Cottonwood cafe & restaurant offers award winning margaritas, three-season patio, and a fresh approach to Southwest cuisine!

Rattlesnake is one of the only roof-top bars in Backbay. Serving up drinks and food on three different levels (including a second level pool area), Rattlesnake has a little bit of "scene" for everyone. The first level is crowded- with after-work drinkers. In the summer, the floodgates are open and people pile in to get a spot on the covetted spot on the deck. The menu features grilled pizzetas, burgers, and sandwiches (all of the south of the border influence. Link to the Dinner Menu

SkipJack's is the lastest addition to the "best seafood restaurant" race in Boston. Okay, so it's more that 16 years old (a "teenager"). It's named after a high-quality Pacific tuna that is rumored to be one strong fish. The atmosphere is a combination of wooden ship with traces of the sea by smooth metal lines and sea color tiles. Enough about the atmosphere, the seafood is f-a-b-u-l-o-u-s. They offer a wide variety of seafood, and some yummy sushi for the adventurous. If (when) you fall in love, ask about their customer loyalty and rewards program! Kid friendly / Kids menu. In a bit of an odd location, but away from the hoards of restaurants, wait periods are shorter or non-existent. They have other locations in the 'burbs, including Newton. SkipJack's is a go-to for seafood. Insider tip: 2 hour free parking with validation.

The Oak Bar has been recently restored and is reminiscent of a British Officer's Club in the Orient. The same dark wood paneling and mirrors that flank the Oak Room are offset in the Oak Bar by smooth marble. Heraldry symbols decorate the ornately gilded and painted coffered ceiling. The furniture and décor create an inviting atmosphere to enjoy a relaxing drink or close a business deal. Boston Magazine has named the Oak Bar 'Best Hotel Bar.' The Oak Bar features one of Boston's largest martini menus with classic favorites and contemporary cocktails. The bar offers the complete Oak Room menu and an extensive raw bar. The Oak Bar features live entertainment Tuesday through Saturday evenings. Business casual. After 6:00 p.m. no shorts, cut out or tank top T-shirts, hats and sport sandals. For more information, please call (617) 267-5300. Reservations: Reservations are not accepted in the bar.

This restaurant and bar is located inside the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel.

Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the Oak Room is a regal, comfortably elegant restaurant that offers a traditional steakhouse menu with a distinctive twist. The Oak Room is adorned with gold, maroon and green fabrics and draperies that complement the dark wood paneling and mirrored walls. Cameos and lacunaria accent the intricate white plasterwork that details the 30-foot-high ceiling and twin Waterford crystal chandeliers illuminate the room.

The Oak Bar has been recently restored and is reminiscent of a British Officer's Club in the Orient. The same dark wood paneling and mirrors that flank the Oak Room are offset in the Oak Bar by smooth marble. Heraldry symbols decorate the ornately gilded and painted coffered ceiling. The furniture and décor create an inviting atmosphere to enjoy a relaxing drink or close a business deal. The dress code is business casual, but after 6pm, no shorts, cut out or tank top T-shirts, hats and sport sandals.

At this Boston Mediterranean Restuarant, located in the heart of the Back Bay, lives the soul of authentic Mediterranean cuisine. Vlora, named after Chef/Owner Aldo Velaj’s hometown in Albania, opened to the public in Fall 2007. With a menu brimming with old family recipes and unique versions of traditional favorites, Vlora embraces the true Mediterranean lifestyle. The dishes reflect the age-old adage of “eat better and live better.” Believing that food should taste like food, the natural tastes and flavors of the freshest ingredients are enhanced primarily with olive oil and fresh herbs. With an emphasis on freshness and a minimalist cooking style, the naturally healthy menu covers tastes from the Northern Mediterranean region encompassing Southern Italy, Greece, and Albania. The menu and wine list are an extension of the flavors and dishes served in Aldo’s own home, including exclusive hand-picked wines and lovingly prepared signature dishes that are unmatched in the city. The entire restaurant was designed by Aldo to emulate the warm and inviting environment that one would feel in Vlora, Albania. Located below the bustling streets of Boylston, this subterranean space complete with private outdoor patio offers guests a unique atmosphere commonly found in parts of Europe. From the antique wooden door, to the custom-designed water wall that greets you upon entry, Vlora makes guests feel a welcoming sense of escape from the busy Back Bay. Fresh reviving colors and customized lighting set the tone while captivating artwork and sleek furniture evoke an atmosphere that is warm, inviting and hip. The menu features a diverse variety of options of both original and authentic mediterranean food, fitting for all palates and lifestyles including carnivorous, vegetarian and vegan options. The food is prepared using the freshest possible ingredients and authentic minimalist cooking techniques that primarily rely on olive oil, fresh herbs, and the natural tastes and flavors of the ingredient being prepared. Vlora’s signature dishes include watermelon-feta, lemon potatoes, arancini siciliani, barbounia and fork-tender grilled octopus. From authentic Albanian Tava and home-made potato gnocchi, to trio of phyllo pies and vegetarian Pasticcio, Vlora’s menu can satisfy a very diverse set of lifestyles. This family friendly Mediterranean dining restaurant offers a variety of “On the Side” items and smaller hot and cold dishes, all for diners to share. With plenty of vegetarian and vegan options, no diners will feel left out at Vlora. Thanksgiving Menu
Three Courses – Prix Fixe $28.95
(This offer cannot be combined with other promotional offers.) First Course
Apple Butternut Squash Soup or
Greek Peasant Salad
Second Course
Traditional Roast Turkey with Bacon and Sage Stuffing, Baked Sweet Potato topped with Mallow and Brown Sugar Crust, Sauteed Local Green Beans and Cranberry-Orange Relish or
North Atlantic Salmon with Lemon Potatoes, Green Beans and Lobster Reduction
*Vegetarian options available, upon request Third Course
Old Fashioned Homemade Pumpkin Pie with Freshly Whipped Cream or
Traditional Fresh Apple Crisp with Vanilla Crisp Night Cap
Hot Mulled Apple Cider
For Reservations, call 617.638.9699

Restaurateur Rande Gerber (aka Mr. Cindy Crawford) launched Whiskey Park in an attempt to bring the hipster New York scene up east to Boston, with dim lighting, swanky leather couches, mohair pillows, and incense candles. The Park is packed with a diverse but definitely upscale crowd, everyone from older local businessmen to Euro jet-setters—clearly people who don't mind shelling out $7-12 for mixed drinks (although they do have a great martini menu). Dress to impress. Draft beer $5. Th Latin night. Limited pub menu served until 10pm. This section contains information from Harvard Student Agencies' Unofficial Guide to Life at Harvard.

Flash's is a neighborhood bar at the crossroads of the South End and Back Bay. Expect to find regular folks from the area and plenty of those that work nearby. The basic idea is 'flashback" cocktails from the 1920's and 1930's coupled with diner-style food. American style food at reasonable prices with cocktails: what's not to like? Windows are open to Columbus Ave and Stuart Street in the summer so even while there is no 'outdoor area', Flash's has an open-air feeling. Great place for a TGIF drink with your co-workers...Flash's is also a regular stop for the Povo team!

Globe bar is one of those sometimes overlooked, but great staple bar when you want to kick back with your friends and spend the night remembering funny stories. The almost always Irish bartenders will serve you up draft beers with an Irish smile- just don't cross them. The bar is narrow, with a tiny opening for groups to gather in the back. There is an upstairs overlooking the bar, but normally it's reserved for parties. In the summer, Globe's outdoor seating is a hot commodity during lunch and dinner. All the Copley workers scammer to get a seat. The menu is casual, and includes sandwiches, burgers, and salads.

Laurel Grill and Bar is ideally located on the edge of the Back Bay and the South End. Convenient to all the Back Bay has to offer the trendier South End location is a little more relaxed than its Back Bay counterparts. The contemporary American restaurant specializes in a variety of fresh fish, steaks as well as pastas and vegetarian selections. The location was home to the owner's first restaurant the Blue Wave over since 1991. Several years ago the chef owners transformed the large open space into more intimate and less noisy dining environment. Originally designed as an urban oasis the restaurant continues to remain both a relaxing place to enjoy your meal and still feel the buzz of the South End dining experience.