An upscale cocktail lounge in the Sheraton Boston with craft cocktails and creative small plates. DJs, live music, and an excellent cocktail program make this a popular pre-game and late-night destination.
Highball Lounge at 50 Dalton Street in Boston's Back Bay, located within the Sheraton Boston Hotel, is an upscale cocktail lounge and entertainment venue that has established itself as one of the city's more reliably sophisticated late-night destinations. The cocktail program is the primary draw: the bar team produces craft cocktails using quality spirits, fresh juices, house-made syrups, and seasonal ingredients in a format that takes the mixing seriously without the pretension of some of Boston's more austere cocktail bars. The small plates menu — charcuterie boards, flatbreads, and shared snacks — supports extended drinking sessions without requiring a full dinner commitment. Live music and DJ events run on a regular schedule, with the weekend programming drawing both hotel guests and local regulars who have discovered that the Sheraton bar operates at a quality level above the typical hotel lounge. The room itself has been designed with a contemporary edge — banquette seating, ambient lighting, and a design language that signals nightlife rather than convention center hospitality. The Back Bay Hynes Convention Center and Prudential Center proximity means corporate travelers and conference attendees form a portion of the clientele, but the programming is aimed at a broader entertainment audience. The venue's 2am closing on weekends makes it one of the later-operating quality cocktail destinations in Boston's Back Bay neighborhood.
Good to know
- Hours
- Wed-Sun 5pm-2am
- Reservations
- Recommended on weekends
Location
50 Dalton St, Boston, MA 02115
Highlights
- Craft cocktail program with quality spirits and house-made syrups at a level above standard hotel bar offerings
- Live music and DJ programming on regular weekly and weekend schedules
- Late-night operation until 2am on weekends — one of Back Bay's later-operating quality cocktail venues
- Small plates menu including charcuterie and flatbreads supporting extended evening stays
- Contemporary designed lounge within the Sheraton Boston with Back Bay Prudential proximity
Tips for visiting
- Check the live music and DJ schedule in advance; the specific programming determines the atmosphere and crowd significantly
- Arriving before 9pm on weekends provides seating before the later crowd arrives and the room fills
- The craft cocktail menu is the primary reason to choose Highball over neighboring bars; the standard spirits selection is also solid
- Hotel guests at the Sheraton can access Highball without leaving the building — a genuine convenience after late arrivals
- The small plates are appropriately sized for sharing between two or three people; ordering one or two rounds is sufficient alongside cocktails
Accessibility
Highball Lounge is accessible from the main Sheraton Boston Hotel entrance at 39 Dalton Street, which is fully accessible with automatic doors and elevator access. The lounge itself is on the ground floor with step-free access. Seating includes accessible options. Accessible restrooms are available within the hotel.
Frequently asked questions
Is Highball Lounge only for hotel guests?
No. Highball Lounge is open to the public. Hotel guests at the Sheraton have direct access from within the building, but the venue actively markets to the broader Boston public through its music programming and cocktail reputation.
What type of music does Highball Lounge feature?
The music programming varies by night, with live jazz and acoustic acts earlier in the evening on some nights and DJ sets running later on weekends. The specific schedule is posted on the venue's website and changes seasonally.
What is the dress code at Highball Lounge?
The dress code is smart casual. The venue's contemporary atmosphere makes business casual or smart evening wear appropriate; athletic wear and flip-flops are inconsistent with the lounge environment.
How late is Highball Lounge open?
Highball Lounge operates until 2am on weekends, making it one of the later-closing quality cocktail venues in the Back Bay area. Weekday hours are shorter; the venue typically opens at 5pm.