Local News

The new social districts give visitors a safe place to “enjoy themselves, ‘sip and stroll,’ and make lasting memories in our beautiful city,” Mayor Michelle Wu said.

By Abby Patkin

June 19, 2026 | 2:52 PM

2 minutes to read

Inspired by rowdy Scots and hoping to bolster its nightlife during the World Cup, Boston has designated two downtown social districts where visitors may drink openly in public. 

Opening Friday and continuing through the end of July, the districts will “help us open our streets in a safe environment for residents and visitors to enjoy themselves, ‘sip and stroll,’ and make lasting memories in our beautiful city,” Mayor Michelle Wu said in a statement. 

The social district at Union and Marshall streets in the Blackstone Block Historic District will be open from 9 a.m. to midnight Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sundays, the city said in a press release. A second district on Temple Place in Downtown Crossing will keep the same Sunday schedule but operate from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Saturday. 

“As Boston welcomes people from around the world to gather and enjoy our city this summer, these new social districts will create even more opportunities to build community and have fun responsibly,” Wu explained. 

The announcement comes after Gov. Maura Healey signed a bill temporarily extending last call to 3 a.m. and allowing cities and towns to create their own public drinking districts this summer. Across the Charles, Cambridge set up public consumption areas in busy neighborhoods like Harvard and Central squares.

In addition to the ongoing World Cup, Sail Boston and Massachusetts 250 are expected to bring an influx of visitors from around the world to Greater Boston this summer. 

“We are grateful for this opportunity to activate our downtown, support businesses, and create a welcoming, relaxed atmosphere in two of Boston’s entertainment districts,” Corean Reynolds, Boston’s director of nightlife economy, said in a statement. “Both residents and tourists can benefit from these Social Districts. After the summer, we look forward to continuing our work creating a nightlife infrastructure that works for everyone.”

To participate, bars and restaurants within a designated zone must apply to the Boston Licensing Board asking to be included in the Union-Marshall Street or Temple Place Social District. Beverages sold for public consumption will be in clear plastic containers labeled with a sticker or inscription noting their origin, city officials said. 

Patrons won’t be allowed to bring outside alcohol into a licensed business (including alcohol purchased from another bar or restaurant), and participating establishments are also barred from selling more than one 16-ounce drink for public consumption per customer in a single transaction, according to the city.

Licensing officials reserve the right to modify or revoke a bar or restaurant’s ability to participate if there are concerns about excessive noise, underage consumption, out-of-control lines, or overserved patrons. However, city officials pointed out that there were no complaints filed in 2023 and 2024 when Boston previously piloted open-container districts on Temple Place. 

Michael J. Nichols, president of the Downtown Boston Alliance, said the social district in Downtown Crossing “gives us a prime opportunity to showcase one of the best restaurant streets in Boston.”

“This new economic development tool arrives at the perfect moment to capture the enthusiasm of both locals and international visitors during Boston’s historic summer of major events,” Nichols added, “and we see the Temple Place Social District with its cluster of ten amazing restaurants as an ideal proving ground as we look to catalyze even greater vibrancy in our downtown public realm.”

Abby Patkin

Staff Writer

Abby Patkin is a general assignment news reporter whose work touches on public transit, crime, health, and everything in between.

Source