The sil is such a vibe. It's a local dive bar through and through. It's got darts, arcade games, a pool table, booth seating + high top seating, cheap drinks, the bar area when you first walk in is pretty low-lit (but then turn a corner and the darts room is a little toooo bright lol), apparently some nights there's live music in the darts room, anddd you get a cup of popcorn with your drink. So fun! Note: if you have an out of state license, you need a second form of ID. read more

Silhouette Lounge - Arcade games - Dive Bars Near Me - Allston, Massachusetts

I love Sils! Perfect for any Allston hipster (or wanna-be hipster). I think the drinks are reasonably priced and they're good value in terms of strength. Enjoy them in a booth or by the dart boards and you're set for a good night! My only complaint is the way they handle out of state IDs-MAKE SURE TO HAVE A SECOND & THIRD FORM! read more

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Not everyone's cup of tea, and that's alright. When dive meets punk, you get the Sil. It's great for it's features of pinball, darts, pool table, pitchers of beer, enclosed smoking area in the back, and generic vibe. With gentrification and post-COVID times, it's hard to find real cultural identification. It's also been a safe spot for more LGBT youth over the years. The serve popcorn too and have live bands that come and play. They also take credit card these days too. Some might say that it's seedy and doesn't appeal to the taste. But, I will day this, being there to watch a game on the TVs feels like you're in a living room with company that wants to be in a jovial setting. It's the last thing from boring. read more

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NEVER come here. Unsafe especially for queer people. I have been going to this bar forever and today I brought my little sister since she recently turned 21, for her birthday. The bouncer taking our ID's was the RUDEST person I have ever met. He stared us down and told us "no" with zero explanation. We are both legally over 21, and he treated us like scum. His tone and demeanor was horrible and felt discriminatory. This is supposed to be a safe place for queer people, and it did not feel like that at all. I am going to tell all my friends not to come and support this bar after being treated so terribly after being a repeat customer. The bouncer was working Jan 10th at 9:00 PM and needs to be talked to about how he treats customers. read more

A dive for the divers, excellent vibes. Pretty much everyone there was nice and chatting, great clientele. This is my roommates FAVORITE bar but I just went for the first time recently. Rum and ginger ale was solid, they were busy and service was relatively quick. read more

Silhouette Lounge - Dive Bars Near Me - Allston, Massachusetts

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Typical local-feeling dive bar with darts, pool, and arcade games as well as free popcorn with the purchase of a drink. I do have to agree with other reviews that they're pretty strict on out of state IDs and made us show pictures of our passports before they even touched our licenses (which they barely looked at) so just be prepared! read more

This unfortunately is the first time I'm leaving a negative review :( but upon arriving to silhouette the bouncer was extremely abrupt and rude, he told my friends and I that they "do not accept anyone from out of state" and I'm not sure how I take that as anything other than discrimination? Many in our group had legal out of state IDs and he wouldn't even. Look at them. Super disappointing read more

Look it's pretty pricey but it's drinking in Boston, so you really are always going to pay a ridiculous premium. I'm quite sure their rent is high or a thousand other small things that inflate drink prices by the time it's reaching the customer. That said, the bartenders there were possibly some of the nicest people I have spoken with, as they were all extremely down to earth, willing to chat, and gave a young guy like me some useful advice (and well-mixed drinks). The real reason I go here, either with friends or alone, is the simple fact that the ambiance is nice. The music is good, the aesthetic is real, and there's a real bar feel to it, rather than the usual club or upscale drinking atmosphere you see elsewhere. The toilets are a travesty but it is a bar. Overall not bad, for Boston. read more

Good staff and friendly people go here. Has a great pool scene and lots of darts. No need for re-entry to smoke. Touchtunes so you can use your anywhere creditsz. read more

If you're someone not from Massachusetts and are looking for a bar to have some drinks and fun, I highly recommend you look elsewhere to avoid the chance for a headache. Had gone to this bar once in the past without a problem at all. Place was definitely lively and actually a lot of fun. It had the look and feel of a dive bar, but still felt safe and inviting at the same time. The drinks were very reasonably priced and they had a good selection. Bouncer seemed like he was a little confrontational, which isn't rare for bouncers. He ultimately had no problem letting us in once he saw our ID's. Second time I had gone, I was turned away at the door for having an out of state license and not having a second form of ID... As someone who had never been turned away from a bar due to an ID issue, this was very aggravating. What made it even worse was that the bouncer said that an "expired license" was an acceptable form of second ID. It's not like I'm a young looking person either and my ID shows that I'm well above the age to legally drink. It made me wonder if I got profiled as a male during a time when they were looking for more female patrons... This honestly ruined the vibe for the whole night and just ended with us leaving the bar and going back to our hotel. I definitely think this is something the owner/manager needs to look into as it will steadily begin to impact their flow of non-local consumers and will likely stagnate the business. read more

A fun, no-frills local bar. My friend got invited to cover and spread the word. He has many followers on instagram (@caught.in.a.taste) and took me along. A fun place for cheap drinks and chatting. A lot of locals do come here and even people who now have moved away come back for nostalgia. It's definitely divey and there's free popcorn available. Grab a few friends and go there and have a good time over a few beer. Wanna play pool or darts? They have that too. Got to speak to the owner and he is planning to bring back local band nights and/or live music in the back. They are also accepting CCs now. Glad Yelp listened to me and it now shows they are open for business instead of being closed which they had to due to covid. read more

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Love a good dive. But for the love of god get a scanner. I get MA is stricter with out of state IDs, but clearly this place has a problem when half the reviews talk about the same rude bouncer. Talked to me like I was an idiot and insulted me after I walked away; just get a black box and everybody's happy! read more

Denied entry because we didn't have in state ID's which I suppose I understand. But they were asking for pictures of passports as a second form of ID? I didn't think it was legal to take a photo of an ID as proof of age for alcohol but I guess I could be wrong? I kind of wish they would just get one of those little scanners for IDs, seems like it would be simpler? Flattered they thought I could be under 21 though (I'm 26) read more

Bouncer was rude. Second form of ID was weird but understandable I guess. I get it's a dive bar but it felt like dumpster diving. The door to the men's restroom has the bottom blown off, exposing the disgusting conditions within. Urinal not working, shoddily blocked by a trash bag. Barely any soap left. Rude bartenders. Responded to a friend when asking for a pitcher of Miller Lite "we don't have that s*** here." Strange considering half their pitchers have Miller Lite branding so it would be a fair assumption. Another worker apparently skipped someone's music they paid for because they didn't like it? Prices were on the cheaper side and the games are cool but hard to secure a dartboard or a single round of pool. Overall just really filthy and grimy, beyond what you'd expect from a dive bar. read more

If you don't have a Mass ID, you better bring your passport or you'll be turned away. They simply won't take out of state licenses, and they're too cheap to get an ID scanner. All for a bar with terrible service and nasty bathrooms read more

A fun, local dive bar that doesn't disappoint. Lots of locals to chat with, and darts/pool to play with friends. A great stop if you just want a chill drink in the neighborhood! read more

The most perfect free popcorn plus drinks poured with love and any sport ya like on the TV Pool, darts, cheap beer on tap. read more

Silhouette Lounge - a bowl of popcorn and a drink on a table - Dive Bars Near Me - Allston, Massachusetts

darts area nice . love the dive ambiance and crowd bc it's a combo of gay ppl and old white dudes which is fire . way too bright in there, makes me sleepy. way too warm, also makes me sleepy . good easy spot to have a PBR read more

I can't pass for an Allston five-dwelling hipster. There was a time, but sadly I've too much generic J. Crew and I can't stomach 'Gansett. Nothing against this champion brew; it's a developed allergy. See? No street cred Still, I know a near flawless dive when I see one. This said, the Sil elevates their status without abandoning their roots: frozen glassware for your $2 cheap pints, free popcorn, dollar pool with cared-for cues, pitchers filled to the absolute rim, Buck Hunter that works, jukebox ripping the B sides, free darts, vulgar graffiti that reads like grimy poetics. And the staff is always having a good time. Even when they're shouldering a shitty day, they regale their woes with infectious charisma. It's an art. My days of having a local are behind me, but if it's ever a possibility, I'd want a Sil clone in my neighborhood. So franchise, is what I'm saying. Wait, what am I saying? read more

Silhouette Lounge - I guess that's a full pitcher. - Dive Bars Near Me - Allston, Massachusetts

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Proper dive bar! Good deals on pitchers and a great area to play darts and pool. If you are looking to just have some drinks and hang out this is a great spot! read more

Required a Massachusetts ID to get in. Came with a bachelorette party and they wouldn't let anyone from RI, NY Or NH in. When we asked if the manager was in to show them our IDs, the security told us we could go fuck ourselves. I've never been to a bar this rude and oddly MA nationalist? I've lived here for over 5 years, please don't give this place your business. read more

Not open durning Covid-19 but I have to say "The Sil" has a special place in my heart. When it comes to American Dive Bars this is as good as it gets. Staff are the best ans the scene is Allston Beats!! Best bar darts, ans the 5star popcorn is a meal in on its own. Hurry back my friends I miss you read more

The Sil is one of the very few authentically Allston dives around. With the horrific loss of the real Allston Diner, the demolishment of Sunset, and the death of refuge, the Sil and the Model are the only places in Allston worth going. Unfortunately / fortunately (?) there have been some recent upgrades like new TVs, and new bar stools and this has resulted in the bosses creeping up the price of the classic $9 PBR Pitcher. It's 11$ now, which come on does $2 really matter.... yes, it's a disgustingly delicious beer which has been ruined by inflation. Do I still frequent this pleasant hole in the wall, yes, do they still have dope VEGAN popcorn, yes, am I still upset about the $2 beer increase... yes. Come on. Go there for real. read more

The Waitress at this bar is so rude. The first thing she said to us was "I need to make money" as she tried to kick us out of our booth. Then our second interaction was us asking for water and her response, "are you serious? I need to make some money tonight". This was absolutely unacceptable behavior! This could be a great place, but the waitress left a really sour taste in our mouth. read more

great Allston dive bar to forget about the outside world, feels like home with a classic collection of locals

We were on the hunt for a true Boston dive bar and boy did we hit the jack pot with this place! We were told Allston was the neighborhood for what we wanted and it was true .. Silhouette Lounge was an absolute dive and as good as it gets! They have Yuengling Beer on tap and give you free popcorn ... hell yeah! The bartender lady working was probably the nicest local person I had a chance to talk to on my entire trip. It is cash only here by the way. Everything is cheap. They have darts, pool, TV, music and a great staff. Oh and graffiti on the walls! It really doesn't get much better than that! So come here, hang out, make friends with the locals and enjoy this magical spot. read more

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such a good dive. good prices free popcorn pool and darts. pool table often occupied and tourney style but u can usually get a dart board w friends read more

Not a usual yelp reviewer but for the second time in a row I go to this bar and wind up getting harassed by the same female bartender. She approached me and hit my drink out my hand, grabbed my hat and threw it across the bar, then proceeded to scream "yelp us motherfucker" at me and my friends. I'll never come back but want to thank the bartender that came outside and apologized for her behavior that is apparently pretty common. read more

Silhouette Lounge = Kurt Cobain's hair. I don't know why, but that's the correlation it makes to me. Grungy goodness. I like dive bars, but this is a DIVE bar. The women's bathroom says "Keep Allston Sh*tty!* along with all the other graffiti on it. Silhouette Lounge definitely keeps Allston sh*tty, but in a good way- you got me? Cash only, darts, old school arcade games, and basic beers that all hipsters drink: PBR, Narangansett, Sam Adams... etc. Don't expect to find a seat if it's more than 2 people after 9. It's also great for people watching connoisseurs. There's a hipster there with messy facial hair and thick black framed glasses, where the frame is wrapped in duct tape. He wears a ripped up jean vest with pins and patches all over it- kind of like a cool and dirty boy scout that has grown up. Free popcorn. Dirt cheap beers. Cash only. Hipsters up the wazoo. Woohoo! read more

Silhouette Lounge - In fact, you do keep Allston shitty. In a good way. - Dive Bars Near Me - Allston, Massachusetts

Best Dive Bar in the Boston Area This is a review about a dive bar so take the 4 star review in context. This is a simple place with a great atmosphere. I am a big dive bar fan and The Silhouette fits the bill. Old School Sign: Check 1970's Interior: Check Darkly Lit: Check Super Friendly Laid Back Staff: Check Great Jukebox: Check Cheap Strong Drinks: Check With all of the upcoming spots in Allston, thus bar just stays the same and I hope it never changes. If you like dive bars and I don't mean fake ones made up by hipsters then you'll love The Silhouette. Enjoy read more

Awful! Honestly, I went in here with the full knowledge that it is a dive but never did I expect such poor service and conditions. Bar tenders were not great and the bouncers were a joke. The person checking IDs was drinking themselves, and the way they navigated last call was not appropriate given that there was ~20 people in there in fairly sober condition...yelling and screaming like that would have been warranted at a different venue but not at this shithole. The overall vibe is completely tasteless and gross. And...every mixed drink I got had some kind of crud or dirt on the glass (like chunky, crusted-on, large caked-on masses). Vile. Gross. Not worth your time or money. Sooo many better dive bars in the area to venture to. read more

Irene is the best! Born and raised just a few blocks away and been loyal to her customers for over 30 years! Best Bartender and friend! read more

Silhouette Lounge - Dive Bars Near Me - Allston, Massachusetts

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Came here with high expectations given some of the great reviews I read for the Silhouette Lounge but I was sorely disappointed. I am not one to usually judge a place based on the service, as I know that service is variable based on the waiter you get, but I am making an exception here. While the free popcorn, cheap drinks, and general divey atmosphere earn this place an extra store beyond the lowest I can give, I had only negative interactions with the employees here. When we got there at 9:50 PM on a Friday, there was a short line. I understand that bouncers need to be conscious of the number of people in the bar, this guy took his job way too seriously and was being rude about not letting us in until the exact number of people in our group had left the bar. I could have done without that. Secondly, when we ordered our drinks and they were delivered, the waitress asked for money immediately...I have never had this happen to me before. I thought it was odd, especially because we may have gotten more drinks. Not necessarily rude but just weird. As I do not live in the neighborhood, I do not plan on coming back and if I ever am again, I'll check something else out. read more

Very good service, good people. seem to look out for anyone's best interest even on busy night. Cash only but if you didn't already know that I'm surprised. I've been coming here for five years and will continue to. Thanks, sil read more

My boyfriend and I were visiting Boston from California we were looking for a chill bar with cool vibes and we found one! Sarah was an amazing bartender and really made us feel welcome, her along with a few other regulars gave us a few suggestions for our trip to Salem/ Boston for Halloween I'm not from here but if I were this would be our neighborhood bar! Great customer service along with great conversation! read more

Silhouette Lounge has a great atmosphere, strong drinks, and a chill crown. The staff is super nice and provides great service. However, the only concern I'd say is the drinks can be a little a pricy depending on what you get. But the prices are worth it for the strength of the drinks. There's also pool, darts, and free popcorn available for customers. Highly recommend! read more

This place is immaculate. The crowd is diverse and the drinks are outstanding. I come here once a week and I hate the public.

While the cheap pitchers, free popcorn, pool table, and darts are fantastic, unfortunately the Silhouette Lounge deserves one star. Why, one might ask. Why does "your neighborhood place" deserve one star? Well, sir, they denied me, a regular customer (a man who went on his first date here), service because they didn't think I was 21 years of age. Mind you, I'm 22 and have frequented this bar more times than I can count. Shame on you Silhouette Lounge! Is this any way to treat a member or your so called "neighborhood"? Shame!! read more

Five stars for the darts room, touch tunes and free popcorn. Four stars for the cash-only, creepy bathroom and the stench. Although, I guess a legendary dive bar needs a stench. The bartenders are always cool af. The crowd is alway eclectic and fun. I never have a bad time here. Always stop in when I'm in the Allston area. It's a neighborhood staple. read more

The first time I ever heard of the silhouette my brother was visiting and went in there and told me it smelt funny. I ended up moving a two minute walk from it when I was 21, went in, realized it didn't smell, and it's been a staple bar for me ever since. I joke that major events in my social life only occur at the Sil. This is the first place me and one of my closest friends ever hung out together. This is also where my now fiancé and I had our very first date. Pitchers of Narragansett are cheap and fresh. there's darts in the back room where my friends and I never have trouble getting a board to play on. They have a jukebox, big buck hunter, and a pool table. While the bathroom usually leaves a lot to be desired, the bar itself is relatively clean for a dive. The patrons keep to themselves and the bartenders are nice. I suggest coming any time of the week other than on Friday and Saturdays nights when college is in session since that is when college kids form a line down the street for cheap beer. It's cash only but with it you get endless popcorn and a bizarre setting to fall in love like I did. read more

Silhouette Lounge - We even took our engagement photos here - ha. - Dive Bars Near Me - Allston, Massachusetts