A Worldly ‘Speakeasy’ Comes to Downtown Boston

A new speakeasy-style cocktail bar themed around world travel opens Friday, August 9, in downtown Boston: The Foreign Correspondents Club will operate in the downstairs level of the Merchant Kitchen & Drinks (60 Franklin St., Boston) with a drink menu from bar director Bryan Ames and small plates from chef Ignacio Lopez. Both food and drink will draw inspiration from around the globe.

Ames’ rotating cocktail list will feature spirits like mastic, aquavit, sake, pisco, and tsipouro. One cocktail will consist of green tea shochu, lemon, white miso, Japanese knotweed honey, and matcha powder, while another will be made with Don Papa rum, tamarind liqueur, coconut water, curry powder, and egg white. There will also be two varieties of Hungarian wine.

“The cocktail menu will offer some very unique experiences,” Ames said, via press release. “The purpose of the FCC is to provide drinks and food that are transportive, and a space that encourages interaction, discussion, and hopefully an adventure or two.”

Ames, who has traveled to more than 40 countries, took inspiration for the bar from his travels.

“With the FCC, I wanted to open a space that creates conversations about the world, inspires guests to share stories, and maybe even plan a trip or two,” he told Eater. “The space is designed to have the feel of type of bar you might find in any corner of the world in the mid-twentieth century.”

Those wishing to visit the Foreign Correspondents Club can check in at the host stand inside the Merchant; a vintage postcard from the host will grant access to the subterranean bar. Reservations can also be made online.

The Foreign Correspondents Club will open at 5 p.m. August 9 and 10, then again August 14 through 17, before expanding to full hours, Tuesday through Saturday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. The FCC pop-up will run through Saturday, September 21, when it will close temporarily to reopen for a longer period in 2020. Keep apprised of any updates through the bar’s Instagram page.

The Merchant itself has been open since early 2014 and serves dishes such as steak frites, mahi mahi tacos, and late-night fried chicken sandwiches, not to mention dollar oysters on Monday nights.

Update, 7/16/19: This story has been updated to reflect further details on the cocktails and design provided by Bryan Ames.

Update, 8/9/19: Further updates indicate FCC’s opening date and initial hours, as well as details on reservations.

• The Merchant Kitchen & Drinks Coverage on Eater [EBOS]