Please indulge my Friday afternoon whine - need a cocktail spot on the Orange line

[gini]

I would like to go somewhere for a drink after work tonight. This fabled place should have seats available at the bar, adults rather than frat boys drinking, backs on the bar seats, a local and interesting selection of beer available, a well crafted and rum/tequila/brown liquor based mixed drink list, and it be on the Orange line from Haymarket south. There should be a buzz, but it should also not be packed to the rafters. Points if I can get a seat and there's still some interesting people watching.

Please throw out any ideas you have. I am blanking here.

-----
Haymarket
Blackstone St, Boston, MA

[robwat36]

Do you not consider the South End "on the orange line?" I work downtown and often use Franklin or the Gallows for exactly this purpose. Neither is usually that busy before 7. Canary Square in JP may also work or, if you don't mind a more upscale environment, Clio.

[gini]

I quite like both Franklin and Gallows - thanks for the idea!

[hckybg]

It seems like Stoddard's fits the bill in every way, and it's just a few feet from Downtown Crossing. They have a nice, long cocktail list and taps the whole length of the bar.

[robwat36]

Oooh, good call, although it's tough to get seating there after work.

[hckybg]

I was wondering about that, I've never been at that hour. I know Silvertone gets quite busy, but hoped Stoddard's would be less so since it's bigger.

[mkfisher]

I was at Stoddards last Friday and it was pretty empty from 5-7

[Bob Dobalina]

Woodward at the Ames (State Street)

[Niblet]

Had to giggle, "...Points if I can get a seat and there's still some interesting people watching" -- definitely don't want uninteresting people watching while you get a seat!

Good ideas above; I also like Petit Robert Central at Downtown Crossing. Have fun - if I was around I'd join you!

[scrappyhappy]

I've gotten a seat at stoddards after work, and I take the T from haymarket as well. I'd make a bee line there after work since the palce did fill up fast as it got closer to 6.

I highly recommend the Zombie, especially if you aren't driving anywhere afterwards.

[gini]

PRB is actually completely empty on Friday nights - we went there recently and drank champagne and ate cheese for hours on end - completely divine.

Thanks for all the great ideas, folks!

[Niblet]

Sorry to hear that about PRB on Fri nights; haven't been there since early summer but hope it picks back up.

[gini]

Thank you for all of your great suggestions! We ended up at Sam's at Louis and really enjoyed ourselves.