Barback

6 bars · checked October 2026

The best cocktail bars in Salem, MA

Six Salem bars worth your evening, every one within a short walk of Essex Street, checked open for the October crowds.

If you only have one night

Top picks

Craft cocktails$$$ Downtown SalemLedgerDinner and drinks inside an 1818 bank.Book on OpenTable Speakeasy$$$ Downtown SalemHallowed GroundThe speakeasy under the old Opus space.Book ahead Hotel bar$$ Downtown SalemThe Tavern at the Hawthorne HotelA grand old hotel bar on Salem Common.Book ahead

Bars in an order that works

Ready-made nights

Halloween season · 3 stops · all walkable

A Salem October evening

Dinner in a bank, a speakeasy, then a quiet nightcap at the Hawthorne.

  1. Ledger Downtown Salem

    Book ahead. An early table dodges the worst of the crowds.

  2. Hallowed Ground Downtown Salem

    Down the stairs for a stirred drink.

    About 3 minutes on foot.

  3. The Tavern at the Hawthorne Hotel Downtown Salem

    A calmer room on the Common to finish.

    About 5 minutes on foot.

By neighbourhood

Every bar

Downtown Salem

Everything is within ten minutes on foot of the Essex Street pedestrian mall.

6
Craft cocktails$$$ Downtown SalemLedgerA handsome progressive-New England restaurant and bar inside a historic former savings bank, creative cocktails and a jazz-quartet-on-occasion bar scene.Book on OpenTable Lounge$$ Downtown SalemMercy TavernA cozy, crowded neighborhood bar with live blues and soul leanings, good cocktails and barbecue, gets packed on weekends.Walk-ins only Speakeasy$$$ Downtown SalemHallowed GroundAn all-cocktails basement speakeasy below Dire Wolf Tavern, follow the red light down an alley into the former Opus Underground space.Book ahead Hotel bar$$ Downtown SalemThe Tavern at the Hawthorne HotelOak-paneled, fireplace-warmed hotel tavern on Salem Common, classic mixology with a few modern twists, built for the hotel's centennial.Book ahead Rooftop$$$ Downtown SalemThe Roof at Hotel SalemSalem's only rooftop bar, right in the middle of the Haunted Happenings action with views over downtown.Book on OpenTable Dive with good drinks$ Downtown SalemBit BarAn arcade bar and restaurant with dozens of rotating pinball machines and classic cabinets, craft cocktails and a roomy patio.Walk-ins only

Good to know

Questions

Is Salem busy in October?

Very. The last weekends before Halloween are Salem's busiest of the year, with Essex Street pedestrian-only and real lines at bars. Book anywhere that takes reservations and go early.

How do I get to Salem from Boston without driving?

The Newburyport/Rockport commuter rail from North Station takes about 30 minutes, and the seasonal Salem ferry runs from Long Wharf. Both beat looking for parking in October.

Every bar here was checked against its own site or listing in October 2026. Bars change hours and menus often, so check before a big night.