Barlette

Small speakeasy spot with the right vibes and a short list of seasonal & classic cocktails. Dropped by for drinks early Friday evening. Tucked into a corner of the Arcade building, this spot was small, cozy, and filled up fast. We had one of the nooks—definitely worth reserving (only 3 available). By 6pm, it was already packed. We skipped the classics and went for their seasonal cocktails. One unique detail: they let you customize any drink with your choice of base spirit. Nice concept, but most of what we tried unfortunately leaned more generic than memorable. Our favorite of the evening was the Blazing Banana. We went with a tequila base, which gave it a crisp, clean finish that paired well with the fruity profile. More mango-forward than anything—bright, juicy, with a chili lime salt rim that added the right amount of kick. Banana showed up faintly on the nose but disappeared fast. Not what we expected, but it worked. The other three were more generic. Espresso Martini had a clean and easygoing with a neutral finish, but a tad too sweet for my taste. Strawberry Old-Fashioned had the backbone of a classic old-fashioned but finished with a syrupy sweetness that lingered longer than it should have. Not poorly made, just a bit unbalanced. Fortunate Fruitlets was the least interesting. Essentially a berry seltzer with a splash of booze. Not much more to say. Overall, worth a visit for the ambiance alone. Since they’re only open a few days a week, getting a nook might not be easy, but if you come in before 5:30, there might be some open spots at the bar. Favorite: Blazing Banana Solid: Espresso Martini, Strawberry old-fashioned Decent: Fortunate Fruitlets

Amazing, cozy cocktail bar serving up signature, hand crafted cocktails as well as traditional ones. Our party had several of the seasonal offerings and were blown away by how unique and delicious they were. You can pick your spirit and I had a citrus drink with 7 kinds of citrus and bourbon. My husband had a gin drink with cranberry, jalapeno, dill flavors- just the right blend of sweet, tart and spicy, Certainly will be back!

Loved our visit here! The bar has a cozy, dimly lit ambiance with chic design elements. The best seating option is The Nook. One of the nooks we reserved wasn’t available at the time of our reservation, but the team worked quickly to get us seated as soon as possible. Located in the Coolidge Arcade building, the bar is easily accessible. Street parking can be limited on weekends, but the best option is the Center Street EAST parking lot, which is right next to the building. Highly recommend visiting!

Cocktails were incredible and very tasty. Atmosphere was lovely, so cozy and intimate ! Also fantastic service, thanks India!

We went to Barlette to get drinks after seeing a movie at Coolidge Corner theatre. It is is a very small cozy dim-lit bar tucked away in the mall (it took us a bit to find it) with a small drinks menu and three snack options to go with them. The drinks were amazing, interesting and very well made. There was only one person working as bartender/server/host (possible the owner?), but given how tiny the place is (pretty sure it can accommodate only about 10 people) that wasn't a problem. Overall, a unique place with a fun speakeasy atmosphere and well-made cocktails! Definitely recommend.

Amazing experience all around! Cocktails were amazing and the service was impeccable! Cannot wait to visit again! We hosted my wife’s birthday party at Barlette and everything from booking to the end of the event was incredible! Booking the space was easy and Rachel and Emily took care of everything after that. Everyone raced about the cocktails and how perfect the space is. During the event, Emily made sure we had everything we needed the entire evening. I would and am going to recommend Barlette as both an event space to everyone!

Host your next party here!!! This space is so cool, so reasonably priced, and so fun. Emily helped make this night perfect for my friend’s surprise birthday party and we will definitely be doing it again now that we know it exists!

Barlette is an absolute delight,an absolute treasure, and should be cherished by all. I’ve been there both during normal operating hours and hosted a private event there and both times were enchanting. The team has excellent attention to detail and nothing is overlooked. The cocktails are thoughtful and the food is perfection. 10/10 on all fronts. Such a special place.

HIDDEN GEM in Brookline. I must have walked past it several times and not noticed it until my friend introduced me to it. They do both reservations and walk-ins but it's safer to make a reservation ahead if you can. It's pretty easy to make one as well; we only booked a day ahead for a Friday night. Amazing first impressions as well. They make a tiny space work perfectly; I did not feel claustrophobic at all even with full house. They have really cute decors and the space is decorated well. They have their seasonal cocktails that you can choose your choice of liquor for and martinis (both vodka and gin). They brew their espresso fresh as well so the space smells so good every time it is brewed. I got a Peru Plunder and it was fruity and light (a dangerous one). Their apple pie old fashioned has an interesting aftertaste in a good way. The bartender and the server were attentive and friendly as well. I had a great time and will definitely be coming back. -9.1/10

Cute, cozy bar in Brookline village!! Highly recommend for an intimate, low-key vibe. Great music and great vibes! A delightful experience :)

Wow, what a concept! A BYOB cocktail bar! It's popular, tiny, and by reservation only. Tickets are purchased ahead of time - so all you have to do is show up! You are provided with the mixers, shaker, ice, strainer, measuring instruments. The bartenders help guide you through the process, but they are not allowed to touch your drink after giving you the ingredients and equipment. Their menu has been slightly refined where you choose one from each section. This helps guide one through the experience and sequence for best enjoyment. All of the drinks were interesting and distinct. The mixers they provide are made in-house, of very high quality. Pro-tip: research the menu beforehand, so you know what spirits to bring with you. I had the opportunity to enjoy (I am better at describing food than drink, but I'll do my best): - Reverse Plank (added vodka) - This one had a unique balance of tartness and sweetness like I've never seen! The house-made pomegranate and pepper sweetener was a great addition as well. - Figlet (added whiskey) - A little sweeter, with some wisps of herbal notes! An elevated Fig Newton in drink form, if I may! - Pistachio Sour (added tequila) - In my almost 10 years of enjoying cocktails, I don't think I've ever had one based on a nut, It made this drink all the more interesting. A little sweetness, some aromatics, and a hint of pistachio. Turkish Delight was a nice touch too! The bar staff was terrific. They were friendly, welcoming, and did a great job doing everything in their power to contribute to an enjoyable experience. If you want more or less sweetness, some more aromatics, etc. they are happy to provide you with the ingredient to make it happen! From the snacks menu, I was able to try the tomato pie. This is kind of like a pizza, with everything made in house. Bread, tomato sauce, and a cheese-based topping. Not mind-blowing, but interesting and mild. You are also welcome to bring outside food (I think). In terms of value, $40 seems okay. Depending on the spirit you choose, if I have my prices of well bottles right, it comes out to around $15-17 per drink. However, the caveat here is that many of the options can be had without alcohol. In that case, you are paying a bit over $13 for a mocktail. Then again, you are paying for the experience, and I assume the idea is for people to bring in liquor. Finally, the vibe inside is pleasant, somehow a perfect meld of both homey and intimate. Because of how the experience is structured, everyone has a seat and people aren't reaching over you. With all this, while it was a great way to spend a Friday evening, I do not necessarily see myself returning unless I'm with someone else. The reason is this: from watching "How to Drink" on YouTube, I learned that one tequila vs. another can make a drink go from amazing to awful. While all the drinks I had were great, I would rather defer to the mixologists about what spirit to use.

This place is so special. The concept is a BYOB make-your-own cocktail bar. You bring your own liquor but they provide everything else to make a list of cocktails. You can choose 3 out of the different categories and you can stay as long as you long bc there's no turnover. The staff is incredibly welcoming and it truly makes you feel at home. You can even bring your own food to have with your cocktails!! It is a STUNNING venue and it's super intimate but also vibes and perfect for friends or dates. The only thing is, it's kinda hard to find in the plaza but if you enter and go all the way down, you should see the bright signs welcoming you in! The actual cocktails were all intentional, well thought out, and delicious. The owner creates a journey for you with an opener, a deeper cocktail, and then an ending. If you don't fully love your drink, you can ask for a sweetener or ask the owner to fix something up for you. You can add any spirit you want to the cocktails to make it your own. Overall, this is probably one of my favorite things I've ever done in Boston. I can't give it enough praise! Thank you so much and I'll be back!

Absolutely terrible booking system and bad business practice. The owner canceled my reservation without notifying me and left me no choice but booking elsewhere. I started reaching out via email to secure my booking in January 2024 for my March birthday (March 22nd 2024 Friday). At that time - this place did not have an online bookings system set up so everything had to be done via email. I emailed the Owner/Bartender Rachel in January 2024 to inquire about a booking in March to celebrate my 30th birthday. After a couple of emails back and forth with Rachel (Owner/Bartender). She told me I was all set with my reservation. I even emailed back to double check if there was anything I needed to complete and I got no reply from the owner. About a month ago (Early March) I emailed Rachel (Owner/Bartender) to make sure if I was all set with my reservation. I got no reply. So I decided to email her again and after one week she finally responded and told me: "Unfortunately, due to a special event, we will be closed to the public on Friday, March 22nd." I was very confused and asked if Rachel was able to hop on a quick phone call with me but she didn't pick up. She finally replied via email and told me in order to have a Guaranteed Reservation I could only book through a private party. Which I was not told at the beginning when I first inquired in January 2024. I would have gone through private booking if I knew that would be the only way to secure a reservation. At that time - I was given the choice to book 7 seats at the bar or go through private (more expensive). So I went with regular service. Rachel (Owner/Bartender) said they were all booked for the weekend of March 22nd 2024 (Friday) and March 23rd 2024 (Saturday) my only option left will be March 21st 2024 (Thursday). My questions are: 1. Why was I not notified at the beginning if booking a private party is the only way to secure a so-called "RESERVATION"? 2. Why was I not notified when my "RESERVATION" was forced to be canceled? Instead I had to reach out a couple times!!!! Imagine showing up to the bar on the event date and was told I was canceled at the door - It would have been worse. I reached out months in advance for a reason because this place looks interesting and it would be an amazing idea to spend some quality time with friends and celebrate my 30th birthday. I am writing this here today because I don't want anyone to have gone through the same thing I've been through. I wish the owner would have done a better job in communicating and responding to your customers/potential customers. (Even the regular booking ones, not just the private booking VIP).

This place is SO fun. You buy prepaid tix (~$40). You need a reservation, this place is tiny and reservations sell out in like 2 seconds. We were the first ones to show up and we sat in a cute little nook corner. The decor is gorgeous and art deco-ish. Literally can they decorate my house??? You get 3 drinks and have a few choices for each round. Everything was so fresh and delicious and the service was incredible- our server was literally the owner and she was helpful with making drink selections and so personable. In terms of food we took a look at the snacks but decided to grab sushi from genki ya because we were more hungry for a full meal- the stuff they offered was truly little snacks! What a fun idea! We'll be back for sure, if we're lucky enough to get a reservation :)

One of my favorite places in Boston to host private events. The owners are so nice and kind and the space is absolutely beautiful. I highly recommend it for birthday parties and small gatherings

An unforgettable experience for all the wrong reasons. My partner Sammi and I were looking forward to celebrating her landmark 30th birthday at Barlette, intrigued by its unique offerings. We initiated our booking in January for a March celebration, with the understanding, after several emails, that our reservation was confirmed by the owner, Rachel. Despite our proactive planning and clear communication, our experience took a disappointing turn. As the date approached, we sought confirmation, only to be met with silence initially, and later, a sudden cancellation due to a private event, without any prior notification. This left us scrambling, just weeks before the big day. In our further attempts to salvage the situation, Rachel offered alternatives that neither aligned with our original plans nor acknowledged the inconvenience caused. The lack of clear communication from the outset about the necessity of booking a private party to secure a reservation, and the subsequent dismissal of our confirmed booking, reflects poorly on the establishment's regard for its customers. We were left with no choice but to take our celebration elsewhere, a decision made difficult by the late notice and the significance of the occasion. Our experience reveals a concerning lack of transparency and customer care in handling reservations at Barlette. It's disheartening, especially when such milestones as a 30th birthday are involved. My advice to others looking to celebrate special occasions here is to proceed with caution and seek clarity on their reservation policies to avoid similar disappointments.

A microscopically tiny BYOB bar. Yes, you read that right: a bar that is BYOB! Requires advance tickets, which are hard to get (they go on sale 1st of each month for that month). Bring a bottle of something and they provide the cocktail mixers, mini shakers, glassware, ice, etc. You can also do non-alcoholic drinks. And a four course snack menu. For legal reasons, you have to do the work yourself, so it's definitely a unique, fun experience. Sibling of upstairs Cobble, one of the few legal BYOB restaurants in the Boston area. More of the backstory: https://boston.eater.com/2023/4/26/23697768/barlette-brookline-bar-opening https://www.bostonmagazine.com/restaurants/2023/01/06/barlette-byob-bar-brookline/

This is a hidden gem. What a fantastic evening my husband and I had. It's a BYO alcohol, so we brought 2 mason jars (gin and burbon) and we each got to pick 3 cocktails off their menu. Each time a beautiful tray arrived at our table with the glass (r dressed for the drink of choice) and a shaker all ready with the non alcholic, house made ingredients for our drinks. We got to add booze, shake and pour. All 3 cocktails were fantastic! Just as wonderful the food-along with each course a delicious snack arrived at our table. So we were able to sit back, nosh, chat and enjoy the evening. Thank you Rachel and crew for a great evening.

Wow wow wow! I came to Barlette on NYE Eve (12/30) and had the best time celebrating my friend's birthday with her. I had got the tickets for us weeks before when the reservations dropped, and it was nice not having to think about a bill at the end (but I'm glad I remembered to have cash on hand for tip). We were seated at "the library" and got three rounds of mocktails. They don't have snacks included with the drinks anymore (I think that was the case prior / what I had expected based on reading earlier reviews) but I was still happy with everything included. You can BYOB here, but I honestly enjoyed having the mocktail option because it let the drinks themselves shine! And I believe they used a NA spirit, Seedlip, in our mocktails. I had the Figlet (fig, sage, lime), Pistachio Sour, and a third one that was light and ginger-y (it isn't on the menu anymore and I forgot the name). The Pistachio Sour really impressed me and the service was also phenomenal. The bartender was busy serving all the tables their rounds, but always made time to answer our questions and check in on us!

I went last night with some friends for the cocktail seating. It was amazing and we all loved it! The cocktails are so creative and the presentation is so fun! The atmosphere was so relaxed and it was really possible to sit and talk with friends while also just enjoying the atmosphere. The cocktail bites were also delicious! The popcorn was great, the parfait was eaten in 2 seconds and my friends loved the truffle! Met the owner and she was great - so friendly and willing to explain the concept and just chat! Really welcoming!!! We loved it and hope to be back soon!!