The 30 Best Bars in Boston (Along with Our Favorite Cocktails!)

The ultimate guide to drinking, cocktails, and bars in Boston.

So, where can you get a good drink around here? Maybe it’s the economy. Or Mad Men. Maybe it’s the epic winter staring us down. Could just as easily be the national cocktail renaissance (mixology seminar or artisanal bitters tasting, anyone?) that has hit Boston like a tsunami — and arguably turned the bartender into the new celebrity chef.

But whatever the reason (and most likely, it’s all of the above), something is driving us to drink. And you’ll get no complaints from us: not when it means we have more informed and intoxicatingly creative bar talent than ever before. To find out who’s leading the pack, our team of ace imbibers canvassed the city, sipping highball and low in search of the best versions of 30 iconic libations.

Behold, our list of the classic and popular drinks that every well-stocked bar and well-trained bartender should be able to produce — plus the best bars, along with the people and places that shake it all up best. Bottoms up.

 



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The List

The Beehive
541 Tremont St., Boston, 617-423-0069, beehiveboston.com

The Bristol Lounge
200 Boylston St., Boston, 617-338-4400, fourseasons.com

Chez Henri
One Shepard St., Cambridge, 617-354-8980, chezhenri.com

Citizen Public House and Oyster Bar
1310 Boylston St., Boston, 617-450-9000, citizenpub.com

City Bar
61 Exeter St., Boston, 617-933-4800, citybarboston.com

Clio
370 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, 617-536-7200, cliorestaurant.com

Craigie on Main
853 Main St., Cambridge, 617-497-5511, craigieonmain.com

Cuchi Cuchi
795 Main St.,Cambridge, 617-864-2929, cuchicuchi.cc

Drink
348 Congress St., Boston, 617-695-1806, drinkfortpoint.com

East Coast Grill
1271 Cambridge St., Cambridge, 617-491-6568, eastcoastgrill.net

Eastern Standard
528 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, 617-532-9100, easternstandardboston.com

The Franklin Café
278 Shawmut Ave., Boston, 617-350-0010, franklincafe.com

Green Street Grill
280 Green St., Cambridge, 617-876-1655, greenstreetgrill.com

Highland Kitchen
150 Highland Ave., Somerville, 617-625-1131, highlandkitchen.com

Locke-Ober
3 Winter Place, Boston, 617-542-1340, lockeober.com

Lucca
226 Hanover St., Boston, 617-742-9200, luccaboston.com

Masa
439 Tremont St., Boston, 617-338-8884, masarestaurant.com

Mr. Dooley’s
77 Broad St., Boston, 617-338-5656, mrdooleys.com

Noir
One Bennett St., Cambridge, 617-661-8010, noir-bar.com

The Oak Bar
138 St. James Ave., Boston, 617-267-5300, theoakroom.com

Pigalle
75 Charles St. S., Boston, 617-423-4944, pigalleboston.com

River Gods
125 River St., Cambridge, 617-576-1881, rivergodsonline.com

RumBa
InterContinental, 510 Atlantic Ave., Boston, 617-217-5152, intercontinentalboston.com

Stoddard’s
48 Temple Place, Boston, 617-426-0048, stoddardsfoodandale.com

Sunset Cantina
916 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, 617-731-8646, allstonsfinest.com

Temple Bar
1688 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, 617-547-5055, templebarcambridge.com

Toro
1704 Washington St., Boston, 617-536-4300, toro-restaurant.com

UpStairs on the Square
91 Winthrop St., Cambridge, 617-864-1933, upstairsonthesquare.com

W Lounge
100 Stuart St., Boston, 617-912-3355, whotels.com

Woodward
One Court St., Boston, 617-979-8200, woodwardatames.com