30 Best Cocktail Bars in Cambridge

“Oysters were AMAZING!! Crab salad was 10/10!! I get a Butter Lobster roll every time I see it on the menu at every restaurant. Sad to say I rate their warm butter lobster roll a 7/10. Our drinks were 10/10. Everything was so good. Our server was also great. Definitely would recommend and will return soon!“

“We really enjoyed our dinner at Saigon Babylon! I think it’s one of the better places I’ve been to in Boston in terms of food, ambiance, and location. The drink options were really fun and tasted delicious. Although the menu was small, there was a good variety. The food had a lot of flavor and felt very unique. Finally, the service was a little slow but everyone was really kind and welcoming. I would definitely come back!“

“Had an amazing time tonight, I am so happy my friend recommended us visiting this establishment. The atmosphere was welcoming, the music choices were spot on and I cannot emphasize my appreciation for the staff. Our server Nicholas (also a bartender) made our time at brick and mortar so special and was extremely attentive. In my humble opinion he not only deserves the world but also recognition (don’t know how much he is being paid but double it and everyone should tip him please) for his ability to make the night special and fun. The potato chips were delicious and crunchy. The Mexican radio had me hooked, and was extremely smooth. Would come again, and recommend it to others!“

“What I meal. Would love to go back and try more options. The best I thought was this porchetta flatbread with heirloom tomatoes and pesto. The meat melted in your mouth basically. Everything else was great including the seafood pasta special, mushroom pasta and roasted veggies. Couldn't pass up on the roasted fig ice cream either which was also spectacular.“

“A wonderful tiki bar! We loved the food and creative cocktails.“

“Todo muy bueno y la atención de primera“

“Outstanding. Brenna surpassed my expectations of service. By far the best experience I’ve had in the last 3 days.“

“I was excited to find this restaurant. I am severely allergic to nuts and fish and they are nut and fish free in their Brookline restaurant! The food is delicious, the wait staff are so nice, and I didn’t have to worry about my allergies! Highly recommend.“

“My partner and I came for one of the individually ticketed ice cream making classes, and it was perfect. We were already huge Gracie’s enthusiasts, and this class made us even bigger fans. Aaron is a mastermind genius of ice cream and a hilarious, silly human. I promise you’ll learn a lot, and leave filled to the brim with ice cream, hot dogs and love.“

“Innovative and delicious.“

“Went here on a friday evening and place was absolutely packed - highly recommend reservations because you'll be lucky to get a table otherwise.

Ambiance was better than expected. You wouldn't be able to tell by looking from the outside but the inside is a classy well lit spot with tons of seating a spacious bar area. Great spot for dates, friends, and family.

Service was so-so. Could tell they were busy and trying their best. Maybe hire more servers?

Food - pizza was alright. Not amazing like others raving on here but it wasn't bad either. One of them was lacking flavor and the other was undercooked.“

“An excellent dinner. Purple carrots! Lemon potatoes! Tahini mushroom with an egg! Blue fish! Good service. Guy ran down The block to return my bracelet which had fallen off! They give you the check in a Copy of the Constitution! Recommend but why are you not accessible! Such a contradiction of your stated philosophy. Should at least put it on your website with your apology“

“Here’s a revieWe had a decent meal at The Abby. The food itself was good, but we had a small issue with the salad. I had asked to substitute the fries for a salad, and while I appreciated the option, it came already dressed. I personally liked the dressing, but I usually prefer my salads without it, and would have appreciated being asked. Unfortunately, my partner didn’t like the dressing at all and ended up not eating her salad. A small thing, but it would’ve made a difference if they had checked with us first.“

“My husband and I went to Lone Star Taco Bar for the first time tonight. The service was quick, friendly, and efficient! Our waiter answered all our questions and took great care of me with my food allergies! I felt totally safe!! The food was packed with so much flavor and everything just melts in your mouth! The guacamole was literally the best I’ve ever had in my life and the tacos were flavorful and fresh!! We wanted to try one of everything so we will definitely be back. The ambiance is welcoming and I loved the decor. 10/10 stars!!“

“Good food we use them for catering events at our place and always perfect as we expect. 5 star“

“everything wonderful service food atmosphere“

“This restaurant is dope. The interior is warm and inviting. It’s modern and chic. Definitely an elevated hipster vibe. A chill spot to hang out after work or nice date night. The food is bomb! For apps, I’ve never had a Chinese-inspired arancini. These crispy delights are addicting with their crack sauce. The sauce is a must have on the arancini. The salad is light and refreshing. The Kokoda is a well made dish. I never had blue fin tuna until I came here. The combo with the fresh fish with the acidity from the lemon juice and smooth finish of coconut sauce - oof, worth a try. There’s also another surprise about the Kokoda - there’s something called sea grapes 🍇 and were bursting of flavor and freshness. A nice addition to the dish. I could go for seconds with the Kokoda because it’s a bit small for me. I wish they made it 2x bigger so it could be more shareable with a date or with company. The Maine Uni was surprisingly delicious 😋. I honestly thought it was too expensive but after having it, it was an amazing amuse bouche (the perfect bite). I couldn’t believe that small bite packed so much flavor and complexity. It was balanced and left me feeling happy. Totally worth it. For mains, the pork belly adobo melts in your mouth. So good! The mushroom raviolis are my favorite out of this menu. The salted duck egg sauce is what makes this dish memorable. I would definitely eat this again. The bitter melon ratatouille is not my favorite because it wasn’t seasoned enough for me. It felt as though it was missing salt. The veggies were perfectly roasted though, but it didn’t quite smack like the other dishes. The ribeye is good, but not my favorite. I might be biased because I’ve had better at other places. For desserts, the pandan sorbet is tasty. I’m not a fan of the pandan taste. It’s definitely an acquired taste, but I enjoyed it because I love avocados and bananas and in ice cream form? No brainer. I wished they had a version without the pandan flavoring. I’m curious as to how it would taste then. The matcha cheesecake is surprisingly well-balanced. Not too matcha where it’s overbearing. The matcha is subtle while the richness of the cheesecake smacks just right and not overly sugary. The late night menu - I only tried the Chicharrón taco 🌮. The combo of crispy pork belly and the acidity from the lime is perf. Nothing else to say. Surprisingly really filling. I probably can’t have more than 2 of these tacos and I’m a pretty big guy. The drinks - I love the names and how they have a play on words. The blood orange and the banana espresso are my favorite. These drinks have enough booze and not too much where it’s offensive. Blood orange is enjoyable to drink and the banana espresso is complex with a chocolate finish. Their nice, clean cocktails. Service was awesome! The servers were friendly and quick. They regularly checked in with my wife and me. I don’t think I even had to do the awkward “please help us” lean at all. They were there when you needed them! Amazing 5 star service! You want a culinary experience. This place won’t disappoint.“

“Such a chill vibe!! I will be making this a regular spot.“

“Came in here after a long day of painting was greeted instantly by the lovely staff. Was asked if I wanted to dine in or takeout I told them takeout but ended staying anyway. I ordered a chicken taco and a fish torta. The food was absolutely amazing along with the service. Shoutouts to the beautiful staff at Naco Taco. Will definitely be going back. 🤞🏽“

“great place to pack all my fans love the staff looking to perform here sometime in the near future“

“My colleague and I dropped in for a bite during a work trip, and we couldn’t have been happier with the food, beer, and service. The bartender, Liam, made our tough travel day so much better. Next time I’m in town, I’m making it a priority to stop here. Keep up the amazing work!!“

“My boyfriend and I went per the recommendation of a colleague and it did NOT disappoint. We had the dumplings and flatbread for an appetizer, which were delicious, but the entrees and dessert stole the show. The chicken dish was so tasty. The carrot cake/cheesecake hybrid dessert with salted caramel ice cream was incredible. Our waiter was so helpful when it came down to picking what to eat and was so pleasant all night. Will certainly be coming back!“

“The food was super! We ordered the pork belly bao, butter beef spring rolls, kimchi fried rice, the beef curry mazemen, and the Shojonator with duck fat fries. Everything was great! The kimchi fried rice was so, so good! The beef curry was perfectly spiced! The spring rolls were clean and crunchy with a great sauce. The pork belly bao had perfectly matched components that worked so well! The duck fat fries were hot (temperature), seasoned well, and crunchy. The shojonator was really good and cooked perfectly. Everything here is great, if you want a good meal! It's worth the price!“

“Great place for brunch and good customer service“

“Cocktail: The Bam Bam was yummy. I had 2 😀

Apps: I'm a firm believer that bread should be free, so $10 for 4 pieces feels outrageous to me, but it was great bread to sop up the fabulous sauce from the mussels (in addition to the 2 grilled pieces that they came with). The chicken bites were delicious, and the green beans were very tasty as well.

Service: Our waiter Nick was great and didn't bat an eye while 4 women talked about perimenopause, and he even appropriately added to the conversation! I asked him what his favorite dish was, and I went with it-the gnocchi parisienne. The gnocchi was soft, and I think a bit grilled (homemade)? The pesto was different and delicious.
When 2 of us unexpectedly got showered with a bottle of champagne being opened by a server behind us, we were properly apologized to by the person who opened it, Nick, and the manager who took a round of drinks off our bill 👍

Atmosphere: Lovely atmosphere. We were seated in the front room but close to the back where the band was. It was enjoyable, but a little loud as we were there to chat and catch up. The live music sounded like yacht rock to start but then was fun with a jazzy take on a couple of Bruno Mars songs etc.

Parking: Free validated parking a few minutes walk away is fabulous in Harvard Square!“

“Fresh and delicious food. Different than anything else around.“

“the server that waited on me his name is Kevin. he was checking on me constantly i didn’t have to look for him to ask for anything when he saw that i needed something he was right there. the food was great full of flavor and spices. the bartender the drinks that he made was very good and the place amazing the patio nice and organized good decorations it really gives you that Mexican vide.“

“Absolutely gorgeous place to have dinner! We went on a warm night, through a Boston heat wave, and the open doors and patio-style setup - in addition to the amazing food and service (my drinks never stayed empty for long, and there were more appetizers than I could sample) truly made the night feel like paradise.

If you're in downtown Boston/Cambridge and are looking for a relaxing environment with a high-quality atmosphere and excellent cuisine, this is definitely a place to put on your list.“

“Great for fondue on Saturday afternoon with warm cider 🍺 and great heaters“