Good Life

During the week The Good Life is a pretty friendly local joint. Overall, the food's really good, but the fries could use a bit less rosemary. :)

On weekends, there tends to be a good mix of dj's, but I will say this: The quality of people who come here after work hours is lacking. Seems like they're a bunch of streetwear thugs who keep to themselves. This wouldn't be so bad if it were evened out with some normal people, but it seems like the only people who come are all within that genre.

I've come here a good amount and have yet to see this Vodka bar they're known for. If you promote having a vodka bar, be proud of it! Market it- don't dump it downstairs and hope people remember it's there!!

Pretty important side note- the women's bathroom is THIRD WORLD DISGUSTING!! There are always fruit flies buzzing about and it's not cleaned nearly enough. The top priority during renovations should have been the restrooms. Half the time the hand dryer doesn't work, and you can barely even get into the first stall. You can't have a cool bar and neglect the bathrooms- that's a straight up deal breaker.

Peter (the owner) seems like a cool cat. I just wish he would get a new publicist or something. Get some new people coming to this joint & expand the bathroom. Maybe that'll help! :)

Pros: Great mojitos

Cons: The bathrooms are DISGUSTING

Posted 11/16/09

It is not surprising that the Weekly Dig awarded Good life "Best Dance Club" of 2009. Night after night Good life hosts a variety of Talented DJ's to provide an alternative soundtrack to the stale and lame top 40 downtown scene. Every time I've been to Good Life, I have always met someone worth networking with. From artists and designers to musicians and entrepreneurs, the Good life seems to be the stop to catch those at the fore front of what's cool in Boston. As for the Food, it's definitely good, though to be honest, I usually arrive there by the time the Kitchen is closed (too early in my opinion). If your thing is the after hour work cocktails, well Good life is quite the venue for that. Always accessible and never pretentious, I would suggest this bar for those who fly under the radar of the mainstream.

Pros: Best Dance Music Venue in Boston

Posted 11/16/09

Drinks were great, but meal was overpriced bar-food. Fish (& chips) was smelly and purple-colored, pizza wasn't very good. It's close by, but probably won't return.

Pros: Vodka Variety

Cons: Poor Service, Lousy Food

Posted 09/17/09

Good house music, good prices, & sick dancers

Posted 03/09/09

First of all, it's a VODKA place. Why yes Virginia it is basement downstairs (how observant!) but the extensive vodka selection is like a hidden treasure. The music is house and the people are dancers (people who really love music). It's not a meat market, so stilettos & cigars stay upstairs please. If you want drama, meatmarket feel - go to Roxy. This place is for the laidback people, vodka lovers & b-boys. Strange that the two co-exist under the same roof. Ce' la vie! Definitely coming back again!!!!!! With much love from NY.

Pros: Good music, no drama crowd.

Cons: parking, $$$ drinks

Posted 02/21/09

I have only been here for lunch with co-workers but I had a great time! The atmosphere is nice..good location and great food. The waitstaff was pleasant and attentive. I was weary to order what was called a hommus sandwich but it was low-carb with tons of flavor! The fries are good too.

Posted 06/12/08

This place was NOT what I expected. The pictures failed to leave out the paneling that covers most of the walls. The so-called Vodka Bar downstairs felt more like I was stepping into my own basement. Small and crowded, you couldn't even move. The music was horrible. I felt way too overdressed, and I was only wearing jeans. I couldn't quite pinpoint the type of crowd. There was an array of low-maintenance people with no sense of style. The martinis were pretty good, but I doubt that I will ever return.

Pros: decent drinks

Cons: atmosphere, people

Posted 03/29/08

The lounge downstairs is really cool. Booths that have a private atmosphere facing the bar, and a intimate dance floor in the back. They had a big vodka selection, so i tried the most expensive one that I had never heard of before. Jewel of Russia was a thirty dollar glass and it was exceptional.

Posted 11/15/07

The first couple of times I came here the DJ was excellent - it was one of their house music nights and I had a great time listening to good DJs, watching the break dancers and hanging out with a cool crowd. I came here on a random Saturday and it was a totally different experience - the DJs were awful, playing each song for literally 30 seconds. The crowd was terrible - people were way too drunk and falling all over each other, spilling drinks on people, and being rude. Security was doing nothing to alleviate this. It was a horrible experience and I will have to be dragged back here to come back to this place again!

Pros: great martinis, bouncers & bartenders were friendly

Cons: awful music, bad crowd

Posted 06/03/07

The renovations have made the Good Life a little bit fancier, but its still the same vibe. The one big plus is new vodka bar in the basement. The vodka selection is great, they have every type of vodka you can think of and many you've probably never heard of. The mushroom pizza is a good snack to go with your vodka drinks.

Pros: Vodka selection

Cons: bad bartender

Posted 11/12/06

nice place for after work, the vodka bar downstairs is really nice and has every kind of vodka possible. little pricey for drinks and apps, so definitely not a daily afterwork place but fun every once in a while

Pros: vodka bar

Cons: pricey for after work bar

Posted 08/27/06

When I found out that The Good Life had been bought and renovated, I stepped in out of mere curiosity. Gone is the tired red leather banquettes and the shrines to the Rat Pack. In place of all of that, you have a warm, unpretentious, inviting bar that serves great drinks and great food. The staff is friendly and usually available. The place just exudes warmth. I have found myself coming back again and again.

The Swingers era has been long gone for a while now, and perhaps that is a good thing. Good music, good people, good food, and good libations still remain en vogue, however; you can find all of these things and more at the new Good Life. It's everything that a modern Boston bar should be.

Posted 04/30/06

I am NOT easy to please. Im a Boston curmudgeon; I likes what I like and thats about it. I have been all around the world and I can honestly say that I have seen very few places that can even hold a candle to the new Good Life. The serious, slightly different but safe menu, the fantastic staff, the diverse music (Al Vega rules!) and the wonderfully eclectic crowds make for one of the most unique venues in the city, if not the world. The owners, the chief, wait staff and bartenders are able to keep hipsters, Brahmin wanna-bes and local-yokel stodgy folks like myself happy at the same time... truly an amazing feat.

Pros: Music, Diverse crowd, Great martinis

Cons: Sound system

Posted 04/20/06

I would have to disagree with the person who wrote not to go to the Good Life. I have been a loyal customer since the remodeling and LOVE the Good Life. The atmosphere, the people, the food and the drinks are all worth the money! The staff has been helpful recommending certain drinks, in my experience, the service has been quick and the food is delectable! I think they have done a 360 with the place and it is well worth every penny! It's a great after work place or to bring a friend for lunch/dinner! One of my favorites!

Pros: Trendy, Good Food, Good Martinis

Cons: Parking

Posted 03/14/06

I was a loyal customer until they remodeled the place and raised their prices. I took friends there & the drinks were a couple of dollars more expensive and the waitress actually came to the table to complain that we didn't leave a tip on the credit card. We left the tip in CASH on the table! We went to give it another chance and it was HORRIBLE. We had to wait 30 minutes for our drinks, which came at the same time the pizza did and the pizza was cold. We ordered another dish and 2 more drinks. Food showed up BEFORE the drinks, which took 25 minutes. They forgot the cherry and Hershey's kiss that were supposed to come with the drink. If I am paying $12 for a drink, I expect it to actually come with what it is supposed to. I will NEVER go there again.

Posted 03/07/06

Last night my friends and I decided to try this place for the first time. We had the time of our lives. It was so much fun!! The crowd was good and the drinks were fabulous. I thought they had excellent service. There was no long wait for our drinks as most bars usually have. The bartender always made himself available. It was great. Highly recommend it.

Posted 02/24/06

This is a gerat place to go after work to wind down after a busy day.
Also I found it was wonderfull for a birthday party.

Pros: parking garage nearby

Posted 12/25/05