Whether you visit Boston during the cold, gray winter or the humid, bustling summer, there’s no better place to soak up the city than a bar. These five off-the-beaten-path spots offer interesting libations, inspired bar bites and unique stories. So, cozy up and enjoy a cocktail or three.
Grace by Nia
Grace by Nia is the live music spot Boston didn’t know it needed. The elegant, fun address will make you feel as if you gained access to an exclusive party. First-time patrons should know that people come dressed to the nines here, which isn’t always the case in Boston. Restaurateur Nia Grace (whose other establishments include Darryl’s Corner Bar & Kitchen and the Underground Café & Lounge) and Big Night Entertainment Group (which includes Empire, Scorpion Bar and the Grand) are the masterminds behind this sexy supper club in the Seaport.
Giant brass palm trees and dramatic lighting will wow you upon entering. After taking in the scene, order a cocktail, such as the Black Gold Part II (vodka, chilled espresso, cold brew, Madagascar vanilla and 24k gold) or a glass of celebratory bubbles, and kick back to a lineup filled with live soul, R&B and reggae.
The menu skews Southern, with dishes such as chargrilled Island Creek oysters, fried green tomatoes and jambalaya. Depending on where you are seated — be it at the bar, dining tables or stage-side — a different entertainment fee is added to your bill. Reservations are highly recommended.
Blind Duck
Enter the unmarked door in Raffles Boston’s Sky Lobby, and a host will lead you into a breathtaking two-story space. You may find yourself seated on the 18th floor, which has a bar and several seating areas overlooking the larger 17th-floor space, or you could be escorted down the curving staircase to another bar and more seating. The floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Back Bay ensure there’s no bad seat in the house.
The cocktail menu playfully nods to the neighborhood with cocktails like the Jack, Kack and Lack, a drink composed of duck fat-washed Elijah Craig bourbon, Madeira and five-spice with a name that references the classic children’s book Make Way for Ducklings. The menu offers more exotic drinks, too, like the Sloe Boat to London, made with Bhakta Armagnac, Sloe gin, hibiscus-infused Cointreau and blueberry shrub. Whatever you order, it will almost look too pretty to drink.
A bites menu offers less typical bar fare, such as brioche toast topped with smoked trout caviar or arroz caldo, a chicken and rice porridge with garlic, scallion and chili oil. The pasteis de nata (Portuguese egg custard tarts) or freshly baked chocolate chip cookies will appeal to any sweet tooth. Be warned, though: the 76-seat speakeasy can fill up quickly and it does not accept reservations.
Hecate
If you aren’t ordering the Katabasis, a potato vodka, huckleberry, goji and acidified tomatillo cocktail served in a skull vessel, should you even be drinking at a speakeasy named for the ancient Greek goddess of magic? In mythical terms, a “katabasis” is a journey to the underworld, so it’s an apt drink to sip here. But if you’re in the mood for something else, there’s a great chance something will catch your eye in the leather-bound, illustrated book of “spells” (i.e., drinks menu) at this subterranean Back Bay bar down an alley and accessed through an unmarked door.
Those lucky enough to snag one of the eight bar seats are in for a show. The experience of watching the expert spirit guides (bartenders) create unusual cocktails is, well, magical. You might encounter ingredients you’ve never heard of, but the infinitely patient guides can explain, for example, what fenugreek or spirulina tastes like and why it belongs in your drink.
Small bites, such as stuffed goat cheese dates and miso-deviled eggs, satisfy as a snack. Just be prepared to wait, as the intimate venue does not accept reservations.
The Street Bar
At luxurious Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star The Newbury Boston, The Street Bar delivers cozy vibes, a candlelit setting, leather seating and jewel-toned décor. Settle back for a while with a signature stirred martini, made with Plymouth and Tanqueray gins and Noilly Prat Dry and Dolin Blanc vermouths, or with a warming Boston Zazarac, featuring Hennessy X.O Cognac, Woodinville Rye, Worthy Park 109 rum and angostura and Peychaud’s bitters.
Drinks come with complimentary snacks, such as local Saltie Girl sea salt potato chips, Castelvetrano olives and Bazzini nuts. A small menu includes everything from Kaluga caviar to the more humble, though locally beloved, Street Bar Burger. Deviled eggs, oysters on the half shell, lobster chowder and more are also available.
The Koji Club
Now that the city’s first sake bar has made a global splash, the only question is: what took so long? Owner Alyssa Mikiko DiPasquale, of O Ya fame, acquired an Advanced Sake Professional certification in Japan, a rare accomplishment for anyone in the United States. The wildly popular concept in Brighton is a 16-seat, 250-square-foot space that presents a challenge when making reservations (though the bar does accommodate walk-ins when possible), but once inside, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped through a portal to a quaint specialty shop in Kyoto.
Well-informed staff members can describe every sake down to the tiniest tasting note. And if you are a novice, it’s best just to put yourself in their hands. Dealer’s Choice allows the staff to choose for you from a selection of specialty bottles. Or opt for a wide and ever-changing selection from Japan, as well as surprises ranging from Massachusetts to Mexico.
Snacks include a popular saltine service with green pepper miso and cream cheese, a sushi bento box and Island Creek California sturgeon. If sake isn’t your thing, try one of the Japanese whiskies or teas on the menu.
