18 Best Things to Do to Enjoy Nightlife in Boston

Boston is a mix of classic cobbled stone streets and modern skyscrapers. With bustling markets, shopping malls, museums, and parks, Boston is a place where old meets new. The city, however, comes truly alive at night. With a variety of trendy bars and nightclubs and a diverse crowd, Boston has a vibrant nightlife scene. From breweries that sell crafted beer to movie screenings or a night at the museum, there is something for everyone in Boston.

Do you want to pub crawl? Perhaps dance the night away? Or simply explore the city? Read on for the best breweries, nightclubs, and family-friendly activities that Boston has to offer at night. 

Top 10 Nightclubs and Sports Clubs to Experience Boston Nightlife

From Irish pubs and sophisticated restaurants to swanky dance clubs here is a list of the best nightclubs in Boston.

1. Tunnel 

Tunnel Nightclub, Boston
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Located at the W Hotel, Tunnel is a popular hangout spot for young locals and tourists. With a cool and unique ambiance, the Tunnel is the best place to be if you want a fun dance night.  With a list of impressive DJs, jive to HipHop and EDM with an energetic crowd and a wide selection of cocktails. If you happen to visit, check out their signature drink ‘tunnel’!
Address: 100 Stuart Street, Boston, MA 02116
Timings: 11:00 PM - 2:00 AM
Price: Cover charge - USD 20 on most nights. Girls get in free before 11.30 PM.

2. Royale 

Royale Boston
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With trendy DJs and a lounge atmosphere, Royale is Boston’s only mega-club. With a capacity of 1300 people, Royale attracts a diverse mix of people from international tourists, students to professionals. Originally built as an opera house, Royale has been remodeled into a nightclub and is known for its music pit, LED lights, and dancers. You can also celebrate special occasions like birthdays, bachelor parties, and new years. With a young crowd, Royale is the best dance club for a fun nightlife in Boston experience. 
Timings: 10.00 AM to 2.00 AM
Address: 279 Tremont St Boston, MA 02116
Price: USD 350 for a table that seats 4.

3. Good Life Boston

Good Life Boston
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Goodlife is a family-owned restaurant and nightclub in the heart of Boston. With DJs spinning beats all night long, Goodlife is a hotspot for music lovers and club-goers. Spacious and trendy, the nightclub has three areas- the dancing spot, main bar, and sidebar with a Vodka lounge and is one of the best places to relish the nightlife in Boston. 
Timings: 11:00 AM to 2:00 AM 
Address: 28 Kingston St, Boston, MA 02111, United States
Price: No cover charge, but special events cost between USD 5 - USD 10

4. Jillian’s at Lucky Strike

Jillian's at Lucky Strike
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With a wide range of wines, craft beers, and lip-smacking food, Jillian’s located in Lucky Strike Entertainment is the definition of fun. With multiple levels, a huge arcade games floor, and other entertainment spaces, Jillian’s at Lucky Strike gives off vintage vibes. If you want a fun night of drinks, bowling, and classic arcade games, this is the place to be!
Address: 145 Ipswich St, Boston, MA 02215, United States
Timings: 5:00 PM to 2:00 AM, Monday through Friday. 12:00 PM to 2:00 AM Saturday & Sunday
Price: USD 12/hr+- for pool, USD 30 for bowling for two. Drinks USD 7 for a beer 

5. The Grand

The Grand, Boston
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With a breathtaking lounge, plush decor, and LED lights wall, The Grand certainly lives up to its name. An exceptional cocktail menu and world-class DJs make The Grand one of the best clubs downtown to enjoy the nightlife in Boston. Another perfect place to dance the night away, reservations are a must!
Address: 58 Seaport Blvd #300, Boston, MA 02210, United States
Timings: Wednesdays and Thursdays: 10:00 PM to 2:00 AMFriday: 9:30 PM - 2:00 AM Saturday: 9:30 PM - 2:00 AM
Price: USD 600 to USD 2500 for tables and bottle service USD 30 for cover charge 

6. Icon

Icon Night club
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Icon boasts of state of the art music and DJ experience, with a capacity of more than 380 people and a VIP lounge. Icon plays some of the best influential electronic music and Top 40 artists and is stocked with your favorite brands of beer and mixed drinks. They host private VIP events for large groups so make you get a reservation in advance. Put on your dancing shoes and shake a leg to funky beats at this club!
Address: 100 Warrenton Street Boston MA 02116 
Timings: Every night 10:30 PM – 2:00 AM Wednesdays: close at 5:00 PM
Price: Bottle service USD 350- USD 500
Boston is home of the Red Sox, The New England Patriots, Boston Celtics and the Bruins and the city has an obsession with all things sports. With a loyal and intense fanbase, many sports enthusiasts flock to clubs and bars to watch their favorite sport with friends or family and a beer in one hand.

Here are the best sports clubs for the full Nightlife in Boston experience. 

7. Cask n’ Flagon 

Cask n’ Flagon
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Just a two-minute walk from Fenway Park, Cask n’ Flanagan is a favorite location for students and sports enthusiasts alike. With multiple TVs and a passionate and enthusiastic crowd, do not miss a Red Sox or Patriots home game here. Established in 1969, Cask n’ Flanagan is a family-run restaurant and sees a lot of regulars and inquisitive tourists. So sit back, drink a beer, and listen to all the stories and memories floating around. 
Address: 62 Brookline Ave, Boston, MA 02215, United States
Timings: 11.30 AM to 1.00 AM 
Price: USD 31 to USD 50 

8. Banshee Bar Boston 

Banshee Bar Boston
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With a delicious and wide array of tacos, sandwiches, pizzas, and cocktails, The Banshee is the best place in Boston to watch European sports. With 10 flatscreens spread across two floors, the Irish owned bar screens English football, Rugby, Gaelic football as well as various American sports. 
Address: 934 Dorchester Ave, Boston, MA 02125, United States
Timings: Mon – Fri: 11:00 AM-9:30 PMSat & Sun: 10:00 AM - 9:30 PM
Price: USD 11-USD 30

9. The Baseball Tavern

The Baseball Tavern
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Open since 1963, the Baseball Tavern is another family-run club in the Fenway neighborhood. With a reasonably priced menu, it hosts college alumni groups, birthday parties, reunions, and most of all, sports. Its rustic charm and bricked walls have seen generations of Bostonians walk through its doors. Even though the old building is closed and the location is being moved to the new Fenway Development, this is the best place to catch a Red Sox game and is a testament to the Nightlife in Boston scene. 
Address:1270 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02215
Timings: Mon-Sun 11:00 AM – 2:00 AM
Price: USD 16 to USD 24 per person for buffet

10. Tony C’s 

Tony C's
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Named after the Boston Red Sox legend Tony Conigliaro, Tony C’s sports bar is open in four venues across Boston. If you want to just watch a game of baseball or enjoy a selection of homemade Boston delicacies and craft beer, Tony C’s is the place to be! With multiple TVs and great audio systems, feel the thrill of the stadium from this bar!
Locations: 1265 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02215-3410
Timings: 12:00 PM – 9:30 PM
Price: USD 30 per person 

Top 4 Comedy Clubs and Theatres in Boston 

Boston has seen comedy greats from Bill Burr, Conan O’Brien to Louis C K, and Patrice O'Neal. With a long history of comedians calling this city home, Boston is one of the best places to enjoy a night of laughter and merry. So sit back and watch comedy legends from the entertainment industry to local talent take the stage and leave you in splits. Here are the top 5 comedy clubs that define Nightlife in Boston. 

11. Improv Boston

ImprovBoston
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Started in 1982, Improv Boston hosts comedy skits, Improv shows, open mic nights, musical theatre, and classes and workshops. With laughter, entertainment, and children’s theatre, ImprovBoston does a lot of non-profit work. Sit back and laugh out loud at the comedy skits or enroll in a class to see how sketch comedy and improv work. 
Address: 40 Prospect St, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States
Timings: Show times from 8.00 PM

12. Nick’s Comedy Stop

Nick’s Comedy Stop
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Set up in 1977, Nick’s comedy stop sees the best of local talent in Boston. Spend an entertaining night filled with laughter and booze. The minimum age is 18 and discounts are available for groups of more than 15 members. A legend among comedy clubs, Nick’s has hosted comedians the likes of Denis Leary, Jerry Seinfeld, Phyllis Diller, Lenny Clarke, and Jay Leno. 
Address:  100 Warrenton St, Boston, MA 02116, United States
Timings: 7.30 PM to 10.30 PM (Monday-Thursday)

13. The Wilbur theatre 

The Wilbur Theatre
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Located in the historic theatre district of Boston, the Wilbur theatre was started in 1914. The huge auditorium and its colonial architecture make it one of Boston’s oldest and most popular theatres for music and comedy. With a seating capacity of 1200 people, the Wilbur Theatre has three floors and bars. It hosts some big names like Joe Rogan, Dana Carvey, and Kathy Griffin. The Wilbur Theatre is a must for those looking for a musical Nightlife in Boston experience. 
Address: 246 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116, United States
Timings: 7.30 PM onwards 

14. Improv Asylum

Improv Asylum
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Opened in the late nineties by three friends performing in an improv troupe, the Improv Asylum has grown over the years. With performances throughout the week, they offer a different perspective on comedy and nightlife in Boston. Improv Asylum hosts after-work parties, bachelors and bachelorettes and also offers improv classes in Boston and New York. 
Address: 216 Hanover Street, Boston, MA 02113
Timings: 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM

4 More Things to do in Boston After Sunset:

Nightlife in Boston is not restricted to only alcohol and clubbing, here are a few family-friendly ways to spend the night in the city.

15. Listen to Jazz 

Boston has a long history of attracting jazz musicians and artists like Duke Ellington and Billie Holiday. There are some great cafes and music clubs that offer killer jam sessions with live jazz performances. Head over to Walley’s Cafe on Massachusetts avenue, Scullers Jazz Club on Soldiers field road, or The Beehive on Tremont St to experience magical nights filled with jazz music and international cuisine. 

16. Symphony hall 

Located at 301 Massachusetts Avenue, the Symphony Hall is home to the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Acoustically, it ranks among the three best concert halls in the world. Opened in 1900, it is an architectural marvel. Thousands of locals and tourists flock over to watch the orchestra and spend the night immersed in music and history. 

17. Watch Movies Outdoors in Summer 

Boston summers need to be enjoyed to the fullest before the chilly winter sets in. Grab a blanket and some snacks and head over to the countless drive-throughs and open-air movie screenings across the city. Most places start screening at 6.00 PM and movies are mostly for children and young adults. So if you want some family-friendly entertainment, keep an eye out for discounts and free refreshments and watch a movie!

18. Ski at Night in Winters 

Night skiing in Boston is the perfect way to have some quality time with your family. Open between 5:00 PM and 9:00 PM, you can grab a quick dinner and head over to the ski range. Definitely one of the rarer activities, it makes for an interesting and fun-filled nightlife in Boston, it can be a nice break and a bit of exercise. 

Boston is a charming city that turns colorful and glamorous at night. Exploring the city at night is a whole new experience. From clubs to comedy and entertainment, Nightlife in Boston is something you shouldn’t miss out on!

This post was published by Anupama Manjunath

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