clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile
More Maps

Boston’s Best After-Work Dining Deals

Boston’s Best Breakfasts

14 Excellent Chinese Restaurants Around Boston

More in Boston See more maps
Two people stand on either sides of a bar, both in reaching distance of a bunch of containers holding colorful fruits, sticks, glitter, and a variety of other drink toppings.
The bartenders’ workspace at the Wig Shop, a playful, excellent cocktail bar in Downtown Crossing.
Malakhai Pearson/Eater Boston

Boston’s Best Bars

Destinations for cocktails, wine, sake, beer, and more

by Erika Adams, Valerie Li Stack, and Rachel Leah Blumenthal Updated
View as Map
The bartenders’ workspace at the Wig Shop, a playful, excellent cocktail bar in Downtown Crossing.
| Malakhai Pearson/Eater Boston
by Erika Adams, Valerie Li Stack, and Rachel Leah Blumenthal Updated

Boston loves booze. To describe the most essential bars in and around Boston, one must consider a variety of options; they all contribute to the city’s drinking scene in different but equally important ways. One person’s essential bar is the classic neighborhood hangout around the corner with the free popcorn, while another person ranks the world-class cocktail lounge with a line around the block as the best in town.

This map examines high-end cocktail destinations, cozy wine bars, and places to keep going back to.

Read More
Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Olde Magoun's Saloon

Copy Link

Olde Magoun’s is the type of sports bar where you’ll want to hang out even when your favorite team isn’t playing a game. The bar regularly stocks some of New England’s finest (and more elusive) beers, including the Alchemist and Hill Farmstead, and the food is actually good, too.

518 Medford St, Somerville, MA 02145
(617) 776-2600
(617) 776-2600
A white plate with a cup of thick steak fries, a burger on a toasted bun, and a cup of ketchup on the side.
A burger and fries at Olde Magoun’s Saloon.
Erika Adams/Eater Boston

Also featured in:

Dear Annie

Copy Link

Serving an extensive list of natural wines from small producers, Dear Annie is a collaboration between the people behind two Somerville establishments, Field and Vine and Rebel Rebel (another excellent wine bar in Bow Market). Serving an extensive list of natural wine from small producers and a smattering of small plates, this wine bar has attracted national media attention after it was named one of the new best restaurants in America by the New York Times and Bon Appetit.

1741 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02140

Also featured in:

Backbar

Copy Link

In the heart of Union Square, down a hallway accessed from a driveway that leads into a back parking lot, Somerville’s hidden piece of cocktail heaven awaits. The supremely cozy-yet-trendy Backbar follows in Drink’s footsteps with bartenders ready to stir up a drink based on the drinker’s whim, but there’s also an ever-changing menu full of much to explore.

7 Sanborn Ct, Somerville, MA
(617) 718-0249
(617) 718-0249

Also featured in:

Wusong Tiki Bar

Copy Link

One of the newer additions to Harvard Square’s bar scene, Wusong boasts lush interior decor and a cocktail menu that emanates strong tiki vibes, with classic rum-centered drinks taking the spotlight. Pair with zingy dandan ragout, crispy grilled crab rangoons, coconut spareribs, and more.

112 Mt Auburn St, Cambridge, MA 02138
(617) 528-9125
(617) 528-9125
View of a tiki bar with basket lamps, colorful glassware, and a gong with the restaurant’s name, Wusong Road, painted on it.
Inside Wusong.
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater Boston

Also featured in:

Brick & Mortar

Copy Link

Located up above sister spot Central Kitchen in Cambridge’s Central Square, Brick & Mortar serves incredible cocktails in a dark, loud bar that tends to get crowded with industry and non-industry drinkers. Grab a seat, settle in, and order some oysters — all worries will melt away. Or, if that doesn't do it, start off with ordering a round of DTOs — four daiquiri shots otherwise known as taking a daiquiri time out.

569 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA
(617) 491-0061
(617) 491-0061
A stemless cocktail glass filled with pebble ice and a red-orange liquid, topped with a green herb garnish.
The Smash Cut, with bourbon, cassis, lemon juice, orange, and a spicy ginger reduction.
Erika Adams/Eater Boston

Also featured in:

The Koji Club

Copy Link

Nestled inside the Charles River Speedway, Boston’s only dedicated sake bar is a welcoming, knowledgeable home for bargoers to unwind and fall in love with sake for the first time or the thousandth time. Pop in anytime from Wednesday through Sunday to sip your way through the menu, or reserve online for a more curated experience like a celebratory holiday lunch through December.

525 Western Ave #6, Brighton, MA 02135
Sake glasses lined up at a bar with a floral arrangement in the background. Kristin Teig/The Koji Club

Also featured in:

Haley.Henry

Copy Link

This intimate, convivial Downtown Crossing wine bar makes a lot out of a little bit of space. The tiny kitchen doesn’t allow for much cooking, so the focus is on fancy imported tinned seafood. (But the few items that are cooked are excellent.) The other star is the wine — finds from around the world, especially natural wines and wines from small producers. There are lots of half-bottles available, so the tasting possibilities are endless.

45 Province St, Boston, MA
(617) 208-6000
(617) 208-6000
A slate serving board with two dinner rolls, butter, salt, lemon wedges, green herbs, and a tin of fish in oil.
A snacky spread of tinned fish and bread at Haley.Henry.
Erika Adams/Eater Boston

The Wig Shop

Copy Link

Located in an actual former wig shop, the Wig Shop is now one of Boston’s buzziest new cocktail bars. Run by the mega-talented Oscar Simoza, the cocktail menu is wildly playful — take, for example, the Rise & Grind, a coffee cocktail topped with whipped cream and served in a teacup with a mini croissant on the side — and there’s always great vibes in the space. Be prepared for a wait to get in, though.

27 Temple Pl, Boston, MA 02111
(617) 338-6333
(617) 338-6333
A neon-lit front window that has a sign that says “Wigs” above a display of nine wigs on mannequins. A black door is to the right.
The front door of the Wig Shop.
Malakhai Pearson/Eater Boston

Also featured in:

J.J. Foley's Cafe

Copy Link

Generations of regulars have found a home at the bar at J.J. Foley’s, which has maintained its status as a cornerstone of the South End for over 100 years. Squeeze in and pair a pint of Guinness with Mr. Foley’s favorite — a juicy sirloin burger layered with bacon, caramelized onions, mushrooms, cheddar cheese, and topped with a fried egg.

117 E Berkeley St (btwn Harrison & Washington), Boston, MA 02118
(617) 728-9101
(617) 728-9101
J.J. Foley’s Cafe, is one of the original restaurants that predates the recent construction boom near the Pine Street Inn in the South End neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts on July 19, 2019.  Christopher Evans/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images

Also featured in:

Wally's Cafe

Copy Link

The first Black-owned jazz club in New England — and the only remaining jazz club of a bygone era in Boston — Wally’s has been around since the 1940s (located across the street from its current location until 1979). This cozy little bar is filled with live music every night of the year, showcasing students as well as professionals. The beer’s pretty cheap, and the mixed drinks are no-frills.

427 Massachusetts Ave, Boston, MA 02118
(617) 424-1408
(617) 424-1408

Blossom Bar

Copy Link

Owner Ran Duan and his team have won a lot of cocktail awards over the past few years. Blossom Bar is a gem for those closer to Brookline, pairing intricate, tropical cocktails with fiery Sichuan food and some American Chinese classics.

295 Washington St, Brookline, MA 02445
(617) 734-1870
(617) 734-1870

Also featured in:

The Haven

Copy Link

Boston’s “Scottish headquarters” spent its first few years of existence without a full liquor license, making things work well enough with an outstanding selection of almost exclusively Scottish beers and ciders — but one thing was missing. Whisky. The Haven has since acquired its full license and is now showcasing whisky from all over Scotland. The bar and restaurant also serves Scottish food — including haggis — and hosts numerous events, including live music, game watches, and tastings.

JPNDC Brewery Complex, The Haven, 284 Amory St, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

Also featured in:

More in Maps

© 2024 Vox Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
Link copied to the clipboard.

Olde Magoun's Saloon

518 Medford St, Somerville, MA 02145

Olde Magoun’s is the type of sports bar where you’ll want to hang out even when your favorite team isn’t playing a game. The bar regularly stocks some of New England’s finest (and more elusive) beers, including the Alchemist and Hill Farmstead, and the food is actually good, too.

518 Medford St, Somerville, MA 02145
(617) 776-2600
(617) 776-2600
A white plate with a cup of thick steak fries, a burger on a toasted bun, and a cup of ketchup on the side.
A burger and fries at Olde Magoun’s Saloon.
Erika Adams/Eater Boston

Dear Annie

1741 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02140

Serving an extensive list of natural wines from small producers, Dear Annie is a collaboration between the people behind two Somerville establishments, Field and Vine and Rebel Rebel (another excellent wine bar in Bow Market). Serving an extensive list of natural wine from small producers and a smattering of small plates, this wine bar has attracted national media attention after it was named one of the new best restaurants in America by the New York Times and Bon Appetit.

1741 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02140

Backbar

7 Sanborn Ct, Somerville, MA

In the heart of Union Square, down a hallway accessed from a driveway that leads into a back parking lot, Somerville’s hidden piece of cocktail heaven awaits. The supremely cozy-yet-trendy Backbar follows in Drink’s footsteps with bartenders ready to stir up a drink based on the drinker’s whim, but there’s also an ever-changing menu full of much to explore.

7 Sanborn Ct, Somerville, MA
(617) 718-0249
(617) 718-0249

Wusong Tiki Bar

112 Mt Auburn St, Cambridge, MA 02138

One of the newer additions to Harvard Square’s bar scene, Wusong boasts lush interior decor and a cocktail menu that emanates strong tiki vibes, with classic rum-centered drinks taking the spotlight. Pair with zingy dandan ragout, crispy grilled crab rangoons, coconut spareribs, and more.

112 Mt Auburn St, Cambridge, MA 02138
(617) 528-9125
(617) 528-9125
View of a tiki bar with basket lamps, colorful glassware, and a gong with the restaurant’s name, Wusong Road, painted on it.
Inside Wusong.
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater Boston

Brick & Mortar

569 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA

Located up above sister spot Central Kitchen in Cambridge’s Central Square, Brick & Mortar serves incredible cocktails in a dark, loud bar that tends to get crowded with industry and non-industry drinkers. Grab a seat, settle in, and order some oysters — all worries will melt away. Or, if that doesn't do it, start off with ordering a round of DTOs — four daiquiri shots otherwise known as taking a daiquiri time out.

569 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA
(617) 491-0061
(617) 491-0061
A stemless cocktail glass filled with pebble ice and a red-orange liquid, topped with a green herb garnish.
The Smash Cut, with bourbon, cassis, lemon juice, orange, and a spicy ginger reduction.
Erika Adams/Eater Boston

The Koji Club

525 Western Ave #6, Brighton, MA 02135

Nestled inside the Charles River Speedway, Boston’s only dedicated sake bar is a welcoming, knowledgeable home for bargoers to unwind and fall in love with sake for the first time or the thousandth time. Pop in anytime from Wednesday through Sunday to sip your way through the menu, or reserve online for a more curated experience like a celebratory holiday lunch through December.

525 Western Ave #6, Brighton, MA 02135
Sake glasses lined up at a bar with a floral arrangement in the background. Kristin Teig/The Koji Club

Haley.Henry

45 Province St, Boston, MA

This intimate, convivial Downtown Crossing wine bar makes a lot out of a little bit of space. The tiny kitchen doesn’t allow for much cooking, so the focus is on fancy imported tinned seafood. (But the few items that are cooked are excellent.) The other star is the wine — finds from around the world, especially natural wines and wines from small producers. There are lots of half-bottles available, so the tasting possibilities are endless.

45 Province St, Boston, MA
(617) 208-6000
(617) 208-6000
A slate serving board with two dinner rolls, butter, salt, lemon wedges, green herbs, and a tin of fish in oil.
A snacky spread of tinned fish and bread at Haley.Henry.
Erika Adams/Eater Boston

The Wig Shop

27 Temple Pl, Boston, MA 02111

Located in an actual former wig shop, the Wig Shop is now one of Boston’s buzziest new cocktail bars. Run by the mega-talented Oscar Simoza, the cocktail menu is wildly playful — take, for example, the Rise & Grind, a coffee cocktail topped with whipped cream and served in a teacup with a mini croissant on the side — and there’s always great vibes in the space. Be prepared for a wait to get in, though.

27 Temple Pl, Boston, MA 02111
(617) 338-6333
(617) 338-6333
A neon-lit front window that has a sign that says “Wigs” above a display of nine wigs on mannequins. A black door is to the right.
The front door of the Wig Shop.
Malakhai Pearson/Eater Boston

J.J. Foley's Cafe

117 E Berkeley St (btwn Harrison & Washington), Boston, MA 02118

Generations of regulars have found a home at the bar at J.J. Foley’s, which has maintained its status as a cornerstone of the South End for over 100 years. Squeeze in and pair a pint of Guinness with Mr. Foley’s favorite — a juicy sirloin burger layered with bacon, caramelized onions, mushrooms, cheddar cheese, and topped with a fried egg.

117 E Berkeley St (btwn Harrison & Washington), Boston, MA 02118
(617) 728-9101
(617) 728-9101
J.J. Foley’s Cafe, is one of the original restaurants that predates the recent construction boom near the Pine Street Inn in the South End neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts on July 19, 2019.  Christopher Evans/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images

Wally's Cafe

427 Massachusetts Ave, Boston, MA 02118

The first Black-owned jazz club in New England — and the only remaining jazz club of a bygone era in Boston — Wally’s has been around since the 1940s (located across the street from its current location until 1979). This cozy little bar is filled with live music every night of the year, showcasing students as well as professionals. The beer’s pretty cheap, and the mixed drinks are no-frills.

427 Massachusetts Ave, Boston, MA 02118
(617) 424-1408
(617) 424-1408

Blossom Bar

295 Washington St, Brookline, MA 02445

Owner Ran Duan and his team have won a lot of cocktail awards over the past few years. Blossom Bar is a gem for those closer to Brookline, pairing intricate, tropical cocktails with fiery Sichuan food and some American Chinese classics.

295 Washington St, Brookline, MA 02445
(617) 734-1870
(617) 734-1870

The Haven

JPNDC Brewery Complex, The Haven, 284 Amory St, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

Boston’s “Scottish headquarters” spent its first few years of existence without a full liquor license, making things work well enough with an outstanding selection of almost exclusively Scottish beers and ciders — but one thing was missing. Whisky. The Haven has since acquired its full license and is now showcasing whisky from all over Scotland. The bar and restaurant also serves Scottish food — including haggis — and hosts numerous events, including live music, game watches, and tastings.

JPNDC Brewery Complex, The Haven, 284 Amory St, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

Related Maps