A tried-and-true dive bar, right down to the gross bathrooms. (Sorry, it’s true. You’ll be OK.) The Tam has many redeeming qualities, however, from the cheap drinks to the classic look of the place, which is lit for the mood by beer signs and bedecked in fading St. Patrick’s Day banners. Always lively due to its grad school-friendly location in the Theatre District, this is also a reliable sports bar with the TVs always tuned into Boston teams. The Tam is one of several Boston dive bars taken over by a real estate investment group in recent years, but the Greater Boston Bar Co. has pledged, and proven, to keep the spirit alive—even if it does accept credit cards now. 

Allston is the spiritual homeland of Boston’s twentysomething punks, and The Sil is the altar. It has everything a good dive bar needs: A pool table, Big Buck Hunter, a separate room for throwing darts, cheap drinks, vinyl booths, and—most importantly—free popcorn. Despite the vintage “cocktail” sign on the roof, Silhouette Lounge tends to keep things simple with shots and mixed drinks, but there are often craft drafts alongside the Narragansett cans, hard seltzer, and dive-bar bottles. A neighborhood favorite since 1965, sun-faded awards on the walls attest to its beloved legacy. The Sil is now also part of Greater Boston Bar Co. after its longtime owner retired in early 2021.

In the Irish pub sub-genre of Boston dive bars, cozy and inexpensive Biddy Early’s is an oasis in a concrete jungle. This spot attracts a fair share of tourists due to its downtown location not too far from the waterfront, but the folks who find Biddy’s are the type who appreciate cheap drinks, plump Buffalo wings, and a friendly pub atmosphere. Like any good neighborhood bar, Biddy’s is open most hours of the week, and the scene can vary from a low-key weekend afternoon to Saturday night reveling and weekday evenings when the place fills up with unwinding office dwellers. No matter when you stop in, you’ll be glad you did.

Not as dingy a dive as others on this list, Brighton’s Irish Village has gleaming brass fixtures on a solid wood bar, and black vinyl booths which have been replaced at some point in the last decade. Despite a little investment over the years (it is owned by the Grafton Group of Harvard Square, after all), the IV is as low-key as they come—and one of Boston’s favorite Irish pubs since opening in 1970. Pop over for a pint: Besides a proper Guinness, there are always a handful of local craft beers; and stay for a round of darts or two. If you’re feeling hungry, treat yourself to a Toastie.