ABOUT US

For more than three decades, Chianti Bar and Lounge has stood as one of the North Shore’s most unique cultural landmarks — a place where exceptional food, live music, and community history have continuously evolved together under one roof.

What began in 1992 as an ambitious idea inside a former paint store has grown into a destination known throughout New England for intimate performances, unforgettable nights, and a spirit that refuses to fit neatly into any category. Today, Chianti Bar and Lounge exists as a live entertainment venue — part music hall, part event space, and part neighborhood institution — blending upscale hospitality with the energy of a true live stage.

The story began when founder Richard Marino, then a salesman in the paint industry, jokingly told the owner of O’Hara’s Paint Store that someday he would turn the building into a restaurant. One day, the owner retired and handed him the opportunity. Marino had no formal restaurant background, but he had instinct, vision, and confidence in his understanding of hospitality and culture.

At the time, upscale dining on the North Shore was far from a guarantee. Chianti challenged expectations from the beginning. Waitstaff dressed in tuxedos during the restaurant’s early months, creating an atmosphere unlike anything Beverly had seen before. Word spread quickly about the unusual new restaurant serving refined Northern Italian cuisine from inside a former paint store on Cabot Street.

The gamble paid off.

Over the years, Chianti expanded repeatedly and became a gathering place for generations of guests celebrating birthdays, engagements, anniversaries, weddings, and milestone moments. The restaurant welcomed and served everyone from local regulars to internationally recognized artists and celebrities, including Ray Davies and Tony Bennett.

But Chianti’s story was never only about food.

Music had always been central to Marino’s vision. A musician himself, he felt deeply connected to the role live performance plays in building community and creating meaningful experiences. That passion eventually transformed the restaurant into something even more distinctive.

In 2010, Chianti expanded into the neighboring former liquor store space and opened what became known as the Chianti Jazz Lounge — an intimate performance venue built to honor Beverly’s rich musical heritage. The club carried forward the legacy of the legendary Sandy’s Jazz Revival, the historic Beverly jazz venue where Louis Armstrong famously celebrated his 60th birthday. Marino, who lives in the former home of Sandy’s founder, viewed the project as both a continuation of that tradition and a new chapter for live music on the North Shore.

The venue quickly developed a reputation far beyond Massachusetts. For more than a decade, Chianti was recognized by DownBeat Magazine as one of the Top 150 Jazz Venues in the World — an extraordinary achievement for an intimate independent venue in downtown Beverly.

Its stage has hosted acclaimed performers including Charles Neville, Los Lobos, and Tedeschi Trucks Band, while also becoming a favorite destination for Berklee College of Music students, professors, and many of New England’s finest musicians.

In 2011, Chianti received one of the state’s highest honors when it was named Restaurant of the Year by the Massachusetts Restaurant Association. The award recognized not only the quality of the restaurant itself, but the creativity of combining elevated dining with a serious live music program under one roof.

Chianti’s popularity grew even further through features on Phantom Gourmet, where its segment became one of the show’s most replayed and recognized features during its original run.

The building itself remains filled with pieces of its history. Guests still pass through the old beer cooler doors from the former liquor store, and the original O’Hara’s Paint Store cash register remains inside the restaurant — a reminder that Chianti’s identity has always been built through reinvention while preserving its roots.

Like many live venues, Chianti faced enormous challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Because the restaurant and club were known for their intimate rooms and close connection between performers and audience, operations paused for an extended period. During that time, the space shifted toward private events, fundraising efforts, and carefully managed performances that helped support both the community and the arts during an uncertain period.

Now, Chianti Bar and Lounge enters its newest evolution.

While jazz remains a foundational part of its identity, the venue has expanded into a broader live entertainment destination featuring multiple genres, emerging artists, touring acts, themed nights, and community-driven experiences — all while maintaining the high standards that built its reputation in the first place.

“There’s still nothing that can replace the excitement of being in the room when magic is happening on a stage,” Marino says.

That belief continues to guide the future of Chianti Bar and Lounge: a venue where exceptional music, culture, and human connection come together in a way that feels increasingly rare.

More than a restaurant.
More than a music venue.

Chianti Bar and Lounge is a living part of Beverly’s cultural history — and its next chapter is only beginning.