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Cactus Club

617-892-4312

939 Boylston St Boston, MA 02115

www.bestmargaritas.com

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Fiery Mexican grub and an even hotter bar scene heat up the Back Bay's answer to Southwestern chic.

Categories:

Bars & Clubs, Bars & Pubs, Sports Bars, Restaurants, Southwestern Restaurants

Details:

After Work, Notable Beer List, $$, Bar Scene, Cheap Eats, Date Spot, Dine At The Bar, Family Style Dining, Group Dining, Late Night Dining, Local Favorite, Outdoor Dining, People Watching, View Dining

Insiders:

Heather N. Amanda O. Jennette M. Photo Photo
E5
52
Kid Friendly: yes 0 no 0
Bookmark and Share See hours

Mon-Tue 4pm-2am Wed-Sun 11:30am-2am

Message from Cactus Club

Merchant_icon

Come on over to the Cactus Club for Tex-Mex food and margaritas. Share a 4-liquor 46 ounce Cactus Bowl with friends or try some of our premium Tequilas, more than 20 in all. Some of our favored margaritas include pomegranite margaritas, mojito margaritas and the Horni margarita made with Sauza Hornitos. Voted "Best Margarita" by Citysearch Best Of, The Improper Bostonion and Boston Best Guide.

Editorial by Citysearch

The Scene
Southwestern kitsch prevails at this popular hangout: Horns hang on adobe-painted walls and a giant stuffed buffalo (nicknamed Iron Mike Bison) proudly watches over the bar. A religious following of margarita fans congregates in the bar, a premier after-work pickup spot, though lofty ceilings often make conversation difficult. Service is dependable during non-busy spells. Come summer, the sidewalk patio proves exceptionally popular (in other words, expect to wait). Holidays like Cinco de Mayo and Marathon Monday bring large, boisterous crowds and long lines to get in.

The Food
The solid Tex-Mex menu features sizzling fajitas and customized quesadillas, served in gigantic portions with fresh sides. Robust appetizers (heaping plates of nachos, crunchy taquitos) and Southwestern-tinged sandwiches are popular lunch options. Fishbowl-sized margaritas offer a Southwestern rebuttal to scorpion bowls, and pack just as potent a punch. Save room for the apple crispinas dessert--a delicious Mexican interpretation of apple pie.

Key Points

  • Private parties up to 200
  • Catering menu
  • Happy hour specials

The Inside Scoop

  1. Save Money - Show up early to beat the after-work crowd and enjoy half-price appetizers from 4pm to 7pm (Mondays through Thursdays).
  2. When to Go - Stop by Sundays from 10pm to midnight and enjoy a free taco bar.

Editorial and merchant content by Citysearch

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Latest reviews from Citysearch.

Ratings_icons Love the free taco

jubilant02134

Sunday. Mostly though I've only been to the bar and every time I have SO MUCH FUN. This bar has a great feel to it. The margaritas are fabulous (MUCH, MUCH better than Fajita's and Ritas...don't bother there). Great place to meet and have fun.

Pros: Location, Ambience, Drinks

Posted 06/21/03

Ratings_icons Good deals

Bolo

The food here is plentiful and the prices are good. Other joints will charge the same for sub-par amounts and quality. The margaritas only have the best ingredients and when you think about how much other places charge for one, with just house tequlia (6-7 bucks) this place is pretty good. It can get crowded, but what do you expect from a place that pleases people? However, I think for a 3 course meal, you will need to spend over 20 bucks. With two drinks, over 35.

Pros: portions, drinks, atmosphere

Cons: some seats are cramp, can get crowded

Posted 06/18/03

Ratings_icons Good for Light Fun

masajita

If you're looking for a good all-around bar, this is the place. For an east coast locale, the margaritas and pina coladas here are a step above the rest. The Cactus Club's laid back, easy going manner is a great option for those who are interested in having some fun with the gang in an energizing atmosphere.

Pros: great drinks, decent prices, attentive staff

Cons: sans romance, too bright lighting

Posted 06/18/03

Ratings_icons Confused

joedine

I've been going to the Cactus for more than five years. It's the best value in the Back Bay. The last review said it was over priced??? Hum...Friday, I went to see the Sox with 2 friends. We stopped at The Cactus before the game, we were surprised, they changed the Bar area. The place looks GREAT!!!! Well, we had 6 coronas,3 Margs, and a Mexican PuPu Plater. (The bill was $50) I dont think thats expensive. Oh Yea, very cute Bartender on Friday.

Pros: Bartenders, Price, Drinks

Cons: Bathrooms, small

Posted 05/03/03

Ratings_icons Claustrophobic's Nightmare!

julian_imrie

The Poorest layout for a bar imaginable. Nevertheless, if you look like a somebody or are a somebody (caught John Corbett here once) you stand to do well. This is a female favorite, they flock to the Club for some reason, oh yeah they serve real dainty, albeit potent, frozen drinks. You need to get a table or be in the mood to tolerate the Cactus Club as it will be very crowded.

Food: Big (sometimes bold sometimes bland).

Atmosphere: Charming in a confused, crowded and cocky manner.

Service: The redemption song of CC are the waitresses! They are almost enough to make us forget that we are unable to exhibit the full range of motion to finish our Negro Modelos.

Drinks: Go ahead, get a Margarita champ.

Pros: Energetic

Cons: Loud, Full

Posted 01/07/03

Ratings_icons best after work hangout

iol175

This is the place my office calls home after 5pm. The margaritas are great and the staff treats us like family. They have great food as well. The food is 1/2 off in the bar after work.

Pros: Friendly, fun, Great margs

Posted 12/22/02

Ratings_icons Spicy!

danapanzarino

The Cactus Club has the greatest margaritas in Boston and is always packed Friday afternoon. There appetizers are also damn good!! Overall an awesome place to go and hang out!!

Posted 12/12/02

Ratings_icons Cactus Club is refreshing

starks43

The ambience is great; perhaps its the mixed drinks that are tasty and strong, or the pretty waitresses, or the above-average food. Its the best bar to take coworkers or your buddies to, but not a good venue to have a deep discussion with your honey.

Pros: Drinks, inexpensive, diverse crowd

Cons: crowded, generic music

Posted 12/11/02

Ratings_icons half price food after work.

livmonkey

I go to cactus with my work buddy's because the drinks are strong, the staff is hot and friendly and the food not only is good but it's half price after work.

Pros: great staff, best margaritas, always busy

Posted 12/08/02

Ratings_icons IT WAS BACK IN 1993

MATTBERGERON

MUSIC IS TOUGH BUT HAS LASTED THE TEST OF TIME. ALWAYS CROWDED AND ALWAYS STIFF DRINKS BEING POURED. JIMMY LIFTON KNOWS WHAT HE IS DOING.

Pros: MARGS, FAJITAS

Cons: BURRITOS

Posted 12/04/02

Ratings_icons No Way

daizygirl

Cactus Club is NOT the "Best After Work Bar". For a mexican place, the margeritas are lousy, the food is so so and service is always terrible. There are plenty of other bars in the vicinity that would get my vote over CC anytime!

Posted 11/20/02

Ratings_icons Mixed experience.

goblue99

I work in the Back Bay and recently had lunch at the Cactus Club. I had been there before to party at night, but this was the first time I ate there. I had the chicken fajitas ($12). It was a huge portion, and they were very good (they even have red chili tortillas). Also, the rest of the menu looks unique and tasty. However, I did not like the atmosphere. The place was dingy and dirty- the bar area and silverwear were dirty. To me, this place seems like a bar that serves food, and not a restaurant that has a bar. That being said, it's one of the very few places to get Mexican in Boston.

Pros: menu, taste, huge beer menu

Cons: dirty

Posted 11/14/02

Ratings_icons Don't try to get seated!

dockersmith1243

To get a table to eat is ridiculous, last time we went there, the wait was two hours, and they sat one group after another while we waited. We were finally seated after I accidently broke a beer bottle, they must have thought the natives were getting restless. Unbelievable, I will never go there again. The people who do the seating are complete idiots! Other than that the place is the same as every other bar in the city.

Cons: Aggravating

Posted 10/25/02

Ratings_icons Good food, not-so-good Margarita's

OnTheProwl

I was told this place had some of the best Margarita's around. Not so! Yuck.. I can still taste the mix when I think about it! I've given them several chances and the Margarita's are just horrible. Food? Definitely a good bet you'll be happy and satisfied when you leave. Sorry, but I love a good Margarita, and they really failed there.

Pros: Food, Service

Cons: Margarita's

Posted 09/03/02

Ratings_icons Better than I expected

sinsam

I have to say, this might have been one of the best experiences in a restaurant for me. I was very impressed by the service and food. The first margarita I had was OK, I think it was just a basic one. But the second and third margaritas, which the waiter suggested were out of this world. I think they were called Horny Margarita. DELICIOUS!!!
So if you go there skip the basic margarita and go for the good stuff.

Pros: Drinks, Service

Cons: Crowded

Posted 08/26/02

Ratings_icons Start of finish- it's all good

stacy_williams

Great homemade guacamole and salsa...Good vegetarian selections, and the fried ice cream is a great way to top it off.

Posted 08/22/02

Ratings_icons Great Drinks!!!

Artie_Thiffault

I went to the Cactus Club last night for the first time and had a great time. The bartenders were cute and friendly and the drink selection was awesome. I recommend one of the huge bowl drinks. I will definitely go again after work.

Posted 08/21/02

Ratings_icons Great food and a great atmosphere

danwpi

I've been in boston for a few years now and I recently found this place. I was impressed with their friendly service, great food, and nice atmosphere. I make it a habit to head there after work on a weekly basis.

Pros: atmosphere, food

Cons: parking

Posted 08/14/02

Ratings_icons Great place to catch up with a friend..

tantra7xoxo

I love this place. It has a casual atmosphere, which is refereshing. We were going to check out Vox Populi but the attitude that emmanated from that place kept us away. We headed right to the Cactus Club and shared a yummy cactus bowl. A HUGE drink in a mammoth sized glass with 4 straws for $14.

Posted 08/07/02

Ratings_icons Not your mother's snowcone

irishgirl

Try the snowcone margarita...3 flavors in one. The food is great, the atmosphere is awesome. They've got beer, 'ritas, scorpion-bowl-esque drinks...outdoor dining...great place!

Pros: margaritas

Cons: can get crowded

Posted 07/29/02

Ratings_icons Ouch!

pinkpanther

Wacth out for the really great magaritas. This is a really nice college crowd bar. It gets extremely crowded. This is not a fany bar by any means. It has a Texas bar feel too it. It is nicely decorated to set the margarita mood.

Cons: hard to park, crowded

Posted 07/24/02

Ratings_icons Good Times

diggity

The Cactus Club is my favorite place to celebrate group events. It has such a wonderfuly positive atmosphere....you are sure to have a good time. Great Margaritas!!!!

Posted 07/23/02

Ratings_icons good time, good music

erica23

this place is so much fun. a great and bright atmosphere, always filled with lots of people and loud music, and the huge drinks are made to share with lots of friends. it's also very close to a lot of other bars on boylston, so you're sure to have a great night.

Pros: location, atmosphere

Cons: always crowded

Posted 07/22/02

Ratings_icons Big Bowls!

hehaw

If you haven't been to the Cactus Club yet, then you are really missing out. Yes...it is crowded. But it is very easy to overlook that when you have such a tasteful drink in your hands. They serve these extra large margarita's in fish bowl looking glasses. Try the blue margarita...you won't be disappointed. As for the food, try the fajitas, or the mix and match quesadillas. A great place to celebrate an event.

Pros: great all around

Posted 06/24/02

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