The bars in Boca Raton are spread out more than in Delray or Fort Lauderdale, but the best of them cluster in a few places: Mizner Park and Royal Palm Place downtown, the SE 1st Avenue strip a few blocks away, and a handful of standouts up and down Federal Highway. This guide covers where to drink, dance and catch a band, from a dedicated concert room to Irish pubs, a Belgian style brewery and a downtown club. Every venue below was checked against its own website or socials.
Quick Picks
- Best for live bands: The Funky Biscuit, Royal Palm Place.
- Best for dancing: Cosmo’s Nightclub and Lounge, Downtown Boca.
- Best for a DJ every night: O’Brian’s Irish Pub, Downtown Boca.
- Best Irish pub: The Irishmen, North Boca.
- Best craft beer: Barrel of Monks Brewing, Rogers Circle.
- Best happy hour: Tap 42, Boca Center.
The Funky Biscuit
Tucked into Royal Palm Place at 303 SE Mizner Blvd, The Funky Biscuit calls itself a live music concert venue and restaurant, and it books like one: blues, classic rock, jazz, jam bands, funk and reggae, plus a steady run of tribute acts such as Dirty Work, a Steely Dan tribute. Recurring nights include Jammin’ Taco Tuesday and a Friday happy hour set with Twocan Blue. Most shows are ticketed, so buy ahead for the bigger names. For more stages like this one, see our guide to Boca Raton’s best spots for live music (get directions).
Max’s Grille
The only original restaurant still operating in Mizner Park, Max’s Grille has been at 404 Plaza Real since 1991. Its outdoor bar is the reason it is on this list: it pours signature cocktails, beer and wine under the arcades and hosts live music at the outdoor bar, weather permitting. It is the natural first drink before a show at the Mizner Park Amphitheater (get directions).
Tryst
A few doors down at 431 Plaza Real, Tryst is the Mizner Park outpost of Subculture, the Palm Beach County group behind Respectable Street and Dada. It pairs a chef driven menu with an old school bar room. Hours run 11am to 10pm Sunday through Wednesday, to midnight on Thursday and to 2am on Saturday, which makes it one of the later options in the plaza. Good for a date or a cocktail that feels a step up from a pub (get directions).
O’Brian’s Irish Pub
A family run pub at 51 SE 1st Ave, O’Brian’s Irish Pub is open 11am to 2am every day of the year, with happy hour from 11am to 8pm Monday through Friday. Its weekly lineup is almost all DJs: Margarita Monday with DJ Ginger, Turnt Up Tuesday with DJ MAD, karaoke on Wednesday with KJ Aaron, Thirsty Thursday with DJ Nick Block, Fired Up Friday with DJ BeatsByHunt and DJ MAD again on Saturday nights. It skews young and loud. Wednesday is covered in our karaoke in Boca Raton guide (get directions).
Cosmo’s Nightclub and Lounge
A block away at 99 SE 1st Ave, Cosmo’s Nightclub and Lounge took over the former Platforms space and was rebuilt with new bars, lighting, sound and a VIP section. It is the closest thing downtown Boca has to a proper club, and it is open Wednesday through Saturday only, from 8pm or 9pm until late. Pair it with O’Brian’s for an easy two stop night on the same street (get directions).
The Irishmen
North of downtown at 1745 NW 2nd Ave, The Irishmen is a proper neighborhood Irish pub with a full kitchen serving until midnight and a band schedule posted on its website. It opens at 11am on weekdays and 10am on weekends and stays open until 2am daily, with happy hour running until 7pm every day. St. Patrick’s Day is its biggest night of the year, with bands and a special menu (get directions).
Crazy Uncle Mike’s
Up Federal Highway at 6450 N Federal Hwy, Crazy Uncle Mike’s is a brewery, restaurant and live music room in one, with seating for almost 200, an oversized stage and beer brewed on site. It runs happy hour every day from 3pm to 7pm and books local bands as well as touring acts. It stays open until 2am on Friday and Saturday, so it works as a full night rather than a stop (get directions).
Barrel of Monks Brewing
At 1141 S Rogers Circle #5, Barrel of Monks Brewing makes Belgian inspired beer: The Wizard witbier, Three Fates tripel and Waypoint IPA among the flagships. The taproom hosts comedy nights, trivia, jazz and blues, beer releases and seasonal parties. Hours are 4pm to 10pm Monday through Thursday, 4pm to 11pm Friday, noon to 11pm Saturday and noon to 7pm Sunday (get directions).
Tap 42 Craft Kitchen and Bar
In the Shops at Boca Center at 5050 Town Center Circle, Tap 42 is the after work pick for central Boca. Happy hour runs Monday through Friday from 3pm to 6pm at the bar, with dollars off craft beer, wine, cocktails and spirits, and bottomless brunch runs Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 3pm. There is a string lit patio for warmer nights. It closes at midnight on Friday and Saturday (get directions).
Planning a Night Out in Boca Raton
Downtown is the only part of Boca you can do on foot. Max’s Grille and Tryst sit side by side in Mizner Park, The Funky Biscuit is a short walk south in Royal Palm Place, and O’Brian’s and Cosmo’s are a block apart on SE 1st Avenue. A good order is drinks at Max’s, a show at The Funky Biscuit, then O’Brian’s and Cosmo’s for the late part of the night.
The Irishmen, Crazy Uncle Mike’s, Barrel of Monks and Tap 42 are each a short drive from downtown, so plan on rideshare if you are combining them. Friday and Saturday are the busiest nights everywhere, and Cosmo’s only opens Wednesday through Saturday. Parking downtown gets tight on weekends and on Mizner Park Amphitheater show nights, so arrive early or take a ride. If you want more choice, Atlantic Avenue is 15 minutes north: see our guide to bars in Delray Beach.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best bars in Boca Raton?
For a classic downtown night, start at Max’s Grille in Mizner Park, catch a band at The Funky Biscuit, then finish at O’Brian’s Irish Pub or Cosmo’s on SE 1st Avenue. The Irishmen and Crazy Uncle Mike’s are the top picks outside downtown.
What is Boca Raton nightlife like?
More relaxed than Fort Lauderdale or Miami. Most nights revolve around bars with music and food rather than big clubs. Cosmo’s is the main dance club downtown, and O’Brian’s has a DJ most nights of the week.
What are the best Mizner Park bars?
Max’s Grille has a big outdoor bar with live music when the weather allows, and Tryst stays open until 2am on Saturday. The Funky Biscuit in neighboring Royal Palm Place is a short walk away.
Which Boca Raton bars have live music?
The Funky Biscuit books ticketed shows most nights, Crazy Uncle Mike’s has a full stage and books local and touring bands, The Irishmen posts a band schedule, and Barrel of Monks hosts jazz and blues nights. Max’s Grille has music at its outdoor bar.
Which bars in Boca Raton stay open until 2am?
O’Brian’s and The Irishmen are open until 2am every day, Cosmo’s runs until 2am on its late nights, Crazy Uncle Mike’s stays open until 2am on Friday and Saturday, and Tryst closes at 2am on Saturday.
Header photo: Infrogmation of New Orleans, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0.
