Entry No. 36 — the Boston file — filed under: storefront-disguise
The Wig Shop Lounge
The whole concept is the pun: a downtown speakeasy hidden behind — and marketed as — an actual wig shop, open nightly 5pm to 2am with bartenders who tailor classic cocktails to whatever mood you describe.
The story
For over half a century, 27 Temple Place was the address of Wig World, a retail fixture selling hairpieces in Downtown Crossing. When restaurateur Babak Bina and his team expanded their adjacent footprint—which already housed jm Curley and the 16-seat hidden steakhouse Bogie's Place—they kept the neon sign out front and the streetfront window packed with mannequin heads wearing wigs. Passersby still think it's a beauty supplier, but the doorway is actually the entrance to a velvet-draped cocktail lounge.
Step past the fake storefront display and the retail joke gives way to a dark room built around retro glamour: deep blue and maroon velvet banquettes, gold-accented tables, gold wall sconces, and floor-to-ceiling translucent curtains. Unusually for a high-end cocktail den, the L-shaped black quartz bar has no bar stools. It was engineered strictly as an ergonomic workspace for bartenders, meaning every customer sits in low lounge seating while drinks are brought to the table.
Because the lounge shares a kitchen line with Bogie's Place, you can order grass-fed sliders with fried egg aioli, crab fritters, or caviar alongside your drinks. The main event remains the beverage program, where servers take your mood or flavor preferences back to the bar to build custom riffs on vintage classics.
What it's like
Look for the glowing neon wig sign and mannequin heads on Temple Place. You don't need a secret password or code; just step inside and give your name to the host stand. Since there are no bar stools, you'll be seated at a low couch or velvet booth, where tables are capped at a 90-minute stay. The room stays open nightly from 5 PM to 2 AM with first-come, first-served walk-ins, though snatching a Resy reservation between 5 PM and 7 PM is your best bet for avoiding a wait.
The move: Hunt down the unmarked storefront near Temple Place, then tell the bartender what mood you're each in and let them build a custom classic cocktail around it.
- 📍 Downtown Crossing, Boston
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 27 Temple Place, Boston, MA 02111
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Boston Athenaeum — the vault with the human-skin book — Pair an afternoon viewing an 1807 library vault holding a highwayman's memoir bound in human skin with a late-night cocktail hidden behind a fake wig store.
- Central Burying Ground — A five-minute walk across Boston Common takes you from a 1756 burial ground filled with unmarked mass graves straight into Temple Place's slickest hidden lounge.
- Farmacia — Trade this plush storefront disguise for a trip to the North End and a seat at Farmacia's nine-stool counter, where the cocktail menu resets entirely every quarter.
Good to know
Do you need a password to get into The Wig Shop Lounge?
No password or secret knockout code is required. Walk through the storefront entrance under the neon sign and check in directly with the host.
Is there seating at the bar?
No. The black quartz bar was built exclusively as a bartender work station without stools, so all guests sit at tables, couches, or velvet banquettes.
Can you make reservations in advance?
Yes, limited reservations are available on Resy daily between 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM for groups up to six. Outside those early hours, seating is strictly walk-in.
What kind of food does The Wig Shop serve?
The venue shares a kitchen with its neighboring steakhouse Bogie's Place, serving lounge plates like grass-fed sliders, crab and corn fritters, marinated olives, and caviar.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: wigshopboston.com · winewildernesswanderlust.com · blog.resy.com · bostonchefs.com · bostonmagazine.com
last checked: 2026-07-20