I love the sil! It's the best place to go if you don't want to be bothered and just play darts. I also happen to love the good juke box and will usually eat about 27 bowls of popcorn. And then that salty popcorn makes me drink more beer....oh they are on to me! This place is mad cheap though. But it kinda sucks when it's super crowded, cause there isn't really standing room. read more

I love the freakin Silhouette. Granted I found the matinence dude for my building drinking in there at 11AM. But from that you get the idea what kind of dive this really is. At the corner of Allston and Brighton Streets, this little bar is famous for the odd mix of people who frequent it. The best part about this place is... (drumroll) FREE DARTS!!!!!!!! and free popcorn too! read more

The Sil : Other bars :: America : Other countries If you never took the SATs, all the more reason for you to drop by. The Silhouette (a name which I have never actually called this bar, it IS "The Sil") has something for everyone. Scantily-clad college-age cocktail waitresses deliver 7$ pitchers of PBR and free baskets of freshly-popped popcorn to you, whether you are getting your ass handed to you by a vertically challenged pool shark, gauging your sobriety in the darts room, or trying to score with a partner at Big Buck Hunter. The booths are always full, so don't even think about sitting down. If you order another pitcher at last call and have friends like mine, you can still make it to the Model. Just try not to wake up in Ringer Park, you have been warned. read more

I will agree that this is not a true dive bar. It is just your regular neighborhood bar. However, by Boston's standards (outside of Southie), then yes, it would be considered a dive. You will also probably think the place is a dump if you frequent the White Horse or Joshua Tree, though. Another thing is that it is not a hipster bar. Far from it. Yes, a few hipsters hang out here, but the clientele is pretty diverse: from college kids who would rather drink than 'be seen' to old timers to 30 something professionals to punks to metal heads to what ever. The crowd is pretty diverse and never seems to be dominated by one particular type or cliche. As stated, the cheap beer is actually cheap. $2 pints of PBR can't be beat. Mixed drinks are strong, too. They have a few TVs that are always tuned to a sports game, but this is not a sports bar. They also have dart boards that are located in a dedicated dart room and a pool table. The darts are kind of janky and I wouldn't bother playing pool unless you have some skills. Otherwise you will lose the table, quick. I have never bothered to actually look at the music selection, primarily because what ever is playing is generally cool by me. Generally, some type of rock-n-roll or punk from the 60s, 70s, and 80s is playing. This is not a good place if you think Euro Dance or other club music is a good time. You will be SOL. Seating is limited, so if you want to get a booth then you need to arrive early. They also limit patronage to around 75 or 80 people (yes, they do a head count), and once it is filled to capacity they will not allow anyone else to enter until people leave. They have a 'smoking room' out back through the fire escape/door, but you are not allowed to bring your drinks out there. There are also two cameras out there, and a monitor at the bar, so you can sit at the bar and watch people make out or smoke dope. Not the best place to go if you want to be discreet. Just a warning, the popcorn is highly salted. You will get thirsty, trust me. Anyways, go here if: you want to get drunk off ten bucks. Want to get wasted off twenty bucks. Eat free popcorn. Hang out with the working-class locals. Don't go here if: You pop your collar and wear Axe Body Spray. read more

This place is good when you want an uneventful, cheap night. You have a variety of people, some characters for regulars, a varied juke box, and a convenient location. Have drunk friends? They have free popcorn for you. Feel up for some pool or darts? They have that too. Overall, the Silhouette is really down to earth and a good way to have a night out without too much crazy mixed in. read more

This place is pretty cool for what it is, namely a dive bar. This def isn't a pick up a bar, and really is somewhere to go when you're just hanging with a few friends, mabye to start or finish the night and want to chill out, drink some cheap pitchers of PBR and eat free popcorn. Be wary of the dart scene, if you're not an experienced dart player and don't know the customs etc, people get a little testy. If you want to play, you're also better off bringing you're own set of darts. read more

Omg, what a nightmare! (laughing to myself) Lounge? More like a shoe box. Beers are cheap and surprisingly it's got ample seating. The 3 stars comes from the weird ability this bar has to make you say outlandish, insulting things to the guy who's digging on you - which causes him to shut down, give you the silent treatment, only to become a fan of yours 8 months later when he starts falling into Kiss-Kiss-Slurp-Slurp-No I love you more- Love with your roommate. Silhouette how do you do it? read more

Great Scott's it isn't, but the Swillo has some character. Take your damn hipsters and go down the street. Take some time to get to know the regulars, they're not that bloody creepy - and stay out of the back room during league night. Cheap beer, good darts and some brilliant conversation if you take the time to pull your head out of your arse and pay attention to what's going on around you. Usually filled with locals and college students, a bit grungy, but it's the Swillo; what else do you expect? read more

Nevermind, I just realized how much ballz this place suxxx. There's mad wounded war veterans throwing darts and playing pool there and a bunch of dudes with like 3 full teeth kicking around there bumming out my good times. The pie there is stinky too. Mad like "I just biked 20 miles and I don't shave my legs, pitts, or... anywhere else. Want to smell my arm pits and make out?" And I'm like "no" Boston sucks as far as bars go. This one just takes the cake for being HELLA DIVE style. Also, the bathroom in this place is mangled. There's no door on the stall so don't be trying to like drop a deuce in there. You've been warned. read more

Cheap beer, free popcorn, pool, darts, a non-yuppie crowd, and a jukebox that doesn't suck... yes, thank you. Been here a few times. Will be back a few more. Guys should probably always come with a female friend, because I saw quite a few single dudes denied entry. One time, my boyfriend was even told they were "over capacity"... then I showed up 5 minutes later and we got in no problem...it was kinda funny. It's a dive bar, so don't expect pristine cleanliness. It's part of the charm. Bringing your own toilet paper may be helpful if you go on a busy night. :) Anyway, it's a good place to spend a few hours. read more

There are some dive bars where walking in dressed to the nines would cause people to give you funny looks. Not Silhouette. And if we did get funny looks, we were too busy having fun to notice/care. My friend and I had just gone to a super-classy dinner in the financial district, and upon leaving the restaurant we decided we wanted a change of scenery and agreed to dive it up. We both threw out the names of our favorite dives, and one of his was Silhouette. Randomly, one of my girlfriends had just mentioned Silhouette earlier that day, so I took that as a sign and we trekked out to Allston. I soon discovered that this is a great place to go if you're looking to chat with someone over pitchers and shots, and the guy working the door that night was pretty entertaining. I'd love to go back, but I heard the place might be closing?!? Please tell me this is a rumor?!? read more

I had a great time here and I'd definitely go back. Good for a cheap, laid back time. Went with a bunch of guys who were dressed in button ups and didn't feel too out of place even though the majority of the clientele was decidedly hipster. A fight almost broke out over a pool game and the situation was defused very quickly with the aggressor being kicked out. If you're a girl, you're probably going to feel a little uncomfortable in there alone. Definitely bring a friend. read more

My home away from home. How every bar should be. Just one $7 pint of Jack and coke and you're ready to get your swerve on. Not in the mood to get blackout drunk? Cheap pitchers are the way to go to keep yourself tanked all night. Eat some free popcorn to help absorb some of that booze (it doesn't help). If you actually hear the songs you played in the jukebox, chances are it's gonna be a good night. Bored on a Monday night? Got a few bucks? Might as well walk down to the Sill. Chances are someone will be out of their mind drunk by 10pm and dancing on a table, and quickly escorted out by Beau. It happens. Good place to pre-game, post-game, or just hunch over over the bar and hate yourself. At 1 AM, promptly leave to go to the model. Manny will kick your ass at pool. Buy him a beer. read more

Ohhhh Silhouette - what can I say about thee! Its the best dive bar, hands down in the Boston metro area. I might be a little biased because I live only 2 blocks away:), but dont just take my word for it - Sil has won the Best Dive Bar by Boston's Best most of the past 8 yrs. Cheap beer, pool, darts, juke box AND free popcorn!! What else could one ask for! Its the only place in town where I can get pretty much wasted in $20. Good thing that home is only 3 mins stagger away:) Inspite of being in BU heartland, you will see more of the non-BU crowd. Which is good for me as I am getting too old for the undergrad kids! Lots of goth, hipster folks and some locals. I always manage to find somebody I know or get chatting with somebody interesting - even though I only average once in a month there. Coupla cons - the place closes at 1am. I dont know why that is, but its painful to get kicked out at 1am and then go stand in line to get inside another bar for 45mins. Also they take only cash - thankfully BOA ATM is around the corner. read more

This is what I would call a neighborhood bar. I've been going here for 20 years and it dosn't seem to ever change--which is a good thing! Pool & darts, filthy bathrooms, nice bartenders, sports on the tube, cheap beer, free popcorn, punk rock girls. I have never had any problems or gotten any bad vibes in here. Totally solid spot to drink a cheap beer and watch some baseball. Bonus: the awesome exterior with the Naragansett sign and the very cool mural of Joes (Joe Strummer, Joe Lewis, Joe Perry, Joe Cool, Joe DiMaggio, Joe Piscapo, Bazooka Joe, etc). Recommended for the non-pretentious crowd. read more

I used to live a block away from this place and still couldn't make it home I was so drunk. Fun place with your friends. Cheap as all hell. Do they still do the free popcorn? Darts and pool, who put the table by the bathroom? bad idea. I was one of the regular's there for a while, it was almost like a grittier Cheers where everyone knew my name and would yell "JULIE!" when I entered. Everyone's nice and takes you right in. I haven't been in close to a decade but the fuzzy memories still make me smile. read more

So we basically live right down the road from this place, and have always wanted to go. The friends and I have been trying to find a bar that has good cheap pitchers and offers a place to actually sit and talk. 7 dollar pitchers was our sweet spot. This bar has become our favorite. Though, as Jackie did point out, there is this constant hipster presence. Must be all the PBR. Also, free popcorn! And Dart Leagues on Tuesday nights! (..Learned that one the hard way. Never try to interrupt a Dart League game...) read more

There are days when I want nothing more than a bourbon drink promising adventures and new dimensions of bliss. Days when I want to put on my Sunday bests, and head to an establishment filled with beautiful peers all teeming with insights, laughter, and existential truisms alleviating the bonds of this finite reality. Those days happen about 3 times a year, and the other 362 I want to go to The Silly. The Silhouette Lounge, or The Silly as its become known amongst some, is a bar for the everyday person... everyday! It has arguably the best dart boards in town, DEFINITELY the best drink prices, and its just got so much damn character! You can wander in on a weekday at 3:00 in the afternoon and have some old guy lay some truth on you (with or without darts), or come on a friday night for a knee-slapping good time filled with great music selections, free popcorn, and beautiful people (note: this is not intended to be a Marilyn Manson reference). A night at The Silly is always what you make it, and it's great that way. Do I personally have a nu-metal hour on a random Tuesday night where I blast the latest Hinder, Coal Chamber, and Faith No More singles? Hell no! But do I love every second of it when Mr. I-am-still-dealing-with-jnco's-going-out-of-style gets his turn at the jukebox? You're damn right! Why you ask? Because the next guy to put on his 10 songs is going to somehow know that, having had countless pitchers of wallet-safe beer, all I want to hear right now is "Little Lies" by Fleetwood Mac. And he or she will play it. Don't ask me how but it happens... Every... Damn... Time. So, if you haven't experienced the community of believers at the Silly, come join the party. Sure there are fixed gear hipsters, but they don't bite, and mostly keep their irony to themselves! And, yes, you might find a batch of bros who got thrown out of The Kels every once in a while, but they can never handle the lack of sorostitutes and Busch Light for too long. So come on down! We'll have us a hootenanny! read more

I love that this is currently categorized only as "nightlife". Silouette does what it needs to do - it's in a convenient spot for many and has cheap beer and free popcorn. And darts! I personally liked it better than some of the other bars nearby. read more

Oh Silhouette (or Silhouette's as I somehow came to call it). As everyone else has said, the drinks are cheap and the popcorn is free. I always manage to have a good time here, especially with a larger group of friends. Free popcorn, $7 pitchers and people watching= a fun time for me. I always leave pretty drunk and ready to head to the Model. Good times. read more

ATM Fee (bar is cash only)... $2.50. Pool game... $1. Bottle of Magners... $5. Popcorn... FREE. Feeling like a true Allston hipster... Priceless. read more

The Silhouette is divine, say hi to Paulie for me. Also, if your lucky you might catch some great blues harmonica from Silas. He's tall, black, thin and missing a few teeth. He always brings his harmonica, ask him to play for you and buy him some gin. read more

Really, not my favorite place. I found the whole experience there a bit disappointing and uncomfortable. I guess it's not my scene. Pros: the cheap booze. In a city of over-priced bars, I understand the appeal of the place. Cons: even here there's a line! I walked past recently around 11 pm and there was a wait to get in. Also, the choice of seating is limited and the bathrooms are disgusting! I may have just defined a dive bar, but I'd be happy to pay a bit more for nicer surroundings. read more

Great Bar/lounge. Very nice place to go with friends and share a few rounds of pitchers or shots. Staff is very friendly, free popcorn and plenty of affordable beer. Also has a pool table, tvs and sheltered outdoor smoking area. Only down side is that it is cash only but there is an atm inside. read more

Really good cheap spot for a beer. It's refreshing to drink at a low-key place every now and then, and save the rowdy times for The Model. The staff is pretty cool and will get to know you after a couple of nights, which again is pretty refreshing. I agree with previous posts that The Sil has a rep for being hipstery. Yes... it is... but it's totally NOT a hipster bar. It's a diverse crowd of interesting people are not too many loudmouths to distract you from your good time. read more

If you like dive bars, this is your place. Crap beer is served by the pitcher with a side of popcorn. The price cannot be beat. There's a bunch of dart boards in the back with regular league players. They always have a video game like Bags or Buck Hunter to play with. The bathroom is completely disgusting and often out of order in a way that I would rather not describe. Think Trainspotting. This is pretty much the place to go if you want to drink your face off and fit right in. There's always a local lush sitting at the bar trying to talk to anyone who gets near him. Often there is a small group outside in the morning before opening waiting sit their leather asses down at the bar and drink their sorrows away. "I don't drink to get drunk. I drink to forget" Generally people are pretty nice there though. I just wouldn't go in there dressed too nice as you'll stick out like a sore thumb. read more

If you like dive bars this place is money. Darts, Pool, Hipsters, cheap cheap beer, free popcorn, and older smashed regulars who call you out on forgetting your dates name and proceed to strike up a conversation for the entire time your there... the list goes on. Its close to home, its got more character than 90 percent of the other bars in Allston. Give it a shot, if you like dive bars you are in for a real treat. read more

I love the Silhouette. It is exactly what a dive bar should be sticky floors and all. They have arcade games, Keno, darts and one pool table. By far my favorite part of the Silhouette is Irene. She has worked the bar for the 9 years I lived in Boston, and am sure she has been there longer. She always has a story, or wisdom to share. Once, I ordered a seven and seven, "Do you want a small or a large, Honey? Nevermind. You should always get a large. It is more economical." read more

This is about as dive-y as a dive bar can get, and it is absolutely glorious. You want frills? Go somewhere else. Want a beer that's fancier than Sam Adams? Go somewhere else. Want some pitchers of PBR or Narragansett for under ten bucks? Free, unlimited salty popcorn? An awesome jukebox? A cat train (no. really. I swear it exists)? No, but really. This place is great, as long as you're not looking for greatness. read more

I go here for two reasons: cheap pitchers and darts. Okay, I guess I also go here for popcorn, so make that three reasons. I always have a good time when I come to the Silhouette, but that's because I know some of the regulars. I'm not what one might consider the type of person to frequent a dive like this, but you shouldn't judge a book by its cover. I absolutely adore this place and the people who come here. I wish they served food (but they're totally cool if you bring in food of your own) and I wish they took debit cards (though the BoA ATM is just a couple of doors down and there is an ATM by the bar). Others have noted that it's "not good for dancing" and while that's generally true, it doesn't stop people from doing it when an awesome song comes on the juke box, which is fabulous. Those same people are generally the ones who head to the Model after the Sil closes, and if I'm still around at that hour I'm tagging right along. The dart room is great with lots of boards, there's also a pool table and naked photo hunt. The bartenders are great, the door staff is great and the patrons are great. Overall one of my favorite places in Allston. read more

I ended 2011 here and started 2012 here. This place I really have to come back to again. It has the feel of a dive but yet it has a good crowd of people. Really wish I could've tried the free popcorn since I was in the mood for a midnight snack at the time. This place is a perfect example of what a dive is. read more

The Silly is another hipster / barfly joint that's not without it's old school charms. It feels like a sort of time warp with a popcorn machine, old games and carpeting that predates my birth. I think the pitchers are only $7, which is great. You probably wouldn't think to go to this bar unless you had heard something about it. I'd say it's worth visiting once just to do it and put on a good pregame base coat before wandering into the Allston bar scene down the street. read more

$7 pitchers, free popcorn and a funny mix of people. Definately a good time to people watch with a few friends. darts in the back room with digital score keepers. read more

The perfect dive. Pool. Darts. Beer. Ratty. Nobody trying to impress anyone. Sigh ;) Friendly bartender. Free popcorn. Good jukebox. read more

If you're a fan of dive bars like me then this place is basically a museum exhibit. Just don't wait in the line that sometimes forms outside; that's not worth it. read more

Hmmm I don't think this is truly a dive bar. Having grown up in a small town in the Midwest, where my parents and extended family members were locals at the neighborhood dive bar and everyone STILL knows my name - really there aren't any other kinds of bars where I'm from - I guess I have pretty high expectations. In any case, I've had a long, emotional week and last night really did want to do a bit of drowning my sorrows in beer, but with a friend by my side and the possibility of drunken, rambling conversations with unpretentious strangers. However...there was the strange dichotomy of free booths surrounded by lots of people standing around. So we sat at a booth which unfortunately, I always realize belatedly, closes you off to interaction with new people. That's why I'm giving the place 3 stars, because as just a regular bar it's fine, but once I realized it wasn't what I was looking for, I admittedly didn't explore much further. My ideal "dive bar" wouldn't have booths, thus forcing people to mix; there'd instead be tables with light, cheap chairs that can be picked up and dropped off at random, and plenty of room at the bar. Just like you know a dive bar when you see it, you know a hipster when you see one. And it was the latter more than anything that precluded the possibility of this being a dive bar. Maybe it's just because I am incredibly annoyed by hipsters (I know, very judgmental of me), but this place was hipster-central and, for me, dive bar = less than 25% hipster. Just to confuse you further, I was probably the only female there in heels and a (casual, cotton) dress. The only other thing I'd really wanted last night was a juke box, which they do have, but it was so loud I couldn't hear it. In the end I didn't think it was worth it to push my way through the crowd of flannel, tight jeans, and beards to pay money to NOT hear classic rock in my genuinely nostalgic, non-ironic way. The whole experience got me thinking about the nature of "dive bars." First, I'm coming to accept the fact that if you don't have your own go-to dive bar, then it probably won't ever feel quite right. Second, dive bars are only labeled as such by outsiders; not that the regulars have any illusions about their status, but it just isn't what they call it. Finally, while there's some truth to the idea that they are friendly, the "dive bars" I grew up in did look sideways at strangers. A couple of side notes: I really wonder what the place would feel like on a weekday night. I don't think I'll trek all the way to Allston to find out, but I noticed several of the positive reviews were coming from people who mentioned they don't frequent the place on the weekends. And, now that I think about it, I really feel like I saw more men than women, which is strange considering what people were saying in their reviews about the doorman turning away single guys. read more

Real bar for free people. No phonies here. Great bar, darts in the back. read more

Arrived at around 11pm Saturday night to find the place busy but not crowded by any means. My girlfriend and her friend walk in in front of me and we stand in the doorway for a second surveying the place. There's a man standing in front of us not saying anything just staring. After about ten seconds I ask him if he needs our IDs (figuring he was the bouncer). He exclaims "You need an ID for every bar." Great. So my girlfriend and her friend give him their IDs and he gives them back, both of theirs out of state. I hand him mine and he briefly flashes a flashlight on it and says he can't take it and wants something else. It's my real ID; yes it's out of state but in Allston of all places he must see a good amount of real out of state IDs. This isn't the first time it's happened so I ask if he would like to see a credit card with my name as to verify the ID, which is usually all that's needed. He says no he needs another picture ID. So I pull out my college ID, even though I graduated a year ago, and he won't except that because he wants a state ID, WHICH I GAVE HIM THE FIRST TIME. He then got rude and yells at us to "Have a good night!" In a not so friendly way. I understand having stricter security in a college area but it seemed like he was being a jerk because we did not acknowledge him initially. I won't be back there's plenty of dive bars in Boston that will let me in. read more

Shh-booms is hands-down my favorite bar. Something rad happens every time you walk in the door. Whether it be old dudes in three-piece suits giving you step-by-step, unsolicited lessons in the art of throwing darts, dudes in drag singing madonna at the top of their lungs while Nazareth is blaring from the jukebox, or fellow patrons handing out homemade birthday cupcakes, it's never a bad time. read more

This is the best dart bar in the NE. Great food great staff! cool spot. If you throw, then this is the place to go!