Across Massachusetts, some restaurants and bars are a little harder to find than others.
From a hidden cocktail bar in downtown Boston to a restaurant tucked inside an 1820s farmhouse, Patch has rounded up several restaurants, bars, and other dining spots where finding the place is part of the experience.
The Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism has encouraged visitors to explore lesser-known destinations and local culinary experiences across the state.
Kate Fox, executive director of the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism, has described "slow travel" as an approach that "gets off the beaten path and really focuses on hidden gems and local culture and food and music."
The Wig Shop in Boston
A hidden cocktail bar in downtown Boston is tucked behind a storefront designed to look like an old-fashioned wig shop.
The Wig Shop is located at 27 Temple Place, but visitors won't find a typical bar entrance when they arrive. Instead, the entrance is disguised as a wig shop.
Inside, the bar serves cocktails, wine and small plates. The Wig Shop was also named among of USA TODAY's 38 Bars of the Year for 2026. The annual list includes bars across the U.S. selected by USA TODAY Network food writers.
See Also: 3 MA Bars Named Among Best In U.S. By USA TODAY
Bogie's Place in Boston
Just next door, another hidden Boston spot can be found behind neighboring businesses on Temple Place.
Bogie's Place is a small steakhouse located at 25 Temple Place in downtown Boston.
Guests enter through the back of JM Curley or The Wig Shop cocktail lounge, according to the restaurant's reservation page. The menu centers on steaks and classic steakhouse sides in a small dining room.
Reservations are available online and are recommended because of the restaurant's limited size.
The Baldwin Bar in Woburn
Just north of Boston, a cocktail bar is hidden inside another restaurant.
The Baldwin Bar operates inside Sichuan Garden II at 2 Alfred St. in Woburn.
The restaurant and cocktail bar are located inside the historic Baldwin House. The menu includes Sichuan dishes such as black peppercorn beef, smoked bacon with edamame and slow-braised duck breast with five-spice gravy.
The Baldwin Bar is open six days a week. Its second-floor Baldwin & Sons Trading Co. bar is open Thursday through Saturday. Same-day online reservations close at 3 p.m., though the restaurant accepts walk-ins after 5 p.m.
Wooden Bar in Worcester
In Worcester, one tucked-away restaurant admits that "it can be tricky to find" on its website.
Wooden Bar on Knowlton Avenue combines New England ingredients with Asian cooking methods. The restaurant serves a rotating selection of shared plates, noodles and ramen.
Diners should use 4 Knowlton Ave. for GPS directions to reach the restaurant.
Wooden Bar is open from 5 to 10 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. The bar stays open until 1 a.m. on Saturdays.
The 1761 Old Mill in Westminster
About 25 miles north of Worcester, a restaurant in Westminster serves traditional New England fare next to a mill pond and waterfall.
1761 Old Mill is located at 69 State Road East. The restaurant is open Tuesday through Sunday and closed Mondays.
The building began as a sawmill and was converted into a seasonal tearoom in 1921. Ralph and Ruth Foster purchased the property after World War II and reopened it as a year-round restaurant in 1946.
Gibbet Hill Grill in Groton
Over in Groton, diners can eat at a restaurant located on a 100-acre farm.
Gibbet Hill Grill is located at 61 Lowell Road and operates alongside a multi-acre livestock and produce operation.
The restaurant's menu is shaped by what is available from the farm each season. Current dinner selections include blistered farm vegetables, brown butter gnocchi, cider-brined pork chops and steaks served with farm sides.
Dinner begins at 4 p.m. on weekdays. The dinner menu is available from 11:30 a.m. through closing on weekends. Reservations are available online.
Little Moss in Dartmouth
Down on the South Coast, a small restaurant in Dartmouth's Padanaram Village serves a menu built around ingredients from local farms and fisheries.
Little Moss is located at 6 Bridge St. and serves seasonal plates, handmade pasta, natural wine and cocktails.
The restaurant lists more than a dozen regional farms, fisheries and food producers among its suppliers, including Jordan Farm, Island Creek Oysters, Cuttyhunk Shellfish Farm and Dartmouth Orchards.
Dinner begins at 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Outdoor seating is available when weather permits and the menu changes daily based on availability.
Ceraldi in Provincetown
At the tip of the Cape, Ceraldi offers a tasting menu at 9 Ryder St. Extension in Provincetown.
You can choose a seven-course menu built around the region's daily harvest for $215 or a three-course menu featuring salad, soup and pasta for $98. Small plates are also available for bar guests and walk-ins.
The restaurant offers seatings at 5:15 and 8:30 p.m.
The Dream Away Lodge in Becket
Out in the Berkshires, one restaurant is tucked inside an 1820s farmhouse at the edge of October Mountain State Forest.
The Dream Away Lodge at 1342 County Road in Becket has been a Berkshire dining and music destination for nearly a century, according to the lodge.
Its history includes a 1975 visit by Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Arlo Guthrie and the Rolling Thunder Revue.
The dining room is open from 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, while the bar and music room remain open later.
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