Far From The Tree
Salem
Bar in Salem, United States
Book with PearlWhy go
Far From The Tree is a craft cider taproom on Jackson St in Salem; low-key, local-leaning, easy to book outside of October's tourist rush. Come for a focused hard cider experience in a relaxed room, not a full dinner. Walk-ins work most of the year; autumn weekends are the exception.
About Far From The Tree
Quick Take: Far From The Tree, Salem
Seating at Far From The Tree goes fast, particularly on weekends and during Salem's busy autumn season when the city fills with visitors. If you're planning a trip around October; Salem's peak; book or arrive early. Walk-in availability thins out considerably once the tourist crowd picks up in late September.
Far From The Tree is a cider house and taproom at 108 Jackson St in Salem, MA, the crowd here skews local and craft-curious rather than tourist-trap. You'll find Salem residents alongside visitors who've done a little research, not the same foot traffic that clogs the Witch Museum gift shops. The atmosphere is unpretentious: a poured-concrete-and-wood kind of space that feels like it was built for lingering over a flight rather than turning tables. If you're a first-timer, expect a focused beverage experience built around house-made hard ciders, not a full kitchen. Come with that expectation and you'll fit in fine; come expecting a sit-down dinner and you'll be disappointed.
For first-timers: the format is taproom, not restaurant. You order at the bar, pick a seat, settle in. The space rewards groups of two to four; larger parties can feel squeezed depending on the night. The vibe is unhurried and the crowd tends to be knowledgeable about what's in the glass, so don't hesitate to ask staff what's pouring seasonally right now, the lineup rotates and what's available in autumn differs from spring.
Compared to other Salem options, Far From The Tree offers something the broader dining scene doesn't: a dedicated craft cider focus in a room that actually invites you to stay. If you want food alongside drinks, pair a visit here with a stop elsewhere, La Margarita Restaurant and Grill or Chen's Family Dish Six Wok & Bar are both accessible options nearby. For cocktail-forward bars in other cities worth benchmarking against, Bar Leather Apron in Honolulu and Jewel of the South in New Orleans show what a focused beverage program looks like at its ceiling.
Booking difficulty is low. No reservation system is typically required for small groups, but autumn weekends are the exception, get there early or expect a wait. See our full Salem bars guide and full Salem restaurants guide for broader planning context.
Practical Details
| Venue | Format | Booking Needed? | Leading For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far From The Tree | Cider taproom | No (walk-in, except Oct) | Craft cider, relaxed groups |
| Archive Coffee & Bar | Coffee/bar hybrid | No | Daytime, solo, casual |
| Mariscos Las Islas Marias De Salem | Bar/seafood | No | Food-forward, local flavour |
| La Margarita Restaurant and Grill | Restaurant/bar | Recommended weekends | Groups wanting a full meal |
Also worth exploring: our Salem hotels guide, Salem wineries guide, and Salem experiences guide. For cocktail bars worth the trip beyond New England, Julep in Houston is a strong reference point for what a spirit-focused room with genuine character feels like.
Planning details
- Location
- 108 Jackson St, Salem, MA 01970
- Website
- farfromthetreecider.com
- Phone
- +1 978 224 2904
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Far From The Tree reads as a neighborhood drinking room that privileges warmth and steadiness over spectacle. Set on Jackson Street in a working section of Salem, the bar leans into worn brick, salt air and short New England days to create interiors that invite lingering. The program is described as considered rather than performative: repetition and consistency underpin the experience, and the room feels quietly confident and intimate. This is a place built to earn regulars through reliable drinks and a welcoming, unflashy atmosphere rather than to chase tourist attention.
Best For
This is a residents-first bar that suits after-work drinks, low-key group outings and solo visits. Because it sits off the main tourist corridors and serves a working neighbourhood, people come deliberately — for reliable craft drinking and a room you can stay in through the evening. The focus on consistency across seasons makes it a dependable choice when the city quiets down, so it works well for regular routines, casual catch-ups and anyone looking for a relaxed neighborhood counter rather than a one-off tourist stop.
Venue details
Ambiance
Laid-back rustic taproom atmosphere with good energy from events like open mic nights.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Format
At the Bar
- Bar Category
- Beer Bar
- Late Night
- Closes by Midnight
- Music
- Live Local Talent at Open Mic
Signature Pours
- Macachusetts
- Nova
- Lei
Planning details
Location
Also consider
Also Consider
- Archive Coffee & Bar; Notable alternative
- Chen’s Family Dish Six Wok & Bar; Notable alternative
- La Margarita Restaurant and Grill; Notable alternative
- Mariscos Las Islas Marias De Salem; Notable alternative
- Ukrainian Club; Notable alternative
Bar context
Among Salem's bar and drinks options, Far From The Tree occupies a specific lane: it's the city's dedicated craft cider taproom, which makes it genuinely different from every other venue on this list. If cider is what you're after, there's no real local competitor. The question is whether you want drinks only, or drinks plus food; and that determines whether a stop here is your main event or part of a two-venue evening.
Archive Coffee & Bar is the better call for a daytime or early-evening low-key solo visit; it runs a coffee-to-cocktail format that suits single visitors or pairs who want flexibility. La Margarita Restaurant and Grill wins if your group wants a full meal with drinks rather than drinks with light snacks; it's the more practical choice for a hungry group of four or more. Mariscos Las Islas Marias De Salem is worth knowing if you want something food-forward with a local, non-touristy feel similar to Far From The Tree's atmosphere.
Chen's Family Dish Six Wok & Bar and the Ukrainian Club serve different needs entirely; the former for a casual food-and-drink combo, the latter for a community-rooted local experience. For most first-time Salem visitors building an evening itinerary, the practical move is Far From The Tree for cider, then La Margarita or Mariscos for food. Booking difficulty across all five venues is low, so sequencing two stops in one evening is straightforward.
Explore Salem
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Far From The Tree guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Far From The Tree
| Venue | Booking Difficulty | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| Far From The Tree | Easy | No published awards |
| Archive Coffee & Bar | Unknown | No published awards |
| Chen’s Family Dish Six Wok & Bar | Unknown | No published awards |
| La Margarita Restaurant and Grill | Unknown | No published awards |
| Mariscos Las Islas Marias De Salem | Unknown | No published awards |
| Ukrainian Club | Unknown | No published awards |
What to weigh when choosing between Far From The Tree and alternatives.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the crowd like at Far From The Tree?
Expect a local Salem mix that skews toward residents who know the spot well, with a noticeable influx of tourists during autumn. The Jackson Street address puts it within reach of Salem's core visitor zone, so weekends blend regulars with out-of-towners. It's a casual room rather than a scene.
Do I need a reservation at Far From The Tree?
Yes, especially on weekends and throughout October when Salem draws large crowds. Walk-ins are harder to pull off during autumn than the rest of the year. If you're visiting during peak Salem season, treat a reservation as non-negotiable rather than optional.
