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Mon-Wed. 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m.
Thu-Sat. 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Sun. 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m.
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Great chill atmosphere. It was relatively early on a Saturday night, but no one checking IDs, just head on in and kick back. Plenty of coat hooks and Commie paraphernalia everywhere. Grab a barstool and seat yourself around the bar tables attached to the walls. I got a Bass on tap. Some friends got the Guiness on draft and the bartender even swirled hearts on top of their foam. We got the munchies and ordered the curried fries which hit the spot.
A few groups were playing darts. Another all wore various wigs, hats, and costumes (this was after Halloween). The crowd was totally mixed with locals, blue collar folks, students, and visitors. Not too loud that you couldn't have a conversation. Good dank local spot to hang out and get a drink.
It's small, the service is a bit slow, but there's a lot to like about this place: The commie kitsch decor, darts, decent drinks. Pretty good food, too, though not a huge menu and the kitchen closes fairly early. Had a steak and salad that really hit the spot.
Also, the brunch menu looks pretty good, I'll have to try that some time.
I LOVE this place. It's not about the presentation/decor of the place; People's is a typical bar with a hardwood bar, some tables, dartboards. There are some cool old propaganda-ish posters on the walls though.
What IS great about this place is the really chill atmosphere and diversity of its patrons. I usually come here with my college buddies, but this place is also frequented locals, older business folks, young working adults, any type you can think of really. Everyone's chill. Bartender is chill. No awkward staredowns. Just a dandy good time.
There aren't many places where I can say that despite being almost hit in the face with a dart, groped by strangers, and had a friend be called a derogatory term for a lesbian that I'd also say I'd definitely come back. And have been.
People's Republik is just one of those bars that if I happen to be in the area, I would definitely stop in for a beer (yeah, like I'm capable of just one drink).
The crowd is mixed. You got some locals, some students, some out of towners, and hey maybe you've even got a homo with Mylie Cyrus blasting in his head. Just maybe. But no matter our differences, this place is very laid back and perfect for drinks with friends no matter the occasion.
I think it's awesome that they have darts set up, but the position is kinda awk. I mean, if you find being hit in the eye with a dart uncomfortable, then you'd probably not like the dart situation either. Although fun, it can just kind of get in the way with a bar this cramped. Also, some of the patrons can be annoying. Like people who get drunk and have no sense of personal space, "Ma'am you're standing on my life" or an occasional out of towner who calls your friend a not-so-nice name for ladies who love ladies. First of all - welcome to Boston. Second of all, it's not your business if she's a lesbanot and those 6 girls who just stood up are her roller derby teammates. Face, meet pavement.
So yeah. If you decide to come on a busy weekend night, be prepared. Be prepared for darts, crowds, and a booty block into a curb if you're a d-bag.
Great funky and low key bar conveniently located between Harvard and Central Sq. The Soviet/Communist Era decor, good beer selection, dart boards and interesting patrons make this a great bar to throw back a few cold ones and people watch.
Yes it smells funky and the bathrooms are gross---but its not the end of the world.
Its get really busy later on weekend nights especially when schools in session. Try to get there a little early to get a good spot or claim a dart board.
I don't get it. People's is NOT all that yelpers claim it is. It's just a bar. They have beer, they have dart boards. What they don't have is friendly bartenders. They don't have servers at all so when it's crowded getting a drink can be a challenge. You have to get your own water from a big container in the corner. Etc...
I just don't get it. It's not bad. When people want to go there, I'll go without complaining. But it's not high on my list of bars in Cambridge to frequent.
Went here last night for a drink. At first the bartender was a little stuffy but when I started asking him about the Magic Hat Brewery he opened up to me. We played some darts had some tasty Magic Hat circus boy. Yum! Also, the jams were rockn' and it was the bartenders playlist! Very cool, no preset set list here.
Just a regular Dive Bar... Darts, and decent beer... nothing special about this place though... NOTHING.
The inside set up was a lot of fun and almost turned me into a Bolshevist.
The most interesting bar I hit while in Massachusetts - I had to actually think during my conversations and apply my knowledge, which says a lot.
I might have to come to this bar again, but I liked it to a point.
Positives:
1, cute guys
2, oldern atmosphere
3, seemed like good music
Cons:
1, possibly a heavy communist hangout
2, hipsters
3, a bar like this seemed a little pricey BUT not as much as River Gods
I really wish that People's Republik was good. Really, really wish it was. The very first weekend that I lived in Boston, I took a walk from Harvard to Central (which at the time I considered to be a long walk), and the part of me that adores Communist kitsch went crazy when I walked by. I told myself, "I need to go to that bar as soon as possible". Well, it actually took me just over a year of living in the area (7 months of it spent living literally less than 2 blocks from the bar) to get there, and now I'm not upset that it did. Limited beer selection, hip and douche-filled crowd, and an apathetic-to-a-fault bartender who apparently gets pissed if you don't tip him to what he would consider to be a reasonable amount all left a bad taste in my mouth.
I much prefer passing by this place and thinking to myself how cool it looks and remembering before I went there how cool I thought it could be than actually being there. You want a nice neighborhood bar? Go to the Plough & Stars. You want to pay cash and feel uncomfortable with your surroundings but actually have a good time? Go to the Cantab.
I came into this well-known, small Cambridge bar expecting a much bigger crowd but was surprised by how sorta empty it was. Plenty of seats around the bar but the dart boards were packed. Beer selection was just all right. Prices were around $5 a pint. The bartender was nice but lacked some personality.
I was hungry and the damn kitchen just closed 10 minutes prior. Urgh. I settled for several of the all night $2.50 hotdogs. A tad over-priced, yes, but when you're drunk and have the munchies, your level of discernment is usually a tad compromised. Would I come back? Probably, but I'll need the same amount of scotch I drank prior in order to convince myself.
I've been looking forward to trying out this place, as I've heard so much about it. This place needs to clean out its tap system more frequently. The UFO summer on tap tasted gross.
Also, the service is awful. My friend sat at the bar for a good 20 minutes, trying to get a bartender's attention, to no avail -- the bartenders kept serving everyone that approached the bar except for him. We both agreed that we will not be returning to this place.
Bar crawls always lead me here. This place is super low key and rugged. The Soviet posters are pretty awesome. My husband will translate them for me and explain the mentality behind it. Good beer and always a chill crowd. Bathrooms are tiny and a little ewww.
Ok, so this place is one of the most famous bars in cambridge. That being said I had high expectations for the place. And be kind to me: I love myself a drinking establishment.
This place is alright. Not as good as you'd expect. Draft selection is average, I've never had the food, and the environment is what you'd expect. This place bases it's existence off of it's name and for trying to be one of the most ironic destinations of the night.
I've had a few nights where I ended a pub crawl here, where my friends are falling asleep in their beer, and I'm barely capable of functioning. I've also been here in a totally sober coherent state. Both such occasions generate the same reaction from me. Average beer, average price, add a twinge bit of irony, some cambridge attitude, and a generally good crowd and you'll get 3 stars from me.
See you soon, average drinking establishment. I'll be sure to wear one of my ironic communist t-shirts so that I can be your average customer. Shower optional.
I like this place on a Wednesday night.
Used to come here on a weekly basis but that has slowed down a bit. Still enjoy myself when I come by. Mixed drinks are relatively cheap and strong. I've never have had to wait for a drink for a long time at this place, even when it was packed to the rims.
Nills is seriously the most awesome bartender ever.
Get yourself a hot dog from that magical metal machine when you have a chance.
Disclaimer : This review is completely based on it being a drinking establishment. I've never been there for the food.
That said. Pretty great spot to go drink. They've got a really nice selection of ales ranging from UFO to Magic Hat a few others I'm unfamiliar with. They also have several dart boards, and they are actually taken care of. You'll find your usual Cambridge mix of people. It's always been a friendly environment when I've been there.
So why only 3 stars?
1. Cash only. This really irks me.
2. Service. I've waited for up to 10 minutes standing at the bar for service, and this is when it's really not all that crowded.
3. Music. They play music off one of the staffs ipod. Everytime I've been there they have put on an album and let it play through, so if they put on an artist your not fond of, you'll really be tired of it 14 tracks later.
Das Boot! Okay, so that's German, and People's Republik is definitively Russian.
Still, there is still a giant boot hanging from the ceiling. There is also a (presumably fake) bomb, a pretty sweet mural of folks who used to work there, and countless pro-communist paraphernalia cluttering the walls. It's perfect for when you are trying to check out that sexy guy or gal across the bar but don't want to be a sketch-ball.
There are a lot of good beers on tap (all $5 dollars) and the bartenders handle huge crowds around all 3 sides of the bar with serious skill. When I was buying a shot for my roommate last weekend, one of the bartenders gave me one for free saying "I can't just throw this down the drain!" Yes.
I love playing darts here, but it can get annoying when the place is packed and you have to leave room for someone to throw. Come early on a weekend night to get your fill.
This place is cash only, so be prepared before you get too far out of Central.
Good beers on tap. Three dart boards. Nice. But don't get stuck with the one next to the men's room as the smell will waft after the door is opened. Do not order mixed drinks. It can be a little dark and smelly sometimes but it's a great place anyway!
This place is a good time. I'm a fan of almost any bar that has some awesome dart action, and this place fits that bill. The beverages are decently priced, and some of the food options sounded amazing, although I didn't order anything... so I guess there's not really any point to saying that. I'm still leaving it. Try to stop me.
The bartenders all seemed very friendly. The space is small, but it never really feels too cramped, which is interesting. The decor is what really made this place for me, though. Redness is awesome.
I don't know what I was expecting but I give this place a solid meh with a healthy dose of enh thrown in for good measure. The beer selection is fine and the prices are reasonable. The women's bathroom is clean enough though extremely cramped. I guess I was hoping for more commie kitsch and I didn't get it.
Its 1:20, last call will be upon you soon and the girl you have been flirting with for the last hour and a half has, in her drunken stooper, just let it slip she has a boyfriend. Normally this would have no effect on you, or might make the experience that much better, except she says he is a Marine and is coming home in a couple days. Seeing as you don't want to be choked to death with your own ball sack you decide to take a pass on this one. You excuse yourself saying that the huge investment firm that you manage has just paged you and if you don't go in straight away there will be no stock market in the morning. She believes you...its a shame she has a boyfriend, that combination of smarts and beauty don't come around that often. The bar is thinning out and everyone there has seen you spend the last hour and a half hitting on her, so there aren't too many takers to be "second". You have one option left--a desperate Hail Marry--time for the People's Republik.
When it comes to late night last chances, the Republik is King. Cheep booze and a lot of people. The place is small, or maybe the clientele are numerous, but that just helps stimulate conversation. The most important thing is, you are in here for a reason, beggars can't be choosers.
Some of the better, friendlier bartenders in Boston. Bartender gave me a few Budweisers instead of Bud Light a few weekends ago. He just shrugged and said, "Ah, here. Take 'em. Little present for you guys."
Good man. Good beer selection, cool vibe in the place, key location just between Central and Harvard, crowded but never overwhelming. Plenty of televisions. Only problem? It's cash only. There's one of those rape-you-with-surcharges generic ATMs in the back, so do yourself a favor and get some greenbacks out of the BOA machine down the street before you saunter in.
This is by far my favorite bar in Boston which is a pain in the butt because I live in the North End. I've been a steady patron of this bar for the past few years and have witnessed some interesting things including many of my friends getting booted out for whatever reason.
However, these things have not deterred me or my friends from coming back to this bar almost every weekend that we are able. Decent beer selection, interesting mix of students and townies, a divey bar setting. What more can you ask for??
Love love love this place. I'd even go so far as to call it my favorite neighborhood hangout. On a crowded weekend night it's fun in a non-abrasively over the top way, on a more chill weekday night it's nice to grab a couple of cheap-o decent beers with friends.
Every once in awhile it has a funny smell, even when it's not crowded. Minus 1.
They serve hot dogs most of the time. Plus 1.
Dartboards! 2 of them! Plus 2!
USSR THEMED! Plus 10!
total: who cares. win.
After escorting Amanda's mother to rescue her car from the legalized extortion that are towing companies, I hoofed it on the Green to Red lines from Brighton to the People's Republik to see an old high school friend in town for his birthday.
I finally made it over there at about 10:15pm. to find a pretty wide ranging crowd packed in to watch the Sox game. The bouncer greeted me with a smile to check my ID. The space inside could be considered on the small side, with the rectangular bar in the center of the rectangular room taking up most of the floor space. Local and communist themed memorabilia take up the dimly lit wall space. The crowd that night was rather well behaved, with most being glued to the game anyway. Two characters stuck out that night, one being the elderly guy with the pirate style eye-patch, and the other being a rabid Sox fan sitting at the bar who had a small statuette of what must have been Shiva, with the head replaced with a (real) baseball, a chain of baseball medallions around the neck, and a wad of (real) cash in one of its hands. He said it was a good luck charm.
After sitting down at the table that my friend managed to grab, I made my way to the bar as there is no table service. This is slightly daunting, as its rather difficult to squeeze in between bar stools to get to the bar in the first place. I finally got a bar tenders attention about ordered a pint of Guinness.
YES! They pour it correctly here! The trick is to pour it about 50-66% full, let it sit for a minute or two, then top it off. Not like several places I've seen where they pour it in one go and kill it. At $5 a pint, I find the price to be very reasonable, as I've seen Guinness fetch up to $8 at other places. Even though it was busy as it was, the three Guinness' I ordered (2 for me, 1 for the friend), they poured it right every time. My only gripe on this issue is that British pints are 20oz while American pints are only 16oz. Stupid International Weights & Measures differences.
At any rate, I rather enjoyed watching the game here for a couple of reasons. The crowd was enthusiastically into the game, but not annoyingly so (i.e. no one started chanting "Yankees suck," thank goodness) and the volume of the place wasn't too loud either, so you could actually hear others around you speak. The bartenders rang a bell every time the Sox scored and they played "Shipping Up to Boston" on the sound system when Papelbon came out. Like I said, it was just enough enthusiasm without being overbearing. Next season, I might actually consider coming back to catch another game here.
As far as I know: CASH ONLY
I have to update my review, statim. I had an amazing time at People's tonight. I met the best of Cambridge...and I mean that. Some VT people inviting us to some sweet concerts, some KSG students taking a night off from studying, some MIT grad students explaining why the architecture of the room kills the music....a veritable smorgasbord. (So cliche but so accurate for my night.)
There are a lot of places that I don't feel right giving a 5 to...because I'd like to change a lot of things. But, I still go there night after night because it just feels so right. People's is one of those places. I promise to never talk shit about your bad beer list or your sketch crowd again. I swear on my southern roots.
I had way higher hopes for the People's. I first saw People's when I was under 21 and thought it… Read more »
Very chill, good drink prices, but don't bump into anyone as you try to move through the crowd to the door - you may get the death-stare for accidentally bumping someone.
A reason to travel to Central Square.
The People's Republik has a down-homey feel to it that exudes comfort. Even though the college kids might get a tad rowdy at the dartboards or over the football game, the crowd is generally relaxed, easy-going, and fun.
I held my 26th birthday at the Republik and it was totally memorable and definitely easy to sequester an entire chunk of the bar to ourselves.
There's no table service, so you'll have to sidle up to the bar, but the bartenders are surprisingly nimble on their feet and will serve you within moments.
For the drunk munchies, there is nothing, I say NOTHING better than the $2.50 hotdogs, served all night. They're not withered and gross like old man penis -- they're plump and juicy like young man penis. That's a horrible analogy. You catch my drift: they're delectable, cheap, and disappear quickly.
I try to hit this place up whenever I'm meeting small or large groups of friends because it's straight-up awesome and I heart it.
This is one of my favorite places ever to spend a friday or saturday night at. The atmosphere is great (definitely love the theme), the drink prices are reasonable, the beer is awesome, and the people there are pretty chill for the most part. Sometimes it gets super crowded to the point that I'm like, why even bother trying to squeeze a couple of dart boards in here? But it usually calms down around midnight or later.
It does kinda suck that the place is cash only, but maybe that is what allows them to keep their prices low.
I used to live right next door to the Republik, and when I mean next door I mean drunk boys used to stumble out of the Republik and pee in the alley outside my window next door close. Strangely enough although living so close I did not hear much noise from the bar. I however was privy to some very interestign late night drunken conversations in the alley from the Republik patrons.
My friend and I who worked real estate right up the street used to stop by and have a drink every so often and talk with the somewhat snide but decent bartenders.
I think the place is a notch above ok just because when I go there it is low key, no hassle, duuuuude whatever kind of attitude.
Finally. As I continue my quest to discover the treasures of Central Square, Brennon persuades me to give the People's Rebublik a try. I was hesitant, at first, expecting to walk into a tight space littered with sketchy skin-heads running the gauntlet of neo-nazi style.
I was radically wrong, and instead was pleased to find all those people I would've hung out with in college, had we known eachother. Dartboards -- three of them... sweet. The decorum is phenomenal... A giant combat boot over the bar, a huge model missile, oozits and whatzits galore... you want thingamabobs... you get the point. I'm especially a fan of the "shhhh" poster on the door as you exit. Well done.
And hot dogs. Not just a nasty unused hot dog warmer. Fresh hot dogs... flying out nearly as quickly as the beers. They were a hit... and they're TASTY, Fergie... TAST(no E)Y.
So, this would be a 5 star review if it wasn't for this one major conflict in ambience: Flat screens displaying the football game. I understand Bostonians and our constant crack-like-addiction to "tonight's game." But, with the People's Republik's rebellious vibe, conforming to the sport's bar cliche of so many other bars just didn't seem appropriate.
Regardless, I'll be back... most definately.
Worker's of Cambridge, unite! This is the bar for the average thirsty proletariat! I most certainly enjoy sipping on fine Russian vodka whilst reading my favorite book, the Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx, here in this most wonderful of Capitalist pubs. Comrade Lenin would most certainly smile in his mausoleum if he heard of such a fine establishment. When I am not having fun playing Tetris, this is where I come to pass the day.
And now joke from Yakov Smirnoff:
In America, you get Car Bomb. In Soviet Union, car bomb gets you!
Peoples Republik is the best pub in Central Square, let me tell you why.
I lived a few blocks away for a few years, and never got around to it. I've missed out.
I visited on a Sunday night at 4:30pm, and was surprised to find a non-sports oriented atmosphere. Sure, sports were on TV, but the sound was off. The atmosphere was really nice and homey, the bartender was easy to engage and conversant, the prices were good. I didn't get to try the food however.
I'll be visiting this place as a regular.
God this place must be the smelliest bar in all of Massachusetts. I've been three times, each time giving it the benefit of the doubt over the last time. But I am now done with ever going in here. Smelly bar. Real smelly. It's like lots of old dirty socks mixed with bleach. Horrible. Disgusting. Never again.
Cold beer, lots of choices on tap, plenty of room for you and yours, lots of little tables you can pull together, and a bartender who is kind to dumb drunks.
What more could you want from a bar?
The patient staff at People's Republik has suffered through the birthday parties of two sociologists in two weeks. You'd think that as academics, we would be meek little drunks that sit in the corner and talk about Nietzche or something. No. Actually, we're awful. Think of all of the obnoxious drunk behaviors that you can: loud hooting, taking 45958 hours just to order a damn beer, crying, fighting, forgetting to tip - our group has been guilty of them all. And yet the bartender was somehow able to stay friendly and quench our thirsts while simultaneously keeping our bawdy, loud, howling, geeky group corralled in the corner where we belonged. That's some skill. I'm sure the other patrons appreciated it, too.
This bar has a great vibe. Great for big groups or just for sitting at the bar and soaking it all in. The food is kind of mediocre - bar food that probably came from Sysco, but fine for when you're drunk and hungry. Highly recommended for birthday parties. They let you bring cakes in, no prob.
In fact, mine is probably going to be there next week. Get ready, kind bartender: your gentle patience is about to be tried for the the third time this month. Sociologists strike again!
I bumped into Michael L. here one night when I first started writing reviews on Yelp and hadn't really met anyone yet.
Me - I think I know that guy..
Friend - Really? From where?
Me - .. er... the internet..
Friend - Whaaaaaa? ::gives me that watchubeendoinwhileyouvebeenunemployed look::
Me - :: goes into schpeal about Yelp.. real people, real reviews.. blah bloo blah::
Friend - So go up to him.
Me - ::looks over and sees Michael may be a leetle busy with.. er.. people:: I'll go up to him on the way out.
A couple minutes later..
Me - ::tap tap:: Uh hi! Are you on Yelp? ::fakes being drunker::
Michael - Yeah.. Michael L.
Me - Yeah I'm Trish the Dish.
Michael - Ahh yeah. ::goes in for a hug::
Me - Oh a hug. Cool cool. Okay.
Michael - So how's it going?
Me - Just on the way out.. wanted to say hi.. I'm a little drunk and silly ::strange loud laugh::.. kbye.
I like this bar for the most part. I think a lot of people see it as a novelty and come by in the hopes of witnessing some shady bidnesz. My friend's friends thought that PR was a real communist bar and that there would be repercussions for going in. Nope.. just the occasional confused/lost frat boys, dedicated beer enthusiasts, nerds/geeks, and people looking not to be bothered (yeah, not gonna happen). They used to have some funny sayings/specials on their board (Johnny Cochran special: Free OJ) but haven't seen anything good in awhile. Need to try the food so 3 stars for now.
One of my favorite bars in Boston. Thank you, People's Republik, for adding to the ambiance of Central/Harvard Square (not needed, but appreciated none the less). Neighborhood bar with dart boards, great beer, good prices and laid back people.
It's just a great place to hang out. Go there. Now.
Thank you for having not one, not two, but THREE dart boards!
My friends and I have recently become obsessed with darts and are so glad to have a place nearby with a friendly staff, good atmosphere, and plexiglass shields to protect everyone else's feet from shots that have gone astray. (it's a dangerous game!)
We're getting better at aiming, I promise.
Not an extensive beer selection, but they always have a handful of microbrews on tap (Dogfish, Victory, Bear Republic, etc) as well as the usual bar standards. The prices are reasonable, food is okay (I've only gotten the fries and mozzarella sticks, but both were completely edible), and the bartenders have always been very attentive and friendly. My friend and I meet here about once a week to grab Happy Hour beers and it's usually not crowded, which is a huge plus in my book.
There is a dart board (possibly two?) and the bar is cash only, which should be noted. There's an ATM by the bathrooms if you don't feel like trekking back down to Central to get cash.
All in all, I am a fan, though it seems like the type of place that would be very loud and hard to get a drink at if it was crowded so I'll stick to my off-peak hours visits.
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