DJs are the norm here on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Friday’s “My So-Called ’90s Night” is the most popular night of the week. Music starts at 10 p.m., cover charges may apply; all shows 21+. Read more.
The perfect spot to hear indie and alternative rock bands. Reasonably priced tickets (admission for most shows is between $5 and $12). One of the last 18+ venues in Boston (depending on the show.) Read more.
Arrive when doors open & you can get close enough to the stage to scrutinize your favorite artist’s nose rings. Snag space at the iron bars and you’ll feel like a golden god, à la Robert Plant c 1975. Read more.
Regardless of what band you’re there to see, the Paradise offers a proximity to the musicians that many clubs don’t. Get your tickets cheaper right at the box office. Read more.
Milky Way is open seven nights a week, and most of them are booked solid: Stump Trivia, live music, open mics, Rock Band karaoke, and of course, dance nights. Night owls: closes at 1 am on weekends. Read more.
A mainstay in Central Square for nearly 40 years, the Middle East has become one of the nation’s—yes, the nation’s—better-known midsize venues for music. Read more.
It’s immediately obvious that the popular club, although serving a tempting variety of food and a long, gem-studded beer list, is all about the music. Read more.
With its laid-back atmosphere and easy access to campus, An Tua Nua (“the new beginning”) offers good food, cheap drinks, many themed nights, and an inviting dance floor. Check ahead for a cover. Read more.
TT the Bear’s has hosted groups like the Smashing Pumpkins and Indigo Girls before they were hot. With local microbrews and a poolroom just off the bar, it’s a comfortable, convenient spot to unwind. Read more.
This bar and restaurant offers nearly 200 different types of beer and ale, many of them of Belgian and German origin and as hearty as the food they are served with. Just don't ask for a pitcher. Read more.
The perfect place to watch a game, with 14 monitors ringing the brightly lit room and a 12-foot projection screen giving die-hard fans a chance to see everything, regardless of where they sit. Read more.
The raw bar occupies center stage and is unquestionably the main attraction. Nestled between piles of crushed ice are a glistening array of some of the freshest oysters to be had anywhere in Boston. Read more.
Although it’s a gay club, you’ll find people of every sexual orientation taking advantage of the excellent music and vibrant dance party atmosphere. Machine Friday is the weekly 18+ dance night. Read more.
Performers at this downtown piano bar play anything from classic oldies to today’s top-40 hits, so don't be shy about requesting anything you'd like to hear using the slips on every table. Read more.
The décor alone is worth the wait and modest fee. The sultry red-tinged lighting in the front room provides a surreal contrast to the aquariums behind the bar. 21+ only. Read more.
Because it holds no more than 400 people, BU Central offers an intimate and casual setting, which many of the city’s clubs and music venues don’t. Read more.
BU Pub is known for its long-standing Knight’s Quest challenge. Patrons must sample all 50 beers on the quest list. Once a person completes the quest, he or she is feted with a knighting ceremony. Read more.
The venue has a capacity of just over 400, providing a more relaxed, intimate concert experience for fans and performers than you’ll find at some of the city’s other live music clubs. Read more.
Everything about the place is big. That goes for the Fenway area restaurant’s sprawling interior, the menu—with about 150 beers, stouts, and ales—and the portions (come hungry). Read more.
Whether you're looking for live music or simply an intimate drink and upscale (but not pretentious) gastropub-type cuisine, this venue/restaurant is sure to be a crowd pleaser. Read more.
This sports bar-nightclub hybrid is ideal for watching the game or dancing to house & top-40 music. There's no cover charge and on College Nights (Thursdays after 10) students' drinks are discounted! Read more.
This eclectic 21+ venue has nightly music at no charge ranging from jazz to country & everything in between. Its Boho decor & extensive cocktail menu make this South End spot ideal for a classy night Read more.
Innovative craft cocktails, precision mixology, plus crafty and entertaining bartenders in a renovated warehouse space make Drink the epitome of trendy. Read more.
Take a break from long lines at Sunset Grill & venture upstairs for a more lounge-like vibe, comfy seating, fireplaces, pool tables plus foosball. With over 80 craft beers on tap, you can't go wrong. Read more.
Start your night early with live music and high-end Southern comfort food then stay for the 11 pm - 2 am DJ and dance space. Plus, this space offers an all-you-can-eat jazz buffet brunch on Sundays Read more.
This cozy bar serves up 150+ bottled beers and 17 rotating drafts & offers classic bar fare. Order the Fenway Frank wrapped in a buttered, toasted bun for just $1. Be warned though, it's cash only! Read more.
Catch "The Donkey Show" every Saturday at 7:30 &10:30 - a modern take on Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" full of 70's disco tunes, costumes & a complete glitter-filled interactive experience Read more.
This Boston-themed bar is made entirely of ice and kept at a constant 21 degrees. They provide gloves & jackets to patrons but be sure to pay ahead - it's too cold inside for credit card machines! Read more.
Named "Best of Boston" by multiple sources, this comedy club is an ever-changing show that includes games, music, storytelling and audience participation. The results are utterly hilarious. Read more.
This paint-and-sip class allows you to create art while drinking beer, wine, or soda. Copy an original painting with step-by-step instructions that guarantee everyone will create a work of art! Read more.
This intimate music venue (capacity is roughly 100 people) has been Boston's premiere listening spot for folk, jazz & Celtic music for over 50 years. Shows generally run between $10 - $35 per ticket. Read more.
On the third Thursday of each month, the Gardner hosts a program built around a single theme featuring music, games, lectures, & refreshments. Tickets are normally $15 but are free for BU students! Read more.
This Irish pub boasts a fully-stocked bar (100+ beers!), hearty grub, a fireplace & unique, lively entertainment each week. Come for the Thursday night folk music and be sure to try the Tuscan fries. Read more.
This North End staple got its start in 1926 & has since expanded into Allston, where they offer paint nights, live music & dueling pianos. The pizzas are cooked in a brick oven to crispy perfection.
Don't miss the ICA's "First Friday" events after-hours on the first Friday of each month. For $15, walk the galleries, take in Harbor views and indulge with cocktails, dancing and tapas. Read more.
This nautical themed tavern offers flavorful tapas along with a robust beer selection. The disco fries, a mixture of hand-cut fries, cheddar cheese, scallions, bacon bits, & gravy, stole the show! Read more.
This candlepin bowling alley offers a gourmet twist on the typical bowling, beer and pizza routine. Their local beers and brick-oven baked pizzas are a great way to fuel up before a game of bowling.
Located in the North End, Improv Asylum is one of Boston's most famous comedy clubs featuring a mix of hilarious improv comedy, pre-written sketch comedy and even song-and-dance numbers.
A throwback to 1920's glitz and glam, Stage American Vaudeville Nightclub mixes modern electronic dance music and Gatsby-era decor at one of Boston's newest nightlife destinations.
Boston's Unscripted Musical Project combines hilarious improv and musical theater to create laugh-out-loud, one-act musical on the spot, based on ideas from the audience.
