120th Boston Marathon (April 18, 2016) — Get drunk along the marathon route

Where to Drink Along the Boston Marathon Route

Run to the tavern, not to the finish line

by Terrence Doyle Updated Apr 10, 2019, 2:49pm EDT

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Get drunk along the marathon route

| Mike Lawrie/Getty Images

by Terrence Doyle Updated Apr 10, 2019, 2:49pm EDT

There are few better drinking days in Boston than Marathon Monday, which falls on April 15 in 2019. Lots of people citywide take the day off from work to day-drink along the race route and cheer on the thousands of people who’ve endured months of intense training to prepare their bodies for the 26.2-mile grind.

Some people are lucky enough to have a friend who lives along the race route. Great: Drink in the backyard, grill various meats, and enjoy. For those who aren’t so lucky, there are a number of excellent watering holes lining the route. Sink some pints, venture to the route, cheer like hell, repeat.

Here are some of the best and most convenient places to drink on Marathon Monday. (Note: Pick a side of the street and stick to it; crossing back and forth over the race route is a pain — but not impossible.)

This map was originally published on April 11, 2018; it is updated periodically, and the date of the most recent update appears above.

Terry O'Reilly's Irish Pub

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No, not that Terry O’Reilly. But still, it shares a name with a Boston sports legend, so that’s enough to include it here. It’s not right on the race route, but it’s not a far walk either. (If they can run 26.2 miles, you can walk for 10 minutes.) Kill two birds with one stone by celebrating Boston’s favorite Monday in a bar that shares a name with Boston’s favorite hockey maniac.

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45 Union St, Newton, MA 02459

(617) 964-9275

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The Abbey

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It’s going to be cool and rainy on Marathon Monday. Head to the Abbey and warm up with some tomato soup and a grilled cheese. And beer. Lots of beer.

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1657 Beacon St, Brookline, MA 02445

(617) 730-8040

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The Publick House

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Get the mussels at the Publick House, and get a tasty Belgian beer, too.

1648 Beacon St, Brookline, MA 02445

(617) 277-2880

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Washington Square Tavern

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You’ll have to cross Beacon Street to get to Washington Square Tavern from the Publick House (good luck with that), but it’s on the same side of the street as the Abbey, so maybe pick and choose. Try the Oaxacan Burro here: mezcal with dry Curacao, cinnamon simple syrup, and spiced ginger beer.

714 Washington St, Brookline, MA 02446

(617) 232-8989

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Coolidge Corner Clubhouse

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You know the drill: This is a good spot. It’s a sports bar, and running is a sport, so take a booze break here in the middle of watching a sport.

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307 Harvard St, Brookline, MA 02446

(617) 566-4948

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O'Leary's

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O’Leary’s is a no-frills Irish dive bar. Grab a pint of Guinness or some cider, and watch as people inch ever closer to finish-line glory.

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1010 Beacon St, Brookline, MA 02446

(617) 734-0049

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Audubon

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Audubon is slick and sorta dark. Which is to say, it’s the perfect place to feel shame about drinking while everyone else is out there running 26.2 miles. For Marathon Monday 2019, it’s opening at 8 a.m. and serving brunch until 11 a.m.

838 Beacon St, Boston, MA 02215

(617) 421-1910

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Cask 'n Flagon

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The Cask ‘n Flagon is a bit off the route, but it’s adjacent to Fenway Park, and there are precious few things associated with Boston sports as iconic as the Red Sox and the Marathon, so it’s worth the extra walking.

62 Brookline Ave, Boston, MA 02215

(617) 536-4840

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Eastern Standard

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Kenmore Square mainstay Eastern Standard is a little bit more fancy than the Coolidge Corner Clubhouse, but to each his own. Grab a fancy cocktail, and stumble out onto the race route to cheer for your cousin’s best friend’s teacher, or whoever it is you’re supposed to be cheering for.

528 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215

(617) 532-9100

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The Hawthorne

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Another fancy spot (and sibling to the previous fancy spot). Get the Marshall Island Swizzle, a rum drink that will make it feel like summer even if it’s still just bitter Boston April.

500A Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215

(617) 532-9150

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The Lower Depths

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RIP the Lower Depths hot dog menu; hallelujah for the vast beer menu.

476 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215

(617) 266-6662

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Bukowski Tavern

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If the insanity of Boylston Street isn’t your bag, head to Bukowski Tavern. It’s close enough to the mayhem to hear it all, but far enough away to not get lost in the shuffle.