Hopping Back Bay restaurant for girls weekend.

[sun1234]

I have three friends coming in from the burbs for a girls reuinion weekend in June and we are staying at Jurys. They have put me in charge of the food and want to go somewhere lively because they never get into the city. We want to stay close to our hotel and price is no issue. The two ideas I have so far are Davios and Post390. Any other ideas???

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Davio's
75 Arlington Street, Boston, MA 02116

[BobB]

Eastern Standard is Kenmore Square is pretty lively - great cocktails AND great food, and it's just a few T stops up from Back Bay (walkable even, if the weather is nice and your heels not too high).

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Eastern Standard
528 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215

[tlynn2007]

I love Towne...it's not that close to The Back Bay Hotel (formerly know as Jurys) but I think it will provide the lively atmosphere that you and your friends are looking for. Towne is a 5 minute cab ride from the hotel.

Lolita (near Copley Square) is one of Boston’s new “it” places and has a trendy atmosphere. I haven't tried the food yet, but the guacamole and margaritas are pretty good.

I would also look into The Met Back Bay (next to Lolita). I went there on a Wednesday night and it was pretty packed.

I haven’t been to Tico yet but I’ve heard good things and it’s literally 2 blocks away from Back Bay Hotel.

I know that you want to stay close, but I wouldn’t rule out other Back Bay restaurants farther away from your hotel. Hope you have a great reunion wherever you decide to dine!

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Towne Stove and Spirits
900 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02115

Tico
222 Berkeley St, Boston, MA 02116

Lolita Cocina & Tequila Bar
271 Dartmouth St, Boston, MA 02116

[tlynn2007]

Just asked one of my co-workers about Tico - she said that she did not like the food when she went there.

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Tico
222 Berkeley St, Boston, MA 02116

[Beachowolfe]

Towne is less than a mile away and in the same neighborhood as the hotel. I'd qualify that as "close".

The food at Tico is good, better than Temazcal which is a similarly scene-y place. Haven't been to Lolita.

I think an age bracket on these girls would help everyone make suggestions.

[sun1234]

Thank you for all of the suggestions. I am leaning to towards Lolita Cucina's. I thought I would throw in our ages since a few people inquired. We are a group of thirty somethings looking for great food and a little vibe.

[hotoynoodle]

is the seaport too far? was in temaxcal cantina last friday night and it was PACKED with exactly this: ladies on the town, between 25 and 40ish. packed, i tell you.

[LeoLioness]

Lolita doesn't take reservations for parties smaller than 6. I went on a Saturday a few weeks ago and the wait was a solid two hours when we got there at 7...I left, but those who stayed reported it was indeed 2 hours until they were seated, and they weren't able to get any seats in the bar area in the interim. Just something to keep in mind; you might want to go for dinner on the earlier or later side there.

[bostondiner]

Check out 28 Degrees. I think it is a fun place to go with girlfriends and is within a 10 minute walk from your hotel. Toro is definitely lively and fun (but probably merits a cab if you will be in heels).

I haven't been to Tico yet but I'm going with a group of girls next week so I'll report back then.

I used to like the bar at Jury's but I haven't been in a couple of years--might be good for a nightcap option since you'll be staying right upstairs!

Have fun!

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28 Degrees
1 Appleton St., Boston, MA 02116

Toro
1704 Washington St, Boston, MA 02118

Tico
222 Berkeley St, Boston, MA 02116

[bostondiner]

I went to Tico last week with a bunch of girlfriends-- we were there on a Tuesday night but the atmosphere was still lively. There were "local celebrities" in the restaurant (John Henry and Tom Werner). it had a good energy and vibe-- the bar was pleasantly full and there was a nice buzz in the dining area. We're also in our thirties (early thirties creeping towards mid-thirties).
The food was delicious and perfect for a girls night out-- we shared a number of tapas. Some of the standouts were the lobster tacos, the mushroom quesadilla (there is truffle salsa on top which was deliciously addictive), and the corn. We also liked the calimari, the fried manchego cheese, the beef tacos (not as good as the lobster ones).
I'm pregnant so did not take part in the libations but the margaritas (I believe they were blood orange?) were well liked by the ladies (although were noted as being very strong). I haven't been to Lolita but I feel like posts on this board have not been favorable... might be worth a quick search if great food is a deciding factor.

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Tico
222 Berkeley St, Boston, MA 02116

[NahantNative]

I live in the Back Bay, I can't speak to the food, but LOLITA is the definition of hopping. I don't know how they do it, but there's a line out the door every night I pass by there.

[C. Hamster]

I had only had cocktails at Tico and it absolutely has been hopping and fun.

But we just got back from lunch there and it was fabulous. Both food and service.

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Tico
222 Berkeley St, Boston, MA 02116

[pemma]

I was in Towne on a Thurs. night around 9 and it was hopping pretty good. We just had some slider burgers which were pretty good.

Braserrie Jo may not be really "hopping" but it is lively and the food and prices are good.

[cambridgedoctpr]

i second Braserie Jo; good value and good food if not of the highest quality available in boston.

[L2k]

Stephanie's always seems crowded with women. Good patio if the weather is nice, too

[hotoynoodle]

they must be women from out of town, because the food and service are notoriously bad there.

[purple bot]

Awesome. (hotoy's reply, that is)

[L2k]

Hey, I worked within 100 feet of there for 7 years, and ate there twice, so you don't have to tell me. But either way, it's always packed, and it's a high ratio of women, FWIW.

[LeoLioness]

How close is "close"? Maybe Toro?

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Toro
1704 Washington St, Boston, MA 02118

[C. Hamster]

Post 390 is loud and crowded but the food is awful and the service except at the bar is terrible. We only go for drinks anymore.

Davio's is the total opposite.

Tico is the new "it" spot and I sorta like it but it can get pretty loud.

I've not been to Towne but it might fit the bill, as would the Beehive.

A quick cab ride would get you to places like Lucky's and Drink and that new Mexican place on the waterfront whose name escapes me.

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Davio's
75 Arlington Street, Boston, MA 02116

Post 390
406 Stuart Street, Boston, MA 02116

Tico
222 Berkeley St, Boston, MA 02116

[Beachowolfe]

Towne

[Gordough]

oddly enough not a ton of options in that area for excellent food especially if you want to stay close to the hotel. If lively is more important than excellent food, I would suggest Tico which is a stone throw from your hotel. Reviews are somewhat mixed especially if you are expecting anything authentic but I enjoyed my meal and it is certainly a lively scene. I like it much better than Post 390.

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Post 390
406 Stuart Street, Boston, MA 02116

Tico
222 Berkeley St, Boston, MA 02116

[almansa]

Is there a better area in Boston proper for so much good food in such a concentrated space (albeit, mostly fine dining) than near Jury's? If I think just walking distance: Mistral, Sorellina, Via Matta, Bistro du Midi, Hammersly's, Towne, Lucca, Butcher Shop, B&G Oysters, Tico, Aquitaine, Market, Avila, Erbaluce, Davio's and probably a bunch more I'm forgetting.

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Davio's
75 Arlington Street, Boston, MA 02116

Lucca Restaurant
226 Hanover St., Boston, MA 02113

Via Matta
79 Park Plaza, Boston, MA 02116

Sorellina
1 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02116

Erbaluce
69 Church Street, Boston, MA 02116

Bistro du Midi
272 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116

Tico
222 Berkeley St, Boston, MA 02116

[Gordough]

many of the places you mention, I did not suggest because the original poster specifically stated that she wanted to stay close to the hotel in the Back Bay. I certainly am no mind reader, but being married, I know my wife does not consider a 30 minute round trip walk to be "close" when she is dressed up for a nice weekend dinner downtown. Sure they can take a taxi but everything in Boston proper is close if you are taking a taxi. Also, some of the restaurants you mention would not be the best fit for a group of women seeking a "hopping" restaurant.

[purple bot]

Certainly Mistral, Sorellina, Bistro du Midi, Via Matta and Davio's are all within 2-3 short blocks of Jury's, as is Tico, and would fit the bill. Mistral for sure is no more than a 2 minute walk, no matter what kind of shoes you're wearing.

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Davio's
75 Arlington Street, Boston, MA 02116

Via Matta
79 Park Plaza, Boston, MA 02116

Sorellina
1 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02116

Bistro du Midi
272 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116

Tico
222 Berkeley St, Boston, MA 02116

[C. Hamster]

I would not consider any of those places besides Tico to be " hopping."

They are excellent restaurants, for the most part, but not girls night out places.

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Tico
222 Berkeley St, Boston, MA 02116

[purple bot]

I don't think of Bistro du Midi as "hopping", but the others? I guess it depends on your preferred crowd (not mine, but certainly others consider them "hopping"). The OP said nothing about the age of these "girls".

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Bistro du Midi
272 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116

[C. Hamster]

Seriously, Davio's, Mistral and Via Matta are all great restaurants. I like them very much and would recommend them in a heartbeat but they are quiet, fine dining places that have been around forever.

Not "hopping" for girls of any age, save those in the "scamps" perched over the grand canyon.

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Davio's
75 Arlington Street, Boston, MA 02116

Via Matta
79 Park Plaza, Boston, MA 02116

[sflory]

I would definitely place Mistral in the GNO catagory, at least for 30-40 ish "girls". the bar area has a lot of energy. I would also walk over to 28 Degrees, butchershop, etc in heels from Jurys.

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28 Degrees
1 Appleton St., Boston, MA 02116