Modern speakeasies exist more for the swanky and mysterious aesthetic appeal of a secret gathering spot. If you’re looking for a secretive speakeasy to hit in Boston, these 12 spots should be on your radar before they are not so secret anymore:
1. Brick & Mortar, Central Square
Brick & Mortar in Cambridge has no sign out front, but you can find it by going inside the door to the left of Central Kitchen’s entrance in Central Square. After going up a set of stairs, you’ll be greeted to a giant horseshoe-shaped bar with ample stool seating—the perfect place to enjoy time with friends. Plus, they share a kitchen with CK next door, so the snacks are top-tier as well.
Find Brick & Mortar at 567 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge
2. Next Door, East Boston
East Boston’s hottest new hangout is Next Door, a speakeasy & raw bar tucked away behind a hidden entrance near Pazza on Porter. Once you’ve successfully found the door, you’ll be able to walk your way through majestic gilded curtains to an intimate, 30-seat lounge with theatrical ambiance and decadent seafood apps.
Find Next Door at 107 Porter St., Boston, MA 02128
3. Hecate, Back Bay
Ready to imbibe in the most magical of potions? Hecate, the newest speakeasy in Back Bay, can provide just that. Named after the Greek term for magic and witchcraft, this underground hangout will whisk you away into a magical new dimension with its dramatic atmosphere and unique cocktails. Find it right underneath Krasi in Back Bay.
Find Hecate at 48 Gloucester St, Boston, MA 02115.
4. Offsuit, Leather District
Offsuit offers an intimate experience located in a back alley in the Leather District. With a dark and moody interior lined with red walls and eclectic art, you’ll enjoy some of the finest flavors in this impressive spot. With no reservations, we recommend showing up early to Offsuit to get on the list, then grab food nearby.
Find Offsuit at 5 Utica Street in Boston
5. Backbar, Union Square
Backbar in Somerville is tucked away in an alley right near Bronwyn, but once you’ve successfully found it, you’ll be in for keeps. Their menu is heavily Star Wars-inspired for all the Luke Skywalker fans.
Find Backbar at 7 Sanborn Ct, Somerville
6. Yvonne’s, Downtown
Yvonne’s is located in the iconic Locke-Ober space. Guests enter through a door at the back of a blow-dry bar that evokes an 1880s-era Parisian salon, and then emerge into 150-year-old interior appointed with luxurious modern trappings. It is a modern reinterpretation of the supper club.
With it comes an entirely new social experience blending cosmopolitan cuisine with high-touch service in impossibly chic surroundings. The atmosphere is key here—with cow-hide chairs and candlelit tables, you’ll feel perfectly at ease to devour their incredible menu options.
Find Yvonne’s at 2 Winter Pl, Boston.
7. Modern Underground, North End
One of our favorite speakeasies is hidden in plain sight. Underneath the iconic Modern Pastry Shop, one of the city’s famous North End Italian bakeries, is the Modern Underground Bar and Grill. Despite its location just beneath one of Boston’s eminent tourist destinations, many tourists and locals alike unwittingly pass by this charming underground spot.
Find Modern Underground Bar and Grill at 263 Hanover Street, Boston.
8. Drink, South Boston
Drink in South Boston is located right underneath Sportello’s, and it’s not your typical speakeasy. Owned by the Chef Barbara Lynch Collective, you’re guaranteed a memorable experience here, and don’t leave without trying the foie gras pigs in a blanket.
Find Drink at 348 Congress St, Boston.
9. Wink and Nod, South End
The South End favorite is back. After a two-year Covid-induced hiatus, the culinary incubator is back and brings company. The South End speakeasy debuted just last year with a sister company, SubRosa, inside the shared space. It’s the perfect place to hide out, hang out, eat and relax.
Find Wink and Nod at 3 Appleton St., Boston 02116
10. Saloon, Davis Square
Located in Davis Square next to the Rockwell, Saloon’s entrance is a small, simple sign with its name on it, leading to a set of stairs. Inside, this charming speakeasy serves up comfort and classics.
Find Saloon at 255 Elm St, Somerville.
11. Bogie’s Place, Downtown
If you head to the back of JM Curley, you’ll find a small doorway that leads to an elegant steakhouse known as Bogie’s Place. Serving dishes like caviar, various cuts of steak, and bone marrow, it’s a charming spot for an adults-only night out.
Find it at 25 Temple Pl, Boston, MA 02111