration, it feels like a restaurant built for memorable nights out rather than quick meals. Whether you're stopping in for a few small plates and cocktails or settling in for a full tasting experience, Baleia delivers the kind of experience that keeps people planning a return visit before they've even left the table.“

“Immerse yourself into a hidden world at the Next Door Speakeasy. This bar is small, but perfectly intentional.

We absolutely loved the vibe and the service that we received. The cocktails were great! Between the two of us we got a gin based drink (purple rain) and a rum based drink (lock & key) and some truffle fries. We loved our drinks, and our bartender- absolute top notch service!

This place can get busy, so you’ll need reservations and you’ll need a password to get in. They’ve been open for about five years, so if you haven’t ventured in yet, definitely put this place on your list!
Lentz_explore“

“Amazing creativity on the cocktails!“

“We recently celebrated our son baptism at Trade, and it was truly an unforgettable experience. From our very first conversation with Inna, we felt taken care of. She was incredibly responsive, organized, and helpful in guiding us through the planning process, making everything feel effortless and stress-free.

On the day of the event, the hospitality was exceptional. The servers were attentive, friendly, and went above and beyond to ensure both we and our guests had a wonderful experience. The food was outstanding, and our guests are still talking about it. The Rosa Ritas and Espresso Martinis were huge hits and quickly became favorites of the afternoon!

The atmosphere was warm, stylish, and welcoming, creating the perfect backdrop for such a meaningful family celebration. Every detail came together beautifully, and we are so grateful to the entire Trade team for helping make our celebration so special.

I cannot recommend Trade highly enough. If you’re looking for a venue for a private event, family celebration, or special occasion Trade is the place to go!“

“Excellent food with very friendly and efficient wait staff“

“Great little bar which we stumbled across and then became our favourite! Great beer, great service, great food (wings and sliders were both amazing) and some top tunes. Save room for the chocolate brownie. It's epic. Love this place!!“

“On Sunday, 14 June, a rainy afternoon, my husband and adult daughter visited Fool's Errand in the Fenway. While there, we were greeting by Matt, a talented bar-tender with a great personality & musical taste! Do not lose this guy! He is funny, thoughtful, skilled, and knowledgeable! We are grateful to him for making a couple of cocktails for us from recipes we'd brought along! The fancy cocktails and ambiance (great chandeliers) made this place the perfect place to hang-out! Thank you, and keep up the good work! We hope to visit again when we are back in the area!“

“Went for Dinner and the atmosphere is very intimate. Definitely need reservations and to specify where you want to sit in advanced. We had seating at the bar and were placed very close to their people. They needed more spacing for item I had no where to put my purse and had to hold it i my lap the whole time but i did notice that the bar seating by the window had hooks for purses under the counter that the bar didn’t have. If you jot into being close to your neighbor aid stead clear but for a date night it also puts you close to your date and was nice for that. The food is small plates and we had about 4 different small plates we shared which were absolutely delicious. The best were the Empanada and croquetas de bacalao. we also got the special which was a paella made with fideos which was really good. I didn’t try any of the drink but my date got two beer and liked both of them. The service itself was good the server took time to explain how the menu worked and was quick to tell us if we wanted a paella it does take some time to make and even gave some recommendations. There was only one issue which was we’re having the wrong dishes brought over to us that we meant for the people sat next to us and that seemed to be happens in got other seated at the bar as well. Over all grey choice for date night if you’re okay with smaller spaces.“

“I had the Hot honey glazed chicken sandwich. It was the best vegan sandwich I’ve ever eaten and I’ve had a lot of vegan sandwiches.“

“Awesome Dumplings!! Great Service!☺️“

“Before I forget I have to give a big shoutout to my craft bartender I had the pleasure of meeting his name is Lars just like Mars was really amazing drinks I am am still talking about a day later great conversation and his hospitality 10 out of 10 lets go please make sure you stop by if your in town. Thanks again“

“Probably one of the best meals ever. From oysters to bread pudding! So amazing! A burst of flavor in every bite! Go out of your way if you have to , you won’t regret! 💕“

“We were a family of three visiting Boston and after reading through the multitude of choices of restaurants and reviews, Clink was on my list to get reservations. This restaurant is in the Liberty Hotel, which if you've been to NYC it has the same vibe as the Roxy Hotel and the Beekman. I made reservations for a Saturday night at 7:15 and when we arrived the restaurant only had a few other couples there dining. I'll address this more at the end. Our server recommended a few choices of cocktails. My husband chose the Barrel Aged Old Fashioned and I chose the Crime of Passion. Both were excellent!! Both cocktails were by far the best we had the entire trip, and we had a cocktail or two at dinner each night during our five-night stay. Hats of to the bartender making those!! Although we really didn't see an appetizer that we could agree on we were served some outstanding rolls and butter. I'm not a big bread fan, but these were hot, soft, and had a great flavor. For our dinners I chose the Crispy Skin Farm Raised Salmon, my husband chose the Hand Cut Pasta Bolognese, and our son chose the Gulf of Maine Blue Cod. We all agreed each dish was prepared and presented perfectly and all three had wonderful flavors with no complaints. We didn't think we had room for dessert until we were told the options and one option was Peach Bread Pudding!! We found room for dessert and in hindsight wish we asked for one to go for the next day. It's a must try!! The atmosphere was great, the service was great (and the manager was walking around making sure everyone was enjoying themselves), the cocktails amazing, and the dinner and dessert was wonderful, so this left us asking "why is this place not packed on a Saturday night"? The only hiccup was when you walked into the hotel lobby it felt like they were having air conditioning problems, but the restaurant was not having that issue. So hopefully this was just some weird off night for this restaurant and hopefully more people have a wonderful experience like we did and leave great reviews. I know that if we come back to Boston, Clink is on our list to dine at again.“

“Super friendly and fast service right by the Garden“

“Everything from start to finish was lovely. The decor is perfect, the tea choices were well thought out and the food was delicious. We highly recommend and will be back!“

“Nice authentic Mexican food!!! Great atmosphere & Drinks are great!!! Speak Easy theme!“

“We were in Boston for one evening and stumbled upon this place - and we were so thrilled that we did! Four of us sat at the bar and received excellent service and expertly mixed cocktails. The ambiance was perfect - from the lighting to the decor. Highly recommend.“

“Had my first visit to Bootleg Special last night and it did not disappoint. Every aspect of the meal, from the creative drinks to the delicious appetizers to the fantastic main course was outstanding. Our server, Alex, was attentive and very pleasant. And last, but certainly not least, the beignets after dinner were spectacular. Looking forward to my next visit!“

“really nice spot. ❤️❤️❤️ to Alex. Great server! Wish you all the best. If you're ever in Northern NH...look us up in Milan/Gorham.“

“Absolute best sichuan chinese restaurant in town. The flavors and dishes are authentic and if you love spice, this place is a must visit in Boston. I can say with confidence that every single dish on their menu is a treat and an experience in itself and the staff is helpful and knowledgeable.“

“This place is fantastic! We highly recommend making a reservation, as it’s a small restaurant and fills up quickly. We stopped in on a Saturday around 5 PM and were lucky enough to grab seats at the bar.

The wine selection is outstanding, with plenty of great options to choose from. We ordered the veal, which was enormous and easily large enough to share. We also tried both the truffle pasta and the vodka pasta, with the vodka pasta being our favorite. The portions were generous, the food was delicious, and the pricing felt very reasonable for the area.

A wonderful experience overall! I would definitely return and highly recommend it.“

“Fabulous food. Great coffee. What more can you ask for???“

“The food was so delicious and the margaritas were the best. But the night was really topped off with having such an amazing server. Ask for Gilly. If ever in Boston make this a must!“

“Let me tell you, the spa at Four Seasons is an absolute gem! From the moment you step in, you're greeted with warmth and hospitality that sets the tone for the entire experience. The breathtaking views, the tranquil steam room, and the luxurious pool make you feel like you've stepped into a heavenly oasis. And let's not forget about the chocolate snack bar - it's like a Willy Wonka spa, indulging your senses with divine chocolate bonbons! 🍫 But the real highlight? The massage. Oh my goodness, it was pure bliss! Shoutout to Michael, the incredible massage therapist, who not only worked wonders on my muscles but also started our session with the mantra 'All is Well,' setting the perfect tone for relaxation and reflection. As someone who's juggled years of building a business, navigating single motherhood, and being an immigrant, this experience was exactly what I needed. It taught me that it's okay when things aren't perfect - we learn, pivot, and evolve. I opted for the hot stone massage add-on, and let me tell you, it was phenomenal. Mike focused on my shoulders and lower back with just the right amount of pressure, addressing all my tension and knots. It was pure bliss from start to finish. Mike truly has a gift for his craft, and I left feeling rejuvenated, refreshed, and ready to take on the world. ✨“

“We went to Ward 8 before a concert last week and it was wonderful! The drinks were delicious, the food was delicious and came out hot. The servers were attentive and the atmosphere was great! We can’t wait to return.“