50 Best Cocktail Bars near Swampscott

“Wonderful food and great vibe. The owner/check is really vested in his menu and in his customers. Tapas style and 3 items was certainly enough fir 2! Food is so delicious.“

“We had a truly delightful experience at Pomona Cafe. The service was lovely, the food was excellent, and the atmosphere was so inviting and comfortable. The place has been lovingly remodeled and it feels like somewhere else. The handcrafted woodwork is beautiful and the high ceilings and large windows make the space feel airy and calm. The mussels and gambas (shrimp) were both beautifully cooked and we could have dunked a loaf of bread in each sauce. The salmon was bright and beautifully paired with perfectly cooked asparagus and spinach , the bolognese was also very good as well as the chicken limon. We shared a delicious and not-too-sweet pistachio cheesecake dessert that was very satisfying. The ONLY possible negative would be the bread. All of those delicious sauces need a worthy vehicle! We will definitely be going back.“

“Swampscott's gem - Big Mac pizza is out of this world!“

“The Dungeon Master Roll the Dice“

“food was amazing. ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥“

“We had a very delicious dinner here when we were visiting and staying in Salem. The atmosphere was great and I have to give a big shout out to our waitress Rachel, who was a total sweetheart and very accommodating, as well as Tori, who took over as our waitress when Rachel's shift was over. This is the best place to eat in Salem and highly recommend it to anyone who loves seafood! Thank you again Turners!!“

“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.“

“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!“

“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.“

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

“Second visit to Nightshade, 14 courses did not disappoint!“

“Fantastic experience celebrating my birthday with my boyfriend at Mai! All of our food was incredibly well executed. From the hand rolls to the Wagyu Tartare and Toro Tea Cup, you won’t be disappointed. Su also took great care of us and made the experience even better. Highly recommend!“

“Just ask for Nellie superb service takes care of u makes u feel at home talk to her ask her anything never expected this from Boston thank u for the hospitality and the conversations doesn’t let u hand dry makes u feel part of the crowd“

“So much fun! I highly recommend!“

“Exceptional cocktail bar with very entertaining presentation! I got the Lock and Key which was an incredible milk punch with a lovely caramelized pineapple aroma and the Take Your Time, which was a unique old fashioned take that was complemented with savory toasted sesame! My partner got the Squid Games, which was very good as well. Our bartender Emma was very personable, walked us through the menu and helped us have a curated experience, and even provided tips on how to prepare milk punches. Exceptional service.

Price range was very reasonable in the 18-19 dollar per drink range. The atmosphere and lighting were lovely as well. We will definitely be coming back!“

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

“Amazing creativity on the cocktails!“

“A lovely restaurant with great service, a charming setting, and plenty of memorable dishes. The staff was attentive and made the experience feel special. The fried cauliflower stood out, and using the warm bread from the shrimp and garlic dish to enjoy the sauce made it even better. For entrees, the herb-crusted lamb chops and roasted branzino are both excellent options. A perfect place whether you’re in the mood for a seafood feast or a flavorful meat dish.“

“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.“

“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.“

“The atmosphere is amazing and the seats were very soft and comfy. It’s dark but cozy and really feels like being in a speakeasy especially after entering through a door in the alley. We got there after kitchen closed so we only had drinks but our bartender Sean was amazing at making the drinks and keeping the room served.“

“great place!!! the owner did a great job with this place. clean and modern etc. 5 stars“

“Walked in on a Friday afternoon. Bartender was absolutely fantastic. Old Fashioned was lovely. The Picklebacks though were the highlight of the trip. They make their own spicy pickle juice and I’m obsessed with it. I wish they bottled it and it was available for sale. I need the recipe. Best drinks we had in Boston all weekend.“

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

“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!“

“This was our first time at the newer location. My husband and I brought some friends to lunch and Ithaki did not disappoint. The ingredients are fresh, the service was courteous, friendly and knowledgeable. We had a wonderful time and can't wait to return.“

“A hidden gem, and wonderful spot in Salem!! Fabulous drinks, a wonderful story, and the greatest staff. Perfect spot for just about anything.“

“Best place in the city for a drink“

“The food was great, but what really made this dining experience so phenomenal & memorable was our waitress Fabiola. Such a bright personality that made this night with friends one I’ll remember forever.“

“Awesome Dumplings!! Great Service!☺️“

“Amazing food, great atmosphere. Ordered the Buttermilk Pancakes with lemon whipped cream and sausage, my partner ordered the Croque Madam. Would highly recommend all of it. What a great place!!“

“I came here last night for a drink and it was delicious - the flower power sour. And the service was outstanding. I wanted to sit outside and it was empty and a bit scary and the server kinda kept an eye out for me and came out often to check on me.
I ended up coming back tonight because I lost my card and this was the last place I’d used it and it was here! So I got the flower power sour and oysters again and then celebrated some more with the ‘cosmic kiwi milk punch’ and everything was amazing and I’m grateful and happy for great places and good people. Excited to go back home and come back here if I ever come backs to Boston!“

“Wow! This bar is absolutely magnificent. Milkie and Billy have the best, yet vibrant energies around as bartenders! I really recommend it.

Only downside, though, is that fries aren't included with burgers and you would have to pay separately.

Beers are $9-10 per pour, but that ain't stopping me from enjoying a Guinness. Not sure about cocktails. The atmosphere has such 80s-90s vibes that it makes you feel very comfortable. There are regulars here, but that won't even stop you from having a good time.

Milkie and Billy are so kind, and willing to hear you out. Looking forward to coming back again!“

“Very cool idea. I love not having to chase after the ping pong balls. 🤪“

“This is an amazing place to host a party! The entire staff was fantastic! Beautiful room and delicious food!“

“Awesome Patriotic atmosphere!! Highly recommended…“

“We had a special occasion dinner, and our server, Gisele, was fantastic once she found out; her service from start to finish was outstanding. We will definitely be back and ask for her again. The food was delicious, and every recommendation Gisele made from drinks to dessert was super Thank you so much! We will recommend this place!!!“

“I'm originally from just outside New Orleans, LA. Came here with a friend and was all too curious that they had Jambalaya on the menu. I cannot stress this enough. Order the Jambalaya. It reminded me of home.“

“Great food & staff. Parking is a challenge but worth it.“

“Here for work, missed lunch traveling, was at the bar/restaurant right at open at 4 for just a quick bite. Ordered the lobster roll (when in Rome, right) and it came loaded with both lobster and a huge side of fries. Wasn’t expecting all of that, left fries even. Lobster could have used a pinch of salt but no complaints really.“

“First time here and the shrimp tacos were delicious! French fries were thin and cooked perfectly.“

“I've gone to A&B burger almost weekly with my friend as a get together for beer and their $5 burger after 8PM. They're phenomenal, the service is great, the price is awesome especially their late burger special. Also, the burger is a basic but delicious burger and you can't go wrong with it ever. Overall, love this place is recommend it to anyone within the vicinity.“

“We ordered a Superbowl buffet! Wow! Everything was outstanding! They fought over the leftovers“

“Amazing experience. The food, service and overall atmosphere was perfect. We will certainly be back. My girlfriend and I had the pleasure to chat a bit with, Armando who was nice enough to offer us Churros on the house after having a great conversation about the restaurant! 10/10 nice work!“

“I WENT TO REV YESTERDAY FOR THE FIRST TIME TO MEET MY SON FOR LUNCH I WAS APPROACHED BY CORY AS OUT WAITER. HE WAS ATTENTIVE KIND AND EXPLAINED EVERYTHING ON THE MENU. WE WERE VERY HAPPY WITH THE SERVICE THAT HE GAVE US I WILL DEFINTIELY LET PEOPLE KNOW WHERE TO GO TO EAT AND ASK FOR CORY HES THE BEST!! THANK YOU CORY“

“TLDR: New spot on the block and it is absolutely phenomenal. No notes, except that the Cacio e Pepe needs a touch more salt. Don’t sleep on this place.

Longer Version: I booked this place for my birthday dinner, because of its proximity to Loyall Counting Room and a 4.6 on google. The menu looked interesting, but I thought it seemed potentially standard American fare and I could not have been more wrong.

Drinks: Phenomenal. All their drinks are not represented on the online menu, but I had SJ’s martini and Whisper in the Wind (a sweet drink with mezcal) beautifully executed.

Appetizer: We had the squash blossoms and the flavor was to die for. The crunch on the blossoms perfect, and the lavender honey, lovely. My partner doesn’t like lavender honey so he found the honey to not be edible raw but thought it tasted good together with the squash blossom. From a saving money perspective, I suggest putting half the amount of honey on the plate because it’s hard to eat it all and then that just wastes.

Entree: I had the Confit Rabbit Hind because I’ve never had the option to in Boston and my goodness. Everything on the plate was perfect and the rabbit wasn’t dry! Amazing. My partner had the uni cacio e pepe which was also good but needed a bit more salt.

Dessert: We shared the chocolate olive oil cake with blueberry ice cream and it was to die for. So unique, every detail carefully thought out and the candied lemon just elevated and exploded the flavor. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a dessert that made me feel like I was in heaven.

I hope this is a place that continues to create unique menus with seasonal ingredients. Whomever the head chef is and their team is deserves an award.

Service: Excellent, thoughtful, put us at ease.

Noise: We booked for 6pm so it was emptier and quieter at that time. Started to get busier closer to 7:30pm.

Parking: Parked at the south station garage and walked over.“

“500 Ocean is a beautiful property with some amazing amenities. It is in a great location, surrounded by ocean views, restaurants and very accessible to the T, literally right below the building. My husband and I had a great experience living here and had rarely any issues. The main issue we had at move-in was addressed and we were even offered a small gift for the inconvenience. I love the maintenance staff and they are always so pleasant and helpful. One of my favorite parts of living here was having an in-house fitness coach/ personal trainer- Cienna Jade! She is so amazing to work with and has really helped me along my fitness journey. It was so convenient having her come to the 500 Ocean gym, which is one of the best gyms I've seen in an apartment home. She conducts 1 on 1 sessions and will literally work with you on scheduling a time that's convenient for you as well as offering group or couple sessions! Overall, very pleasant experience!“

“great coffee!!! great vibes“

“Company holiday party this evening. It was FABULOUS. The food was off the hook fantastic. The staff was superb and highly personable. The space was decorated perfectly. The music wasn’t too loud. The would NOT hesitate to eat here or have a function here, this is an absolute hidden gem in Boston. Five kabillion 🌟 stars!“

“A really great experience. Heading in was whimsical and fun. The cocktail menu was expansive and creative. The drinks themselves were delicious and subtle. A little pricey, but well worth it for an occasion. The food hit the spot, but not the reason you come here. Vibe was really nice, with uncramped tables and a great playlist.

Shout out to Rey for taking care of us!“