The SWURL Guide To Drinking Wine In Boston
Where to drink when you’re tired of Sam Adams being the default: the wine bars, restaurants, and bottle shops shaping Boston’s wine scene.
Written by Xana Turner-Owens
Artwork by Cerise Zelenetz
The wine scene in Boston is entering a new era. Over the past decade, a city once allergic to change has seen a dramatic shift in its food, wine and overall hospitality landscape. Small, thoughtfully designed wine bars, restaurants and shops are popping up in neighborhoods all over town, bringing with them a new crowd of curious drinkers and diners.
Not long ago, Boston’s wine culture leaned stiff and old-guard. Today, thanks to the rise of natural wine and a sharper eye for curation, it feels vibrant, dynamic, and accessible. Subtle menu changes, like using playful tasting notes instead of standard grape jargon, have made it feel more inviting. At the same time, growing curiosity around ethical and unconventional production, coupled with the increasing presence of female, POC and queer winemakers, has helped fuel a transformational revival of the city’s wine scene.
The SWURL Guide to Drinking Wine in Boston highlights the people and places we love and recommend: the bottle shops, wine bars, and restaurants shaping the city’s new drinking culture.
Message from the editor: While this guide highlights a few wine stores, bars, and restaurants, we believe it’s important to mention that this is not intended to be a “best of” list. Our team unfortunately hasn’t been everywhere (yet) and we know there are plenty of spots not included in this guide that would deserve to be if we had the ability to visit them.We’ll keep exploring and update this guide as we go.
Wine Stores
Albert’s Market
638 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02141
A mom and pop-run-bodega in east Cambridge with one of the most unexpected natural wine selections in Boston. At first glance, it feels like a classic corner store—lotto tickets, sour straws and cigarettes—but step inside and you’ll find one of the city’s most diverse catalogs of natural wine. Bottles line the back walls, featuring domestic and international producers like La Garagista, Jean-Pierre Robinot, De Moor, and Roagna. Albert’s might be one of Boston’s lesser-known wine emporiums but this is a spot that should not be missed. Pro-tip: check the cooler by the register for staff favorites and easy weeknight picks.
Great for: easy weeknight bottles, cigarette + wine pairings, new discoveries
Bonde Fine Wine Shop
54 Church St, Cambridge, MA 02138
This Harvard Square wine shop is a local hub for domestic wines, curated by Bertil Jean-Chronberg. At Bonde, he shares his passion and knowledge for wine with everyone who enters his shop, and will help you find your perfect bottle based on your preferences. Bonde currently offers wine tastings from 4-8pm Tuesday through Saturday, where you can enjoy a themed flight as Bertil guides you through the wines.
With education and community at its center, this special shop features wines exclusively from North America, like Kitá Wines from California and Hermann J. Wiemer from the Finger Lakes, while offering a bespoke experience that resonates with each customer.
Great for: wine tastings, domestic wine, wine events
Momma’s Grocery & Wine
2304 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02140
A year round farm stand and a holy grail for shopping locally, Momma’s in Cambridge is a community favorite. Housed in a beautifully designed corner market, you’ll find fresh produce, artisan goods, maple creemees, daily groceries, and a tightly curated selection of natural wine all under one roof.
On the shelves: bottles from Bénédicte et Stéphane Tissot, Heinrich, Koehler-Ruprecht, Pierre Gerbais, and Château Yvonne, reflecting a focus on thoughtful producers and sustainable farming practices. Since opening in 2023 after a Nu Market campaign and months of anticipation from friends and neighbors, Momma’s has become a neighborhood anchor.
That spirit carries over into its new wine bar, Zusammen, where you’ll find a 20-seat bar, a baby grand piano, and a well-chosen list that invites you to linger over what might become your new favorite bottle.
Great for: farm-to-table store, wine tastings
Neighborhood Wines
619 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02118
A local favorite for a reason, Neighborhood Wines is an impeccably curated bottle shop that lives up to its name. Owned by South End resident and self-taught sommelier Spenser Payne, the shop reflects a passion for wine that’s both approachable and adventurous.
The shelves feature an impressive range: from everyday bottles to rare finds like back-vintage Domaine Dauvissat-Camus. You’ll also spot distinctive bottles from La Stoppa, Radikon, and Ruth Lewandowski, all carefully chosen with Spencer’s thoughtful curation.
Beyond its primary function as a bottle shop, Neighborhood has become a creative hub, regularly hosting art shows, tastings, bake sales and intimate dinner parties. Having recently celebrated its two-year anniversary, it has already cemented itself as a cornerstone of both the neighborhood and the greater Boston scene.
Great for: private events, wine tastings, easy weeknight bottles
Wild Child Wine Shop
30 Bow St, Somerville, MA 02143
A dream come true for wine and book lovers alike. Their tagline, “Where the table is a bridge for connection” perfectly captures the world they’ve created on their cozy Somerville block. After outgrowing their original location in Bow Market, Wild Child settled in a permanent home not too far away on Bow Street, where thoughtful curation continues to shine.
It’s the ideal first stop when planning a dinner party: browse the shelves for cookbooks to spark menu ideas and then explore their extensive bottle selection, which includes back-vintage gems from Jean-Yves Péron and Clos Rougeard, domestic standouts like Clos Saron and Barbichette, Piemontese classics from G.B. Burlotto and hard to find treasures like Vin Jaune.
Great for: wine tastings, private parties, wine classes, dinner party prep
Wine Bars
Juliet Social Club
257 Washington St, Somerville, MA 02143
Juliet Social Club is perfect for nights when you can’t decide between drinking wine in your living room or going out. Striking a perfect balance between cozy and cool, this Somerville spot is an ideal meeting place for a laid-back date or hang. Stacked with couches, bookshelves, and cozy corners, Juliet Social Club is inviting and charming with a wine list that will keep you coming back.
They introduced me to some of my favorite glass pours of all time: Domaine Serol’s Turbullent, a rosé Pet-Nat that tasted like raspberry sour patch kids. Start your night with a glass (or three) at the club, and then go next door to their sister restaurant Juliet for mussels or a burger and fries at the bar.
Great for: solo dates, date night, weeknight drinks
Rebel Rebel
1 Bow Mkt Wy, Somerville, MA 02143
A pocket-sized wine bar tucked into the entrance of Bow Market, Rebel has become a beloved industry favorite and a go-to for wine lovers across Boston. The setting makes for a perfect date night: shop for vinyl at Index, grab a bite from one of the many food vendors, then settle onto Rebel’s patio (or spot at the bar) for a dreamy evening.
Inside, their team keeps things lively with a rotating list of glass pours and bottles, mixing familiar favorites with hidden gems. Expect to find producers like Château de Béru, Domaine Mosse and Ferme de La Sansonnière on any given night.
True to their ethos of “Natural Wine, No Bullshit” (a mantra that earned them a James Beard nomination for Outstanding Wine Program in 2023), Rebel keeps the focus on wines worth drinking. With only a handful of seats, every visit feels personal—you’re almost guaranteed to walk out with a new bottle discovery, and even more likely to make a new friend.
Great for: solo dates, date night, weeknight drinks, outdoor seating
Dear Annie
1741 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02140
Brought to you by the same team behind Rebel Rebel and Wild Child, Dear Annie is part wine bar, part living room. Think cozy two-tops in the corners, a wall-to-wall bottle shelf, and a big communal table laden with snacks, candles and flowers.
The atmosphere is instantly comforting, like if your best friend’s apartment (the one with good taste, you know who they are) just happened to be a wine bar. Their food leans sharable: cheese plates, chips and dips, tinned fish and their famed “seadog,” all designed for family-style grazing. Their wine list changes daily, with glass pours ranging from $12-17 and bottles starting as low as $36. On the list, you’ll find everything from Black female-owned producers like Ashanta to Palestinian-American female-owned producers like Terah, alongside Loire Valley favorites such as Domaine Mosse and Domaine de Bellivière. The staff is deeply knowledgeable and quick to tailor their recommendations (often pulling out special-off menu bottles) to match your palette, interests or even past favorites.
Great for: small groups, solo dates, bring your mom!
haley.henry
45 Province St, Boston, MA 02108
Opened in August 2016 by Haley Fortier, haley.henry is a not-so-hidden treasure tucked into Downtown Crossing that’s been shaping Boston’s wine scene for nearly a decade. Fortier brings more than 15 years of industry experience to the bar, and the team's work has earned plenty of recognition like multiple James Beard nominations throughout the years.
The space itself is intimate and unfussy, with a menu that leans heavily on small production growers alongside a selection of tinned fish, crudo and ceviche for pairings. True to their mission to “educate, inspire, and introduce,” the team offers ½ bottle pours so you can explore and learn without overcommitting. Their list features thoughtful producers with a rotating selection that makes every visit feel fresh. If you find yourself downtown looking for an exceptional natural wine experience, haley.henry is your girl.
Great for: date night, new discoveries, night on the town
The Koji Club
525 Western Ave #6, Brighton, MA 02135
Though its not *technically* a wine bar, The Koji Club is one of the best by-the-glass experiences you can have in Boston. Owned and curated by sake superstar Alyssa Mikiko DiPasquale, this jewel box of a bar will transport you to Japan for a fraction of the ticket price.
Their bar menu features traditional Japanese bar snacks like saltines with green pepper miso and Candy’s cukes (IYKYK), onigiri, and caviar service. The bottle and by-the-glass list is approachable especially for first-timers, featuring dynamic and enticing flavor notes and hard-to-get pours. They also feature a small but mighty wine selection, and will be adding Japanese wines to the list with their Fall menu update.
Pro tip: while you're at the Speedway, pick up a pizza from The Pizza Project and ask your Koji Bartender for the best sake pairing for your pie. Or just keep it simple and enjoy a glass of Heiwa “Tsuru-Ume” Natsu Mikan orange sake and a coconut popsicle on their patio and thank us later.
Great for: private parties, sake tastings, date night, outdoor seating
Restaurants
Brassica Kitchen & Cafe
3710 Washington St, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
A Jamaica Plain staple that never misses. Brassica keeps things lean with a handful of options by the glass or bottle, but curation is what makes it shine.
Alongside European picks, you’ll find standout bottles from closer to home: La Garagista in Vermont, Revel Cider out of Ontario and Oyster River Winegrowers from Maine. Seasonal house red and white pours round out the list, shifting as the menu does.
Their food menu is approachable yet dynamic, best known for their fried chicken (served with maple ume, giardiniera, and house-made hot sauce). The beverage program is equally exciting, with house-made vermouth, thoughtful cocktails and a seasonally rotating wine list.
A night of fried chicken & Brian Smith bubbles at Brassica will leave you feeling lucky.
Great for: special occasions, dinner with friends, date night
Field & Vine
9 Sanborn Ct, Somerville, MA 02143
Equal parts ethereal and romantic, this is one of Boston’s most beautiful dining rooms. The menu is veggie-heavy, featuring locally sourced produce that embodies the restaurant’s ethos and name. California, Italy and France are represented heavily on the wine list, with some local favorites (Hi Oyster River!) laced throughout. Always special, Field & Vine is a perfect spot for a date, birthday dinner, or anniversary, and a meal you’ll be thinking about for weeks.
Great for: solo dates, special occasions, date night, birthdays
Gray’s Hall
615 E Broadway, Boston, MA 02127
Simply put, a perfect neighborhood restaurant. Chef Gabe Branch strikes an ideal balance between inspiring and comforting with rotating arancini sets, seasonal crudos, and the best kale caesar salad, plus a strong contender for the Best Burger in Boston (and for only $14).
The wine program, led by Owner, Matthew Thayer, and General Manager, TJ Downey, is one of the city’s most thoughtful and approachable. The by-the-glass list changes frequently, encouraging you to try something new every time without committing to a bottle, while the bottle list showcases producers like De Moor, Maison Valette, Ganevat & Bruyere-Houillon, all at impressively accessible prices, with only a handful exceeding $100.
If you fall in love with one (and you likely will), you can shop bottles next door at their sister store, American Provisions, alongside specialty groceries and fantastic prepared foods. With monthly DJ Sets, art shows, and a perfect outdoor patio, Gray’s Hall should be at the top of your list.
Great for: group dinners, date night, wine nerds, night on the town
Krasi
48 Gloucester St, Boston, MA 02115
At Krasi, you can enjoy one of the best Mediterranean meals in Boston and get a full education in Greek wine at the same time. Ancient Greek viticulture has shaped so much of how we understand winemaking today, and Krasi celebrates that history while showcasing new practices in Greece’s diverse catalog. You’ll be hard pressed to find a more extensive list of Greek wines than what you can find here.
Their staff is incredibly well-versed in the bottles on their all-Greek list and will guide you through a tasting experience unlike any other in Boston. If you’re an orange wine lover, this is definitely the spot for you.
Great for: wine education, date night, larger parties, night on the town
Spoke
89 Holland St, Somerville, Massachusetts 02144
Next level creativity meets familiar charm at Somerville’s Spoke, but it’s the wine list that really steals the show. Alongside producers like Yetti & The Kokonut, Broc Cellars and Ruth Lewandowski, you’ll spot back-vintage treasures from Tissot, Domaine Belluard and Chandon de Briailles, often at prices you’d be hard-pressed to find elsewhere.
Pair with a plate of the sunchoke donuts and the bartender’s pick of the night, and you’ll quickly understand why Spoke is as beloved for its wine program as it is for its boundary-pushing food. Their team is full of industry veterans, like owner Mary Kurth and co-chefs Kelcey Rusch and Paul Butler, that you can trust implicitly.
Great for: solo dining, date night, weeknight fancy