This place rules. One of the best college bars I've ever been to. Upscale but lowkey in the best ways. Was able to enjoy a perfect drink and smoke a cig on the patio. Felt like a time traveller. Great bartenders and servers, super friendly and the sign outside is the best. Wishing I went to Harvard though if I had found Shay's as an undergrad I would've dropped out. read more

Small hipster spot. Good spot to stop for drinks. Sean is cool bartender and makes good drinks. read more

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Great local pub. The history inside is awesome!! The service was amazing. As soon as we sat down, the server came over with water and menus. It was hot and humid that day. Water was appreciated. I had the Downeast cider blackberry. Freaking amazing!! We also had the homemade fries. I highly recommend these!!! Great place! Highly recommend! read more

Shay's is a must stop on every trip to Cambridge. It was a chilly March day, but it was sunny and had a great vibe on the front patio. Between the 2 of us, we tried 3 wines: Barbera, Tempranillo and Cotes du Rhone - the last was our favorite by far. We'll be back next time! read more

Shays Pub & Wine Bar - Our favorite wine today on the sunny patio was the Côtes du Rhône! - American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

The first time I went, I didn't end up ordering anything because it was just too crowded. Most people seemed to be there for the drinks, standing around and mingling. So, I decided to come back on a weekday when it was quieter. On my second visit, I went on a weekday night and was able to grab a seat at the bar. I ordered their Chicago-Style Hot Dog and a draft beer. Wow, the hot dog was so good that I even asked about the recipe so I could try making it at home! It came topped with diced tomatoes, purple onion, relish, and Dijon mustard. Simple but so delicious. I'd love to come back and try more of their food fare! read more

Shays Pub & Wine Bar - Chicago Style Hot Dog with Chips and Salsa - American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Running weather is back, and nothing beats a post run Miller Lite at Shay's Pub. Perfect chill spot to end the day with great service !!!!

Very good vibes at this place. Went late on a Sunday, and caught a good football game, a great employee, and some cool semi-regular customers. Thanks Shay's, I'm glad you're in the neighborhood- I'll be back. :) read more

Came here with my girlfriend for a quick mid-week dinner and left feeling satisfied and impressed! The eatery is small, and has a dark-cottage like feel. We sat ourselves and were served promptly. I ordered the chicken quesadilla, which was very juicy and jam-packed with minced pieces of fajita vegetables. It was delicious and cheesy. Every ingredient was very fresh and of good quality. It came with a side of cheesy refried beans, which were incredible! They were so good I'd honestly order them on their own. Wow! My girlfriend reported that her Bahn Mi sandwich was good, but a little on the hotter side. If you're a spice lover like me, though, that is a perk! Overall, we had a great dinner at Shay's and will definitely be back! read more

Shays Pub & Wine Bar - Quesadilla, Bahn Mi sandwich - American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

We ordered the Chicago style hot dogs, fries, and a round of hot toddies. Everything was delicious and portions were large. Server was attentive. We sat at the outdoor patio and it was nice enjoying the cool weather in Harvard square. read more

Shays Pub & Wine Bar - Outdoor seating - American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Reposted from google reviews: The worst service I have ever had in my life. We were sat for over 45 minutes at a relatively slow business time. We got drinks when we sat, and then were ignored the rest of the time despite numerous attempts to speak to the bartender while making eye contact. We were hoping to order food but gave up after 30 minutes of not being acknowledged. Someone sat down after us and placed an order and received their food before the bartender even spoke to us. We asked for the check 3 times, it took around 10 minutes to get it after we finally got acknowledged. The bartender walked to the corner near where we were sitting to go on his phone several times throughout the course of our time there, and went on his phone for several minutes after we asked for the check. I noticed that everyone else got service easily and quickly, receiving food and drink refills in a short amount of time. We were the only POC in the establishment... can't help but wonder if this was intentional. I really don't understand how this place is rated so highly. read more

Bartender ignored us the entire time while serving everyone else at the bar. Made eye contact with him several times I know for a fact this bartender was intentionally ignoring me and my gf for whatever reason. As a matter of fact we were actually polite and respectful. Couldn't help but notice we were the only non whites in the bar while everyone else was being served. read more

This was a great find in Harvard Square! Our server Sean was super friendly and excellent! The Aperol Spritz was excellent. Made to perfection! And then I had the Claudhauler non alcoholic beer which was a flavorful dark beer We sat outside and enjoyed the summer breeze. The nachos were very good. And the burger was awesome. I forgot to take pics of the food. All the staff were great and the whole place has a great vibe! Will come back again! read more

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Honestly always love a stop at this place whether for a solo lunch on the patio or a group hang after work with friends. Great low key bar with Indoor outdoor seating, good beer list, one of the best burgers I have had in some time! read more

What this place still exists!?! It was a staple of my crowd for decades. The place you went to have good wine, a baked Brie or a veggie alternative and have a quite chat. We it is still that! The burgers are still really good, and the salads have gotten much fresher. Our server was professional and efficient; just what I want for a lunch rush. Water and sodas got filled. Ambience, well the inside is old wood basic; very sturdy. We sat out in the road tables felt great. I always like the deck o. A sunny day but my friends wanted these tables. All good! (Stupid friends, Hahahha) I like this place, no Aires but solid beer, wine, booze, and good food with a little class and understanding. Why fix something if it ain't broke. read more

Shays Pub & Wine Bar - Black bean burger plain and simple. Yummy! - American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Shay's is a beautiful Harvard Square gem that is seemingly full of a regular local crowd. I loved the instant feeling of being welcomed, and a sense of comfort radiated through the entire building. My girlfriend and I seated ourselves and were instantly welcomed and served with drinks, and we loved getting our waiter's insight on the menu as we ordered a chicken quesadilla and a banh mi sandwich. The chicken quesadilla came with cheesy rice, beans, and pico de gallo. It was extremely satiating and gave us a great variety! The banh mi was spicy, but super filling, tasty, and colorful. It came with chips and salsa, which was an interesting side choice, but was worth it -- definitely go with chips and salsa at Shay's! I liked the banh mi, but I'd go with something the smallest bit less spicy next time around. We loved the variety, filling options, and the fast service, and will definitely be back. You can't go wrong by picking Shay's! read more

Shays Pub & Wine Bar - Chicken quesadilla and banh mi - American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Step down into this cozy pub for a warm and down-to-earth time. It's a 30-40s crowd of friendly people. They've got a pretty good selection at the bar from wine to beer to cocktails. Our server was running the whole place. He was one of those guys who seem to truly love their job - looks people in the eyes and thanks them for their patronage. Highly suggest this spot for a causal hang! read more

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Great small bar, sat inside during winter. Enjoyed a well poured black &tan and the hot dog(pictured) hot dog wel worth 10$ very loaded, and on a baguette. Bartender and waiter were very helpful nice and checked in with us often. People smoking outside, bathrooms ok, only one sports TV. :) read more

Shays Pub & Wine Bar - Hot Dog and side fries - American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

It usually looks busy and crowded so my friend and I decided to grab lunch here on a Saturday afternoon when it didn't look busy at all. There were only 3 other parties seated outside when we arrived, no parties inside, so we got a seat right away. QR code is at table to scan and review menu. The menu is small and simple, which makes it easier to choose since you're not bombarded over analyzing what to get. The location is also small overall -- inside and outside seating and bathrooms. You definitely get a dive bar/pub feel. We both got the Basic Burger $14 and I also got the Greek Salad $10. Overall the food is OK. The burger and fries/wedges could've used more seasoning. I loaded up on ketchup. You don't get a choice on how the beef is cooked; it came out well done. The Greek Salad has too much dressing. read more

Shays Pub & Wine Bar - Basic burgers and Greek salad - American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Loved this place and the vibe! We had a steak and cheese sandwich and Parmesan fries and they were both amazing! Good selection of beer and food, and server was great! read more

Shays Pub & Wine Bar - Steak and cheese and Parmesan fries - American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

We grabbed some outdoor seating for drinks and snacks. We ordered chips and salsa with a side of guac (which was $2 extra) and the parmesan fries. The parmesan fries were amazing, highly recommend. They come with melted cheese on top and an herby garlicky dip. The salsa, unfortunately, was a disappointment. The guac was literally just one of those cups you get from Costco, and the chips and salsa also probably came out of a bag. There weren't enough chips for the amount of salsa either. The service was a bit inconsistent but the prices are fairly reasonable. read more

Bouncer was incredibly rude to our friend who was clearly over 21. Didn't even give her a chance and immediately denied her. Just disrespected all around. The waiter was also extremely rude. Saying that we could sit there and then cussing us out when we didn't order drinks immediately. All around bad experience, also the food is bad when I visited during the day. read more

On a busy night, they check your IDs outside the bar before entering. (And if you have an out of state license, they could demand a second form of ID for verification.) The tables outside get full pretty quickly, but people do smoke out on the tiny patio. If you are inside, space is limited and the tables all kind of cram together. I did feel like I was forced to eavesdrop on the people seated next to me. Not sure if I am in a hurry to come back to this pub. They do have a limited selection for beer and wine. I opted for a Prosecco ($11 per glass) here, and it tastes like prosecco. Even though it has a "wine bar" in its name, it is more like a pub and feels very divey. The tables are sticky, and it is very, very loud in here (nearly impossible to hold a conversation). read more

Shays Pub & Wine Bar - Outside - American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Nice little pub and wine bar near Harvard University. I was at Harvard all day walking around in the heat and was looking in the neighbourhood for a nice chill place to have a drink and snack. I found this place, not too far where I sat outside which was great for people watching! I ordered a sangria, that was nice, chilled and flavourful. I also ordered a hummus platter to snack on. Large beer selection and wine/hard liquor. Also plenty of snacks/food plates to choose from! Place is quaint and service was good and hostess was nice. Very reasonably priced. read more

Shays Pub & Wine Bar - Hummus plate - American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Shays used to be one of my "neighborhood" pubs in 2016 when I used to meet friends and dates here.. mostly dates but sometimes friends. After a four year hiatus on visiting some of these Harvard square bars, I decided to give it a try again-- during the time of COVID nonetheless. Seeing Shays open is actually quite comforting to me that businesses might open and go back to a "normal". Anyway, enough of my rambling. Shays has the vibe of a friendly neighborhood bar with the standard drinks and beer list. It has a comforting vibe to it inside with a cozy bar table. During these times though, it is better to be seated outdoors. The vibe and feeling outdoors was also comforting. I went here with a friend and saw many people sitting in their respective tables having nice conversations. We started with a gin and tonic, and I ordered the burger and fries. The drinks came quickly as did the food. The burger was decent-- not the best I've had, but not the worst. The gin and tonic was also fine, nothing out of the world but not a bad one. The service was quick, efficient and friendly. My rating for Shays is based on the fact that it is a comfortable neighborhood affordable bar for a quick catch-up, maybe dates with a drink-- not on the food or the quality of drinks. If you want a fine dining experience then you wouldn't go here-- that is not the purpose of Shays. This is a great place to meet people on a first date you are "iffy" about. Also a great place to catch up with a friend and vent about your workplace troubles or anything else, really. The four stars are just for that "comfy", non-showy, neighborhood bar experience. read more

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I randomly stumbled into this place last night and it was such a treat. I wouldn't have guessed that I would be having world class nachos & great wine. Highly recommend sneaking into here. Joe the bartender was awesome too - the only one on staff but he was a champ! read more

Shays Pub & Wine Bar - Nachos - American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Colleen and Sean were great bartenders! Super cool atmosphere, great beer, awesome vibes. We'll be back!

Solid pub with friendly staff. Attracts older students from nearby which contributes to the chill vibes Shay's already has. A lovely oasis to catch a drink, meet a friend, read a book, or sit outside and enjoy some wine. A Harvard square staple! read more

Very nice to me, sat outside for a few hours in the cold and then went in, very nice interior with dark wood and kind service from the bartenders. read more

One of the best bars in Cambridge. Always have a great time here with very friendly bartenders

Arrived with a group of friends and the entirety of the bartenders refused to serve my entire group of friends (we are all of age and wanting to enjoy a drink with friends) Not only a huge loss on their end but also quite a large amount of tips lost. Not only did my friends and I face extreme sass but also rudeness, ridicule, and judgement from ALL staff. Overall, A HORRIBLE place with EVEN WORSE STAFF. read more

Shays Pub & Wine Bar - a glass of water on the bar - American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

If you're looking to just go and get drinks I'm sure this place is great. It's awesome that Cambridge has allowed restaurants to extend into the road for outdoor seating. We arrived at Shays last night and we were clearly looking to sit down. I'm not sure if the waitress just didn't see us the 5 times she walked by but finally my boyfriend interrupted her cleaning and asked if we could get a table. We scanned the menu on our phone. They have a decent beer list but nothing crazy honestly. $7.50 for a flat Downeast cider felt a little like highway robbery but that's okay. We ordered nachos to start off and added chicken (for $1, should have known). The chicken was creepy. That's the only way to describe it. It was dark in color and almost crunchy. Otherwise, the nachos were very good. For dinner we each got a burger. They were not good. I got it cooked medium and I usually get rare (because I was worried after the chicken experience) and I'm glad I did. The burger was not seasoned and extremely tasteless. It tasted like when you were in college but really wanted a burger so you had to cook it on the stove and forgot to put anything in the ground beef. Unfortunately I was not impressed with this Harvard Square location. read more

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Stopped by here to rest our legs after walking around the area. Small interior with some tables up front and bar seating (tables outside for the few days it's actually warm). First impressions are that it was a regular dive bar with the wine tacked on afterwards to appeal to a broader crowd. Beer list is your basic fare - opted for a pint of the Harpoon IPA ($7). Free wifi inside as well if you want to ignore your company. Bartender is friendly, and even gave a wine recommendation. Fine enough for a drink and a quick bite. read more

Shays Pub & Wine Bar - Beer list - American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Ate in the outdoor dining area they set up in the parking lane on JFK. Nice set up with umbrellas. Staff was a little short so most service was slow, but reliable (they brought everything we asked for correctly). Got the burger with fries and both were delicious! The fries are hand cut lengthwise into flat "spears" and perfectly fried. First time in my life I've seen them prepared that way and they were excellent! read more

Shays Pub & Wine Bar - Outside seating in the parking lane too - American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

God, do I miss Shay's during COVID. Well, I mean I miss sitting at the bar, ordering a drink and having some food. BUT, they are doing take out during COVID, so I was happy I could order up some nachos and a piece of key lime pie to take home. I can't wait until it's safe for them to be open again for people to come in and eat/drink vs getting it to go. It's a great neighborhood spot. The staff is friendly, the prices are great and you can get a good drink and pub fare after a long day. They make you feel right at home and like everything is gonna be all right. read more

Very cool atmosphere. Had a wonderful experience on a Sunday evening. Service was fantastic, loved are bar tender. Sweetest dude. read more

Shays Pub & Wine Bar - On the patio - American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I'm Cambridge to kill some time before a flight and did a quick search for a wine bar on our drive. This place popped up and I would liken it to a poor man's wine bar or a college kid's attempt to be a wine bar. I don't mean for this to be a critique or to sound snooty. We were in Harvard Square after all. Perhaps here should be degrees of wine bar ranking?! Wine selection was ok. Enjoyed a glass of the Riesling as well as a French Rose and other French something it another. I'm not a wine snob like my date is, so I just order and hope it tastes delicious. My Riesling did. :) Both his glasses were good enough to drink. We ordered baked Brie as well as the hummus plate. The latter was fine; the Brie was less of a baked Brie and more like a blob of melted "cheese" on a plate. Brie plate came with a great array of fruits and crackers for dipping. Our meal was made "better" with a bit of entertainment, courtesy of a shirtless local. I was impressed with the bartender's handling of the man. All in all, not a bad place. Perhaps just keep expectations in check. read more

Shays Pub & Wine Bar - American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Long day of work? Annoying professor got you down? Shay's has you covered. Walking into Shay's is wonderful experience that can be described as hopping into the DeLorean and going back in time about 20 years. Its a hole-in-the wall dive bar that actually has good food and clean bathrooms! The menu is small: your classic apps, sandwiches, burritos, and burgers. Nonetheless, they offer vegan friendly options and the food is delicious. If you are a potato lover, the french fries are like spears of love on a plate. (Word of advice, try the grilled cheese with banana peppers. It's awesome.) Friendly bar-tenders, decent selection of drinks, quaint patio, and affordable prices. read more

Oh excellent; improved from 3.5 stars to 4.5 stars and just more tasty and fun especially with expanded seating from slightly below sidewalk level elevated to the sidewalk in front on Jfk street. But main attractions beside friendly attentive staff are the food; tasty well-prepared dishes - Merci ! -- delightful sides ( french fries to live for) ... good drinks ambiance the whole enchilada.... great going! To whole staff!! Ill be back , but dieting 'tween ( my frequent) visits Byron R Diggs read more

Excellent watering hole in the middle of Harvard Square. We went there during the Head of the Charles race, so it was busier than heck. They had a special menu for food and it was obvious they were busier than a one-armed paper hanger. Still, the staff was friendly and efficient and we had a super time. Their beer selections are outstanding. From Abita, all the way from New Orleans, to several Maine microbrews, to Guinness on tap. Awesome beers. Their outside seating is outstanding for people watching and enjoying the wonderful sights of Harvard Square. read more

Give me a small divey bar and I'm happy. Give that bar fun, friendly staff and I'm happier. Add an awesome beer selection and I'm really happy. Throw in some outdoor seating with great people watching opportunity and I'm all kinds of happy. read more