Question:
What bars should I go to on a Boston Back Bay pub crawl?
Lir
Practically next door to The Pour House, you'll find 903 Boylston Street, the location of Lir. You'll be intrigued with Lir from the second you walk by and see the giant spiral staircase through the bar's front windows. An authentic Irish pub, Lir is equally popular with the after work crowd as it is with the college crowd. If you have a preference of who you'd like to hang with, head to the middle or top floor for cozy, more up-scale bar rooms, or go down to the basement to dance with the college crowd. The bar has 16 beers on tap, but if you're not sick of martinis yet, try the to die for mint chocolate chip martini.
Bukowski's
Continue on Mass. Ave. and take a left onto Boylston. At the next block, take a right onto Dalton Street. Bukowski's Tavern is located at 50 Dalton Street. Serving more than 100 kinds of beer, Bukowski's laid back atmosphere is a nice change from Match's posh martini scene. This hole-in-the-wall tavern is named after the famous author and poet (and drinker,) Charles Bukowski. For something a little different, order a beer from the tavern's vintage beer list. If the mini-burgers didn't fill you up at Match, you can order a full-sized one here. The tavern serves food until 1:30 a.m.
Pour House
Take a few more steps on Boylston and you'll arrive at The Pour House located at number 909. Finally, a place with some cheap drinks. You'll probably find a lot of young, poor college students here and while the establishment is nothing to write home about, the atmosphere is fun. If you're still hungry, The Pour House offers specials on their menu items almost every night. In fact, you'll probably want to come back the next morning to feed your hangover with some nice greasy bacon and eggs or a specialty burger.
Armani Cafe
When you leave the Prudential Center, walk two more blocks and then turn left onto Dartmouth Street. Walk two more blocks and take another Left onto Newbury Street. You'll have to make a stop at number 214 Newbury Street, the Armani Cafe, if only to say you've been there. Or even better, to be seen there. Maybe you can't afford to buy Armani clothing, but surely you can afford just one of their cafe's slightly over-priced drinks. It's highly fashionable to be seen standing in the cafe and holding a Lemon-drop or milk chocolate martini or other Italian inspired drinks. This super trendy bar on Newbury Street is definitely the place to be seen so be sure to stand at their outdoor terrace if the weather's nice.
Daisy Buchanan's
For a cheaper, more laid-back Newbury Street experience, head over to the pub crawl's last stop at 240 Newbury Street. Daisy Buchanan's may be described as a dive bar by some, but is there really such a thing as a dive bar on Newbury Street? The basement level, dark bar actually gets a lot of Boston athletes so keep your eyes peeled. Red Sox players have been known to hang here after home games. Beer is much more reasonably priced than many other Back Bay bars. Daisy Buchanan's is a good place to end the night since the young crowd likes to stay right up until closing time.
Top of the Hub
Continue down Boylston to number 800 and you'll arrive at the Prudential Center. Go into the mall and follow the signs for the Top of the Hub. You'll take an elevator up to the 52nd bar and will no doubt feel far away from the pub crawl route. But, it will be worth it. Get a drink from the bar if you want (Once again, martinis are recommended) but then head right over to the windows to check out the view. Seeing the city lit up at night from the 52nd floor is something you'll never forget. Try to come back later in the week for an elegant, romantic dinner during the sunset.
Match
Start your pub crawl at 94 Mass. Ave at Match. Match is an uber-trendy bar specializing in martinis and mini-burgers. One of the hottest newcomers on the Back Bay bar scene, the lines can get long on weekend nights so make this your first stop and come early. To fully appreciate this chic bar, you absolutely must start the night off with a martini. For a fun one, try the "Pop Culture" martini; the glass is rimmed with Pop Rocks.(remember the candy?) Because you'll be barhopping all night, you should also check out this bar's selection of mini-burgers. Burgers can be made with the obvious beef but are also prepared with lamb, tuna, and lobster.
Dillon's
When you leave Bukowski's, just come back up Dalton until you reach Boylston Street. Dillon's is at 955 Boylston. Back to the upscale, Dillon's is known as one of the area's most fashionable bars. If the weather's nice, be sure to go outside to the sunken patio. While the ambiance in the bar is extremely pleasant, and the drink list long, drinks are expensive, so you'll probably only want to stay for one.
Whiskey's
Only a few doors down from Lir is 885 Boylston Street and Whiskey's Food & Spirits. Whiskey's is a lively bar usually filled with a younger, college crowd. While the bar can get a bit overly crowded and may feel like a packed high school hallway at times, it's a great place for singles to meet considering the virtually equal guy/girl ratio. There's never a cover charge and if there's a line, it usually moves quickly. Whiskey's also boasts a great "pub grub" menu including 10 cent wings Sundays through Thursdays from 4-11 p.m.
Cactus Club
Walk down Boylston Street a few paces and you'll come 939 Boylston Street: The Cactus Club. This bar and restaurant can usually be found on any list of places offering the best margaritas in Boston. The bar actually offers more than 20 types of tequila, so you may need to ask the bartender for some help when making your selection. Lots of twenty- and thirty-somethings come here to dine and drink after work but many just come for the bar as well. If you enjoy this stop, you might want to come back Wednesday nights for "Margaritas and Massages," Sunday nights for the all you can eat tacos, or Tuesday nights for "build your own margaritas."
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