These 9 MA Bars Are Among America's Top 150: Daily Meal

As winter takes hold for real, there’s nothing like the warm cordiality of a favorite watering hole, which The Daily Meal called “the great socioeconomic equalizer” in its roundup of “The 150 Bars in America for 2019.” Massachusetts had nine on the list, including three in the top 50.

As you might expect, the majority of the the bars are in Boston. There is a Somerville and Woburn entry, as well. See the full list below.

Members of The Daily Meal’s editorial staff have been compiling the list since 2011, explaining the process: “The Daily Meal walks into a bar and — we peruse the menu, the clientele, and the drinks list; we scrutinize the drink, the place, the vibe; we take mental notes. Then we decide to grab a wad of cocktail napkins and start scribbling notes for a list like this. …”

The list includes everything “from simple beach bars and swanky cocktail lounges to innovative houses of ‘molecular’ mixology to dusty dive bars and dens of iniquity,” The Daily Meal said.

Among “The 150 Best Bars in America for 2019” in Massachusetts that left a big impression on The Daily Meal staff are:

Cheers, 84 Beacon St., Boston

Ranking on the list: No. 145

"Famed as the inspiration for the NBC sitcom “Cheers,” which ran for 11 seasons beginning in 1982, the Bull and Finch Pub is now called Cheers BarBoston. After all, this is the Massachusetts bar “where everybody knows your name.” Long before the sitcom, the Bull and Finch was a landmark, esteemed as an exemplary Boston watering hole."

Citizen Public House & Oyster Bar, 1310 Boylston St., Boston

Ranking on the list: No. 140

"Citizen Public House & Oyster Bar has more than 200 whiskeys, including a rolling list of the niche, century-old wooden bar’s own hand-selected single barrels. There are rare and nearly impossible-to-find bottles, weekly whiskey flights, a whiskey club, and one of Boston’s strongest craft cocktail programs."

The Baldwin and Sons Trading Co., 2 Alfred St., Woburn

Ranking on the list: No. 118

"This Woburn cocktail bar, which has just 45 seats and is only open from Thursday through Sunday, is run by acclaimed bartender Ran Duan, whose parents own the Chinese restaurant on the floor below."

Deep Ellum, 477 Cambridge St., Allston

Ranking on the list: No. 112

"Deep Ellum serves craft cocktails made with fresh squeezed juices, house-made syrups, and artisanal spirits, plus a wide range of craft beers. There are no big brands like Absolut or Jack Daniels here. The Massachusetts bar makes its own bitters and mixers, including grenadine, ginger beer, and Picon (a caramel-colored bitter)."

The Hawthorne, 500A Commonwealth Ave., Boston

Ranking on the list: No. 96

"The Hawthorne pairs the finest elements of the craft cocktail movement with a heightened focus on hospitality, comfort and geniality. Opened in 2011 by nationally-recognized bartender Jackson Cannon, the Massachusetts bar is a space dedicated to thoughtfully crafted cocktails, continued spirits education, and exceptional guest experiences."

Backbar, 7 Sanborn Ct., Somerville

Ranking on the list: No. 72

"One visit to Boston’s Backbar and you will understand why it is a newcomer to our list. The high-end Massachusetts cocktail bar in a humble, homey space mixes cocktails like the Ford Cocktail (Fords gin, Dolin Blanc vermouth, Bénédictine, and orange bitters) and Millennial Falcon (Del Maguey Vida mezcal, Amontillado sherry, Amaro Nonino, and cinnamon) with bar snacks like spiced nuts, ranch popcorn, and Castelvetrano olives with orange, chili flakes, and Sichuan peppercorn."

Eastern Standard, 528 Commonwealth Ave., Boston

Ranking on the list: No. 45

"The high-ceilinged lounge, with red leather banquettes, features 110 eclectic wines by the bottle and an impressive beer list, but the bartenders who handcraft drinks from the 46-foot marble bar, the longest bar in Beantown, really excel at craft cocktails like the signature Dartmouth Highball (Pimm’s No. 1, Plymouth gin, simple syrup, lemon juice, and mint leaves). There is an expansive, rotating selection of craft cocktails, divided into playful subsections that riff on the classics and feature more innovative elixirs. "

Drink, 348 Congress St.

Ranking on the list: No. 43

"This aptly named bar serves drinks — and damn good ones at that. Dedicated to cocktails, Drink’s bartenders, under the guidance of general manager and head bartender Ezra Star, custom-make them according to the tastes of each patron. Housed in an old wool warehouse, the Massachusetts bar specializes in old-school techniques and classic Prohibition-era recipes that are infused with modern innovation and artisanal ingredients."

No. 9 Park, 9 Park St., Boston

Ranking on the list: No. 26

"Located in an elegant townhouse in Boston’s historic Beacon Hill, No. 9 Park welcomes guests with its polished wood bar, the perfect place to perch before a six-course tasting menu. The intimate, European-style dining room, aglow in a taupe palette with hardwood floors, antique chandeliers, and enviable views of Boston Common, is the perfect setting for chef Barbara Lynch’s regionally inspired Italian and French dishes."

Bars “are ubiquitous and unifying,” the site said, adding: “Nearly anyone of legal age can enter a bar, pull up a stool and buy him- or herself a refreshing glass of liquid luxury in its many forms: from a budget ice-cold brew to a fine wine to a potent shot to a classic cocktail to a spectacular modernist creation.”

Read more on The Daily Meal.

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