Get Drunk in Davis Square

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Part of Food and Drink Crawls Through Boston and Beyond

Welcome back to Food Crawls (or in this case, Booze Crawls), a series in which Eater Boston staffers guide you (virtually) on various food and booze crawls in the Boston area.

When we go out, we often find ourselves wanting to try more than one restaurant (or bar) at a time — a drink and a snack here, another drink and perhaps a dessert there — and want to share our favorite multi-stop combinations with you. These crawls are meant to be relatively walkable, and the amount of food and drink is meant to correspond roughly to a couple of average appetites (so bring a friend), although your mileage may vary. Email us if there’s a particular theme, specific dish or drink, or neighborhood you’d like to see covered in a future installment.

Drinkers can do worse than hanging out in Davis Square in Somerville. The neighborhood boasts a number of fine drinking establishments from both ends of the spectrum, from shot-and-a-beer dive bars to fancier spots serving cocktails made with expensive bourbon.

While there are plenty more Davis bars that could be included here, this particular itinerary is meant to include just enough for one solid booze crawl. Still thirsty? Wander into almost any Davis Square establishment for more, and keep an eye out for other suggested crawls in the future.

Total stops: 5
Fancy cocktails slurped: How hungover do you want to be?
Impulse tacos consumed: Better make it three or four
Dive bars patronized: Just the one
Distance traveled: A mile and a half, ish

Highland Fling at Highland Kitchen

150 Highland Ave., Spring Hill, Somerville

Start the crawl a mile outside of the square at Spring Hill hangout Highland Kitchen, a cocktail destination worth the extra walking. Not many old-school jukeboxes offer patrons the opportunity to listen to Fugazi; Highland Kitchen’s jukebox is unlike most jukeboxes. Put on “Waiting Room,” and order a Highland Fling — Hendrick’s, St. Germain, and fresh lime juice — because it’s time to at least pretend like it’s spring. (Anything with the house spicy ginger beer is a solid bet as well.)

Mint Julep at Rosebud American Kitchen & Bar

381 Summer St., Davis Square, Somerville

Rosebud has the right kind of vibe for an old-timey drink like a mint julep. Plus, the Kentucky Derby is right around the corner, so there’s really no better time than now to order a mint julep. Rosebud does a very fine version.

A Big Cheap Beer at Mike’s Food & Spirits

9 Davis Sq., Davis Square, Somerville

Pad your stomach with a slice of pizza or some waffle fries, and order a giant beer. There may be a bit of a wait because Mike’s is almost always slammed, but you forgot to eat before you embarked on this booze crawl, and you need to atone for that sin. Get something light (like, Bud Light light): just enough to keep the buzz rolling, but not enough to send you past the point of no return.

A Shot of Jamison and a PBR at Sligo Pub

237 Elm St., Davis Square, Somerville

Sligo is an actual dive bar awash in a sea of gentrifying yuppie bars. Grab a shot of delicious Irish whiskey and a PBR tallboy, and luxuriate in the fact that, at least for a moment, you’re not part of the problem.

A Guinness at the Burren

247 Elm St., Davis Square, Somerville

Out on a school night? Head to the Burren for some live comedy. (Rumor has it Hannibal Buress showed up last week and performed a surprise show, so you may even get lucky and see someone famous.) There’s almost always live Irish music, and there’s definitely always Guinness, otherwise known as the best drink ever made.

And if you didn’t eat enough at Mike’s, you can always grab a desperation burrito or tacos at Tenoch or Anna’s. Just hope it isn’t too late to stem the tide of the spins.

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