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    Parla XXI

    3.5 (100 reviews)
    Closed 4:00 pm - 1:00 am (Next day)

    Parla XXI Photos

    PARLA XXI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Parla XXI

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    Madison N.

    What an interesting time we had last night 11/23. Came in after a movie with some friends and it was pretty quiet with lots of tables open. The host gave us a very passive aggressive comment, "you're lucky we had space, next time make a reservation." We were a bit turned off and wanted to leave but stayed because it really is cute in there. I've been to the Parla downtown and I know the drinks are good and the vibes are fun. I got a basic cider (I'm gluten free, kept it simple) my friends played the dice game and rolled all different numbers. All had different experiences but one rolled a #5, wow was that the most pungent disgusting gasoline filled drink we have ever smelled. But that's the name of the game, star gazer must be a throw away drink of the game- not an enjoyable one. We still have a good time though!

    Espresso martini - yum
    Angela D.

    What a neat spot in an unexpected place! We paused at Parla for a casual afternoon catch up on Friday and were delighted. Absolutely surprised by how quiet the space was but by 6p folks started to arrive. The interior matches the menus matches the vibes - an air of punk mystery, game, and good humor. The drinks were incredible - absolutely worth trying the Dungeon rolls and letting the dice pick your destiny!

    Something Pink (D20 #11) and Grandmothers and Frogs
    Lydia L.

    Ok, respect!!! We rolled the D20 twice and got one floral and light and one fruity and bold, both very well balanced. We also did the Grandmothers and Frogs, which was a cool old fashioned riff, and the Patatas Bravas fries, which are just seasoned fries but very good ones. I got my punch card and I can't wait to come back to roll again!

    Kunthea K.

    I'm just basing my review of the drinks and experience that I had, went there on a random Saturday night after some shopping around assembly and the drinks did not disappoint, I like sitting at the bar and ordering from there just because I like to see how the drinks are made and sometime get to interact with the bartenders. Overall it was a good experience for me, food wise, I did not order any food so I can't give any input on that but I will def be back for drinks !

    carpaccio and drink
    Vivian D.

    The vibes in this place is amazing, the wall art is beautiful and mystical almost like you're transported to somewhere else. They're currently doing a dice rolling game where whatever number it lands on corresponds with a cocktail. They then give you a list to fill out each drink as you try, there's 24 options I believe. It's definitely worth trying for a small girls night out or a casual date spot! Servers and bartenders are also very receptive to any questions you have!

    Gloria L.

    I thought the food was pretty good, I was definitely a fan of the lobster ravioli. The sauce was decadent and creamy, and I thought it was a good portion size. I was underwhelmed by the spaghetti carbonara - super duper salty, and couldn't get past that taste. We also got the mussel appetizer which had a great sauce and they piled on the mussels. The crustinis were okay, but that didn't matter since the mussels were so good I didn't care about eating it with that. They also loaded on the onions for the sauce and I loved the pairing of the textures and flavors. Now the reason we came was for the dungeon master - basically you roll a 20-sided dice and that corresponds with a drink. Definitely not for picky drinkers, which is me, but I wanted to try my luck. I absolutely hated both of my drinks, but that's okay, I signed up for that. Others liked their drinks (they also didn't kije mine), maybe I just have bad luck. They give you a card to keep track of what you have so you can make sure you complete the list and become a dungeon master! Also, if you guess 1/2 the ingredients in the drink, you get a free shot, I couldn't for the life of me guess mine, but my bf got one!

    Meg C.

    Had the burger which was solid, but definitely an unhinge your jaw situation, the portobello makes this puppy a tall tall sando. Fries were okay, the smokey aioli made them better. My friend really liked her carbonara. Rolled the dice a couple times, which was fun and I liked both drinks, and the ambiance had sort of a clubby feel with the blue lights, definitely different than the cozy OG spot in the North End. As it got busier it definitely got pretty noisy, but still a cool vibe. Service was great, I had leftovers and we were going to a movie across the way, and they offered to hold the leftovers in a bag for me to retrieve on my way back. Took them up on it and got my food after the movie, no problem!

    Fries
    Josh E.

    My coworkers and I went here on a Thursday night. We ordered drinks after seeing the menu. Unfortunately, the only sodas the restaurant has is ginger ale and regular coke. Quite peculiar for a bar, but we asked multiple times and was told this was true. The drinks were pretty good. For entrees, I got the ribeye, and I added a side of fries. The steak was really good, and the fries were also solid. The salad was the best thing on the menu though. The Caesar salad came with fresh anchovies on the side. I will say, the anchovies were quite mild, but still nice to have as an option. My coworker got the lobster ravioli which he really enjoyed. The gnochi was also enjoyable per my other coworker. The service was adequate, but nothing to write home about. The food was good, but the non alcoholic drink options were appalling for a bar that serves food.

    Tanya J.

    We stopped by for drinks after meeting up with friends downtown. I've said it before and I'll say it again, the addition of places like this in assembly is appreciated and needed! This is a cute cocktail bar closer to the north shore without the headache of going downtown. Depending on the time of day, parking will be a headache- but there are tons of options if you don't mind a walk through assembly row. We got here around 11/12 on a Friday night and the bar was full (a little on the small side) but we sat at the high top and was were met with great service. Lovely ambiance, and the drinks are reasonably priced.

    That watermelon papaya drink ...
    Gio B.

    I really like this place's vibe. Visited this past weekend for the 1st time - thank God it was practically empty! ( I had tried the weekend before and it was packed - we had to go somewhere else in the area). I love the lighting - very smooth, the music appropriate, our server was delightful - I wasn't familiar with their drink menu and she was able to guide me through a drink that she picked for me that TRULY pleased my taste buds! Apparently, the drinks can be crafted especially for you depending on what you like - so don't pay too much attention to the drinks menu if you don't find something that speaks to you. We had the octopus, and the steak and fries - food was ok - we passed on dessert. I would definitely go back - strong place for drinks!

    Hennessey Sidecar
    Arnulfo M.

    I love speakeasy style places and drinks. Sat at the bar with my wife Stephen is reason we will be coming back Top 5 sidecar I have ever had.

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    4 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    Matt S.

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    4 years ago

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    Matt S.

    Tell us more! Condescending how? Inquiring minds want to know!

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    4 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    Matt S.

    If that's how it went down, I'm truly sorry.

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    3 years ago

    Food was average. Extremely rude waitstaff, would recommend going somewhere else for drinks/dinner in Assembly.

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    4 years ago

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    Matt S.

    So glad you enjoyed, John! Hope to see you soon!

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    4 years ago

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    Page 3 of 3

    Ask the Community - Parla XXI

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    backbar

    backbar

    4.4
    (458 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$

    As per usual 10/10 Greeted in door way…read more Clean well stocked bathrooms Welcoming to everyone 80s 90s 2000s knowledgeable stylish Mushroom app and burger were nice treats to add to the awesome studio ghibli themed menu from the BB guide so clever top notch cocktails Cocktails Drinks Music and kikis delivery service on the projector good vibes

    I am a lover of everything studio ghibli so when I saw Backbar was doing essentially a month of…read moredrinks based on the movies I knew I had to go! The bar is really funky fun which I loved. There is literally fun everywhere you look from the panda stuffed animal riding a tiger on the wall to the hilarious shrek pillow. Coming right when they open I was able to see these things that you would likely not see in the evening. But to be fair I came right when they opened since it is first come first serve. A majority of the drinks were more on the savory side which was very interesting like "may all your bacon burn" with bacon bites at the top of the drink. The drinks my friend had were all stunning with the use of egg yolk to elevate the drink. We ended the evening by walking over to Bow Market and trying Viet Citron which was so DANG GOOD my gosh. The to go orders were insane but looks like they are doing very well despite recently opening in. I got the grilled lemongrass pork ribs bowl and youtiao and the side sauce was so good. The ribs were all very meaty. It looks small but I was surprised how full I was after having it. Nice night of drinks and food. What we got Kiki's marmalade buns Castle in the sky Milk Punch May All your bacon burn

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    backbar
    backbar
    Inside

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    Inside
    Brick & Mortar

    Brick & Mortar

    3.8
    (319 reviews)
    2.4 mi
    $$

    Love this place a lot! Been multiple times with friends for a casual night out for drinks and we've…read moreonly had good experiences! The menu is enticing and leaves you wanting to try multiple of their house cocktails (all which have been really solid) and the staff is good at helping you decide what drink to get if you're unsure. Some of my favorites are the golden banana, what's new pussycat, and electric kool-aid acid test. Also their daiquiri time out (dto) is always a good option if you're looking for something to order for the table, to get the night started. The atmosphere is gives off speakeasy vibes, but is also very unpretentious. It's a place where you can relax and enjoy yourself without feeling out of place. From my experience, the crowd seems pretty young -- not necessarily college students but more like young professionals -- and it can get pretty lively when it's busy -- not overwhelming bar vibes, but more like a nice cocktail party / social event. This place remains a go-to spot when planning a night out in the Cambridge area!

    Somehow I had never popped into the spot in Central before. The aesthetic is the optimal dark and…read moremoody cocktail bar vibe. The drinks were creative and well balanced but stronggg. It was fun trying a good options, just plan on taking the red line home. The staff was super helpful making menu recommendations and as the bar cleared out toward the end of the night they were fun to hang out with.

    Photos
    Darling Nikki Vesper
    Darling Nikki Vesper
    Eastbound and Down cocktail, so delicious
    Eastbound and Down cocktail, so delicious
    Brick & Mortar

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    Saigon Babylon

    Saigon Babylon

    4.1
    (59 reviews)
    2.4 mi

    Was not expecting the food to pop off but everything was delicious. We had a reservation and came a…read morelittle late but were still allowed in. It was pretty busy and we were seated at the bar which was a little crowded. Loved the decoration, it was black interior with red lighting and interesting seating arrangement with tables down the middles and plants around. For drinks we got the Saigon Sunset which had a little sour flavor and was my personal favorite, the Gimme with an interesting flavor, and the Old Fashioned which is what you expect (old fashioned are not for me). The bartender was great, he was so patient even with how busy it was making sure to always check up. For food, the Goi Ca/Fluke was so good. It was flavorful and the texture. The peanut butter sauce wasn't too nutty and went so well with the fish. I ate every little piece up. We also ordered the Wagyu Viet Carpaccio which was also good. It was refreshing to eat and came with a large cracker for eat bite.

    The lemongrass carpaccio is exactly as good as everyone says. Definitely my favorite dish of the…read morenight, but I'm interested in going back and trying other menu items. Not a fan of the layout of the restaurant. I don't like the long table in the center for parties of 2, it felt a bit awkward to be so close to other groups and there were large vases of fresh flowers which, albeit were very beautiful, I think should have been moved after parties are seated. A huge bouquet of fresh lilies were taking up a lot of space on the table when I went and they got in the way at times.

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    Saigon Babylon
    Duck with rice noodles
    Duck with rice noodles
    Interior

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    Interior
    Remnant Satellite

    Remnant Satellite

    4.5
    (18 reviews)
    1.7 mi

    We stayed next door and ended up visiting Remnant Satellite more than once because we enjoyed it so…read moremuch. The vibe here is one of the best parts--it changes throughout the day. In the morning, it's a relaxed coffee shop serving breakfast and great coffee, then it transitions into lunch, dinner, beer, and a lively evening scene with music. We stopped in for lunch first and sat at the bar. I ordered one of the bowls and added sausage, which was absolutely delicious. The bartender was incredibly friendly and gave us excellent beer recommendations. I loved being able to try several mini pours. They also had spirits available. There's an outdoor patio too, that looked sunny and like a great place to hang out. We liked it so much that we came back the next morning for coffee. The bartender that morning was just as welcoming and made us excellent coffees. She also told us that the actual Remnant brewery was only about a 15-minute walk away! Overall, such a great spot with friendly staff, good food and drinks, and a really fun atmosphere no matter what time of day you visit.

    This burger was pretty fire, had it well done with the sweet potato fries and got the roasted beets…read moretoo. Everything was solid and the burger was fat with good salt. I would hella come again to this place. Vibe seemed alright like a typical pub but the burger got my heart.

    Photos
    Ambiance on a Monday afternoon. Not pictured is a bar counter and several other tables
    Ambiance on a Monday afternoon. Not pictured is a bar counter and several other tables
    Spinach and Artichoke dip
    Spinach and Artichoke dip
    Vanilla Latte

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    Vanilla Latte
    Cloud & Spirits

    Cloud & Spirits

    4.0
    (84 reviews)
    2.4 mi
    $$$

    We had reservations for 7:30, and when we got there, the place was decently busy - a few empty…read moretables here and there - so we were seated immediately. We ordered quickly after perusing the (rather short) menu, most of which was either small plates and cocktails . Our first plate was the hainan chicken arancini. I really liked the contrast in textures between the crispy exterior and the tender chicken and rice mix on the inside. Overall flavour was not bad, too, but I'm not sure that it was exactly good enough to merit the price point of $18. Next was the Xi'an street noodles, which was probably my favourite dish of the meal. The noodles were very well cooked - chewy but not too soft - and I loved the sauce, with the gentle peanut aroma on top of the various spices they used. One comment was that the chilli crisp, which was tasty, was very lacking (in amount) and as a consequence the dish was really not spicy at all. Finally we had the chilli crisp buffalo chicken. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the chicken was boneless (I was expecting something more like chicken wings), which made for very clean eating :) The buffalo sauce was nice (and perhaps a bit spicier than the aforementioned chilli crisp) and the chicken itself was very rich and juicy. Portion size was quite large too and overall I was very happy with this plate. For drinks we ordered the Jaded, which was a fun matcha-themed cocktail (even the marshmallow was matcha-flavoured) and a (spirit-free) cranberry limeade, which was surprisingly refreshing and sweet. Overall a yummy meal, but definitely very expensive. I would be interested to try some more of their cocktails, which seem very creative, but I'm not sure if I would be keen to come again primarily for the food. (To be fair, though, this is often the modus operandi of these restaurants that specialise in small plates and drinks )

    Great Cocktails, Average Food. I hovered between 3 and 4…read morestars here - ultimately deciding on 3 because while this is a great place to hang and grab drinks, the food is disappointing. Everyone was friendly and attentive but the food took a while to come out and it was just average. The best thing was the curry noodles and even those were a little bland. Also it was fairly expensive so I expected bigger portions or at least better flavor. Drinks on the other hand were delicious!

    Photos
    Cloud & Spirits
    Forager salad + chicken arrancini
    Forager salad + chicken arrancini
    Outside

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    Outside
    Nook

    Nook

    4.6
    (28 reviews)
    1.4 mi

    both of my drinks were delicious!! super creative menu, especially the elly the elephant drink (my…read morefav). both were pretty light drinks if that's your vibe! wish they had more food options but great spot for a quick drink. service is good!

    My friend found this spot online and suggested we check it out, and I'm so glad we did. When we…read morearrived, I did not expect to find an entire courtyard filled with shops and restaurants tucked behind this little alleyway. It was such a cute hidden area, and I was already excited before we even got to the place. We headed upstairs into the bar, and the vibe was perfect. It's small, cozy, dimly lit, with vibey music playing. Since it was our first time, we were a little confused at first, but the waiter was super kind and walked us through everything. I ordered the Elly the Elephant and my friend got the Laughing Gull, and we both really enjoyed our drinks. One thing I thought was really nice is that they allow you to grab food from the surrounding restaurants and bring it in to eat there. We didn't end up doing that, but we did get the charcuterie board they had. It came with cheeses, crackers, and some fruit, and you can add meats for $10, which we opted out for. I will say I was a little disappointed by the fruit portion. The menu mentioned fresh fruit, so I expected more than three thin orange slices and one sliced strawberry. HOWEVER, when I asked for more strawberries, our waiter kindly brought out a whole bowl for me, which I really appreciated. We stayed for about two hours, and as the night went on the place definitely got more crowded, so we headed out. Overall, this is such a cute and cozy cocktail bar. I'll definitely be back when the weather is warmer to try the other drinks and restaurants in the market.

    Photos
    Nook
    Smokey delight
    Smokey delight
    Inside

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    Inside

    Parla XXI - cocktailbars - Updated June 2026

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