Best of Boston

2015 Best Bartender

Patrick Gaggiano, Vialé

There are a couple of reasons to visit a bar. One is to sip masterful cocktails. The other is to savor the charms of the bartender, a pleasure you’ll discover in less than five minutes when the lighthearted Gaggiano is behind the stick. At Vialé, he’s as likely to pour you a shot of cheap whiskey for the hell of it as he is to whip up an inspired creation filled with infusions and specialty liqueurs.

502 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, 617-576-1900, vialecambridge.com