The best bars & nightlife in Essex County
75 bars & nightlife we’ve checked and stand behind — with the story on each one. Not a ranking; a record.
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99 Restaurants
NightlifeKid-friendly pub chain offering classic fare like burgers, wings & salads in informal surrounds.
99 Restaurants
NightlifeSawasdee Danvers
NightlifeUpscale eatery offering classic Thai recipes including soups, seafood & curry dishes.
Sawasdee Danvers
NightlifeFonzi’s Tavern on Merrimack
NightlifeWhen you want low-key drinks, bar-and-grill staples, and some live music without trekking far, Fonzi’s Tavern on Merrimack hits the spot.…
Fonzi’s Tavern on Merrimack
NightlifeWillow Spring Vineyards
NightlifeWillow Spring Vineyards is that down-to-earth, family-run spot where community and quality actually show up in the glass. Stroll the vines,…
Willow Spring Vineyards
Nightlife1606 Restaurant & Oyster Bar
NightlifeWhen you want a grown-up night that's still Cape Ann at heart, 1606 Restaurant & Bar nails it with ocean views, a 44-seat bar, and an…
1606 Restaurant & Oyster Bar
NightlifeSalted Cod Arthouse
NightlifeSalted Cod Arthouse is that relaxed Rocky Neck spot where Gloucester folks graze on not so small plates, paninis, and shareable cheese…
Salted Cod Arthouse
NightlifeWhether you’re chasing juicy burgers, flatbreads, or a proper steak with a cold beer, Merrimack Valley Sandtrap Bar and Grille serves…
Pica's Pub and Grill
NightlifePica's Pub and Grill nails the hometown sweet spot with famous house steak tips, legit burgers, and comfort-driven pub plates that actually…
Pica's Pub and Grill
NightlifeLawrence British Club
NightlifeSince 1912, Lawrence British Club has been the low-key spot to shoot pool, sip an ice-cold something, and get a little competitive on the…
Lawrence British Club
Nightlife99 Restaurants
NightlifeKid-friendly pub chain offering classic fare like burgers, wings & salads in informal surrounds.
99 Restaurants
NightlifeAlfalfa Farm Cellars
NightlifeIf you like your pours with a side of New England charm, Alfalfa Farm Cellars mixes a distillery, winery, and brewery in a renovated farm…
Alfalfa Farm Cellars
NightlifePratty's CAV
NightlifeIf your idea of a good night involves crisp darts, friendly chirps, and a big game on a 160+ inch screen, Pratty's CAV is your spot. Home…
Pratty's CAV
NightlifeThe Captain's Compass
NightlifeThe Captain's Compass is the cozy bar at the historic Yankee Clipper Inn, a 1929 art deco mansion perched on a rocky bluff overlooking the…
The Captain's Compass
NightlifeTony C's Sports Bar & Grill - Peabody is the kind of spot where you actually see the play develop, thanks to jumbo HD screens and premium…
The Fish Shack Bar & Restaurant
NightlifeSmall, unadorned eatery offering classic New England seafood standbys such as lobster & fried clams.
The Fish Shack Bar & Restaurant
NightlifeBlue Collar Lobster / The Gloucester House Pub is that dependable spot on Seven Seas Wharf where locals go for fresh, locally caught North…
POST
NightlifeUpdated American dishes, plus pizzas, desserts & brews in a trendy, stylish space with a bar.
POST
NightlifeDRIFT & WAVE Kitchen
NightlifeDrift & Wave Kitchen nails that locals-only sweet spot with a killer cocktail program (yes, the Espresso Martini), chef-driven New American…
DRIFT & WAVE Kitchen
NightlifeStones Pub & Eatery
NightlifeWhen only a pint and something properly satisfying will do, Stones Pub & Eatery nails it with Eric's Back Shore Burger, the Kraut Dog, and…
Stones Pub & Eatery
NightlifeSaluti!
NightlifeSaluti! pairs a curated wine list with shareable tapas in a community-minded hangout. Settle into The Abbey for stained glass serenity, or…
Saluti!
NightlifeFairways On High, LLC
NightlifeFairways On High, LLC delivers cutting-edge indoor golf in nearby North Andover with 3D tech, 4K visuals, and hyper-realistic ball flight…
Fairways On High, LLC
NightlifeLuckeys Distillery & Cocktail Bar
NightlifeLuckeys Distillery & Cocktail Bar is a working distillery with a cocktail bar right here in Peabody, where you can watch spirits made…
Luckeys Distillery & Cocktail Bar
Nightlife99 Restaurants
NightlifeKid-friendly pub chain offering classic fare like burgers, wings & salads in informal surrounds.
99 Restaurants
NightlifeSkyline Social
NightlifeSkyline Social is Haverhill’s sky-high social scene with a legit waterfront view, music-driven energy, and shareable small plates that pair…
Skyline Social
NightlifeRJ's Sports Bar and Grill
NightlifeRJ's Sports Bar and Grill is that Methuen hang where eight TVs, pool, darts, and even Keno keep things lively, while wings in Buffalo or…
RJ's Sports Bar and Grill
NightlifeThe Claddagh Pub
NightlifeWhen you just want comfort food that hits right, The Claddagh Pub leans into fresh Irish fare, local ingredients, and a friendly bar made…
The Claddagh Pub
NightlifeRockport Brewing Company
NightlifeRockport Brewing Company keeps it simple... a taproom pouring fresh beer, a current menu with pizza, and events to break up the week. If…
Rockport Brewing Company
NightlifeWicked Axe
NightlifeWicked Axe mixes coached axe throwing with a state-of-the-art golf and multisport simulator featuring 85+ championship courses, plus…
Wicked Axe
Nightlife99 Restaurants
NightlifeKid-friendly pub chain offering classic fare like burgers, wings & salads in informal surrounds.
99 Restaurants
NightlifeWhether you want live music with your pint, a cozy booth for catching up, or some stick-to-your-ribs Irish comfort food on the patio when…
The Irish Cottage
NightlifeExpect Methuen’s first authentic Irish restaurant and pub, The Irish Cottage, serving Irish favorites with an American twist... from potato…
The Irish Cottage
NightlifePigeon Cove Ferments
NightlifeWhether you're into kombucha that actually tastes fun or crave crunchy ferments that do your belly a favor, Pigeon Cove Ferments has you…
Pigeon Cove Ferments
NightlifeFibber McGee's
NightlifeFibber McGee's is that independently owned Beverly pub where the wings and burgers hit just right, the craft beer and cocktails keep the…
Fibber McGee's
NightlifeThe Indo
NightlifeOld-world charm, proper pints, and weekly mischief await at The Indo in downtown Beverly. Think traditional-and-American pub fare with real…
The Indo
NightlifeLucky Dog
NightlifeLucky Dog keeps it simple in the best way, with cold beer on tap, a proper dart board, and a neighborhood crowd that actually says hi.…
Lucky Dog
NightlifeGalway Girl Irish Pub
NightlifeGalway Girl Pub in Beverly nails the cozy, community feel, with classic Irish dishes, hearty stew, and the perfect pint of Guinness. It’s…
Galway Girl Irish Pub
NightlifeThe Cannery
NightlifeThe Cannery is the waterfront bar built for Salem evenings, think cold drinks, salty air, and sunsets you can actually feel smug about.…
The Cannery
NightlifeAnchor Pub & Grille
NightlifeAnchor Pub & Grille keeps it local with fresh seafood daily, juicy burgers, and Boat Drinks built for lingering. Grab a lobster roll or…
Anchor Pub & Grille
NightlifeNon Poke Bowl
NightlifeNon Poke Bowl is where poke meets freshness, a straightforward spot for bright, clean flavors when you need a quick, not-boring lunch or…
Non Poke Bowl
NightlifeJacob's Corner
NightlifeWhen the week needs a reset, Jacob's Corner has the cozy, sports-bar energy dialed in with darts, a jukebox, and the kind of custom…
Jacob's Corner
NightlifeRaise The Bar Events
NightlifeIf your backyard graduation morphs into a crowd or your office event needs a glow-up, Raise The Bar Events brings pro bartenders,…
Raise The Bar Events
NightlifeGarden City Pub & Restaurant lovingly crafts regional dishes from scratch using local and seasonal ingredients, pairing American comfort…
Soma
NightlifeContemporary Mediterranean eatery using locally-sourced ingredients & offering specialty cocktails.
Soma
NightlifeVillage Tavern | Bar & grill
NightlifeVillage Tavern is that dependable Salem hang where the patio is wide, three bars stay lively, and the arcade room plus Diamond tourney pool…
Village Tavern | Bar & grill
NightlifeLaRosa's Italian Cafe & Bar
NightlifeFrom Italian coffee and sweets to gourmet sandwiches and handmade pasta, LaRosa's Italian Cafe & Bar brings that cozy, family-run Sicilian…
LaRosa's Italian Cafe & Bar
NightlifeElm Square Oyster Co.
NightlifeSleek oyster bar with a patio serving bivalves, seafood & American spirits & beers.
Elm Square Oyster Co.
NightlifeTekila's Bar and Grill (Methuen)
NightlifeReady to shake up the weeknight routine? Tekila's Bar and Grill (Methuen) blends authentic Mexican cooking with a Caribbean twist, then…
Tekila's Bar and Grill (Methuen)
NightlifeOver in Lawrence’s Cultural Canal District, Rapscallion Brick Oven Pizza & Brewery serves hand-crafted pies and flatbreads with fresh…
Granite Coast Brewing Company
NightlifeGranite Coast Brewing Company in Peabody pours a rotating variety made with fresh, local ingredients. Swing by the taproom, sample a few…
Granite Coast Brewing Company
NightlifeCoastal Mass. Brewing
NightlifeCoastal Mass. Brewing keeps things interesting with a perpetually rotating lineup of bright, explorative microbrews, all brewed in-house on…
Coastal Mass. Brewing
NightlifeToscana Bar Italiano
NightlifeKeep it close to home with Toscana Bar Italiano, a classically modern gastrobar pouring premium craft cocktails and a deep wine lineup…
Toscana Bar Italiano
NightlifeEast Regiment Beer Company
NightlifeEast Regiment Beer Company keeps things easy in Salem with a veteran-owned taproom pouring a wide selection of craft beer, Crazy Good…
East Regiment Beer Company
NightlifeChoate Bridge Pub
NightlifeGrilled steaks, clams & pizzas, with a range of beers on tap, in a cozy bar with wooden interiors.
Choate Bridge Pub
NightlifeThe Tap Brewing Company
NightlifeMake The Tap Brewing Company your treat this week. House-brewed, award-winning ales and lagers since 2003, cozy exposed brick vibes, and a…
The Tap Brewing Company
NightlifeOne Spot
NightlifeWhen you need a spot to catch up without feeling like you’re yelling over a jukebox, One Spot nails the balance with a chic lounge feel,…
One Spot
NightlifeCouch Dog Brewing Company
NightlifeWhether you're craving a fresh pint after work or looking for a laid back spot to catch a weekend event, Couch Dog Brewing Company keeps…
Couch Dog Brewing Company
NightlifePalm & Crane
NightlifePalm & Crane is the cocktail lounge at Brodie's Pub, built for lingering conversations and well-balanced drinks. Locals hit it for…
Palm & Crane
NightlifeBackbeat Brewing Company
NightlifeBackbeat Brewing Company keeps your week humming with fresh beer, legit coffee, and a food menu that actually hits. Check their events and…
Backbeat Brewing Company
NightlifeOn the Corner Grill Harbor Place
NightlifeOn the Corner Grill Harbor Place leans into authentic Italian, from hearty pastas to crowd-pleasers, plus a warm lounge and a bar pouring…
On the Corner Grill Harbor Place
NightlifeBlue Fin Japanese Restaurant
NightlifeRelaxed, open strip-mall eatery offering sushi & a wide range of more exotic Japanese specialties.
Blue Fin Japanese Restaurant
NightlifeGentile Brewing Company
NightlifeWhether you want an unfussy pint after work or a place where kids and pups fit right in, Gentile Brewing Company nails the neighborhood…
Gentile Brewing Company
NightlifeCaffe Italia Trattoria
NightlifeCaffe Italia Trattoria is the kind of comfy spot you keep in your back pocket, with a proper bar, an Italian market for take-home goodies,…
Caffe Italia Trattoria
NightlifeBareWolf Brewing
NightlifeWhether you’re in the mood to try what just came off the tanks or planning a low-stress get-together this week, BareWolf Brewing keeps the…
BareWolf Brewing
NightlifeJaho Coffee Roaster & Bakery
NightlifeJaho Coffee Roaster & Bakery is that rare Salem standby where house-roasted single origins and blends like North Shore Fog pair with…
Jaho Coffee Roaster & Bakery
NightlifeBrewery Silvaticus
NightlifeEven the hops are owner-grown at this craft brewery inside a big, brick mill with riverfront patio.
Brewery Silvaticus
NightlifeLucille Wine Bar & Bottle Shop
NightlifeWine shop selling natural and organic varieties, plus hosting wine tastings.
Lucille Wine Bar & Bottle Shop
NightlifeNotch Brewery & Tap Room - Salem
NightlifeNotch Brewery & Tap Room - Salem blends hip warehouse energy with a breezy riverside garden and communal tables, ideal for weeknight hangs…
Notch Brewery & Tap Room - Salem
NightlifeFar From The Tree
NightlifeFar From The Tree is Salem’s craft cider house, established in 2013, turning local apples into creative, high-quality ciders that actually…
Far From The Tree
NightlifeThe Joy Nest
NightlifeCasual, modern cafe offering cocktails and ramen, plus Thai dishes such as curry and duck.
The Joy Nest
NightlifeBernadette
NightlifeBernadette brings Parisian charm without the fuss, turning peak-season ingredients from nearby farms into French plates that actually suit…
Bernadette
NightlifeIpswich Ale Brewery
NightlifeBrewery with onsite restaurant serving its beers on tap & a menu of pub dishes & New American eats.
Ipswich Ale Brewery
NightlifeKowloon Restaurant
NightlifeSprawling landmark since 1950 offering Asian meals, mai tais & comedy amid kitschy Polynesian decor.
Kowloon Restaurant
NightlifeStand Up Stick Up Comedy Club
NightlifeStand Up Stick Up Comedy Club keeps the punchlines tight and the week lighter, with an upcoming Mustafe Mussa show on 8/27 and plenty of…
Stand Up Stick Up Comedy Club
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