With the 2005 opening of dbar, Dorchester Avenue got a whole lot hipper. Owner Brian Piccini kept the cozy, dark mahoganied feel of the previous inhabitant (an old school Irish pub), and added a multi-hued lighting scheme, a pumping sound system and an eclectic, seasonal menu to create a dining experience that reflects Dorchester’s changing demographic.

An extensive martini list and an affordable, 200 bottle deep wine list add to the dbar experience, which draws clientele from the swanky South End and surrounding areas. Stick around after dinner to see dbar transform from dining destination into hopping nightclub and lounge.