😛🍹 Cocktails taste better up here

☀️🚣 Hot girl summer starts on the Charles. We’re teaming up with Paddle Boston for an epic boat day on Saturday, June 6. For $25, you’ll pick a kayak or paddleboard, then hit the river for a 90-minute paddle. Members save $5. You in? Grab a ticket here! 

👀 What’s on tap today:

Up first…

The only thing better than a cocktail on a patio? A cocktail on a rooftop patio. 

Just in time for 90-degree weather, Boston mag dropped their guide to Boston’s best rooftop bars. Here’s where to dine in the sky:

🏙️ Rooftop at the Envoy, Seaport. If you’re looking for good drinks and better views, look no further than this Best of Boston-winning Seaport spot. There are firepits for chilly nights, umbrellas for hot days, the cocktail list is straightforward and solid (pro tip: try the lychee frosé), and obviously, the skyline views are chef’s kiss.

🌱 Saigon Babylon, Central Square. As noted in its Best of Boston 2025 win, Saigon Babylon could coast on its views alone — but luckily, the menu also slaps. They put in WORK to create a legit secret garden vibe on the rooftop (see: moving 6,000 pounds of stone), and the end result is gorg. Pair it with a craft cocktail and we’re there.

🌸 Esmai’s Restaurant & Bar, Coolidge Corner. PSA: There is, in fact, a rooftop bar in Brookline. It’s not quite as high up as a Seaport skyscraper, but it has a distinctly cozy, neighborhood feel, with 45 seats under a pergola dripping in twinkle lights and floral decor. Bonus: All the house cocktails are $15, and mocktails are $10!

🤪 Felipe’s Taqueria, Harvard Square. Say what you will about Felipe’s — the line wraps around the block, it’s usually packed, and it’s college kid-city — but most of the time, the vibes are worth it. The frozen margs are cheap, it’s open until 1:45 a.m. on the weekends, and the views are better than they need to be — a triple threat, if you ask us.

💐 Daedalus, Harvard Square. If you’re cool with leaving by midnight, this 25-year-old neighborhood haunt is a great shout. Umbrella-covered seating, tons of flowers and fairy lights, and a distinctly more chill crowd make it feel like you’re sitting on your neighbor’s deck. And we’ve heard they make a mean sangria!

🍺 Dorchester Brewing Company, Dorchester. This roof deck is big and cozy, with plenty of space to spread out. Bonus points for the adjoined indoor space with huge greenhouse-style windows. Plus, a visit means you can enjoy barbeque eats from on-site restaurant M&M BBQ and check out the Museum of Bad Art, free of charge. 

🌆 Ready to raise the roof? Check out Boston’s full list here.

🎶😌 The music is the same. The experience? Slightly upgraded. Leader Bank Pavilion’s premium experiences mean private seating, VIP access, and a smooth start-to-finish flow — no scrambling, no guesswork. Whether you’re hosting or just want a more dialed-in night out, it’s a better way to do live music (especially when the backdrop is the Boston Harbor). Explore upcoming shows and build your own premium experience today. 

🏙️ Downtown Boston is fighting a serious case of the Mondays. We know it’s been riding the foot-traffic struggle bus since the pandemic, but a quick look at the data reveals that Monday foot traffic has been steadily clawing its way back. See: The area clocked about 4.2 million Monday visitors in 2025, according to the Downtown Boston Alliance — around 70% of the way back to its pre-COVID figure. Atta girl! Throw in some tourists and beautiful weather, and Mondays start feeling more like, well … Tuesdays.

🍻 Grab your bestie, a brew, and a dead horse to beat. ‘Cause the Globe’s list of the 11 best beer gardens around Boston right now is live! This year’s featured newbies include Trillium Garden at Boston Harbor Hotel for stellar waterfront views; Wollaston Gardens in Quincy for fire pits and a bandstand, and the gorgeous Mighty Squirrel Biergarten at Gore Place that’s literally on a farm. They’ve organized the others by best views, great food, and extracurricular activities (think: fitness classes and trivia nights). Skim the whole list here.

🎶 Your summer of free concerts starts now. Berklee's iconic Summer in the City music series, which features 200+ free concerts by students, faculty, and alumni at iconic locations around Boston, is BACK. You can catch them live May through September at places like the BPL, the ICA, Lyrik Back Bay, even the Boston Harbor Islands! Bonus: There will also be performances at Time Out Market on Thursdays as part of its new The Tiny Stage Series. Browse the concert lineup here.

🪦 Pour one out for Scholars … and Amelia’s. Shot: Scholars American Bistro & Cocktail Lounge in Downtown Crossing officially closed up shop last weekend. Chaser: Ownership plans to reopen the space later this summer as Off The Rails Boston, a new restaurant and bar focusing on live music and entertainment. Shot: Amelia’s Taqueria in Brighton just closed after 14 years in biz. Chaser: Whole Foods is opening up a smaller-format grocery store in the Seaport. *chokes on chaser*

We dropped 20 $20 spots for B-Side Members to RACE Cancer's May 21 Thursday night 5K along the Charles River, and they're going fast! This chip-timed race includes a post-race party at Marsh Post with beer from Mighty Squirrel and Pinnochio’s pizza. Don't miss out. Register here!

Thought Spotify Wrapped exposed you? Let us introduce you to Spotify’s Party of the Year(s).

To mark their 20th b-day, Spotify rolled out a “Party of the Year(s)” feature that lets listeners explore their all-time streaming history. And yes, we have the Boston data …

In a surprise to literally no one, Noah Kahan’s “Stick Season” took home Boston’s No. 1 spot for most-played song, followed by J. Cole’s “No Role Modelz” (banger), and Taylor Swift’s “Cruel Summer.” And in true college town form, “Mr. Brightside” cracked the top five. 

Some of the top all-time artists include the likes of T-Swizzle, Drake, Morgan Wallen, Kanye West, and Bad Bunny. Dropkick Murphys erasure!

— Written by Gia Orsino and Emily Schario

😛 Thanks for reading! Emily’s most-played song was “679” by Fetty Wap, featuring Remy Boyz. Sorry, you just had to be there …

💜 Special shoutout to today's sponsor, Leader Bank Pavillion Premium Experiences, for supporting local journalism and making live music actually effortless.

💸 The results are in: 45% of B-Siders said they make between $80K-$149K/year. And yet, for many, it still doesn’t feel like enough. “135k a year from my ‘career’ job plus work in a restaurant on the weekends. I don’t live in the city AND I still feel broke!” Retweet. 

💃 Keep up with us @BostonBSide on IG, TikTok, and Twitter. Send comments and suggestions to [email protected] or [email protected].