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    Club Passim

    4.3 (131 reviews)
    Open 9:00 am - 10:00 pm

    Services - Club Passim

    Community Service/Non-Profit

    Club Passim Photos

    CLUB PASSIM ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Live music
    Casual
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Club Passim

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    Reviews With Photos

    Fabiola Mendez
    Sarah A.

    Great experience here seeing Puerto Rican cuatro player Fabiola Mendez. The space opens at 7 for 8pm shows and you can order drinks and food from a limited, but tasty menu. We opted for their Passim burger with thyme fries on a brioche bun which exceeded my expectations for a place that's primarily a music venue. I thought the food would be more of an afterthought but it was equivalent to a casual bistro or gastropub. We sat right in the front row which was amazing for the experience and pics but I would recommend maybe bringing some ear protection if you sit this close. Our show was supposedly sold out but we lucked out that the folks seated next to us didn't show- otherwise I could see that one would be really packed in here as the seating is extremely close together. The performance was amazing! We absolutely loved the show and the intimate vibes. I also really appreciated that Fabiola took some time to explain her instrument, some Puerto Rican history and her experience growing up playing a folk instrument. She graduated from Berklee in 2018 and also brought in a Cuban tres player named Olivia Soler Espinosa in the latter part of her performance who is currently studying at Berklee. Another cool aspect of this place was the mixed ages. There was a good representation of older folks who looked like they have been coming to Passim since the 60s as well as younger folks in their 20s and 30s as well as folks in between. Anyone should feel welcome here.

    Water bottles and metal cups on every table
    Jody W.

    Absolutely wonderful venue. I've known about Club Passim for most of my adult life and finally made it to see a Richard Shindell show this past weekend. The show was sold out, so prepare to be cozy with neighboring tables/people. The food and drink list was surprisingly varied and of excellent quality. Our show was at 5pm, so we opted for snacks instead of something larger: guacamole/chips and the hummus plate. I had a glass of Spanish red wine and tasted the cider...yum. The sandwiches, salads and other food looked outstanding. Bathrooms are labeled "anyone" and "everyone". And...get this....I used the facilities right after a nice gentleman....and....he put the seat down!!! So, the crowd was nice; service was great and the show was fabulous.

    Fabiola Mendez singing and playing the Puerto Rican cuatro instrument and Olivia Soler Espinosa playing the Cuban tres.
    Andres R.

    This musical venue is a beloved and intimate institution in the folk music genre, with a long history luminaries performing there, such as Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Muddy Waters, and Tom Rush, to name a few. Last evening my better half and I attended a concert celebrating Women's History Month, starring Fabiola Mendez, singer and Puerto Rican Cuatro player, with special guest Olivia Soler Espinosa, a scholarship Berklee student specializing in the Cuban Tres, and opening act by Gabriella Simpkins, singer composer from Cape Cod. It was simply a magical experience. Club Passim has a Folk Collective, which is a quarterly gathering of twelve select artists, musicians, and cultural thought leaders. More information contact shea@passim.org. There's also an associated school of music, with courses listed at passim.org/school-of-music. The club opens an hour before the show, and there's a nice selection of dinner and drink options. There's paid street parking in Harvard Square, but I suggest you allow sufficient time for parking hunting.

    Mac & Cheese - taken in the dark, so unfortunately unfocused (8/09)
    Vivian C.

    I took a look at the seating chart before heading over to my first concert at Club Passim - it is a lot tighter in person! The square tables were lined with metal folding chairs placed in close proximity to one another. If all the seats were filled, it would be very crowded. But fortunately for us (if not for the entertainers) the seats behind us were empty. To sit at these tables, each person is supposed to order at least $5 worth of food. The stage is also a lot smaller than I had presumed. But it made for a much cozier experience. And I had a great time cause both the opening act (Seth Glier) and the main show (Kevin So) were fun and funny. Our dishes arrived just after the lights went off as the show was about to start, so we couldn't really see what we ate and the pictures turned out fuzzy. There were large florets of broccoli in the mac & cheese which was of a decent portion. The large half and half pizza ($11.75) of Safe'n Sound with spinach and Dinner for Henry arrived sliced in four quarters and was pretty good, but slightly too crispily burned in spots. I preferred Henry's side, especially the part covered with the fresh mozzarella. The waitress was friendly and checked up on us often enough, while still allowing us to enjoy the concert. She also offered to split our check or consolidate based on our preference when we placed our orders. Bathrooms, there are two, and they are for either gender! That I like! The men can wait along with us women. ;) They validate for parking at University Parking ($6), but make sure you get your white ticket back along with the yellow validation ticket. Sometimes they have volunteers helping out who may or may not know how this validation thing is handled.

    Neil K.

    This is a great venue to see live folk/acoustic music. I was fortunate to be here for one of their campfire weekends - basically a non-stop festival of folk and acoustic performers sharing the stage. Its a pretty neat setup as groups of 3 or 4 musicians take turns playing their songs. Often, they'll even play backup for each other. If you can't make it to one of the live shows, you can also catch a live streaming feed from their website. Club Passim is a non-profit music venue that has been serving the community for over 4 decades. They don't serve alcohol here, but they do share space with Veggie Planet, so you can order some great vegetarian food and non-alcoholic drinks.

    Kelly P.

    Live music and brunch- loved it! Locally owned still means something. Photos show history.

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    8 months ago

    Top 10 music venues of all time. Most say it's my happy place for watching excellent music and eating French fries.

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    3 years ago

    Raw oysters are the best. Bone marrow is a great. Thank you, Dr. Jacqueline Sacco MD PhD

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    4 years ago

    It was an unforgettable experience at Passim which immediately left me longing for another.

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    13 years ago

    THE small club for live music in Harvard Square. They get the best acts, consistently.

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    Page 1 of 4

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    Review Highlights - Club Passim

    If you love folk music, this review isn't for you, since you already know all I am about to say.

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    Five Horses Tavern - Shakshuka

    Five Horses Tavern

    (918 reviews)

    $$

    Davis Square

    We were part of a large group (12 diners) for a pre-wedding dinner/party…read more Except for the couple getting married, I believe the rest of our party were the only out-of-towners dining that evening. This is a pub-type atmosphere with a full-service, large bar serving cocktail specials and a gazillion draft beer options. There is a street-side patio if you wish to watch the people and cars at Davis Square. Five Horses serves American comfort food, and they do a pretty good job serving up their offerings. I ordered the steak tips, and they were OK. They were served Med/rare, as ordered, but they did need a bit more seasoning. Plus one ordered a steak salad, and it was OK. They were pretty frugal with the protein, and it came with an abundance of tomatoes. Another guest split a cobb salad it arrived without some ingredients, like bacon. Other diners stated that their dinners were excellent, so 4 stars seems about right. Even though they were very busy, our table was well taken care of throughout the evening. If I lived here, this would be in my rotation for a brew or two, catch a game, and enjoy a burger.

    I try not to post negative reviews but I do not recommend the flank steak. I saw it (flank steak,…read morechimmichurri sauce, mashed potatoes, and broccoli) at $29 and said I haven't ordered a steak in while, let's treat myself. Boy was I disappointed, it was literally four tiny slices of beef, about a ladle and a half of mashed potatoes (flavor was great but the texture was dry and it was hard to swallow), and the broccoli was broccoli. The steak was cooked to my liking (rare) but it was room temp and I would describe that serving size as maybe the equivalent of a medallion. Everything else our table ordered (pizza, shepherd's pie, and a burger) looked great but the flank steak is not it y'all. However the service was top notch and will definitely go back, just won't order the flank steak next time!

    Rosebud Bar & Kitchen - Tikka tater tots

    Rosebud Bar & Kitchen

    (798 reviews)

    $$

    Davis Square

    I was impressed with this place once I overcame my surprise this is not a stand alone diner car…read more I ordered the bacon cheeseburger since it is a signature dish. It was tasty, greasy (in a good way), and the spiced fries were a nice change up. My wife and I ordered a bottle of wine which was priced quite reasonably. This place has a stealthy good selection of craft beers on tap. Look forward to returning here again.

    Walked in on day after thanksgiving for brunch, and this place was relatively quiet. We got an…read moreamazing booth seating, but really wanted their fancy bus seating which gives a classic diner feel to the restaurant. TL;DR - if you are from Bombay, are craving that specific Bombay Chinese food taste, and Vada Pav - look no further - this is the place. Most of their staff are fellow Mumbaikars - shout out to Shiv, Dhvani, and Ronak! Shiv, our server was friendly and our hungry table got straight to ordering which included a flavor packed and well priced Lychee Martini ($10), Masala Chai Hot Toddy ($12), and Spicy 'Lil Rita ($12) - being the best one! Food included some well name dishes like Kashmiri Deviled Eggs ($12), Vada Pav ($12), Rasam Risotto ($15), Butter Chicken Pot Pie ($20), Chicken Steak with Makhani Sauce ($18), Street Fried Noodles ($16), and Penne Pasta with Chicken for the kiddos. Food just hits the right spots and is very flavorful, extremely well seasoned, and perfectly spiced. Interiors and their bar is very inviting. Noise levels during our stay were on the lower end. Service was excellent. What was refreshing was they didn't charge us any automatic gratuity even for our large group - but absolutely deserved a generous one! Highly highly recommend if flavorful food is your thing!

    The Burren - Shepherds Pie, Guinness Beef Stew,  Bangers and Mash

    The Burren

    (606 reviews)

    $$

    Davis Square

    Came here for the St. Patrick's Day festivities. Bought a ticket for the 5 pm show and was…read moreinitially displeased with the reduced menu options (no "regular" shepherds pie). That said, I found happiness with the corned beef and cabbage; specifically the corned beef and the carrots. They were top notch. Excellent venue for intimate music and an awesome craft beer selection.

    The Burren is a neighborhood institution, as well as supposedly the most romantic spot in…read moreSomerville for all the first dates and meet-cutes it's hosted. Seriously. Boston.com dubbed it the "Love Pub" (the article is a hoot and, for once, not hidden behind a paywall). When we went in early February, the Burren was indeed decked out in its best Valentine's Day finery, with on-theme drink specials. The wooden benches were not super comfortable. The food is your standard bar/pub options with an Irish twist (beef Guinness stew, shepherd pie), and come in various shades of fried battered gold. We went with the basket of fries, which I loved - perfect wedge shape, nice crispiness - though the Brussel sprouts were so doused in sauce that I couldn't discern any other flavor. There's a front bar area and a back with live music. Overall, it's a dive bar fit for any number of occasions but, if you're coming by car on Fri-Sat, highly recommend coming early so you can find a spot in this neighborhood. There are some parking lots on Grove as well as metered options further down Elm.

    Club Passim - musicvenues - Updated May 2026

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