Bell in Hand

Local lore (and a plaque) state that this is the oldest, continuously operated tavern since it was opened in 1795. It is a good sized tavern with plenty of windows so you can enjoy a breeze while you people watch, have a brew, and eat. I had the quesadilla which had a great crisp on the tortilla and the roasted peppers were great. If there is anything I can say negatively it is that the chicken was a tad bland. Overall I gave it a solid 4 stars. The Bell in Hand Ale was nice and thick for an ale. Old school. The flavor profile was pleasant and refreshing. I recommend this place for a bit of history, a good drink, and good food.

This was such a cool little pub to visit. A beautiful old flat iron building surrounded by cobblestone and packed with centuries of history. I had the Paul Revere Punch. Being that I was in Boston I thought it fitting. The drink was good, and so was the two man band that happened to be playing while I was in there. I'm very glad I stopped and will definitely swing in again on any return visits to Boston I have.

Ended up here because the wait for union oyster house was too long, and we're glad we did. The food was delicious and the service was friendly. One of the best lobster rolls we had in Boston. Oysters were pretty good too. We sat outside and had a great time.

Loved the atmosphere of this pub. The service was fantastic on a fairly busy evening. Had the hot butter’d lobster roll and it piled high with lobster! The fries were fantastic! Both crunchy and creamy! Had a pineapple cider and it really hit the spot on a hot and humid evening. Come enjoy the atmosphere and grab some delicious foods!

This is a must visit site when visiting Boston! They had the best clam chowder and Caesar salad I’ve ever had. We were initially on the way to Quincey Market to get lobster rolls, but then saw Bell In Hand had them and we decided to try it there instead! It was massive - piled high with delicious garlic buttered lobster and served with fries and coleslaw. I hope to go back again before our trip is over, it was that good! Plus it’s a super cool historic site to learn about.

We were recommended to come here by a local and it didn’t disappoint! We got seated right away and got serviced quickly. Atmosphere wasn’t outstanding but it definitely wasn’t bad! The food really stood out. It was delicious!!!! Full of flavor. Fries were nice and crunchy and veggies were fresh. I would recommend stopping by.

Loved the nachos! And it's a Chicago Bears bar which was perfect for Sunday Funday visiting from Chicago! We had so much fun but wish we'd brought our Bears gear like the rest of the crowd!

The oldest continually run tavern in the country. Found a bar seat rather easily on a Thursday night football night with live music. Affordable prices for alcohol and the clam chowder was full of clams and very tasty. The atmosphere was very lively, the live music was really good and if that is nit your scene there is another portion of the tavern that is quieter and also easy to find a seat at.

I fly between the UK and MA a lot and the British are quite proud of their fish and chips. It's just a shame for them that the best fish and chips in the world happens to be at Bell in Hand. I don't know what they do differently but it's something I almost dream about because of how #$*^ing good it is. Do yourself a favour and go here!

We didn't eat so this is just a review for drinks, service, and atmosphere. Oldest operating bar in U.S., etc., etc. If you go in expecting it to feel like an immersion in history, you're in for a let down. You will not sit and watch football on the same large screen where John Adams watched football back in the day. But you willl definitely have a view of a game on a large screen. I dont know if John Adams would have liked Applebee's, but if he did, he would probably like this vibe. We went on a Saturday afternoon and it could not have been more busy. But service was quick and attentive. Old fashioneds were well made. You'll be paying a little extra for the whole oldest tavern shtick, but you can say you were there and go on with your day.

First come first serve seating which isn't great when the place is busy. However, the doors are all open which allows the staff to move inside and back out with ease. The food itself was fine but you're mostly going here for the atmosphere. I'd say to stop if you're in the area but don't go out of your way.

This is a casual restraunt. Seats are first come seat yourself. Our server was very good. He kept checking on us but was not hovering. The food was outstanding. If you order lobster, be ready to open your wallet. It goes at market price. It was well worth the price. The chowder was thick and creamy. It had chunks of clams in it. One thing I don't like is a clam chowder that you can not find the class in it. We sat next to a window. We enjoyed the window was open. It is like they remove the windows so you can enjoy the weather. Put this place on your bucket list.

Definitely touristy - but they had lots of seating and good service. Espresso martinis were good, feed was subpar but overall a great place to meet people. Cool history of the place - but definitely just a check off the list.

Food here was very good! The clam chowder was amazing! Super heavy - and creamy. Was good with just the cup instead of the bowl; unless you want to share it....the lobster rolls were VERY good, specially the lobster roll grilled cheese - strongly recommend it. Sitting inside the restaurant was challenging - we sat on our own and no one came to help us; so we moved outside (we really wanted to give this place a try).....Glad we did; because the young lady that help us was amazing (we completely forgot her name); great attitude and very engaged even sharing some of the history about the restaurant. She made up for the lack of service inside. So I recommend sitting outside.

Fun place to stop in and have a drink in Boston!!!! Great cocktail menu! Really friendly server. Gave us the low down on the bar's history; the whole story is also on their menu too. Lots of good music and happy vibes inside. Right in the center of town; close to holocaust memorial, fennuil hall and many other attractions.

Great location to grab food after a Red Sox game, decent quality burger with steak fries & a Sam Adam's fall beer! We enjoyed sitting by the tall propped open windows and watching people pass by. Love music and attentive service!

The oldest tavern in America. Rich in history. Really cool ambiance and set up. All types of local beers in tap. If you're in Boston this is a must stop by and have a drink and toast to the founders of America.

My fam wanted to come in for a drink to experience the oldest tavern. I had a rum punch cocktail that was perfect. My husband enjoyed a Sam Adams Brick Red. Service was quick and kind. The guys also enjoyed watching football on the projector screen.

Located just along the Freedom Trail, this is the oldest tavern in the United States. There are various different sections/bars and areas for you to grab an ale or sit down to eat. They have a stage for live music. Just came for the culture and had a beer and soaked in the vibe. Our bartender was fairly attentive considering she had a large area to cover, not just the bar.

Great place to stop for a beer and snack. Historic site in a historic part of this historic town. The bar feels like an old-time pub and then the seating area (where we we were) has windows for the perfect people watching scenario. Our server was very nice but just needed a little reminder to make eye contact when she walks by. She probably would have sold more drinks if she were slightly more attentive, but she was still lovely.

It is hard to knock one of the oldest pubs in the original 13 colonies that has become a staple for all. Best bartender. Dude gave us the inside on all that is Boston.

You've gotta visit the oldest tavern in the US. Operating since 1795. That's right. 1795! That alone had us sold to visit and we really enjoyed our experience. Be sure to read the story of Old Jimmy. Offering tall and short pours, they have a great beer selection (solid non-beer drink options as well). I really enjoyed the Bell in Hand Seasonal Ale. As a snack before we ate dinner, I had to try some New England Clam Chowder and to me it doesn't get any better. Great flavor, perfect temperature. With multiple TVs (you've also gotta check out the big screen in the back area), it's also a nice place to watch the game if that's what you're hoping for.

Advertised as the oldest tavern in Boston, we wanted to go for dinner on a Monday night. But when we walked in, they had a guy screaming into the microphone at the top of his lungs (I think he was trying to sing) so we immediately walked out and sat on the patio. Kind of defeats the purpose of going to an old tavern when you can't even sit inside of it. Food was okay. Service was lacking.

Great little pub and cool New England historical vibe. Clam chowder was delicious, but the lobster roll was overpriced ($38) for the amount in the sandwich. Fries were seasoned perfectly! Service was so so.

So in my 17 years living here , I never once came to this historic place. I've walked by many times. That's it. So after brunch I had a few hours before catching my flight and leaving as a transplant citizen I made sure to come in and get at least one fruity cocktail. I am glad I came in to experience it finally. Typical bar experience but it's one of the oldest in America so it was a nice way to enjoy my last few hours in a city i grew to love very much.

Although I'm giving The Bell in Hand 3 stars, this is somewhere that I suggest you go if you're in Boston looking to partake in some history sight seeing. Awesome story behind the restaurant, awesome feel to the restaurant, first pour was in 1795, and the food gets it done. Service was on the slower side so if you're in a rush might not be good to sit down for here but we really didn't mind it too much because we were sitting down for lunch and to take a break. I got a classic bbq burger which was named the Sam Adams Burger and it was a pretty stock burger but no real complaints. They also have some of their own beer on the menu which I tried the seasonal and the classic, liked the seasonal more it was a bit lighter! Staff was friendly, just slow to take orders and give the check. Overall I do suggest stopping in here if you haven't yet!

This place had a plaque out front that it is the "oldest bar" so we had to have a drink here. Nothing special, just an average bar. Disappointed they didn't have the cloud candy beer I wanted to try so I settled with something else. The 22oz were about $14. We sat outside and there was a bouncer who told us we couldn't carry our own beers to the table so we had to wait for a waitress to escort us- I've never heard of that before... also when meeting up with one of our local friends, they told us this bar is notorious for college students getting roofied. That sounds dangerous, but we felt safe there.

Americas Oldest Tavern. First pour: 1795. The first owner was Jimmy Wilson, Boston's town crier for fifty years. Oddly enough I was expecting a different atmosphere than what I walked into, after all this is Americas oldest tavern! The decor and ambiance is that of any normal tavern, although it is a nice environment and the drinks are good, they haven't outwardly branded their distinctive position in Boston's history. Cheers!

Updated review: I had been here several years ago and didn't think anything of my experience here. I had a chance to come back again while in town for a conference and I can say that I had a 100% change of heart about the Bell in Hand. I came here with my wife and a few friends and they were able to accommodate us despite it being a very busy Friday evening. Our service was great and the drinks were really good; I had a great local IPA and my wife had a great cocktail. We didn't get any food here, but it looked good and we came away with an overall great experience. My old review was 100% wrong and this place is great!

We stopped by relatively late and we were happy to see that there were options that weren't just typical pub food. I saw a salad on the menu and asked if we could add chicken and they were very accommodating. Both the clam chowder and the salad hit the spot. Throughout the time we were here, we had heard loud music. We couldn't tell if it was coming from upstairs or nearby building. It seems like this business might be divided in two and there was karaoke on the other side. Happy I sat on the side we did as that is not my thing. Our side was somewhat busy, but not crowded. We were tourist, but it seemed like a more professional groups of people in business/business casual type attire. It wasn't uptight. The people were laughing and having a good time, but it was definitely more my pace. The bartender was also the server and she was great.

I've been talking about the espresso martini at Bell in Hand since the last time I was in Boston 3 years ago, so we had to go back this trip. It did not disappoint! The open windows are perfect for people watching and sharing drinks with family on a nice day. We only went for drinks so I can't comment on the food, but the history combined with a modern interior and tasty cocktails is a win for me.

Super cool and old bar, oldest tavern in the US. A little touristy, especially with the prices $25 for 36oz of summer ale. But the history and location of this place make it a must. The bartenders were awesome and took our order quickly.

It's been a while since I lived in Boston, but for some reason I had never been to The Bell in Hand. I was in town for work and decided to stop for an early dinner after a long day of travel. It was a gorgeous spring day, so the patio tables and wide-open windows were very appealing and certainly made an impact on my decision to dine here! The place is seat yourself (at least on the smaller bar side), so I took a high-top right next to one of those open windows. The bartender was super friendly and brought me water right away. I was craving a lobster roll, so that is precisely what I ordered. I was a little alarmed at the price, but my stomach wanted what my stomach wanted. I was certainly not disappointed. The roll included a generous portion of lobster meat, seasoned to perfection. The side of fries was also amazing - crispy on the outside and full of flavor. I also treated myself to a UFO Maine Blueberry, which was absolutely the right call. The only thing I regret is not having tried The Bell in Hand years ago while living in Boston!

When downtown Boston I thought, why not go to the oldest pub in the land. Had a beer and burger with my son at the bar and it did not disappoint. Great bar tenders, fun atmosphere, and great burgers.

Fun times with a live band playing top hits on a Thursday night. We all enjoyed the experience and the evening was lots of fun.

Legend has it that the ghost of Paul Revere can be seen lurking like a distant memory. The Bell in Hand Tavern brings out the nostalgia of a time long forgotten, especially on Friday the 13th. The ambiance definitely captures the foliage yet to come. The food and drinks are fairly priced, would definitely come back for the drinks again.

Great outside location. Food was good. I tried the fried chicken sandwich. I'd give it at 8 out of 10.

Oldest tavern in Boston. Lots of beer to select from & a full bar. We only had small bites. Bahverian pretzel with their house honey mustard was a perfect fit for our snack along with Rhode Island oysters - they were meaty. About five bars plus outdoor seating. Good place to stop for a drink & snack, or possibly a meal!

My husband hasn't stopped talking about this appetizer! I have tried remaking it so many times.

First it is an open seating place. The servers are all extremely friendly. With the food in the area we decided to stop and sample as many local food appetizers we could. 1st stop we had the Stuffed Quahogs GET THEM! The portion is 2. And they were delicious and amazing; and so worth it. This is America's Oldest Continuously Operating Tavern and a really neat place to experience.

Food was delicious and service was friendly. Great location in the North End. Rustic and casual pub vibes. Recommended!

Stopped in this place based on it being the longest running tavern in the US. Sliders were great and tried the Bell in Hand Ale. Didn't disappoint

Had a good experience here. Even though this tavern was founded in 1795, they have made some upgrades so it doesn't have the "old timey" feel but it is nice. It is pretty big too! Our bartender was friendly and fun to chat with. He gave us a few tips about different places in the area too. We ordered the chicken nachos and they were good. Nice portion. When we went it was not busy so it was nice and laid back. I would return.

Literally, the first place we visited after leaving the airport. And you should too! The Bell In Hand is one of America's oldest pubs. Full of amazing, historical vibes mixed with incredibly delicious food, washed down with refreshing ale! I started off with the signature Bell In Hand Ale. So delicious with a bit of a spicy flavor. It's definitely the best beer I've had in Massachusetts. After a few sips of beer, we decided to order up some local seafood specialties, quahogs and calamari. I've had crispy calamari before but likely never as fresh as this. With a mixture of rings, whole bodies, and fried peppers, the flavor and chew were super! The quahogs (pronounced coe-hogs) were new to me. Clams, chopped and mixed with bread crumbs, peppers, onions and spices cooked to perfection with a large shrimp on top. Absolutely wonderful! The vibe of the place is eclectic and fun. Lots of TVs around to catch the latest game. A youngish, fun crowd filled the place with laughter. Lastly, so many historical paintings of customers from America's history line the walls. You'll feel like you're partying with Ben Franklin and Betsy Ross.

Service was terrible. Server took forever to greet us and tell us to get our own table. We had to ask for water and condiments multiple times before he brought them. He rarely checked in on us. When he took our drink order he didn't ask us what size for beer he just brought us a large automatically. The house brew wasn't good at all. Steak was over seasoned. Sliders were decent. It's a pity that such a landmark gave such a terrible experience. Definately won't be back here. Do not recommend. Over priced for mediocre food and terrible service at best.

Love this place! The bartenders are so nice. Great Boston and East coast beer selection. Brews from Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont, etc. Had a stop here for drinks because it started raining. Very chill bar with television for sports. This is one the oldest taverns since 1795!!! That's history. Music is really cool. Love stopping by here, definitely try it out when visiting Quincy Market or Faneuil Hall, it's less than 10mins walk.

Just wanted to have a beer in "The Oldest Continuously Run Bar in America". Be prepared to spend. A tall draft beer was $14. Felt like I was at a Red Sox game. Like any old bar it is very loud. Prompt service which is always appreciated.

Such a cool place with lots history. Delicious lobster roll and great beer selection.

Laid bar bar with strong drinks and a fun vibe. We stopped in just for a drink tonight and other than it being a slightly noisy crowd, the drinks and service were great.

Located in a very cute area of Boston with lots of charm. Menu had good options and the staff was kind enough to let us use the patio in October so we could bring our dog while traveling. Food was fast and tasty. I liked the burrata along with the chicken sandwich with a great honey sauce. The summer cosmo was good too.

Slow service... Bar was super slow and server at the table was even slower. Not a great experience. Food was average, but you're not there for the food; you're there more for the historic locale. Now that we've been there, we're all set. Will try a less touristy spot next time, since we live just north of Boston.

Been coming here for many years and have loved it. Today is a disappointing experience. I get that it's Independence Day, but the service here is extremely lacking. We sat outside which was nice, and the food came out very quickly and was quite good so that's for the two stars. However, the poor, frazzled Irish waitress seemed to know we were here. After putting in our orders for drinks, we never got them. She claimed our drink tickets got lost whatever that means. And it turns out they were all out of Sam Adams Brick Red but charged me on the bill anyway. You need to do a better job of training your staff, Bell in Hand. I'll come back again but this stop was not a good end to our Independence Day

The oldest Tavern in America. We visited twice on our trip. Once upstairs with a large group and once outside with a smaller group. Great service. Excellent food (clam chowder and fish and chips recommended).

We had the Hot Lobster Roll, and it was delicious. The cocktails were great, and the atmosphere was fun. Old school but modern. 100% recommend.

The service in this place is horrible. They were the only rude waitress and bar tender in town. They should get service training from Cheers.

Great drinks and food. Bartender lady was rude. Nice location with a lot of bars and restaurants around.

The Bell in Hand is claimed to be Americas oldest continuously run taverns. I would definitely come back for their clam chowder and beer, the fish and chips are a little lacking though. Seeing that Bell in Hand is literally right next to the Hay Market where fresh fish is being sold, you should expect the fish and chips to have a larger fillet of fish, especially for the steep price they are selling the fish and chips for. I should add the fish was a little dried out and lacking salt.