Music & Nightlife
Your guide to the best nightclubs, live music and concerts in Boston
The best clubs in Boston
Royale
When nightlife mainstay Roxy went from shabby elegance to just plain shabby, new ownership took over to revamp the entire interior, renaming the space Royale. The massive room has a grand stage, an elegant marble foyer, cushy seating nooks, a fantastic sound system, a festive light show and more bustier-wearing bartenders than you can shake a glowstick at. There are VIP balconies if you feel like getting away from it all—but Boston clubs rarely reach the size of this place, so why not take the opportunity to get lost? The DJ spins house/dance on weekend nights, while hipper-than-thou promoters Bowery Boston (yes, the Hub's own branch of the much-loved Bowery group in NYC) bring in a diverse range of indie and mainstream rock, pop and hip hop throughout the week.
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Want to find out what the cool kids are up to? #EndedUpAtICON provides a pretty good window. This one is all splash and sass—for context, at the end of the night you might just find yourself riding a replica rocket ship. Fridays boast a rotating lineup of DJs, with the occasional EP release party mixed in; International Saturdays are full of sound and light, all set to a DJed lineup of Latin, house and hip hop. You can book a table ahead of time for the privilege of ordering $400 bottles of vodka, but stick with wine and you’ll be paying a surprisingly reasonable $10 a glass. Seeking a midweek party? Keep an eye on the club’s calendar, which occasionally includes an “Uptown Tuesday” dance soirée.
Venu
If you want to get a taste of Boston’s international scene, be prepared to pay for it. Venu gets points off for sky-high cover charges and expensive drinks but, if cash is no object, then a good time is pretty much guaranteed. Exhibit A: The bottle menu is a thing of one-percent beauty ($800 tequila, anyone?). Entourage Saturdays are the night to be here—Top 40 and hip hop on the main floor, Latin music in the International Room—and you should probably arrive early if you have any hope of getting in (dressing to impress can only help your cause).
Whisky Saigon
If you want to get a taste of Boston’s international scene, be prepared to pay for it. Venu gets points off for sky-high cover charges and expensive drinks but, if cash is no object, then a good time is pretty much guaranteed. Exhibit A: The bottle menu is a thing of one-percent beauty ($800 tequila, anyone?). Entourage Saturdays are the night to be here—Top 40 and hip hop on the main floor, Latin music in the International Room—and you should probably arrive early if you have any hope of getting in (dressing to impress can only help your cause).
