A.T. O'Keeffe's
Sports bar · Back Bay ·
Historic Irish pub with live music, burgers, and bourbon
Historic Irish pub with live music, burgers, and bourbon
"McGreevy's, "America's First Sports Bar", dates back to 1894. Back then, it was the place to be for ballplayers, politicians, gamblers, Tin-Pan Alley stars and die-hard fans known as the "Royal Rooters". It was the center of the sporting and political worlds. It was America's first baseball museum, with every inch of wall space decorated with historic pictures from the owner, Nuf Ced's, own collection and memorabilia he got from friends like Cy Young. The light fixtures were made from bats used by Red Sox stars and the painted portrait of McGreevy that hung above the bar looked down upon customers like Babe Ruth and boxing champ John L. Sullivan, as well as "Royal Rooters" like Mayor "Honey Fitz" Fitzgerald (JFK's grandad) and "Sport" Sullivan, the Boston gambler infamous for masterminding the fix of the 1919 World Series. McGreevy presided over all arguments between fans ending the battles by pounding his fist on the bar exclaiming, "Nuf-Ced"! It's a must see for baseball fans and those wanting a cold pint and experiencing some of America's past." - Amalgam
"The brick walls and ornate ceiling tiles in this cozy Back Bay pub hint at a long and storied history. Indeed, A.T. O’Keeffe’s is set in the former home of McGreevy’s, the Irish pub formerly owned by a beloved American Celtic punk band’s lead singer (yes, you can probably guess the band). It’s still worth shipping up to Boston to visit the spot, which preserved much of the ambiance and added a bigger focus on quality food. A.T. O’Keefe’s also prides itself on having one of the largest selections of bourbon in the state." - Molly McDonough
"During Boston’s annual Pride celebration, the Back Bay Irish pub on Boylston Street opened its doors for “Sapphic Nights: A Pride Day Party” in partnership with Dani’s Queer Bar, swapping out the American flag for a Pride flag inscribed with the message “Be Yourself,” posting a video of the flag swap on Instagram, and hosting queer DJs, dancing, and more. After the event the pub was targeted with homophobic messaging and suspicious anonymous one-star Yelp reviews claiming the place had roaches, and owners saw negative Instagram comments focused on replacing the American flag; O’Keeffe’s did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Despite the attacks, O’Keeffe’s Google reviews remained primarily positive and the original Instagram post drew overwhelming support — including local food photographer Brian Samuels commenting “Thank you for being an ally!!!,” Berklee College posting clapping-hand emojis, and a commenter urging the pub to “continue fostering love and safety.”" - Tanya Edwards
"Behind The Field’s red facade you’ll find what you’d expect in a typical Irish pub: framed black and white photos, dark wooden tables and antique beer ad posters and plaques. Play a game of darts or, during summer months, spend time on the outdoor patio. The Field offers a cozy alternative for those who don’t want to dance the night away at its more rowdier neighbors like The Tavern in the Square and Phoenix Landing. Come with cash on hand, they don’t accept credit cards." - Intrepid
"McGreevy’s screens all the games and will be offering various bar specials." - Terrence Doyle
