Salem has a lively bar scene, particularly in October when the city fills with visitors, but the year-round options are respectable for a city of its size. The Derby Pub on Derby Street is the straightforward local option — good draft selection, unpretentious. Turner's doubles as a bar in the evenings. Bit Bar on Washington Street is worth knowing about: it's an arcade bar with classic games that works surprisingly well as a late-evening option.
For coffee, Jaho Coffee on Derby Street is Salem's best independent roaster, with a comfortable room and good espresso. Ledger Bar already mentioned under eating is also a reliable cocktail stop. During Haunted Happenings in October, the scene migrates partly outdoors, and the area around the Pickering Wharf becomes very animated after dark.