Bars near Ivy Restaurant- Need your help! :)

jhdance111

H & I and a bunch of friends are going out for both of our 30th birthdays tomorrow night (his is today, mine is Tues)!

A few people are just meeting us out after. Where is a good place for a group of late 20-early 30s - preferably no cover, doesn't need to be a dance-y place but dancing would be cool if it was available- not a dive (although H really wants the Tam- brings back memories of his early 20s...) I want to dress up a little (e.g. a dress and heels, I mean it's my 30th!), so somewhere that would fit in would be great...

ETA: Somewhere near Ivy would be awesome!

THANK You Ladies!!!

EKobrenski

I work pretty close to Ivy.  these would be my suggestions:

1. The Good Life would meet your criteria.  It's not usually hopping on the weekends, but they have a vodka bar and a lounge-y atmosphere.  It's hit or miss with dancing, but when they have music, the dancing is good.  I prob make up about 10% of their revenue, ha.
http://www.goodlifebar.com/

2. Another lounge-y place would be Vinalia.  There's no dancing there though.
http://www.vinaliaboston.com/

3. Mantra is a club right near there, I've had some fun dancing nights there.
http://www.mantrarestaurant.com/

3.  Making a plug for two dive-y places: Sidebar, which is very very close to Ivy, and The Corner Pub (fka Weggies).  These are both great end of the night places, and they serve food late. 
http://www.sidebarboston.com/
http://cornerpubboston.com/


Happy birthdayyy!

Pinker26

Bond if you want something more dressy, the Vault if you want something more casual.  They aren't right next to Ivy (short walks), but I don't love any of the bars in downtown Xing.

EKobrenski

Bond is awesome!  It's prob like a 10 minute walk. 

lnarey

I would also suggest Good Life and Vinalia.  The bar area isn't huge at Vinalia, but if you get there at a descent time they have some couches and great martini's!  Well you don't need to get there early for the martini's! 
JJ Foley's is also right there.  I'm not sure why I'm drawing a complete blank- I literally work right there!

jhdance111

Thanks ladies! Bond looks right up our alley- contacting them now. Is there a cover there?

EKobrenski

I think it's $20

Pinker26

the last few times I've been to Bond I didn't pay a cover.

eouellet

I love Blu at the Sports Club/LA and Jer-Ne at the Ritz - both about two blocks from Ivy (but neither is huge - don't know how many people you're bringing).  There's also the W down the street and I loooove their bar but lines can be crazy depending on what time/day you go.

By far the easiest bar to go to from Ivy (besides Mantra, which I do not like at all...I get a very Euro vibe there) is Felt but it's kind of hit or miss.  I like it though since it's got like 3 levels - downstairs is a bar/lounge, 2nd floor is billiards, and you only have to pay cover if you go to the dance level which I've actually never been to before.  It can be a bit on the young side, but it's big enough that it's never really bothered me before.  

I've heard Bond can be tough if you have big groups so I would definitely try to arrange something with them first if you plan to do that.

MeredithInBoston

Bond is a good idea but agree with eouellet that you need to be cautious with a big group.

Another place that's small but fun is Max & Dylan's, about one block over/parallel to Ivy.  Small & not much dancing but great atmosphere.  Another cool (but small) place is the Woodward that just opened in the Ames Hotel (just walk down Washington Street to State Street).

Good luck and have fun!

Moneypenny424

I agree, I love Bond, but it is hard with a group.  Also beware of the $15 drinks.  If you're willing to walk there, you might also want to check out Ames at Govt. Center (you'll also have a group issue there though).

I love Silvertone, but that is probably lower key than you are looking for.