Jul 1, 2022 - Food and Drink

A night at Hecate, Back Bay Boston's hidden bar

Steph Solis

A white mug showing a tequila cocktail topped with ice and pink dragonfruit powder on top on a bar counter. — My personal favorite is this tequila drink called santa muerte, or "dead saint," which includes tequila, Chinola passion fruit liqueur and dragonfruit powder. Photo: Steph Solis/Axios

The Back Bay's seemingly most exclusive bar fills up as soon as it opens at 6pm, with the waitlist packed in minutes — mostly because the venue only seats some 20 people at a time.

This bar's been open since April, but I stopped in for the first time earlier this month.

Why it matters: The hidden bar, named Hecate after the Greek goddess of magic and spells, adds a bit of intrigue to the popular shopping district.

The bartender serves complex yet balanced cocktails that are mixed with elderflower, Tropi-Cola and other less-common ingredients.

Yes, but: Getting there requires a keen eye. The entrance is in an alleyway off Gloucester Street, and the only clue is Hecate's logo, which features two keys, the sun and a crescent.

Know before you go: Hecate is open 6pm to 1am Wednesday through Saturday, and is first-come first-served, no standing room allowed.

You can go solo or with up to three other people.
The queue forms early. I showed up at 5:30pm on a Saturday, thinking I'd be among the first. About a dozen people had already lined up in the alleyway.
If you don't make it in the first round, Hecate can add you to the waitlist and text you when a spot opens up.

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A night at Hecate, Back Bay Boston's hidden bar

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