Knight Moves Café
Not technically a bar (it's BYOB), New England's only board-game café offers gamers the opportunity to hang out in a comfier version of their living room while kicking their friends' asses in rounds of Settlers of Catan. A $5 or $10 drop-in cover is all you need to play any of the nearly 1,000 games neatly stacked from floor to ceiling, from Cards Against Humanity to Battleship to your favorite cult Euro import. Also featuring: comforting steampunk-lite décor, a Nutella milkshake, and fresh-baked pastries. 1402 Beacon St., Brookline, MA 02446, knightmovescafe.com.
Bull McCabe's
Every neighborhood needs a corner pub like Bull McCabe's, with a healthy selection of beers, whiskeys, and its own fine craft libations to wash down staples like clam rolls. There's live music (mainly funk, soul, and dub reggae) every night except trivia Mondays. 366A Somerville Ave., Somerville, MA 02143, bullmccabesboston.com.
Wink & Nod
An alluring speakeasy vibe makes this underground haunt feel VIP. The lengthy cocktail menu offers creative twists on classic libations—a gimlet made with grapefruit cordial; a Long Island iced tea served in a tiki mug; and the "Billionaire Bijou," a blend of rare, top-shelf liquors for a cool $100. 3 Appleton St., Boston, MA 02116, winkandnod.com.
Merengue
The walls here are painted in bright tropical colors with cocktails to match, like the fruity blended daiquiris, sangria pitchers, and creamy "Cafe Con Leche" (Patron XO Café, Bailey's, and milk). 160 Blue Hill Ave., Boston, MA 02119, merenguerestaurant.com.
State Park
Play pinball or pool, watch live music, and (if you can elbow your way in forcefully enough) try your hand at shuffleboard, the hipster bar game du jour. Sure, you could drink somewhere fancier—but why would you? One Kendall Sq., Cambridge, MA 02139, statepark.is.
Neptune Oyster
The long lines at this 12-year-old North End standout tell the tale: Neptune still reigns godlike over Boston’s seafood scene. Tides may turn, but with some two dozen locally sourced bivalves, as well as more complex offerings—think seared scallops with pear butter and duck confit—Neptune’s consistency remains awe-inspiring. 63 Salem St., Boston, MA 02113, neptuneoyster.com.
Parlor Sports
This might be the only watering hole where stat geeks meet regularly to review the finer points of sabermetrics, and where themed events have names like “NBA Nerd Night.” Bonus: The upscale bar grub (how about a homemade Hot Pocket?) far surpasses the cardboard pizza you’ll find at most sports bars. 3 Beacon St., Somerville, MA 02143, parlorsportsbar.com.
The Gallows
Don’t be fooled by the laid-back vibes and giant Ouija board: This bar is all business when it comes to cocktails, including the Anchorman-inspired Sex Panther (a blend of scotch and Cynar) and the Jägermeister-laden Chica Cherry Cola. 1395 Washington St., Boston, MA 02118, thegallowsboston.com.
Saloon
The below-ground-level venue may contribute to the speakeasy vibe, but this is no novelty bar. Just take a peek at the lengthy whiskey list, which will satisfy even the most discerning brown-liquor connoisseur. 255 Elm St., Somerville, MA 02144, saloondavis.com.
Publick House
The bar is always bumping, and for good reason: It has Brookline’s largest selection of beers. We favor them paired with the hand-cut Yukon frites slathered in truffle ketchup and apricot-IPA barbecue sauce. 1648 Beacon St., Brookline, MA 02445, thepublickhousebeerbar.com.
O Ya
O Ya may have the most incomparable raw-fish dinner in town, but the reality of its special-occasion status is that we tend to reserve it for exactly that: a special occasion. Chef Ken Oringer's sashimi bar, Uni, on the other hand, presents haute touches with such nonchalance that we feel no guilt about stopping in on a Tuesday night for a cilantro-and-cumin-laced plate of tuna tataki with foie gras and strawberries, or for slivers of firm, fresh Japanese octopus in tangy soy, ginger, and hot oil. Which we do happily, and often. 9 East St., Boston, MA 2111, oyarestaurantboston.com.
Bokx 109
It's cougar season year-round at this sizzling restaurant-bar, where prime specimens purr over glasses of ros and flash their tanned, toned legs from cushy booths. And did they mention it's inside a hotel? They will. 399 Grove St., Newton, MA 2462, bokx109.com.
Game On
If you're like us, you can't stand watching sports without the benefit of booze and high-def. At Game On, two bars amply stocked with top-shelf hooch get fans out of the Coors Light rut while they take in their choice of competition on one of the 90 televisions. The burgers, too, are excellent, and almost as diverting from the on-screen action as the people-watching parade that streams in before and after Sox homestands. 82 Lansdowne St., Boston, MA .
The Gallows
The Gallows’ eclectic cocktails (try the "Angelina," a blend of gin, grapefruit, yellow Chartreuse, and orange bitters) give it the edge. 1395 Washington St., South End, MA 2118, thegallowsboston.com.
The Haven
Help yourself to a second pint of Scottish beer while you tuck into house-made lamb haggis and neeps at this laid-back pub. 2 Perkins St., Jamaica Plain, MA 2130, thehavenjp.com.