Diners' Choice: Lively restaurants in Boston

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants that have the most vibrant bar scenes in Boston? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Dotty's Kitchen & Raw Bar

5.0

5 (15)

$31 to $50

Seafood

Quincy

About the restaurant

Coming Soon!

Top review

Emily

Dined 3 days ago

The food here is really delicious. Everything from the appetizer (we had arancini) to the side (brussels sprouts) to the entree (streak frites) was prepared with the care and attention to detail that makes for a memorable dining experience. The cocktails are great too and the waitstaff are attentive and friendly. This is our go to place for fine dining in Quincy.

Offsuit

4.9

4.9 (189)

$31 to $50

Speakeasy

Leather District

About the restaurant

Offsuit is an intimate cocktail bar. We want everyone to enjoy the Offsuit experience; so visits are limited to 90 minutes. Reservations are only available for 7 days into the future.

Top review

Lauren

Dined 2 days ago

More than just "out for cocktails." This was a fun, fabulous experience! Food, drinks and service were all spectacular!

Vejigante Restaurant

4.8

4.8 (897)

$30 and under

Puerto Rican

South End

About the restaurant

With experience of over 20 years in the culinary industry to present us with emotion and put your new project disposicnuestro "Vejigantes Restaurant". This restaurant brings the best of the traditional food of the beautiful island of Puerto Rico, carefully prepared and presented by craftsmen to fill a void in the community of Villa Victoria bastion of the fight of our community.
Unique in its kind in the city of Boston, has been carefully designed with an island environment and atmosphere. Inviting them in bright colors to arouse curiosity and cheer the soul as a delicious food delights. Located in the heart of Villa Victoria representative and testament to the struggle of the Puerto Rican community in Boston.
We invite you to live this experience with us and feel welcome right from their site of preference Vejigantes when you want to take that trip back to the authentic flavors settled with the Puerto Rican sofrito and adobo

-6 person Reservation maximum
-Dining time limit is 90min

Top review

Julian

Dined on Nov 21, 2024

We were warmly greeted and were led to our table. The place was culturally decorated showing PR pride. The food was made as I expected and was savory and comforting in the way that I felt someone cared for the reputation of PR food. If you're in Boston, YOU HAVE TO GO HERE!

Loco Taqueria & Oyster Bar - South Boston

4.8

4.8 (378)

$30 and under

Mexican

South Boston

About the restaurant

LOCO TAQUERIA & OYSTER BAR is a funky neighborhood joint located on West Broadway in South Boston that specializes in tacos, raw bar, and tequila.

Top review

Jason

Dined on Dec 6, 2024

The food was really awesome and our server was awesome. Music was fantastic

Discover more

Supper Club at Capo Restaurant

4.8

4.8 (260)

$30 and under

Italian

South Boston

About the restaurant

RETRO VIBES & GOOD TIMES

Tucked underneath Capo Restaurant, the Supper Club looks to recapture the excitement of going out on the town for dinner and a show.

The Supper Club at Capo is a 4,000sf subterranean lounge located next door to Capo Restaurant and below Citizen’s Bank. The Supper Club is accessible through a connecting staircase located in Capo’s dining room at 443 West Broadway. There is a private entrance located at 439 West Broadway which is available for private events only.

The Supper Club at Capo consists of a 40ft bar, a large performance stage for live music and entertainment, a stage-front dance floor with two retro stage-side lounges.

Follow us on social media to stay up to date with our current live music and entertainment schedule.

Top review

Keila

Dined on Dec 8, 2024

Excelent food and experience. The cocktails were really great. The appetizers and main dish were really tasty. The Frank Sinatra show was good and make us feel like it was Christmas Eve!

Discover more

Experience

NYE: Skip the line & book a table!

The Playwright

4.8

4.8 (167)

$31 to $50

American

South Boston

About the restaurant

From the minds behind the original Playwright Bar and situated on its familiar grounds, emerges the reimagined Playwright of 2024, epitomizing the ever-changing South Boston scene.

Step into a new era as The Playwright undergoes a transformation, embracing the spirit of a classic pub while infusing it with contemporary flair. We seamlessly blend the charm of traditional hospitality with the sophistication of upscale comfort cuisine.

Immerse yourself in our live music scene every Wednesday through Sunday. Experience emerging artists on Wednesdays, a cover band on Thursdays, DJs on Fridays and Saturdays, and unwind with country music on Sundays.

Join us as we raise our glasses to the next chapter of The Playwright.

Top review

Pamela

Dined on Nov 23, 2024

Lively spot in Southie, with multiple sports screens, good beer, and yummy bites for brunch or lunch (maybe dinner too but we were there at noontime). My southern egg and maple sausage sandwich was a vast improvement over fast-food versions. My husband loved the short rib eggs Benedict. Both dishes were reasonably sized portions. We visited on a Saturday when it was busy and were glad we made a reservation!

Lucy's American Tavern

4.7

4.7 (926)

$30 and under

Comfort Food

Dorchester

About the restaurant

Lucy's is modern neighborhood restaurant and tavern located in Adams Village in Boston's Historic Dorchester. Lucy's name pays homage to Lucy Stone, who was a pioneer in woman's rights and a Dorchester resident. Our menu consists of fresh, local cuisine focusing on an elevated comfort food and barbecue. We focus on hearty New England fare, ode to Southern cooking, awesome burgers and globally influenced dishes. We feature a full bar with 27 draught beers with a focus on local Craft breweries. We offer wine on tap as well as a thoughtful glass and bottle program. Our cocktails change seasonally with fresh, local ingredients and support local Craft distillers when possible. We also feature over 40 different whiskeys. Open for lunch, dinner and weekend brunch our guests can expect a warm and inviting atmosphere with a hospitality driven experience.

Top review

Zakia

Dined 3 days ago

I went to Lucy’s for a casual date with my boyfriend. We had a great time. Our server, Antonio was attentive and helpful. The food was good and the atmosphere was great. We were able to hear each other and had a very nice meal.

La Fabrica Central

4.7

4.7 (1019)

$30 and under

Latin American

Cambridge

About the restaurant

Welcome to La Fabrica, where life is celebrated through our Spanish Caribbean cuisine and lively atmosphere! Feed your soul with our flavorful Puerto Rico, Cuba, and Dominican Republic dishes.

Our passion for Latin American cuisine is tasted in every bite, from small plates of ceviche to signature entrees such as the Fried Red Snapper, Kan Kan Pork Chop, and Mofongo.

Experience Latin-inspired flavors fused with Japanese sushi and a touch of Peru.
With our flavorful and colorful cocktails in hand, unwind to the sultry sounds of live Latin music.

Immerse yourself in the culture with our rustic, industrial charm and festive ambiance.
See your colorful self in the street art that adorns our walls.

There’s always a seat for you “en nuestra casa” in the heart of Central Square, whether you join us on one of our beautiful patios or in our decorated dining room! Enjoy live music in the front lounge on Thursday-Sunday evenings!

Top review

JenielyVIP

Dined 6 days ago

Good latin food, great ambiance and atmosphere. Love to have dinner and drinks and then head to the front lounge and listen to great Latin music

Discover more

4.7

4.7 (251)

$30 and under

Italian

East Boston

About the restaurant

Pazza On Porter offers Italian-American cuisine with homemade pasta, dishes made from scratch with fresh ingredients, and a great cocktail program featuring all cocktails made in-house. Visit Pazza to experience social dining with an energetic atmosphere.

Top review

Susan-Ray

Dined on Nov 29, 2024

Food is always delicious and service is great. Ana is a sweetheart. The cocktail menu is excellent! Brought my family who were visiting and we had a great time. The kids enjoyed the Christmas movies playing in the dining room.

Discover more

4.7

4.7 (612)

$30 and under

American

Quincy

About the restaurant

Liberty Tavern is a 130-seat restaurant spread over two rooms, including a 20-seat bar. In addition to our full-service kitchen offering our take on American classics, we also have two wood fired ovens. Our restaurant is a casual vibe that is perfect for dinner with friends and family, date nights, or to enjoy cheering on our Boston teams on one of our 11 TVs. We are open for lunch Monday-Friday at 12pm, with our main menu available until 10pm; and our late-night menu is available 10pm-12am daily. We also offer Brunch on Saturday and Sunday 10am-3pm, with our main menu available until 10pm! We look forward to you joining us!

Top review

AndrewVIP

Dined 6 days ago

Great place for a fun brunch. Drinks were good, food is very good.

Explore Diners' Choice best of Boston

Explore more Diners' Choice lists