Time has flown since the new team took over Davis Square’s beloved little wine bar in 2017. Despite serving a seasonal menu that changes often, the delectable sunchoke doughnuts with leek powder gently dusted over, has remained as a mainstay. The beverage menu is stunning, featuring meticulously curated natural wines from all over the world and an extensive list of hard-to-find spirits to sip on. But before you order food, be sure to try one of the cleverly designed and beautifully executed cocktails that’ll surely ease you into the night.

Serving an extensive list of natural wines from small producers, Dear Annie is a collaboration between the people behind two Somerville establishments, Field and Vine and Rebel Rebel. Serving an extensive list of natural wine from small producers and pescatarian small plates, this wine bar has attracted national media attention after it was named one of the new best restaurants in America by the New York Times and Bon Appetit.

With a fight-ready name like Rebel Rebel, this tiny, feminist Somerville wine bar doesn’t shy away from activism, shouting its politics loud and clear. Friel and her team pay plenty of attention to the actual wine, too, which is all natural and often small-batch, hard-to-find, or otherwise interesting. Grab a snack from any Bow Market food vendor (or a whole pizza) and sidle up to the Rebel Rebel bar to pair it with wine and rage against the patriarchy. Or head upstairs to its sibling Wild Child, a bookstore featuring rare-to-find cookbooks and food zines, as well as weekly wine classes.

Hot dogs, cocktails, and joy. This Inman Square joint has been serving a perpetually delicious and approachable cocktail list for over a decade with drinks such as the Starlite cocktail (white rum, Parfait Amour, lemon, and bubbles) and the Fallen Angel (a spicy mango margarita with a barbecue dusted rim), along with a variety of craft beers. (Although some days just call for a big bucket of High Lifes.) Plus, the longstanding Monday brunch (also served on Sundays these days) is a good opportunity for day-drinking; there are options such as the Adirondack (butter-infused bourbon and maple syrup with optional chocolate-covered bacon).

One of the newer additions to Harvard Square’s bar scene, Wusong Road bar and restaurant serving Chinese American meals ranging from classics such as General Tso’s Chicken to innovative dishes like baos shaped like cartoonish chicken. Its lush interior decor and cocktail menu emanate strong tiki vibes, with classic rum-centered cocktails taking the spotlight.

Located up above sister spot Central Kitchen in Cambridge’s Central Square, Brick & Mortar serves incredible cocktails in a dark, loud bar that tends to get crowded with industry and non-industry drinkers. Grab a seat, settle in, and order a burger — all worries will melt away. Keep an eye out for interesting glassware: VIPs may get to drink out of the special horse head mug, Ponies in the Surf.

This intimate, convivial Downtown Crossing wine bar makes a lot out of a little bit of space. The tiny kitchen doesn’t allow for much cooking, so the focus is on fancy imported tinned seafood. (But the few items that are cooked are excellent.) The other star is the wine — finds from around the world, especially natural wines and wines from small producers. There are lots of half-bottles available, so the tasting possibilities are endless.

This swanky spot transformed the historic Locke-Ober space into a speakeasy of sorts; the entrance is through a hair salon, and the interior is dark and opulent, with showy pieces of artwork, lots of lounge-like seating, and a general vibe of exclusivity. The cocktail list is compelling, featuring a mix of classics and originals. 

This Brookline tapas restaurant, which opened in 1998, is known for its extensive and award-winning wine list, which exclusively features Spanish wines, including a huge selection of sherries. “Owner Deborah Hansen spent eight years living in Spain, cultivating her passion for the food and, perhaps more importantly, the wine. In 2014, Drink alums Will Thompson and Sean Sullivan helped give Taberna de Haro’s bar a bit of a rebirth, dubbing it Straight Law — named for a sherry-and-gin cocktail — and focusing on sherry- and gin-based cocktails.

This high-energy izakaya comes from the team behind opulent sushi palace O Ya, but the two venues have vastly different vibes. Hojoko is boisterous and cheerful, with staffers in music t-shirts and the walls covered with pop culture knick-knacks. There’s an extensive sake list, including both cups and bottles, not to mention several varieties of sake bombs. The cocktail selection ranges from frozen pina coladas to mai tais, not to mention large-format punches meant for four. Sit poolside if weather permits.

With the energetic vibes of a Spanish tapas bar or a Venetian cicchetti-filled bacaro, Fool’s Errand from Tiffani Faison is a standing-room-only “adult snack bar” with pretty cocktails and small plates to match. It’s perfectly designed to be one of several stops in your evening.

Ran Duan and his team have won a lot of cocktail awards over the past few years. Blossom Bar is a gem for those closer to Brookline, pairing intricate, tropical cocktails with fiery Sichuan food and some American-Chinese classics. Coming up next, another bar: Birds of Paradise, an aviation-themed bar nestled inside the Speedway complex Brighton. 

Boston’s “Scottish headquarters” spent its first few years of existence without a full liquor license, making things work well enough with an outstanding selection of almost exclusively Scottish beers and ciders — but one thing was missing. Whisky. The Haven has since acquired its full license and is now showcasing whisky from all over Scotland. The bar and restaurant also serves Scottish food — including haggis — and hosts numerous events, including live music, game watches, and tastings.