Whether it’s St. Patrick’s Day or any day, this short list of Boston Irish Pubs will set you right the next time you’re craving a pint.
But first: the “one that’s not.” And by “one that’s not” I don’t mean a pub that’s not Irish. Nor do I mean a pub that’s not in Boston. I mean a pub that’s not with us anymore. Technically, it wasn’t even a proper “pub.” Technically–by name–it was a “lounge.” And it’s been gone for so long that it didn’t even make my list of Boston’s Best Dive Bars.
It was T.C.’s Lounge, on Haviland St. in the Back Bay. And I think of it often.
I was thinking of T.C.’s recently when a listener reminded me of the anniversary of T.C.’s demise. It was March 13, 2012. A small electrical fire broke out behind the bar. And instead of being allowed to close and repair, T.C.’s was told to close for good. That put an end to a run that started back in the ’70s. My uncle Neil was a regular there when he worked on the other side of Haviland St. in the ’80s. T.C.’s landed on my map when I was at Northeastern in the ’90s, and I made a regular habit of visiting there in the 2000s. There was no place in the city like it.
7 Boston Irish Pubs to Visit
I could go on and on about the “one that’s not,” but this piece is about Irish pubs that are still open. So let’s get to ’em. These are the pubs that do big business every year on St. Patrick’s Day. But they’re worth visiting any day, be it for a pint or a shot or a pint and a shot. So belly up to the bar. And please: drink responsibly.