10 oldest bars in Boston

What is it?  The Warren Tavern has been in Charlestown since 1780, making it the oldest tavern in Massachusetts. Named for one of the most famous casualties of the Battle of Bunker Hill in 1775 (Dr. Joseph Warren), it’s remembered for serving the likes of Paul Revere, Benjamin Franklin and George Washington, among other Revolutionary notables. When it shuttered in 1813, the building served a variety of uses until it was transformed back into a bar in the ‘70s.

Why go? Back in the day, this watering hole hosted prominent Americans, making this the ideal bar to check out for a cold beer and cuppa chowder. A quick and dirty history lesson, we would never pass up the opportunity to have a drink in the same spot where the country’s first president once did.

We love: Besides grabbing a drink, check out its celebrated Shepherd’s Pie made with short ribs or the Sons of Liberty Burger topped with mushrooms, gruyere and herb mayo.

Address: 2 Pleasant St, Charlestown, MA 02129

Opening hours: Daily 11am-1am; kitchen until 11pm

What is it?  JJ Foley’s is a true Boston icon, opening its doors in 1909 and establishing itself as a South End institution well before the neighborhood became the bustling slice of gentrification that it is today.

Why go? A haven for Boston Herald reporters when the paper was printed right where the Whole Foods now sits, this family-run pub has kept it classic, pouring pints of Guinness and other draft beers from behind its dark wooden bar, and serving straight comfort food with a smile.

We love: There’s a Downtown Crossing outpost as well, that’s a decent stop after a long workday, but it’s not the same, as any Bostonion will let you know.

Address: 117 East Berkeley St., Boston, MA 02118

Opening hours: Daily 11am-2am

What is it?  The Bell in Hand is charmingly named after its original owner’s trade, a retired Boston town crier named James Wilson, who opened the pub way back in 1795. The charming old bar is, however, not the first location, serving as this tavern's home since only 1844.

Why go? It's believed that, despite its move from Elm Street to where it now stands on Union Street, the Bell in Hand still uses the original, physical bar dating back to 1795. Whether or not its claim to being the oldest tavern is true, it’s a solid spot to stop near Faneuil Hall for a cold beer on a hot day, and the fish and chips are a crispy crowd pleaser.

We love:  It’s rumored that the first owner used to serve ale in two mugs, one for the ale and the second for the froth – which is why we love a good pint with some warm Bavarian pretzels and a heaping bowl of the Tavern Chili. The younger college crowd typically takes over this older spot, so the crowd can be rowdy.

Address: 45 Union St, Boston, MA 02108

Opening hours: Daily 11am-2am; kitchen until midnight

What is it?  The bar at the Fairmont Copley Plaza has undergone many transformations over the years. Originally called the Copley Café, which opened in 1912 alongside the hotel, the Copley Café became the Merry-Go-Round Bar in 1934, complete with a carousel; in 1978, it was simply The Plaza Bar and Dining Room; then, in 1996, it became The Oak Room. A 2011 renovation brought it to its bright, shimmering state that befits the hotel’s jazz age birth.

Why go? A “see and be seen” spot that’s a favorite with those in the Back Bay, it remains one of the best places in the Hub to grab a cocktail, and their menu is updated seasonally.

We love: We love the cocktails and hearty New England dishes, but let’s give a round of applause for the decadent décor as well. For early risers, it’s nice to see a nod to the city’s heritage with Boston Baked Beans and Eggs breakfast dish.

Address: 138 St James Ave, Boston, MA 02116

Opening hours: Daily 7am-midnight; kitchen 11pm

What is it?  The Last Hurrah is located inside the Omni Parker House hotel, which itself dates to 1855, and claims the much-traveled British author Charles Dickens as a reveler and a guest. It was here that Dickens first read his magnificent novel, A Christmas Carol, in America.

Why go? At the time the then-Parker House Hotel had become a gathering place for transcendentalists and writers such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Oliver Wendell Holmes and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Rich with history, today the Hurrah is a gathering place for hotel guests, after work drinkers and the occasional local politician.

We love: Recently voted a Great Whiskey Bar of The World by Whiskey Magazine, we would be remiss to not order a single malt. Save room after your meal for a slice of the Boston Cream Pie, a Parker House original.

Address: 60 School St., Boston, MA 02108

Opening hours: Daily 4pm-midnight; kitchen until 10pm

What is it?  Deep in the narrow cobblestone streets near Faneuil Hall, Union Oyster House feels like a step back in time (maybe due to the costumed tour guides on every corner). The Oyster House is located in a building that dates to the early 1700s and is listed as a National Historic Landmark, and the bar itself dates to 1826 when it opened as the Atwood & Bacon Oyster House. It handily holds the title of oldest restaurant in Boston, and among the oldest in the United States.

Why go? Though now more a restaurant than a bar, you can still stop in for a drink and a half dozen, following in  the footsteps of one of the Union Oyster House’s regular customers, Statesman Daniel Webster, who was said to eat 36 oysters a day, washed down with brandy and water.

We love: Grab a coveted pot at the Kennedy Booth - the second-floor booth where JFK was a regular patron before his presidency – and dine on some great clam chowder and a traditional Broiled Fresh Boston Scrod. Sinking your teeth into more than you bargained for? You aren’t the first. The toothpick was first used in the U.S. at Union Oyster House.

Address: 41 Union St, Boston, MA 02108

Opening hours: Sun.-Thurs. 11am-9pm; Fri. and Sat. 11am-10pm

What is it?  Amrheins claims lineage back to 1890, making it a cornerstone of South Boston for over a century, and while it’s been on the verge of closing a few times over the past few years, this bar keeps hanging on. Its owners boast that their taproom has the oldest hand carved bar in America, and it's where the first draft beer pump in Boston was installed.

Why go? A look at the gorgeously carved old bar is worth a visit, whether it’s the first or not. This is the kind of spot you can take your parents for a classic pub lunch or grab a few drinks during a night out on West Broadway in Southie.

We love: They serve a diner breakfast as a tip of the cap to the departed Mul’s Diner, which sat across the street until a few years ago.

Address: 80 W Broadway, South Boston, MA 02127

Opening hours: Daily 5am-2pm (Sun. opens at 6am)

What is it?  Paddy’s Lunch is the oldest family owned pub in Cambridge, dating back to 1934, when Irish immigrants Patrick and Margaret Fennell opened the doors. In the 1960s, the Fennell's daughter took over the operation with her husband, and in 1998 their daughter took over and still runs the bar to this day.

Why go? A classic dive bar in the best sense of the term, the cozy spot welcomes all with well-priced drinks and opens at 10am every morning.

We love: While this dive doesn’t actually serve lunch (despite its name), they’ve got cheap beers and it’s a great place to watch the game or throw some darts.

Address: 260 Walden St, Cambridge, MA 02138

Opening hours: Sun.-Wed. 10am-1am; Thurs.-Sat. 10am-2am

What is it?  Before this bar opened in 1969, the building was a Ford dealership. At more than 55 years old and counting, the Cask ’n Flagon has weathered all of the drastic changes surrounding it on Lansdowne Street. While new clubs and pubs seem to open every other week, the Cask remains a popular pre-game favorite.

Why go? it’s a solid, year-round neighborhood drinking and dining spot, it turns into a complete madhouse on game days during baseball season.

We love: This place was once named “Top Baseball Bar” in America by ESPN, and it’s the perfect place to head before a Sox game. There’s house smoked BBQ and plenty of tasty burgers to fuel you before you head to Fenway.

Address: 62 Brookline Ave, Boston, MA 02215

Opening hours: Sun.-Thurs.11:30am-12:am; Fri.- Sat. 11am-2am

What is it?  Beyond Boston’s Colonial past, there are some more recent – but still historic – watering holes worth checking out. The Tam first opened its doors sometime during the 1940s, thriving as a beloved townie bar ever since.

Why go? Smack in the middle of the pricey theater district, the Tam continues to sling inexpensive, no-nonsense beverages in an area where such a thing is a real rarity.

We love: Even though this a bares bones dive place, your Irish eyes will be smiling with the cheap drinks and friendly people Also of note – it’s cash only.

Address: 222 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116

Opening hours: Mon.-Fri. 10am-2am; Sat. and Sun. 11am-2am