444953 Wed Sep 26 05:59:51 -0700 2007 5 12 Boston Area 0 2977286 Friends are visiting from NYC and want to explore the South End. We're having dinner one night at the B&G and another night at Union. Any suggestions for drinks beforehand near both locations? Or for that matter, afterwards? They are the ultimate New Yorkers and will be looking for "the best" atmosphere and mixology. A range from elegant to dive would be fun too. (Interesting beer list would be a hit with one of them.) Thanks! Wed Sep 26 05:59:51 -0700 2007 41728 blintz 1 2977451 Boston doesn't have a bar quite the equal of Manhattan cocktail palaces like Pegu Club. The South End doesn't even have our next closest approximation, something at the level of No. 9, ESK, Green Street, or the B-Side. There are plenty of places whose bars are a fine stopoff for a well-made cocktail. Just don't expect anything with raw eggs, obscure bitters, homemade maraschino cherries, rhum agricole, or an orchid frozen into an ice ball. Many of them don't even stock rye. One issue you'll have to deal with is the weekend night scrum at most South End bars and restaurants. Not many these bars are comfortable to hang around in if they're full, which they often are. Gaslight has some interesting variants on classic French cocktails, served in sensibly-sized cocktail glasses. The bars at The Franklin, Union, Sage, Toro, Stella, Icarus, Masa (good tequila selection), Pho Republique, Tremont 647/Sister Sorel, Coda, Rocca, and Columbus Cafe are all solid options. The Delux makes surprisingly good and budget-priced shaker drinks. The Beehive has great bartenders and atmosphere, but that velvet-rope line effectively obviates it as a place for a quick drink, which is really too bad, since atmosphere and drinks are the best reasons to visit. For more of a neighborhood tavern vibe, consider Anchovies, J.J. Foley's Cafe, and Wally's. 28 Degrees has an attractive bar, but I've found the quality of its bartending uneven; ditto for Hamersley's, Aquitaine, and Sibling Rivalry. Pops actually makes decent cocktails, but it only has a couple of dedicated bar seats, not really practical. It's a place to have a pre-dinner cocktail at your table or counter seat. Oishii Boston appears to have a full bar and some interesting specialty cocktails, but I haven't tried it just for a drink. Wed Sep 26 06:56:39 -0700 2007 2977286 10143 MC Slim JB 2 2977729 A thorough run-down already here. Some specifics - for your "dive", consider Delux - not really a dive, but a nice alternative to many of the already mentioned bars. Union has an excellent sommelier & interesting wine selection, if you are at all into wine. On that note, the Butcher Shop, across from and own by the same lady as, B&G can be a nice stop for a glass. Beehive is also right across the street - often a madhouse and the bartending varies from stellar (Frank!) to average. Vibe & location is fun though. Toro makes quite a nice Pisco Sour with raw egg, by the way. Wed Sep 26 08:15:45 -0700 2007 2977451 15217 gini 2 2983817 Had some great cocktails at Oishii last weekend. They have quite a range. I was drinking lychee martinis, and they were the best I've had in Boston. We were at a table, but plan to go back to sample the bar scene for late-night weekday drinks. Thu Sep 27 16:52:22 -0700 2007 2977451 101438 hsquare2southend 1 2980481 I've heard rumours about Toro's bartending being a sleeper but haven't found that to be the case myself. A way to get into a really respectable cocktail or two and a walk before dinner would be to go to No. 9 and walk across the Common and Back Bay to the SE. For the most part it's a civilized walk and showcases some of what Boston can give NYC a run for its money, namely it's prettier, nicer vistas and usually smells better. I recommend leaving No. 9, crossing the Common and Public Garden and heading down Berkeley to B&G. Wed Sep 26 19:53:14 -0700 2007 2977286 20717 sailormouth 2 2981025 I strongly second sailor's recommendations. The bartending at #9 is the best in the city. Thu Sep 27 05:19:58 -0700 2007 2980481 127425 XBG07