Finding late night food in Boston can be harder than you think. But there will be times when you’re out having fun with your friends, or on a date that’s going really well and you don’t want the night to end.
Maybe you just left a show and are looking for a place to have a small snack and a drink before heading home. Whatever your reason, we compiled the best late night food options in beloved Bean-town (minus the club crowd).
Eastern Standard
This Kenmore Square institution is one of the city’s best known late night spots for food and drinks. On any given night after midnight you’ll find chefs and restaurant workers at the bar or high top tables slurping oysters and drinking cocktails made by some of the city’s best bartenders. Come here for consistently delicious food like perfect fried calamari that’s never rubbery, charcuterie that hits the spot and an awesome burger with cheddar cheese on a brioche bun.
Where: 528 Commonwealth Avenue Boston, MA
Lone Star Taco Bar
Allston has a reputation for being the neighborhood that college kids hang out. But this taco bar on the edge of Allston draws a different crowd. After dark it becomes an intimate taqueria with old-school westerns playing on a television in the corner and a tequila list that is one of the best around. Make sure to try the fish tacos with pickled cabbage, carnitas tacos with salsa verde and queso fresco, and the addictive grilled street corn with chili lime aioli. Wash it all down with a cocktail or a Mexican Happy Meal: a pint of Dos Equis beer served with a tequila shot and a side of sangrita.
Where: 479 Cambridge Street Allston, MA
The Abbey
Where: 1657 Beacon Street Brookline, MA
If you’re looking for a romantic place to continue that date head to The Abbey in Brookline. This cozy dining room is the perfect spot to share a plate of food or a bottle of wine. The full dinner menu is available until 1:30am every night meaning you can have smoked cod fritters, crispy pork belly, mussels, and more before heading home. Wine and cocktails are good here but the Abbey has a great selection of domestic and international draft and bottled beers for beer aficionados.
Franklin Cafe
This late-night option has two locations, one in Southie and one in the South End, serving food until 1:30am. Head to the Southie location for a more lounge-y feel; perfect if you’re out with a group looking for food and drinks after midnight. At this spot you can order comforting entrees and well-made cocktails. The health conscious can rest easy here too; there are vegetarian and gluten-free options on the menu as well.
Where: 152 Dorchester Ave South Boston, MA