The coolest bars and restaurants in town

Thrillist 47 Boston

It's time for a new edition (easy there, Bobby Brown) of the Thrillist 47, giving you the best new and new-ish places to eat and drink. Some had to go, while other hot spots could not be denied (welcome, Bronwyn!). Have a look at the list (organized by hood, this isn't a ranking) and make the most of your next night out.

ALLSTON - BRIGHTON - BROOKLINE

ribelle

1) Ribelle
1665 Beacon St; 617.232.2223
Chef Tim Maslow's (Strip T’s) first solo project in Brookline's Washington Square is an Italian-influenced (the name actually means "rebel" in Italian) den of cocktails and dining with an ever-changing menu.
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Lone Star Taco Bar

2) Lone Star Taco Bar
479 Cambridge St; 617.782.8226
Eager to bring a little authentic Mexican to the Hub, the dudes behind Allston's craft beer/cocktail HQ Deep Ellum imported an entire cadre of polite midget luchadores transformed the adjacent El Cafetal into a 52-seater slinging tacos, tequila, and SoBo street fare.
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The Regal Beagle

3) The Regal Beagle
308 Harvard St; 617.739.5151
Spawned by the Three's Company fans behind Church, RB gives off the same upscale "neighborhood joint" vibe the Beagle gave Jack, Chrissy, and Janet. Consider yourself intrigued.
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BACK BAY - FENWAY/KENMORE - SOUTH END

deuxave

4) Deuxave
371 Commonwealth Ave; 617.517.5915
Deuxave rocks an upscale, locally sourced new American menu in an elegant 90-seat dining room replete with a giant framed vintage map of Boston in the 1800s, a slat stone fireplace, and a front bar and lounge area that's so heavily mirrored, you might as well have "Brady" on the back of your jersey.
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boston chops

5) Boston Chops
1375 Washington St; 617.227.5011
No doubt taking a huge gamble by eschewing the letter "D" for the name of their third endeavor, the duo behind Deuxave and dbar have overhauled the former Penny Savings Bank-turned-Banq-turned-Ginger Park (so long, whale skeleton!) and turned it into an "urban steak bistro" offering a modern take on the traditional house of meat.
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asta

6) Asta
47 Massachusetts Ave; 617.585.9575
For those times when you'd rather let someone other than Papa Gino order dinner for you, L'Espalier alum Alex Crabb's taken the Back Bay's former 47 Pizza+Pasta and morphed it into a rustic 41-seater that serves a "be cool because this is what you're going to get" three-, five-, and eight-course tasting menu accompanied by an optional wine pairing.
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estelles

7) Estelle’s
782 Tremont St; 857.250.2999
Located in an old video store and named for the once-popular nearby neighborhood hotspot, Estelle's is an 80-seat celebration of the South from chefs Brian Poe (Tip Tap, Rattlesnake) and Eric Gburski (East Coast Grill) that pours one more than 99 beers (not on the wall, but at the bar) alongside burly sustenance from the area that didn't vote for Lincoln in the 1800s.
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Cinquecento

8) Cinquecento
500 Harrison Ave; 617.338.9500
Eager to add another romance language to their French-heavy South End empire, the crew behind Aquitaine and Gaslight Brasserie opened this 200-seat Roman trattoria.
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Coppa

9) Coppa
253 Shawmut Ave; 617.391.0902
Tucked into the spot that once housed Dish, this enoteca from the owner-chef duo behind Toro has matched the resto's portions to its size, so expect plenty of stuzi (Italian-style tapas) with your pasta & pizza.
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Darryl's Corner Bar & Kitchen

10) Darryl's Corner Bar & Kitchen
604 Columbus Ave; 617.536.1100
This friendly South End neighborhood bar/resto from the dude behind the original Bob the Chef's is slinging hearty Southern-spun comfort fare like fried catfish w/ Cajun rémoulade alongside tasty cocktails, small-batch brews, and live jazz.
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The Hawthorne

11) The Hawthorne
500A Commonwealth Ave; 617.532.9150
Jackson Cannon's dual-bar HQ of high-end craft cocktails nestled beneath the Commonwealth Hotel looks like an elegantly appointed sitting room, but, given the drinks, is more like a passed-out-on-the-floor room.
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island creek

12) Island Creek Oyster Bar
500A Commonwealth Ave; 617.532.5300
A booth-to-ceiling steel-caged wall greets you with tens of thousands of shells from the very creatures this bar will stuff you with.
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Sweet Cheeks

13) Sweet Cheeks
1381 Boylston St; 617.266.1300
Former Top Chef-er Tiffani Faison channeled her inner Texan to execute the kind of Texas vittles your mom would've made if her exposure to Tejas went beyond old episodes of Dallas.
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BEACON HILL - CHINATOWN - DOWNTOWN CROSSING - FINANCIAL DISTRICT - THEATER DISTRICT

carrie nation

14) Carrie Nation
11 Beacon St; 617.227.3100
Ironically named for the notorious Kentucky-born teetotaler and temperance activist known for taking a hatchet to bars in the days before Prohibition, Carrie Nation Cocktail Club's a breakfast-through-late-night-drinks throwback (from the dudes behind Scholars and across-the-street 6B) with a back-room speakeasy and waitresses dressed from the '20s serving "turn-of-the-century cocktails and European-inspired cuisine".
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society on high

15) Society On High
99 High St; 857.350.4555
The latest venture from the chef/owner behind Sorriso and the Leather District's Les Zygomates, Society on High's a 110-seat, breakfast-thru-dinner FiDi bistro rocking local fare, late-night libations, and a huge, palm tree-laden patio billed as a little bit of "Miami right here in downtown Boston".
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sterlings boston

16) Sterling’s
60 State St; 617.531.8200
The prolific crew behind Granary Tavern (and Coogan's... and Dillon's... and...) are at it again with this '60s-inspired State Street bar and restaurant that serves throwback eats and "pays tribute to an era when cocktails were a lifestyle"... and Dad used to pass out on the commuter rail back to Needham.
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Shojo

17) Shojo
9A Tyler St; 617.423.7888
The exact opposite of everything you expect in Chinatown, this industrial-vibed Asian bistro/ lounge from two area cousins has traded faux-friendly felines and Faye Dunaway imposters for house-infused spirits and modern takes on pan-Asian favorites.
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stoddard's

18) Stoddard's Fine Food & Ale
48 Temple Pl; 617.426.0048
Located in the historic 142yr-old Stoddard's Fine Cutlery building, this must-hit gastropub/saloon known for its girthy list of beers/ales and pre-Prohibition era cocktails impresses with a towering 30ft carved/columned mahogany bar lined w/ 25 taps.
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frost ice bar

19) Frost Ice Bar
Marketplace Center at Faneuil Hall; 617.307.7331
Frost is Boston's first -- and the world's largest -- indoor (frozen) watering hole, built in a meat locker almost entirely out of ice. It's from the crew behind the Duck Boat Tours. It's located above the American Eagle Outfitters at Faneuil Hall. Naturally, you'll need a ticket to get in.
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tip tap room

20) The Tip Tap Room
138 Cambridge St; 857.350.3344
Chef Brian Poe cooks up "tips" of varied animals & wild game to be enjoyed with beers from their extensive "taps" draft menu.
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CAMBRIDGE (CENTRAL SQUARE - HARVARD SQUARE - INMAN SQUARE - KENDALL SQUARE - PORTER SQUARE)

beat hotel

21) Beat Hotel
13 Brattle Street; 617.499.0001
Inspired by the "hippie and beat movements" of the '60s (and named for a run-down hotel in Paris' Latin Quarter), Beat Hotel's a funky, throwback sister spot to the South End's popular Beehive that's tucked under the Gap in the former Tannery and boasts eclectic vittles, wine on tap, and live jazz nightly.
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green street

22) Green Street
280 Green St; 617.876.1655
With a booze license that dates back to the Great Depression and a drink menu that cracks the 100-libation mark, Cambridge's Green Street Grill has established itself as one of the city's top cocktail bars.
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giulia

23) Giulia
1682 Massachusetts Ave; 617.441.2800
Channeling his family's ancestral tradition as Umbrian lentil farmers, former Via Matta exec chef Michael Pagliarini has transformed Mass Ave's former Rafiki Bistro into an Umbrian lentil farm. Wait, no, a rustic 70-seat trattoria that boasts an Old World aesthetic and specializes in hand-cut pastas and Italian wines. Yeah, that's it.
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ole

24) Ole
11 Springfield St; 617.492.4495
Before the upscale-Mexican craze hit Boston, there was Ole. After the upscale-Mexican craze leaves Boston, there will be Ole. It's authentic, the skirt steak w/chile de arbol sauce is delicious, and the margaritas rank among the best in the city.
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bondir

25) Bondir
279A Broadway; 617.661.0009
Part of Jason Bond's wildly successful effort to take fine dining off the beaten path, this cozily rustic, Rockies-meets-Provence, 28-seat bistro serves a local/seasonal American menu of "Modern Farmhouse" fare.
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catalyst

26) Catalyst
300 Technology Sq; 617.576.3000
This highly acclaimed, oak-heavy offering from Chef/owner William Kovel warmly welcomes you with a two-sided fireplace, an herb garden wall, and a trellised patio.
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lord hobo

27) Lord Hobo
92 Hampshire St; 617.250.8454
If you're looking for the popular, off-the-beaten-path cocktail bar B-Side Lounge, you're wasting your time. It's gone. But it was replaced by this equally popular, wood-heavy temple to beer.
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park

28) Park
59 JFK St; 617.491.9851
If you once visited Harvard and remember dancing late into the night at The Red Line, well, we're sad to inform you that it's gone. And in its place lies this more distinguished, bourbon-friendly tavern-meets-cocktail-lounge-meets-neighborhood-eatery-meets-supper-club.
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puritan

29) Puritan & Company
1166 Cambridge St; 617.615.6195
Former Garden at the Cellar chef Will Gilson's highly acclaimed solo spot is an "urban farmhouse" located in a historic building that once housed the Puritan Cake Company.
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the sinclair

30) The Sinclair
52 Church St; 617.451.7700
Now (literally) rocking out in Harvard, the music promo dudes at The Bowery overhauled the former Phatt Boys (seriously -- there actually was a night club named Phatt Boys) into this 500-plus-capacity, industrial-aesthetic'd concert venue/rustic bar & kitchen.
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tasty burger

31) Tasty Burger Harvard Square
40 JFK St; 617.425.4444
The good news: the meat-meisters from Fenway fave Tasty Burger turned the JFK St 7-Eleven and adjoining basement art space into a late-night, '50s-style burger joint up top, and a pool table & juke-equipped bar below. The bad news: you now have to get your sheepskin condoms elsewhere.
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trina's

32) Trina's Starlite Lounge
3 Beacon St; 617.576.0006
A joint venture from four renowned Boston resto vets (Silvertone, Beehive, Highland Tap, and City Grill), Trina's is a '40-/'50s-themed "Southern diner with a twist", namely the craft cocktails served alongside your upmarket burgers and dogs.
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west bridge

33) West Bridge
1 Kendall Sq, Bldg 300; 617.945.0221
The inaugural effort from a couple of Aquitaine alums who wanted to pair tasty 'tails and modern French sustenance with "a New England perspective", so... be prepared for your food to grumble suspiciously about unseasonably mild Winters.
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FT. POINT CHANNEL - SEAPORT - SOUTH BOSTON

drink

34) Drink
348 Congress St; 617.695.1806
From the woman behind No. 9 Park, The Butcher Shop, and B&G, Drink's a wildly-popular cocktail den nestled in the basement of a former wool warehouse. Enough said.
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empire boston

35) Empire Boston
1 Marina Park Dr; 617.295.0001
After conquering Back Bay (Red Lantern) and DTX (GEM), the culinary conquistadors at Big Night Entertainment expanded their... Empire with this massive, Asian-themed 350-seater on Fan Pier.
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harpoon

36) Harpoon Brewery's Beer Hall
306 Northern Ave; 617.574.9551
After packing eager beer enthusiasts into the same tasting room for over 25yrs, the folks at Harpoon sagely decided to open a massive, 300-person, first-in-the-Hub German-style beer hall complete with skyline views, live brewery action, and 20 draft suds.
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stats

37) Stats Bar and Grille
77 Dorchester St; 617.268.9300
A follow-up from the dudes behind perennial downtown favorite JA Stats, SB&G turns out comforting, elevated pub fare that's much more in tune with Southie's casual vibe.
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tavern road

38) Tavern Road
343 Congress St; 617.790.0808
The Brothers DiBiccari (of Chef Louie Night, Storyville & Sel de la Terre) have turned the former Blue Wave into an artsy, "high energy" 120-seater specializing in whole animals, small plates, and crafty small-batch cocktails.
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SOMERVILLE (DAVIS SQUARE - UNION SQUARE)

bronwyn

39) Bronwyn
255 Washington St; 617.776.9900
Inspired by his German heritage and his wife (the resto's namesake as well as an owner), the acclaimed chef behind popular C'bridge spot T.W. Food has taken over Union Square's former Ronnarong Thai Tapas Bar and overhauled it into a "yodeling-friendly, have we talked about how well Bayern is playing?" rustic Bavarian retreat and biergarten serving Central European sausages and suds from the Vaterland.
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kirkland tap and trotter
Michael Piazza

40) Kirkland Tap & Trotter
425 Washington St; 857.259.6585
The more laid-back "cousin" to his upscale French bistro, Craigie on Main, the sophomore endeavor from acclaimed Chef Tony Maws is a casual 115-seat "neighborhood public house" off Inman Square that's built in the same vein as an English gastropub and serves meats cooked on a giant wood-fired grill.
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backbar

41) Backbar/Journeyman
9 Sanborn Ct; 617.718.2333
Recast to look like your buddy's industrial loft, this bold first-time endeavor from a husband-wife/historian-sociologist duo (again!) serves a fixed weekly menu of locally sourced grub while their adjoining cocktail cave, Backbar, offers charcuterie and tableside 'tail-making in a speakeasy-like space that once reportedly served as the Hub's first Ford dealership.
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casa b

42) Casa B
253 Washington St; 617.764.2180
Happily trading designing buildings for designing food, the architects-turned-restaurateurs behind Casa transformed a vintage store into this split-level mecca of Latin American cuisine & libations.
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painted burro

43) The Painted Burro/Burro Bar
219 Elm St; 617.776.0005
The mural of a unicorn burro rocking a luchador mask and a corncob horn tells you just about everything you need to know about the vibe at this 95-seat Mexican kitchen & tequileria from the dude at Pizzeria Posto.
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saloon

44) Saloon
255 Elm St; 617.628.4444
Slinging bourbon below Foundry on Elm, this ode to the under-represented pre-Prohibition era throws things back with Tiffany chandeliers, hand-carved mahogany overhangs, 120+ varieties of brown booze, and slew of "bespoke" whiskey 'tails.
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FURTHER AFIELD

grass fed

45) Grass Fed
605 Centre St; 617.553.2278
This 24-seat "not just a burger bar" from the chef behind Ten Tables peddles poutine, paninis, and plenty of locally sourced beef. Hit the takeout window and bring your vittles to eat along Jamaica Pond.
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the haven

46) The Haven
2 Perkins St; 617.524.2836
Do you enjoy haggis, Scotch eggs, bagpipes, and watching "football" on Saturday mornings? Well then, welcome the Hub's one (and only) authentic Tartan kitchen and pub.
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steel and rye

47) Steel & Rye
95 Eliot St; 617.690.2787
Located on the edge of the Red Line trolley, this onetime ambulance garage now serves Chris Parsons' top-notch American comfort food.
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