So we spent our fall break in the great city of Boston and as the locals say, we had a “wicked good time!”
We stayed in the heart of the Theater District at the Moxy (and yes, we are fans of that Marriott brand in part because you get a free cocktail for every adult in your room). So along with walking the entire Freedom Trail and back – more than two miles each way – we also walked to some fantastic cocktail bars!
As you might expect for a town steeped in history, Boston has more than its share of historic Irish pubs. Our first stop when we arrived was Bull & Finch Pub on Beacon Hill, now known by a more familiar name – Cheers, as in the pub that inspired the iconic TV show. We had a nice cold mug of Sam Adams and a generous sized flatbread and soaked in the scenery of this basement bar. Apparently there’s a replica of the show set upstairs at the Hampshire House hotel, which was closed for a private function. Definitely worth a stop once, even though they didn’t “know our name”.
For an even more authentic Boston experience, we suggest Bell in Hand Tavern. Considered to be the oldest continuously operating tavern in America, Bell in Hand is full of history. It’s also right next to one of the oldest restaurants in America, Union Oyster House. And they have great drinks beyond a glass of beer found in every tavern. Green Dragon Tavern is another historic tavern right next door. In fact, that entire block is a postcard of old Boston.
And if you want a more modern tavern/bistro vibe, check out Bostonia Public House. You can’t argue with a place that embraces where the name “pub” comes from! They had tasty bourbon drinks and a pumpkin martini that was perfect for Autumn.
One of the great things about Boston is the diversity of the many neighborhoods. We enjoyed exploring some of them – the Theater District, Chinatown, Beacon Hill, and of course the North End, also known as Little Italy. We hear there’s a bit of a cannoli war going on here. But we admit, we chose the one that has an underground bar – Modern Pastry Underground. The cannoli was fantastic, especially when paired with creative cocktails like the Pistachio Martini (and other tasty flavors)! Definitely a great way to enjoy dessert.
Now, you know that we had to find some speakeasies! And there were several within easy walking distance. If you go into Chinatown and down an alley with an idea where to look – namely an unmarked steel door, you’ll find Offsuit. Follow the instructions to call when you get there, and within a few minutes, you’re greeted and escorted inside a small industrial space with antique furnishings. The bartender comes to you and asks what you like and takes your order. Sound familiar? It did to us! It turns out, the owners of Offsuit modeled the concept after Attaboy in New York City. It was worth the wait – the drinks were excellent! This was a #tipsypick for sure.
If you’re walking around the Theater District and see a neon-lit display of various wigs, you’ve found our next speakeasy – the Wig Shop. While the display isn’t an actual storefront like some others we’ve found, the Wig Shop does an excellent job with the theme in its drinks and on the actual menus. They had an excellent take on a Sazerac called Remember the Maine, a rallying cry following the sinking of the U.S.S. Maine in 1898. The check even came rolled inside a hair curler. The space is cozy and great for a date night or a drink after work!
Ever heard of Carrie Nation? She was the hardline prohibitionist who used to bust up taverns and liquor barrels with an axe around the turn of the 20th century! The folks here in Boston decided to honor her by naming a BAR after her. The Carrie Nation Cocktail Club is an upscale bar and restaurant with a prohibition-era theme – and yes, it has a speakeasy! It’s more of a back room hidden in plain sight up the stairs and behind a velvet curtain, but still very cool. We had some great drinks, including an excellent Smoked Old Fashioned, and really enjoyed the vibe here. Not sure Carrie would approve!
One other side note, Boston loves beer! Sure, Sam Adams is one of the most recognized breweries in the country, but don’t skip out on all the microbreweries. We tried Democracy Brewing, a local brewpub which was close to our hotel and some of the speakeasies. The beers are mainly named after local events and characters. Great space and awesome food!
There were honestly more great options than we could cover in just a few days. So for the “save it for next time” category, we’ll note that Hecate, Next Door and Yvonne’s are on our list!
So let’s just say, there will definitely be a next time, Boston.
Tipsypicks: Offsuit, Wig Shop, Carrie Nation
Anything else we missed? Let us know – but don’t tell Carrie!
