With its 2am closing time, Boston has a limited late-night scene and many venues mix drinking with dining. Most of the big nightclubs are on Landsdowne Street next to Fenway Park. Avalon (15 Landsdowne Street, MA 02215, +16172622424) offers the traditional heaving disco experience, while at Axis (13 Landsdowne Street, MA 02215, +16172622437) the beat is more experimental.

There is also a smattering of slick clubs in the heart of town such as Aria (246 Tremont Street, +16173387080) and Saint (90 Exeter Street, MA 02116, +16172361134). Cambridge is a centre for down-to-earth live music venues such as stalwart restaurant/bar The Middle East (472 & 480 Massachusetts Avenue, MA 02139, +16174929181, www.mideastclub.com) and Phoenix Landing (512 Massachusetts Avenue, MA 02139, +16175766260), an unusual marriage of Irish pub and dance club.

If jazz is your thing, tiny South End joint Wally’s (427 Massachusetts Avenue, MA 02118, +16174241408) has been jumping since 1947.

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