The Alley Claimed
The Alley Bar a staple in the Boston Nightlife.Average Reviews
About
Est. in 2003 has a new look sound and feel. This hidden gem offers weekend dance parties and local craft beer.
The Alley Bar a staple in the Boston Nightlife. Est. in 2003 has a new look sound and feel. This hidden gem offers weekend dance parties and local craft beer.
The Alley Bar a staple in the Boston Nightlife. Est. in 2003 has a new look sound and feel. This hidden gem offers weekend dance parties and local craft beer.
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Reviews
Based on 262 reviews
Paul Bryant
23:19 08 Apr 24
This place has always been a favorite of mine in terms of drinks and atmosphere. I have been skeptical of trying the food, until today. Good god, the mozzarella sticks were not only massive but full of flavor. Then the tenders were incredible. Potatoes skins were delicious and the truffle tots!!! Get the platter I promise you wot. Be disappointed.Stephen M.
15:45 16 Mar 24
Great portions, great service. Friendly staff, and very lively place. People hustle and bustle, and the music choice is solid as well.Sid B.
21:52 02 Feb 24
I love how friendly everyone was however the mixed drinks we're TERRIBLE. The staff so warm and welcoming. The crowd was absolutely festive and the only...Ben Jacobson
06:04 25 Nov 23
My husband, a Mexican American, has never felt less than human before, until we finished our night in this bar, you people should be ashamed. The racial slurs used against him will never be forgotten. You are the problem with the northeast. We will never feel comfortable in Boston ever, ever again. I’m happy to provide my personal phone number to discuss further. But you should be mortified to consider yourself a safe place for members of the community. I’m embarrassed to have ever been inside your building.Arsham Parsi
07:39 18 Nov 23
It was our first time in Boston and we decided to check this bar since it has the better reviews. We were not impressed but it was okay. There were a lot of people with very strange behaviour and style. Totally different from what we have seen in the different part of the world.Todd Brown
02:20 17 Oct 23
First gay bar I've been to in about 23 years. Really looking for dinner after a late show. Pretty entertaining bar with really good karaoke singers. Food was pretty good. Burger would have gotten the 5 star if it weren't for the bun. Not a fan of the cold dense bun. Burger was tasty though. My husband got the nachos, which were pretty. Bar tenders were busy but managed to give good service. 👍Bri S.
22:21 23 Sep 23
It was my best friends 24th birthday and the second our group entered we hoped to have fun but were quickly let down. As we were walking through a man...Jay S.
13:51 03 Sep 23
Fine clean downtown barSubway tilesVideosReasonable prices Close to the Freedom TrailViet Tran
00:03 18 Aug 23
Ordered drinks that took a little bit to arrive, and then ordered just tots and fries — 40 mins in and it still did not arrive. We decided to leave. Felt like host either forgot our order, did not put it in, or prioritized other patrons over us.Cole Snider
20:56 29 Apr 23
The Alley Bar was a nice bar overall. Mixed crowd but primarily on the older side. Music was good, drinks were a bit pricey but you tend to expect that in Boston. Quite a bit of seating and definitely more of the bar vibe than the club vibe. There is some dancing upstairs and a pool table. Overall, a very clean establishment that I’d recommend visiting if you’re not looking for a wild night on the town per se.Shawn H.
10:50 21 Apr 23
Most of these places have been a hub for the undergroun.d p.edophile rings. The problem for the common g ay (like myelf) is now that these E.LITE p.edo's...Kevin Hess
02:58 13 Apr 23
Horrible experience. My friend and I ordered a drink each. After enjoying our drinks for a while, a plate of food arrived in front of us that we had not ordered. Not even 10 seconds later, a gentleman arrived behind us and started chatting with us. He was clearly interested in us, be we politely made it clear we were not interested. After receiving our bill, we realized the food we had not ordered was listed on our tab. We questioned the bartender and he immediately insisted food was ordered by my friend. This was a straight lie and he knew it because he refused to make eye contact for the remainder of our stay. Funny enough, the gentleman whom had originally been interested in us came back over and started flirting with us again. I asked him if he had ordered the food for us, and he admitted he had. I called him out on the fact that the bartender said we had ordered the food, and he started acting really weird saying he owned the bar. He went back to his seat, and I called the bartender back over. I explained the guy had admitted to ordering the food on our behalf, and the bartender was immediately angered and said he would pull the video footage of us ordering the food. At this point we were uncomfortable and just wanted to leave. We closed our tab (with the cost of the food included) and left. As we were leaving the guy whom sent the food was watching us leave. The bartender continued to make no further eye contact.The whole experience was uncomfortable, and deceptive at best. The bartender was the younger of the two, and I regret not bringing the issue up with the older bartender or security. This whole ordeal happened on 4/12/23 around 9:00pm. I hope the younger bartender can be made accountable, the bar was otherwise okay.BLUF 4273
07:51 04 Apr 23
I went on Valentine's night this year, thinking I'd find a lively atmosphere. What I found was grim. The two bartenders were in faded T-shirts, stretched neck elastic, dirty jeans, and unkempt beards. They looked unappealing for the look a business in a city center should have.The music from the jukebox was depressing. I expressed my disappointment to the person beside me; his response was more disappointing. He told me to play my music, that Valentine's Day was a straight day, and that he was running away from the atmosphere that night. In other words, it was like telling me: "if you want to party, bring your music to the bar." Excuse me!Shouldn't business owners strive to create the best atmosphere on special days to attract clientele? Not even a red underwear party. I finished my drink, asked for the bill, and left. I preferred to go home because I said, "If that's the atmosphere at Alley, I better not waste time with others." The $10 I spent on a single drink, I’d have spent on a bottle of wine.The Alley Bar survived the pandemic duller and less dynamic, and they take their clientele for granted.Christian Butterworth
14:05 26 Mar 23
A really friendly, welcoming bar that my Husband and I stumbled upon. Staff were very attentive, and the other customers were friendly and chatty. Good selection of beers on tap, and the prices were reasonable too! A great bar for LGBTQ+ travellers to Boston!Shawn H.
20:39 03 Mar 23
Most of these places have been a hub for the undergroun.d p.edophile rings. The problem for the common g ay (like myelf) is now that these E.LITE p.edo's...Bluf 4.
08:32 25 Feb 23
I went on Valentine's night this year, thinking I'd find a lively atmosphere. What I found was grim. The two bartenders were older men in faded T-shirts,...Jason Stankiewicz
21:47 31 Jan 23
The Alley Bar Boston is a warm and inviting place for members of the LGBTQ+ community. It is a bar that celebrates diversity and inclusion, creating a safe and friendly atmosphere for all. The staff is welcoming and accommodating, making sure everyone feels welcome and comfortable. Whether you're looking for a place to hang out with friends, dance, or just have a good time, The Alley Bar Boston is the perfect spot.Domingo C.
17:26 16 Jan 23
Right in the heart of downtown, this LGBT bar is a hidden gem (quite literally, I walked by it while looking for it!). Upon walking in, my friends and I...Jay Dupont
16:41 05 Jan 23
This is a fun place, definitely one of my favorite bars in Boston. Great for a drink after work and meet new people. New year's eve is typically a lot of fun and dancing. Also it should be noted, their bathrooms are some of the cleanest in Boston.Hannah C.
22:11 11 Oct 22
I've been in the restaurant industry for years and have never been treated this way. An incredibly unfriendly atmosphere. the bouncer was incredibly rude...Andrew D
02:26 07 Sep 22
What a great place to visit. We were here last Saturday and we had a very welcoming reception. The staff was fantastic, they offered us a place to sit at the bar, everything was perfect. While sitting at the bar we met some local guys, and a guy from Ireland, everyone was very welcoming, and easy to talk to. We laughed and had great conversations. It was our first time at The Ally Bar, can’t wait to go back.Ben Geravesh
23:12 11 Aug 22
Nice bar, but very grouchy and unwelcoming old bartenders! Don’t waste time. Will not come back 🙂Greg B
14:08 01 Aug 22
Pleasant. Beary. Friendly stuff. Strong cocktails. Worth a visit. Entrance hidden during daytime, but easy to find when opened.Taylor Shay
20:37 29 Jul 22
Black unfriendly bar. A bunch of conservative white men with transphobic attitudes. Micro aggressions and discriminatory language amongst patrons. Myself and another Black American patron who descend from the people who built this country clearly were not welcomed.Jason Bailey-Amos
18:18 05 Jul 22
We were made to feel very welcome by all the star on our trip.Great food and friendly service, we loved it and would recommend a visitThanks to Jerry and Patrick for looking after usJudeoChristendom C.
00:11 05 Jul 22
Yet, ANOTHER win for OUR God, after Roe vs. Wade!!https://www.massresistance.org/docs/gen4/22b/Boston-gay-pride-cancelled/index.htmlBTW, was the good...Freddy Soza
18:33 10 Jun 22
Imposible to get a drink in an empty bar 🤔. Is it selfservice? Maybe I didn’t get the kind of customer service experience they offer at this place….James M.
14:10 10 Jun 22
I walked in and sat at the bar. The bartender kept walking by me asking everyone at the bar if they needed anything. I said, "Excuse me" several times but...Vincent L.
16:51 25 May 22
A hidden gem right in the middle of downtown - directly beneath, in fact, a back entrance to an adjacent office tower where I once briefly worked. In fact,...Cole Snider
22:44 28 Mar 22
The Alley Bar was a nice bar overall. Mixed crowd but primarily on the older side. Music was good, drinks were a bit pricey but you tend to expect that in Boston. Quite a bit of seating and definitely more of the bar vibe than the club vibe. There is some dancing upstairs and a pool table. Overall, a very clean establishment that I’d recommend visiting if you’re not looking for a wild night on the town per say.Jay Bee
20:09 08 Mar 22
Nice space , clean, and friendly environment. Lovely bartender, really cold beer - I loved ❤️ it! - and a great chicken wings full of taste! Thank God I didn’t meet any of those grumpy people mentioned here. I was wondering, are they for real of it was just one or two fellas who were not having a good day ? Who knows ?! PS. I’ve met Edd, Peter and Jake - three very polite fellas and very receptive! I cannot picture those guys treating anyone bad !Jay Bee
02:07 06 Mar 22
Nice space , clean, and friendly environment. Lovely bartender, really cold beer - I loved ❤️ it! - and a great chicken wings full of taste! Thank God I didn’t meet any of those grumpy people mentioned here. I was wondering, are they for real of it was just one or two fellas who were not having a good day ? Who knows ?!Jeffrey Gaudreau
01:23 22 Feb 22
Really nice places just sit down have a drink hang out with people you don't really get to see a lot of gay bars in Massachusetts as mucharnold prince
13:42 11 Feb 22
Its a good bar. Most of staff is very friendly but Jack. I tried to avoid going there the nights he is working. He is grumpy, not friendly and not approachable. Also the place is very bright. They should lower the lights a little bit. Love sunday karaoke nights . Courtnney is the best!arnold prince
18:15 07 Feb 22
Its a good bar. Most of staff is very friendly but Jack. I tried to avoid going there the nights he is working. He is not friendly , grumpy, and not approachable. Also The place is very bright they should lower the lights a little bit. Love sunday karaoke nights . Courtnney is the best!Nomejodas
00:01 07 Feb 22
The music was horrible, drinks even worse, no place to sit, a lot of white people. No trap music, no twerking music, just whack vibes all around. The fries were good tho.Travis Y.
22:22 04 Feb 22
Another awesome night. Was here back in the summer...with a new friend and back again with same friend who I'm now married too. This place is very special...Cam T.
09:00 15 Jan 22
Awful bar with creeps who don't respect privacy. They SCAN your ID. Why? And there are cameras all over the place. CREEPY! Kinda a guarantee that the owners...Christina S
20:55 31 Dec 21
The bathroom has a urinal in the women's bathroom. I thought that was amazing and progressive. Very inclusive. Also the drinks were strong af. Go here. Do it. You will not regret.Kiwi Lemons
18:13 13 Nov 21
The bar downstairs is nice enough for a drink and chat.The upstairs dance floor however is not. They play music that’s terrible to dance to and the lack of people dancing seems to me I’m right. The crowd is much older so come if that’s your thing.Spencer Chase
23:14 31 Oct 21
Just left because the guy serving the tables was helping everyone but us. He kept saying hi to my friend and I and walking away… I have no idea why he didn’t ask to serve us but it would’ve been nice if he had…Will White
18:12 30 Oct 21
Lively downtown gay bar with mixed crowd. Downstairs had bar bites type food. Upstairs had a pool table and VJ dance/pop music in a cozy space. Good energy and cheap drinks.Mark Burns
13:41 24 Oct 21
I LOVE THE ALLEY....GREAT FOOD,SERVICE AND DRINKS....UNWIND AND THEN GO UPSTAIRS AND DANCE .Edgar Rodriguez
03:00 14 Oct 21
Was amaizing, excelte ambient, which by the way at that time had not done my eye surgery yet, and I forgot my glasses in the bathroom but thanks to Pedro the bartender I got them backWill W.
05:03 29 Sep 21
This is probably the least gay "gay bar" I've ever been to in my life. Honestly it could be an Applebees. Maybe it used to be. There is absolutely nothing...t h.
22:17 18 Sep 21
So Yeah, its Ok fine, the only issue is the lighting. Feels like they grabbed some tips from the high school cafeteria or a Straight bar. Oh wait,...Anthony Malburg
05:19 11 Aug 21
This place was hard to find! No signs,flags or anything. It’s actually in the alley. So glad we found it. Was a great time and not really busy. Staff was so nice and welcoming since we were from out of town.Travis Y.
06:11 01 Aug 21
I haven't been to a gay bar for quite sometime but as recently single I took a brief getaway with a new 'friend' and we picked The Alley as our Friday...Pavel Schmitt
23:24 17 Jul 21
Pretty good place to have a drink and interact with a very mixed crowd. However, whatever you are going to eat, do not order burgers, those are pretty gross :/Rick B.
04:27 08 Jul 21
I grew up in the Boston area and was back visiting for the 4th of july with my partner. After seeing the fireworks (this year they were on the Boston...Clint E.
05:51 05 Jul 21
The Alley Bar is a gay bar, perhaps catering to bears. Everyone seemed welcome! We visited this Saturday night and had such fun we went back the next...Peterj T.
23:02 18 Jun 21
The Alley has always been a dive bar and that is it's appeal. Over the years, the provided Some upgrades - which are nice - but it's still retained it's...Jayson M
02:53 24 Apr 21
Pretty basic and pointless to come to during COVID. Had the same experience as visiting my local Applebee’sMichael Jesusarian
02:33 04 Apr 21
Great local hangout. Friendly bartenders, excellent food all for under $20.Clyde McLeon (C.J.)
23:59 22 Mar 21
Ever since they opened the kitchen last year, the food here has been amazing. You may have to order something off the menu for the table, but it's surely worthwhile to do so. I've had the burger, chicken sangy and off-menu specials like the shrimp scampi which was literally perfect in every way. Good portion, al dente pasta, just enough sliced parmesan... I heard they were opening their kitchen for a long time; I'm glad they took their time to perfect whatever it is they have going on back there. Well done.Heath M.
10:15 18 Mar 21
In the beginning, there was a gay dive bar unassumingly placed in Pi Alley in Downtown Crossing. The bar wasn't without its quirks, in fact, it needed a lot...Bob kelley
13:10 28 Jan 21
Awesome place to get some great pub food and drink. Nice selection of beer on tap as well as some excellent cocktails. Today we just got some appetizers and drinks. Joe was our waiter/ bartender and as always he kept us laughing with his friendly and amusing conversation. I got a bourbon rocks with a Blue Moon on tap. My wife loves the Cosmos at The Alley. We got a dessert to share which was very good. There is street parking available after 6 weeknights and all day Sat and Sun. There’s also a garage above the bar and you can get your ticket validated by your bartender or waiter.John May
19:52 18 Oct 20
Love love love the Alley bar but wouldn’t it be better to be closed on a Tuesday than on a Sunday when there is absolutely nothing to do in the city 😱Robert Lerma
02:57 02 Oct 20
Excellent service. The guys working were so friendly and attentive. The restaurant was also very clean. And as far as the food the Buffalo chicken wings I ordered were delicious.Rumit P.
07:13 23 Jun 19
Here's the gist: Two-story bar with two bars, lots of bears and otters, strong drinks, dance floor upstairs, cash only, and no cover.My friends and I...
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