Open List Home > Boston, MA > bars grills & pubs > Bell In Hand Tavern
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Bell In Hand is a two star restaurant in the Greater Boston area. This restaurant is situated in the North End neighborhood. Know before you go: this place features great views. This place features lunch and fine wines.
The Bell in Hand may date back to the 1795, but it seems to be stuck in the 90s. Testosterone-fueled youngsters shout on the local teams to victory while groups of girls pick out who's cute and sip sweet...
citysearch.com - expert review - 02/06/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
Last Saturday, all I ate was a burger and fries for lunch and a burger and fries for diner. That should have overwhelmed me, but having Bell in Hand for the second burger put me into less of a…
yelp.com - user review - 09/12/2008
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3.0 of 5 stars.
The Bell In Hand is an average restaurant with an average staff and average food in an above average location. Seriously, if the Bell In Hand was located in Newton, would anybody go out of their way…
yelp.com - user review - 09/10/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
The Bell in Hand is actually quite good when it comes to events, both spontaneous and planned. They were quite cool with all of us Scavenging-types showing up at the end on Saturday, which was…
yelp.com - user review - 09/07/2008
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5.0 of 5 stars.
Three points for not having enough table space on a rainy day. Five points for our hot DILFy bartender dealing with frantic Yelpers ordering piece-meal with a smile.
yelp.com - user review - 09/07/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
Paul Revere used to knock one back in the Bell in Hand. You could too. Good spirits and beer, more to offer than the usual moo burgers and fried batter. But don't let that stop you.
yelp.com - user review - 09/06/2008
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3.0 of 5 stars.
maybe it's cos it feels more like a pub than a bar, maybe it's the socials we've had here with an open bar or maybe it's the people i go with. I have been here afew times and never had an awful time.…
yelp.com - user review - 08/30/2008
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3.0 of 5 stars.
"Oldest tavern in US" that gets lumped in with "longest continuous city street in US", "oldest brewery in US", and "first subway in US"
yelp.com - user review - 08/19/2008
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3.0 of 5 stars.
We had out of town guests this weekend. We walked all over Boston doing a quasi pub crawl - part of which included Fanueil Hall en route to the North End. Naturally, that meant stopping at the Bell…
yelp.com - user review - 08/18/2008
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5.0 of 5 stars.
Went here to get my fill of the history of Boston, and by that I mean drink at the reported oldest bar in America. Great location near Fanueil and it's long shape means all the windows open on each…
yelp.com - user review - 08/17/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
I went to visit Boston not to long ago! Had a great time. Small bar with a fun feel! Staff was quick and friendly. You get to say....you have been in the oldest bar in America!
yelp.com - user review - 08/14/2008
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5.0 of 5 stars.
Came back again Friday and Saturday. I love you.
yelp.com - user review - 07/28/2008
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3.0 of 5 stars.
When I first moved here, I thought this place was really cool (for the historical aspect of it anyway). Then I learned. It's the typical tourist lameness. If you want real beer with real Bostonians,…
yelp.com - user review - 07/23/2008
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1.0 of 5 stars.
Tourist trap shithole of a bar along the Freedom Trail. Typical disgusting Fanueil scene. Avoid all bars within a six block radius of Fanueil.
yelp.com - user review - 07/17/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
Historical and serves alcohol?!? Sign me up! Bell in Hand is apparently the "Oldest Tavern in America" and is a great little stop along the Freedom Trail. There's plaques and stuff about the…
yelp.com - user review - 07/14/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
I love this place. I love drinking in a place that has so much history related to it. This is Boston's oldest tavern and that is enough for me. Sure they have no idea how to pour Guinness, but, in…
yelp.com - user review - 06/27/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
If you like to dance...or enjoy live cover bands, Bell in Hand is the place for you, my friends. Generally the bartenders are really nice. In particular if you go upstairs and walk straight ahead, the…
yelp.com - user review - 06/24/2008
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2.0 of 5 stars.
We came here to watch the Celtics disappoint us, and I finally decided to order some food. Even though I have been here to drink before, I have trouble rating a place until I actually eat the food.…
yelp.com - user review - 06/17/2008
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3.0 of 5 stars.
We stopped in for live music and had a Guiness! Can't go wrong with that- the musician who was playing was excellent and that is what pulled us in. It was the perfect break from our pavement pounding…
yelp.com - user review - 05/28/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
I had been shopping for a few hours and my tired feet appreciated getting to this tavern and getting a seat at the bar. I entered the quieter side where a nice couple from California were watching…
yelp.com - user review - 05/28/2008
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3.0 of 5 stars.
Alas.. Bell in Hand makes me ask the age old question when considering a review. Is this place fun? Or are my friends just so fabulous we can turn any venue into a party? Hmmmmmmm.... I've been here a…
yelp.com - user review - 05/27/2008
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2.0 of 5 stars.
I generally think that Fanueil Hall is the arsehole of Boston (can I say that outloud?) so it took a dear friend's birth to coax me into the area. I should have stayed clear when I saw the doormen in…
yelp.com - user review - 05/25/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
Apparently the oldest tavern in America. Didn't really get that feel when I walked in though. My buddy who was my tour guide said we have to grab a drink which turned out to be many drinks. Service…
yelp.com - user review - 04/30/2008
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3.0 of 5 stars.
The Bell! I really (like most people that actually are from Boston) HATE Faneuil Hall, and hate it worse when we're coerrced into going out to dinner and or drinks there... but if I have to, then I…
yelp.com - user review - 04/18/2008
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3.0 of 5 stars.
I've been putting off writing a review for Bell in Hand because I just don't know how to summarize all my experiences here. When people ask me for recommendations for a good all-encompassing place with…
yelp.com - user review - 04/15/2008
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3.0 of 5 stars.
Although they seem to be pushing the cover charge to start earlier and earlier, The Bell still ranks high in my book. Close to home, big beers, cheap mixed drinks, awesome music from the DJ and some…
yelp.com - user review - 03/30/2008
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3.0 of 5 stars.
Fun! This was the first (of two) stops mom and I made on the Saturday night we had in Boston. The place was a lot bigger than I expected, at least 4 sections that I could see. A dining area, a room…
yelp.com - user review - 03/30/2008
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3.0 of 5 stars.
I went to the Bell In Hand Tavern on a Saturday with a cousin of mine. Upon approaching the door we were hit with a cover charge, which is understandable, since a band was playing that night. But,…
yelp.com - user review - 03/17/2008
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3.0 of 5 stars.
Well, before I start talking about this place, there is something that you should know. I have never actually been here on a standard night. I went for a gay guirella night when a bunch of homos…
yelp.com - user review - 03/10/2008
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3.0 of 5 stars.
Well the bf and I visited boston bc we wanted to check out Fenway Park and their green monster. I'm a die hard A's fan, and of course, they were playing them that weekend. Of course, we also wanted…
yelp.com - user review - 02/05/2008
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3.0 of 5 stars.
Was out with an intern from Cali and she begged us to go to this bar because she said she heard this was the "oldest bar in the US" So we get there-- 5 dollar cover.. and a small line, but both were…
yelp.com - user review - 02/03/2008
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3.0 of 5 stars.
Ok, the line does suck, so I'm taking a star away from my original thought. But other than that, my friends and I always manage to have a great time here, probably because we take over half of the…
yelp.com - user review - 01/29/2008
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3.0 of 5 stars.
I had a friend visiting from Florida, so I needed to get all that Fanueil Hall/Quincy Market sh*t out of the way. We managed a little Monday night mini bar crawl and this was our first stop. The…
yelp.com - user review - 01/10/2008
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2.0 of 5 stars.
This bar is just okay. That's about it and this is sadly the best of the Faneuil Hall bars. Maybe it's because I'm older now that I go out in Faneuil about once a year, but there isn't really…
yelp.com - user review - 01/06/2008
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3.0 of 5 stars.
Who doesn't love a big long unnecessary line? OK once inside the Bell in Hand is an OK time but nothing fantastic. Their are two floors, a club atmosphere upstairs and a band playing down stairs. What…
yelp.com - user review - 12/04/2007
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3.0 of 5 stars.
I have had some of the best nights of going out at this bar. My roomate and I take our friends there almost every weekend. However, they have recently upped the Saturday night cover price to…
yelp.com - user review - 12/02/2007
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4.0 of 5 stars.
I went to this place while spending my very first weekend in Boston. As a person who loves trying home brewed ales, I had to try the Bell in Hand Ale and it was just delicious. It's got a very mild…
yelp.com - user review - 11/26/2007
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4.0 of 5 stars.
Bon Jovi and Def Lepard are alive and kicking in this bar. I went in on a weeknight and the band were doing 80's rock covers. It was a good time had by all. I drank Harpoon IPA like it was going out…
yelp.com - user review - 11/21/2007
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4.0 of 5 stars.
I went to a private event here the other night, in the upstairs. I have never been there just to hang out though. The event was good, we had all of the appetizers. They were quite tasty, and were…
yelp.com - user review - 11/17/2007
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This is a cute historic tavern (supposedly a meeting place for many 18th century political thinkers) featuring interesting architecture, open-air window views of Boston city streets in the summer, and
kudzu.com - user review - 11/11/2007
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2.0 of 5 stars.
Cold, smelly, overpriced, crowded, loud, and uncomfortable. Don't get lured in by the claim of it being the oldest pub in the US. It just isn't worth it.
yelp.com - user review - 11/07/2007
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2.0 of 5 stars.
I only kind of like it here. I don't like the crowd at all. Only so many button downs and sox hats I can tolerate. Don't get me wrong, I love the sox but come on now. Speaking of come on now, what…
yelp.com - user review - 10/01/2007
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2.0 of 5 stars.
Just another generic Fanueil Hall bar. Plasma screen TV. Wood floors. Cover bands in one area, DJ's in another. Guys in backward Red Sox hats. Hot skanks everywhere--lots of birthdays and bachelorette…
yelp.com - user review - 09/30/2007
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1.0 of 5 stars.
I felt the service was horrible when i stopped in here. My friend also got pushed down the steps by the bouncer because he didn't see there was a line gaining access upstairs. There is a good crowd…
yelp.com - user review - 09/14/2007
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2.0 of 5 stars.
"excuse me bouncer. can i wait in line for 45mins to get in, when there is clearly enough room in the bar in freezing cold?" "THEN wait in line for another 45 mins to get up stairs and dance?"
yelp.com - user review - 08/24/2007
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2.0 of 5 stars.
I was some what dissapointed because I thought this would be more Pub like. They were playing main stream Popish music though, and I couldnt wait around to see what type of crowd showed up…
yelp.com - user review - 06/27/2007
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4.0 of 5 stars.
Loved this place...was in town for the week and went straight here to meet peeps when I got off the plane. The crowd was super fun and friendly that night, and the music was great. Nice low-key place…
yelp.com - user review - 06/20/2007
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This place is great. You only pay one cover charge to get in (between 5 and 10 bucks), but it's like being in 3 different bars at once. Right when you walk in they have a very casual low-key sports bar like...
citysearch.com - user review - 06/20/2007
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4.0 of 5 stars.
The bell in hand has been getting people drunk for over 200 years. I can now be added to the list, yes folks, the Utahan got drunk at the Bell in hand. Service was spotty -so it is best to order at…
yelp.com - user review - 06/09/2007
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4.0 of 5 stars.
One of my favorite bars in Boston. Free coat check, fun music both upstairs and downstairs, usually enough room to breathe but enough people so you don't feel like you are drinking in a half-empty…
yelp.com - user review - 06/05/2007
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1.0 of 5 stars.
What a dump! I can't believe people wait in line for hours to pay $10 to get in this place to see some cheezy ass cover band and have cheap drinks spilled on them. The ONLY appealing thing about this…
yelp.com - user review - 05/07/2007
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Honestly - Not a bad bar. If you're up for a good time and don't mind the pub appeal, this place is fine. Good to decent bands downstairs but the DJ upstairs stinks. This bar caters to both bands (downstairs)...
citysearch.com - user review - 04/27/2007
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1.0 of 5 stars.
if people with taste had suicide bombers, this place would be long gone. ok no, that was a bit much. sorry. i get worked up.
yelp.com - user review - 03/27/2007
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3.0 of 5 stars.
Fair. I like the history of it all, but this place is only fair at best. It's always so crowded. I just don't get standing in line to get into a place when there are 30 places just as good within a 2…
yelp.com - user review - 02/20/2007
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4.0 of 5 stars.
Sit in the corner by the window. Cheap, very good pub food. And they serve beer!
yelp.com - user review - 01/08/2007
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4.0 of 5 stars.
always a good ol time..and the live bands..now and then are awesome...
yelp.com - user review - 12/08/2006
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5.0 of 5 stars.
Perfect place for some good old fashioned saturday afternoon day drinking. Also, if you are heading out on a 8 hour pub crawl, it is a good idea to start out a place that makes more than a passing…
yelp.com - user review - 12/07/2006
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2.0 of 5 stars.
Sticky. Wooden. Crowded.
yelp.com - user review - 11/25/2006
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2.0 of 5 stars.
Even if this is the oldest bar...don't make it look like nothing's been done since it opened. Clean the damn place up. I don't want to be in here and think I'm going to get an STD from touching the…
yelp.com - user review - 11/20/2006
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This is one of those bars that keeps a line outside to make it look appealing. There was nothing appealing about the crowd inside though. The bar itself is interesting, but was completely turned off by the...
citysearch.com - user review - 11/19/2006
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2.0 of 5 stars.
Ehh? This place is so-so. Oldest pub? Who cares? Food is mediocre.
yelp.com - user review - 10/29/2006
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3.0 of 5 stars.
This is the only Faneuil Hall bar that has consistently shown me a good time. Just accept the fact that it embodies all the sterotypical qualities of a Faneuil bar (long line to get in, long line to…
yelp.com - user review - 10/25/2006
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4.0 of 5 stars.
From an outsider's perspective....only in Boston can an "Irish Pub" feature a hip hop DJ and a good mix of people shaking their groove thang. Back here in WI....an Irish tavern means lots of Guiness…
yelp.com - user review - 10/22/2006
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4.0 of 5 stars.
As I said in my review of the Oyster House: I am a sucker for a gimick and old things draw me to them. I went for lunch before I hit haymarket on a Saturday. I had a good burger and found the 'Bell in…
yelp.com - user review - 10/12/2006
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4.0 of 5 stars.
I went here on a Monday night and unexpectedly had a blast! The band was good and the crowd wasn't bad either. I have no idea what it's like on a weekend but I plan to find out.
yelp.com - user review - 09/11/2006
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5.0 of 5 stars.
One of my favorite bars to go to in Fanuiel. They have good bands downstairs and a DJ Upstairs so there is something for everyone. Always a energetic crowd and a really fun atmosphere. and because if…
yelp.com - user review - 09/01/2006
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4.0 of 5 stars.
Always have a good time here. Cover bands downstairs and dj upstairs. The only annoying thing is they make you wait in line to go upstairs if it's late in the night. Once you get up there, there's…
yelp.com - user review - 08/22/2006
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4.0 of 5 stars.
GIven that most of the bars around Fanueil are pretty much exactly the same (yes, they are, don't argue!) Bell is my pick of the bunch. Big windows over by the tables allow for much nice people…
yelp.com - user review - 07/31/2006
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I booked a private room at this bar almost a month before my birthday, and spoke with the woman in charge 4 separate times to confirm beforehand. She assured me that the room would be all mine for 2 hours,...
citysearch.com - user review - 06/17/2006
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UNFORTUNATELY WE WERE TRYING TO GET SOME HELPFUL SERVICE FROM THE STAFF ABOUT HOW THEY COULD HELP A GROUP OF ABOUT 15 OF US. MOST OF OUR GROUP WAS NOT FROM THE AREA AND WE HAD PEOPLE COMING FROM HOURS AWAY FOR...
citysearch.com - user review - 06/09/2006
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4.0 of 5 stars.
I have always had a great sloshy time at the Bell in Hand and is usually the place of choise in the area despite the half hour wait to get inside on most weekends. Fanueil Hall in general would be so…
yelp.com - user review - 05/24/2006
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4.0 of 5 stars.
Bell in Hand is always great from some drunken belligerence on a Friday or Saturday night! The cover isn't too bad, around $5, but makes you want to stay longer than you probably would otherwise.
yelp.com - user review - 05/24/2006
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4.0 of 5 stars.
Good times are had by all... So many options at Bell in Hand...stay in the front and people watch out the big windows, go in the back room and party your ass of (especially if theres a pub crawl going…
yelp.com - user review - 04/20/2006
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If you're on a pub crawl in Faneuil Hall, then you absolutely must stop by Bell in Hand. It's the ol...
judysbook.com - user review - 04/15/2006
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4.0 of 5 stars.
I always have a good time here. There are a couple different options depending on the mood you are in. There's a more chill area right when you walk in with just a bar and some tables around to hang…
yelp.com - user review - 04/04/2006
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Even though the Bell in Hand tends to attract a mixed crowd, it is one of the best bars in Boston. I...
judysbook.com - user review - 03/17/2006
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4.0 of 5 stars.
This place was a blast. Definately a pleasant surprise. Bands downstairs & a DJ playing pop/hip-hop upstairs. I also met the nicest girl, who complimented my shirt. Far too often, girls try to…
yelp.com - user review - 03/12/2006
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4.0 of 5 stars.
I think this is the biggest of the pubs lined up between Faneuil and Haymarket, with 3 full bars inside. The DJ'ing was ... eclectic, going from The Pretenders to 50 Cent and back to The Cure all…
yelp.com - user review - 03/11/2006
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4.0 of 5 stars.
Great place! Good people! Kareoke on Tuesday is so fun.
yelp.com - user review - 03/05/2006
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4.0 of 5 stars.
A friend of mine refers to this Fanueil Hall bar as "the Well Out of Hand," (cheesy but apt)...and I agree--every time I come here I have a ton of fun and find myself in a healthy amount of harmless,…
yelp.com - user review - 02/23/2006
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4.0 of 5 stars.
They had a guy who did an Oasis and Radiohead cover here. It was not very good, but it wasn't very bad either! I got drunk and sang karaoke. I don't sing karaoke. I DO NOT SING KARAOKE. I've been…
yelp.com - user review - 02/11/2006
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4.0 of 5 stars.
Fun Fun F-U-N especially when it's warm and all the windows are wide open. The live bands rock out and you can chill w/Sam Adams. Way cooler than any of the other bars in the Fanueil Hall area.
yelp.com - user review - 09/07/2005
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4.0 of 5 stars.
Great 20 scene here. The bands are always great. Make sure you order up a pint here and stick to either the appetizers or a burger. This place is America's oldest tavern.
yelp.com - user review - 08/31/2005
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4.0 of 5 stars.
This is my favorite place to go in Fanueil Hall if I'm looking to have a more raucous night. There is usually a band playing live music downstaris and loud obnoxious music and people dancing…
yelp.com - user review - 08/29/2005
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5.0 of 5 stars.
I would siggest Bell in Hand during the day and at night. They have live bands at both times. The crowd is usually energetic, young and fun. The food is pretty good as well. It is my favorite bar in…
yelp.com - user review - 08/29/2005
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5.0 of 5 stars.
Oldest bar in Boston. Young, lively energetic crowd. Bar is quite large and has a few different rooms. Bar gets loud and crowded and be prepared for a late night if you come here. Bartenders are…
yelp.com - user review - 08/23/2005
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3.0 of 5 stars.
Jen hasn't been here, but I have (Tim). It was pretty interesting, as soon as we entered we pretty much had nowhere to go and were more or less ushered upstairs. What's cool about this bar is that it…
yelp.com - user review - 08/22/2005
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3.0 of 5 stars.
I would have to agree with Brandy's review on this one. Went once and the band was not that good and the night definitely seemed long. There are tons of rooms so you would think just go into another…
yelp.com - user review - 08/19/2005
