SideBar

Perfect place to duck into for a few beers and nachos during an afternoon in Boston. Very chill, basic food, and good service. Basement bathrooms are about what you’d expect, but there is a whole second barroom which looked really nice, just not open in the afternoon.

Average good bar food. Very good environment to watch a game. Cheap drinks. Never too busy. Good service, but they do not come to your table. Overall, it’s a solid bar that I have no complaints about.

We popped in for a quick beer while visiting Boston. While there were two seats empty at the bar we were told we couldn’t sit there because one of the employees was sitting there. We ordered two draft beers and paid $18. I guess you have to be a man to get good service because the girl bartender was less than friendly. We love a good dive bar, but we won’t be coming back to this one.

Really fun casual sports bar. They have a decent selection of beers and a well stocked bar. There are plenty of screens, so you'll always have a good view of whatever match is on. Staff were really friendly, and it was obvious they took their jobs very seriously, constantly rushing around delivering drinks, wiping down tables, etc. $3 for a pint of bud is a massive draw. It was their sign advertising this that led me to the place. They also do pitchers, which seemed popular. Toilets were also cleaner than I usually expect from a sports bar. I didn't order any food, but it looked really good and was served until pretty late.

First thing I noticed was a bad sewage smell that was really off putting. Me and my girlfriend sat ourselves and a waitress spent so long chatting with another table and didn’t even look our way once. It’s like she was purposefully avoiding us. We waited 10 min and some other worker threw some menus on our table. No hi, how are you, anything. We just left, really unwelcoming vibes…

I probably visited 6 bars on my vacation to Boston, and this was by far my favorite. The people who work and drink there are so friendly and welcoming. You all made us feel like we were at home. Food and drink ordering system has a few flaws, seems like they operate differently depending on the night. Sometimes you get table service for drinks, sometimes you pick it up at the bar yourself. I got the Chili cheese dogs which were absolutely killer. We came back again before leaving and I got the boneless wings. Very good food. Great prices here on everything too. Glad my Airbnb was only a 5 minute walk. You all are excellent and I will be back next time I’m in Boston!

The staff is nice. I like coming because of the price and portions of the food as well considering its in Downtown. In terms of taste the food isn't too bad either but's it is just bar food so its noting too special( overall I'll give the food and taste a 6.5). I do also like they have karaoke days and a couple of board games to play as well.

Awesome little bar. Vivien the bartender was very pleasant and personable... great at her job

This was a cool place to hang out if your in the city. I went for karaoke which is offered 3 nights a week, Thursday to Saturday, beginning at 8pm. The kitchen is opened until 11pm. The drink I ordered off the menu was super sweet, tasting like syrup and pineapple juice.

sidebar is a great spot to go with friends! the drinks are cheap and they have a bunch of board games for you to use. i've been a few times with friends and we always have a great time. we ordered the chicken Caesar wrap which definitely needed more dressing. the buffalo tenders were good but nothing to write home about. overall, it's a great spot for drinks with friends but wouldn't necessarily recommend for food

Ample space, decently orderly and clean considering it was st Patrick's day! Service was quick and the beer was crisp. Didn't try any food but the place is good. Would go back

This place has it all! Great food, great atmosphere, and unreal beer prices. The burger was perfectly cooked and the fries were too. There's no shortage of things to do there either, and whether it's video games, arcade games, or board games, Sidebar has them all

What every good neighborhood bar should be. No scene, no expectations. If you want to take everything as it comes and come as you are for a casual night of fun -- this is your place. The magic of this place is that everyone will feel like a regular here. The bartenders make sure of that. Order a beer and saddle up to the bar to meet a new friend. Who knows, you may be sharing a pitcher or doing shots with them by the end of the night. Yes they have food, varieties of drinks, etc. Don't overthink it. Just go and have a great time!

This is a cool bar with a lot of regulars clearly and everyone knows everyone. First time for us here as a friend who is a regular here invited us. You order your food and drinks at the bar and they bring the food to your table. They have karaoke which makes it fun and lively though beware sometimes some over enthusiastic people might come and take your mike and start karaoke-bombing you lol! Happened twice to us! Prices are very reasonable- hubs got a hot dog and fries and I got the grilled chicken dinner with salad instead of fries and the total came to like $31 with tax and tip for the food!! Hubs enjoyed his hot dog and the fries were hot and crispy really good! Grilled chicken was okay but it was a good portion size and I finished it all. We got cheap parking through SpotHero in a nearby garage for only $13 which was awesome especially for downtown.

This is one of my go to bars if I'm looking for a dive-y vibe in the middle of downtown Boston. The beer is always cold and you can get a pitcher for 14 dollars. The bartenders are always very friendly and treat you like a regular. My favorite spot is around the back on the other side of the bar where you can play some darts. If you get hungry while out no worries the food here is actually pretty good and I would recommend the Buffalo wings.

22 years of age. Took my id and gave me such a hard time. Wouldn't even scan it for me to prove that it was real. Had to get the cops involved. Overall a horrible experience here never returning. Bouncer was disrespectful and on a power trip.

Abby is an amazing bartender!!! She managed all the tables and the bar. Such a great experience!!! It you are in Downtown Boston it's definitely worth the stop!!!!!

Wonderful chicken Caesar wrap, maybe my favorite in the city! Atmosphere/vibes are very chill. Great service at the bar every time. Good music and good people.

Took my friend's license and said it did not look like her. The bouncer started to curse at us and told us to leave when she had my friends license. The woman bouncer took her job way too seriously and forced us to leave. Very unprofessional!!!

This place is awesome for being in the hub of the city. It's a gem that most people haven't discovered. Good pub food at a very reasonable price and the Budweiser drafts you can't complain about. People are very friendly and the atmosphere is amazing with eclectic people who might wander in by chance.

Great little bar tucked away in Downtown, Boston. Bartender Tes was super cool and accommodating. Cool, inviting atmosphere.

I feel the need to write about my experience at this bar this past weekend. It was a decent enough place, but as we were leaving, we witnessed an employee of the bar (we heard him say he worked there) yell at two patrons who were standing by the door waiting on a ride and trying to stay out of the rain, to the point where he was screaming and calling the woman a "stupid b*t*h" even as they were getting into their car. It was very unsettling to see a man yell at a woman like that, and also someone who claims to work there yell at a patron in such a way. My friend I was with said she recognized him as someone who DJs at the bar, as she is a regular. I would definitely not feel comfortable returning here until I was sure he would not be there. So ladies beware!

Not bad, and they got 'gansett. Probably should have lighter color walls to spruce up the place, but what do I know

A nice local hip spot for drinks. Typical bar food. Have to order at the bar and they bring food to you. Wings are good, nachos are meh. Not an ideal place if you're looking for dinner. Would come again for drinks.

This is a local downtown bar with great food. It's a fantastic place to watch a game on their many large TVs. The only issue is like everywhere there are not enough staff to handle the tables. One poor guy was the only bartender and waiter! The steak tip salad and $4 beer were superb!

Recommended for food and drink pre-orpheum show. Zero frills but Good service and good food. easy and enjoyable

Nice local bar and the owner really know how to run this place. The wings were amazing and crispy . Drinks was good and we had a blast coming here to watch the games. One of the best local bar around boston.

Food is great. Bartender excellent. This is from our experience from the last 2 days. Tonight, 8/12/23, the guy at the door that turned me and my buddy away after walking a half mile saying we had too many drinks at 8 o'clock on a Saturday night is questionable. He may need some training. We just took our business elsewhere.

Among the worst bars in Boston; when there today, there was a boy behind the bar that presented a try-hard stoic persona with a resting b**** face syndrome, which made me feel quite uncomfortable. He then later tried to charge me for an extra beer which was not his fault due to the prior bartenders mistake of not clearing me out of the system after I initially payed for my first round. In trying to charge me for me for an extra beer I politely asked him why i was getting charged extra, he responded quite dismissively and didn't wanna fix the issue, then I proceeded to ask him to check the system and cameras, in which he presented a very aggravated demeanor that was quite(to say the least) unprofessional. I have always liked this spot but terrible customer service will always drive ppl away.

Disappointed, and frustrated. I've been coming here for years and bouncer gave me a hard time about my VERY legal Mass ID. He's made inappropriate comments to patrons asking for a kiss to enter. Overall, really sad that I can't go to my college bar. This shouldn't reflect on Sidebar which is a GREAT time and home to some of my best memories. This bouncer is making a great place look awful! This guy has to go!!

We were in Boston walking around just looking for a place to eat We found Sidebar and we were very pleased. The food was amazing The service was great and our overall experience would make us come back again

Went here on Saturday and the vibe was so fun! The bouncer was really nice as well as the bartenders. Would definitely come back here with my friends (karaoke is a plus!)

After multiple bad experiences at the bars in downtown on a Saturday night, the staff at this place was so understanding and welcoming. They helped me and my friends get a table and constantly looked out for us. Also their drink prices were very reasonable considering how expensive a night out can get. I respect the vibe and would for sure come back here.

Fun locals fun bartenders! Good drinks great location! Not a tourist trap, good prices.....

The staff are wonderful. The breakfast buffet is 30 dollars, no other menu. No made to order dishes. Coffee fabulous. Only scrambled eggs or pre-made awful omlette with spicy peppers and french toast. The pastries unappealing. Fruit and yogurt as well as juices, cereal and oatmeal fine.also bacon and sausage. Much better buffets and breakfast options for less in boston.

Just stopped in here for a quick bite to eat and was pleasantly surprised! I got a Caesar chicken salad wrap with fries and a pitcher of beer to share. The prices were crazy cheap ! And because I checked in on yelp I got a 25% off coupon for my bill which was great! I watched some of the Olympics with a friend , great cozy atmosphere and filled up rather quickly. The food was very good and brought right our table very quickly. I would definitely go back for the good food and cheap prices.

Chill dive bar that was around the corner from our hotel. We walked in at the end of a trivia night and there were two bars in separated rooms. There was a good amount of people and the bartender was nice. Rowdy locals, but we had a fun time.

It was my first time visiting SideBar and since we are still in the midst/recovering from COVID, there was a limited capacity and menu selection. While that was the case, the one waitress on duty who took my order over the phone and later gave it to me when I came to pick it up was very nice. She showed me where the nearest ATM was as I was unaware it was cash only. So that was nice of her and she did not get annoyed as I would have assumed any other waitress would have. I ordered the chicken ceasar wrap and fried ravioli. Good for what it was! Thanks!

So I went to a fantastic restaurant last Sunday. Food was awesome and the service was incredible. Today I went back. I'm so pissed, waited 25 minutes for a wateperson. 2 bartenders and a waitress maybe . I was completely ignored as was a couple that came in just after me and another that came in after them... sorry Side Bar Boston... Never again. Too bad

If you are looking for a traditional American bar that has low to average prices in the heart of the city, go to Sidebar Boston. Frankly, I had much higher expectations from this place. But, I was disappointed. The waitress/bartender was a nice lady who found a convenient spot for me to sit and eat. She was doing her job well. But the food was not up to the mark. I ordered the buffalo chicken wings (boneless) but it was cold on the inside, which means it was not fresh. Few regulars at the bar seemed to have a good time with the drinks. so, I am going to give them the benefit of doubt and assume that the drinks are good.. anyway, they were having beer, which is not a great criterion to judge the drinks. So, if you don't want to spend a lot, if you want to go to any usual American bar close to Boston Common, if you don't care much about the food quality/taste, then feel free to visit this place.

Absolutely horrible service. Told I was not to be served and could not order drinks. If you are young', do not go here: service is awful.

Automatic bump with KJ Dan leading the karaoke charge on Saturday nights. I remember this guy from my days at El Guapo (RIP) and his mastery of emceeing the lyrical butchering is renowned. No matter your skill level (or likely lack thereof), Dan's the man when it comes to making you feel like you killed Black Betty. Because, honestly, you probably did.

Surprisingly spacious bar right in the heart of Downtown Crossing. There's two sides to it. Maybe that's where the name came from. Two sided bars are always tough because running one good bar is hard enough. But this place does a good job x2. This is a 'pitcher of beer and four cups please' type of place. There's TVs and games and after 5 you'll get the after work crowd decompressing. Prices are very right. Last time I was there my buddies stayed a bit late and one of them lost karaoke roulette and sang Fergalicious.

Friendly staff, good music and typical pub grub. Cool place to pre game for a show at the Orpheum

Do not understand why this place would have any less than 5 stars. $2 bud lights and $7 pitchers in the city of Boston. Plus great service and it doesn't smell like urine. This is the spot

Been here many times over the last 10-15 years. Had a couple friends who worked in the financial district nearby for a long time and I lived a short T ride away so I used to meet them occasionally on Friday afternoons. It's a fun dive bar. As long as I've been coming here I don't think it's ever changed at all. Features standard bar food (but decent), video games, TVs, a juke box and a pretty laid back and fun clientele. Put this on your good Boston dive bars list.

Came here on a slow Sunday afternoon with my husband. Almost no one in there and we are in our forties, so maybe that's why we weren't hassled about ID. Ordered a few basic drinks and bought the $3 hot dogs. Most patrons were 30's and 40's watching the TVs. Bartender was friendly and polite. Nice place to grab a drink or small meal if you're waiting for someone in the area, or you need a rest from doing the tourist thing. The small is very small, even the bathrooms are downstairs and small. I could see going here on a crowded night as a nightmare. Save as your place to go when you want a quick drink and it's not a home game, holiday, or a Saturday night.

Bouncer was extremely rude for no reason, nothing special about the place either save your time and money

Yelpers - This is a great find in downtown Boston. Super clean bar and fantastic food. The waitstaff was really fun and friendly. They have a "build your own burger" that was super good, as were the Buffalo Wings. They have a fantastic happy hour as well. Here is the best part Yelpers - if you check - in there is a 25% off coupon for your meal. Check it out and have enjoy !

Great deals for pitchers and weekly food deals. Amazing service and a welcoming environment. Will definitely be coming back more often. Had the buffalo chicken pizza and steak bomb pizza, both with some modifications and they gave us no problem. Add two pitchers for less an $15 each and you have the combination for a great night.

Good bar with cheap beers near Boston Commons. 2$ drafts 7$ pitchers. Got the bud light 7$ pitcher. The curly fries were amazing and really tasty. boneless wings with buttery garlic Sriracha sauce was really good! Got the chicken stir fried rice which was not up to the mark. Ambience was good and the staff were polite and friendly too. Had a great time!

I'm comparison to the great watering holes of the world this place stacks up. As a dive bar--5-stars all day. The crew is always friendly and the food is always plentiful. Beer specials make it one of the best value bars downtown. Be careful to realize that the specials apply to drafts only. I need a review here and it made me laugh that someone made a stink. The best part of Sidebar though is the Big Buck Hunter--don't use the green gun--it's off. Try and beat the champion A13! Great places for a few drafts, some nachos and some big game hunting.

Spent 6 days in Boston enjoying the Freedom trail and the Birthplace of American Independence..... Also did a lot of Bar hopping..... Side Bar is cool find where you will find a good mix of locals and. Tourists....... But the best find is Katlin.... The best Bartender in Boston

Friendly atmosphere, nothing fancy but that's the appeal. Service was great with bartenders, wait staff, doorman all down to earth friendly people. In our world today may there be more places like this. A neighborhood bar in the middle of the city. If you have the chance, escape to an example of what kindness is like.

I came to update my awesome review of Sidebar and that's when I saw I never wrote one. Oops. Later.. right now. Dear Sidebar: PLEASE fix that one wobbly stair that's like 3rd or fourth from the bottom. If you like I will take photos of the bruises (and one gnarly open wound) up and down my body that resulted from my tumbling down those stairs (before I was even drunk!) and send them to you so you can see how important this is. Also, what happened to the mystery beers? That was like the best thing you had.

Crowded, loud and cramped as all hell. Not a huge fan. The service was "in a hurry" and rude. The prices were average and the chicken wings that the people next to me ordered didn't look very good. Doubt I'd come back, ever... The only reason it gets one extra star is because it managed to find a niche in a usually pretty sophisticated, white collar area. The only dive bar for a mile around.

This bar was created because of Cappyoke and not the other way around. I have now been here twice for kareoke saturday and have never regretted giving up a Saturday of clubbing to make a fool of myself. Well actually, I do regret the fact that I don't always remember the entire night there. Bonus for bartenders and bouncers being awesome and having a supply of just about every charger to help you out once your phone dies as mine happens to do every time I come here. Bomb wings and pitchers of Sam Seasonal for $15 is good. No more beer towers to drink yourself into oblivion with is bad and makes Alex sad.