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I like dogs and I like that they are around me when I get drunk.
Also, it's nice to know I can bring my pregnant friend here so she can have a drink and she won't get dirty looks....unlike other places.
(Yes, you can have ONE drink when you're 9 months along, people!)
HAPPYHAPPYHAPPY!
Some people know this about me...you probably do not...I LOVE beer...I can't get enough of it...I think about it a lot...
I was directed to the Behan when looking for a place to eat and drink in JP. Through yelp I found La Pupusa for food and after asking a friend who had been there about the alcohol situation (there is none at La Pupusa) he recommended taking La Pupusa to the Behan (they do NOT serve food) and eat there...this is common and accepted and wonderful!
I immediately liked the decor of the Behan and was giddy about all the beers on tap, there were probably 20...maybe more, maybe less...but a great selection. They allow dogs so if you're afraid or allergic this might not be your best bet. Also, it's cash only, but there's an atm inside that only has a .99 fee! Hooray for savings!
This is your perfect night: dinner from La Pupusa enjoyed with a beer at the Behan and the most amazing tattoo you can ever imagine from Fat Ram's...You can thank me later.
The Behan is the best gaddamn bar in town, and if you don't think so, just please don't show up-you won't be missed.
This is a pub in the genuine style. Dogs are welcome, kids are welcome during the day. All wood, beat up, great music, friendly bartenders, the patrons have brogues.
Yes you can play darts. No the television isn't even there unless there is a major Boston sporting event on, then it disappears after it is over. Every Saturday, at a shady table, musicians show up and play Celtic music for beer while the dogs jog around and the kids clap. The bartender Adam makes the best bloody Mary in town if he has the ingredients on hand, and if he doesn't you can bring them in. He's the one with the championship tattoo of JF fucking K on the back of his hand.They have fine scotches and PBR. They stock Redbreast whiskey-which rules. Hot Toddies during the winter seal it's place in the pub Hall of Fame. It continuously wins "Best Irish Pub" from Boston Magazine and they don't give a shit. The awards are practically hidden in back of stuff on a mantle. In fact, they don't give a flying rat's ass about Yelp either-they will continue to be the best no matter what you think. Everyone knows it.
You can park at the Hi Lo food mart a couple blocks away. If you need food- get it across the street at Food Wall. They have an ATM and don't take credit cards. So before you start whining about that, maybe you should consider not buying alcohol on credit like a junkie.
Trivia on Tuesday nights.
It's not fancy, but a great, cozy joint for friends and drinks. Just go. Or don't, I don't care.
If you just moved to JP, go to the Brendan Behan Pub as soon as possible! I went alone my first week in JP 5 years ago and had all these warm furry feelings about my new neighborhood afterward. Sure, part of it might have been the cheap miller high lifes and the fact that I was literally covered in dog fur, but I also had great conversations with friendly regulars (human and canine) the whole night. Never once did I feel creepy about going there alone or pathetic because I had no Bostonian friends. I watched the whole place come alive with song and dance when the bartender played Peter Gabriel's "So" in its' entirety.
I am happy to say that I am now a friendly regular (I have friends now too). I recommend going early to get a good table as the place can fill up quick and picking up some dumplings from Foodwall to munch on while you are there. Remember to bring cash!
The concept of this bar is the best ever...
Full bar
Bring your own food
Bring your dog
I only wish JP wasn't such a pain in the butt to get to, or else I would frequent there much more often. I've found out about this place months ago and have just finally gotten around to going. It will definitely not take me months to return though.
Brendan Behan, I love you.
How often do you head to a bar and the first thing you notice is how many dogs there are hanging out inside? A common occurrence at the Brendan Behan! It's not exactly your average dive, but the atmosphere is still warm and friendly for this relatively tiny bar (what else would you expect from dog-owning 20 and 30-something JP?!), and the Tuesday Stump Trivia jockey is one of the better ones around.
Word of warning - there is no kitchen, so if you're hungry you'll want to bring your own food! They have no problem with that.
My team won second place in trivia last night and won a free round. Better to win 2nd place than 1st place, because 1st place gets a limited dollar amount to the bar, and 2nd place can order whatever the hell they want. The cute bartender with the "The Moose is Loose" hat was really nice and made a mean mudslide... Definitely hope to be back soon - perhaps even next Tuesday! Lady with the Schnoodle, if you're reading this, please come back so I can steal your puppy!
I was there last Saturday. My friends were in need of half naked gals dancing sexy, me some good beer and a place to chill out. They outnumbered me so I didn't stay really long (unfortunately). But I really like this place. Jukebox playing was awesome. The price is ok and the ammount of beers is crazy. There's definietly a punkish/grunge look to the place and the crowd (lot of tattooed people! ;) ). When you see a place where the bar is filled up before the table seats, you know staff are cool. I was sitting beside a guy from Phoenix and another dude, there was a fun dog in the first table beside the entrance.
The Neighborhood is * from a tourist point of view of course* not the most welcoming but this place is sure it. Next time I'm going to Boston with my other friends, we're going there for a night.
Many months ago I was introduced to a particular place. It was a time that I was meeting up with a friend and we needed to grab a pint. I can't remember the details of what was said but I recall references to a place that had beer, was dark in the way that makes you wonder, and was in possession of a rather particular odor.
To my delight my friend was correct. There really are very few times that one would just walk on by behan's. Instead you stop in for a quick one and make it a night. If your corner of choice is taken you can just find something to lean against and all will be fine.
The best thing about the place is the people. They are laid back and easy going and I can't think of the last time that I was sent an offensive glance, or perhaps it's always been so dark that I could never see the offended looks on their eyes.
There are many things that I enjoy about the Behan, but:
There is one bartender there who doesn't like dogs. If you're the owner, don't allow dogs. If you just work there, find another bar to work at that doesn't allow dogs (READ: EVERY OTHER BAR IN BOSTON). Don't give me attitude 5 minutes after I walk in the door with a 30lb dog and say, "If it gets anymore crowded in here the dogs are gonna have to go. It's not a dog park."
Thank you so much for basically ruining the Behan with your glowing mentality. Sorry if my leashed dog that you can't even see from behind the bar was bothering you, I know he can be a real sumbitch.
Dogs, kids, and yuppies, oh my!
When i go out drankin' I don't want kids/babies near me. I dont care if the Behan is an authentic Irish pub, and that in Ireland, bars are acceptable places to bring the whole family, I don't like hearing screeching kids and I don't like seeing them run around while i'm trying to get drunk.
A bar is a place for adults to go, to get away from kids AND dogs. If i wanted to spend the day with a bunch of kids and a bunch of dogs, I'd take a 40 to the playground.
This Behan is totally bush league. Unresponsive bartenders who'd rather serve their friends 5 times over before they get you one drink, or spend the whole night texting on their cell phones then dare pour you a pint. Jerks, jerks, jerks.
Also, whose brilliant idea was it to make this tiny, little bar (barely bigger than someone's living room) a place to bring kids (including baby strollers) and dogs. As if the bartenders lack of interest in doing their jobs wasnt bad enough...add the fact that it's always packed to the gills and you are lucky to get a beer after standing at the bar for 20 minutes.
I dont get the appeal, and I'm not coming here anymore. This place just perpetuates the stereotype that JP is over run with 30 somethings that bring their kids everywhere and ruin it for the rest of us.
I want to give the Behan a stellar review. Bring your own food, bring your dog, bring your friends, and sit drinking $4.50 Anchor Steam or Brooklyn Lager. A good selection of tap beers seems like fun.
However, I'm really not sure how clean their lines are. I switched to Stella after a couple of Anchor Steams. It tasted funny like sour grape bubble gum. I had this flavor tested and seconded, thirded and fourthed by my friends. Like a fool, I drank it. Don't repeat my mistake. If it tastes strange, it's probably strange. I'm pretty sure the yucky beer is what gave me a two day hangover. A terrible terrible two day hangover.
So, five stars for bottles and cans and whatever isn't on tap. Two stars for sour beer. Negative stars to me for drinking a clearly off beer.
Also, don't go on Tuesdays if you want to hang out and have a chat. 8 to 10 is quiz night. Do go if you like quiz night.
Pretty cool pub. Love the lattice-patterned window on the frontice. Ordered a Dewar's, they don't have it. Oh well. Good beer selection for the beer drinkers out there. Not all that cheap - $8.50 for a Glenlivet.
In the bathroom there is lots of great graffiti art which makes for interesting trips. The toilet seat was on the ground leaning against the wall. Very amusing.
The crowd this past Friday was very post-Depeche Mode-art school-depressed-and-self-important. I mean, I know you're cooler than me and everyone else, that's fine, but would it kill ya to crack a smile? This silliness makes Behan a fun joint. Good place to go on a cold night to warm up with some friends. ESPECIALLY when your buddy's roommate has an enormous van you can hop in afterwards and take to Great Scott in Allston. Hilarious scene when we rolled up, piled out of the Dream Machine in a haze of glossy flyers and half-eaten egg rolls.
They play great tunes here, and that adds a lot to the atmosphere. Much better than the Milky Way, which we waited in line for, only to find out there was an $8 cover charge - WRETCH!!! - and thus, did not venture inside.
I've been in and out of the Behan Pub over the last few years, but not as a regular. Still, its apparent that the Behan makes for a top-notch neighborhood joint.
The only reason that it doesn't get a full 5 stars from me is because what most see as pros are sometimes cons to me.
Great music; But sometimes too loud.
No regular TV blaring can be a good thing; But sometimes I want to zone out starring at a screen.
Great beer selection; But I only drink cheap, don't much care.
For JP residents the Behan will always be a haven, and I'm no exception. And while I never remember to take advantage of it, when there's a fireplace, cheap beer, and free wi-fi, it should be the perfect place to relax early afternoon.
Of course, hats off for being a dog friendly bar.
I won't lie: the fact that there are always dogs in the Behan is the main reason I'm giving the place five stars. But it's far from the only reason.
The Behan is a wonderful neighborhood pub in every way possible. It has a cozy, warm, and inviting atmosphere; an extensive selection of beers on tap; a staff that's friendly and plays excellent music all of the time; and you're allowed to bring in food from anywhere you want.
What's better than eating some Food Wall, drinking a few pints, listening to The Clash, and hanging out with a load of dogs? Correct answer: almost nothing.
Oh the Behan. How I've longed to enter your soft lit, wooden interior with the fish tank in the corner that pretends to be a tv.
I was worried the only other bar close to my place wouldn't provide the correct amount of unpretentiousness/eccentric/relaxed...but it has.
1. great beer selection
2. you can bring in outside food ( I suppose this means I'll have to review the chinese food place across the street.)
3. you can bring dogs
a great lab was ambling around the pub and kept coming up to me to pet it.
Here's the thing that you don't realize because it doesn't happen at other bars - dogs and beer go together.
Drinking with friends and petting a dog...outstanding.
My favorite JP bar. Less pretentious than the other choices and just a good place to grab a drink or 10 after a long day. Full of others in the same situation and their canine friends (which I think is great even though I don't have one).
Sometimes you just want to leave your house. and pay someone to pour you a drink so you dont feel like a lush looser sitting at home with your beer alone watching dancing with the stars.
Sometimes you dont want to go more than a block to drink.
Brendan Beehan is perfect for these times....oh and you can bring in your own food..major bonus!
I've always had wired feelings about going to this joint. I went there a lot when I was in my graduate studies. It worked well on week nights, where we would take over the back end table, some people bringing food, dogs and relaxing. It was nice then. I always felt a little out of place there, and since the new management took over it hasn't been the same. Maybe it was the change in employees, or the lack of my old friends, but it feels different.
The bathroom has always been a disgrace to go into. It makes me feel that i'm in a dive bar when I have to take a piss and the door swings open and everyone can see you. or maybe it's the new piss smell that reeks throughout the bar, but i'm not sure... it's not a frequent that I like to go to. I prefer Jame's Gate over this joint, just more room to breathe, better drinks (the mixed cocktails always leave my throat hurting for some reason)... and better lighting/sound.
I have never been impressed w/ their music (someone's iPod)...
The Behan is probably the only place in Boston/JP I will miss. Good beer, fluffy pups, friendly people and I can go in after work covered in espresso grounds, inhale crab rangoons from Food Wall get covered in duck sauce and not give a shit. The male to female ratio is favorable as well. Every dude bartender has always been great (maybe because of said ratio) and Elizabeth is a complete doll. Never had a boring night here, even if I'm just tucked away in the corner on a weeknight with the room mates. I'll miss you Behan
Trivia. Spiffy holiday decor. Neighbors. Lots of beer, and good beer. It's five minutes from my house. These are reasons I like the Behan. It's always a good place to decompress from the day, and you can bring delicious food in from neighboring restaurants and they allow dogs. Yep, dogs. Recently I got to pet my fave JP dog, a Viczla named Socrates AND not completely lose at trivia.
I just wrote a review that began and ended with the same word.
Go celebrate autumn with some Cambridge Pumpkin Ale. It's pie in a glass.
A CLASSIC Boston-Irish Bar. Lots of different beers, gritty, soccer on the TV, different music on different nights including Irish Music.
I have a dog...it is one of the few joints in Boston so I am here as much as I can go. It also has a real "Cheers" feeling (everyone knows your name) if you are looking for a place to hang out often.
Shame, shame, shame on me for having ever written a one sentence review of the Brendan Behan. You know that scene from that abortion of a movie The DaVinci Code when the monk dude whips his own back with that bad ass whip and then puts that garter belt from hell on? Yeah, that's what I've had to do to myself to make amends for this vast disservice.
The 'Behan' IS one word like:
-Mommy
-Papa
-Lover
-Home
I fucking love the Behan in a timeless, everlasting, endearing, cheesy, puts little cartoon fireworks in my eyes, kind of way. I feel bad when I cheat on the Behan and go to other pubs, a little piece of me dies every time I do this and I am pretty sure that this also causes baby seals to cry and the ice caps to melt faster.
If the Brendan Behan were a superhero it's strength would be awesomeness. If the Brendan Behan were a girl it/she would have awesome knockers and put out on the first date. If the Brendan Behan were your Dad it/he would teach you how to throw a killer curve ball. If the Brendan Behan were a flavor it would be, chocolate-strawberry-coffee-ginger-mint-Guinness. Yeah.
Seriously, best spot in JP. You WILL bring your dog, and your dog can rule everybody's face and just be a dog and run around and shit. You WILL bring food in from anywhere you want. You WILL have a blast if you catch a Red Sox or Celtics game here on a packed night. You WILL hear live Irish music on Saturday afternoons. You WILL get shit housed if you want to. You WILL want to move to JP once you fall for the Behan.
pub is as pub does. true to form. even some irish musicians hoeld up from time to time. AND im told… Read more »
I went to Brendan Behan, drank two beers, went home, sat down in front of my computer, and started looking for apartments in JP.
Brendan Behan, whoever you are, I would move anywhere for you.
Great neighborhood bar in JP that offers excellent Irish Pub atmosphere, albet a bit cramped, especially on the weekends. The cozy interior is at it's best when it's below crowd capacity, which is weeknights or late afternoon\early evenings on the weekend.
Usually have good music and great pints pouring from the friendly staff.
I love this place more than words can describe. First and foremost its dark and cozy which makes it the perfect place to grab a pint. Secondly, and I say this as someone obsessed with beer, brew my own, etc, the beer selection is amazing for such a small bar. The only exception is the blue hill brewery beer that has no flavor. The bartenders are always friendly and willing to chat. Another huge bonus is that you can bring whatever food you would like in and if you do than you must get take out from the El Salvadorian place next door. As a dog lover with no dog I love that people can bring their own dogs here. Good beer, great atmosphere, and the weekly live Irish music makes this place one of the best Irish pubs in Boston.
Why do I like the Behan? Mostly because they don't sell condoms.
Sure, they still have the condom dispenser up in the mens bathroom. Sure, it looks old enough to have only sold lambskin rubbers. Sure, it's covered in graffiti and stickers and has a huge honkin' lock on the side so that no one steals the nothing that's inside. Considering it no longer serves it's condom-vending purpose and looks like trash and kinda gets in your way if two guys are peeing and you're the one on the inside, it makes a lot of sense to take it down. But it also makes a lot of sense to say "Fuckit" and have a beer instead.
Why else do I like the Behan? You can bring your dog and won't get hassled about it. Some of the tables wobble like you're playing a booze version of Topple but you can usually find one unless it's the weekend. They sometimes have a broken front window or two but they've already taped a few coasters together to cover the whole and hey, they'll get to it alright? Quit being so overbearing. Have a beer and relax.
Bars are for drinking. The Behan is a bar. The Behan is for drinking.
I like beer.
I like dogs.
I like people.
I like "no attitude" places.
I like The Behan.
Sit down, have some drinks. Bring your dog if you'd like. Strike up some conversations with friendly people. Leave the attitude at home, everybody else did. People are here to drink, have fun, and hang out.
Yet another reason to love JP.
If the outdoor movies at videounderground in the summer, arboretum/forest hills cemetary, quirky galleries and antique shops, boomerangs, milkyway, and Ten Tables haven't swayed you..maybe this dog friendly haunt will.
Dog friendly, you say? Yes. For those of us without a pooch to call your own, you can probably head over to Behan's pub and expect a friendly fourlegged or two to rub up on your calf.
We came here after the dog walk for a quick pint or two and even though I was fatigued...from the 8+ hours of sleep I had the night before...I still had a great time hanging around the pub wif me mates. Oh the strains of waking life.
It's very dark and dingy in appearance, you might want to leave your finest Labor Day white pants et all behind, isallimsayin. Just a simple bar with a big screen for the game and a bubbling aquarium in the corner.
I wondered if the Disco Ball in the center got much use and figured the provided Scrabble Board got more gameplay in this space assumed to be inhabited with locals for the most part. Another large party was at the bar with a cumbersome Apple laptop in tow and didn't seem to appreciate the occasional cold nose nuzzling, but if you can't stand the category 1 earthquake of a jovial pup rumbling, then this might not be the place for you.
I was surprised to see how inhabited the space was for 3pm on a cold Sunday and how welcoming the staff was to the influx of chinese food delights from a nearby restaurant.
Any bar that is a 4 legged supporter is OK in my book, and is a great space for people in the city to meet up and hang out with a pint in one hand, and a bitch in the other.
Last time I was here it reeked of vomit, a dog smelled my crotch, and a girl wearing a hoodie of a college basketball that opposed the team from my hoodie tried to pick a fight with me.
I like the Behan. It just gets so crowded and all the tables are wobbly. And I always end up getting stuck in the back with the weird lighting.
I find that the Behan is much better for pit stops and pub crawls than for entire evenings out.
Pretty utilitarian, but in a cozy way. BEER - SIT - TALK. Oh, and dogs. How very JP of the place. Fine with me, honestly. I like the place. My wife wasn't so keen on the dogs thing as she has allergies. Also, she thought the place smelled of post-puke-clean-up cleaning products. I didn't notice, but my nose was probably buried in one of their many good pints on tap.
Seems a cool place if your plans are along the lines of "Fuck it, let's drink" and don't really feel the need to aspire to much more than that.
A bar that lets my dog in is cleary a 5-star kind of place. My guy said they poured a nice Guiness and although I thought I'd be laughed out of the place for ordering it, my glass of red was actually decent.
It was nice to meet fellow yelp dog owners, lovers and poachers alike. If only Flynn would have sipped on the beer and wine he was offered! It could have induced a nap and we could have stuck around a little longer.
What can I say about this place that hasn't already been said? I like dingy bars and petting dogs, looks like I'm in luck. Most of the dogs in there are cool, just try not to step on them. Often they just lie down and hang out. The atmosphere is pretty laid back and the bartenders are good. They even show the games on a decent projector.
For my money, it's the best bar in JP.
A fun pub that you can bring your dog to. It just seems so natural that I don't know why all pubs don't do it. And if dogs, beer, and cider weren't enough, you can get Chinese food across the street and bring it in. We came here as part of a group of 9 people and 3 dogs after the Hounds of Yelp event. It was an awesome way to spend the afternoon. If I lived closer and had a dog, I'd be a regular. Just keep Rover away from the darts, though. At least if I'm playing. 5 stars because I loved it.
Much of why I liked this Pub was the dogs and their owners. Thanks to Brian for organizing the day and to everyone who brought their dogs. It's too bad that more people and dogs didn't stick around after the Arboretum and join in at the pub - that would have only made it better. But really, it was still awesome. And I came home with enough treats for the office dog (a little white puppy who we have to keep away from the chocolate). Okay, this is a review about the Brendan Behan Pub so I'll just state the obvious. If you want your faithful hound to join you at a friendly and laid-back pub, you won't do better than here.
I may have gone on a date at the Behan last winter. I mean, it was definitely at the Behan...I'm still not sure whther it was a date or not.
It was a Tuesday night but Trivia had been cancelled so the place was pretty empty, it was dimly lit enough to be mysterious, and we were sitting right over the heat vent so it encouraged the removal of clothing. All good things.
It's dog friendly, which is cool, but I wasn't aware of it until I felt something wet and furry brush along my leg. It's a disorienting feeling if you're not expecting it, I'll tell you what.
I really only picked that spot because I know Brendan Behan's nieces and they asked me to throw back a pint for him when I got to town.
I feel that I've done my duty and I don't really feel the need to go back.
This is a great place to grab a beer. It's dog friendly and the bartenders are nice and remember your face (when you go in a lot)...
It's yet another reason to love JP's atmosphere.
Love this bar!
I really want to love the Behan. I really, really do. It has everything I normally love about bars: booze; dingy atmosphere; practically no light; big TV to watch the game on; surly clientle; and just enough noise to hide your conversation from others, but you can still talk to your friends.
Here's the problem, though. The Behan attracts dogs. Actual canines. I love dogs. I think they are cute and adorable. Unfortunately, my nose, eyes, throat and lungs heartily disagree. Some friends and I were watching the game last week and I was fine for awhile. But it became unbearable. Three dogs = Kirs non-stop sneezing, wheezing, and being generally miserable. I had to leave. Which really sucked. And it's unlikely I'll be back for any length of time as a result. As soon as a dog walks in, I'll be walking out.
Sometimes all I want is a stool and a cold beer.
And in those cases this is the perfect place to go.
Located exactly 30 steps from my front door it's extremely convenient and I honestly don't take advantage of this enough. Probably because it's usually full of scencesterish people that are WAY too cool for me or people that I don't like (aka- everyone)
Typically i hate Dogs or animals around where I am eating/drinking/sleeping.. One look at the people in here with their "children" or as most humans call them.. DOGS. makes me believe that this city is doomed for failure. JP especially. Sad when some of the dogs in here are more well kept than the humans they are drinking with... I remember when hyde square was an ok place to be..... things change i guess, and usually not for the better.
Great neighborhood bar.
Just as I love restaurants where you can BYOB, I love bars where you can BYOF (that's food.)
It always either smells dirty or of some sort of harsh cleanser. But it's a snug and humble place with character and friendly bartenders.
Don't forget about trivs on Tuesday nights.
OK, I know I said in an earlier review that one of the few things I miss about JP since I left was Zon's. But I have to say that the Behan is in that category too. It's exactly what I want in a bar - and I am happy that the Druid (in my new hood) hits all the same keys as the Behan. The place just feels....real. I have never had a bad time here - and I doubt anyone ever could. It also had that very JP way of having an interesting mix of people there - no one can feel left out or uncomfortable here, imho (except someone who doens't want to be in a pub, of course). And like Zon's, you can easily just chat someone up sitting next to you - zero pretention. (Try that somewhere downtown)
Day. Night. Sunny, rainy, or snowy - come here for a pint or an evening - you won't be disappointed......unless you want food or to use a credit card
Neighborhood: Jamaica Plain
Category: Pubs
Jamaica Plain, MA
Category: Bars
Neighborhood: Jamaica Plain
Category: Restaurants
Neighborhood: Dorchester
Category: Restaurants
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Category: Breakfast & Brunch
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