Another reason why Boston is not the hub of nightlife that it thinks it is. Artificial lines to make it look like there is a party going on while there is nothing inside. Doormen who will make up their own rules & bend them when a buddy shows up is very unnecessary. Rude staff for no absolute reason. I'd rather grab a beer down the street rather than spend a penny in this place. Stay far away!!! I get better service at a dollar store. read more

Ah, I love that the bar is located in the beautiful Liberty Hotel but that's pretty much all I love about it. Been here several times since I live super close to it and it's just a bummer that the drinks here are terrible. I feel like the quality of the drinks have gone downhill. They just mix whatever with the liquor and say hey here's our new cocktail drink! Sometimes the drinks are too watery or too strong. Service here is OK. Last time I went was right after work so it was quite busy and filled with loud douchebags but the waitress actually came to check up on us several times. One star for the service! I still can't grasp the feel of this place. During the week (Mon-Wed) it is pretty quiet and has a classy feel and you can actually go with a date but Thurs-Sat it is filled with obnoxious after work people. I believe it was Thursday night that sometimes they have a DJ and I saw a couple wasted and grinding on each other like nobody's business. It was a disgusting sight. The thing is that Beacon Hill does not have a "lounge" type of bar. So if you are looking for that type of feel, this place is to go but during the weekday. I would recommend staying away from the cocktails and either getting their beer or a specific cocktail that you want made (gin & tonic, Pimms Cup, etc). read more

Totally buzz-worthy. The place is very different then the typical boston scene, has a nice hip vibe with a dash of obscurity minus the arrogance. Great fusion concoctions and nice crowd. Would def come again. read more

I think I'm starting to hate Alibi. Sure, the jail bars are cool but that is pretty much where the cool factor ends. With Alibi you have two options: Option 1: Go on an off night. I don't know what this would be like for a guy but I'm guessing you would spend most of your time trying to hit on the bartender/waitress and then get shot down. Sounds sucky but nothing compared to what you have to go through as a girl. As a girl you can expect to be hit on by a plus 50 yr old man, who might or might not be a baller. You can be sure he will try to buy you a drink but who cares? Not worth the price tag. This such scenario occurred this past Tuesday night. A commercial airline pilot hit on me and my roommate, asked to buy us a drink and we said NO, averted eye contact and kept talking. This was the first round of things we did to get him to go away, any sane person would have left us alone. Now, it might sound cocky of me to talk about this guy obsessively hitting on us...except that this guy was the epitome of creepiness. Old, bald, glasses, ponch, cheap suit and he told my roommate that she looked like she needed to have someone that would 'take care of her'. G.R.O.S.S. Usually I don't mind chatting with an older guy at a bar, they usually provide better conversation. However, older guys have no ability to discern the 'get the fuck away from us' vibe. Which we put up faster than the Starship Enterprise puts up their shields when the Klingons attack. We were only half way done with our drinks but the asshole wouldn't stop touching our legs and back. We asked him not to and he still wouldn't stop. So, I grabbed the waitress, shoved money in her hand and we RAN away...making the critical error of saying that we had to meet someone at Harvard Gardens. We get to HG and breath a sigh of relief...a nice (young) bartender named Rob came over and we told him that we couldn't be happier after getting out of Alibi. We put in our order and got back to our girl talk when, I see my friends eyes get huge and a frightened look take over her face. I turn around and the creepshow followed us! Long story short (well not that short clearly) the guy tried to talk us up again, we moved tables, he followed us again, at which point I gave the 'save us' eyes to the bartender and he came up and made the jerk leave. Thank god. So, if you couldn't tell from that...I wouldn't suggest going to Alibi on an off night. Those creepshows lurk there Sun through Wed for sure. Option 2: Go on a Thursday/Friday/Saturday. Plan to get there early or they will make you wait in a line OUTSIDE. Ew. I don't wear skirts and dresses to go out and then wait outside, especially to get into a bar that is packed and serves 15 dollar martinis. There will be cute guys and girls there to be sure, but they are probably too cool for you. Definitely too cool for me. So I better stick to my usual scene where all the cheap non profit kids hang out. So, if I were you I would SKIP Alibi. Not worth it. But, it might be nice to go on a date...so, if that was the case I might lose my bad attitude. PS...Clink upstairs is almost always WAY less crowded. So give that a shot if you're dying to check out the liberty. read more

The Liberty hotel used to be good but lately the crowd has started slowly degrading in quality and energy. This Friday the place was barely busy with the few people there old grey haired men looking to score. The drinks were watered down. And worse of all - the staff, especially the people at the entrance of Alibi were rude and lacked any social skill. Considering the locale was practically empty, Victor - the bouncer kept yelling at everybody. We were a group of 7 girls and, not only that he was rude, but he physically pushed us out of the way while letting 3 guys in with drinks in their hand and no tickets. One of our friends actually had one of the tickets and he claimed we 'stole it'. Not sure what that means. I used to frequent the Liberty for the fashion Thirsday but I would not recommend going there anymore. Quality has deteriorated. And I am still upset how Victor treated us. read more

Kathryn should get some props. I had a great experience with her. She had great recommendations and from that I can say she has great taste. The French 75 was amazing. The tuna tartar and the carbonara. Don't ask...I was hungry. Time took a little longer but the drinks carried over so I was fine. Ask for Kathryn. read more

Have to give this place five stars now as I am still dating that Norwegian girl mentioned above that I met outside.

Someone please arrest me and sentence me to life in this place. First of all, the staff is super friendly. We were lucky enough to score a table by the bar so we could a) drink wine b) watch the sox win game 1 c) absorb the warm, funky atmosphere. Love the brick walls, mug shots, and high ceilings. Funky leather couches as well as high back chairs and open seating. Nice wine list and affordable. Another thumbs up for having my fav Moulton Brown hand soap and moisturizer--thai vert--in the ladies bathroom. Maybe I could get arrested for stealing them and I wouldnt have to leave? read more

Okay in my books. I was in town with international colleagues.first the bouncers to the building were giving us trouble because they did not carry their passports around and they did not want to check other IDs. Drinks were decently strong. Crowd seems okay--it's not a good mix (hey I'm cosmopolitan). What really floored me with the negativity is that they have a limit on the people in the outside area. I've only heard of that for indoors, so it's a bit ridiculous. Finally, I was making a call and they were pretty rude about me staying inbounds inside that courtyard. read more

I dont get the hype about this place. I go here only because I live in beacon hill and its convenient. Went on sat night with hopes ogf hanging out on the patio. When I tried to go outside a bouncer told me the patio was for vip or guest list only-oh excuse me I didnt realize I was in vegas. This place tries to act way more upscale than it is. Wont be back even out of convenience.... read more

Great meal, great service. Went to meet two people here for dinner as a less-expensive option compared to Clink and Scampo. Based on the set up, I was little nervous about having dinner here, but the burgers we had were fresh and delicious, and the pizza was excellent as well. Reasonable drink prices and an eclectic drink menu. GREAT service and a nice atmosphere. My only suggestion - improve the seating! The couches were awkward and the stool seating for the high tops was too low. Granted, this is a lounge, so it's probably better set up for drinks and tapas rather than having a meal, but could be a bit more comfy. Otherwise, great place to grab an informal bite to eat, meet friends, grab a drink, or hang out. read more

Bouncers walked down the line of folks getting their IDs checked and decided that our group wasn't allowed in because some of the guys in our group were wearing sneakers. (Which is fair, I guess) So we were getting ready to leave and another doorman comes up to us and says he'll let us in if we pay him $50. Super sketchy behavior and rude, awful overall experience. Will never be supporting them with my business in the future. read more

My birthday was a blast!! Thanks to the fabulous staff for making it a memorable one!

I didn't know a bar full of Jos A Bank 500 for the price of 1 suits, shirt and ties out of the box, and hush puppies made an establishment "trendy". My friend was denied for his sneakers which probably cost more than the bouncer's fake alligator loafers purchased at Filenes Basement in 1999. What a joke of a place, this isn't NYC and never will be. read more

Cool atmosphere and located inside of an even cooler hotel. The drinks are pricy, though, and not many are especially exciting. It's worth a visit, but it doesn't strike me as likely being anyone's regular haunt. read more

It's official; Bostonians have elected the Liberty Hotel as the new hot-spot of the city. I can't disagree with the general opinion. Alibi is only one of three options in the hotel, the others being Clink, a lounge full of older rich business men and bored Eastern European foreigners constantly on the prowl for younger women (girls, if that's what you like, you will love this place and probably won't have to pay for your $20 glass of house wine), and Scampo, a great restaurant with fantastic food and perfect wait staff (notice the use of "great", "fantastic" and "perfect" in the same sentence). I will be more extensive about these annexes to the hotel in their own review; let's devote this one to Alibi. If you are lucky enough to make it inside, you can't possibly be disappointed. Unfortunately, their capacity is quite small and the gatekeepers are very strict on fire codes. In and of itself, this isn't a bad thing but you might end up waiting a long time in line before you can start having fun. As you come in, very friendly bouncers smile at you and courteously welcome you into the scene. First, you head for the bar, and that's where the really good stuff comes into play -- also giving Alibi its rating, a hair short of 5 stars. If you are there on the weekend, you might be lucky enough to find Chris and Dave as your bartenders; good looking, engaging, chatty (but not annoying), and most important of all, smiling. They might even throw in a free drink if you know how to smile back... Ladies, this will not be hard; once you see them, you'll know what I mean. Guys, not only will you have the pleasure of enjoying Jess's talents and good looks behind the bar, but you will also have the luxury of all the other waitresses in the house, at your service, also very pleasant, helpful, smiling AND good looking. Don't be cheap, and give them a good tip... it's not easy to work in a place where everyone ends up obliterated. That's right, although the atmosphere might suggest differently at first, don't let yourself be fooled -- everyone ends up feeling at home and drinking as if they were in an Irish pub. Other than the obvious (which is to definitely check this place out), I would suggest you went sooner rather than later, before it starts getting cold out again. Alibi's outdoor setting is big, there are many tables and comfy couches (I have seen many stranger-to-each-other groups become friends by the end of the night by sharing either of the commodities), another cash bar, and you don't have to wait a million years before the waitress serves you. If you are hungry, they will even order a pizza from Harvard Gardens until midnight and deliver it to your table, and at a reasonable price. It will not be long before the Liberty Hotel borrows Charles River Park's sign "If you lived here, you'd be home by now"... and it would be well deserved. read more

I was here the first time they opened, like 5 or 6 years ago and it was better then. I'll say it. I was disappointed with the drink selections, I know these guys know how to make a good cocktail but honestly, there wasn't much on the menu I wanted to try - so i stuck with the sangria. Lydia Shire does not disappoint with the food quality though. That was very delicious. The staff was super friendly, our waitress was the most attentive but not intrusive type that you want at a place like this. I'd visit again since the atmosphere is fun, but I wouldn't rush back. It is pricey but what do you expect. read more

Thank you, Alibi, for watering down our vodka during bottle service. We would have really regretted drinking all of that alcohol. Some bars would try to be sneaky about it; perhaps, a stolen shot here and there, topped off with water. No, you have balls. You steal a good half a bottle of vodka from paying customers and say fuck it, fill it up with water. And then, just for shits, you go and do it again. Thank you, Alibi. read more

Extremely overpriced, but fun for a drink or two. The walls are lined with celebrity mug shots and the space is wonderful, the Liberty Hotel has a lot to offer and Alibi is a neat little hang out spot in an old jail. It's really cool to see how they turned the old cells and cell doors into a posh lounge. The people that go here, though, are kind of snooty and annoying. If not for the creative ideas for the space, I'd probably give it 2-stars. read more

I loved every aspect of this bar lodged in the "drunk tank" of what was the Charles Street Jail. Alibi is a hot spot for locals and tourists alike to sip cocktails while enjoying late night snacking amongst a good crowd. The brick cell walls set are adorned with cheeky images of celebrity mugshots - aka, their "alibis," This hip spot also has an outdoor patio to enjoy drinks and catch some fresh air. read more

After reading the reviews here - many negative - my cougar gals pals and I decided to give it a try this past Saturday night. We won't be back. First of all - yes there was this long line (we didn't arrive until ~ 10:30). Thankfully some lovely 30ish gal told us to go inside - tell the guy blocking the main doors that we were hotel guests and then enter the place from inside the hotel. We did...and went up to the coat check which is located right outside the Ballroom (YES there is one although they are so slow it is a nearly painful process). We then took those elevators down to the first floor and walked up to the door of Alibi. Bouncer said they were "at capacity" and there was a line outside. We responded that we were staying in the hotel...and tuh-dah! we were in! Now we all are smart enough (I hope) to want the capacity of the place to be monitored for fire safety (think the Station Nightclub fire!). But that's not what's going on here...the place was easily half empty. It IS very small but when I tell you they are playing games with this - believe it. There were at least 2 tables that were EMPTY - we easily snagged one. As far as clientele...well, the age group was slightly younger than we expected but we can hold our own so that wasn't a big concern ;o) I'd estimate the average age to be 28-32. The thing that was most troublesome was that it was all either couples or gaggles of chicks! Drinks were priced as expected, and my two companions didn't complain about drink strength (which appeared here as an issue a number of times). Interesting that the bartenders have a bit of trouble tallying up our tab- the first round was $20 and the second $18 (once we went upstairs to the lobby bar it was $24!). My impression was this was going to be a slightly upscale bar, yet my imported beer was unceremoniously handed to me without a glass. When I asked for a glass, I got an eye roll...and a HOT glass, fresh from the dishwasher! I have had beer all over the world and understand that it is served warm in some locales...however, the Northeast of the United States is not one of them! We went back upstairs to the lobby bar (which includes the "La Grande Dame bar"/Veuve Clicquot bar concept. It was very busy with everyone packed into one quarter of the very large space. There was a far better ratio of men/women in comparison to Alibi. However, the same round of drinks was $6 more (of course, this time I got a cold glass for my beer - and without even asking!). Not sure pretentious is the word I'd use to describe either Alibi or the lobby bar as that is extremely negative, but let's just say that the place is trying really hard to be Sobe's Bed or Niki beach and Boston isn't really that "kind of town". When a Mr. Chase informed my very hot blonde cougar friend that he was despondent over "losing $30 million" we knew it was time to go! The hotel itself is fascinating (as much as a hotel can be) and it's in a great location. I could see going here for dinner or perhaps a romantic overnight. I would not recommend bringing a date to one of these bars....it wasn't intimate nor were either of them all that comfortable (lack of seating/uncomfortable seating). read more

Fun lounge/bar inside the liberty hotel. Definitely has a different vibe than a lot of other boston venues to go out on the weekends given the decor (brick walls and iron bars). There's a small dance floor and seating but normally is reserved. There's normally a line to get in or the "one in one out" rule, but worth checking out at least once if you live in Boston. It's nice in the summer since the patio is open. Overall, normally a fun time but can sometimes have an older crowd (mid to late thirties/early forties). read more

Darn. My teammates were looking for an informal-let's-try-something-different-and-fun place for our team outing. It is a very cool place. The pizza was absolutely delicious. We knew the prices were high, but seriously? How difficult would it have been to serve the burgers at the same time the lobster rolls were served? The burgers came out at least 10 minutes after the lobster rolls. And let me add that the French fries were absolutely ice cold. Yes, I know that I should be worrying about world hunger and global warming, and I do, but I just can't let this slide. read more

I was not at Alibi for a very long time because it wasn't as great of a time as I hoped it would be (Unfortunately). I thought it was really cool how it looked like a prison and I found the various celebrities mugshots on the wall to be very funny and clever. I just wish there more people there, I could have possibly went on a slow night. I expected a way better experience! read more

This place is so overated. It might have a really funky decor & all but really people, could you be any more pretentious? This place is for girls to find their sugar daddies, so more power to you. The drinks are not that great either & you pay a pretty penny, so not really worth it. read more

New York for the price of Boston! I love this place. Even with a packed bad the bartenders are snappy... Friendly. Polite even. The crowd was amazing -- professional and grad school crowd the night I went there. People are relatively dressed up, even by Saturday night standards but this place still manages to pull off a laid back vibe. I'd highly recommend this bar. read more

Came here Saturday night on our girls weekend trip. We enjoyed the atmosphere. It was early still so not very crowded which is what we liked about it- we could hear each other talk. The food was really good, but our waitress Ashley was the best part! She was a doll, super sweet and attentive. Subtracting one star because drinks were over priced, but would come back regardless. Thanks Ashley!!! read more

I had 60 people at the Alibi last night for my 50th birthday. I dealt with Chris up until the party and then Andrew took over the night of the party. The food was perfect and the drinks were great. The atmosphere was fun! I had so many calls this morning regarding the fabulous time my guests had at Alibi. Everyone from management, servers, bartenders, and security were polite, professional, and attentive. We will absolutely be back!! read more

Prosecco showed up with a bolt - yes, a bolt from the hardware store - in it. No joke. They gave us a new one, but no comp. Thanks for the tetanus, Alibi. Check your drinks, if you dare drink here. read more

Line way too long. Paid twenty bucks to valet our car and never stept foot inside the hotel. The hostess in the blue dress last night was too buisy socializing and letting friends in the back of the line inside first rather than letting those in the front of the line in first. Maybe the place would actually be fun if they fired the staff at the front door and actually hire employees that want to work. read more

I went to Alibi with a few friends for a fun evening out. We arrived and weren't acknowledged because the waitresses were talking to each other and were on their laptops. We sat and ordered food. I got a pizza that had fruit on it. After a few minutes I noticed that the sliced fruit still had the stickers on it. That means not only was it not washed, but that someone paid so little attention that they sliced the fruit and put it on the pizza with sticker still on it. I informed the server and she just seemed confused and said "oh, sorry" and walked away. I emailed a manager mainly to make sure that others weren't choking on objects that aren't edible - no response. This is the most unprofessional staff I've ever seen. The food is NOT worth the prices - unless of course you like eating stickers. Sorry excuse for a restaurant... read more

My friends and I came to Alibi for a friend's birthday. The crowd consisted of mid-twenty to mid-thirty somethings. The cocktails were great, and the prices were expected in such a nice hotel. The bar was a bit too dark for me, but the music was definitely a plus. I found meter parking to be difficult to find, but valet services are offered for $20-25. read more

I've been a frequent patron of Alibi since they first opened several years ago, so I thought it was time to give my two cents. I have celebrated a few special occasions here: 3 birthdays, and 1 Halloween party (upstairs was sold out..I have moments of procrastination). I have enjoyed every one of my birthdays that I've celebrated here. I'm in my mid 30's, which means my evening doesn't start at 11pm. You can reserve a table prior to 10pm for free which is great for us old folks who want to start at 8pm. The best part is, if the reserved party is a no-show then you get to keep the table (hooray!). That has happened on all 3 of my birthdays spent here. The food is great because they have it sent right over from Scampo. The girls who wait on you are friendly and accommodating. I've never come across any egos or attitude. The manager will even come over and check in to see how your table is. Now on a regular non-celebratory night, I must say I do prefer Fridays over Saturdays. I feel as though Fridays bring in a better crowd and it's not too crowded (the place is pretty narrow). Saturdays you are more likely to find the 22 year old wannabe socialites with their fake Chanel bags and their evil glares trying to snatch a financial dude, or an MGH physician. But I guess they need a place hang out at too. The music is a good mix of today and 90's hip-hop. I love me some Bell Biv Devoe. In the summer, the patio is great! Super comfy couches in a great space make for a delightful evening outdoors. Alibi is consistent, serves good food and drinks, and the staff is friendly. So all haters can just move to the left. read more

Really cool bar inside the old Charles Street Jail and this one is on the ground floor and looks like it used to be a bunch of jail cells. The place is dimly lit and has a lot of seating and gets pretty crowded on weekends. Walls are exposed brick and are lined with famous mug shots of movie stars and recording artists which was pretty funny. Staff is nice and you can actually order appetizers here as well. Cool vibe and quieter than going upstairs into the main lobby bar which gets pretty crowded and loud. Drink menu is cool and some good concoctions, worth a stop in to check this place out! Has outdoor seating in the summer! read more

Note: I have only been here on New Year's Eve so this review cannot accurately describe a typical weekend evening. But the New Year's Eve party was lots of fun! Alibi is a great little hotel bar that's more like a trendy downtown hangout. The whole atmosphere is cool with the prison bars, themed cocktail menu, and celebrity mugshots adorning the walls. The drinks are strong and the staff is super friendly. There was a DJ for the New Year's party, but I was told that they do not normally have one or live music. Not a place to get your groove on if that's what you're looking for. I will definitely be back to sit at the bar and enjoy my cosmo. read more

Incredibly rude staff, stuck up atmosphere and crowd. This place will never get another dollar from me. They ruined a great night.

Located within the Liberty Hotel, Alibi is a really trendy and hip setting whose atmosphere doesn't quite live up to the setting. The walls are littered with celebrity mug shots, from Lindsay Lohan to Hugh Grant, making for an easy and fun topic of small talk. Plenty of places to sit down inside or out if you get there relatively early on a Friday or Saturday, but man does it get busy in a hurry! Bouncers do a good job of keeping ratios balanced so it's not a bro-fest, but there plenty of single dudes hawking around girls. The drinks aren't cheap and while they're good and have some amusing nicknames, they're nothing out of this world. My "dirty harry" was solid but the blue cheese olives weren't that great and the martini could've come out more chilled. Service was also unimpressive. My friends and I were having a great conversation so we weren't drinking heavily and I think our waitress was less than excited about this. We got asked several times whether we wanted the check and there was a sense of disappointment that the three of us only ordered 6 drinks total. That said, at $12-13 apiece, there's not much IMO she should complain about - tips on a $70 tab for an hour or two isn't bad when we could've just ordered a bunch of the vastly cheaper draft beers and ended up with a bill half the size. All in all, I'd go back because it's one of the few places in the area you can go that's a bit upscale without feeling too old, but I doubt I'll make it part of a regular rotation for weekend drinks. read more

Alibi is definitely different from your usual stuffy Beacon Hill bar, although it does attract the same Beacon Hill crowd (plus lots of doctors since it's right next to MGH). We sat under a larger-than-life-sized mug shot of Lindsey Lohan. The modern mug shots juxtaposed against the old-time jail walls and hardware makes for a very interesting ambiance (that would probably get old after repeated visits). Their (slightly pricey) bar menu includes drinks called Doing Thyme and Paddy Wagon to play up the cell block humor. Also check out the GORGEOUS atrium upstairs in Clink. read more

so, there are three things that i liked about alibi: 1. they managed to pay a somewhat subtle homage to the fact that it used to be a prison without going so overboard that it became theme-y and cheesy. so kudos to you, designer. i can't imagine that was an easy task. 2. the cocktails are pretty unique. i had the lychee martini and pomegranate mojito, both deliciously bold in flavor, and my friend had the "doin thyme" (which really did have a big sprig of thyme in it), and the "cool hand cuke" - an interesting and refreshing combo of cucumber and vanilla vodka. delish! 3. the scene was pretty casual and the music was not obnoxious. lucky for us we snagged seats at the bar and lounged comfortably for several hours. the bad things about alibi are pretty typical of any popular bar/club/lounge in boston: - expensive drinks ($13 cocktails - but no cover, so that evens out somewhat) - long line (we were warned to get there at least by 8:30 - which was great advice. our friends, who came at 9:30, had to wait an hour in line) all in all, a pretty good time. read more

Went here for a post-wedding bash. The atmosphere was great, the waitstaff was great, and the outdoor patios were cool. - 1 star for the fact that the drinks- for the price- were pretty weak. Ordered a pizza, and it was fresh and tasty. The male bartender was wicked hot. On a side note, I have to mention that there was about 20-30 of us, but our reservation was at 7- so I can't really speak to shitty door treatment. I did step out for a smoke (ya, ya i know- cancer and all that) and the line was wrapped around the block- at about 10:30- so if you want to check this out w/o having to deal with insane crowds, I'd go early. read more