Sebastian's Cafe
You want to be healthy, honest you do. But it's hard when you can't be sure just how long that mesclun has been sitting in the salad bar. The greens, roasted peppers, baby corn, and other fresh veggies at Sebastians never invite such suspicion, looking and tasting as though they arrived from the farm mere moments ago. At your direction, the speedy servers pack up vibrant lettuce, grilled meats, and cheeses with just the right amount of dressing. A basic salad is $6.75, so you'll have room, and cash, left over for an indulgent dinner. 100 Summer St., Boston, MA sebastians.com.
blu
Posh as they are, the folks behind the Downtown Crossing eatery Blu recognize that a bar menu just ain't a bar menu without fries, wings, and mozzarella sticks. Except here, of course, the fries are made from polenta and served with truffled cheese. The duck wings are cooked to a crisp, then tossed with charred jalapenos and honey. And the fried cheese? House-made smoked mozzarella slathered in spicy tomato crema and basil pesto. No nachos yet, possibly because they're still fine-tuning the artisanal guac. 4 Avery St., Boston, MA 2111, blurestaurant.com.
The Pour House
There are two things that make for a good bar: booze and cheap, greasy food. From steak tips to fajitas to burgers, the Pour House has plenty of the latter, all listed on a pun-filled menu ("Our nachos served with black beans and seasoned grilled chicken. Pour-fect!") that gets funnier the more of the former you consume. 907 Boylston St., Boston, MA 2115, pourhouseboston.com.
Neptune Oyster
We have a few requirements for raw bars. First, the offerings must change daily. But more important, you should be able to see oysters getting shucked—no crafting shellfish towers behind closed doors. Neptune Oyster is a tiny North End restaurant that does it right—and the ever-present line out the door is a testament to its supremacy. 63 Salem St., Boston, MA 2113, neptuneoyster.com.
Sports Depot
Where else can you watch the Red Sox on more than 75 TVs (including one in each rest room), choose from 40 beers on tap and in bottles, eat a $9.99 Sunday brunch, banter with sports fans from all over the country, and do it all in a former railroad station with a replica Fenway scoreboard out front? Nowhere, actually, which makes the Sports Depot much less cursed than the Red Sox. 353 Cambridge St., Allston, MA .
Parlor Sports
So many sports bars in Boston these days feel like impersonal warehouses, strewn, as they are, with a bajillion giant TVs over a zillion square feet. Parlor is the rare gathering place that feels cozy and intimate. Crucially, the bartenders are adept at knowing when to turn up the volume on the commentators and when to flip it to music (a major problem at bigger sports bars). And while the place is known as a haven for basketball geeks, it's really worth checking out on any game night. 3 Beacon St., Somerville, MA parlorsportsbar.com.
Biddy Early's
Biddy Early's is the city's best dive every day of the year, a fact that was proven on Friday, April 19. That day, while police hunted the remaining marathon bomber, all of Boston shut down. Not this spot. The old Financial District landmark—with its dim lighting, dusty wood floor, and jukebox—remained open. So even when there was no other place to go and everything seemed beyond reason, people could still haul themselves here for a much-needed, no-frills drink. And that, friends, is everything a dive bar should be. 141 Pearl St., Boston, MA .
Lord Hobo
Bourbon-barrel-aged Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout on draft? Check. Smoked Maple Lager, a collaboration between Lawson's Finest Liquids and Jack's Abby Brewing? Check. Elusive cans of everyone's favorite double IPA, Heady Topper? Check. This laid-back Cambridge spot might not have the most taps or the lengthiest bottle list in town, but if it's rare, sought-after, or just plain great, they've got it. 92 Hampshire St., Cambridge, MA lordhobo.com.
No. 9 Park
Chef Barbara Lynch uses the bar menu at her swanky Beacon Hill flagship to experiment with more gently priced (but no less divine) fare—prime steak tartare, truffled potato gnocchi, and soft pretzels with Allagash Black cheddar and shallot mustard—all of which is best enjoyed at a high-top table in the newly expanded bar area. 9 Park St., Boston, MA no9park.com.
Mighty Mighty BossTones
Ska may come and ska may go, but the BossTones are forever. Going on 20 years, the band is forcing listeners to again Pay Attention with a best selling new studio release. Notwithstanding some catchy hooks, the album features a more melodic side of the plaid-bedecked eight-some, or, as frontman Dicky Barrett says, songs that are "thought out, not just half-assed." Get your tix for the Throwdown now! bosstones.com.
The Four's
The next best thing to box seats is a booth at the Four's. Here, the dining room and bar feature warm woodwork and tasteful displays of sports photography, while the menu has an upscale edge—grilled chicken wraps, mussels fra diavolo. On game days, this Garden-area institution is as dressed up and well mannered as the folks in the good seats. 166 Canal St., Boston, MA 2114, thefours.com.
The W
The W Lounge strikes a balance that can please just about anyone. It's hip but not exclusive, crowded but not cramped, loud but not obnoxious. Most important: It has a killer drink list. 100 Stuart St., Boston, MA 2116, starwoodhotels.com.
Silhouette Cocktail Lounge
If you require more than two ingredients in your cocktail (ice and booze), the Silhouette is likely not for you. True to dive décor, the walls are cheaply paneled and the floors cheaply tiled; the windows are largely covered to keep swillers insulated from school, work, the light of day, etc. The Tam may have the craziest clientele and TC's the most Big Buck Hunter nuts, but the Silhouette reigns as the best no-frills place to be, or start becoming, hung over. 200 Brighton Ave., Allston, MA 2134, .
Vox Populi
In this den of preppy testosterone, the open floor plan encourages circulating (the better to scope prospects), the pop soundtrack doesn't drown out conversation (the better to initiate small talk), and the martini menu is 20 varieties long (the better to loosen your inhibitions). 755 Boylston St., Boston, MA 2116, voxboston.com.
Ritz-Carlton Boston
Dark, woody, and intimate, the bar at the Ritz is exactly the sort of watering hole weary travelers and high-end drinkers demand. The martini menu is extensive and intriguing, and the Five Star nut mix (no peanuts in the bunch) adds salty cachet. 15 Arlington St., Boston, MA .