Boston loves booze. From Irish pubs to high-end cocktail destinations, long-tenured dive bars to beer bars with extensive tap lists, sports bars with a million televisions to wine bars with a penchant for sherry, the city has it all.
To describe the most essential bars in and around Boston, one must consider all these categories; they all contribute to the city’s drinking scene in different but equally important ways. One person’s most essential bar is the classic neighborhood hangout around the corner with the free popcorn, while another person ranks the world-class cocktail lounge with a line around the block as the best in town.
In 19 points, this map aims to provide a starter guide to exploring this varied scene — one glass of beer or wine or liquor at a time — with a few caveats. Dive bars, Irish pubs, and sports bars do not appear on this map as they have their own dedicated maps (dives, pubs, sports). Also not included here: Bars under six months old (check out the Cocktail Heatmap instead); out-of-town chains; and the taprooms and tasting rooms of the many incredible breweries, cideries, and distilleries in the Boston area.
This map examines the rest — cozy sherry bars, wine nooks with a side of activism, high-end cocktail destinations, beer bars that serve moules frites, and more.
This map was originally published on July 25, 2017; it is updated periodically, and the date of the most recent update is above.
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