The Hawthorne

The Hawthorne is a cocktail bar at 500A Commonwealth Avenue in Kenmore Square, Boston, Massachusetts, set below street level in the Hotel Commonwealth building close to Fenway Park and Boston University. The bar draws on the craft cocktail tradition, with a focus on classic recipes, inventive house drinks and carefully chosen spirits, and it has been a reference point for Boston's cocktail scene. The room is intimate and softly lit, with a bar, banquettes and small tables, and the atmosphere is polished but not stuffy. The crowd is adult, often in their late twenties to fifties, and includes hotel guests, Red Sox fans on game nights, university staff, couples and cocktail enthusiasts. Dress is smart casual, and there is no strict door policy beyond ID checks. Music is a curated background mix at low volume so that conversation stays easy. The drinks programme features stirred and shaken classics, seasonal creations, a long spirits list including whiskey and amaro, plus wine and a limited beer selection; a small food menu of bar snacks and plates is available. Prices sit in the upper tier, with cocktails commonly in the mid-to-high teens. Posted hours run approximately daily from 5pm to 1am, with the strongest demand between 8pm and midnight Thursday through Saturday and before or after Red Sox home games. There is no cover charge. Reservations may be accepted for parties and are worth considering at weekends, though walk-ins are welcome when space permits. Bottle service is not a feature. The Kenmore Square location is next to the Green Line station, so visitors can reach it without a car, but game days compress seating and lengthen waits.