Boston
With Irish bands playing traditional tunes on Monday and Thursday, and a decent list of appropriate beers, Mr Dooley's is one of the most welcoming joints…
Must-see nightlife in New England
Back Bay
Yes, it's touristy. And overpriced. And the food is not too inspiring. But the head-spinning city view makes it worthwhile to ride the elevator up to the…
Kenmore Square & Fenway
Disclaimer: this place gets packed with college kids on weekends and on game nights. If you can stand the happy, sweaty people, it's a great vibe,…
South End & Chinatown
Enter beneath the masks of Comedy and Tragedy into the dimly lit interior, where show posters adorn the brick walls. This tiny, theatrically themed tavern…
Kenmore Square & Fenway
This long-standing gay favorite practically guarantees a fun night out, partially because it's two clubs in one, upstairs and downstairs. So there are two…
Charlestown
This is slightly off the beaten path (aka the Freedom Trail), but locals love it for the comfy leather chairs, specialty lattes and housemade English…
The Berkshires
For a drink with the locals, head to this friendly pub on the main drag. Tables in cute wooden booths have views of the sports screens and there's a good…
Boston
If dive bars are your thing, you'll be happy here. In fact, Biddy's is sometimes called the 'best' dive bar in Boston (a town that has no shortage of them…
Portland
Gritty is an apt description for this party-happy Old Port pub, which dates from 1988 – making it Maine's pioneering brewpub. You'll find a generally…
Beacon Hill & Boston Common
Beacon Hill’s long-standing neighborhood dive bar looks old school, with its wooden bar placed under hanging glasses, and a few comfortable booths…
Connecticut
This converted barn-brewery has a down-home vibe, and the Coffee Milk Stout tastes damn fine, too. They fill growlers and sell cans and bottles of about a…
Cambridge
This vast, underground nightspot, formerly the Beat Brasserie, has morphed into the Beat Brew Hall (not a bad shtick, but it's a shame to bid farewell to…
Southern Maine Coast
Fruited sour ale, traditional stouts and the Greenwarden – a pale ale brewed with spruce tips, which may be the most Maine beer ever – are all on the menu…
Cambridge
This is a popular, rowdy, almost divey bar, where wood paneling and carpeting cover the walls and Miller High Life is an ingredient in the 'official'…
Martha's Vineyard
Steeped in history, this snug brick-and-timber pub is part of the Kelley House, built in 1742. With a fire roaring, it's the perfect place to sample some…
Boston
Keep alert or you'll miss the hidden entrance into this subterranean space, home to a delightful lounge that looks straight out of 1959. Enjoy well-priced…
Cape Cod
Overlooking Falmouth Harbor, the Boathouse is the place to hit the dance floor around here; it packs with the partying 20-something crowd Thursday through…
Boston
Half the fun is trying to find this secret spot, tucked down a pedestrian lane between Washington St and Court Sq, with no sign on the door. This place is…
Portland
Get yourself into the tasting room of this hardworking little brewery and go gaga on imperial brown ale mixed with maple syrup, or traditional Belgian…
Boston
Black-and-white photos and retro advertising posters create a nostalgic atmosphere at this basement pub and grill. The old-fashioned comfort food is…
Southern Vermont
This classic pub is inhabited by a lively, friendly local crowd. With 10 varieties, plus a few seasonal options, there's a beer for every taste. Offerings…
Boston
The Good Life means a lot of things to a lot of people – solid lunch option, after-work hangout, trivia-night place etc. But the top reason to come here…
Portland
Tucked away off the Lower Exchange Street alley, this European-style beer garden attracts a mixed-age crowd, who sit at communal tables quaffing drinks…
Midcoast Maine
A hoppy IPA or a thick stout does wonders when it comes to warding off the chill winds blowing in from the Rockland docks. Enjoy those beers in the…
Federal Jack's Restaurant & Brew Pub
Southern Maine Coast
Above the Kennebunkport Brewing Co, brewing since 1992, rowdy crowds dine on international pub fare like nachos, steamed mussels and fish tacos. The real…
Portland
There are a lot of forgettable bars in the Old Port, but Rosie's, with its neighborhood vibe, wood floors and local clientele, stands out by not super…
Cambridge
This jovial microbrewery is often crowded, with students and other beer-lovers imbibing the fresh local beer. Perennially popular flavors include…
Boston
An informal crowd of thick-accented guys from the ’hood sit at glass-topped tables and drink espresso and Campari. This is a great place to watch a…
Kenmore Square & Fenway
It's not a sports bar, or a dive bar, or a cocktail bar. It's a pub. An English pub – there's a clue in the extensive list of English beers, both draft…
Midcoast Maine
Sea Dog is best known for its wild blueberry wheat ale, but its selection of brews runs pretty deep, from brown ales to thick porters. This brewery-bar is…
Back Bay
For years, young college students have introduced themselves to urban nightlife by enjoying cheap drinks and cheaper burgers in this pleasantly ratty bar…
Back Bay
A true neighborhood bar, the Corner Tavern has a decent beer selection, satisfying food and a laid-back atmosphere. It's convivial, but not overly crowded…
Portland
Call ahead to reserve a place on a tour of Maine's pioneering microbrewery, which kick-started the trend back in 1986. It specializes in classic British…
Massachusetts
Part of the Boston Beer Works family, this microbrewery serves 10 brews on tap, as well as a full menu of pub grub, sandwiches and more. The Blue 92 …
Down East
Danny's is a cheerfully decorated, easygoing spot for local brews, sports on the TV and a round of pool – a fine retreat when the weather sours. From…
Burlington
Founded in 1988 by microbrewing pioneer Greg Noonan, this large pub still produces its specialty and seasonal brews on the premises, including weekly…
Providence
Packed full of Hasbro copywriters who work on the packaging for Transformers action figures and RISD students with interesting hair, this dark, somewhat…
Portland
Despite the so-so food, Bull Feeney's remains a local favorite for its central location, warm ambience (it spills over two floors, with a crackling fire…
Cape Cod
Things are extra cozy at the Snowy Owl, just off of Main St in Brewster proper. The interior of this coffee shop with an on-site roaster is all warm woods…
Cape Cod
The town's favorite watering hole is both a family-friendly pub and an easygoing, boisterous bar. Got an old car license plate to spare? It'll find a home…
