-
Stop lurking! Log in to search, post in our forums, review beers, see fewer ads, and more. — Todd, Founder of BeerAdvocate
Bukowski Tavern
50 Dalton St
Boston, Massachusetts, 02115-3129
United States
(617) 437-9999 | map
bukowskitavern.net
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by woodychandler:
Reviewed by woodychandler from Pennsylvania
4.43/5 rDev +12.7%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5
4.43/5 rDev +12.7%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5
Despite knowing that it is across from the Sheraton, I always seem to lose my way when trying to visit. The front door opens onto a large vestibule with free newspapers and an ATM. The second door opened onto the inverted "L"-shaped bar to the immediate left and the lavs to the immediate right. The foot of the "L" of the bar was very short, but the leg of the "L" was quite long and served as the anchor for both the beer engine as well as the fourteen (14) tap system. Pops Choklit Shoppe-style swiveling stools lined the front of the bar. A couple of troughs were part of the back bar and they were filled with ice to cool the BTs. Mug Club mugs hung on hooks above the bar. All of the way aft, on the left side, was the kitchen. Aft of the lavs, on the right side, was a long bench along the wall, which was fronted by eight (8) standard restaurant tables and chairs. Above one of these tables, hanging on the wall, was a charcoal portrait of Buk. Continuing aft, a short (three 3) steps led up to a restaurant area with standard tables and chairs and a dedicated server. Buk-related murals lined both walls of this area.
This ambiance was dark and Stygian, just the way Buk would have wanted it. The wood bar had a rough, worn look, again, perfect. He would have disliked the smoke-free environment, but that's just the times. What would have driven him out the door, however, was the volume of the music coming out of the stereo. Not classical, and TOO LOUD!
Cash only, for some odd reason.
On one visit, I ran into Monk's Tom Peters, and Rick Suarez and Caesar of Unibroue. Another time, I watched football near Fenway with many of the staff. It definitely bears visiting.
Dec 03, 2009This ambiance was dark and Stygian, just the way Buk would have wanted it. The wood bar had a rough, worn look, again, perfect. He would have disliked the smoke-free environment, but that's just the times. What would have driven him out the door, however, was the volume of the music coming out of the stereo. Not classical, and TOO LOUD!
Cash only, for some odd reason.
On one visit, I ran into Monk's Tom Peters, and Rick Suarez and Caesar of Unibroue. Another time, I watched football near Fenway with many of the staff. It definitely bears visiting.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by jmdrpi from Pennsylvania
4.03/5 rDev +2.5%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 3.75
4.03/5 rDev +2.5%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 3.75
definitely has a "dive bar" vibe - cash only, punk music playing, hipster bartender. The place is small, about 10 feet wide - fixed stools at the bar and just a few other tables. good tap list, and bottle list as well. bartender made some recommendations and was friendly. I had the peanut butter burger - it was decent.
Aug 03, 2019Reviewed by zrayburton from Massachusetts
4.79/5 rDev +21.9%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4.75 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5
4.79/5 rDev +21.9%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4.75 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5
They may be cash only... They may not have 80 taps... but if we're talking beer bars in Boston, this is my home away from home. I am a proud mug clubber (not subjective AT ALL) because I have been enamored with this place for over 10 years between the draft/bottle/can variety, the staff, the vibe and the proximity to "cool stuff" in town. The vibe doesn't get a 5, not because of the place itself but because of the central location of the bar, which sometimes attracts less sophisticated Beer Drinkers/super-clueless tourists (NOT BUK's fault). This is the first place I try and bring people if they're in Boston to visit and have enough time to check out a handful of beer bars vs. breweries/taprooms.
Sep 07, 2018Reviewed by JamFuel from Sweden
4.25/5 rDev +8.1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.25 | food: 4
4.25/5 rDev +8.1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.25 | food: 4
Came here on Sunday afternoon, very nice and quiet.
Well, this is a dive bar, pretty small, cash only and one of the stranger bathrroms i've seen. One room, with a lockable door, but both a toilet and a urinal? Hmm...
Taplist wall good and varied, also a great selection of cans and bottles. Prices were very reasonable. I only had a hot dog, as I would be fed on the plane home, but the dog was very good.
The bartender was very friendly, I think her name was Joanna or something like that. Talkative and really funny. Knew a lot about the beer and breweries she was serving, which is nice. Sure, not alot of variation in glassware, but hell, its a dive bar.
This was my last bar on my Boston trip, and I'm very glad I tried it. Kind of the polar opposite in the place i was in earlier that day. Row 34, but really cool, and I will return for sure.
Mar 15, 2017Well, this is a dive bar, pretty small, cash only and one of the stranger bathrroms i've seen. One room, with a lockable door, but both a toilet and a urinal? Hmm...
Taplist wall good and varied, also a great selection of cans and bottles. Prices were very reasonable. I only had a hot dog, as I would be fed on the plane home, but the dog was very good.
The bartender was very friendly, I think her name was Joanna or something like that. Talkative and really funny. Knew a lot about the beer and breweries she was serving, which is nice. Sure, not alot of variation in glassware, but hell, its a dive bar.
This was my last bar on my Boston trip, and I'm very glad I tried it. Kind of the polar opposite in the place i was in earlier that day. Row 34, but really cool, and I will return for sure.
Reviewed by lowteck from Massachusetts
1/5 rDev -74.6%
vibe: 1 | quality: 1 | service: 1 | selection: 1 | food: 1
1/5 rDev -74.6%
vibe: 1 | quality: 1 | service: 1 | selection: 1 | food: 1
AVOID!
Bartender chastised me for not saying please.??? After attempting to order 3rd round, I made the mistake of ordering something NOT on the menu and she walked away without explaining or offering an alternative.
Jesus Christ, I have bar tended for over 8 years, and could never imagine treating patrons like this.
God help us all.
Avoid this shit hole like the plague.
Mar 05, 2017Bartender chastised me for not saying please.??? After attempting to order 3rd round, I made the mistake of ordering something NOT on the menu and she walked away without explaining or offering an alternative.
Jesus Christ, I have bar tended for over 8 years, and could never imagine treating patrons like this.
God help us all.
Avoid this shit hole like the plague.
Rated by jmikepool from Texas
5/5 rDev +27.2%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 5
5/5 rDev +27.2%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 5
Yoanna is very knowledgeable about her beers. Great little bar. Very large selection. Ask for beers not in the menu.
Feb 04, 2016Reviewed by mynie from Maryland
4/5 rDev +1.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
4/5 rDev +1.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
My thing is, I fucking hate Bukowski as a writer. He makes the rest of us wordy alcoholics appear even worse than we actually are--as, as if this world already wasn't prejudiced enough against my active, booze-forward lifestyle.
There's navelgazing, and then there's a fat violent hack writing novels about himself where he's still a violent hack only somehow everyone love him because he's misunderstood. And then there's legions of morons (at least before Chuck Palahniuk and Brett Easton-Ellis started stealing his readership) who just worship the guy, because what self-pitying feeb doesn't love reading about his own, lionized avatar.
Ok. That out of the way, I was prejudiced going in. I stopped by about a year ago and didn't think twice about it.
But then, New Years Eve, Bukowski's was on our walking route. And they featured prominent signs announcing that there wasn't going to be any NYE celebratory bullshit. Nor would there be covers. Or, fuck it, actually, they paid everyone who came in a dollar, in protest of NYE covers. I'm dead serious, and that's awesome.
The tap list is isn't very broad, it's but good. Nearly all of it was from MA. The food is fried crap, but solid. The bar itself is physically narrow and woody, and it can quickly get busy and uncomfortable. But the crowd is friendly and unpretentious, they don't blast shitty music, and it's inexpensive. It's also the best beer bar in its immediate vicinity.
Feb 06, 2015There's navelgazing, and then there's a fat violent hack writing novels about himself where he's still a violent hack only somehow everyone love him because he's misunderstood. And then there's legions of morons (at least before Chuck Palahniuk and Brett Easton-Ellis started stealing his readership) who just worship the guy, because what self-pitying feeb doesn't love reading about his own, lionized avatar.
Ok. That out of the way, I was prejudiced going in. I stopped by about a year ago and didn't think twice about it.
But then, New Years Eve, Bukowski's was on our walking route. And they featured prominent signs announcing that there wasn't going to be any NYE celebratory bullshit. Nor would there be covers. Or, fuck it, actually, they paid everyone who came in a dollar, in protest of NYE covers. I'm dead serious, and that's awesome.
The tap list is isn't very broad, it's but good. Nearly all of it was from MA. The food is fried crap, but solid. The bar itself is physically narrow and woody, and it can quickly get busy and uncomfortable. But the crowd is friendly and unpretentious, they don't blast shitty music, and it's inexpensive. It's also the best beer bar in its immediate vicinity.
Bukowski Tavern in Boston, MA
Place rating:
3.93 out of
5 with
176 ratings
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the place's attributes plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!