The bar: Boston’s On The Beach, Delray Beach

The scene: Now one of three bars in an entertainment complex along with the upscale 50 Ocean and the outdoor Sandbar, Boston’s is the original, whose name says it all - a Beantown sports-themed waterfront watering hole with down-to-earth, delicious bar bites and fun drinks. It’s newly renovated and has a friendly comfortable air - it’s almost the kind of place that one might say feels like everybody knows your name, or at least wants to learn it. (Disclosure: It’s the same friendly place that one of Cocktail Culture’s correspondents had a first comfortable drink that became dinner with their now-spouse.)

The drink: One of the glittery stars of Boston’s current Holiday Cocktail menu, created by veteran mixologist Millie Wilkinson, the Winter Solstice ($10) is like dessert in a glass, without being cloyingly sticky. There’s Grey Goose L’Orange mixed with Disaronno, lime and a snowy dusting of powdered ginger and sugar. It would make a very fancy cookie that you would then want to dip into the drink.

Other noteworthy libations: The other seven drinks on the new menu, available until Dec. 31 at Boston’s and upstairs at 50 Ocean. All are festively themed and span the cocktail universe, from the butterscotchy Spicy Gingerbread ($8.50), the genuinely pretty Candy Cane Martini ($10) and the heavenly Frostini ($10) with Frangelico Hazelnut and a cinnamon graham cracker rim. Yum.

Bar bites: As you might expect from a beach bar, the best bites are seafood-related: the Smoked Fish Dip ($11), the sesame seared ahi tuna ($14) and our Best Bite, the surprisingly complex Crackling Calamari ($12) with a basil marinara and a garlic aioli you won’t stop trying to dip every drop out of.

Deals: Happy Hour is Monday-Friday from 4 to 7 p.m., offering half-off well drinks, draft beer and house wine. There are also specials during NFL games, featuring specials on food and specific bottles and pitchers.

Boston’s On The Beach, 40 S. Ocean Blvd., Delray Beach. 561-278-3364.

Recipe:

Winter Solstice

1.5 oz Grey Goose L’Orange

.25 oz Disaronno Amaretto

.25 oz Simple Syrup

pinch of Powdered Ginger

Splash of Fresh Lime Juice

Shake well over ice, strain and serve in a martini glass, garnished with star anise