Where to Grab a Drink in Boston Right Now

It’ll be a few more months until Sox season swings into full gear, but in the meantime, Audubon is well-worth a trip to the neighborhood even on the most blustery of days. This venue sports ales from some of the Bay State’s most beloved breweries—Exhibit ‘A’, Night Shift, and Jack’s Abby, to name a few—while cocktails range from the fiery Anchorita to the Dionysian Lament, an anise-forward concoction of ouzo, mint, and soda water. The potstickers, grilled wings, and veggie burger are all certified home runs for hungry patrons, but if you’re craving crispy chorizo and San Diego-inspired seafood, be sure to swing by for Audubon’s weekly Taco Tuesday.

Brassica may be particularly pint-sized, but what this Forest Hills venue lacks in size it certainly makes up for in stiff drinks and vibrant small plates. A certifiable JP chameleon, the spot slings handmade pastries and sandwiches during daylight hours as Brassica Cafe, then emerges during the evening as Brassica Kitchen, a polished bistro that’s mastered the art of fermentation-forward dining. While the fried sweet rice and buffalo chicken are both particularly pleasing to the palate, don’t sleep on the top-tier cocktail list, a sizable selection of beverages that spans from housemade amaro to the cachaça- and orgeat-loaded cocktail, To The Moon.

In a city renowned for its steadfast devotion to Irish pubs, The Haven sets its sights just a hair east of the Emerald Isle, specializing in hearty Scottish food and drink. The country’s historically clammy weather has given rise to cozy traditional plates ranging from cullen skink—a creamy, leek-loaded soup—to shepherd’s pie, each one a perfect antidote to a chilly Boston night. For best results, be sure to pair your main with a stiff pour of whiskey from The Haven’s lengthy Scotch list, then end the night with a deep-fried Mars bar, an ingenious creation that’s been a beloved Scotland treat for decades on end.

Located in the heart of Union Square, this beloved bar has been a staple in Somerville for more than a decade. Backbar comes equipped with a cozy atmosphere adorned with stunning wall art, but it’s the bar’s avant-garde, quirky, and ultimately adorable theme that really endears this spot to local Massholes. Once equipped with a cocktail menu revolving around bears, Backbar has ditched the ursine theme in favor of our feathered friends, providing visitors with a colorful range of cocktails inspired by real-life creatures like the hummingbird and golden eagle as well as classic characters including Big Bird and Mr. Owl.

Another smash hit brought to you by skilled and inventive bartender Ran Duan, the Baldwin is an old-school cocktail bar stashed inside his parents’ Woburn-based Chinese restaurant, Sichuan Garden. He’s shaking up classic drinks with creative twists (think: a tropics-worthy Mai Tai crafted with Havana Club rum and crowned with a healthy dose of falernum) alongside signatures like the agave-heavy Cenote Sling (tequila, acidified tomatillo, guava, bergamot). Then there’s the bar within the bar, Baldwin & Sons Trading Co., an award-winning lounge cranking out even more audacious delights.
How to book: Via Tock

In need of a stiff drink that will transport you across the globe with a single sip? Make that dream a reality with Banyan Bar, a South End staple for colorful cocktails and flavorful fusion cuisine. Although Asian-inspired favorites like crab rangoon dip, cauliflower okonomiyaki, and lobster roll bao all grace the menu, the star attraction here is the cocktail list, offering heavy hitters like the fiery Thai chili vodka-forward Supreme Leader and the Pink Flamingo, a classic blend of sake, vodka, orange curaçao, and fruit juices.

A relatively new addition to the Greater Boston bar scene, Blue Owl has been gracing Cambridge’s Central Square with fine food and drink paired with gorgeous rooftop views since September 2021. There’s no shortage of classic cocktails to enjoy around here, but for the adventurous soul, Blue Owl is a top spot for expanding your spiritual horizons. Looking to sample one of Latin America’s favorite distillates? Grab a Five Walls, a honey-laden cocktail made with aguardiente. Curious about Chicago’s most infamous liquor? The Malört-loaded Phantasm has your name on it. Add in some tasty street food-inspired snacks like Oaxacan molotes and Korean fried chicken wings and you’ve got a true symphony of flavors.

Two words: espresso martini. There’s no shortage of spots across the city to get your caffeine and booze fix, but when it comes to creating the perfect blend of vodka, Kahlúa, and coffee, nobody does it quite like Bricco. This beloved North End venue is best known for its flagship coffee cocktail, but if caffeine gives you a major case of the jitters, there’s no need to worry—a VuVu Cosmo, Pineapple Doli, or Maker’s Manhattan are all worthy substitutes. For the totally cocktail-averse, Bricco is also home to a spectacular array of wines, boasting more than 100 different selections sourced from all across Italy and the United States.

This cavernous, brick-walled space celebrates locally made spirits, seasonal ingredients, and a relaxed approach to imbibing. Keep it classy with the tequila and campari-heavy When Doves Cry, or spring for a DTO—that’s Daiquiri Time Out, a certified group favorite complete with four rum-laden shots to really get the party started. Keeping with the sharing theme, Brick & Mortar also serves up a small-yet-mighty selection of tasty bar snacks, with blue cheese-stuffed roasted dates, east coast oysters, and deviled eggs all up for grabs.

Officially launched in 2011, Bully Boy made history as the city’s first craft distillery, providing thirsty Bay Staters with a much-needed spot for sampling locally produced spirit. While guests are welcome to book a tour for a firsthand glimpse into the distillation process, the on-property Cocktail Garden is open for business from Thursday to Sunday for serious cocktail aficionados. At this vibrant bar, visitors can enjoy a thorough deep dive into how each Bully Boy spirit performs in a mixed drink, with a wealth of New England ingredients and homemade tinctures going into each beverage.

When it comes to hidden gems, Casa Romero is the Boston equivalent of the Hope Diamond. Tucked in a tiny alleyway just off of Commonwealth Ave, this charming venue has been one of Back Bay’s top purveyors of Mexican cuisine for the past half-century. While there’s no shortage of wines and frozen cocktails around here, Casa Romera has mastered the art of the margarita with eight distinct varieties gracing the menu. Keep it classic with an orange-heavy El Amigo, or spring for La Fantasma, a fiery concoction that pairs perfectly with an order of Camarones a la Diabla.

Looking for a little Baja flair to take your mind off of the cold? Don’t book that flight to Cabo just yet—all the agave-loaded beverages you could possibly ask for are waiting right on the edge of Back Bay at Citrus & Salt. This bright and cheery venue excels at the art of cocktail-crafting, offering a wealth of options ranging from the ultra-smooth and citrusy Beautiful Liar to the lychee-forward Tails From Below, a drink that accents its rich agave flavors with prickly pear and butterfly pea tea. Of course, no visit is complete without sipping on this spot’s flagship cocktail—the Citrus & Salt Margarita, a beloved classic that comes in seven different flavors.

Beloved Fort Point venue Drink is easily one of Boston’s most critically-acclaimed drinking destinations. In stark contrast to your typical cocktail bar, this buzzing basement-level institution has no menu—guests are welcome to name any drink that their heart desires, whether it be a simple Old Fashioned or a Ramos Gin Fizz. While this storied spot is beloved by serious cocktail aficionados, it’s also the perfect place for new drinkers to cut their teeth—just name a few of your favorite flavors and boom, your new go-to boozy beverage has arrived courtesy of Drink’s top-tier staff.

Leave it to this wonderful little Downtown Crossing wine bar to bring something special to an otherwise largely ignored Boston neighborhood. Who isn’t up for tinned fish, charcuterie, and a sturdy glass of red after a long day’s work? The concept was developed by Sportello alum Haley Fortier, who has unfathomable expertise in the world of wine. It’s casual, it’s interesting, and with nearly 50 mostly old-world selections to choose from, including full and half-bottle offerings, it all adds up to a fantastic place to unwind.

Mixology meets mythology at Hecate, a welcome new addition to Back Bay’s bustling cocktail scene courtesy of the team behind Krasi. While Krasi has a distinct Greek focus, Hecate takes a pan-European approach, equipped with an ultra-somber interior and a small-yet-mighty cocktail list that boasts some highly underrated ingredients accented by splendid illustrations. These spellbinding concoctions range from the Wendigo, a double-punch of Sagamore rye and Flor de Caña rum, to the sotol-laden Santa Muerte, a dream come true for serious agave aficionados.

This much-adored Downtown barroom is known for its stellar selection of brews, but you really should put a serious dent in the cocktail list with tempting options ranging from Milano Sours (Fernet, Rittenhouse rye, orgeat, and lemon) to the refreshing B&T (vodka, raspberry, lemon, topped with elderflower foam). The bar also lays claim to one of the best burgers in town—perfect for soaking up all that liquid debauchery. Bourbon lovers in particular take note: jm Curley is also home to one of the tastiest whiskey smashes around.

Back in 2016, the miniscule haley.henry shook up our dining scene with its roster of tinned fish and funky little-known wines. The second bar from haley.henry’s Fortier continues to push boundaries with a by-the-glass wine that leans heavy on the small-batch and natural side, as well as an enticing menu of artful shareables like Berbere spiced nuts, roasted beets, and mussels en persillade. And did you know the bar will open any bottle as long as your table commits to two glasses? Done and dusted.

A perfect solution for the indecisive imbiber, the Seaport’s Nautilus Pier 4 is a veritable juggernaut in terms of drink selection, with free-flowing beer, cider, wine, sake, and spirits all up for grabs. Cocktail-wise, Nautilus plays host to a plethora of perfectly crafted brews ranging from the rum and tropical fruit-heavy Nantucket Nectar to the Teach Me How to Dougie, a Cali Swag District-inspired drink that’s packed with an ultra-refreshing punch of mezcal and ginger. If you’re in the mood for a little vino, Nautilus comes equipped with an encyclopedia-sized wine and sake list, providing guests with the perfect red, white, or bubbly to pair with their tuna poke.

Intimacy is the name of the game at OFFSUIT, a tiny haunt tucked away in Boston’s Leather District. The night begins with a prowl down Utica Street, where an unremarkable door serves as a portal into a world of refined drinking and dining. There are just 20 seats packed into this pint-sized watering hole, but OFFSUIT’s cocktail selection is by no means minuscule, featuring a wealth of perfectly crafted selections that include time-honored classics like Oaxaca Old Fashioneds and espresso martinis alongside new creations like the Lounge Act, a blend of apple brandy, chamomile, falernum, curaçao, and Angostura bitters.

The Boston area is no stranger to cozy Irish pubs, but for those who find themselves north of the Charles, The Plough and Stars has been a top contender for more than half a century. Decadent pub fare like buttermilk fried chicken BLTs, New Orleans gumbo, and Cuban sandwiches, a lengthy beer list, and live music can all be found seven nights a week, while weekend brunch offers a diverse array of dishes ranging from a full Irish breakfast to huevos rancheros.

This is serious drinking for serious whiskey enthusiasts—and in Eastie, no less. The “top shelf, low-brow” bar boasts close to 100 whiskies on top of a singled-out whiskey of the week. There’s also a curated cocktail list plus an impressive canned beer collection alongside a few choices on draft. Have we mentioned a food program that includes booze-friendly comforts like Frito pie, burgers, and hot dogs? Yep, it’s all there.

If it’s named after a Bowie song, it has to be good, right? Owner and local wine consultant Lauren Friel designed this welcoming Bow Market spot to highlight obscure natural wines that come in at a great price point. No snobbery here—Friel encourages guests to shamelessly order wine based on the pretty label by displaying them prominently.

It’s rare to find a bar that offers superbly crafted cocktails, tantalizing cuisine, and a gorgeous interior, but Shōjō manages to check off all the boxes. Equipped with a laundry list of decadent dishes ranging from smoked BBQ sauce-drenched pork bao to the massive Shojonator burger, the bar has perfected the delicate balance of hearty American fare mingled with East Asian culinary flair. While the venue boasts an impressive collection of whiskey sourced from Japan, Taiwan, and the US, Shōjō’s cocktail game is just as impressive, offering Vietnamese coffee martinis and boozy baijiu mules.

If Trader Vic’s met a New Orleans speakeasy, you’d end up with Shore Leave, a cheeky delight of a subterranean drinking den from the team behind nearby Bar Mezzana. Indoor dining offers a welcome escape from the brisk weather, providing guests with an opportunity to make the deep descent into the basement where Shore Leave’s abundantly cozy dining space awaits. The traditional rum-forward jams are still on point from Mai Tais to a tropical take on the classic martini, and the culinary options pack just as strong of a punch, spanning decadent and dressed-up favorites like cheeseburgers, okonomiyaki tater tots, and karaage chicken sandwiches.

Dive bars close all the time, but you rarely hear about dive bars opening. Exception: Trina’s, a neighborhood hangout that retains the charmingly grungy appeal of predecessor Abbey Lounge. Trina’s low-key vibe pairs nicely with its unpretentious approach to cocktails: Keep them fun, keep them seasonal, and keep them anything but trendy. Launched back in 2009, this Cambridge favorite is perfect for crushing both mixed drinks and tantalizing comfort dishes ranging from crispy fried chicken and waffles to chili cheese dogs. After a few rounds, you can keep the party going just a few steps away at Parlor Sports, Trina’s sister property peddling local craft beer, classic pub fare, and a flock of flat screens showcasing all the big games.