Midway Café

Live music venue · Jamaica Plain

Midway Café

Live music venue · Jamaica Plain

3

3496 Washington St, Boston, MA 02130

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Midway Café by @TheInfatuation
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Midway Café by null
Midway Café by null
Midway Café by null
Midway Café by null
Midway Café by null
Midway Café by null
Midway Café by null
Midway Café by null
Midway Café by null
Midway Café by null
Midway Café by null
Midway Café by null
Midway Café by null
Midway Café by null
Midway Café by null
Midway Café by null
Midway Café by null
Midway Café by null
Midway Café by null
Midway Café by null
Midway Café by null
Midway Café by null
Midway Café by null
Midway Café by null
Midway Café by null
Midway Café by null
Midway Café by null
Midway Café by null
Midway Café by null
Midway Café by null
Midway Café by null
Midway Café by null
Midway Café by null
Midway Café by null
Midway Café by null
Midway Café by null
Midway Café by null
Midway Café by null
Midway Café by null
Midway Café by null
Midway Café by null
Midway Café by null
Midway Café by null

Highlights

The Midway Cafe is a beloved dive bar in JP, known for its intimate vibe, eclectic live music, and legendary Queeraoke nights—just bring cash!  

Featured in The Infatuation
Featured in Eater

3496 Washington St, Boston, MA 02130 Get directions

midwaycafe.com
@themidwaycafejp

$$

Information

Static Map

3496 Washington St, Boston, MA 02130 Get directions

+1 617 524 9038
midwaycafe.com
@themidwaycafejp
𝕏
@themidwayjp

$$

Features

gender neutral restroom
restroom
bar onsite
wheelchair accessible entrance
wheelchair accessible restroom

Last updated

Jul 6, 2025

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@eater

"A storied live music venue in Boston, Midway Cafe has been hosting its famed weekly Queeraoke night for nearly 20 years. It’s a reliable stop for those looking for a more intimate spot to hang out — capacity maxes out at 99 people — and, crucially, there are dance breaks between each set. Note: The venue is cash-only." - Alex Reimer, Erika Adams

Where to Celebrate Pride Month 2024 in Boston
View Postcard for Midway Café
@infatuation

"The Midway Cafe is what every new bar hopes it will be like in 30 years - a place with more worn-in character than your grandfather’s favorite hat. Part punk bar, part union hall, part after-work drinking spot for the overworked and underpaid teachers from Boston English across the street, it’s one of the realest places in the city. The drinks aren’t really anything special and there’s no food, but it’s a hell of a lot of fun thanks to live music almost every night, and Queeraoke on Thursday is something everyone who lives in JP should experience at least once." - dan secatore

Where To Eat And Drink In Jamaica Plain
View Postcard for Midway Café
@infatuation

"We have no reason to believe that the Midway Cafe in JP is haunted, but if it is, those are probably some pretty badass ghosts. This tiny, divey bar and live music venue is old enough to actually start thinking about a 401K, and over the years it’s become JP’s home for everyone from punks and indie rockers to construction workers and teachers. There’s a cover most nights starting around 8, but it’s almost always within the $5-$10 range, and that’s a small price to pay for the fun you’ll have here. There’s no food and the drink selection is just OK, but this is one of those places where those things are beside the point - you’re here to have fun, get a little sloppy, and meet people." - Dan Secatore

Midway Cafe - Review - Jamaica Plain - Boston - The Infatuation
View Postcard for Midway Café

Dom B

Google
My dads been has been playing here for decades, awesome spot to see live music great atmosphere! Stop Calling Me Frank are legends of the Boston Live scene!!

Michael Mambrino

Google
Great dive bar for live music. I’ve seen tons of great bands and friends here over the years. I usually go to the matinees. Shout out I Want A Cat, Double Star, Sapling, NXOR, Major Stars. FRKSE, Battlemode and all the other bands I’ve seen here. Great staff too they’re all kind souls

Chris Phillips

Google
There’s no way to not rate Miday 5*. Sure it’s cash only and the bathroom probably has the entire hepatitis alphabet, but it’s not the type of place you go expecting a Applebees. The Sunday night open mic is great and the bartender is super quick.

Chris Schultz

Google
So, just walking in off the street, it’s a great neighborhood bar with a fantastic selection of beers, a bartender who is friendly, funny and pours a great pint of Guinness. But… Thursday nights are Queeraoke, and it’s as fantastic as it sounds. Great DJ, fantastic crowd and amazing singers. It’s a great time for everyone!

Ian Downie

Google
Awesome live music venue where we've played a few times. The sound people are generally nice and the bartender is great. They have a k-cup machine behind the bar so technically theyre actually a cafe. They even have cute ceramic mugs if you get a coffee how rad is that. I recommend going to one of their matinee shows especially if its winter since it's dark anyway so you don't feel lame for being a concert at 4:45pm.

Michael Kish

Google
One of the last "old-school" bars/venues supporting live music (and comedy, karaoke, community organizations, and more). Live music most nights, usually local bands, sometimes an up-and-coming touring act passing through. You can feel the history (the many old show posters and newspaper clippings on the wall help). Cheap drinks and good bartenders. As of September 2023 they still have Anchor Steam, which has been discontinued--get it while it lasts!

Barbara Walsh

Google
Love the Midway! It's a classic dive bar with all the great points that a dive bar has. Great bar staff, cheap booze, eclectic crowd, just great. And this weekend they turned 35 years old! #35andstillalive

Sepsiss

Google
We had so much fun playing here! Snappy quick sets, really sweet staff and high energy little vibe!! Safe and fun environment. If you support local and regional rock bands look no further than Midway

K.C. H.

Yelp
Bad bad service!!! They charged us $60 for 6 people to enter to simply have zero seating, no place to stand or sit and then they tell us some virgin drinks we brought in from a festival at the park was not allowed. We asked for money back and we would leave after only being there 60 seconds so we left. This was piss poor service at its finest. We were a party of 6 from out of town and planned on ordering a bunch of drinks and hanging out but the he ruined that. We will ensure none of our traveling friends ever go here!!!

Michelle M.

Yelp
Fun place for a night out!! Small place but makes it feel more cozy. Different events on different nights, something for everyone. FYI: Cash only!!!

Bruce K.

Yelp
Quick stop for a watering hole, I hit up the Midway Cafe for a beer and a quiet table in the early evening to use my laptop. No, they don't have a wifi that I was able to hook on to but I did find a power outlet to charge my phone and tether to it. So that's cool. Cheap beer, I had a UFO white that was $7 with tip for the bartender who poured it and provided the requisite orange wedge. It was quiet while I was here but as I was leaving, the bands were coming in and getting set up. Midway is a small place but I think the music is gonna rock.

Caitlyn C.

Yelp
Came here on a Saturday without knowing much about this place. What a GEM. Awesome live music, great brews, nice people. I'll be back soon!

Graham P.

Yelp
Played here a few times and it is always top notch. Perfect local indie venue for a spot like JP. Nice guys doing the sound and bar tending, good list of beers and full bar, great sounding room. Always a fun time in a cozy space. Cash only though

Damien S.

Yelp
Small, tight. Loaded with lesbians to see 5 Funny Females - an all vajay stand-up comedy extravaganza. A bartender that poured drinks stiffer than Kanye's mom (first to review?) and only $4.50 a pop! Tables, or something. 12 stools at the bar, I believe. There's nothing remarkable about the night I went but the place itself had a most excellent feel. I respect that. Too far for me to go back but a solid nook for JP natives. Recognize.

Emma H.

Yelp
Every Thursday night at 10PM there is a huge line outside of Midway and it is NOT to watch a band. It is for Queeraoke! I will be honest, I have never been to Midway during the day or any other day that wasn't associated with a LGBTQIA event so I am not sure about the vibe during those times, but Queeraoke is really the place to be. It is a constant flow of cheap beer with good friends watching or performing various hilarious karaoke attempts to a usually loud but unbelievably accepting crowd. It is divey, it is sweaty, but it is always a great time. It is cash only and on Thursdays it is a $5 cover.

Matt H.

Yelp
Midway has been around since 1987. Since when did it become drivel when we are this close to Berklee? All the houses are owned by Boston Symphony and Boston Pops... they don't live here, but I like to imagine they're here... Midway was about real musicians cutting their teeth with maybe 'garage band level' music, but always trying to 'get it.' I'm not seeing that, anymore. It's time to find another place.

Dana S.

Yelp
Has a super blast at their Polynesian pounce. Amazing blue Hawaiians and Labretta Suede and her band were fun too Def be back.

Alex C.

Yelp
I was 8th on the karaoke list and was 16th by the time 8 went by.....the DJ admitted that he favors people he doesnt want to anger... Thats not okay.... Also, when someone in your bar grabs someone else, nothing is done at all, apparently...

Jarrett L.

Yelp
Your typical hole in the wall, however great for live music keeping the jp live music scene alive. If your looking for live music around Boston def a place to checkout

Adam C.

Yelp
First off, I read the review of the "really nice ladies room" and had to laugh. I wouldn't know if it is or isn't. It probably is nice, but I was here this past Saturday in the men's room standing in a 1/4"-1/2" of piss/PBR when I was in the men's room. Whatever, it wasn't a shock for that bar or anything for me. Anyway, I've been here a couple of times and it's been entertaining each time. I ended up there this past Saturday at "Nerd Night" where they have kids get up and dork out on their favorite topics, such as Ham Radio. Anyway, entertaining shit. Also, I've been for the karaoke/dance night thing on Thursday. It's fun and you actually don't HAVE to be a lesbian to attend, just don't be a douche and you'll be fine. It's cheap, zany and fun.

Luke D.

Yelp
I have had the pleasure of performing at this amazing sounding venue several times!! Staff is always friendly and helpful!!! Sound engineer is amazing!!! Good drink s and prices!!! Booking is always accommodating and responsive!!

Chris M.

Yelp
Today I'm reviewing places I frequent that are too obvious for me to review, apparently. I don't frequent the Midway, but I've spent some time there. It's significantly uglier than any dive bar I've been to, but it's obvious that they know it (or they don't) and they own it. They have music and performance and queereoake just about every night of the week. They don't just have crappy beers, for less than you'd pay for crappy beers elsewhere. It's kind of nice in that respect.

Lauren A.

Yelp
I swear the door guy has been off his face whenever I've gone, which means that he's friendly, giggly, loud, and offers you half-eaten pizzas and I think some kind of chip dip. For Free! Seriously though, the drinks are cheap (ca$h only) but strong and the bands are entertaining for the cover. A-OK is right!

Rosie Q.

Yelp
No food & cash only! It might look a little sketchy from the outside but once you walk inside, it's not a bad spot for a beer! It's an adorable small music venue. The drinks are listed in colorful chalk on the boards on the wall and they have little Christmas lightings around the place. Hey! It adds character! (: Plus, they have a prettay prettay decent selection of drinks and beers to choose from!

Cynthia R.

Yelp
Visiting from out of town on a Thursday for the weekend. Astros versus Red Sox. Go stros!!! Anywho. We won. Lol. Sidenote stopped by here cause it was kareoke night. We don't stay for the whole experience but we chatted with the bartender mike. Super sweet knowledgeable guy. He made the night fun. If ur in the neighborhood hit this spot up. Drinks weren't expensive and the atmosphere was nice. Mike u rock.

Rachel H.

Yelp
CASH ONLY! We came here to see the Galactic Perimeter play on a rainy Sunday afternoon, and this place is a dive music venue out of the dreams of a budding rock legend. I felt like I needed a tetanus shot after using the ATM in the corner, but the bar tender was friendly and the glasses looked clean, so I had a couple drinks and settled right in. The band sounded great, with the exception of a little reverb situation right at the start of the show, and looking around the place, I feel like it must be a piece of history, like so many other cool places in New England. There is the obligatory Drop Kick Murphy's framed poster on the walls, as well as band memorabilia from a thousand other artists, and the graffiti in the bathroom made me feel like I was 15 again, sneaking into the local clubs in Hollywood. Moral of the story here: it's a great place to be entertained, as long as you bring cash and eat before hand!

Robbie P.

Yelp
I come here for the beer. Midway has a decent selection and a few that are new to me. I love coming here to try something new. The bartenders are friendly and well mannered. The place is dark, but that doesn't bother me. As for the music, I'm not going to hate on it because I'm really a House/Trance/Techno fan...yet the bands that play here manage to put a smile on my face. When the place brings in a small crowd, it becomes a small show and I can see how the customers enjoy themselves. I'll always come here for a beer and a good time.

Lauren A.

Yelp
So, my husband is in a band (Something Something Buy A T-Shirt) and they played here on a Sunday afternoon. It was a great space for them to play. Great stage, room in front of the stage, some seating around the bar and small bar/table facing the stage. Great sound/sound system. Cover charge is only $7. They do have drinks and soda, but no food. With a name like The Midway CAFE, you'd think they did food, but nope. But you can bring in outside food. They are right next dorr to Burritos (see my other review for them!). Also, really easy to get to. Right on Washington St. And I think of JP and get nervous. Really though, it's not in a bad neighborhood. Great band space. Great bar. No food. All in all, I really enjoyed this place. Hope to go back soon.

Ligaya T.

Yelp
A killer dive bar that embraces the grunge, but washes its hands. We'll look past the misnomer. Wicked nice bartenders. Thanks for the shot, Dickey! And a chill place to have a brew to yourself and a buddy on a Monday or Tuesday. The collage art here is amazing too. I like the pair of felines behind the stage, inspiring work. Have yet to come when it's crackin' but I'm open to the madness. I'm jealous of JP.

David D.

Yelp
Consistently, this has been the WORST night I have EVER gone to, but I can't stop going! It's the same music every week, the same people singing the same songs every week, and me asking myself the same question @ 2:00 am "why the FUCK did I do that again?!" Don't get me wrong, Karaoke @ Club Cafe is the WORST night in general, but I think my car refuses to drive there. This night is awful, but it finds ways to salvage itself. NEVER go here alone. Only go if 5+ friends are going. Do NOT go to see the same 3-4 girls sing "Don't Stop Believing"... try to get there after 12:00 to avoid it ... you'll thank me later. Do NOT go if you don't plan on drinking ... you will start complaining before your hand is stamped. If you are a TRUE Karaoke fan (and I hope there is no such thing), I'm sure you will have fun here. I just can't get into the idea of watching the same girl sing Alanis Morissette's "You Oughta Know" (with infinite technical difficulties), observe the audience DANCE to it, and call that a night out. :( Otherwise, I have fun being in the company of my friends, and getting wasted while trying to tune out what's happening on stage. I wish there was an Applebee's in JP. :'(

Caitlin D.

Yelp
I love karaoke and I was beyond excited to learn of this gem when I moved to the area in September. I've been there on awesome nights and some not so awesome nights. The place is smallish, dive-y, the beers are cheap, and the bartenders nice. I can always find a place to store my coat (but I'm not telling you where my favorite hiding spot is) and if I manage to get there before 10:30, I don't have to wait in line. All this sounds pretty good, right? A bunch of queer ladies belting out tunes and hitting the dance floor and on each other. But something has happened and I will admit that I am part of the problem: I started bringing my straight friends. I thought "this is so much fun, I should invite them, they'll love it!" And they did. And now there is a critical mass of straight people and queeraoke is all but ruined. So I am making this appeal: please don't come to queeraoke unless you are queer. Especially don't bring straight male friends that don't know their ass from their PGP or what consent means. I am sure they are nice dudes that I would even be willing to briefly rub my butt against if I were at, say, Phoenix Landing. But not here. Not this queer night. Please- I beg you. I just want to come here and drink a little too much, dance a little too hard, sing WAY off key, but still get a cutie's digits. And it's damn hard to do that when the straights are crowding the dance floor. Tl;DR: I love you, straight people, but get your ass off my queer dance floor.

Sean B.

Yelp
OK Queeraoke So I agree with David D. Don't go here if you don't plan on drinking. I went here once while I was on antibiotics and I was horrified. I kept turning in a circle trying to find somewhere to look that didn't make my skin crawl. And the singing oh god the singing. So the booze of your choice numbs the eye-widening fear that would usually accompany a sober queeraoke night. I go, i drink, i sing, i dance to the same Le Tigre song I've been dancing to for years and i stay till the end even if i didn't plan to. I never see anything I would have missed but i go week after week anyway. Love/Hate. A few pointers to everyone: 1. Don't sing 'Come to my Window' any more. 2. Don't propose marriage on stage 3. Don't stand in the middle of the amazingly small dance floor and make out, you get in the way. And, while i don't speak for everyone, I'm pretty sure that no one wants to see that when they rock out to Dio or Mariah. ok please stop kthxbai.

G S.

Yelp
That duct tape on your barstool could save your life, dude. Leave it alone. Come on Thursdays and sing your guts out at Queeraoke. It's my favorite place to let loose and have fun with my amazing queer pals. Shit, if Bonnie G. is there, you know it's freakin rockin!

Nicole P.

Yelp
A staple for queer kids in JP this dive bar has been around since I needed to show an ID to get in! I don't go as often as I used to but Thursday night Queeraoke is really fun and a good way to meet people outside of the clubs. There is even a stage to perform on, though my poor vocals prevent such dreams from coming true. The place is small but makes dancing more fun and intimate rather then crowded and sweaty. Usually there is a small cover around $5 so not bad. My only negative is that the bar does not take credit cards which just kills me at any establishment!

Alexandra L.

Yelp
A great bar and music venue in JP - which features a lot of local bands (not always my taste, but def. always interesting and worth listening to). The vibe there is very frantic - Matt R. made a good point - this is not the place to go for a conversation and drinks with your friends. Go hear to listen to crazy loud, thumping music when you need to cut loose.

Olivia C.

Yelp
The Midway rules for live little shows. And its right in my backyard. Everyone's a little straight, so why aren't you a little queer? I used to go see crust punk bands here, ahh The classic Glamorous Stunt Cocks, The Enemy Myself, Superpower, etcetera ecdrunkengoodtimes cetera. In more recent years its the noise band--Neptune. Ah and I have seen Pagan Kennedy, local author, and old indie scenster, read here, yes the Midway has literary events. I have been to the Queerioke and it can be a great dance party and gets packed. Then there's Musk on Wednesday with some punky metally electric crunk. Come see for yourself, Dave's the man. I've been to Nerd Night, where you can heckle people why they read their thesis aloud, or get down with some palindromes, and Vulvapalooza, where--- -well I can't quite discuss that in polite society. And the beat goes on. No cards accepted but you can go to Doyles next store and give the generic ATM a big fat tip. Don't be afraid of getting beat up by some tough old neighborhood broads. Just dive in.

Kreg F.

Yelp
UPDATE: The co-owner actually contacted me and spoke to me at the Midway after I originally posted this review, and he assured me that steps were taken to ensure that Dave would be out on the floor much less and not bugging people anymore. Super polite, nice guy. And it's true, I haven't seen Dave since. My friend's band played here and I've never heard them sound better live. They had what looked like two or three sound guys running around perfecting everything, and they did a fantastic job. This place rules. ------------------------------------------------ The doorman/owner completely ruins the experience. Seriously. So Dave the doorman (and apparently the owner now?) is really loud and obnoxious. Normally this wouldn't be an issue in a dive bar with a music stage, but whenever he gets bored or concerned that he isn't the center of attention anymore, he'll start screaming random words or heckling the band, making everybody in the bar extremely uncomfortable. The dude thinks he's hilarious and charming, but he's really just a big sad man-child. For example, somebody spilled a drink, which prompted Dave to start screaming "CLEAN-UP ON AISLE TWO!!" about twelve times, to make sure everybody in the bar heard just how hilarious and witty he is. We get it, dude. It wasn't funny the first time. Can we stop paying attention to you now? Imagine if Michael Scott was a doorman. Incredibly disrespectful to the bands and patrons. When a band he clearly doesn't care for is playing and asks for a tweak on the sound board, he'll basically tell them to fuck off and make a big scene of mock-adjusting the knobs on the sound board. Seriously? This accomplishes nothing but making everybody is the bar feel very on edge, awkward, and uncomfortable. The bar itself is cool enough; good atmosphere, good crowd, good bands. But I would avoid any place that has a loud awkward man-baby storming around the place making everybody sad. Wouldn't you?

Kristin B.

Yelp
This place has a nice bathroom for the ladies....spacious compared to other dive bars I've been in and the waiting line is inside the bathroom...no having to wait outside...you can busy yourself in the mirror, fixing your eye make-up or wiping away the blood while you wait for the stall. I go on Wednesday nights to MUSK, organized by a super sweet guy, and it is a very fun dance night...sometimes there are bands before the DJ sets and sometimes there aren't. The cover is $0 - $5, varies from week-to-week....a bit more expensive when the fun Varietae preforms (a cabaret-like revue of old songs-with-twists/plot lines/recurring characters, etc.)....if you appreciate creativity, good music, fun people it's a good time.

Sandy W.

Yelp
What isn't there to love about this place? You can whine about not liking the bands, the bar being too dive-y, or the neighborhood being "sketchy," (Yes, a high school and a famous restaurant - so sketchy!) but if you feel so inclined, stop and re-evaluate what you're whining about. This is an affordable bar that showcases live music every night. Stop and repeat that to yourself a few times, oh whiner, and realize what you've gotten yourself into. Now quit whining and have fun.

Renee H.

Yelp
Queereoke has its good nights and its bad nights. There's generally a pretty good feeling of community going on, with everyone singing and dancing through a lot of the songs. The dance breaks in between are generally fun. I have been here occasionally surrounded by groups of chicks who can't hold their liquor and are damn annoying when drunk, but I find that there are more good nights than bad. One of the first times I went, a Japanese tourist couple wandered in, looked around, and hid in the back for awhile--they seemed like they really wandered into the wrong place. Then they got up on stage, sang a ridiculously cutely-accented and enthusiastic rendition of "Twist and Shout," and got the whole crowd jumping, clapping, dancing, and singing. It was unspeakably adorable. If you do want to sing, get there early-ish to get on the list, or you might be going right at last call--or next week.

Kelly G.

Yelp
The Midway itself is a divey mcdive bar- but every Thursday the queers come out, drink up, and get up on stage and sing everything from GNR to George Michael to Melissa Etheridge....to ok I sing Walk Like an Egyptian on the somewhat-regular (it's my happy place). DJ Summer's Eve keeps it fresh as promised. The dancing is fun. The drinking is pretty cheap. The queers are a party. The cover is $3 - hello, fab! And Angie the bartender wins awards every year. I don't get to JP very often-- but I try to schedule my trip across the river to coincide with queereoke. It's a dancy, sweaty, fun time.

Jen R.

Yelp
Best freakin dive bar ever. $3 'Gansett tall boy? Sold. Avoid the crowds and hit the place at about 5pm and hang with the locals.

Nooney X.

Yelp
If you're new in the area and have never frequented the Midway on it's infamous Queereoke night (the only night I've attended, besides the Neighborhood), you may need a primer for dress and attitude: * Peg legged denim or corduroy pants that narrow toward an impossibly tight ankle (regardless of whether this flatters your figure). Such pants are preferably bought at Boomerangs. CHECK *Dirty bandana, even though you are not from the Midwest and could not explain, if asked, why someone besides a bank robber wears a bandana. CHECK *A pouch for your hand-rolled tobacco, which you fashion into a cigarette with effortless flair. CHECK *A semi-vacant stare. CHECK *A desire to applaud any boozehound friend who sings "Come to My Window" CHECK Do I say this with judgment? Of course not (except for the bandana comment, because I was sporting my red Kansas neckrag while most of JP dykes were still in fanny packs). And if I had a pouch for my Bali Blonde Shag, I would certainly sport it. Granted, the Midway can be a bit of scene, but I'm fairly convinced that the hipsters are legitimate. The Midway has grit, and that makes it feel real--dirty, scummy, with bathrooms that require WetNaps, but nonetheless real. When I'm at school in Long Island and I make it back during a break or holiday, the Midway feels...cozy. A happy scene, full of silly queers gleefully being themselves. Cover and drink prices are reasonable ($3 cover, 3.50-4.50 drinks), and while you sometimes wait way too long for a beer, it's not because the 'tenders are pokey. The room gets crowded fast, and dancing efforts usually involve rubbing up against a lot of people besides your dance partner (and getting whacked by arms, shoulder and asses), because you're trying not to fall onto that suspiciously sticky floor. Tuck some hand sanitizer into that bandana (because no girl is gonna let you anywhere near the fun spot with unidentifiable Midway "gunk" on your hands) and be prepped for a good time, a random makeout, or at least one blazing rendition of "Come to My Window".

Matt R.

Yelp
Small, rugged, and loud. A great little bar in JP that has shows with local bands pretty frequently. Don't go here if you're looking to sit down and have a conversation at normal volumes, be ready for the rock.

Justin C.

Yelp
Oh good, the server at work is down, so I can write a review or two... After going to the Midway for the first time last night, I have to say I rather like the self-proclaimed "best venue for live music in boston". They seem to embody that inclusive "whatever your deal is, we've seen it a million times and its fine by us" kinda vibe, and boast queer kareoke nights, dance nights, local and travelling bands of seemingly every and any genre.... It reminded me of a smaller Freddy's Back Room back in Brooklyn, which is awesome. If you are looking for a fun neighborhood dive bar-cum-safe haven for social misfit types, and want to hear random live music, the Midway is a top notch spot. The beer selection was really good. The bartender was pleasant and quick with my drinks.

Stefanie F.

Yelp
This one time I was standing outside the midway on Queereoke night I heard a lady behind me ask another lady "Hey, come here often?" and this second lady responded, "No. only when I need to feel better about myself." Don't get me wrong. I go to this event basically every week. For the most part this is a friendly, wonderful night. People here are definitely not afraid to fly their freak flags. For a low pressure, high fun queer evening, it's basically the best there is.

Kylie S.

Yelp
I think the Midway is a lot of fun. I don't get how you could call it a dive bar, but then I'm from Richmond Virginia and maybe dive bars are different there:-) It's a really cute cozy space with great cheap beers and live music. I was there for dyke night/queereoke. I was a little disappointed that the crowd was so clearly under-30. Where do lesbians over 30 hang out in Boston anyway?! Oh, and the bathroom was the stinkiest I've ever been in, even though it appeared clean. Strange. But overall I love this place and will definitely return.

Mark S.

Yelp
What an amazing place for underground live music. Classic dive bar. The neighborhood is a ghost town except for this one corner where you'll find the Midway Cafe and a couple of other restaurants/pubs. But it's worth the trip. The interior is even more authentic and "old-school" than that "other" complex of four clubs in Cambridge. Midway is JP to a T. Bring your cash and your earplugs, and don't be afraid of cute strangers talking to you.

Clara L.

Yelp
I met some friends here on a Friday night. They said there were good bands that played here. We must have chosen the wrong night. This place was a fun dive bar but the band was horrible. We had to wait in the snow while they had a one in one out policy, but the guy at the door would ask the people leaving if they were coming back. If they were going to have a smoke, their place inside was saved. It took us a really long time to get in because of this. Every other one in one out rule I've encountered included smokers and they would have to wait to get back in. After we got in, it wasn't even packed. The band was crap. They set up for 15 minutes and then warmed up for almost another 15. Then the lead singer did a horrible stand up routine introducing all 6 people in the band. Then they proceeded to do the most piss poor cover songs. It made drunken rock band by college kid sound like Grammy award nominees. The backup singers were off key and they had ear splitting instrumentals. Not cool. Their bar is cash only, so bring your dough in paper. Cover is around $ 10. All I can say is that after taking 30 minutes to get there by the T and then not even lasting longer than that is bad. Perhaps I will try it again after doing research and making sure the band is solid before I trek down there again, but this is definitely not on the top of my venues for musical entertainment.

Beth M.

Yelp
The Midway is always a loud crazy time. Playing there is really really fun...there is no sound guy so you are pretty much on your own as far as that goes...but it all works out in the end. Small, dark, loud, and divey, the Midway is on par with the old O'Brien's...before the closing and renovation. Decent beer and lively regulars. Way the hell out in JP but you can't stay in Boston proper and Cambridge all the time!

Cristina C.

Yelp
Shows. Shows. Shows. I come out here every so often to listen to live music, because isn't that what life is about? I def enjoy myself here.. a little too much. Things to know; - cash only - burritos has food next door - awesome bartenders and staff - great for live music Love it here! It just stinks the drive from where I live, isn't great. So I've lucked out on never having to drive here.. but I'm sure one day I will. Getting there, from the north side of Boston is quite the commute.. just saying. That's all I can really say anyways.

Brad S.

Yelp
My only visit here was for a Boston Boylesque show I was in... but I liked it okay. As a performer, the basement was a great "green room"/dressing room and the stage is at a pretty nice level for burlesquing, as it is high enough to be seen over heads. It may be awkward for a band, because the stage is almost at chest level for the front row. The owner and managers seem pretty cool, considering they let gay boys take off their clothes at a pretty stereotypical dive bar. Oddly enough, I think we won over a lot of dive-regulars.

Michelle B.

Yelp
On the one hand, I love the Midway. Cheap drinks, Smilin' and Seamus behind the bar, Dave being crazy. On the other hand... it's often an interesting experience. So, here we are with 3 stars. As mentioned in a lot of other reviews - if you or someone you know is in a band, you've been to the Midway. I've seen a lot of great bands here and I've seen probably twice as many awful ones, but you have to give them credit for giving everyone a chance. They have Magners and Allagash on tap, so I don't know what everyone's complaining about. Except for one time, I asked for a Magners and got a Madras (I think? It was... orangey-grey) and that was a little sad. (Don't let me fool you though; I drank it.) Oh, also, they sometimes grill during the summer and will then walk through the bar with sizzling hot steak tips! How can you go wrong?

Jarrod H.

Yelp
Great spot for live music and a quick bite. Very friendly to all people that go there.

Daniella M.

Yelp
I had an awesome awesome night at queeraoke! The singing was horrendous but the energy was great, the drinks were strong, the bartender was nice and there was dancing. Definitely a win. Attention queeraoke patrons on 3/11: I lost a digital camera that has a memory card with super duper sentimental pictures on it... A trip I took, my grandmother, etc. If by any chance you picked it up PLEASE shoot me an email at desmit2000@aol.com and I'll give you my address to mail the memory card to. Your good karma points will be off the charts. Thank you!

KATE G.

Yelp
I have not been hear in about 6 years and was shocked to see it is the same! The same great bands, the same annoying posers ( that i could care less about now 6 yrs later) good beer and cheer. I guess the main ingredient that has kept it the same is the part owners Dave's enthusiasm and good customer service! I showed up with 3 folks right after the band had left and had a great time with Dave and the regulars. We were starving and the surrounding food places were closed! Dave to the rescue - he ordered Chinese from Roslindale and shared with us! I love a local place when it survives!

Danie R.

Yelp
What does it take to get a drink in here? Pete stood on two sides of the bar before anyone came over to him. In fact, I think I might have yelled out "excuse me" to get the bar tender's attention. Of course an hour later there's 3 people tending bar, but it really seemed that all the people we received drinks from did not know how to bar tend. Also annoying... walking into the ladies' room and I see a dude peeing? You have your own bathroom... thanks. The neighborhood is kind of sketchy too. Their tap beers are pretty good though..... Probably won't be back, unless the show is amazing.