39 Best Nightlife in Massachusetts, USA

The glorious matriarch of North End cafés, glistening with marble-topped tables, mirrors, and shiny machines, lets you glimpse la dolce vita on Hanover Street as baristas pump steaming espresso machines from 7 am until midnight. Skip the frenzy at tourist trap Mike's Pastry next door; relax as you sip caffe latte or grappa and nibble authentic gelati and pastries–-tiramisu, sfogliatelle, cannoli. Cash only, per favore.

This area favorite lounge in a brick Fort Point Channel warehouse offers a short beer, wine, and food list, but no cocktail menu. Patrons rely on the highly knowledgeable bartenders to concoct libations on the spot according to drinkers' preferences. The space has an underground, modern speakeasy feel. Chat with the bartender to create your perfect drink; hint: if you like creative Manhattans, ask for a "Fort Point."

Fitzgerald's The Beautiful and Damned meets the breezy tropics within this Havana-inspired nightlife spot. Mariel best serves those who appreciate good food and drink, a fun vibe, and a vivacious atmosphere---it gets louder as it gets later. Think arepas, plantain dumplings, gulf shrimp, Cuban-style pizza, fresh juices, and mojitos.

This sumptuous nightlife spot is billed as a "British-inspired cocktail bar with a sophisticated New England twist." Sink into swivel, leather high-top stools at the bar, barrister chairs, or banquettes, and order up fancy food made casual, including the signature three-cheese toastie. They serve excellent craft cocktails and two dozen wines by the glass. In nice weather, The Fed features an outdoor terrace.

Whiskey, wine, and loads of atmosphere: they're all staples within this historic bar at the Omni Parker House hotel, where mahogany club chairs and silver-tray service might make you feel like a Boston Brahmin, even if only for a dram or two. Be sure to order Boston Cream Pie in the place where it was invented.

Serving beer and wine, this classic dive bar is an easygoing alternative to Beacon Hill's tony stuffiness, with its dark tones, simple bar setup, well-peppered dartboard, perfectly poured pints, and decent wines. It's pleasantly untrendy.

Whether you're staying at The Ritz or just stopping by for a drink, the decadent and modern Avery Bar serves some serious, handcrafted cocktails, including a few without alcohol. While this is a hotel lobby bar to be sure, the experience is anything but. The warm ambience attracts a fortysomething crowd, and there are a few select small plates for anyone who's hungry.

Beantown Pub cleverly posits itself to be "the only pub in the world where you can drink a cold Sam Adams while viewing a cold Sam Adams." And it's true, since this casual bar sits on the Freedom Trail, across Tremont Street from the Granary Burying Ground where the Founding Father is interred. The bar is a fine place to watch multiple sports events on television, shoot pool, or people-watch. There's also a standard pub menu, usually served until midnight. No kids are allowed after 6 pm.

Old-school arcade fans, and even those brought up exclusively with computer games, love playing on the more than 30 classic games at Bit Bar, where you can play Pac-Man, pinball, or air hockey until you drop. A full bar and a menu featuring everything from tater tots to pizza keeps you fueled up. Kids can play until 8 pm; after that, it's 21-plus only.

Watch the sun set over the Zakim Bridge as you peruse the extensive list of 34 rotating draughts, elite bottled beers, cask ale, draught wine, craft spirits, and custom cocktails (hello, Margarita Mondays). Located along the Freedom Trail at the end of the Charlestown Bridge, this watering hole is a favorite among locals to hang out and watch the game (expect crowds). Drinks like the Navy Yard Old Fashioned have ties to history, while their Bloody Mary flights and table mimosa with housemade purees are tasty options. The eclectic menu is full of tavern favorites like burgers, chicken wings, and flatbread pizzas, along with interesting twists like the Pitmaster Daily BBQ plate, moule frites, seafood bowls, and fried seafood.

Boasting four bars (including a raw bar), this is a rollicking year-round local hangout, drawing a young crowd to the bar side and a mixed crowd of locals to the restaurant. There's live entertainment on weekends.

The upstairs pub–-dismantled in England, shipped to Boston, and reassembled–-later became the inspiration for the now-classic TV series Cheers. Enjoy a quality burger at the model bar of the Hollywood set and imagine Sam and Diane walking in the door and calling your name. You'll find many a tourist in Cheers, but locals tend to stay away to avoid the crowds.

Live music—including some big-name bands—plays six nights a week in season, and weekends year-round, at this unpretentious roadhouse.

Steeped in history and serving Yankee classics like roast beef rib and Indian pudding since 1828, Durgin-Park is mostly visited by tourists looking to see some old-time Boston character. Happy hour brings in Faneuil Hall 9-to-5ers looking for cheap beer and snacks, like the $3 hot dog and fries.

Open in a part of the Ciao Roma space, this apothecary-inspired cocktail bar boasts only nine seats and hundreds of cocktail potentials. During one of his ticketed progressive journeys, creator Phillip Rolfe (of Wink & Nod fame) creates individually tailored concoctions made from high-end spirits, homemade syrups, infusions and tinctures, and freshly cold-pressed juices. House-made pickles, dips, roasted nuts, and gelato pair nicely but aren't meant to fill you up. Because it's so small, Farmacia is booked months out, so plan accordingly.

A reliable bar for a night out, Fitzwilly's draws a friendly mix of locals and tourists for drinks and tasty pub fare. (Try the Gorgonzola garlic bread.)

This funky bar in a heritage flatiron building mixes exotic martinis and fresh-juice cocktails and boasts a whopping selection of international vodkas. The basement level lounge draws eclectic crowds for dancing and live music.

This famed global chain draws rock music and memorabilia fans to its large space with a double bar—decorated with hundreds of Zildjian cymbals—dance floor, bandstand, restaurant (wall art of signed photos, LPs, guitars, and gear), and private party room. The Cavern Club welcomes name (think Psychedelic Furs and Charlie Puth) or tribute bands (Doors, Aerosmith, and Pixies) occasionally on weekends for ticketed entry, while the Rock Shop sells iconic and collectible merchandise. Fuel up on their legendary burgers.

Grab a seat by the windows overlooking Faneuil Hall on hot summer days, or cozy up to a coal fireplace in winter, and enjoy your pint (or a pick from one of the largest selections of single malt whiskies in Boston). There's live music at Hennessy's most nights of the week, as well as plenty of rowdy crowds that overrun the yellow-and-black confines for Top 40 cover bands mixed with DJs on weekends from 9 pm to 1 am at Upstairs at Hennessy's.

Around the corner from Fenway Park and girded with bars and restaurants, the city's juggernaut among nightclubs books a wide array of bands into its barnlike music hall. Tickets are $25–$45, with VIP box seats usually $15–$20 more. The Foundation Room (an upscale VIP lounge) opens to the public for an additional fee, and promises "high-class debauchery."

Deconstructed in Ireland piece by piece, the Kinsale was reassembled here to give it an air of Celtic authenticity. By day, businesspeople come in for lunch and a pint to admire the woodwork; by night, revelers pour in from nearby Faneuil Hall. Come Wednesday for trivia, and Thursday for karaoke. On Saturday, live bands play with no cover. The Kinsale also serves up a delicious brunch on weekends, including a full Irish breakfast.

This adults-only venue makes its home in the vast space above the MV Chowder Co. and has long historic roots. Today it's home to an over-21 hotspot for concerts, comedy, DJs, and events. The 400-seat club is one of the hosts of the MV summer concert series and draws national and regional live music acts to its stage. A game area offers pool tables, Ping-Pong, darts, foosball, video games, and a full bar. A full menu is available in the restaurant space below the club.

This multistory complex has something for everyone. Home to Cheeky Monkey Brewing Co. on the first floor, 150 games of all kinds and a bar and restaurant on the second floor, and 25 pool tables, 12 plasma screens, 16 bowling lanes, and an 800-square-foot video wall on the third floor, it's impossible to be bored.

This is a subterranean dive with gritty charisma. Live bands hit the stage Thursday to Sunday, including one of the hotspot's most popular events: Sinatra Sundays, where a live Sinatra Band takes the stage at 8 pm. The story goes: when its signboard wasn't ready for the 2001 opening, the owners shrugged, "Ah, so what?" and let the joint go incognito.

This is a year-round venue hosting live bands, including the occasional big-name act. The crowd—the barnlike space can accommodate nearly 400—can get pretty wild. There's also an eatery serving great pizza, burgers, and other bar-type snacks.

This outpost of Notch Brewing (there’s one in Boston, too) sits on the South River Basin in Salem with plenty of space indoors and out. Open year-round, Notch promises at least 10 to 14 brews on tap, along with snacks such as a cheese plate, pretzels, pickled eggs, and other bar food. Communal tables, Skee-Ball, cornhole, and special events such as artisan fairs, make this a lively place to gather with friends.

Fish tanks illuminate this friendly bar (with a pub menu), which hosts live music on most evenings. There's also a midweek trivia night.