10 Best Bars in Boston Outskirts, Boston

Your true-emerald Irish music pub pulls in devoted locals and all fans of craic (enjoyable environment). Enthusiastic staff and professional bartenders expertly pour Guinness on tap and serve comfort food (some of the best fish-and-chips in the area, bangers and mash, Irish stew, shepherd's pie). Dark decor; a tiny, sunny, west-facing patio; an old-wood library bar; and slate specials add to the allure of live Irish music—acoustic groups—most nights in both the front and back rooms.

In the heart of student heaven, the Sunset looks, at first glance, like any neighborhood hangout. But venture inside and you'll be bowled over by its good promise to host the "365-days-a-year beer festival" with a staggering 500 choices of beer, 112 of them on tap. Forget pallid domestics: try an unpronounceable but appetizing brew from faraway places—seasonals, cask-conditioned, Belgians, wheats, stouts. If you're really thirsty, order a "half-yard"; if curious, order a flight sampler. There are ciders and meads, too. Brewing excellence is matched by fine eats like steam burgers and mile-high nachos served until 1 am.

This local brewery is "malt-forward" and a female-owned and LGBTQ+-friendly place. It's a great spot to catch women's sports on TV or just kick back on the weekend with friends. Some prepackaged snacks and nonalcoholic beverages are available, but the main focus here is on the brews.

In Somerville's Union Square, this comfortable neighborhood bar is a good spot to hit for a pint, a whiskey-based cocktail with a quaint name, quality brews (25 drafts, 10 bottles/cans), and a long listing of spirits that come together for a mad menu of house cocktails.

This very popular Jamaica Plain café books a lively mix of rock bands, DJs, and noise artists. There's punk, soul, R&B, and on Thursday a raucous lesbian dance party and "queeraoke"—straights are welcome, too. Cover varies nightly; check for show age-restrictions.

Inventive cocktails wash down Southern comfort grub at this hip, retro joint packed with a younger crowd. The original drinks are just that—original—with concoctions like the Rockin' Chair (black-tea-infused bourbon, canton ginger cognac, and lemon) and the Fallen Angel (a spicy mango margarita with a barbecue-dusted rim). Their buttermilk fried chicken is well loved, and the mac and cheese with Ritz crackers and hot dogs is your new guilty pleasure.

This spacious, popular venue connected with Paradise offers bands nightly, some open to all ages, often double bills.

Crowds of cool Allston students and greater Boston music fans rock hard until closing at Great Scott, which books an impressive lineup of local and visiting indie rock bands (from 9 pm) in live double and triple bills on a varying rotation nearly every night.

This iconic bandbox near Boston University is famed for bringing up big-name talent (think U2), hosting Coldplay, and nurturing local rock and hip-hop acts. Two tiers of booths provide good sight lines from all angles, even some intimate, out-of-the-way corners. Four bars quench the crowd's thirst, and food is available. Some shows are for 18-plus only; many sell out. The newer Paradise Lounge next door is a more intimate space to catch local (often acoustic) songsters, literary readings, poetry slams, and other artsy events.

Since 1989, this intimate and amiable venue overlooking the Charles River has presented top names–-Harry Connick Jr., Chris Botti, Michael Bublé, and Wynton Marsalis, to name a few–-in jazz, Latin, and contemporary, but also blues, soul, R&B, cabaret, and world music. There are full bar and cocktail menus, as well as food and dessert selections. Performances are Thursday through Saturday 8 and 10 pm; tickets range from $25 to $50 and are discounted if you come for dinner. Advance purchase is recommended.