Boston Nightlife Guide: Landsdown Street Clubs, Irish Pubs, Theater and Arts in Boston Massachusetts

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Boston

Nightlife

In a city overrun with college kids, there's no shortage of college dive bars. You can join 'em or avoid 'em – it's entirely up to you. If you enjoy loud music and cheap drinks, you'll find a bar that will accommodate you – keep in mind that Boston's bars and clubs close at 2am. But if you crave something a bit more adult, no worries – there are plenty of places to go and things to do when the sun sets. Hotel bars provide a quiet place to sip a cocktail, and Boston has a vibrant arts scene, particularly for music lovers.

Near Fenway Park, Lansdowne Street is a club-hopper's dream. Packed with bars and dance clubs, moving from one to another is easy enough, save for the lines outside the most popular establishments. Keep in mind the crowd tends to be of the barely-legal drinking age. The 2,000 person-capacity club Avalon (15 Lansdowne St.; 617/262-2424; www.avalonboston.com) has been going strong since 1992 and remains a fixture on the Boston club scene for its theme nights (including a long-running gay night on Sundays) and for hosting some of the world's top DJs. Nearby Axis (13 Lansdowne St.; 617/262-2437; www.bostonaxis.com) is a bit edgier, often hosting live bands.

For something a bit more subdued, the B-Side Lounge (92 Hampshire St., Cambridge; 617/354-0766; www.bsidelounge.com) is a stylish 1940s cocktail lounge that serves fun, interesting drinks to a hip, mostly professional, crowd. The place gets crowded, but retains its low-key vibe; it also serves a small, but creative menu – no burgers or wings here.

No trip to Boston would be complete without a visit to an Irish pub. The Black Rose (160 State St.; 617/742-2286) is one of the city's most famous, attracting a true mix of locals and tourists, young people and an older crowd – all of whom get into singing along with the live Irish bands who take the stage most weekend nights. A short walk away and on the Freedom Trail is the Purple Shamrock (1 Union St.; 617/227-2060), with several traditional Irish dishes on the menu – but you're more likely to be singing along to top 40 than Celtic classics. A few doors down is Hennessey's (25 Union St.; 617/742-2121), a local favorite with Irish pub grub on the menu and live bands on its second floor every Thursday night.

Your nocturnal activities need not revolve around booze and bands, however, because Boston's theater and arts scene is thriving. The Wang Theatre, the Majestic Theatre, and the Stuart Street Playhouse are all top spots to see a play or musical; check out artsboston (www.artsboston.org) to see what shows are in town, but hit up the Bostix booths in Faneuil Hall (near West entrance of Quincy Market) and Copley Square (Corner of Boylston and Dartmouth Sts.) for discounts. Tickets are half-price for same-day productions and go on sale at 10am Monday through Saturday and 11am on Sundays (excluding Faneuil Hall, which is closed on Sundays); cash only.

If you love classical music, don't miss a performance by the Boston Symphony Orchestra (www.bso.org), now over 125 years old and regarded as one of the best orchestras in the world. If classical music isn't your thing, a performance by the Boston Pops (www.bso.org) might just be – pick from performances of jazz, rock, Broadway scores, and much, much more on its varied schedule. The BSO and Pops call Symphony Hall (301 Massachusetts Ave.; 617/266-1492; www.bso.org) home during the winter months, but move the act to the Berkshire's Tanglewood (See Day Trips) during the summer months.