The epitomy of sophistication, Bristol Lounge is located in the Four Seasons Hotel. The restaurant offers a lovely high tea, but after a long day of shopping on Newbury Street, you should probably opt for a martini instead.

Bristol Lounge will make you feel like a member of Boston’s “high society.”

Match is where I like to go when I’m craving a fun night out, but want something a bit more upscale than a typical bar. You’ll probably have a really difficult time trying to decide what kind of martini to get and then once you try one, you won’t want to try another because it will be SO good, you’ll just want to kep ordering it. Ahh tough life, huh?

My personal favorite martini at Match is the Butterscotch Martini. But Match specializes in the Pop Culture Martini, which is a martini rimmed in pop rocks. 

And Match’s food is also really good, fun, and pretty resonably-priced. The spinach and goat cheese salad with sliced apples and caramelized pecans really is to die for. And while many of their entrees are tasty, it’s always fun to sample the mini burgers, which come made with beef, but also with lamb, veggie, tuna steak, sausage, lobster, and chicken.

What Goes Into the Perfect Dirty Martini

Ingredients:

• 6 fluid ounces vodka
  
• 1 dash dry vermouth
  
• 1 fluid ounce brine from olive jar
  
• 4 stuffed green olives

Directions:

• In a mixing glass, combine vodka, dry vermouth, brine and olives. Pour into a glass over ice. Either drink on the rocks, or strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

6B Lounge

I’ve been to 6B Lounge several times for a couple after work martinis. The martinis are fabulous and the atmosphere of the restaurant is perfect as it’s intimate, but not usually over-crowded.

The Van Otto Martini is a fabulous choice as it contains, ready? Vanilla vodka, Kahlua, and White Godiva, mixed with Starbucks Espresso Liquor. The menu also includes several dessert martinis (no, the Van Otto Martini isn’t considered one!), with drinks like Grandma’s Blueberry Pie, Mounds Bar, and Key Lime Pie.

I can’t vouch for the entrees, but the buffalo chicken nachos are delicious, as are the spring rolls.

Located in the Colonnade Hotel, Brasserie Joe has an extensive and delicioud martini menu.

I recommend the signature Martini Jo, vodka, Lillet Rogue, and an orange twist. Yum. 

Lots of people claim the Top of the Hub is overrated. I don’t agree…especially, the bar part of it. Maybe the food isn’t the absolute best in all of Boston, but I still think it’s pretty damn good. That combined with the drinks and the views, and I’m a fan. Not to mention, last time I was there, our waiter was one of the friendliest, most knowledgeable waiters I’ve ever had in Boston.

This place makes one amazing dirty martini.

Also the last time I went, it was so foggy out, we couldn’t see a thing. It looked like there were shades on all the windows. But the food and drinks made our visit well worth it.

Pumpkin is one of my very favorite foods, so when I saw a recipe that combines pumpkins into a martini, courtesy of Van Gogh Vodka, I knew I had to have it!

Mix 1 oz. Van Gogh Vanilla Vodka, ½ oz. Licor 43, 1 oz. pumpkin liqueur, ½ oz. Bailey’s Irish Cream, a splash butterscotch schnapps and ice.

Shake, then pour and sprinkle with ¼ tsp. pumpkin pie spice. For added effect, rim the glass with fresh lemon juice and crushed graham crackers.

When the warm weather hits, there’s no better place than Sonsie to sit ouside, sipping a martini and people watching.

Mistral

If you go to Mistral, you’re going to want to eat. Because, let me tell you, the food here is amazing. Better than any restaurant I’ve been to in Boston. But the martinis are also fabulous, so if you can’t afford a full meal (Mistral is a bit pricey), at least go hang out at the stylish bar and get a drink or two.

I, of course, recommend the dirty martini. Besides the fact our waiter spilled half of one on my sister, it hit the spot for a before dinner drink.

If I liked raspberry vodka, I would LOVE Silvertone’s special homemade raspberry-infused vodka. Everyone else does, so it must be fabulous. But since I’m not a big fan of raspberry flavored drinks, I settle for a dirty martini. And trust me, it’s far from settling.