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Alibi Bar & Lounge
Categories: Nightlife Bars Lounges Restaurants American (New) Lounges, American (New) [Edit]
Liberty Hotel215 Charles St
Boston, MA 02114
(857) 241-1144
- Nearest Transit:
-
Charles/mgh Station - Outbound (Red Line)
Charles/mgh Station - Inbound (Red Line)
Martha Rd @ Amy Court (Green Line Shuttle)
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Valet
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Late Night
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- Yes
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
175 reviews for Alibi Bar & Lounge
Review Highlights
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"Love the brick walls, mug shots, and high ceilings." In 18 reviews -
"The outdoor patio is where it's at." In 12 reviews -
"Also check out the GORGEOUS atrium upstairs in Clink." In 22 reviews
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175 reviews in English
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Review from Regan C.
Cambridge, MA
3/13/2012
I've always had an awesome time at Alibi. I frequent Alibi about once a month and usually on Thursdays. It's a great place to grab some grub and some yummy cocktails. It definitely helps to get friendly with the bartenders, as the drinks usually get stronger and stronger as the night goes on.
The music is hit or miss, but more often than not I'm pretty pleased. I would definitely recommend snagging a table if you can though because it gets pretty crowded at times.
The best part, is that at the end of the night, there are a million cabs waiting outside and you don't have to wait for more than 30 seconds to be on your way home. And if you leave before 12:30, the T is literally across the street.
Alibi is definitely a time-honored Thursday favorite and I will continue to go back. -
Review from Jim S.
Boston, MA
4/10/2012
1st problem: Ugly girls. You would think an upscale bar like this would have hot chicks, well you're wrong. Overweight girls, no makeup on, butter faces, you name it. On the plus side, I've had a couple one night stands from this place. On the downside, they were both really ugly and I could barely even perform.
2nd problem: Bathroom policy. The freaking bathroom is outside the bar and then it's hard to get back into the bar afterwords. They gave me a bathroom card, but I lost it while making out with one of the ugly chicks described above. The doorman remembered me, but he wouldn't let me in without the bathroom card. Shouldn't he have been happy that I was helping to remove some of the ugly chicks from the bar? DOUCHE BAG. Even if you do get back into the bar, the bathroom is still a long walk, especially if you're on the outside patio. I had to squeeze through a bunch of fat chicks and sweaty dudes just to get back to the inside bar room, where I had to squeeze through more fat chicks and sweaty dudes just to get out to the lobby, where I had to squeeze through more fat chicks and sweaty dudes waiting in line before I finally made it to the bathroom. It's so freaking crowded I was worried I'd get STD's just by having to touch so many people.
3. The manager is this ULTRA DOUCHE BAG who has a short man/bald man complex. Dude is verbally abusive to guys in the bar for no reason at all. And his bouncer puppets follow suit.
All together I would stay away from this bar. Too crowded, too many ugly people, too many douche bag employees, and too much effort just to make it to and from the bathroom. -
Review from Kathleen C.
Chicago, IL
1/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
First of all, the Liberty Hotel is VERY cool....an old jail?? Who wouldn't want to check that out!?!?!
We couldn't decide which bar to visit, and finally settled on Alibi (the one on the ground floor). I liked the decor (mug shots) and the atmosphere was very cool. The bar is a bit more dimly lit, while the restaurant portion is a bit brighter. I think the entire spot should be darker (it was a jail after all...).
This spot is a bit pricey. I think that the hotel should have at least one of the bars having a more casual, less expensive atmosphere, but hey, it is Boston and it was fun.
My only complaint is that the bartenders seemed a bit standoffish...I was turned off by them as their attitude was more like they were WAY cooler than us, and therefore, wanted to ignore us. We were basically the only people at the bar, so I am not sure why we had to ask for help...
A good spot, but not my favorite bar in the city. -
Review from Sid M.
Boston, MA
4/22/2012
New York for the price of Boston! I love this place. Even with a packed bad the bartenders are snappy... Friendly. Polite even. The crowd was amazing -- professional and grad school crowd the night I went there. People are relatively dressed up, even by Saturday night standards but this place still manages to pull off a laid back vibe. I'd highly recommend this bar.
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Review from Harvard S.
Mid-Cambridge, MA
5/6/2012
Great drinks, great atmosphere. But beware - they lost my card and when they couldn't find it, they said they don't have it and to cancel the card. No apologies. Fine. When I went out to explain to my friends, the bouncer standing outside said that they didn't lose it and that they returned it and I myself lost my card and I was simply lying about it. The manager was patient but the bouncer was verbally abusive.
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Review from Jessica B.
Beverly, MA
4/5/2012
I had been meaning to check this place out for about a year. Finally, I made it. It was 9:38 and had not had dinner so I called to ask when the kitchen closed. I was told 11 pm. It would take me 30 minuetes to get there. Next, I asked if there was parking. I didn't wan't to waste time looking for parking. The concierge on the phone told me there was free valet. He said that I should come on down , have a late dinner and indulge in a glass of wine. I was pleased w
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Review from Anne W.
Updated - 10/13/2011
I still love going to this place.. it's a classy establishment that was pretty crowded even on a Wednesday night. They have a Sinatra band there playing on alternate Wednesday.. same one that plays at Lucky's Lounge. Loved it.
Drinks are expensive.. but their cucumber cocktail is really delicious! Ambiance is nice.
This is a place where you'll find high rollers.. bankers.. lawyers..
Bathroom is outside the jail.. I guess that's expected. The line is looooong on the weekend... but I still love the place.
The doormen opened the door for me and my friend.. and we were wearing our gym clothes to meet our friends. I appreciate not being snubbed for not dressing up. Still love it!Listed in: Where to Go in Boston..., When I Feel Like Going Out In…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/16/2009
Outstanding posh spot to pay city prices for drinks, watch and stand with other beautiful people,… Read more »
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Review from Colleen M.
Rosamond, CA
10/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
I felt like I was back in LA. Drinks were like $12 a piece and you had to look fancy to get in.
The ambiance was nice and it wasn't too hard to get a drink.
A good place but I expect a little more when I'm paying so much for drinks. -
Review from Christina Z.
Winthrop, MA
8/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
Thursday night on the patio - pretty full, but tables turned over quickly enough that we had a nice and spacious lounge spot. The drinks are the real deal - the bartender does not skimp on the alcohol.
But I Don't Like Gin - my favorite; gin + watermelon puree
Rehab - citrusy and fresh and surprisingly strong
Prickly Pear Margarita - sweet pink margarita
John Daly - pretty good, nothing special
Amaretto Sour - strong! and not overly cherry
Miller High Life - $4 and so so needed after those $12 drinks
We also split an artichoke and prosciutto pizza, which was light and the perfect accompaniment to copious amounts of alcohol. -
Review from Steve H.
Plymouth, MA
1/26/2012 3 Check-ins Here
Great place! Try and beat the rush though.... Or it's a long wait for drinks!
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Review from Daniel I.
Waltham, MA
2/26/2012
Went there for a friends birthday and to check out a band (session 450). Its a nice place with a slightly older crowd. The upstairs is a lounge type of setting where the band played, with a more club type place (alibi) downstairs. Don't be fooled by having to get "bottle service" at Alibi just dress properly and you can get in. Drinks are I think pretty much the same price as most nicer places, and the girls that were there were very attractive, most of them had a nice little buzz going on so starting a conversation was pretty easy! I'd go again for sure but will probably wait til the summer so its a little nicer out! Just watch out because if your a guy like me thats drug free your going to meet a lot of females who aren't... I guess nothing really has changed in the club world...
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Review from Sarah C.
Boston, MA
10/26/2011
I went here with some friends from NYC and was very upset. Why? The bouncer would not let us in here since we were not on the guest list nor purchased bottle service. He informed us that EVERYONE in the bar was one or the other. Now, I was a little bit surprised since I have come here several times and have never been turned down.
While my friends and I waited outside I asked a few guys how they got in and if they were on the wait list?
Me: "How do you get on the guest list?"
White Guy:" Honey, there is no guest list. You just sweet talk your way in and you're alot prettier than me!"
Me: "What about bottle service? Did you purchase a table?"
White Guy: "No. You don't need that?! You just walk in like you own the place"
This exchange made me very flushed since I felt that my friends (3 asian people) were not being let in due to our skin color. I cited this to the bouncer who re-iterated that he was "not racist, everyone there was on a guest list and purchased bottle service"
The manager then came over and apologized, let us in and told us that the bar was very diverse or as diverse as it could be in Beacon Hill. We went in and found that we were one of 6 other Asian people. I found this odd when a group after us was not admitted to this bar and oddly they were Asian. The group afterwards and I drank my cocktail by the entrance and counted the hordes of white people that were granted entry. I don't think that this is a coincidence. -
Review from Millie K.
Newport Beach, CA
10/6/2011
This is a great entertaining place. Loved the scenery and artwork.
i only got to preview the wine and apps. And both were above average. I would love to come back and spend more time on the menu and other parts of Liberty Hotel. It's a great place to throw a party. -
Review from Achille C.
San Francisco, CA
9/16/2011
Pros: the place itself is really gorgeous, with a great posh atmosphere both indoor and in the outdoor patio of this former prison. very comfy sofas, where you can stay sipping your drink, and watching the people going in and out. The cocktails we had were well done, and we liked them, probably the best we had in Boston.
Cons: the (beautiful) waitress was of the the "so-another-drink?No?Voilà-here's-the-bill" kind. In a place like that, you can't tailgate me!
A place where I'd come back for sure, in any case, despite of the scaring security. PS we weren't charged of an automatic 20% tip. -
Review from Nessa M.
Brookline, MA
1/13/2012
The drinks here aren't in any means the best that you can find in Boston but the setting/decor itself makes this place worth a visit. It looks like you are walking into a jail cell. I went on a Thursday night and it was loud, crowded, and full of young workers. It's one of those "experiences" that you or visitors should have when visiting Boston just because it's a unique idea. And as I said before, the drinks aren't amazing but they are good.
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Review from Kelly R.
12/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
My fiancee and I headed into the Alibi lounge following a performance at Symphony Hall. This truly is a unique space given what it was originally; the drunk tank of an old jail. With that being said, they have utilized the space in terms of decor; mugshots of David Bowie, Frank Sinatra, Lindsay Lohan, and other celebrities line the wall. The seating is well arranged for singles or groups and is quite cozy. The cocktails are well thought out and the bar menu has some savory & delicious goodies to try. Tip: Don't get sticker shock; remember, you're in Boston and the prices are going to reflect that. Order a cocktail and enjoy!
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Review from Tara G.
Cambridge, MA
8/12/2011
I want to work in a bar where the waitstaff get an automatic 20% tip for coming around once every 45 minutes.
I can't believe they required us to pay a 20% tip even though we waited so long for the waitress to come around that we finally just went up to the bar and ordered there. Our waitress still put 20% tip on the bar-ordered bill, which was paid for separately, because it was going to folks at her table and then kind of stumbled through "I'll bring these over to you". Yeah... thanks. 18% is a standard large-group tip, and you have to still earn that.
It's a very nice bar, and the drinks are fantastic. The crowd is not my usual scene but fine for once in a while. How do they not have Frangelico, though? -
Review from Nicole R.
Boston, MA
8/22/2011
Alibi if unaware, is the outdoor patio situated at the Liberty Hotel. Alibi serves a great function as a daytime patio for cocktails and lounging as well as an evening bar scene when you would like the option of indoors and out
During the day scene, I would recommend Alibi as a good place to sit out with a group and enjoy the sun and a few (slightly expensive) but tasty cocktails. During really nice days, it does get a bit crowded, but it is well worth it if you can get one of the couches. Although these couches are no longer in the best of condition since the place has opened, they still make for a comfy seating arrangement. In ordering for cocktails, I would recommend wines or one of the specialty cocktails, but have found that martinis don't always come out well here. For food, I would stray away from the Lobster Pizza and instead go with the Bianco w/ Burrata. The cheese on the lobster pizza is a strange blend and never actually melts all the way down. The crust is also typically soggy and really makes a mess when trying to eat and kill a cocktail at once.
In terms of the night scene, this is a great spot if the patio is open. People will typically float between the patio and indoors and will be quite social between the couches and standing room. If there is one suggestion I could make however, I would recommend a bigger outdoor bar and at least two bartenders on at all prime times. I have more than once been quite frustrated by either lack of service or a half drunken bartender with no sense to work the whole bar.
Sundays here are also pretty good, as the scene is far less packed indoors and out, and the music and cocktail service keep things entertaining. -
Review from Alissa S.
Boston, MA
3/17/2012
I had a birthday here- we had a great time getting dressed up, taking goofy pics with the celebrity mug shots on the walls, trying some delicious drinks, etc. We also had a few drinks in the Liberty bar upstairs which was also great- it definitely stood out that it's more of a late 20s/early 30s crowd which we really liked (as mentioned in some other reviews, the number of Boston colleges sometimes makes it seem that most of the bars are univerally filled with 21 year olds). It was a nice change and I'd definitely like to go back soon.
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Review from Monique D.
Boston, MA
4/3/2011
I don't understand how anybody could hate this place. I absolutely LOVED it, and I've been to pretty much every bar/club/lounge in this city. This is the best of the best. My girlfriends and I went here after work on a Friday night, and we had a fantastic time.
The decor is really fun. I loved the jail bars accenting the walls, and the framed pictures of celebrity mugshots were a nice touch. I didn't find it pretentious or stuffy. It was a cool bar, and the staff was really attentive and friendly. Our waitress was wonderful. She was always smiling, and she made the 3 of us feel comfortable and was always close by, ready to grab us more drinks.
The cocktails are $12 a pop, so if you're looking for a cheap night out, this isn't the place for you. Faneuil Hall bars might be more your speed. As far as I'm concerned, you get what you pay for. I could hang out in a shit hole bar in the city and pay $5 a drink, or I could go to this place, which has everything going for it, and pay $12. I'd rather pay the extra money. I highly recommend the Suffragette City cocktail. It's the house Cosmo. Delicious, fruity, but not too sweet and didn't taste like rubbing alcohol either.
I can't wait to go back when it gets warmer to take advantage of the outdoor patio. I wish there were more places in the city like this.
The hotel itself is beyond gorgeous. I was pretty blown away by how beautiful it was. Those circular windows were simply amazing. -
Review from christine c.
San Francisco, CA
4/12/2011
Extremely overpriced, but fun for a drink or two. The walls are lined with celebrity mug shots and the space is wonderful, the Liberty Hotel has a lot to offer and Alibi is a neat little hang out spot in an old jail. It's really cool to see how they turned the old cells and cell doors into a posh lounge.
The people that go here, though, are kind of snooty and annoying. If not for the creative ideas for the space, I'd probably give it 2-stars. -
Review from Hannah F.
Brookline, MA
1/31/2011
I'm torn. I really, really want to like Alibi. I love the setting with all the brick, bars and mugshots. It's one of the few places where the bouncers were actually friendly at the door. But I think that's as much as I can say on the plus side.
Maybe I just went on an off night. Well, maybe not an off night, but the wrong night. Maybe I should wait for summer to roll around so the infamous patio area is open and there's a little more wiggle room. Maybe I shouldn't go at 10pm on a Saturday night. Well, I did, in fact, go around 10pm on a Saturday night with Barbara S. and every few minutes we'd look at each other, as if to ask "What the hell?" And for some inexplicable reason, the coat check was closed? We were told there was a coat check...but it was closed. In the middle of winter. At peak bar hours. God only knows I love carrying around a bulky coat with me while I'm trying to balance a drink and dodge creepers at the same time...
Drinks aren't necessarily overpriced but you'll be lucky to get what you ordered in the chaos of the bar area. Out of 6 drinks ordered, 3 were wrong but we couldn't correct it because the bartenders were completely overwhelmed with people.
Oh, and the people... Maybe it was douchebag night. Did I miss the memo? Creepers everywhere. One guy poked me through a set of iron bars and asked if we could make out between the bars. Um, no thanks. Please go away. And when is it EVER acceptable to insult someone as they walk by? Again, MUST have missed the memo that it was douchebag night at Alibi. Serves us right for wanting to go out somewhere other than a dive bar on a Saturday night!
All in all, I'm not sure I'd write it off entirely. I like the setting too much and the people who worked there were surprisingly nice. So, here's my plan: 1) get a larger group of people together, 2) try to reserve a couch area or nook to claim as our own for the evening, 3) show up earlier than peak party hour and 4) go on a night other than Friday or Saturday.
Once that happens, I may be able to update my review. In the meantime, can someone please let me know if that douchebag memo goes out again? I'll need to prepare myself... -
Review from LARISA M.
11/20/2011
Super great place to hang out and have a drink! I had not been to the Liberty Hotel before (where Alibi Bar is located) and when I walked in, I immediately thought - wish I stayed at this hotel! Cool vibe and decor. We went in to the bar where the theme was photos of mug shots (Charlie Sheen, Nick Nolte, etc. - hilarious!). Enjoyed the crowd and the selection of drinks. Definitely returning on my next trip to Boston!
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Review from Lisa S.
11/11/2010
My parents came to visit Boston for a few days, and I decided to take them to drinks at the Liberty Hotel since I work right next door. I arranged to meet them after work- at 5pm on a Wednesday.
Alibi doesn't open until 5pm so it was pretty quiet when we walked in, only two other tables were occupied. The decor was interesting (jail bars/doors, brick walls, celebrity mugshots on the wall and on the coasters). Some of the backless chairs looked a bit uncomfortable- the furniture definitely had a "lounge" feel to it. It got progressively busier, and by the time we left around 6/615, it was somewhat crowded and noisy.
We ordered a bottle of bubbly, 2 cocktails- Rehab and a Cosmo- and the truffle polenta french fries. The Rehab was surprisingly good- it had a mix of Stoli Orange, St. Germain and bubbly. The yummy truffle fries came with about 10 fries, but they were quite large- almost breadstick-like. We also saw a few delicious looking pizzas pass by us. The cocktails run about $12-13, the french fries were $9, and the pizzas ran about $15-17.
The waitresses were all fairly pretty and dressed in black. They also all had a bit of attitude- a few times we were trying to get her attention as she walked by, and it seemed like she was purposefully not looking at us.
It seemed like it had the ability to get pretty douchey as the night went on, and the service wasn't too great. But the cocktails and food are tasty, and the space is different and interesting. Alibi is someplace I'd go at least once (just to check it out) for after work drinks and food, if you don't care too much about price.Listed in: Douche Magnets
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Review from Catie C.
11/16/2010 1 Check-in Here
Definitely not a place to lounge since the seats are not that comfie. Came in for a quick drink before dinner. I wouldn't stay for more than one since the seat i was in had no back rest and no seat cushion.
Typical hotel prices of dishing out 13 bucks for a drink. I wish I was Paris Hilton so I can go to all these Boston swanky joints! -
Review from April C.
10/14/2010 1 Check-in Here
This place's whopping two stars are coming from the fact that is used to be a Suffolk County jail house and how cool it really is inside.
The atmosphere - I'll give it to Alibi/Clink/Liberty Bar. It is a nice place. It is a well decorated, comfortable, very cool spot. Upscale, sophisticated and classy. I really enjoyed being inside the building, lots to catch the eye and occupy the imagination. Dark colors, contrasting wall hangings, dim, warm lighting casts a faint glow around you. You can almost hear the prisoners of an era gone by walking down the hall, their chains "clinking" with them. Now, if it weren't for all the damn people inside...
The bartenders - jerks who only pay attention to the fat business type flopping his Rolex-claden wrist / the squealing girl whose boobs are about to pop straight outta that top onto the counter in front of you.
The drinks - over priced and under mixed. They throw a fistful of ice into a small glass, splash a little liquor in there and top if off with a shot of juice. Horrible, horrible mixed drinks. Do not do it. And the beers, normal beer, but way over priced. Why the hell am I standing here paying 6 + for a beer to stand around with a bunch of lame ass people who all think they are the star of the evening? Puh-leez.
The patrons - douche bag bartenders, the douche bag patrons aren't far behind. These people are all trying so hard to be hollywood and big business that it almost feels like someone held a costume party and the invitation said: "Dress like THAT guy". Ew. And yes, one night, I was a part of that douce bag crowd. That's because I wanted to see what this place was all about and i didn't read the Yelp reviews first. Shame on me.
Anyways, check it out for the thrill of being inside an old jail house. Just be sure to throw on your Jolex, roll up the sleeve on that blazer and slap your Jackson-clutching hand onto that damn bar. Don't miss the trashy-trying-to-be-classy girls in too-tight mini dresses sipping on over priced ice-water on the other side of the bar. Don't worry, they're DTF and probably can't see how ugly you really are through all that mascara anyways. -
Review from Chris M.
Salem, MA
9/13/2010 1 Check-in Here
-1 star for the thick chick at the bar that spilled her sugar-laden drink on my left knocker and offered no apology.
Alibi was pretty cool. We started the evening off in the Liberty Lounge and had I not been slightly sauced when I entered Alibi the sheer volume of people crammed into a pretty small space might have given me a seizure. We did not get to enjoy the patio as "hurricane" Earl was supposed to be hitting us that evening...
Given the crowds, the bartenders did an excellent job of making sure anyone waiting for a drink got them in a timely fashion. Drinks are poured quickly and with plenty of booze in them.
Perhaps it was because the weather was terrible when I went but I saw fewer women in here than men. There was lot of guys in here. The crowd was generally attractive and a mix of 20 & 30 somethings.
I would come to Alibi again. I am a fan of places that are dark enough to hide the stains from bitchy drink spillers. The mug shots make for a fun backdrop.
I wound up wearing pants because it was windy and raining but I would have felt comfortable in a dress here. -
Review from Jeffrey H.
Washington, DC
5/22/2008
I totes partied with Lindsay Lohan here. Well not so much Lindsay Lohan as it was a picture of her hangin' on the wall.
One of my new favorite spots for drinks - Alibi Bar & Lounge is located on the ground level of the brand spankin' new Liberty Hotel, which is absolutely gorge btw.
I joined Yelpers Daniel and Deepa for some cocktails in this prison themed bar - stone walls, jail bars, and mugshots of some of the world's greatest criminals on the wall - and by greatest criminals, I mean arrested teenage icons who are plastered all over OK! Magazine.
The drinks were delicious - I enjoyed a chocolate martini that I absolutely loved. Not only did it taste great, but it was strong too, and that my friends is how to serve a good drink.
The service was friendly, although there was a slight mix-up at the bar with Deepa's drink - the waitress admitted to the mistake and corrected it - very professional. When we left, there was zero effort in finding a cab as the hotel doormen will gladly do it for you.
The crowd here is mixed, from young professionals to middle aged travelers and businessmen. You may spot a cougar or 7 so if you're a straight man, be prepared to hide that wedding ring or draft up your financials if you're looking for romance.
There is a variety of seating, from the bar to couches, chairs to tables. Unfortunately, I was the awk 6'2" gentleman who got stuck with a rickety, low to the ground cube stool and spent most of the time trying to balance my thunder-thighs and avoid crashing into the floor.
Will I be back? Oh hellz yes. But I'm gettin' the couch - even if that means I have to hit on a cougar and show her my 401K!Listed in: Can I have my martini now?
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Review from Alex J.
Jamaica Plain, MA
3/8/2008 ROTD 8/13/2008
I feel like I needed to write a response to all the people complaining about the line:
Should you have made it inside, you would see how truly small the place actually is. On top of that, people love going here, Bostonians and out of towners alike.
Small venue + big interest = long line.
If you aren't in by 10, leave. Go somewhere else. The place isn't going to suddenly increase in size over the course of an hour. Do you see anyone leaving? No. Then there is no more room. Once a venue reaches capacity, it is required by law to stop admitting people in. This is for EVERYONE'S safety. If people are not coming out and the line is not moving, the bar has probably hit capacity and you are not getting in.
See those people getting in ahead of you? They made reservations. That guy who flashed a badge? He is the manager's best friend, obviously he will not be waiting in line. Douche bag bouncer? Sorry, he is just doing his job. Do you want $12.00 an hour to listen to people whine about not getting into an already packed bar? If he lets you in, he will more than likely be fired for going over capacity. If the Fire Marshall stops by and decides the place is too crowded, he has the power to shut the place down. The bouncer looks like GQ model? Hmm.. maybe you should call the owner and suggest casual fridays? Those damn bouncers, always dressing up for work (at a swanky bar, nonetheless) !!
Try going back earlier, for dessert drinks or to check the place out before you head elsewhere. This time, make reservations. Once inside, not only will you notice the cute decor, attractive bartenders, and fabulous drinks, but you will also see how small the place is. If you want them to go over capacity so you can get in (after you showed up too late), then be prepared to be sitting on top of people. And have fun getting crushed in a stampede when the fire alarms go off and there are too many people charging the exits.
Honestly ---- great place. Make reservations or show up early. Don't knock a place because they didn't break fire codes trying to squeeze your ass in.
If you are still experiencing problems, try summertime, when the patio opens and almost doubles their capacity. -
Review from Deepa C.
Somerville, MA
5/22/2008 ROTD 3/24/2009
After an immensely satisfying dinner at Petit Robert on Columbus, Daniel S. and I hopped into a cab and waltzed into Alibi (after a quick glance at the hotel - VERY nice, but parts are too art deco for me).
The place was all but empty (at 9ish on a warm Tuesday), so we grabbed some seats and waited for someone to give us more booze (we wanted to keep that dinner wine buzz going - well at least I did) Nothing. Hmm... five minutes later... nothing. Five more minutes... boo. Finally, I got up and went to the bar and found the waitresses all huddled and chatty. I gave them my order, pointed our table out and the drinks arrived shortly after.
Drinks - good. My chocolate martini was well done. Not too heavy on the vodka but it still packed a punch. I think I liked my French 75. All I remember is Daniel's drinking half of it.
Company - excellent (and even better with Jeffrey H. showed up!). i liked that there were only a few of us there. It lived up to its lounge feel nicely.
Service - good (after ordering a French 75, i was handed something that looked like blood and we were like - ummm...no. but it was fixed quickly)
Decor - interesting. A little kitch, but it worked. We sat under James Morrison and Michael Jagger's mug shots. I love how they incorporated the actual alibis into the drink menu (ie - Morrison's Mojo Rising). I liked the brick work and the bars added to the subterranean feel (even though there was a patio outside).
I can def see my self back here on a weekday (don't know if I can handle the weekend crowd...). Beware though- after 3 chocolate martini's, a French 75 and two of whatever Daniel was drinking, I drunkenly made my mark on a receipt for a $90 tab... Wait, that actually makes sense. Never mind. Price is Beacon Hill normal.Listed in: Dining Diva
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Review from Ben G.
5/15/2008
fuck this place. I will never go back and will continue to shit talk about this place until i die.
For my birthday, my friends and I reserved enough tables for 30 people. When we arrived at alibi that night the dumb ass at the door told me we were over capacity and that the fire marshall was there. He brushed us off and told us to go upstairs.
why were they over capacity if we had a reservation? Does having a reservation mean nothing to them, apparently so. The jokers managing this spot aren't going to make it very far if they can't keep they're word.Listed in: MY SHIT LIST
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Review from Sara S.
Boston, MA
7/13/2008 1 Check-in Here
I'm a pretty big fan of Alibi for the following reasons:
1.) Great excuse to get all dolled up. And I LOVE to get dolled up.
2.) Generally, good crowd. Slightly older than myself and my friends, but this is a "generous" crowd. I've benefited from the generosity of slightly older men buying myself and friends drinks... all night. Thanks men.
3.) Outdoor patio is awesome!
4.) Bartenders are really, really nice and friendly.
5.) If you like to hang out with celebs, this is the place. I've seen two the past three times I've been to Alibi.
6.) Food is reeeally good, especially the french fries!
7.) It's a two second walk from my house.
The only thing that bothers me is the whole bathroom thing... how you have to put your drink down and take a token to go use the bathroom. Also, if you are trying to avoid anyone or if the crowd sucks, there's really nowhere to get away!Listed in: Places D-Bags Like, Stalk Me?, Dressed to the Nines, Where I Find Beija, My Birthday
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Review from Jeff D.
12/13/2010 1 Check-in Here
Very good drinks here, though expensive and a great place to both see and be seen. We took a friend here for his last night in town before a move to Brooklyn and had a great time checking out the crowd, helping a bachelorette party fend off some unwanted knucklehead advances (my friends and I try to keep the knucklehead factor low amongst us, not always successfully but usually.)
Didn't eat but the dishes we saw being delivered around us looked tasty. Would love to head back when the outdoor area is open.
I agree with some other reviewers that when this place gets crowded it can be very difficult to move around. Given that it's a former jail and pretty solidly built I'm not sure they could do anything to alleviate that but it might be worth considering when it's time for an upgrade. -
Review from Amanda F.
10/2/2010
I don't know who "voted" for this place being good for groups, but, they're big fat liars. We came here as a group of 10. We made a reservation through Opentable (which I'm realizing pretty quickly is a fantastic tool). We got a phone call earlier in the day to confirm that there would, indeed, be 10 people in our party. However, the only space to accommodate such a large number were these two rather squat tables with four little weird stools facing a long, camel colored leather bench. I wish I'd had my camera because these table could only hold four people each, making two people in our party without table space between the tables that we were not allowed to move together.
Barring all of that, the drinks are quite good, particularly the John Daly. And, though I didn't try the food, no one who did complained of it. By food, I'm not talking full dinner type meals, but tapas types with shareable bar pizzas. Though with the sheer price of one skewer of beef at $5 a pop (we're talking three little pieces of beef or other meat on *one* stick). All in all, this place is a bit pricey for my taste, the part of my bill covering myself and my significant totaling nearly $60 for two beers, one John Daly, and two shots. But, maybe I'm just a cheap a$$. -
Review from Malena L.
Cambridge, MA
9/16/2007
I'm guessing most of you, Bostonites, have already heard about the recent renovation of the Charles Street jail and the Liberty Hotel. What you haven't heard is that it has an amazing lounge on the first floor. Cleverly named Alibi, the space was part of the old cell block with some of the original walls, cell bars and flooring still there. The decoration is nice and simple: you don't need much when you have amazing brick walls, with mugshots of famous people hanging everywhere (my favorite is Devine Brown...google it up!). I asked for a Gin&Tonic and got Gin with a splash of Tonic...can't beat that! It's newly opened, so they seem to be fine tuning their drink menu. Go! Check it out!
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SNAP SON! Those Truffle Oil and Parmesan Cheese Fries!!!Listed in: Best French Fries
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Review from Tom E.
6/17/2008
Apart from the usual clientele, I find it hard to fault Alibi. It could be gimmicky, it could be up-it's-own-arse, it could be ridiculously over-hyped and overpriced but it really isn't. Instead it's the poster-boy for upmarket bars - great waitstaff, always a buzz going on and that feeling of being somewhere cool and unique.
I think it's officially time to call the Liberty Hotel a massive success. You're lying if you said you weren't impressed when you first walked in and looked up at the old prison roof from inside. You're sterile if you didn't get a kick out of the celebrity mugshots adorning Alibi's walls and menus. And you're blind if it never occurred to you that the walls, bars and marks on the floor were all real and from the prison days - showing you just how small a room a confined man gets to share.
I've been trying to get my Alibi fix on Sundays, away from the Thurs to Sat "scene and be seen" crowd - but increasingly the lines are forming every night. ESPN's Bill Simmons just called this THE bar to go to in Boston and noted that people line-up outside now just to get into the bar upstairs from Alibi, in the vague hope that they can somehow fall through the floor to be in the place to be in. -
Review from Matt C.
Cambridge, MA
11/19/2008
Hefty drinks, dark corners, prison chic appointments, and Frank Sinatra and Lindsay Lohan mugshots to stare you down. I need nothing else in a bar.
The great thing about Alibi is that even if you wander in late you can always find a corner of a couch or a protruding rock wall with iron bars to keep you and your date well shielded. Occasional investment banker yah dooding here, but at a manageable level, mostly identifiable by orders of martinis with twists of lemon ("you know, with the paring knife so that it curls around, like I saw Giada DeLaurentis do that one time on that show I watched on my 62" plasma. Thanks, bro").
Table side bar service is an option if you are a high rolling diplomat, or simply out to impress and rack up Visa rewards. Food is standard bar fare, and I was once told it gets carted over from Harvard Gardens. Great outdoor spot in the summer and even better place to warm up in the winter.
So put your makeup on, fix your hair up pretty, and meet me tonight in Atlantic City via the Liberty Hotel. Actually, we'll see about that Atlantic City part as the night goes on. -
Review from Shelly A.
Los Angeles, CA
6/11/2009
My favorite bar in Boston so far.
THE BAR ITSELF:
***The inside is sexy. The lights are dim, and the theme is cool (even the music sometimes sticks with the theme; I heard "Criminal" by Fiona Apple last time I was there).
***The outside is awesome as well. The couches are very romantic especially on a breezy summer night.
THE STAFF:
***The cocktail waitresses are very attentive and sweet (and GORGEOUS; my date has trouble keeping his eyes off of them, the bastard). They treat everyone the same, whether you're a celebrity or a college kid paying with crumpled-up ones and quarters (*ahem*).
***The bartenders are also very good. One in particular -- a young guy, he told me his name once but I forget -- is always friendly and recognized me by my second visit. Even when I can't get my date to go out with me and I'm stuck going out by myself, I feel very comfortable just sitting down at the bar, ordering a beer, and chatting him up.
THE DRINKS:
**I've noticed people complaining about the strength of the drinks; I personally love a drink that'll kick my ass, and I've never had a complaint about the drinks here. The specialty cocktails are creative (I love the #4, their version of a Dark & Stormy with pink peppercorn syrup; this does, however, run me $12 a pop). I usually get a big frosty Harpoon IPA for $5. Bud Light (bottle) is $4. You can do Alibi on a budget, or you can splurge (they also have some FAAANCY-PANTS champagne and whatnot if you REALLY wanna go all-out).
THE CROWD:
***Upscale, late-twenties through mid-thirties, I'd say. Swanky to the max. But, even as a broke-ass twenty-one-year-old looking to get her drink on, I've never felt out of place or unwelcome... Of course, I always make sure I'm wearing reasonable shoes, just in case.
***You WILL see people making out in here. Yeah, it's weird, but like I said, it's SEXY. I hate that kind of thing, but I can't really even blame them. If you're sitting inside with a date, on a corner couch without a lot of people around, sipping on your cocktails for a little while, you're gonna get horny. End of story.
BONUS!!!
***Clink is right upstairs, and that's a great place as well. You can grab a drink at Alibi, then one at Clink when you get bored or if your eyes have trouble adjusting to the lighting.
Basically, this place will make you feel like a million bucks. Put on a nice pair of shoes, grab a gorgeous date, settle into a corner, slurp on some drinkables, and please, remember to use a rubber.Listed in: Beacon Hill: The Neighborhood…
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Review from Colin N.
New York, NY
2/18/2008
Great space. I loved the prison sexiness of it. Im not sure if they added the jail bars and jail feel to it. It is in an old prison.
When we first got to Alibi, we hunted a group of cougars down. They had prime real estate in the form of a comfy couch. As they left, we took over. The women in Alibi were, in general quite cute and dressed to the nines. This place was hopping for a Sunday on a holiday weekend.
We started talking to a wannabe actress who was moving to Hollywood in 4 days. In typical hollywood style, she bailed on us for a dildo in a John Deere hat with a bunch of champagne at his table. Just to fuck with them, I bought a bottle of Veuve too and drank it next to them. $95 - whoops! I'll regret that in the... oh wait - it is the morning. Nah, I don't regret it. The guy got pissed and tried to hit the top of our bottle with the bottom of an empty one of his - frat boy style. The bouncer said tsk tsk and almost threw him out. Nice one.
The woman behind the bar was a fantastic bartender. However, she wouldn't give me a kiss goodbye. Shocking! She did give John R. and me free shots though.
None of the stupid clientele mattered. We had a blast at Alibi harassing the other patrons, drinking Beija cocktails and enjoying the "sexy space". I totally understand why there is ALWAYS a line out the door on friday and saturday. -
Review from Cara P.
Cambridge, MA
10/30/2007
Scene:Boutique like semi industrial feeling Hotel bar. A flurry of late 20 early 30 somethings holding their cocktails and glasses of wine.........no one is being too loud, no one is dancing too much-or at all............very chill.....Gorgeous chandeliers, dim lighting and pretty people wait staff...........Celebrity mug shots adorn the walls and there are even bricks and jail bars from the cells of the Old Charles Street Jail....
I feel something......an omen........someone coming closer. Oh no. It was the little geeky guy who was starring at me across the bar....one of times he looked at me and SLOWLY Licked his upper teeth/lip...(I swear) EEEK!
Screech look a like with MGH badge still on: "Hey there sexy....I love your sweater (starring at chest) Question:Do you know why Hugh Grant was arrested?"
Me: (trying to figure out if he was a dr or a nurse-where did this confidence sprout from?) "Was it for using bad pick up lines on awesome women?"
Screech look a like with MGH badge still on: "Well you know.......I......."
Me:"I would have been more intrigued if you asked me if I knew why Sinatra was arrested." (as I pointed to his mug shot on the wall)
Screech look a like with MGH badge still on: "well...."
Me: (cuts off) "Even though I am enjoying the music and the lights are dim........ I can still see and hear enough of your bull to know you completely suck at life."
Screech look a like with MGH badge still on: "Well, I just wanted to know if........"
Me: "So go park yourself back up against the brick wall over by the jail bars, while I go sit over on this lovely red leather sofa and drink my awesome Doing Thyme cocktail."
Screech look a like with MGH badge still on: "Uh.....no........well...........you see"
Me: "OK, than, so why? Why was he arrested." (I knew)
Screech look a like with MGH badge still on: (He forgot his punchline......so he resorted to) " Well for picking up a hooker-that was a man"
Me: (Got up and hovered over him a good 3 inches and mind you, I am only 5' 2" 1/2, than slowly raised my hand with clutch held tightly as weapon, I started counting backwards) "5..........4...........you have three seconds to run........3................2............" (he was gone by one)
I kicked myself after I thought about all the Prescription drugs I possibly missed out on and than realized, after meeting one of his co-workers, he was only in billing.
Point is, the bar is kitschy. Go there once to check it out, I guess. For me it is not my scene. Mostly after work people in turtle necks and younger people checkin it out. They just don't mesh well....and everyone was either looking around at everyone else like at a high school dance or tappin their drinks. (-3)
Which, by the way were excellent (+1)
Disclaimer: This is based on a true story
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