50 Best Bars near Needham

“If you’re looking for the best place to eat in Needham, Cook is unequivocally it. The quality of the food is outstanding, and the only thing that rivals it is the exceptional service from the entire staff.

A special shoutout to Johnny. His genuine commitment to making every guest’s experience a great one is first class.

Cook has set the standard for what a neighborhood restaurant should be. In my opinion, it’s the best restaurant in Needham. It isn’t even close!“

“Dylan made our experience so much fun!“

“classy drinks and awsome servers“

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

“Holy moly! Rainy first night in Boston staying up the way at the Commonwealth we visited the Kenmore. Nathan took great care of us. Solid pour at the bar. Can I say enough about the K Burger? Likely not other than the first bite blows your mind. Quality over everything else. Great spot, will be back tonight and tomorrow night looking for Sturgill Simpson fans.“

“Great Food , Good atmosphere“

“Wonderful place to eat on our trip to Boston. Went with my dad and then took my wife there 3 days later for a different experience. Owner was kind and friendly. Birthday party was in the middle room and the whole restaurant sang along.“

“Went only once last night so don't want to knock any stars. But, my biggest suggestion is that please include pictures of sake bottles (even just labels) next to the title on your online menu. Right now, it's paragraphs after paragraphs of many many sakes. I got analysis paralysis after a few seconds.“

“One of my all time favorite spots in Somerville never had a bad meal. Great vibe and service always suggests it as one of the top spots in Somerville.“

“Food is good. Parking is awful. when you get your bill u get a chargé for the kitchen.“

“I feel like I’ve been transported to Paris the moment I walk through the door. Emily is awesome! The cocktails are wonderful—whether you’re in the mood for something unique and creative or a simple classic. But what truly sets Small Bar apart is its incredible ambiance. It’s warm, inviting, and the perfect place to relax and enjoy a great drink. The music is awesome!“

“DELICIOUS FOOD. Very different food fair with choices for all diets. Excellent, friendly service. Good cocktails. I’ll be back !“

“Great place! Historical live music acts have played here for decades! great ownership! Great bartenders!“

“If you’re looking for a place that’s clean, safe, and FUN to go highly recommend. Awesome food and drinks ($5 sandwiches during happy hour!), lovely outdoor patio dining, and there are still games available to play sanitized between people! So happy to come back here again and get the same great service.“

“Hidden gem! Classic bar with insanely good cocktails and food but keeping it real. Beet salad could compete with any high end restaurant. Smash burger and fries - no words. Oh pickle plate is a must - classic sweet to the unexpected root veg and snow pea mix. Great beers new and old. The bartender Mike brings it. He's cool and chill and makes the best subtle recommendations. Great fun to talk with. Great music, great vibe. Already planing a trip back for the reuben. Simple menu done right.“

“5 STAR TREATMENT!!! We had my husbands surprise birthday party there last night for 40 guests and it went off without a hitch! Jim the manager went out of his way to check all the little details that make an event special from custom menus to an easel for a sign. The waitstaff was wonderful and accommodating! The food was wonderful and the room was comfortable! Nobody left the party early!!! Thank you Olivadi!“

“We stopped in on the way home from the airport, and it was amazing! From the moment we walked in the door, we felt welcomed. The atmosphere and food were awesome. I highly recommend the Mickey’s Chicken special and the red sangria which was a deep dark red- as sangria should be. Yum! My children loved our Irish waitress who Made them laugh and feel special. This restaurant is over an hour from where we live, but there is no doubt we will travel back often. Wonderful experience!“

“Incredible food at the Chef’s Table. Amazing coordination between staff in a small space. Very friendly and accommodating. Probably the best meal I have ever had and I didn’t choose any of the courses!“

“One of the last true local venues in the Boston area. A Real club for real musicians to lay a solid foundation to create original music, build a fanbase and collaborate with peers.“

“Not only is The Substation in Roslindale perfect for the Workhub Community space, but they also have a full bar and public programming now! You can attend public bar nights, book private events, and work from "home" all in the same beautiful, historically rich space. Could not recommend this place more. 🚎💚“

“Awesome spot! Love the thai fusion take on bar food and the drinks are all well balanced. They also have a full bar with some interesting finds like the himbri gin we’ve seen in iceland. Highlights were the pork dumplings, tarro fries fried chicken sandwich and thai nachos.“

“I have 2 new favorites in Allston. One is a hotel and the other is Hobson’s. Great restuarant with a beautiful, comfortable, open interior, a friendly staff and good food. We had a pretty good size group (about 15) and started with apps, then moved on to a dinner including pizzas (get the meatball and ricotta), burgers, pasta and sausage. Drinks seemed to please everyone (though I stuck with the cider). The parking lot was also a nice plus. Highly recommended.“

“Delicious and safe dining experience- the food was unbelievably fresh and creative. All servers went out of their way to be attentive and friendly- the mulled wine was the perfect beverage on this chilly afternoon! We brought blankets- and used them!“

“I just Love the New Republic great atmosphere amazing food great drinks beautiful vibe“

“We go to Eastern Standard for a nice leisurely meal after a afternoon Red Sox game. Wait staff is attentive and Johnny on the spot when taking and discussing your order. Food has always been prepared as we like it. Quality, Quantity and presentation prevails. Thanks to the entire staff for making each trip to a game a pleasure win or loose.“

“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!“

“This was a fun dinner. The service was excellent and the food was a positive surprise! I spend a lot of time in Miami so I wasn’t sure what to expect going for Cuban food in Somerville. The food was good and drinks were well executed. The only thing I didn’t like is when we arrived it was not full upstairs on the main floor but they wanted to sit my party alone in the basement. That was weird. We asked to sit upstairs with everyone else and they were able to move us.“

“First time at Cityside last night and it was great! The Nachos were so good I wish we had gotten a large, the buffalo wings had a nice crisp to them which made them amazing. For entrees I had the fish tacos which were good but not all that and my fiancé had the cheesesteaks which can’t be compared to cheesesteaks on the North shore but still good. The drinks were good but pretty pricey. My fiancé liked every drunk he got besides the Mai Tai. It was super nice being on the roof top which made the entire night 💕 I definitely would recommend.“

“Greta food great people and Dottie!“

“I have been to Patzacuaro no less than 40 times and every single time the food is phenomenal. The servers could not be more polite and they have an excellent spicy margarita. I go out to eat quite a bit and this is my favorite restaurant in the greater boston area.“

“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.“

“Fabulous food, especially if you have a sweet tooth. Always have around 10 specials. They also have creative give aways/promotions a few times a year. The owner and staff are very friendly. Today Susan waited on me and she was quick and very nice.“

“Voted best Dive Bar. Locals were very friendly! We had a great time.“

“Gluten-free food was very good and the CJ & Kathy were very helpful and good about the allergy. I feel bad I didn’t have money to tip much but it was take out and I enjoyed the food. Will definitely come again, hopefully I can get an even bigger side of tzatziki loll“

“The oysters were fresh and i enjoyed the ambience!!!“

“Oh my goodness… this place is phenomenal! I was visiting Boston and have never tried this place before and had to give it try since it was near my hotel. The atmosphere and vibe is great- love that they decorated for the World Cup! The service is great aswell. If anything the grilled chicken sandwich has to be the best thing that has ever happened to me! GET IT!! Service is pretty fast aswell and refills on soft drinks“

“I have lived in the Boston-esque area for twelve years and have eaten so many good meals, but the fish tacos here are the only meal I needed to have before my upcoming move out west(ern MA). Cocktails are fun and creative, service is 13/10, the XL portions of fries that require to-go boxes are the only fries I’ve ever found to reheat well, and if you’re lucky, Steve will be tending bar. I love going at the slightly quieter times but I’ll never gatekeep the euphoria experienced by a meal here. Bonus perks: Max & Chelsea have the best senses of humor, the murals on the patio are always amazing, the beer and wine selection are vast (also the mocktails!), and the decor always feels like your favorite “I Spy” book.“

“Really impressed with this restaurant! I've developed dietary restrictions due to health reasons which have prevented me from going to a lot of restaurants. When my friend planned a going away dinner here, I reached out via email asking if it was possible for them to accommodate me. They wrote back an extremely kind response saying they were looking forward to hosting me- that really made my day. The wait staff was wonderful, listened to all of my requests attentively and my meal was perfect and delicious. I will absolutely be back, thank you Audubon!“

“Went there last night after daughter's graduation with her boyfriend's family and her other friends. The bar was loud and very busy as expected but the servers and hosts were kind enough to accommodate us. But it was one particular bartender of Asian origin (I am an Asian myself) who was flustered the entire time we were there and we were not even ordering from her. It was a different bartender who was nice. And when I wanted to close the tab, she asked me something I couldn't hear and when I asked her again, she snapped so viciously, I was aghast. That was beyond rude and more like a criminal behavior towards a patron. I didn’t escalate it and left quickly but this perhaps is a repeat behavior from her and her attitude didn’t seem new. I hope the management/owners take notice of this. The way she behaved and looked flustered the entire time warrants termination, no less. This has nothing to do with the pub, the servers and bartender there are nice, except that one person who shouldn't have been employed.“

“Best meal of the year there last night, and we were in Paris for a week in March! The charred broccolini with tonnato sauce appetizer is to die for, I may have to order three portions next time. But the scallops, the sole, and the fig tart were also delicious, making it hard to choose a fave. Once again, this restaurant earned its place as our go-to for special occasions.“

“Had an amazing experience here! We went on a Monday night, late, it wasn't busy and the view was great. The service was the best part though, Maria our server was amazing. She right away asked if I wanted a blanket to stay warm, was super friendly, and perfectly attentive but never intrusive on our conversation. My gauva margaritas and my friends drinks were great. We didnt get food but would absolutely go back for food and drinks. Hidden gem of a Boston rooftop bar!“

“Great food and great service!“

“great bar. cash only. located between Harvard and Central.“

“Love coming here…my favorite sport“

“A bar with live music in JP. Remember to bring cash - no credit cards! They've been at this for a while, and the place looks tired, but we need more live music venues to help bands start out. The drinks are not expensive for Boston - worth a look if you find a band who plays the type of music you like.“

“Fabulous simple basic delectable food! Wonderful homey and comfortable atmosphere. Excellent friendly waitresses. Amazing prices. I love going there.“

“I love StockYard. We haven't been in a long time as we moved faraway. Now, after 10 years we came back and it was like we never stopped coming to eat here. The food was super delicious. The NY Sirloin, and the tenderness of the Fille Minog was extraordinary. Outstanding customer service. The drinks were superb. And the complimentary chocolate cake with ice cream for Father's day was out of this world. Thank you.“

“The Food Is Excellent! Service is Top Shelf! The Whole Restaurant ( Waitresses, bar tenders, cooks etc) is Awesome! Great Place 😉“

“Master McGrath's is not your Downtown Boston or Newbury Street gentrified bougie hangout. It's for the blue collars, the working folk, and for a pint and a shot or some simple cocktails.

Nothing fancy but then it doesn't need it either. Great neighborhood spot full of regulars who know how to use TouchTunes.

Trivia nights are every other Thursday (watch their instagram for updates @master.mcgraths). Always a blast!!

For food, they are currently working on getting their brand new pizza oven up and running. For now, you can order food delivered there (tons of places nearby) or bring your own. There's no table service but all of the bartenders are attentive and know what they're doing.

TO NOTE: This is a CASH ONLY bar. There's an ATM on site and several others in the vicinity.

Parking is on River st (FREE street parking) or there are a couple of small lots nearby. If going on the weekend, you can also park at Rockland Trust after 5 without fear of being towed.

Stop by for the best pint of Guiness in Boston, watch the game on their 7 TVs, cozy up by the electric fireplace, or sit at the bar and chat with the locals. They/we've all got stories!“

“Public Tavern is a great spot to grab drinks and watch your favorite game. We usually go for Trivia Thursdays, which are always a fun time, and the $3 appetizer deal is a nice bonus. The mozzarella sticks are surprisingly good and definitely worth ordering.

It can get busy, and with usually only two bartenders managing the crowd, service can feel a little slow at times. That said, the staff handles the rush as best as they can.

Seating can also be a challenge. There often are not enough chairs, and if you arrive late to an event, you will likely be standing since someone else will have already taken the available seats.

The cocktails were somewhat hit or miss. The caipirinha felt a bit watered down and lacked the punch I was expecting, though the espresso martini was solid.

Overall, it is a fun, lively place for trivia nights and game days. With a bit more consistency in the cocktails, it would easily be a five-star experience.“