The Bell in Hand claims to be America's oldest tavern so of course I had to visit. My friend and I went bar hopping one evening and stopped in here after hitting up the Green Dragon across the alley. We only came for drinks at the bar, but there's another section that's a full service restaurant. I believe they also have a 2nd floor for events. The Bell in Hand was busy and had a lively crowd, much more so than the Green Dragon we just came from. There's a stage near the bar likely for bands. Service was quick, drinks were good. Looks like it would be a fun place to party on the weekends. read more

The Bell In Hand - Paul Revere Punch & some kind of ale. - Lounges Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Went to Bell in Hand Tavern with my mom while showing her around Boston. We were told to sit anywhere, so we grabbed a table near the bar. The place was not very busy at all (there were multiple open tables) yet we sat there for about 15 minutes without ever being acknowledged by the bartender serving the section. She served the table next to us, made eye contact with me multiple times, and still never said a word, not even "I'll be with you shortly." We eventually just walked out, which she clearly wasn't bothered by. I've never felt discriminated against at a restaurant before, but that's honestly how this experience felt. Really disappointing. read more

I love the history of the Bell in Hand. I know there are several bars that lay claim to the oldest bar in America and Bell in Hand has just as good of a case as any. The ladyfriend and I came here as our 1st stop on our long weekend in Boston. I was excited because they offered a non-mayo (I despise mayo!) version of the lobster roll. This one was served warm and with butter instead of mayo. So, the ladyfriend and I split a lobster roll (it comes with fries) and a cup of clam chowder. They were both just ok nothing special. I don't think it was anything the Bell in Hand did, I think it's just the nature of the dishes themselves. The Lobster roll was 38,00, this is pretty standard in all places that serve them so again not a complaint about Bell in Hand just the item, but for my money not worth it. Lobster is overrated to me. I am from Louisiana and lobsters are just flavorless giant crawfish to me. The only flavor is butter. The Clam Chowder too was bland. Maybe that's the nature of the dish, I don't know. I made a ham and corn chowder once and it was smokey, sweet and delicious. Maybe it's the clam. The place itself is nice and if you like lobster, this one is the same as any I have ever had. I liked that they had a beer, the Bell in Hand Ale that is unique to the bar (brewed by Sam Adams) and again I loved the history. Service was really good as well. read more

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Located in a happening area, I stopped in for a drink. Had a local craft draft, available in shorts (12 oz) or longs (I believe 20 oz). I sat at the bar, you can also order food at the bar. They do have a separate dining area as well. One sign reads that they are the oldest tavern in America - this is not true (White Horse Tavern and Fraunces Tavern are much older). Another plaque states that they're the oldest continuously running tavern. Facts aside, it's an old tavern but it didn't have as much ambience on the inside as I would have hoped for. read more

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This place was recommended and did not disappoint. Had local cider and beer which was a refreshing crisp drink with the hot lobster roll and the Cioppino. The food was absolutely amazing. The service was good as they checked in on us regularly. I had to be patient for the Cioppino but well worth the wait. The place was clean and inviting and very old and rustic but unkept. Definitely stop here for some food and a drink great place great experience. read more

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Very surprised by the low reviews I actually thought for bar food it was so much better and fresher than anywhere else. The wings were so crispy and juicy. The real MVP was the lobster grilled cheese. Mmmmmmm read more

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Fun little place right in the thick of it. Seems to be a must see considering the history. Beers are a bit pricey but good and we got the pretzels with cheese and mustard. VERY GOOD. The service was fast and friendly. If we ever come back to Boston, we'll come back read more

The Bell In Hand - Warm Soft Pretzels - Lounges Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

We had been walking in the snow and were thrilled to stop in to warm up! It was so cozy and the service was fantastic. We had great appetizers, especially the pretzel. An amazing beer selection as well as ciders & liquor. The Olympics were playing and the owner stopped by to say hi. Great afternoon! read more

Ok, maybe not a hidden gem since it's right out on Union St near Faneuil Hall, but I've been in Boston for about 15 years and I hadn't been until this week! My family was out for the day and needed a quick bite that would satisfy somewhat picky kids and also two adults without feeling like it was a restaurant only for kids or only for adults. The food was quick and tasted really good! The pretzel app was soft and warm, the kids grilled cheese was better than standard Kraft cheese, and the fish tacos were huge! The corn tortilla was a great swap on the tacos too. read more

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Pros -if a huge bar with plenty of outdoor receiving, back seating in a more classic restaurant, vibe, and plenty of seating in the front, which is more bar sport vibe -seated right away. No wait at busy peak times - SERVICE. Absolutely top-notch given how busy it was. food pro: - clam chowder was good, but did have a pepper-y taste (i liked it) -fish tacos were filling and perfectly cooked -oysters - food came out fast Cons: - nachos - A tad pricey but given the area and how fast we were seated we did not care The place across the street had an hour wait read more

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We went to this bar over the weekend. It was packed and there were a lot of younger aged people there. To go upstairs, you have to wait in a large line and they only let you upstairs as people come down. Once upstairs, it was pretty loud and the music selections were okay. It was alright, but I think we would go to another bar when we go out again in Boston. read more

Before a big game at the garden, or if you're visiting the City Hall area, you have to stop by the Bell in Hand. They have a great selection of craft beers on tap as well as in bottles and cans. They also have one of the better outdoor beer garden, and a great service staff. On a beautiful 4th of July, when all the bars with a beer garden in the area said we had to order food to sit outside, this guy named Adam, who happens to be the owner, said we'll get you a seat outside in the shade. What customer focus! My wife ordered one of the canned seltzers, and they had no problem, providing a glass of ice with a little bit of orange juice (that's how she likes her seltzers out of the can). Again, great customer care. read more

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How cool is it to say I came to this bar while in Boston! The history in this city is just so cool to be apart of and this bar was a very fun atmosphere. We actually got let in through the back part of the bar that was not as crazy as the front entrance. We got a couple drinks and even bought a tshirt as well to commemorate our trip to Boston. The bartender was lovely and super attentive getting us refills on our drinks whenever we were running low. Next time we come back to Boston we will definitely be sure to stop by again! read more

The Bell In Hand - Lounges Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

This is the Oldest Tavern/Restaurant in Boston... We just came for a drink so we could say we been there!!! It's very cute and the drinks were strong!!! read more

During our Boston trip, we definitely had to stop by the Bell in Hand as it regarded as the oldest continuously operated bar in the city from the post-revolutionary days. Paul Revere, who the name of the bar had nothing to do with, apparently used to visit here frequently! Luckily, this bar is located near some other sightseeing spots because the service and inside of the establishment leaves much to be desired. Still, I think it is necessary to pop in for a beer and then you can always head next-door to the famous Union Oyster House for more beers and stuffed clams. read more

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Was visiting Boston for a short trip and was recommended this spot so came for drinks after work. Service was friendly and we were seated right on entry. Not much to say cause we just had cold ones but we enjoyed the drinks! The vibes is what I hear you come for and I do agree it's good vibes. It's also cool knowing that it's one of the oldest if not the oldest tavern in States. read more

The Bell In Hand - Lounges Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

The pretzels were SO good ! They came hot, soft, salty with cheese dip and honey mustard dip. I enjoyed the hot pretzel so much I ate it mostly plain, but had to have a little of the cheese dip too. We sat at a high table next to the open windows, feeling the nice fall air and people watching to accompany our conversation. It looked small as you enter, with seating along the right wall then you enter the bar area on he left, where I can imagine having a pint with the founder, who had been the Town Crier for 50 years before retiring and opening his tavern. The Bell reminded me of the older pubs I'd go to back in the UK so there was a bit of "home feeling" there. Our window table looked out onto the glass towers of the Holocaust memorial, adding more history to this area, with the cobbled side street and general atmosphere. They also have outside seating right in front: not sure if they were serving only drinks there or food as well. The building isn't the original one but has been renovated to the same architecture. Pop in for a pint of unfiltered cider or beer, or a cocktail and have those pretzels ! read more

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$18 for a tall beer? We went over $40 for 2 beers. Small place which is fine, but felt touristy (ok, we are tourists) but......

This Guinness pour would result in a short stint in an Irish Jail. Jimmy Wilson's ghost need to pop in for some quick staff training. Food and service was good tho. read more

The Bell In Hand - Guinness pour? - Lounges Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Really good wings! So crispy. Weird to me that they weren't tossed in the buffalo sauce and it was on the side, but still very good. Chowder was creamy and hot. Very enjoyable meal. Service was very slow and it is seat yourself. Inside is standard pub. There is a bar area and a dining area. Smelled like fish and chips and it wasn't too loud! read more

The Bell In Hand - Buffalo Chicken Wings - Lounges Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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This was a great spot to stop in for a beer and bite to eat before seeing Ghost at TD Garden. We parked nearby to be a little further away from all the crowds and it was well worth it. Leaving the parking garage this spot was right across the road. Doing some research before we chose this spot as it made us intrigued due to the fact it is the longest continuously run tavern in America since 1795. While we did not feel like we transported that far back, it did feel like an old building, trying to keep as much history they can while also making necessary improvements to keep up with the times. We decided to grab some bar stools cause why not, it was not that crazy when we stopped in. The bartender when we first checked in appeared to maybe having a rough day or was ready for their shift to be over. I can definitely understand that so no worries on that. Despite this they offered us menus and got our drinks. My wife grabbed a can of beer while I decided to give their "house brew" a try (brewed by Sam Adams I believe). It was alright, nothing mind blowing but worth trying. Food wise during my research my wife wanted to try their pesto chicken sandwich. From so many positive reviews I needed to check out their fish and chips. My wife enjoyed her sandwich and I really enjoyed the fish and chips. Even my wife liked their fish and said it tasted nothing like fish she said which is high praise. Perfectly cooked fish and the fries/chips were crisp and seasoned well. Also met a friendly local who worked in the area who was also attending the concert and had some good conversations with him. The biggest complaint honestly was the restroom with my wife saying for the women's almost everything was messed up. She said it had three stalls with two stalls being used and/or locked for being out of order with the third not locking and also toilet not flushing with no functional hand dryer. So in the end service at first was a little off and bathroom needed some work done to it. Overall though food was tasty and the spot is worth checking out due to history and longevity of the place. read more

We didn't eat so this is just a review for drinks, service, and atmosphere. Oldest operating bar in U.S., etc., etc. If you go in expecting it to feel like an immersion in history, you're in for a let down. You will not sit and watch football on the same large screen where John Adams watched football back in the day. But you willl definitely have a view of a game on a large screen. I dont know if John Adams would have liked Applebee's, but if he did, he would probably like this vibe. We went on a Saturday afternoon and it could not have been more busy. But service was quick and attentive. Old fashioneds were well made. You'll be paying a little extra for the whole oldest tavern shtick, but you can say you were there and go on with your day. read more

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What a cool, historic place. You have to try the oldest tavern in the US while you're visiting Boston. We went in for a snack and drinks while it was raining. Service was ok, they could have been a little more attentive. We tried a cocktail called Paul Revere Punch, I liked it more than my wife, she thought it was to strong, I thought it was fine. I had a Bell in hand Ale. It was a good, easy drinker. For our snacks, the wife had a basket of fries, which were really good, and I had a bowl of clam chowder, which hit the spot on a cool, rainy day. We'd go there again for dinner on our next visit. read more

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First come first serve seating which isn't great when the place is busy. However, the doors are all open which allows the staff to move inside and back out with ease. The food itself was fine but you're mostly going here for the atmosphere. I'd say to stop if you're in the area but don't go out of your way. read more

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The fish and chips were amazing. I loved that it was more fish and less breading. The breading was perfect! Son had fried shrimp plate and he Loved too. Hubby had appetizer for entree of burger sliders, he said yummy and quite filling. The Old Bar, Art on Walls certainly makes you step back in time. The vibe was friendly and customer service great. Even witnessed Boston food tour group come in to sample the fare! Everyone was having good time. Traveling from Atlanta to Boston to Maine. So far so Great! Glad we made the stop. Mz read more

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Oldest bar in the country! Good service,good vibes,solid food. Fun stop before a game! read more

The Bell In Hand - Lounges Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Visiting from San Diego and we enjoyed this place! Bar was packed and crowded. Hype crowd. Great bartending service and definitely place to stop mid Freedom Trail. read more

The Bell In Hand - Lounges Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Fun historic vibe! They were crowded, but we were able to get quickly seated at the bar! The lobster grilled cheese was amazing! The staff was attentive! I ordered the steak. It was good, but nothing special. Great location mid freedom trail! Stopping for good food and drink! read more

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Rudest bartender in America. We were so looking forward to the oldest pub in America. Sat at the bar. Good pretzel. We were there at 2 pm on Feb 20. The staff fought - she was curt and rude. Drats.... read more

This is a casual restraunt. Seats are first come seat yourself. Our server was very good. He kept checking on us but was not hovering. The food was outstanding. If you order lobster, be ready to open your wallet. It goes at market price. It was well worth the price. The chowder was thick and creamy. It had chunks of clams in it. One thing I don't like is a clam chowder that you can not find the class in it. We sat next to a window. We enjoyed the window was open. It is like they remove the windows so you can enjoy the weather. Put this place on your bucket list. read more

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Food here was very good! The clam chowder was amazing! Super heavy - and creamy. Was good with just the cup instead of the bowl; unless you want to share it....the lobster rolls were VERY good, specially the lobster roll grilled cheese - strongly recommend it. Sitting inside the restaurant was challenging - we sat on our own and no one came to help us; so we moved outside (we really wanted to give this place a try).....Glad we did; because the young lady that help us was amazing (we completely forgot her name); great attitude and very engaged even sharing some of the history about the restaurant. She made up for the lack of service inside. So I recommend sitting outside. read more

The Bell In Hand - Lounges Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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We had a great time here. The server was on point and gave good recommendations. Had the Bavarian pretzels as an app- delicious . Had Mac and cheese , baked haddock , quahogs , chili . Had the mule drink . Winter mule I think. The place had a real historical vibe too.. the oldest tavern in the USA so it better !! read more

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I've eaten here once prior but came again last week to meet up with friends. I'm not a drinker, but two were so they had multiple drinks. They basically only offer high tops, which sucks for us short people and those short people who are having hip surgery soon. I stood up mostly just because I despise high tops. The waitress was okay. She just came occasionally and when she realized she wasn't getting big tips from unsweetened tea and water, she ignored us. The bathrooms are awful. The windows blew open and hit another friend in the back of the head. We just had an okay visit. The last time we had food, it was the same overpriced touristy stuff. read more

We had the Sam Adam burger & Black & Bell burger. Both were amazing. The bartender was our server & she did great covering the high tops & bar during lunch hour. This is a quaint & old restaurant & must visit! The environment is tavern heaven!! read more

The Bell In Hand - The Guiness & The Honorable cocktail - Lounges Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

The server was very friendly and the outdoor patio was perfect with nice Sade and casual vibe. We tried the Clam Chowder and the lobster roll they were both delicious! The only problem was the lobster roll was market price which was $52 dollars. The roll was definitely not worth that price read more

Our flight was canceled so we walked the Holocaust Memorial and walked into The Bell In Hand. We grabbed a seat at the historical bar top and that's where the magic started. Our bar tender was amazing, such a cool dude and amazing at his craft! The lobsta Mac n' cheese was delicious! The fish in the fish and chips were so soft and fluffy, just perfectly cooked!! The fresh daily made chowda was the best we had our entire week in Boston. The ambiance is amazing, so historical but still so the comfortable tavern feel. Just dark enough, sports on the TVs and friendly staff. We'll return here! read more

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This is my second time eating here, and it was excellent again. We were able to sit outside which was lovely. Service was speedy as well! Definitely a must go to in Boston. read more

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Recently visited Boston for the first time. The Bell in Hand was on our list of things to do and places to go as it is the oldest tavern in Boston. Upon arriving at The Bell in Hand, we noticed it was pretty dead. There was live acoustic entertainment, but not much going on. We grabbed a couple of seats and viewed the menu. A female approached us and she was NOT welcoming. AT ALL. There was no 'Hello', no 'How's it going?' She just had a sh*t look on her face and asked if we wanted drinks. We placed our order, which was just a couple of drinks, and she walked off. Both my husband and I looked at each other and were like, WTF? A few minutes later she came back with our drinks, set them down and walked off. She didn't bother to ask if we wanted anything else or if we wanted to order some food. We sat there, listening to the live music, enjoying our drinks regardless of the unwelcoming attitude of the waitress. Time went on and we had finished our drinks. The waitress was wandering around, not really doing much, just walking around talking to different employees. After a long while she finally came by and asked if we wanted another round. My husband did, I didn't. After she brought his beer and set it down, we continued to listen to the music. At one point the waitress happened to be in my eye-line between me and the musician. She looked at me and I turned my eyes to look at her. She was giving me a dirty look and it literally became a stare down with a message, and her message was 'finish your drink and leave, you are not welcome'. My husband finally finished his beer and we began to look for this waitress so we could pay our bill. We finally found her. She was in the corner eating pizza, neglecting her customers. There might not have been a lot, but still doesn't justify her taking a break and eating while customers are waiting on her. And so, we continued to wait...and wait...and wait for her to finally finish eating and tend to her duties. I've read the other reviews for this establishment. They're mixed, but there are quite a few stating the service was horrible or that the waitress was horrible. Such a shame since people visit The Bell in Hand for its historical appeal only to be disappointed because the service and/or waitress was horrible. Clearly a conversation with this waitress or even some retraining needs to happen. Or some permanent changes. You can't allow an employee(s) to tarnish the reputation of a historic establishment. (Only reason why I gave an extra star was for the historic building.) read more

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Good spot! Longest operating bar in the US! I was expecting it to be gimicky but it really wasn't. Prices for beer and food were good, and the food was pretty good! I got the nachos and they hit the spot, and the beer was lots of local options and yummy. Cool spot! read more

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This was an incredible surprise! Was trying to get in the old oyster house near by but had an hour wait. Walked straight in here and was seated immediately. Served was adorable and so friendly and attentive. The food blew us away! We were finishing a 11 day trip down from Canada and this had the best clam chowder of all of the places we had gone. The PEI mussels and the Brie appetizer was divine. Fish and chips were fantastic. Their bread.... omg! Atmosphere is fun too! One of the best meals we had. read more

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