While many of Boston’s bars and
clubs offer occasional or weekly live music, this is a list of
nightspots offering a wealth of themes, games and opportunities to
hear some great bands. Some offer unique ideas while others seem
to offer very little – but all of them are popular.
Cigar Masters
176 Newbury Street
100 Huntington Avenue
(617) 266-4400 / (888) 95-CIGAR
Boston's first cigar café offers 300 varieties of cigars as well
as
accessories, pipes and gifts. Cigars are becoming the in thing,
spotted in the hands of celebrities and inspiring the magazine "Afficianado".
This spot is growing with the trend (or fad) and serves wine, beer,
appetizers and dessert.
Parking: Street
Cover: None
MBTA Stop: Copley
Common Ground
85 Harvard Avenue
617- 783-2071
Themes change within this casual
club, some nights posing as a sports bar complete with a
satellited large screen, others hosting ever-changing theme
nights. The nice thing about this place is that it’s
unpretentiousness. Wednesday is Mod Night playing the latest in
Brit pop while Thursday's crew grooves to local reggae acts.
Parking: Street
Cover: Varies $2 to $5
MBTA Stop: Harvard Avenue
Dick's Last Resort
55 Huntington Avenue
617- 267-8080
Picture young, over-25
professionals at a garage sale and that's what you have in this
Texas-themed roadhouse. The live music is classic rock and the
food (meat a favorite) can be eaten straight from a bucket if you
so desire. This is the perfect spot in which to plop yourself down
at one of the picnic tables and enjoy a beer.
Parking: Street
Cover: None
MBTA Stop: Prudential or Copley
Fire and Ice Bar & Grill
50 Church St., Harvard Square
617- 547-9007
Fire and Ice provides a themed
casual environment with improvisational grill and cuisine. Guests
here can make their own grilled meals and drinks.
Parking: Street
Cover: None
MBTA Stop: Harvard
The Good Life
28 Kingston Street
617- 451-2622
The Good Life is just that –
good. This is probably the city's most popular theme bar that
isn't Irish. What? A non-Irish bar in Boston? That's right. You'll
hear a DJ who plays the classics of the Rat Pack. Frank Sinatra,
Sammy Davis, Jr., and Dean Martin will croon you into a smile over
a delicious meal. The club hosts live jazz shows on weekends.
Parking: Street
Cover: None
MBTA Stop: Park Street
House of Blues
96 Winthrop Street, Harvard Square
617- 491-2583
The House of Blues is much like
those in other major cities, featuring a themed restaurant/bar
complete with cool jazz and blues music and live performances.
Because it's a commercial giant, big-name acts become regulars
here and make it worth your attention.
Parking: Street
Cover: Varies, $6 to $20
MBTA Stop: Harvard
Jake Ivory's
1 Lansdowne Street
617- 247-1222
This unique nighttime destination
boasts of dueling pianos and a sports piano. But this isn't just
any piano joint. Its atmosphere is spirited and noisy, and its
dress code casual. The spirit and fun surrounding these pianos
make it worth the visit.
Parking: Street
Cover: $5
MBTA Stop: Kenmore Square
Jillian's
145 Ipswich St.
617- 437-0300
Jillian's is becoming better
recognized as a three-floor, multidimensional entertainment
megaplex for adults. They have everything you're imagining. Within
its 70,000 square feet are 52 pool tables, darts, ping-pong,
foosball, just-for-fun blackjack, a redemption center with prizes,
a motion odyssey ride and more than 250 video games. Located above
Atlas, Jillian’s links itself with the dance club a couple of
nights a week to add dancing flavor.
Parking: Street, valet and nearby
lots
Cover: None
MBTA Stop: Kenmore Square
Lizard Lounge
1667 Massachusetts Avenue
617- 547-0759
This is one lounge that seems to
change with each passing fad, but it does a good job. It pulled
off the leopard print thing, then survived the swing music phase,
and now it's a semi-concert venue for rock, jazz and
singer-songwriter types – plus it hosts some pretty entertaining
poetry jams. They love creative types, so jot down a few lines and
dive right in.
Parking: Street
Cover: Varies $3 to $10
MBTA Stop: Harvard
Middle East
472-480 Massachusetts Avenue,
Cambridge
617- 354-8238
The Middle East features some of
the hottest live music around, including rock and jazz, and local
bands in the smaller upstairs venue. This infamous landmark also
dishes up some scrumptious hummus and baklava.
Parking: Street
Cover: Varies $6 to $25
MBTA Stop: Central Square
The Rack
24 Clinton Street
617- 725-1051
The Rack stands in a side pocket of
Faneuil Hall, prominently adjacent to the Bostonian Hotel. It is a
casual, trendy club and a new addition to the growing popularity
of billiard sites in the city. Novices and experts meander among
the 22 pool tables, a decent arcade area and dine amid diverse
music including dance, Top 40, jazz and ska. Live music is offered
nightly, with a DJ on Saturday nights. The later you get there the
more packed it will be.
Parking: Street and nearby garages
Cover: None
MBTA Stop: Government Center
Regattabar
1 Bennett Street, Harvard Square
617661-5000
Located on the third floor of the
Charles Hotel in bustling Harvard Square, Regattabar is a popular,
intimate jazz club frequented by true music-lovers. Warm and dark
with a cozy vibe, the ambiance is soothing and is the perfect
locale for a romantic evening or a little musical education. Live
music is offered Tuesday through Saturday. Casual dress is
acceptable.
Parking: Street and garage
Cover: Varies $8 to $24
MBTA Stop: Harvard
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