Sign up for The Dish
Stay up to date on the latest food and drink news from Boston.com.
The best espresso martinis in Greater Boston
This list of espresso martinis include our food writer's picks, as well as reader recommendations.
An espresso martini drinker is always a stone’s throw away from a great version of the drink here in Greater Boston.
Whether it’s a coffee cocktail for brunch or for a night out, an espresso martini will be on the menu, and if it isn’t, the bartender has probably made several that day by request.
This 80s-born, 90s-cool cocktail had a resurgence in popularity, starting in the 2010s and taking off even more post-2020.
The espresso martini is popular just about anywhere, but bartenders said it’s especially loved in Boston. If you think about it, the coffee cocktail is basically an iced Dunkin’ latte with vodka in it.
Advertisement:
It’s also the case that just about every bar in the city has their own take on the espresso martini.
It can be a small tweak to the drink that traditionally pairs vodka, coffee liqueur, and espresso. Or it can be a major makeover, switching out base liquors or mixing in flavors of mint or citrus.
It’s a great time to be a fan of this beverage. The list below includes a select few that come recommended from Boston.com food writer Katelyn Umholtz, as well as a full guide of reader-recommended options.
Best espresso martinis in Boston
Baleia
The word refreshing has never been used to describe an espresso martini — until now. That’s because at Baleia, the bartenders at this Portuguese restaurant pair mint and coconut rum with espresso and a chocolate coffee liqueur. You’ll find what’s called a “Mazagran Martini,” named after an iced coffee drink out of Algiers, on Baleia’s dessert menu. And if a decaf espresso martini is what you seek, you’ll feel no judgement on that front from this bar team.
Advertisement:
264 E. Berkeley St., South End
Bar Vlaha
Maybe the least traditional espresso martini to make the list, the Pump the Briki comes with a straw, ice, and as the name suggests, in a pot known as a Briki. But what’s inside the long-handled pot is still very much an espresso martini, made with Greek coffee and a Cyprus dessert wine that makes this entry sweeter and richer. Just like a typical Greek iced coffee, this beverage comes with a foamy, coffee-flavored top.
1653 Beacon St., Brookline
Bricco
It’s Boston’s most well-known espresso martini. The Bricco espresso martini is available at multiple restaurants in the North End and beyond and also has a bottled version called DRINKTHAT sold in liquor stores. Their classic version combines vanilla vodka, Baileys, Kahlua, a hazelnut liqueur, amaretto, and espresso, served with raw sugar and cocoa around the rim.
241 Hanover St., North End
Caffe Vittoria
If the coffee is the best part of an espresso martini for you, or you insist it’s served with real espresso, then going to an Italian cafe known for its coffee and coffee cocktails is your best bet. A trip to Caffe Vittoria isn’t just worth it for the espresso martini, made with Absolut, Baileys, and Kahlua: This 1929 cafe decorated with old photos and antique espresso machine equipment feels like it’s from another era.
Advertisement:
290-296 Hanover St., North End
Grill 23 & Bar
Bostonians who much prefer their iced coffee in the dead of winter will also enjoy this icy espresso martini at Grill 23, which has taken home the title of Best Espresso Martini for two years in a row, according to guests at Time Out Market. Every martini gets crushed ice around the glass at Grill 23, keeping the drink cold, and you can thank the Aquafaba shaken in this classic espresso martini for that thick, foamy head.
161 Berkeley St., Back Bay
Offsuit
This tucked-away cocktail bar crafts several fun and well-done drinks, yet they’re still known for their espresso martini — bluntly named the espresso f***ing martini. The drink even has its own shirt for sale. It’s creamy and frothy without taking too much away from the coffee flavor, supplied by both espresso and Mr. Black coffee liqueur, and you’ll also taste some nutty and plum notes. You’ll wish your next latte tasted this good.
5 Utica St., Leather District
Map: Best espresso martinis in Massachusetts, 2025
List: Where to find the best espresso martinis in Massachusetts
| Restaurant | Address | What readers said |
|---|---|---|
| Abby Park | 550 Adams St, Milton, MA 02186 | |
| Abe & Louie’s | 793 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02116 | |
| Alba Restaurant | 1486 Hancock St, Quincy, MA 02169 | |
| Alcove | 50 Lovejoy Wharf, Boston, MA 02114 | “My daughters introduced me to my first espresso martini – and they insisted we had to taste my first one at Alcove- which they say makes the best in town. I have to agree!” Tammy from Andover |
| Althea | 2 Columbia St, Cambridge, MA 02139 | |
| Baleia | 264 E Berkeley St, Boston, MA 02118 | |
| Bar Mezzana | 360 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA 02118 | |
| Bar Vlaha | 1653 Beacon St, Brookline, MA 02445 | |
| Branch Line | 321 Arsenal St, Watertown, MA 02472 | |
| Bricco | 241 Hanover St, Boston, MA 02113 | |
| Bully Boy Distillers | 44 Cedric St, Boston, MA 02119 | |
| Caffè dello Sport | 308 Hanover St, Boston, MA 02113 | |
| Caffè Paradiso | 255 Hanover St, Boston, MA 02113 | |
| Caffe Vittoria | 290-296 Hanover St, Boston, MA 02113 | “Hands down not even close” – Cam T. from Worchster |
| Ciao Roma | 5 N Square, Boston, MA 02113 | |
| Cibo Matto Caffe | 254 Chauncy St, Mansfield, MA 02048 | |
| da LaPosta | 825 Washington St, Newton, MA 02460 | “It’s perfectly balanced and comes with an adorable little bag of chocolate covered espresso beans clipped to the glass with a tiny clothes pin!” – Kim S. from Newton |
| Eva | 279a Newbury St, Boston, MA 02115 | |
| Exchange Street Bistro | 67 Exchange St, Malden, MA 02148 | |
| Fishbones | 34 Central Square, Chelmsford, MA 01824 | |
| Florentine Cafe | 333 Hanover St, Boston, MA 02113 | |
| Fratelli Restaurant | 1 Broadway, Everett, MA 02149 | |
| Frenchie Wine Bistro | 560 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02118 | |
| Gracenote Coffee | 72 High St, Boston, MA 02110 | |
| Grill 23 & Bar | 161 Berkeley St, Boston, MA 02116 | |
| Kaia | 370 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA 02118 | |
| La Padrona | 38 Trinity Pl, Boston, MA 02116 | |
| MIDA | 261 Walnut St, Newton, MA 02460 | |
| Modern Pastry – Underground | 263 Hanover St, Boston, MA 02113 | “The only correct answer is a dark espresso martini from Modern Underground. Any other answer especially in the North End is incorrect.” – Hannah from North End |
| Novara | 556 Adams St, Milton, MA 02186 | |
| OAK Long Bar + Kitchen | 138 St James Ave, Boston, MA 02116 | |
| Papa Razzi | 16 Washington St, Wellesley, MA 02481 | |
| Porter Belly’s Pub | 338 Washington St, Brighton, MA 02135 | |
| Publico Street Bistro | 11 Dorchester St, Boston, MA 02127 | |
| Quattro | 264 Hanover St, Boston, MA 02113 | |
| Raso’s Bar & Grille | 209 Mystic Ave, Medford, MA 02155 | |
| Saigon Babylon | 907 Main St Floor 5, Cambridge, MA 02139 | |
| SAVR | 150 Seaport Blvd, Boston, MA 02210 | |
| Semolina Kitchen and Bar | 572 Boston Ave, Medford, MA 02155 | |
| Settler | 2 Lynde St, Salem, MA 01970 | “A true espresso martini—dark, smooth, and delicately balanced.”- Justina from Marblehead |
| Shamrock Pub | 360 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA 02118 | |
| Sloane’s | 197 N Harvard St, Allston, MA 02134 | |
| Soma | 256 Cabot St, Beverly, MA 01915 | |
| Sorellina | 1 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02116 | |
| Stockyard Restaurant | 135 Market St, Brighton, MA 02135 | |
| Sulmona | 608 Main St, Cambridge, MA 02139 | |
| Thaiger Den – Refined Thai Cuisine | 157 Pleasant St, Malden, MA 02148 | |
| The Merchant | 60 Franklin St, Boston, MA 02110 | “Best creamy and expresso martini Extremely plesent enviroment and great food.” – Hector P. from Boston |
| The Oysterman – Scituate | 348 Driftway, Scituate, MA 02066 | |
| The Paddle Inn | 27 State St, Newburyport, MA 01950 | |
| The Smoot Standard | 313 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139 | |
| Tradesman Coffee Shop & Pizza Bar | 50 Hood Park Dr, Boston, MA 02129 | |
| Venetian Moon | 680 Main St, Reading, MA 01867 | |
| Waverly Kitchen & Bar | 231 Bunker Hill St, Charlestown, MA 02129 | |
| West On Centre | 1732 Centre St, West Roxbury, MA 02132 |
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com