Alibi inside the Liberty Hotel on Charles Street has run a former-jail-cell cocktail bar in Beacon Hill Boston since 2007. The hotel building was the Charles Street Jail from 1851 to 1990.
Food program: Snacks
Tip: The jail-cell booths book up by 19:00 on weekends. The bar lounge is the easier walk-in seat.
Address: 215 Charles St, Boston, MA 02114
The Gin Palace at Nine on Park Street is the cocktail bar inside the new Nine restaurant on Beacon Hill in Boston since August 2025. 80 gins from around the world; cocktail-led drinks programme.
Signature drink: Gin and Tonic with global gins
Food: Steak tartare and bar bites
Tip: Walk-in bar at the front; reservations for the dining room. Order the Gin and Tonic flight to compare three gins.
The Wig Shop has run a speakeasy-style cocktail bar behind a fake wig-shop storefront on Temple Place in Downtown Boston since 2019. 1940s magazine-ad decor, craft cocktails, absinthe service.
Signature drink: Absinthe Sazerac
Food: Snacks and bar bites
Tip: Find the unmarked door inside the wig storefront. Reservations on Resy 5 to 7pm, walk-in after.
The Gin Palace at Nine on Park Street is the cocktail bar inside the new Nine restaurant on Beacon Hill in Boston since August 2025. 80 gins from around the world; cocktail-led drinks programme.
Signature drink: Gin and Tonic with global gins
Food: Steak tartare and bar bites
Tip: Walk-in bar at the front; reservations for the dining room. Order the Gin and Tonic flight to compare three gins.
Caffe Vittoria on Hanover Street has poured espresso and grappa in Boston's North End since 1929. Four floors, three liquor bars, a cigar room; the city's first Italian cafe-bar.
Signature drink: Grappa and espresso
Food: Italian pastry
Tip: Basement liquor bar after 21:00 is the under-toured seat. Grappa and espresso is the canonical close.
Trillium on Thomson Place is the Fort Point three-storey taproom and brewpub in Boston since 2018. The third-floor roof terrace is the marquee seat; hazy IPAs, lagers, kitchen runs to 22:00.
Signature drink: Trillium IPA
Food: Brewpub menu
Tip: Third-floor roof seats fill by 17:00 in summer. Online order ahead for can release lineups.
Harpoon Brewery's Beer Hall on Northern Avenue in Boston's Seaport has poured pints since 1986. New England's first craft brewery, Massachusetts brewing licence number 001, daily tours.
Signature drink: Harpoon IPA
Food: Beer hall pretzel and brats
Tip: Saturday tour at 13:00 includes the full brewery and four pours. The hot pretzel is the kitchen signature.
The Wig Shop has run a speakeasy-style cocktail bar behind a fake wig-shop storefront on Temple Place in Downtown Boston since 2019. 1940s magazine-ad decor, craft cocktails, absinthe service.
Signature drink: Absinthe Sazerac
Food: Snacks and bar bites
Tip: Find the unmarked door inside the wig storefront. Reservations on Resy 5 to 7pm, walk-in after.
Backbar in Union Square Somerville has poured artful cocktails behind an unmarked door in Boston since 2011. Sam Treadway founder; Field and Vine team bought it in 2025; obscure-spirits programme.
Signature drink: Greek mastiha milk punch
Food: Snacks
Tip: Walk-in only, no reservations. Last call 23:15. Order from the staff-pick chalkboard for the best off-menu drink.
