The Best Nightclubs in Boston

Boston’s Theater District plays host to many of the city’s top dance spots, with a number of these housed in striking historical buildings. However, if you hop around other parts of Beantown, you’ll find plenty of places to dance, drink and do your thing.
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The place to be on a weekend night in the Seaport, The Grand is a Vegas-style nightclub, complete with VIP lounges and bottle service. Its opulent entryway opens to showcase a regal glass staircase leading down to the dance floor, while accents of gold, leather and plush velvet add an air of majesty to the atmosphere. Jersey Shore alum DJ Pauly D is a regular, who stops in to spin beats. There’s plenty of space to dance and several bars to enjoy, but most of the floor space consists of special VIP tables that can be reserved online. And The Grand’s VIP experience is among the best. As its website states, “VIP is not dead. It’s your time to live. So hang on for dear life.” What’re you waiting for?

It’s pretty clear why this nightspot located under the W Boston is called Tunnel. Strings of LED lights line the walls and ceiling of the long narrow room (the ‘tunnel’) of this downtown Boston dance club. The whole space is a dance floor, and the lights complement the rhythm of the DJ’s beats. A full bar runs the length of the room, making it easy to find a spot to step in to order your next round. There’s no need to stop the party at Tunnel, so keep it going all night long at this trendy Boston club (until the clock strikes 2am, that is).

The sparkling new Encore casino is home to the city’s hottest nightclub, Mémoire. This is the place to see and be seen, with celebrity DJs such as Shaquille ‘DJ Diesel’ O’Neal and Steve Aoki spinning the type of house tunes that are sure to get you shimmying onto the dance floor in your latest LBD or dashing dress shirt. Combining high-tech video with the glamour of old Hollywood, Mémoire invites you to rewrite your night and lose yourself in luxury.

Located in the city’s Theater District, Royale is a place where high-tech meets the Boston of years gone by. LED lights sparkle around the lavish architecture of yesteryear, reviving the theatrical vibe of this megaclub. Previously known as The Roxy, this hotspot is renowned for its big weekend bashes and holiday celebrations. Head here to watch the ball drop on New Year’s Eve or to celebrate Independence Day as you watch the explosion of fireworks projected on screens throughout the open space. VIP balconies, an elegant marble foyer and a grand stage all add to the extravagance of Royale.

First-class restaurant by day, international nightclub by night, Good Life is full of surprises. Here, DJs from around the world spin everything from Latin and EDM to today’s latest hits. And if you want a more intimate setting, head downstairs to the darker and smaller lounge. Try something new from its creative cocktails list (Barry’s Booze Camp, anyone?). And if you need some pre-dancing fuel, take a peek at its eclectic dinner menu, which features everything from house-made guac to greens and bowls.

This Boston staple is always a great place to be on a Saturday night. The venue is classy during the day (as a tapas and wine bar with a New Orleans speakeasy feel) and naughty at night. Along with bottle service and a live DJ keeping the people moving and the party rolling, go-go dancers complete the seductive atmosphere of this club. Storyville is located in the historic Back Bay and hints at Boston’s past life by featuring exposed brick and furniture that looks straight out of a Clue-style billiards room.

Featuring luxury lounges on multiple levels, Bijou is a nightclub set in a theater from 1882 that offers variety and versatility for however you want to spend your night on the town. The Onyx Room provides an ultra-VIP experience with a top-class sound system and spectacular table service. It also features three focal bars to put you right in the center of the action. Alternatively, check out the more intimate Gold Room, and watch it transform into the ultimate dance party. Because the Gold Room is small, make sure to arrive by 11pm to get a spot inside before the line runs the length of the block.

Another Theater District hotspot, Venu is as expensive as it looks and so worth the price tag. This sleek, cosmopolitan nightclub caters to a sophisticated clientele, inviting you to dress to the nines (especially if you want to get ahead in line post the 11pm rush). Energetic DJs play everything from Latin and hip-hop to pop hits, enticing you to dance the night away as the uber-sexy beats pulse through the air. The luxurious decor adds to the chic vibes and upscale atmosphere, where beautiful people lounge, dance, drink and socialize, making memories they’ll never forget (or remember).

Cure Lounge, the sister spot of Venu, is a luxurious club located in the basement of a historic theater. The Victorian-chic atmosphere is offset by a glowing, square-paneled ceiling that changes colors to the beat of the music. Inspired by the idea of “moths drawn to a flame,” the interior features elements meant to entice and transport patrons to a place where anything is possible. As Cure Lounge says, “Think of Cure as where Mozart would get wild in Boston with a gaggle of his fellow rapscallions (and possibly a few saucy mezzo-sopranos).”

Downtown Boston’s favorite dueling piano bar, Howl at the Moon, is a prime spot for a night out on the town. Fingers race across the keys, pounding out your favorite party songs and best requests as you sip punch from one of Howl’s famous drink buckets. As the self-proclaimed “Best Bachelorette Party Destination in Boston,” Howl at the Moon offers bridal and bachelor packages, including Jump the Line and Brides Gone Wild. They each have different perks, from drink deals to free covers. One even includes an express pass to Howl at the Moon’s underground nightclub, Down Boston, located right below the party upstairs. Go and see how loud you can howl.

Known as Boston’s hottest gay nightclub, Club Café is a landmark location that’s been a favorite of the city’s LGBTQ community for over three decades. Called the Cheers of Boston’s gay bar scene, Club Café is a place to congregate, conversate and gyrate all night long as you lose yourself in the rhythm and pulse of the LED lights. No matter which label you subscribe to, this risqué dance party is one you won’t want to miss.

A top spot in Boston’s college scene, Wonder Bar in the lively Allston neighborhood is nothing short of a good time. Live music, legendary DJs and a jam-packed dance floor make this college club the best place to party in West Boston. To make your night extra special, check out Wonder Bar’s bottle service, and kick back as your personal bartender prepares your drinks tableside. If you’re not a fan of the music upstairs, try the more intimate downstairs floor, which offers a whole other set of tunes. Wonder Bar features top artists seven nights a week, who play everything from dubstep and glitch hop to blues and funk.

Middlesex Lounge is named for the county (established in 1643) it resides in, but there’s nothing historic about this Cambridge hotspot – though DJs do spin a mean old-school hip-hop track. Feeling more like a high-school house party than a Cambridge club, Middlesex Lounge is a minimalist spot with one motive: to get guests dancing all night long. A giant TV plays your favorite music videos circa 2002, and the stiff drinks will have you feeling good. Take a break on any of the rolling benches available, but if you look away, your versatile seat may be off in another corner of the room. You can also soothe your stiletto-clad soles in the Enormous Room, where you can relax on plush couches before you shimmy back out to the dance floor.