There are so many, but here are my faves:
Cambridge:
Grendel's Den - Right in Harvard Square. It's been there for 50+ years and the vibe is it's a bar that has been there for 50+ years. Something about that is very charming to me. A plus is that Pinocchio's Pizza is pretty much across the street, so you can get a late night slice or three after drinks.
Plough & Stars - A favorite of many. A very cozy vibe and great live music.
State Park - 70s basement vibes. Wood paneling, a bunch of cool/weird neon signs and vintage lamps, and great food. Also pool and I think shuffleboard
Daedalus - Maybe more of a restaurant, but I love it. Also in Harvard Square
Somerville:
Highland Kitchen - Incredible food and a small bar. Mostly a sit-down place, but they have good drinks too.
The Burren - One of the best places in the Boston area and maybe my favorite. The best live music around. There are usually some Irish/folk/instrumental bands playing in the front room and some larger acts in the back room.
Saloon - A speakeasy, so to speak. Great drinks.
Olde Magoun's Saloon - Great spot for food/drink if you're near Magoun Square
Bronwyn - German bierhall with great food
Apr 12, 2024
Related Recs
π§
classic little dive bar in cambridge to go to w the buds :)
Nov 27, 2024
Pub in Jamaica Plain where I was a trivia regular for 2017-2020 and would stop by on a occasion after I moved to Cambridge. They don't have trivia anymore but its a nice place to have a couple beers with some friends in a down to earth environment. They had cheap PBR/'Gansett/Yuengling and a good selection of new england craft beers like Proclamation/Maine Beer Company/Fiddlehead (before it was widely distributed). It is dark, has a homey wood interior and a slow to warm but sweet bartender named Jess. They play good music like classic soul and the Smiths. One time a barback that looked like Billy Joe Armstrong played Beach House for like an hour. Overall, everything you want out of a neighborhood bar.
Apr 26, 2024
π§
In Central Square in Cambridge, but they have a 'secret' barcade open 5 days a week besides sunday that is a lot of fun. BUT it's tiny so late nights/weekends it can get packed quick.
Feb 8, 2024
Top Recs from @theclack
The perfect lil snack for when you donβt want a big snack
Apr 3, 2024
Here it is, folks! Volume I of what could very well be a continuous project. Thank you so much to everyone that submitted - I smiled the entire time I was putting this together. It's best listened to with headphones βΊοΈ
Liner Notes:
This collection of field recordings is a collaborative effort with users of PI.FYI, each of which recorded their own pieces. It features audio from all over the world and exhibits eclectic moments from London Underground commutes to cuckoo bird calls in Dhaka to the sounds of a century-old American diner.
Online communities like PI.FYI often represent a diverse set of people, places, and experiences, but together, the submissions form a living collage that highlights the commonalities of modern life - a unifying message for such a tumultuous time. The first track features all of the sounds played at once in an attempt to create an audio snapshot of an online community but in their offline lives.
The individual recordings are unedited except for minor gain and compression adjustments for consistency across the collection.
Mar 29, 2025
