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Two hands adjust a strawberry and a small jug of clear liquid on ice that is sitting next to a full martini glass.
A tequila-based martini called Pare de Sufrir from Birds of Paradise.
Malakhai Pearson/Eater Boston

The Hottest New Bars to Try Around Boston

A guide to 10 of the city’s most exciting new bars to check out right now

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A tequila-based martini called Pare de Sufrir from Birds of Paradise.
| Malakhai Pearson/Eater Boston

Welcome to the Eater Boston Cocktail Heatmap, highlighting the hottest new drinking destinations around the Boston area. (The focus is on cocktail bars, hence the name, but other drinking destinations such as wine bars and taprooms are occasionally included, as well as new restaurants with intriguing bar programs.)

This map is updated regularly throughout the year and typically features bars and restaurants under a year old. The new addition in the February 2023 update: Birds of Paradise, a Brighton cocktail spot from the award-winning team behind Blossom Bar in Brookline.

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Next Door Speakeasy & Raw Bar

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Plan ahead before going out to East Boston’s hidden cocktail bar, Next Door: The Pazza on Porter sibling and neighbor books up quickly, thanks to its dramatically presented cocktails and a seafood-focused menu of shellfish towers, caviar, crudo, and more. Those who do get in can work their way through drinks that are visually appealing but also expertly made — the smoke bubble toppings, flames, and such aren’t just gimmicks. Try the “lock and key,” a take on a pina colada made with clarified milk.

A spherical glass punch bowl is filled with an icy cocktail garnished with a lime skin on fire, fresh limes, banana leaves, and more.
The Castaways, a punch bowl at Next Door.
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater Boston

Farmacia

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Tiny cocktail bar Farmacia, located next to its sibling spot Ciao Roma in the North End’s North Square, seats just a handful of people at a time for its prepaid cocktail experience. Parla and Wink & Nod alum Phillip Rolfe is at the helm, leading visitors through a customizable journey of classic cocktails supplemented by bar snacks. Rolfe rotates the offerings every few months — a recent Caribbean-themed winter menu included a Smoking Zombie with “lots of rum” and “lots of mezcal,” and an espresso “tiki-tini” with clarified pineapple syrup. Reservations are highly encouraged.

A place setting on a marble bar is emerald green and gold.
Farmacia.
Chris Vela/Farmacia

Birds of Paradise

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Located within the Charles River Speedway in Brighton, Birds of Paradise is the latest cocktail escape from Blossom Bar’s Ran Duan and his star-studded bartending team. The menu is split into two sides: On one end, there’s an anchor “global” drink set that includes cocktails like the Kingston to Milan, a riff on the Kingston Negroni. On the other end, there’s a “destination” set that will change with the team’s travels. Right now, the destination is Guadalajara, and the drinks to get include the Big Apple in Lil’ Jalisco, a carbonated cocktail that ties together tequila and green apple cordial.

A yellow carbonated drink in a champagne flute with a grape and lemon peel garnishing the side of the glass.
The Big Apple in Lil’ Jalisco.
Malakhai Pearson/Eater Boston

Super Bien

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Elsewhere at the Speedway, Buenas sibling Super Bien from owner Melissa Stefanini is a pastel-pink “grocerybar” that serves pantry items and prepared dishes including empanadas alongside exclusively South American natural wines. The menu highlights such pours as biodynamic Argentinian pét-nat and amphora-aged orange wine from Chile with infectiously cheery commentary like “salty-sweet sourdough toast” and “yes, these are real tasting notes.”

The Wig Shop

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From the team behind jm Curley and Bogie’s Place comes equally intriguing next-door neighbor The Wig Shop. This Downtown Crossing cocktail lounge, an homage to predecessor Wig World, is simultaneously playful and poised, with wig gags galore amid opulent blue velvet couches and gold drapes. It’s a fanciful setting for impressive drinks ranging from classic — like mai tais and Remember the Maines — to fresh, including one with tequila and cuttlefish ink (Helena) and a rum concoction spiked with so much caffeine you can only have one per visit (Rise & Grind). Champagne, big bowls of punch, and snacks like lobster-topped pancakes round out the package.

LTD Bar at Cusser’s

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The downstairs bar at Mooncusser isn’t new, but it’s freshly exciting to visit, having recently welcomed local bartending legend Todd Maul (Clio, Cafe ArtScience) in for a residency. As Maul fans know, he loves to play with technology; watch for him to create clarified juices using a centrifuge, quickly freeze liquids with a Snapchiller machine, and torch things. Catch him Wednesday through Saturday, starting at 4 p.m., when he joins Cusser’s bar manager Jay Patterson (also an ArtScience alum) on the scene.

Bar Pallino

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Dark and moody, Bar Pallino is the subterranean sibling to Faccia a Faccia (formerly known as Faccia Brutta), the recent Newbury Street arrival from acclaimed restaurateurs Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette. The restaurant group’s longtime beverage director Jodie Battles is a partner in the new ventures and dials up her natural wine obsession at Bar Pallino, which draws inspiration from modern Parisian wine bars like Septime La Cave. Amari, vermouths, mezcals, and more complement the wine list, and there are some light Italian-inspired bites for snacking. For a full coastal Italian meal, head upstairs to Faccia a Faccia.

Interior shot of a dark bar, featuring rows of wine bottles and shelves of album covers.
Bar Pallino serves a concise menu of Italian-inspired snacks to accompany its natural wines.
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater Boston

Swanky cocktail bar Hecate is tucked away under its big sibling Krasi, the popular Back Bay Greek restaurant and wine bar. Named for the Greek goddess of magic, boundaries, necromancy, and more, Hecate is meant to feel mystical and otherworldly, filled with details like intricately artistic menus and creative, beautiful cocktails. Yes, it’s tough to get in; there are no reservations, and the maximum party size is four. Check out the bar’s “tenets” here, and give it a try.

An orange cocktail is in a tall, narrow glass, embellished with a branch, photographed in front of a dark background.
The Strophalos cocktail from Hecate’s opening menu.
Adam Detour

The Kartal

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Owner Elizabeth Georgantas, along with business partner Shahrokh Reza, has taken over former South End institution the Boston Eagle — one of the city’s oldest gay bars, which closed its doors in 2021 — and opened the Kartal in its place. The bar is named after the Turkish word for eagle, a deliberate homage to the old space, and a two-headed eagle presides over the front door. Creative cocktails, both alcoholic and non, line the menu here, and the bar sources its house stock of gin and bourbon from Charlestown’s Chattermark Distillers.

Fool's Errand

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When restaurateur Tiffani Faison opened boisterous Fool’s Errand in 2018 in Fenway — on the same block as siblings Sweet Cheeks and Tenderoni’s — the venue was standing-room-only; returning from a pandemic hiatus, the European-leaning “adult snack bar” now has seating. Small bites like olives and bread and butter complement cocktails from the Gentle Forehead Kiss (Irish whiskey, green Chartreuse, creme de cacao, lemon, and soda water) to the Golden Cadillac, a nightcap with Galliano, creme de cacao, and Amarula.

Next Door Speakeasy & Raw Bar

Plan ahead before going out to East Boston’s hidden cocktail bar, Next Door: The Pazza on Porter sibling and neighbor books up quickly, thanks to its dramatically presented cocktails and a seafood-focused menu of shellfish towers, caviar, crudo, and more. Those who do get in can work their way through drinks that are visually appealing but also expertly made — the smoke bubble toppings, flames, and such aren’t just gimmicks. Try the “lock and key,” a take on a pina colada made with clarified milk.

A spherical glass punch bowl is filled with an icy cocktail garnished with a lime skin on fire, fresh limes, banana leaves, and more.
The Castaways, a punch bowl at Next Door.
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater Boston

Farmacia

Tiny cocktail bar Farmacia, located next to its sibling spot Ciao Roma in the North End’s North Square, seats just a handful of people at a time for its prepaid cocktail experience. Parla and Wink & Nod alum Phillip Rolfe is at the helm, leading visitors through a customizable journey of classic cocktails supplemented by bar snacks. Rolfe rotates the offerings every few months — a recent Caribbean-themed winter menu included a Smoking Zombie with “lots of rum” and “lots of mezcal,” and an espresso “tiki-tini” with clarified pineapple syrup. Reservations are highly encouraged.

A place setting on a marble bar is emerald green and gold.
Farmacia.
Chris Vela/Farmacia

Birds of Paradise

Located within the Charles River Speedway in Brighton, Birds of Paradise is the latest cocktail escape from Blossom Bar’s Ran Duan and his star-studded bartending team. The menu is split into two sides: On one end, there’s an anchor “global” drink set that includes cocktails like the Kingston to Milan, a riff on the Kingston Negroni. On the other end, there’s a “destination” set that will change with the team’s travels. Right now, the destination is Guadalajara, and the drinks to get include the Big Apple in Lil’ Jalisco, a carbonated cocktail that ties together tequila and green apple cordial.

A yellow carbonated drink in a champagne flute with a grape and lemon peel garnishing the side of the glass.
The Big Apple in Lil’ Jalisco.
Malakhai Pearson/Eater Boston

Super Bien

Elsewhere at the Speedway, Buenas sibling Super Bien from owner Melissa Stefanini is a pastel-pink “grocerybar” that serves pantry items and prepared dishes including empanadas alongside exclusively South American natural wines. The menu highlights such pours as biodynamic Argentinian pét-nat and amphora-aged orange wine from Chile with infectiously cheery commentary like “salty-sweet sourdough toast” and “yes, these are real tasting notes.”

The Wig Shop

From the team behind jm Curley and Bogie’s Place comes equally intriguing next-door neighbor The Wig Shop. This Downtown Crossing cocktail lounge, an homage to predecessor Wig World, is simultaneously playful and poised, with wig gags galore amid opulent blue velvet couches and gold drapes. It’s a fanciful setting for impressive drinks ranging from classic — like mai tais and Remember the Maines — to fresh, including one with tequila and cuttlefish ink (Helena) and a rum concoction spiked with so much caffeine you can only have one per visit (Rise & Grind). Champagne, big bowls of punch, and snacks like lobster-topped pancakes round out the package.

LTD Bar at Cusser’s

The downstairs bar at Mooncusser isn’t new, but it’s freshly exciting to visit, having recently welcomed local bartending legend Todd Maul (Clio, Cafe ArtScience) in for a residency. As Maul fans know, he loves to play with technology; watch for him to create clarified juices using a centrifuge, quickly freeze liquids with a Snapchiller machine, and torch things. Catch him Wednesday through Saturday, starting at 4 p.m., when he joins Cusser’s bar manager Jay Patterson (also an ArtScience alum) on the scene.

Bar Pallino

Dark and moody, Bar Pallino is the subterranean sibling to Faccia a Faccia (formerly known as Faccia Brutta), the recent Newbury Street arrival from acclaimed restaurateurs Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette. The restaurant group’s longtime beverage director Jodie Battles is a partner in the new ventures and dials up her natural wine obsession at Bar Pallino, which draws inspiration from modern Parisian wine bars like Septime La Cave. Amari, vermouths, mezcals, and more complement the wine list, and there are some light Italian-inspired bites for snacking. For a full coastal Italian meal, head upstairs to Faccia a Faccia.

Interior shot of a dark bar, featuring rows of wine bottles and shelves of album covers.
Bar Pallino serves a concise menu of Italian-inspired snacks to accompany its natural wines.
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater Boston

Hecate

Swanky cocktail bar Hecate is tucked away under its big sibling Krasi, the popular Back Bay Greek restaurant and wine bar. Named for the Greek goddess of magic, boundaries, necromancy, and more, Hecate is meant to feel mystical and otherworldly, filled with details like intricately artistic menus and creative, beautiful cocktails. Yes, it’s tough to get in; there are no reservations, and the maximum party size is four. Check out the bar’s “tenets” here, and give it a try.

An orange cocktail is in a tall, narrow glass, embellished with a branch, photographed in front of a dark background.
The Strophalos cocktail from Hecate’s opening menu.
Adam Detour

The Kartal

Owner Elizabeth Georgantas, along with business partner Shahrokh Reza, has taken over former South End institution the Boston Eagle — one of the city’s oldest gay bars, which closed its doors in 2021 — and opened the Kartal in its place. The bar is named after the Turkish word for eagle, a deliberate homage to the old space, and a two-headed eagle presides over the front door. Creative cocktails, both alcoholic and non, line the menu here, and the bar sources its house stock of gin and bourbon from Charlestown’s Chattermark Distillers.

Fool's Errand

When restaurateur Tiffani Faison opened boisterous Fool’s Errand in 2018 in Fenway — on the same block as siblings Sweet Cheeks and Tenderoni’s — the venue was standing-room-only; returning from a pandemic hiatus, the European-leaning “adult snack bar” now has seating. Small bites like olives and bread and butter complement cocktails from the Gentle Forehead Kiss (Irish whiskey, green Chartreuse, creme de cacao, lemon, and soda water) to the Golden Cadillac, a nightcap with Galliano, creme de cacao, and Amarula.

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