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A general view of the renowned Middle East Restaurant and Night Club, a much sought after performance venue for local acts in the Boston area, on March 4, 2013 in Cambridge.
The Middle East in Cambridge.
Paul Marotta/Getty Images

13 Boston-Area Restaurants With Live Music

From jazz to flamenco to mariachi, the city offers something for every musical taste

by Terrence Doyle and Erika Adams Updated
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The Middle East in Cambridge.
| Paul Marotta/Getty Images
by Terrence Doyle and Erika Adams Updated

Boston has got plenty of bars, restaurants, and clubs hosting live music several nights a week. Whether you’re looking to sip on a fancy gin drink while seated at a dimly lit jazz club or eat tapas while taking in a live flamenco performance, Boston’s live music scene can accommodate you. Here are some of the best spots for live music Boston and the surrounding area has to offer. (Note: This map focuses on restaurants that offer music for free or relatively cheap cover charges. Venues that are solely bars or larger spots with ticketed shows are not included.)

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The Burren

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Head to the Burren for a Guinness — and/or a Guinness beef stew — and you’re bound to hear anything from swing jazz to traditional Irish music. The music in the front room is free, while the music in the back room is ticketed. On the other side of the river? The Burren team opened another venue, the Bebop, near Berklee in mid-2017.

247 Elm St, Somerville, MA 02144
(617) 776-6896
(617) 776-6896
An exterior shot of an Irish pub with “The Burren” in gold letters on a sign hanging in front of the bar.
The Burren.
Nic Antaya for The Boston Globe via Getty Images

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El Potro Mexican Grill

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The food and the margaritas are worth a trip alone, but the best part about El Potro is the mariachi band. Currently playing on Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. at El Potro’s Chelsea location.

170 Everett Ave, Chelsea, MA 02150
(617) 466-0007
(617) 466-0007

Lizard Lounge

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The musical stylings that can be heard in the Lizard Lounge are all over the map. Reggae? Check. Jazz. Yup. Jam bands? You got it. Witch pop? Why, yes. Also, order the tots.

1667 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138
(617) 547-0759
(617) 547-0759
Lizard Lounge tater tots in a basket covered in white wax paper.
The tots are never a mistake at Lizard Lounge.
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater Boston

Lily P's Fried Chicken and Oysters

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At Lily P’s, start with the oysters — fried, roasted, or raw — then move on to the fried chicken sandwiches and buttermilk biscuits. Come on Tuesday night to catch live bluegrass bands, which perform weekly starting at 7 p.m. Keep an eye on their Instagram account for weekend shows, too.

50 Binney St, Cambridge, MA 02142
(617) 225-2900
(617) 225-2900

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The Middle East Restaurant and Nightclub

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Events in the Middle East’s downstairs venue can get expensive, but music lovers can catch shows on the Corner, in Zuzu, and Upstairs on the cheap. Tallboys are also cheap. Order the hummus and some grape leaves.

472-480 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 864-3278
(617) 864-3278
An exterior photo of a restaurant with a bright yellow awning.
The Middle East.
Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

Lucky's Lounge

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Lucky’s was cool before people started thinking Fort Point was cool. Catch a show while snacking on reliable, laid-back dishes of pizzas, nachos, fish and chips, and empanadas.

355 Congress St, Boston, MA 02210
(617) 357-5825
(617) 357-5825
A red-hued, dark interior of a lounge with a curving bar.
Cool before its time.
Lucky’s Lounge

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Loretta's Last Call

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Loretta’s bills itself as Boston’s original country venue. In other words, if you’re looking for a night of line dancing and Southern food like fried pickles, hushpuppies, and hot fried chicken, look no further. There’s live country music most every night of the week; check the schedule for who’s up next before you go.

1 Lansdowne St, Boston, MA 02215
(617) 421-9595
(617) 421-9595
A country-themed restaurant with American flags and guitars hung on the walls.
Inside Loretta’s.
Loretta’s Last Call

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The Beehive

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Few better spots for jazz and blues in Boston. The drinks at the Beehive are also exceptional, and the decor conjures jazz clubs from the first half of the 20th century.

541 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116
(617) 423-0069
(617) 423-0069
The Chicken Thieves play as people celebrate Bastille Day at Beehive.
The Beehive.
Stuart Cahill/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images

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Darryl's Corner Bar & Kitchen

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Owned by Nia Grace — who is also working on a brand new restaurant and live music venue in the Seaport — this South End favorite is the spot for soul food and live jazz.

604 Columbus Ave, Boston, MA 02118
(617) 536-1100
(617) 536-1100
An exterior photograph of a restaurant with black signage wrapped around the corner of the building.
Darryl’s.
Erika Adams/Eater Boston

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Slade’s Bar & Grill

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Catch live music and DJ sets on most nights at Boston institution Slade’s. No night is complete without an order of the restaurant’s famous fried chicken wings.

958 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02120
(617) 442-4600
(617) 442-4600

Also featured in:

Capo

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Catch the Sinatra show in Capo’s downstairs Supper Club every Sunday night (yes, this is real), or head there other nights of the week for rotating musical acts — including, as of February, Taylor Swift Tuesdays.

443 W Broadway, South Boston, MA 02127
(617) 993-8080
(617) 993-8080
Spaghetti Pomodoro at Capo restaurant in South Boston, April 26, 2016.
A plate of pasta from Capo in South Boston.
John Blanding/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

Also featured in:

The Haven

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Eat some haggis, drink up from Boston’s most comprehensive Scotch list, and listen to many musical acts at the Haven.

2 Perkins St, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
(617) 524-2836
(617) 524-2836
A white plate with two pieces of haggis laid on mashed potatoes and parsnips.
Haggis at the Haven.
Erika Adams/Eater Boston

Also featured in:

Tres Gatos

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Head to beloved JP restaurant and record store Tres Gatos on the first Wednesday of every month for a live Spanish flamenco performance at 9 p.m., and keep up with the restaurant on Instagram for other live music acts throughout the month.

470 Centre St, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
(617) 477-4851
(617) 477-4851

Also featured in:

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The Burren

247 Elm St, Somerville, MA 02144

Head to the Burren for a Guinness — and/or a Guinness beef stew — and you’re bound to hear anything from swing jazz to traditional Irish music. The music in the front room is free, while the music in the back room is ticketed. On the other side of the river? The Burren team opened another venue, the Bebop, near Berklee in mid-2017.

247 Elm St, Somerville, MA 02144
(617) 776-6896
(617) 776-6896
An exterior shot of an Irish pub with “The Burren” in gold letters on a sign hanging in front of the bar.
The Burren.
Nic Antaya for The Boston Globe via Getty Images

El Potro Mexican Grill

170 Everett Ave, Chelsea, MA 02150

The food and the margaritas are worth a trip alone, but the best part about El Potro is the mariachi band. Currently playing on Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. at El Potro’s Chelsea location.

170 Everett Ave, Chelsea, MA 02150
(617) 466-0007
(617) 466-0007

Lizard Lounge

1667 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138

The musical stylings that can be heard in the Lizard Lounge are all over the map. Reggae? Check. Jazz. Yup. Jam bands? You got it. Witch pop? Why, yes. Also, order the tots.

1667 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138
(617) 547-0759
(617) 547-0759
Lizard Lounge tater tots in a basket covered in white wax paper.
The tots are never a mistake at Lizard Lounge.
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater Boston

Lily P's Fried Chicken and Oysters

50 Binney St, Cambridge, MA 02142

At Lily P’s, start with the oysters — fried, roasted, or raw — then move on to the fried chicken sandwiches and buttermilk biscuits. Come on Tuesday night to catch live bluegrass bands, which perform weekly starting at 7 p.m. Keep an eye on their Instagram account for weekend shows, too.

50 Binney St, Cambridge, MA 02142
(617) 225-2900
(617) 225-2900

The Middle East Restaurant and Nightclub

472-480 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139

Events in the Middle East’s downstairs venue can get expensive, but music lovers can catch shows on the Corner, in Zuzu, and Upstairs on the cheap. Tallboys are also cheap. Order the hummus and some grape leaves.

472-480 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 864-3278
(617) 864-3278
An exterior photo of a restaurant with a bright yellow awning.
The Middle East.
Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

Lucky's Lounge

355 Congress St, Boston, MA 02210

Lucky’s was cool before people started thinking Fort Point was cool. Catch a show while snacking on reliable, laid-back dishes of pizzas, nachos, fish and chips, and empanadas.

355 Congress St, Boston, MA 02210
(617) 357-5825
(617) 357-5825
A red-hued, dark interior of a lounge with a curving bar.
Cool before its time.
Lucky’s Lounge

Loretta's Last Call

1 Lansdowne St, Boston, MA 02215

Loretta’s bills itself as Boston’s original country venue. In other words, if you’re looking for a night of line dancing and Southern food like fried pickles, hushpuppies, and hot fried chicken, look no further. There’s live country music most every night of the week; check the schedule for who’s up next before you go.

1 Lansdowne St, Boston, MA 02215
(617) 421-9595
(617) 421-9595
A country-themed restaurant with American flags and guitars hung on the walls.
Inside Loretta’s.
Loretta’s Last Call

The Beehive

541 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116

Few better spots for jazz and blues in Boston. The drinks at the Beehive are also exceptional, and the decor conjures jazz clubs from the first half of the 20th century.

541 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116
(617) 423-0069
(617) 423-0069
The Chicken Thieves play as people celebrate Bastille Day at Beehive.
The Beehive.
Stuart Cahill/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images

Darryl's Corner Bar & Kitchen

604 Columbus Ave, Boston, MA 02118

Owned by Nia Grace — who is also working on a brand new restaurant and live music venue in the Seaport — this South End favorite is the spot for soul food and live jazz.

604 Columbus Ave, Boston, MA 02118
(617) 536-1100
(617) 536-1100
An exterior photograph of a restaurant with black signage wrapped around the corner of the building.
Darryl’s.
Erika Adams/Eater Boston

Slade’s Bar & Grill

958 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02120

Catch live music and DJ sets on most nights at Boston institution Slade’s. No night is complete without an order of the restaurant’s famous fried chicken wings.

958 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02120
(617) 442-4600
(617) 442-4600

Capo

443 W Broadway, South Boston, MA 02127

Catch the Sinatra show in Capo’s downstairs Supper Club every Sunday night (yes, this is real), or head there other nights of the week for rotating musical acts — including, as of February, Taylor Swift Tuesdays.

443 W Broadway, South Boston, MA 02127
(617) 993-8080
(617) 993-8080
Spaghetti Pomodoro at Capo restaurant in South Boston, April 26, 2016.
A plate of pasta from Capo in South Boston.
John Blanding/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

The Haven

2 Perkins St, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

Eat some haggis, drink up from Boston’s most comprehensive Scotch list, and listen to many musical acts at the Haven.

2 Perkins St, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
(617) 524-2836
(617) 524-2836
A white plate with two pieces of haggis laid on mashed potatoes and parsnips.
Haggis at the Haven.
Erika Adams/Eater Boston

Tres Gatos

470 Centre St, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

Head to beloved JP restaurant and record store Tres Gatos on the first Wednesday of every month for a live Spanish flamenco performance at 9 p.m., and keep up with the restaurant on Instagram for other live music acts throughout the month.

470 Centre St, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
(617) 477-4851
(617) 477-4851

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