Nightlife in Boston
Boston nightlife centres on bars and lounges rather than clubs, which close at 2am. In the Back Bay are the 52nd-storey Top of the Hub lounge and world-famous Symphony Hall. International tourists flock to the Faneuil Hall location of Cheers, which looks like the bar on the television show. Cambridge is the place for live music. It's home to the Regattabar, a first-class jazz club, and an excellent, diverse selection of other nightspots.
Bars
Expand all1. Oak Bar - Old-fashioned elegance
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Wood panelling, leather furniture, high ceilings and soft lighting give the Oak Bar a businesslike atmosphere reminiscent of a men's club. This long-standing Back Bay favourite attracts a well-heeled, well-dressed crowd for inventive martinis and live jazz.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Address
The Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel, 138 St James Avenue, Boston 02116
Telephone
+1 617 267 5300
2. Casablanca - Upmarket intellectual hangout
Show moreThe bar at Casablanca attracts sophisticated patrons from Harvard University - instructors, graduate students and alumni, not noisy undergraduates. Named after the Humphrey Bogart movie, this subterranean Cambridge favourite boasts a great jukebox, an excellent wine list and creative martinis.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Address
40, Brattle Street, Cambridge 02138
Telephone
+1 617 876 0999
3. DeLux Café - Eccentric South End bar
Show moreThe DeLux Café is in the chic South End, but it's not an upmarket nightspot. Its patrons come for the cheap beer, strong mixed drinks and eccentric decor, including a shrine to Elvis Presley. Credit cards are not accepted.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Address
100, Chandler Street, Boston 02116
Telephone
+1 617 338 5258
Transport
Orange Line to Back Bay subway
4. 29 Newbury - Where the stylish meet
Show moreThe most fashionable bar on Boston's most fashionable street, 29 Newbury is a long-standing Back Bay favourite. The huge front window allows patrons at the sleek bar to people-watch and gives passers-by a view of the stylish crowd.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Address
29, Newbury Street, Boston 02116
Telephone
+1 617 536 0290
5. Top of the Hub - Magnificent views
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Top of the Hub is an ideal place for a date or special occasion. This glamorous lounge perches atop the Prudential Tower, 52 storeys above the heart of the Back Bay. The jazz is live and the views are spectacular.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Address
Prudential Tower, 800 Boylston Street, Boston 02199
Telephone
+1 617 536 1775
6. Cheers - TV show nostalgia
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A replica of the set of the popular television show, complete with memorabilia, Cheers is one of Faneuil Hall's most popular destinations. Crowds of happy tourists come from around the world to snap a photo and enjoy a pint.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Address
Quincy Market Southwest Café, Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Boston 02109
Telephone
+1 617 227 0150
7. Mr Dooley's Boston Tavern - Authentic Irish atmosphere
Show moreLocated near Faneuil Hall Marketplace but not swamped with tourists, this is a great place to enjoy a Guinness or two. Mr. Dooley's Boston Tavern draws friendly lunch and after-work crowds. It schedules regular live Irish or rock music.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Address
77, Broad Street, Boston 02109
Telephone
+1 617 338 5656
Clubs
Expand all8. The Roxy - Lively dance club
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Located in the Theatre District section of Chinatown, The Roxy is one of Boston's liveliest dance clubs. Genres include Latin, hip-hop, R&B and house. The enormous two-level venue attracts fashionable patrons with excellent DJs every weekend and occasional live shows.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Address
279, Tremont Street, Boston 02116
Telephone
+1 617 338 7699
9. Lizard Lounge - Rock, blues and more
Show moreLocated in a basement room, the Lizard Lounge draws appreciative crowds to Cambridge for rock, blues and more. With its dim red lighting, the club is small enough to feel intimate and large enough to get noisy and entertaining.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Address
Cambridge Common Restaurant, 1667 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge 02138
Telephone
+1 617 547 0759
10. Club Passim - Folk music landmark
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Club Passim is an international folk music legend. Established and aspiring musicians draw fans of all ages to this subterranean room in the heart of Cambridge's Harvard Square. To guarantee admission, make a dinner reservation. No alcohol is served.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Address
47, Palmer Street, Harvard Square, Cambridge 02138
Telephone
+1 617 492 7679
11. Revolution Rock Bar - After-work hotspot
Show moreNear Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Revolution Rock Bar is a large two-level space that's very popular with the after-work crowd. Featuring rock music of all kinds, live and recorded, it turns into a dance club and lounge later in the evening.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Address
200, High Street, Boston 02110
Telephone
+1 617 261 4200
12. Regattabar - Best names in jazz
Show more A leading venue on the area's lively jazz scene, the Regattabar is an upmarket club off Harvard Square in Cambridge. The large, elegant room attracts knowledgeable, enthusiastic audiences for a wide range of musical styles and an excellent sound system.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Address
The Charles Hotel, 1 Bennett Street, Cambridge 02138
Telephone
+1 617 661 5000
13. The Middle East - The best in rock
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Central Square in Cambridge is a great neighbourhood for live music, especially rock at The Middle East. With four performance spaces, it's everything a rock club should be: crowded, loud and a favourite for local, national and international artists.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Address
472-480, Massachussetts Avenue, Cambridge 02139
Telephone
+1 617 864 3278
Entertainment
Expand all14. Boston Center for the Arts - Contemporary arts
Show moreWith multiple performance and exhibition spaces, the Boston Center for the Arts is a destination for anyone who appreciates contemporary art. In the heart of the South End, it attracts artists, performers and audiences interested in all mediums and genres.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Address
539, Tremont Street, Boston 02116
Telephone
+1 617 426 5000
15. Symphony Hall - Classical music landmark
Show moreOne of the most famous stages in classical music, this Back Bay treasure is home to the world-famous Boston Symphony Orchestra and the beloved Boston Pops. When the regular occupants are elsewhere, the Symphony Hall books major artists and ensembles.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Address
301, Massachusetts Avenue, Boston 02115
Telephone
+1 617 266 1492 (box office)
