It’s rare to find a bar that offers superbly crafted cocktails, tantalizing cuisine, and a gorgeous interior, but Shōjō manages to check off all the boxes. Equipped with a laundry list of decadent dishes ranging from smoked BBQ sauce-drenched pork bao to Hong Kong-inspired chicken and waffles, the bar has perfected the delicate balance of hearty American fare mingled with East Asian culinary flair. While the bar boasts an impressive collection of whiskey sourced from Japan, Taiwan, and the US, Shōjō’s cocktail game is just as impressive, offering Vietnamese coffee martinis and boozy baijiu mules.
How to book: Reserve via Resy.
Intimacy is the name of the game at OFFSUIT, a tiny haunt tucked away in Boston’s Leather District. The night begins with a Catwoman-worthy prowl down Utica Street, where an unremarkable door serves as your portal into a world of refined drinking and dining. There are just 20 seats packed into this pint-sized watering hole, but OFFSUIT’s cocktail selection is by no means miniscule, featuring a wealth of perfectly crafted selections that include time-honored classics (Oaxaca old fashioneds and espresso martinis) alongside new creations like the Lounge Act, a blend of apple brandy, chamomile, falernum, curaçao, and Angostura bitters. Know before you go: Parties are restricted to four or fewer patrons, so roll shallow to this one.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating.
Just a few months shy of its 10th anniversary, this beloved bar made its debut in the heart of Somerville back in December of 2011, and the city’s cocktail scene has never been quite the same since. Backbar comes equipped with a cozy atmosphere adorned with stunning wall art, but it’s their avant-garde, quirky, and ultimately adorable cocktail theme that really endears this spot to local Massholes. Bears are the main topic around here—the animal kind, to be precise—and each cocktail is based around a beloved ursine figure, whether it’s an individual species, a pop culture icon, or the Chicago-based sports team.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating.
God bless Baldwin Bar superstar Ran Duan, who upended his parents’ original Sichuan Garden space in Brookline Village a couple of years back to bring his amazing cocktails closer to home before becoming one of the earliest adopters of the cocktails-to-go plan. The restaurant is now fully reopened, which means you’re looking at a twofer fantasy of Szechuan delicacies and elixirs like the Bocadillo Sour (Bacardi Carta Blanca, guava paste, mascarpone, lime, mint). Or just put your fate in Duan’s hands and let him woo you off-menu with a bartender’s choice.
How to book: Reserve via Tock or order take-out online.
We could not be more excited that our favorite upstairs speakeasy has finally reopened its clandestine doors. The cavernous, brick-walled space celebrates locally made spirits, seasonal ingredients, and a relaxed approach to imbibing. Keep it classy with a cognac and hibiscus-heavy Velvet Rope, or spring for a DTO—that’s Daiquiri Time Out, a certified group favorite complete with four rum-laden shots to really get the party started. Keeping with the sharing theme, Brick & Mortar also serves up a small yet mighty selection of tasty bar snacks, with pimento stuffed peppadew peppers, garlic bread, and deviled eggs all up for grabs.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating.
Yet another spot that we want to bearhug for reopening (though we’ll refrain, for the time being). Drinks are slung mere feet away from the place where many ingredients are created, including infused vodka and flavored liqueurs like almond and cranberry. Right now, they’re playing it safe with a four-days-a-week schedule, but their bottled cocktails are still available to-go, both solo and alongside a limited food menu spanning bites like sweet and salty cashews and crab Rangoon empanadas.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating or order take-out online.
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