Boston late-night by budget

A beer at a Boston bar typically costs $9 in our Beer Index, the median across 51 bars with listed prices. Only 11 of those bars are at $7.50 or less, so the cheap list is short. The rest of the budget is cover, food before the kitchen closes, and the ride home.

These are listed menu prices, not pints, and taxes and tips are extra. The method page has the rules.

What a beer costs

Of the 51 bars, 11 sit at $7.50 or less, 25 are above $7.50 and under $10, and 15 are at $10 or more. The cheapest single listing we have is $2 at Anchor Pub & Grille in Beverly. The full ranking is on the Beer Index.

We rank 6 areas, cheapest first, by typical listed beer:

• Fenway: $8 (5 bars)
• Allston: $8 (5 bars)
• Dorchester: $9 (7 bars)
• North Shore: $9 (7 bars)
• South End: $9.50 (5 bars)
• Seaport: $10 (6 bars)

The rest do not have enough priced bars to rank yet.

Cheaper bars that stay open late

These are the cheaper late bars in our data, and each posts its own closing time. The bar often outlasts the kitchen, so read the tips at the end.

• Loretta's Last Call on Lansdowne Street has a typical listed beer of $7 in our data. It lists Fri: 4 PM – 2 AM.
• The Kenmore in Kenmore Square has a typical listed beer of $7.25 in our data. It lists Thursday - Saturday 11 AM - 2 AM.
• The Chester Tavern in Dorchester has a typical listed beer of $7.50 in our data. It lists Saturday 10AM - 2AM for the bar.
• Cambridge Common on Massachusetts Avenue has a typical listed beer of $6.95 in our data. It closes later only on weekends, at Fri & Sat / 12:00pm-1:00am.

For a dive-bar price we cannot put a number on, The Silhouette Lounge in Allston is known for the cheap beer and potent mixed drinks. That is Time Out's word, not our data.

Cover charges and free nights

The cheapest night is the one with no cover.

• Dani's Queer Bar on Boylston Street runs no cover events such as drag brunch, karaoke and watch parties.
• Lucky's Lounge under Fort Point lists Free comedy every Monday.
• Club Cafe in Back Bay is a dance club with an annual membership that exists to waive cover fees. That only pays off if you go often.

A cover that is not printed on a venue's page may still apply on a busy night. Ask at the door before you queue.

Happy hours

Discounted drinks run into a state rule. A licensee cannot sell below the regular price for those drinks in the same calendar week. So look for food deals, free events and low everyday prices instead.

Cheap food after midnight

Food is where late-night costs are easiest to keep down.

• South Street Diner calls itself the only all-night dining destination, seven nights a week.
• Bova's Bakery in the North End is open 24 hours a day, everyday.
• jm Curley in Downtown Crossing has a kitchen open until 1:30 am every day.
• Village Tavern in Salem has an After 9 menu of appetizers, wraps and pizza, all priced under $9.99.

For the full list, see late-night food in Boston after midnight.

Tips

• The kitchen closes before the bar. The Kenmore closes its kitchen at 11:30pm Sunday-Thursday. Eat first if the bar is the plan.
• Last call is early. At most bars it hovers around 2am, so a 1 or 2 am close is the ceiling, not the start of the night.
• Pour sizes differ. Two listings at different prices may not be the same amount of beer, so check the size on the menu.
• Hours change. Look at the bar's own page before you head out.
• Plan the ride. See getting home after last call.