Boston at 5:01

At first when we walked into Nix's Mate it had that new bar smell. Then you look around and its all wood, granite and booze. Its very clean, kind of swanky, and a little too high end for my taste. But what it shows off with style, it looses with a home feeling. 

DETAILS

The beer selection is good with about 10 beers on tap, and a wide selection of spirits. The problem is the staff is not too attentive and it might be a problem getting a drink before you decide to leave. I also ordered some food, but that didnt come for 30 mins, so I just paid for the beer and left, as the bartender was saying "it should be out in 5 mins."

WOULD WE GO BACK

Clarke's is a staple of Bostonians and a great place for a beer and to watch Boston Sports. This is a huge double bar with a little connecter between the kitchen which few know about. Often the owner is seen in the bar getting hammered with the customers what frequent Clarke's often. 

DETAILS

Clarke's has a great menu of american food, from burgers to salads. Something for everyone, but what they lack is flavor and style. Its a lot of food and doesnt always aim to be the best. Their fries are something to go there for, as they are potato's sliced flat and fried, which are like a fat potato chip. 

The beer selection is very good with all the Boston Fav's, Sam Seasonal and Brick, Harpoon, all the local favorites. There is also a full bar if you wanted to get something stronger. The are wines, but my advice... don't go there. 

WOULD WE GO BACK

The Bleacher Bar is a Fenway favorite here in Boston. Most of the people that go there are visitors to Boston, and not as many locals, but weather you are either, its a place to visit. 

DETAILS

This is literally in Fenway Park but without the price to get in. The draw to the Bleacher Bar is the big garage door that opens to the field, and when there is a ball game on its kind of fun to see the green grass and lights from the park. There are a lot of TVs to watch the game, and a lot of Boston faithful around to cheer the Sox. With the fans, comes drunks, so thats something to watch out for as it can get a little crazy.

The food was greasy and bar-like. Fries, Sliders, and chicken wings, which have more grease than taste. I got the sliders and they honestly made me sick. Did I mention they are greasy? 

The bar is loaded with all kind of drinks, but this place I stayed with Beer. They come in a fancy plastic cup which is hard to break when they get dropped on the wet, beer-stick floor, which happens a lot. 

WOULD WE GO BACK

DETAILS

Scholars American Bistro and Cocktail Lounge is located in Downtown crossing on the Freedom Trail (easy for the tourists to find!) I've walked past it many times and finally decided to venture in on a Thursday evening with a friend for dinner. We arrived before 6pm and the first thing we said to each other when we walked in the door was "It's loud in here". The after 5:01 crowd was out in full force there starting the weekend early and the bar was packed. The hostess escorted us to the back of the place, far from the bar. This helped a bit with the sound level but I still found myself leaving with a sore throat from screaming to my dinner partner for two hours so she could hear me. 

The waitress was friendly and brought us bread with dipping oil as soon as we sat down. She was helpful and told us about some of the drinks on the cocktail menu. There was quite a selection of specialty drinks,  I decided on a Sangria and my friend went with a Tequila drink. The Sangria was too sugary and sweet, and seemed to have some cinnamon in it, which at first I enjoyed but quickly tired of it. When it came time to order a second I turned it down. My friend's drink tasted much better and it left me wishing I'd ordered one of those instead. For an appetizer we ordered Fried Pickles. They were delightful and came with a tasty sauce. Before we could really dig into them our meals arrived. I ordered Macaroni and Cheese with Lobster. After i placed the order I started to wonder what kind of Lobster would show up in the pasta since it's not really their season. But it was tender and added flavor to the dish. My friend ordered a Veal Scallopini which came with two sides and was enough food for a few people. We both took half our meals home and will have a lovely lunch today.

WOULD WE GO BACK

I have been going to Boston Beerworks for many years now, and it is one of the staple places to go before a Bruins, Celtics, or if the subways are backed up. There are 2 locations in Boston, one next to Fenway, and the other near North Station which I prefer. The North Station location is open, has garage doors that open to the outside air, and pool on the second level. 

DETAILS

As the name says: Beerworks. So you would go for their beer, and they about about 10-12 different types which are made at this location. The beer ranges from a light Blueberry beer with floating berry in it, to dark cask beer that is thick like mud. I have had some issue with beer being very flat and thats how its made. 

The food is good and I like to pop in for a burger after work, and defiantly the fries. They also have some different apps like fried pickles, a personal favorite, and nachos that are piled like a mountain.

WOULD WE GO BACK

DETAILS

Papagayo is a recently opened Mexican Kitchen/ Tequila bar located just over the bridge after South Station, going towards South Boston. In a stretch that is rather desolate of places to eat, it's a nice addition. This reviewer has been there multiple times since the opening last year and every time things get progressively better. For the sake of this review we wandered over and were there shortly after 5 on a Monday night. It was relatively quiet and we easily got a seat at the bar. We promptly ordered a Margaritta and a Sangria. The Margaritta was a great drink with good use of limes. The Sangria tasted fruity without the excessive amount of fruit one tends to find in it at other places. The entrees are good. Not spectacular, but I have nothing bad to say about them. The menu contains a typical array of mexican food: burritos, enchiladas, tacos, etc. You can order fresh guacamole to be made at your table. The maker will create it as spicy or mild as you like and it's a great choice before dinner, if you are extra hungry, or just with drinks. 

WOULD WE GO BACK AGAIN

Obviously this reviewer has been there multiple times and would return again. It's a great place to meet friends for drinks, a casual dinner or even a first date. Just don't drink too much tequila. 

If there is a local bar for the Back Bay neighborhoods, this might be it. When you walk in the door you are ushered downstairs to a large basement bar/restaurant with crystal chandeliers, felt and draped fabric walls, and an artistic feel. It is kind of a cross dressed bar, but I have to say... its kind of cool. 

DETAILS

I got there about 5:15 since its kind of far outside of downtown and it was very slow. I walked in and sat at the bar, getting a glass of wine cause beer in this place feels a little odd. The wine list was good, and they had a good list of spirits. I tried to order a shot of Scotch and the bartender hesitated telling me the price, kind of weird. I also ordered a water which never came. The bartenders were not that attentive when it goes busy, about 6:00. The prices were a little high, but that is what I expected for the place. I also stayed for a hamburger and that was very good. The fries were shaved potato flat, and not overcooked. 

WOULD WE GO BACK

DETAILS

Bond is a gem of a place hidden away in the Langham Hotel. And you thought they were just known for the chocolate buffets!

We arrived at 5:01 and the place was packed. There wasn't an empty seat at the bar and the smaller tables that looked ideal to have a drink at were all reserved so we ended up sitting at one of the regular tables.  

Cathedral ceilings, five chandeliers, and a dark decor makes this place feel upperclass and like you are sitting in someplace a bit retro and special. We sipped on some wine and cocktails while ordering a few appetizers. Bread and two types of cheese as well as a bean dip plate were delightful and filled us up pretty quick. The crowd at 5:01 was very business like but it seemed like it could be a place that picked up into a more casual crowd later in the evening. 

WOULD WE GO BACK

Yes The atmosphere is great and I'd love to sit at the bar with a Martini one evening. It's definitely pricey for just appetizers (and the dinner menu was way out of range) but comparable to some of the other lounges in the area. Not a place for every night (unless you are CEO) but a perfect place for something a bit more than a beer. 

This location is a lounge in the lobby of the InterContinental Hotel on Boston's waterfront. This is an interesting bar that spills into the lobby with seats and couches outside the opening of the lounge that you can relax and watch the locals and visitors of Boston go by.

DETAILS

RUMBA has a wide selection of drinks made to perfection, with the martinis very sweet and of course powerful, a good selection of wines, and a small selection of beers. We got a beer and a Sangria and sat on the couch talking. It was very relaxing and open, different than what we are used to at the crowded bars. The people are a little too snooty for my taste with all the suites and ties, much better for the stock brokers than creative people. Did I mention it was pricy? It is!

I did not see any food there, so I dont know if they served anything. I know there are restaurants near by but I did not try them. 

WOULD WE GO BACK

Stoddards is a throw-back from the 20's where prohibition was strong, and drinking was hidden in back rooms. This is a "Boardwalk Empire" kind of place where there are 25 beers on tap, and old time bartenders that are willing to make some crazy drinks, but this isnt your grandfathers bar.

DETAILS

This is a gentlemen's bar with lots of wood, lots of beer, and even corsets on the wall (unfilled of course). But this should not stop anyone from going as people are very friendly there. Its kind of a small place though, with the bar being very tight and only can get about 2-3 people deep without being in the isle. 

The food was kind of a let down I thought since everything was a little strange. But the show string fries are real good. They also open at 5:00, so do except to get there early.

WOULD WE GO BACK

This is a bit of a walk from the Financial District where I work, but I met a friend of mine in the South End of Boston after work. The South End is known for its higher end places, and cool/artistic bars, and Union is no different.

DETAILS

You walk in and are presented by wood/granite bars and chalk board menus, a typical element for the South End, but always looks good. There are fun, timeless little lights hanging above the bar, and very nice attentive bartenders that will take care of your needs. The beer selection is limited to 3-4 on tap, but the spirits are full and they can make you anything you like. The food was just ok, with apps that are a swanky and (to my standards) a little small for the price.

For this visit I went for dessert cause I am an adult and I can have dessert before dinner (don't tell my mom). I had a Chocolate Coconut Bread Pudding which was more stale bread than anything else, not worth getting. My friend had a slice of apple apple pie (not a typo) which is traditional apple pie with apple flavored crust, and a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. That was really good and I am still thinking about it. 

WOULD WE GO BACK

The Littlest bar in Boston is not by name the littlest anymore. This was a tiny bar on Providence St that could hold 10 people if they all were jammed tighter than a subway car at 5:10pm, but moved to this new location since the building was being torn down. 

DETAILS

Well, its a Irish pub of sorts... kind of an off shot of the Times which is next door. They share the same kitchen, bartenders, but not beer selection. The littlest has about 7 beers on tap, and a limited supply of spirits not including this writers favorite Scotch. But what is great about this is the 2 taps built into the table that you can rent for a party. What out for that cause you have no idea how much you drank when your fulling your own glass.

The food is a little too greasy for my taste, and everything is covered in standard bought cheese which is more of a coating on the Big Dig fries and nachos. Make sure you get extra napkins cause you will need them. 

WOULD WE GO BACK

The Vintage Lounge appears to be a small bar from the outside but is so much more.

THE DETAILS

At 5:01 the place was empty. We entered just as the lights were dimming and promptly greeted by a friendly bartender who was happy to help us and make recommendations. We took advantage of the fact they still have Sam Octoberfest, ordered a cheese plate and grabbed a seat at one of the large, leather couches. The place was comfortable, cosy and I could envision sitting there all night, watching the world go by. The appetizer was delicious and our request for more bread was taken care of immediately.  Within half an hour the bar was full and after a quick look around the second bar was mostly full too. The crowd at that time seemed to be after work and it was a quiet, relaxing place to be at 5:01+.

WOULD WE GO BACK

Mr Dooley's is located in the heart of Boston's business district on Broad St, among the high rises and financial institutions. You have to pass a lot of bars to get to this gem, so don't be fooled by the others.

THE DETAILS If there ever was a better Irish Pub for this reviewer, we could not find it in Boston. This is as close to being in Ireland as you can get. Mr Dooley's is one of the best places to get a drink in the Downtown area. You can loosen your tie, kick back with a pint, and sing along with the irish music. The beer selection is limited to locals and of course Guinness, but they have a selection mixed drinks as well. Not a place for a Cosmo though, but the Irish bartenders will make almost anything you like.

The food is ok, not great. Grease bar food with potato skins and curry fries. It will fill you up but you might not feel all that great the next day. Did we say it was greasy? 

What we really love about this Boston favorite is during the Holidays they decorate this old bar with garland, little white lights, and winter styles to give it a relaxing, cheery feel.

Sam's is located on the top floor of the new location of Louis, in Fanpier. This is a popular spot in nice weather as the view of the harbor is spectacular. Unfortunately we chose to go in November, but we were there to drink, not for the view. 

THE DETAILS Walking up to the second floor, you do get the feeling you might be opening the door to ladies apparel, but instead you are greeted by large chalkboards where people have left messages as "We love Sam's!" or "We got drunk"  The staff were immediately friendly as we walked in and sat down at the rather small bar. Looking around, the dinning area wasn't that large either, but seemed comfortable and filled up quickly. But we were there to drink. I had a "Pollenator" (had some sort of honey liquor in it... not sure what but it made me feel pretty good) and he had a glass of Cabernet. The bartender was helpful in explaining the mixed drinks and menu that we glanced at before deciding on a cheese plate appetizer. It arrived on a wooden board with grapes, four types of cheese and delicately sliced bread. Every bit of it was delightful and we cleaned the plate. One drink and one cheese plate later we move on to continue exploring.