This place is SO cool! We had several drinks and they were all delicious and garnished so…read moreelegantly. I had a hard time finding out how to get through the bookcase at first (it was actually pretty pathetic watching me try lol) but finally found the handle. The inside was so warm, cozy and had a sexy, cool vibe. Everyone who works there is super nice and helpful and I love the vibe of the bartenders' outfits (one even wore a paperboy hat which just fit with the style). I love this place and will absolutely be back.

Solid solid 5 stars, why isn't this the top bar? Love the Hidden Door, tried the small bites plate…read moreand artichoke dip this visit. The Benton's Old Fashion was smooth & smokey, a great drink. Leather seating, film noir backdrop w a twist of great recorded tunes and lighting, great service.

A very fun bar with great cocktails. Cool ambiance and delicious smoked wings! Speak easy vibes…read morewith friendly bar staff. Easy to park and walk as well.

The Cellar is located below the Bell Inn, and they did a great job restoring the building. When we…read morearrived it was a little busy at 730pm on a Saturday, and it died down a bit and picked up again at 9:30pm. I'm glad they are doing well. We ordered a round of apps/small plates and drinks. Food was good/average. We would come back as it's down the street. They have weekly specials. Monday from 8pm to close is $1 oysters. Tuesday is military appreciation, free app with purchase and Wednesday is $0.50 wings. 5pm-close.

I used to go here when it was Opus and they hosted live shows in the location and was initially sad…read morewhen they changed it up. I went here with friends one night and was pleasantly surprised. It had a speakeasy vibe and I loved the drinks and decor. It's definitely a great place to swing by before going out and the service was great. They also had some of the awesome sushi rolls they used to serve there when it was known as Opus. It can be a bit tricky to find but look for the alley to the right of the main restaurant and you should be able to find it!

Strong drinks and good vibes here…read more It was a little hard to sit at the bar on a Friday night but my sister and I grabbed two seats when they first opened. We try to go on Saturday night but it was too busy and ended up going to another bar.

Order the red rum and Ursa Major Christine 2026. Great service and drinks all around with a great…read morevibe

My sister and I stopped in for a drink. It's a nice walk from the main area of Salem. The drink…read moremenu has many things to choose from. I like that all the liquor is made on site and the bartender could speak to any allergies to ensure my cocktail was made to my liking. You can sign up distillery tours but we did not during our visit.

After an exhausting late-night summoning ritual, I needed a strong drink, a bite to eat, and a spot…read moreto decompress before heading back into the void. All Souls Lounge in Salem was the perfect sanctuary. It's a small, intimate spot that fills up fast, if you don't get there early, you'll be left haunting the sidewalk waiting for a table. Luckily, they offer outdoor seating, which was great for cooling off after spending two hours surrounded by ceremonial candles. The service was remarkably fast for a packed house. The cocktails were delicious and flavorful, though if you're looking to banish your inner demons in one sip, note that they aren't the absolute strongest in town. What really stole the show, however, was the food menu: they have a massive selection of gourmet grilled cheeses and hot dogs. Speaking of which: after finishing my meal, I went home inspired to attempt another quick ritual. I was trying to summon an ancient Hot Dog Spirit to bless my midnight snack cravings, but I mangled the Latin incantation and accidentally conjured a Grilled Cheese Ghost instead. Now my apartment smells like toasted sourdough, and there is a glowing ectoplasmic slice of melted cheddar hovering over my couch. Overall, a fantastic spot to refuel whether you're a local, a tourist, or just an exhausted practitioner of the dark arts. Highly recommend!

We were walking about in Salem and stopped at the all souls lounge for a couple drinks…read more We sat outside which was perfect for people watching. It's a great spot!!

The Babe is an adorable and unique little restaurant and bar in the outskirts of downtown Salem and…read moreit's a little gem! We easily found street parking and were seated quickly. I loved that they have various music nights and on this night, a few people brought in vinyls since it was BYO vinyl night. We had the mozz pockets (yum) and the Carolina gold wings (also yum). For the main meals, I had the Mr. Falafel wrap which was freaking delicious. It was the best thing I had tasted there and I'd return for that wrap alone! My gf had the Culture Fit burger and enjoyed it too. The drinks were top notch and the service was good as well. I'll definitely be back!

We stopped into the Babe for lunch on a very busy Halloween and were seated right away. The seating…read morearea was cute and cozy. We split the smash burger, which was excellent. We also got the garlic fries, which were a bit too garlicky for our taste, but the fries themselves were good. The cocktails were also very good. Our server was very attentive and provided helpful menu suggestions. We would definitely visit again.

My Husband and I love it there! Great Food (Steak tip Scampi is one of our favorites and Chicken Al…read moreCapone is another and many more) Never had a bad meal there. Also a Great friendly Staff

We were seated right away, it was busy but lots of seating and live music. Great service, arge…read moreportions, amazing bread delicious food.

I'm so proud of my hometown for having a secret bacon pop-up. I'm more proud of myself for being in…read moreSalem on a Wednesday evening, and for my sister for reminding me about Back Alley Bacon, even though I do follow them on Facebook. I got a kick out of being handed my food by someone in a pig mask. Other reviews give you the low-down, so I'll discuss the food. The menu (only one item, or one item plus snacks) is posted by the intercom. On the evening I went, it was a pulled pork sandwich. I opted for the snacks option, and it came with root beer, Utz chips, and an oatmeal creme cookie. The sandwich was delicious. I got one for my dad too, and he loved it. The pork was well-seasoned and the bacon was thick, crisp, and tasty. The bun was also good. I feel like buns are often an afterthought with sandwiches, but not here. It was a high quality Kaiser roll, and it held up to the toppings (pork, bacon, slaw) well. The house-brand root beer was also good. If you find yourself in Salem by 5:15 p.m. on a Wednesday evening, get in line for Back Alley Bacon and enjoy.

I've been to a number of secret cocktail speakeasies and secret sit down dinners back at home in…read moreNYC, but never to a back alley for clandestine comestibles of a porcine nature. Leave it to Salem, MA to make such a magical moving feast happen. Obtain the secret password and ring the bell by the red lantern. Someone will reply on the intercom; provide the password and the number of eaters in your party. Make sure you have exact change! Pay in cash and a surprisingly snorty gent in a pig mask will deliver a special dinner and drink. Pop a squat with your provisions by the old cemetery and dine all'aperto.

The Cellar, underneath the Inn. First time going to this place, we arrived when they were opening…read more The door was locked, so we sat in the rocking chairs. Someone that works there had walked past us several times, and opened the door. We wandered in, and she said the restaurant was in the basement. When we left, we saw a sign for Cellar. Not knowing the restaurant was named the Cellar, the sign wasn't clear/meaningful. Anyway, we got there eventually. The decor was pretty nice (definitely more bar than restaurant). We chose a table in a quiet corner, which was beneficial and not. The wait staff was very friendly, but we were a bit out of sight out of mind for them. All the food was great, and the cocktail was expertly made, exceeding expectations. They have popovers as the table accoutrements, which are a personal favorite of mine! As mentioned above, I'd consider this a (speakeasy decor) bar with food options, that would be a solid social/meet up spot, with great drinks.

I had dinner at The Bell Inn & Tavern with my mom for an early Mother's Day celebration since it's…read morewhere she wanted to go. She and much of my family really like this place and rave about it, but my overall first impression was definitely a mixed bag. My mom made the reservation for Saturday at 4:45pm in the dining room. We arrived a little early, so she showed me around the beautifully renovated building. When we checked in with someone, they redirected us to the bar area downstairs as they were holding a private event in the main dining area. Okay, not a big deal to us. However I could understand if someone else might get a little annoyed at being told they had to go to the bar area when they specifically asked for the dining room on their reservation. I have to say that I do love the downstairs bar area, it's classy and has a vintage speakeasy vibe. We were quickly greeted by one of the guys working the bar who was super nice and did a great job. For a drink I started with their version of an espresso martini, which was a good start to the food experience and gave me high hopes. They brought us out some popovers which to me were just okay. For an appetizer we got some buffalo chicken dip, which was quite delicious. For dinner my mom got a Caesar salad (which I tried a little bit of and thought was good) and a flatbread pizza that was on special. I decided to be a little bougie and went with the braised short ribs, and I regret to say that the dish fell flat for me. The short rib did come apart okay when I stuck my fork in it, but it was kind of chewy, bland and overall really didn't have much flavor. The menu also states that the short rib is served with broccolini (which is a milder, sweeter version of the green vegetable) but it came with regular plain broccoli instead, which I was also quite honestly disappointed by. With all that being said the polenta was my favorite thing on the plate. I'm a little conflicted. The place is beautiful and the staff is so nice. But with how much it was hyped up to me, I was a little let down. I'm kind of thinking that I should've went with another dish? I really want to truly love this place, so I'm sure I'll be back with family at some point to give them another chance.