Readers Say

The best bars for singles in Greater Boston

Readers recommended 8 bars perfect for meeting new people.

Helena Yankovska on Unsplash

By Kristina DaPonte

Valentine’s Day isn’t just for couples — singles can have just as much fun. Whether you want to find someone to date, make a new friend, or just enjoy a drink and strike up some good conversation, there are many restaurants in the Boston area that can help get the job done.

We recently asked readers to tell us the best bars in the Boston area for meeting new people, either in a romantic context or a platonic one. Stop by any of these eight reader-recommended bars if you’re looking for a date, a friend, or anything in between.

Abe & Louie’s in Back Bay

Located in the heart of Back Bay, the bar at this steakhouse has an extensive wine list and a slew of other beverages on the menu. For Valentine’s Day, the restaurant is offering two limited-run cocktails: The Forbidden Fruit and the Devilish Margarita.

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793 Boylston St., Boston

Buff’s Pub in Newton

Looking for something a little more casual? This Newton staple, which readers say cooks up some of the best chicken wings in the Greater Boston area, also provides patrons with a large variety of ice cold beers and other spirits.

317 Washington St., Newton

Clarke’s at Faneuil Hall

The drinks at Clarke’s pair well with the restaurant’s menu which is chock-full of classic bar snacks, resulting in a great place to meet new people in a casual setting.

“Met my wife here. Fun environment. Not too formal, but nice enough for first date. Convenient downtown location,” said reader BK from the South End.

21 Merchants Row, Boston

Eire Pub in Dorchester

A fixture in Dorchester for half a century, this Irish pub has almost a dozen beers on tap ready to be served to patrons and a classic bar menu.

“Since the Pub was founded, phonies have been prohibited,” wrote Cornelius O. from Dorchester. “Nice women can be assured that men in the Pub have been vetted by their peers. Loutish drunken behavior is never tolerated, and the lighting is good enough to see the person with who you are talking. It is also possible to have a conversation without being pawed or harassed,” said Cornelius O. from Dorchester.

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795 Adams St., Dorchester

Hong Kong Boston in Wharf District 

Described as “all-around fun” by reader Stef from Jamaica Plain, Hong Kong Boston provides customers with a unique social experience. Choose between trying your hand at karaoke, playing the “HK Dating Game” to make a new friend (or more), or just sitting at the bar with the restaurant’s trademark Scorpion Bowl.

65 Chatham St., Boston

Each of the bars at the Liberty Hotel are unique, and all are great for meeting potential singles in the area. Each bar has their own array of cocktails, beers, and spirits. Try Clink for Valentine’s Day which is serving up a Passionate Affair specialty cocktail through Feb. 18.

215 Charles St., Boston

Presidential Pub in Quincy

A trip down the Red Line or Commuter Rail will bring you right to Presidential Pub, a classic dive bar in Quincy Center. Reader Tom from Quincy says that the pub has a “welcoming atmosphere, reasonably priced drinks, soft lighting, and interesting people” — perhaps a winning combination to meet new people.

29 Temple St., Quincy

SideBar in Downtown Boston

Conveniently located a short walk from all the MBTA lines in Downtown Boston, SideBar is a casual neighborhood spot with beer on tap as well as house wines. Slide up to the bar with a drink and wings or a burger, and open yourself up to meeting other patrons.

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14 Bromfield St., Boston