Bar
Wally’s Café Jazz Club
A family-run jazz club on Massachusetts Avenue, opened in 1947, with early-evening jam sessions where Berklee students play alongside veterans and live sets every night.
A rooftop bar seven levels above the harbour at The Envoy hotel, with skyline and water views, cocktails and fire pits for the colder months.
Good to know
Rooftop at The Envoy sits seven levels above the harbour on top of The Envoy hotel on Sleeper Street, and it is a good choice for a drink with a view. The roof looks out over the Boston skyline and the water, and private event spaces have panoramic views across the city and Boston Harbor.
The focus is on handcrafted cocktails, and the bar runs seasonal menus, including a holiday menu in winter. In the colder months the rooftop is set up for winter with fire pits that offer city and water views, which makes it a good choice for an evening out even outside summer. There is also a Harbor Lounge, which can be booked separately.
Reservations are made through OpenTable and through the bar's own rooftop reservations page for the fire pits. As a general tip, booking is worthwhile at weekends and around sunset, when rooftop bars are at their busiest, and it is sensible to bring a warm layer even in summer, since it can be breezy at height. Opening hours are not listed on the website's home page, so check before you go.
The bar suits couples, groups of friends and visitors who want an evening with a view. Prices are at the higher end, reflecting the location. The venue can also be booked for private events, with catering available.
If you are celebrating, ask about the bookable fire pits or the Harbor Lounge when you reserve, as these give you a dedicated space rather than a standing spot. Check the weather forecast before you go, since rooftop seating is affected by rain and wind, and have a back-up plan nearby on stormy evenings. Bring ID, as bars in Boston routinely check it, and allow for the higher drinks prices that come with a view like this.
The Envoy is in the Seaport area, which also takes in Row 34 on Congress Street in Fort Point, and the Harpoon Brewery Beer Hall on Northern Avenue is also in the Seaport if you want a more casual drink before or afterwards. As a general tip, the area is easy to reach by taxi or ride share, and evening events in the Seaport can make traffic slower, so allow extra time when heading back to your hotel.
On top of The Envoy hotel at 70 Sleeper Street, Boston, MA 02210.
It sits seven levels above the harbour.
The rooftop looks out over the Boston skyline and the harbour.
Yes. The rooftop has fire pits for the colder months.
Through OpenTable, or through the bar's own reservations page for the fire pits.
Handcrafted cocktails, plus seasonal menus such as a holiday menu.
Yes. Private events with catering can be arranged.
Call 617-530-1538.
Tour operator
Amphibious sightseeing tours that cover central Boston by road before splashing into the Charles River, departing from the Prudential Center, Museum of Science and Aquarium.
Hotel
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Thing to do
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