USUALLY IT'S easy to round up an entourage for a night on the town. But there are occasions when plans fall through and you're left on your own, hung out to dry on a weeknight or, worse, a weekend. You could throw on some sweats and resign yourself to an evening of Cheetos and Law & Order reruns (and who could blame you?) - or you could hold your head up high and hit the city solo. Drinking alone isn't just for elderly men, off-the-clock cops, and alcoholic celebrity teenagers. True, the prospect of sitting at a bar by yourself isn't the most attractive Saturday-night option, but it's actually not so bad. In fact, it's kind of fun. When else would you break out of your usual social circle and chat up a stranger at the bar - at least, one you're not trying to hook up with? If you're the quiet type, people-watching at bars and lounges is much more interesting than on the T or at the mall: you get to watch drunk people trying to act sexy, and that's better than television. (Even better than Jack McCoy delivering a killer closing statement.)
Cozy neighborhood joints like the Independent (75 Union Square, Somerville, 617.440.6022) are ideal places for drinking alone. Besides its creative drink menu and split-screen-style layout (fancy-ish on one side, pub-ish on the other), the Indo has a shelf full of board games like Scrabble and Connect Four, which are the perfect conversation piece for solo drinkers. (And nerds. Guilty.) Challenge a fellow barfly; loser buys the beer. Or, even better, a signature drink! Cash in your triple-word scores and order the Star ($8) - Laird's Applejack, sweet vermouth, and orange bitters - or the Perfect Pal ($9), made with Rittenhouse Rye, Aperol, and sweet and dry vermouth. The list changes seasonally but always features creative and thoughtful drinks.
Nestled in the heart of Washington Square is the eponymous Washington Square Tavern (714 Washington Street, Brookline, 617.232.8989), another charming bar with great alone-time potential. The interior is reminiscent of an austere British library, but without the pomposity. One wall boasts a massive bookshelf; behind the bar, friendly bartenders move at lightning speed before a backdrop of top-shelf liquor. Chat them up while you sip on a Berry Berry Martini ($8), a rose-colored delight of Absolut Kurant, Bols blackberry brandy, and fresh lime juice. If pink drinks turn you off, the Real Dark & Stormy ($7) is a perfectly spicy blend of Gosling's Black Seal Rum and Barritt's Ginger Beer. Snack on some crispy sweet-potato fries ($3.50) while you're at it.
Solo daytime drinkers have a go-to spot, too. Fight off the brunchers in Davis Square and you can all but disappear into the cushiony armchairs and couches at Orleans (65 Holland Street, Somerville, 617.591.2100). Sink back onto pillows with a drink in hand and it's almost like being at home. (If your home is filled with hot college students and regularly boasts a DJ or a Guitar Hero tournament, that is.) The spicy Bloody Mary ($7.50) is killer: just the right combination of horseradish and tomato. Nighttime at Orleans means you have to be quick to nab a lounging spot, but with all of the flirting and dancing going on, nobody will bat an eyelash that you're just there to take it all in.
It's actually much easier to enjoy Bukowski Tavern (50 Dalton Street, Boston, 617.437.9999; 1281 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, 617.497.7077) when you're there alone, mostly because the music is so loud you can barely hear yourself talk, much less anyone else. With one of the most comprehensive beer selections (and tattoo collections) in town, Buk's is the kind of place where you can slide up to the bar for a burger and a beer without anyone making a big deal out of the fact that you're there by yourself. Sometimes the hipster staff is friendly, sometimes they're aloof, but who cares? They don't give a damn that you're drinking alone. They don't give a damn about anything. The beer list reads like a multilingual novel and the food is cheap and good. And despite the laissez-faire punk-rock atmosphere, sports fans have a home here: I watched the Red Sox reverse the curse in 2004 at the Cambridge Buk's. Even did a little Papelbon-type jig with a waitress.
See, drinking solo doesn't have to be lonely or creepy. It may take a little courage to sidle up to the bar on your own, but once you're there, relax. Nobody's judging you. And the best part about going out alone? You can come and go as you please, be whomever and however you want to be, and no one will know the difference. @
[Photo by Mitch Weiss]
