The Best Bars in Boston, by Neighborhood

The best bars in Boston, picked for what each does best: the oldest taverns, a bar inside Fenway Park, a speakeasy under Fort Point, and the neighborhood places with trivia, karaoke and bands. Fourteen bars, grouped by neighborhood, each checked against its own website.

Downtown and Faneuil Hall

• Bell in Hand Tavern, 45 Union Street. It calls itself America’s oldest continuously operating tavern, pouring since 1795, with oysters, lobster rolls and chowder. Open daily 11 AM to 2 AM; the kitchen closes at midnight.
• The White Bull Tavern, 1 Union Street, a two-floor tavern around the corner, with Friday stand-up, karaoke midweek and DJs on weekends.
• JM Curley, 21 Temple Place, Downtown Crossing. A bar and restaurant with a hidden speakeasy steakhouse, Bogie’s Place, that takes reservations.

Beacon Hill and Charlestown

• Cheers Beacon Hill, 84 Beacon Street, across from the Public Garden. The bar that inspired the TV show; here’s its history.
• Warren Tavern, 2 Pleasant Street, Charlestown. It dates to 1780, calls itself the oldest tavern in Massachusetts, and says George Washington and Paul Revere drank there. Open until 1 AM every night.

Fenway

• Bleacher Bar, 82A Lansdowne Street, built under the bleachers. A garage door opens straight onto the Fenway Park outfield. Open until midnight Monday to Thursday and 2 AM on Fridays and Saturdays; game-day hours vary.

Fort Point and the Seaport

• Lucky’s Lounge, 355 Congress Street, a basement speakeasy with no sign out front; follow the red lights down the stairs. Free comedy on Mondays, trivia on Tuesdays, and the kitchen runs until 1:30 AM. Open until 2 AM.

South End and South Boston

• Club Café, 209 Columbus Avenue, a bar and cabaret with free trivia on Tuesdays and karaoke on Wednesdays.
• The Beehive, 541 Tremont Street, a bar and restaurant with live jazz several nights a week and a jazz brunch on weekends. More in our jazz clubs guide.
• Small Victories, 400 Dorchester Street, South Boston, a neighborhood bar with Tuesday trivia and karaoke once a month.

Allston and Brighton

• Irish Village, 224 Market Street, Brighton, a pub with something most nights: trivia, karaoke and bands on weekends.

Cambridge and Somerville

• Grendel’s Den, 89 Winthrop Street, Harvard Square. A basement pub named for the monster in Beowulf, serving the square since 1971.
• Lizard Lounge, 1667 Massachusetts Avenue, a 21+ basement music room between Harvard and Porter, open Wednesday to Sunday.
• Trina’s Starlite Lounge, 3 Beacon Street, Somerville, by Inman Square. A retro lounge since 2009 with comfort food, cocktails and brunch on Sundays, open until 1 AM most nights and 2 AM on weekends.

Want to dance instead? See dance clubs. For tonight’s trivia and karaoke, trivia by night and karaoke by night; for food after, the late-night food guide. Everything else after dark is on Boston nightlife.

Checked October 19, 2026 against each bar’s own website. Hours change, so check before you go, and bring ID: most bars are 21+ at night.

Frequently asked questions

What is the oldest bar in Boston?

Two bars make the claim. Bell in Hand Tavern on Union Street says it’s America’s oldest continuously operating tavern, pouring since 1795. Warren Tavern in Charlestown dates to 1780 and calls itself the oldest tavern in Massachusetts.

What time do bars close in Boston?

The bars in this guide close at 1 or 2 AM; 2 AM is the latest. Kitchens usually close an hour or two earlier.

Is there a bar inside Fenway Park?

Bleacher Bar at 82A Lansdowne Street is built under the bleachers, and a garage door opens onto the outfield. Its hours change on game days.

Where can I find a speakeasy in Boston?

Lucky’s Lounge in Fort Point has no sign, just red lights down the stairs at 355 Congress Street. JM Curley in Downtown Crossing has a hidden steakhouse, Bogie’s Place.