The Best Cocktail Bars That Also Serve Excellent Food In Boston
There is nothing quite like happening upon a haute cocktail bar, but it’s an even better score when you discover they serve up great food. Here’s a look at five top cocktail bars in Boston whose food menus you won’t want to overlook.
Oak Long Bar + Kitchen
Photo Credit: Oak Long Bar + Kitchen
Oak Long Bar perfected the art of hand crafted cocktails with extra large martinis and ice cold Manhattans like their signature smoked chai made with chai rum. Sample the farm to table American menu that includes hearth roasted lobster, lamb meatballs, pork belly confit and wild mushroom toast designed to share “or not” as the menu advertises. Located inside the Fairmont Copley Plaza, this Back Bay haute spot also serves up heartier fare like dry aged steak frites, Georges Bank scallops and half roasted chicken.
138 St. James Street, Boston, MA 02116; Website
The Hawthorne
Photo Credit: The Hawthorne Bar
It’s all about the sips and snacks at this comfortable haute spot where the libations flow as freely as the small plates. Try a cider cocktail, a pisco sour or a Queens Park Swizzle to go alongside a sampling of deviled eggs, whipped lardo or steak tartare with black truffle gribiche. And did we mention there is devil’s food cake with marshmallow fluff?
500A Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215; Website
Island Creek Oyster Bar
Photo Credit: Island Creek Oyster Bar
Right next door to The Hawthorne is also one of the city’s best haute spots for imbibing and dining. Meet Island Creek Oyster Bar, a bivalve connoisseur’s paradise. They offering a fresh sampling on the half shell from all over New England and, of course, their Duxbury standouts, but we love the crispy slider version served in a brioche roll. Try the bouillabaisse chock full of littleneck clams, shrimp, scallops and cod paired up with a spiced up Green Horizon cocktail made with cucumber, pineapple and their own jalapeno tequila.
500 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215; Website
JM Curley
Photo Credit: JM Curley
As much as it is about the cocktails at JM Curley, it’s more about the creamy mac and cheese. Their extra cheesy cast iron version takes the form of roasted pumpkin mac with sage and thyme, spiced up buffalo with blue cheese and shredded chicken, a classic cheese and T-Money sampling with caramelized onions and sauteed mushrooms. Pair it up with a Seasonal Collins or 21 Temple cocktail and you’ll be glad you did.
21 Temple Place, Boston, MA 02111; Website
Silvertone Bar & Grill
Photo Credit: Silvertone Bar & Grill
This haute spot near Downtown Crossing has been a favorite of local chefs for late night food and drinks on the weekends. They certainly have some fun naming cocktails (think Donkey Kick and Joey Joe Joe Jr. Shabadoo), but they get serious when it comes to serving up main events in their subterranean space. We like their Cajun shrimp scampi, grilled ribeye with fingerling potatoes and jerk chicken with Tabasco cream butter sauce.
69 Bromfield Street, Boston, MA 02108; Website