Have A Blast After Dark: 12 Best Things To Do In Boston At Night - Updated 2024

things to do in boston at night
Lorrie
Lorrie 
Updated
| 6 min read
|
0 K+
65.8K+ readers and counting!

Boston is a historic city well known for its culture and museums, but there are also interesting things to do in the evening. Walk around the city for spectacular night views or enjoy all different types of performances offered such as comedy, music, and theater. If you want to stay up late, head to the restaurants that are open late for a foodie adventure. And a variety of lodging options are available here - from the best Airbnb vacation rentals to the top hotels with in-room kitchen. With your accommodation sorted, you can go out and explore the nighttime offerings of this amazing city. Check out these 12 best things to do in Boston at night.

1. Experience the Boston crime tour (from USD 32.0)

So, you’re done with the day tour and ready to turn in? Don’t just yet. Instead, join the Boston crime tour and take a sneak peek at Boston’s dark history. Get a chance to go to places not frequently visited by tourists, probably because of the dark past attached to it. Enjoy a 90-minute scenic walk through Boston while listening to your guide narrate the history and crime stories that took place at each stop. Get detailed stories about the Boston Strangler, the Swedish nanny murder case, and more! Time to unleash your inner Detective Spenser on this crime trail.

Visited this place?

Mobsters, mayhem and murder in Boston

Duration: 2.5 hours

689 reviews

2. Sail the Boston Harbor (from USD 35.0)

Enjoy another side of Boston at night and sail across Boston Harbor. For two hours, your guide and instructor will ensure your safety while you enjoy the breeze and the scenic view of the city from the water. Learn more about Boston as the guide shares important facts about the city’s history. Since the boat can fit up to four people, this is also a perfect night activity for a group of friends or family. Forget your fear of the boat flipping over as the host guarantees that this is perfectly stable. Just enjoy the night!

Visited this place?

2-Hour Sail on Boston Harbor

Duration: 2 hours

387 reviews

3. Have dinner at Barracuda Tavern and dessert at Max Brenner

Editor’s note: Both establishment are permanently closed.

The next stop is Barracuda Tavern near Boston Commons for dinner. The final stop is for dessert. Max Brenner in Back Bay has a chocolate bar and a restaurant that specializes in desserts such as sugar crepes and chocolate-flavored waffles.

Barracuda Tavern

Address: 15 Bosworth St Boston

Price: 5 USD and up

Opening Hours: Mon to Fri 11 am to 2 am, Sat and Sun 10:30 to 2 am

Duration: 30 to 60 min

Access: Green Line at Park St Stop

Contact: 617 482 0301

Website: Barracuda Tavern

Max Brenner

Address: 745 Boylston St Boston

Price:6-20 USD

Opening Hours: M to TH 10 am to 10 pm, Fri 10 am to 1 am, Sat 9am to 1 am, Sun 9 am to 10 pm

Duration: 1 hr

Access: Green Line Copely

Contact: (617) 274 1741

Website: Max Brenner

Visited this place?

4. Catch a concert at House of Blues

3lau and Carnage
Source: Photo by Flickr user Dylan O'Dowd used under CC BY-ND 2.0

If you are a music lover, then House of Blues is the place to be, it has a restaurant and bar inside and has concerts most nights of the week. They also have a VIP room. The House of Blues as been in Boston for 25 years. The first House of Blues opened in Cambridge, MA in 1992; it’s dedicated to educating and celebrating the history of Southern culture and African American artistic contributions to art and music.

House of Blues

Address: 15 Landsdowne St Boston

Price: 30 USD UP

Opening Hours: 3 pm to 2 am

Duration: 2 hrs plus

Access: Green Line at Kenmore

Contact: 1 888 693 2583

Website: House of Blues

Visited this place?

Boston Tour Guide

Naim Benmayor

Naim Benmayor

<p>As a Boston tour guide, I have the added experience of being a world traveler. For many years, I frequently visited Europe, Asia, and Latin America on business. During this time, I also organized tours of the USA, Europe and Asia for my business clients. I now bring this passion, excitement and expertise to the Boston area.</p><p>By exploring the globe, I was exposed to various cultures, and this unique perspective has taught me what appeals to people when visiting a new part of the country or a new part of the world. My fluency in English and Turkish, and my advanced skills in Spanish and intermediate skills in French, also help me to service a wider range of tourists and business people.</p><p>I moved to Boston, Massachusetts several years ago, and I now reside in Brookline. I have three children, so I develop my tours to accommodate families with kids, couples, and individuals who want to visit and learn about the rich history and culture of Boston. As a parent, I know that Boston is a great place for higher education, and I have knowledge of the colleges and universities in the area.</p><p>I customize tours to suit the needs and preferences of my customers. Whether you want a walking tour, a riding tour, or a little of both, I can create an itinerary that showcases the best of what Boston has to offer.</p><p>My one day tours are educational and entertaining, and include the history, culture, personalities, architecture and, even the shopping areas of this renowned city. At the end of the tour you will be happy and satisfied when you realize you&#39;ve seen so much in just a short time.</p><p>I am here to share my knowledge of Boston, Cambridge and all of New England with you, and help you to enjoy your visit so you can explore the must-see parts of this great city. I look forward to meeting you and guiding you around the city, so please send me a message if you have any questions.</p><p>Thank you for reading.</p>

5. Visit Improv Asylum

Improv Asylum, Boston MA
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user John Phelan used under CC BY 3.0

If you want laughs, then head to Improv Asylum, an improvisational theater in the north end. They have shows Tuesday to Friday and on the weekends. Performances consist of improv students, main stage actors, and sometimes a surprise guest star. It’s a blend of sketch comedy and improvised scenes. Do be sure to check the descriptions before you go because the material is not always G-rated.

Improv Asylum

Address: 216 Hanover Street, Boston

Price: 15 to 30 USD

Opening Hours: Mon 2 pm to 10 pm; Tues, Thurs, Wed, and Sun 12 pm to 10 pm, Fri and Sat 12 pm to 1 am

Duration: 1 to 2 hrs

Access: Validate Parking Parcel 7 garage, Green Line to Haymarket Station

Contact: 617 263 NUTS

Near by Food: Dolce Vita, Mare Oyster Bar

Website: Improv Asylum

Visited this place?

6. Spend an evening at Mystery Cafe

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Q: Which is the best room to lie about your whereabouts during the murder? A: The LIE-brary! Clue Live has new dates...

Posted by Mystery Cafe Virtual Theater on Monday, July 22, 2019

If you are looking for fun things to do in Boston at night, then head to Mystery Cafe for a Mystery Dinner. It features a variety of shows that are sure to be a hit with you. Packages include drinks and a three-course dinner with a performance. The performance runs at two restaurants and include four separate scenes and are around two hours. The audience gets to help figure out who committed the crime with the help of a clue packet with fake bribe money to give the actors for clues.

Mystery Cafe

Address: 161 Devonshire St Boston

Price: 55 USD

Opening Hours: 7:30 pm to 10 pm

Duration: 2 ½ hrs

Access: Orange Line to Haymarket

Contact: 617 426 1999

Near by Food: dinner included with performance

Website: Mystery Cafe

Visited this place?

7. Eat and play at Jillian's Lucky Strike Lanes and Lounge

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

We have AC. That's it, that's the caption. #luckystrike

Posted by Lucky Strike Entertainment on Saturday, July 2, 2022

Jillian’s Lucky Strike Lanes and Lounge is a place to have some fun with friends and you can eat there too. The place is clean and if there’s a queue, there are games like pool you can play while you wait. Like any bowling alley, the staff are friendly, the fun stakes are high and the food is reasonable, even offering fruit for dieters.

If you take your own shoes, it’s cheaper than hiring. The place starts heaving in the evening after a game at Fenway Park, one of the things Boston is famous for. If you didn’t make the game, there’s plenty of sports on TVs on both floors.

Jillian's Lucky Strike Lanes and Lounge

Address: 145 Ipswich St, Boston, MA 02215-3539

Website: Jillian’s Lucky Strike Lanes and Lounge

Visited this place?

8. Take a ghost tour and learn about Boston's dark history (from USD 25.0)

Those wondering what to do in Boston at night might be interested in going for a ghost tour of the city. The Evening Ghost Tour of Boston takes about 90 minutes. The tour will take you to places you maybe never went to before. Boston has a haunted history, what with the Boston Strangler and Boston Massacre.

You start the ghostly journey opposite the Bank Of America and walk the haunted streets, stopping as your guide shows and tells. They even boast some “paranormal” photographs that have been taken, so bring your camera if you’re looking for spooky things to see in Boston at night. The number of famous deaths and ghost stories will astound you, and your guides are knowledgeable, making for an entertaining evening.

Visited this place?

Evening Ghost Tour of Boston

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

31 reviews

9. Go on a pub crawl with Boston Crawling

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Posted by Boston Crawling on Saturday, June 12, 2021

One of the best things to do in Boston on a Saturday night is to go on a pub/bar crawl. You can embark on this favorite nighttime activity with Boston Crawling. With the aid of a knowledgeable local guide, spend over two hours exploring the best bars and pubs and learn about the history of the city and the story behind each bar. Along the way, you will visit historic landmarks and explore areas in the city that tourists would otherwise not know about. Choose from three different pub crawl options and enjoy tasty local beers.

Boston Crawling

Address: 342 Commercial St., #5, Boston, MA 02109

Website: Boston Crawling

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

Price: 39.99 USD onwards

Visited this place?

10. Savor the Irish pub atmosphere at The Black Rose

The Black Rose.
Source: Photo by Flickr user Glenn Beltz used under CC BY 2.0

Add a bit of Irish flair to your night out on the town in Boston by visiting The Black Rose. This lovely pub is a well-known establishment in the city and offers the traditional Irish pub experience to its guests. From authentic pub decor and ambiance through genuine Irish pub fare to Guinness and other beers on tap, The Black Rose will not disappoint you. Live Irish music is also offered here every night, adding to the authentic ambiance of the place.

The Black Rose

Address: 160 State St, Boston, MA 02109, United States

Website: The Black Rose

Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 4am - 11pm; Fri - Sat: 11am - 11pm; Sun: 12pm - 8pm

Visited this place?

11. Visit Boston Common & Public Gardens

Boston Public Gardens Panorama
Source: Photo by Flickr user Rick Harris used under CC BY-SA 2.0

The Boston Common, one of the oldest public spaces in the nation, has a skating rink in winter. It is one of the most popular night attractions in Boston. Created in 1634, it consists of 50 acres (20.2 hectares) of green space. It’s part of the Emerald Necklace of parks in Boston. It was once owned by William Blaxton, the first European settler in Boston. The Commons were also used as a British Camp during the Revolutionary War. The Boston Common and Public Gardens, which is next to the Commons, are both listed on the National Landmark Registry. The garden, located in downtown Boston, became the first public botanical garden in 1837 and has a lagoon, ponds, and swan boats (only run from April to September). You can enjoy watching a graceful pair of swans during spring and summer, and if you visit in May, you may just see the parade that welcomes the pair back to the garden.

The Public Gardens is home to 80 species of plants and flowers planted twice each year, and around 750 varieties of trees and shrubs. There are also street performers in the area to watch. Monuments are on the Arlington Street-side of the park, providing a bit of history. Beacon Hill borders the park. The bronze statue “Make Way for The Ducklings,” from a popular children’s book by Robert McCloskey, is located in the park. If you don’t know where to go in Boston at night, this is a good choice.

Boston Public Gardens

Address: 4 Charles St, Boston

Price: free

Opening Hours: 7 am to 9 pm

Duration: 1 to 2 hrs

Access: Red/Green Line to Park Street Station or Blue Line Bus

Contact: 617 723-8144

Near by Food: The Paramount, Earl of Sandwich

Website: Boston Public Gardens

Visited this place?

12. Enjoy baked goods from Bova Bakery

Bova's Bakery
Source: Photo by Flickr user Paul Sableman used under CC BY 2.0

During the day you can tour the historic Freedom Trail, but at night, there’s the foodie trail. Many restaurants in Boston are open late at night, making eating out a perfect activity for your vacation if you can’t sleep. If you’re fond of frequenting sweets and dessert spots, you can start at Bova Bakery, a family-owned business near Paul Revere’s House. They carry a variety of baked goods and sweets.

Bova Bakery

Address: 134 Salem St Boston

Price: under 20 USD

Opening Hours: 24 hrs every day

Duration 10 min

Access: Orange Line at Haymarket

Contact:617 523 5601

Website: Bova Bakery

Visited this place?

Have fun in Boston

Boston has something to offer visitors in the daytime and evening. Make your visit to Boston memorable and don’t be afraid to stay up late. It doesn’t matter where you come from or your age, just enjoy every minute of the tours, late-night eats, and other things to do at night.

Visited this place?
Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

History


Get Trip101 in your inbox

Unsubscribe in one click. See our Privacy Policy for more information on how we use your data

I'm a self-employed pet sitter and have been in business for almost 13 years. I'm a solo traveler since 2011 and have visited Charleston, Newport RI, Chicago, Denver, Boston, Mackinaw Island and...Read more

 Want to contribute as a Local Expert?
Explore Boston
Looking for accommodation?
x
Good things are meant to be shared!
Back to top
Visited any of these places? Click this button to activate our "Add a Tip" feature to share your experience.