If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to our RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

If you want to find a big Irish community in the United States today, one of the major cities that you’re going to look in is Boston. Irish immigrants formed a foundation for this city starting in the early nineteenth century. This culture has played an important role in the development of Boston ever since, impacting the politics and the activities of the people who live there. For that reason, anyone who wants to celebrate their Irish heritage need not look too far from any spot in Boston to find a good place to do that.

Of course, what better way to celebrate your Irish self than to find a good Irish pub? After all, it may be a stereotype to say that the Irish love their drink but there’s no denying that Irish pubs hold an important place in Irish-American communities to this day. For people who want to toast to the history of Ireland in Boston, there is no shortage of Irish pubs to do that in. Whether you want to find a place that’s going to have live music or you’re looking for a spot that’s going to give you some fish ‘n chips with your beer, there’s likely to be a pub in Boston that suits your needs.

Here are some of the top Irish pubs in Boston that you might want to check out if drinking Irish-style is your thing:

AN TAIN. Go to this Irish pub during the week and you’ll find a mostly quiet place where you can enjoy a beer with friends. Head here on the weekends and you’ll hardly recognize the joint because it’s packed to the brim with a diverse crowd of people who come to hear the DJs and to dance their Irish hearts out. This is a favorite for big groups of drinkers because it offers a dearth of mixed drinks in addition to the beer. Be aware that this bar doesn’t allow Yankees hats in it and will actually enforce that rule if you try to test it.

An Tua Nua. Some people seek out Irish bars because they like that Old World flavor that they’ve got going for them. Other people would prefer to find an Irish bar that’s got a bit more of a contemporary edge to it. The people who fall into the latter category are the ones that are going to be most comfortable at An Tua Nua. Just make sure you’re young if you go here since it tends to cater heavily to the college crowd.

Black Rose. Ask anyone in Boston where the Irish pub is located and they’ll probably point you in the direction of Black Rose. That’s because this is the Irish pub that is known for catering to tourists and tends to be the place that people are looking for when they’re looking for the local hot spot. This is the place where you can if you want some truly traditional Irish food (such as bangers and mash). And it’s the place where you can go if you’re from anywhere in the world and want to feel welcome in an Irish pub.

Crossroads Irish Pub. Perhaps you’re the kind of person who wants to go to a bar to catch the game. Then you’re probably looking for an Irish pub that has big screen TVs and is quiet enough to actually let you see some of what’s going on. The place that you’ve got in mind if you’re in Boston is going to be Crossroads Irish Pub. This is where you’ll go to order a pitcher with your travel companions and hang out during the afternoon.

Kennedy’s. It’s impossible to talk about Irish pubs anywhere in the country and not find a Kennedy’s in the mix. Boston’s version of this name is a bar which is also a steak house, providing you a place for some food to go along with your drink. What’s really interesting about this spot is that it’s also a piano and martini bar which is not something that you’d typically associate with an Irish pub. If you’re looking for something different, modern and worth writing home about, then this is the Irish pub that’s going to surprise you.

Mr. Dooley’s Boston Tavern. It’s hard to know where to start with a description of this Boston Irish Pub. One could start by saying that it offers more than a dozen different imported beers on tap which would appeal to the kind of people who really care about which beer they’re going to get when they show up at a pub. Alternatively, you could say that the bar has live music six nights a week which means that you’re never going to be bored stopping in here on a random night. Or you could say that it’s also home to really unique events like games of charades that you just aren’t going to find at any other Irish pub in Boston.

The Field. If you’re basically just looking for a casual Irish bar with some modern Irish/European music playing on speakers overhead and a pool table set in the corner, this is the spot that you’re trying to find. It’s more known among locals than amongst tourists and so the flavor is much more authentic than some of the higher-traffic Irish bars that you’ll find in Boston.

The Harp. Perhaps you’re in Boston for business since it’s currently a hot spot for conferences and business travel. If that’s the case, you might be feeling a little bit lonely and looking for a spot that’s stellar for singles. If that’s the case, look no further than The Harp which is regularly recognized as a good bar for people who are interested in showing up alone and going home with someone else. There’s live entertainment several days per week so even if you don’t make a match, you should have a good time.

The Publick House. Maybe you’re not looking for just any old Irish bar. Maybe you’re the kind of person who considers himself almost a connoisseur of the Irish bar scene. You go to a bar in every city that you can to see the differences between the ambience and the drinks in different Irish bars across the nation. Then you’re probably going to want to find the Irish pub that has rare beers that you’re not finding elsewhere in the city. The Publick House is the pub most likely to have those beers that you’re looking high and low to find.

Tommy Doyle’s Irish Pub. When you think Boston, you might think Harvard. And if you’re trying to find the stereotypical Irish bar for Harvard college kids, then the place that you’re thinking of is this one. Don’t expect to find fish ‘n chips here. The fare is a little more college and includes things like fajitas and stuffed potato skins. If you’re a student visiting the area and want to find an Irish bar that you might hang out in if you decide to attend school here, this one is a good bet to get started in.

There is no shortage of Irish pubs in Boston. You can turn almost any corner in the city and find something that resembles the traditional Irish bar. But if you want to go to the places that everyone else is going to, these are the Irish pubs that Boston claims are the best ones in the city.

photo credts: pear

Tags: boston | massachusetts | North America | United States