Devlin's Bistro & Bar

Allston / Brighton, Boston –

Amid a sea of grungy Brighton dives, Devlin’s Bistro & Bar stands out like a sore but classy thumb.

The long main room, painted in soft earth tones and decorated with modern art, is divided neatly in half. Swanky locals head straight for the main bar to sip craft cocktails in the shadow of black-and-whites of jazz greats, while couples and groups of friends hit the overstuffed leather booths in the dining room, settling down with marinated steak or butternut squash ravioli as Sinatra croons in the background.

Summertime sees the ultra-popular patio open in the back, where the lack of a street view provides a homey escape from the city, while year-round boozy brunches on weekends make it easy to forget about urban life or the outside temperature.

Daily themes from Pasta Monday to Reggae Thursday ensure a steady stream of sweater-clad students mixed in with the standard crowd of collared young professionals, though the biggest nights are the twice-weekly live jazz gigs and the Top 40 DJs who set up on Saturdays.

Though dancing isn’t necessarily frowned upon, the majority of the stylish clientele prefers to nod its collective head to the beat so as not to slosh the martinis, except maybe on Fridays when drinking often takes a back seat to a karaoke microphone.

A devilishly good time any night and in any season, Devlin’s offers a little contemporary class for those who fancy a hipster-free night out in Brighton.