High spirits: The nine best cocktail bars for a drink (or two)
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Bar Lunette
Andrew Jackson
Housed in and themed around the former Coolidge Corner Opticians, this new French cocktail bar is a great option for a date night, an aperitif, or a nightcap after a movie around the corner. Decor includes: mirrors, display glasses, and signage from the old optician. Try the original, balanced cocktails, such as the Negroni-inspired Day for Night or the rich Nutella Espresso Martini, refreshing spritzes such as La Bicyclette, or a well-executed classic. You can also order to the bar from their adjoining sister restaurant, Paris Creperie.
Address:
278A Harvard Street, Brookline
Phone:
Find online:
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Hue
The brainchild of local night life star Rob Eugene, Hue is quickly becoming the place to be seen in Boston. Billed as a supper club/speakeasy/dance lounge, Hue is perhaps best described as the kind of place where you run into prominent Bostonians in relaxation mode (Jaylen Brown of the Celtics is a regular). The cocktail menu pulls from across the globe, from cachaça to Japanese whiskey, so pick your poison wisely. Or, try one of the cocktail flights — the espresso martini option comes with original, chocolate, and strawberry.
Address:
90 Exeter Street, Back Bay
Phone:
Find online:
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Merai
Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff
Brookline restaurant Mahaniyom serves some of the area's best Thai food, so it is no surprise to find sister bar Merai is equally wonderful in its own way. It's a Thai-inspired dive bar serving inventive cocktails made with galangal, Makrut lime, shochu, or … cheese foam. The food is messy and gorgeous, from mussels in red curry butter to chicken wings stuffed with garlic rice to a hot dog (that's actually a Thai sausage) drizzled in salted yolk mayo.
Address:
14 Harvard Street, Brookline
Phone:
Find online:
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Next Door Speakeasy & Raw Bar
Josh Reynolds for The Boston Globe
Flaming pineapple, treasure boxes, bubbles, crystals, and neon lightbulbs. Oh yeah, and cocktails, too. Next Door leans into kitschy decadence. Located a stone's throw from the airport, this Eastie speakeasy requires reservations, a password, and your best investigator skills. We'll let you figure out where the hidden entrance is. A limited menu of a raw bar and small plates pairs nicely with the extensive cocktail list.
Address:
103 Porter Street, East Boston
Phone:
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Parla
Lily Cowper for The Boston Globe
Walking into Parla — with its dark, wood paneled walls and cozy footprint — feels a little like stepping inside an old fashioned: Like the drink, it packs a punch. The North End speakeasy-style bar and restaurant prides itself on its modern takes on Italian food, provided you can snag a seat at the half dozen or so tables inside or at the bar. The actual cocktails are also not to be missed, with botanical tweaks on the classics and — sometimes, if you ask nicely — a custom drink from the bartender. With a sister location, Parla XXI, in Assembly Row.
Address:
230 Hanover Street, North End
Phone:
Find online:
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Temple Records
Josh Reynolds for The Boston Globe
It's intimate, it's vibey, and it's the perfect place to duck away for a standout cocktail right off Boston Common. Temple Records is a Japanese-style listening bar that also offers an impressive selection of Japanese gins, whiskeys, and beers, plus fun snacks such as Korean fish jerky and salty peanuts. The star of the show, however, is the custom sound system built by self-proclaimed audio nerd and chef-owner Jamie Bissonnette, which plays records chosen from an enviable vinyl collection by whoever is manning the bar. Sushi lovers can also enjoy a meal at the bar's 22-seat sister restaurant downstairs, Sushi @ Temple Records.
Address:
17 Temple Place, Downtown
Phone:
Find online:
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Vera's
Josh Reynolds for the Boston Globe
Follow the neon sign downstairs to this tucked-away cocktail bar inside a former Somerville police headquarters. The drink list is vast, the service is friendly, and it's a foolproof way to start or end a night out in Union Square. Don't miss the martini service, one of the best in the city. Vera's also hosts a range of events, from karaoke to drag shows to comedy hours, and on weekend nights, its larger back room opens for a 10 p.m. DJ set. Migrate from the bar for a dance or two under the disco ball.
Address:
70 Union Square, Somerville
Phone:
Find online:
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The Wig Shop
Elissa Garza
An actual wig shop used to call this narrow Temple Place storefront home for half a decade before the cocktail lounge moved in, keeping the neon sign but replacing the rows of wigs with couches and obscure liquors. The nine mannequin heads in the front window remind you the staff doesn't take itself too seriously despite the upscale offerings. Drinks named Bi-Curious George (a medley of rums, banana, walnut, and spices), Cinemax After Dark (a fruity sherry number), and Channing Ta-Yum (featuring a Bolivian spirit mixed with pistachio and black pepper) hammer the point home. But it's Yo Soy, infused bourbon served in a soy sauce bottle, that keeps us coming back.
Address:
27 Temple Place, Downtown
Phone:
Find online:
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