I pretty much never go to Beacon Hill, but Saturday night we wandered out there to see Dave and Mark from BOAT play as many instruments as they could play at once. (When we like a band around here, we really like them. We especially like them when they’re cute and charming and give us beer. We’re easily bought.)

The Beacon Pub is at 3057 Beacon, and lordy is it a dive. My favorite part is the sparkly New York City skyline over the bar, although the folding chairs and carpeted side bar are pretty good too. The tips on the darts are all bent and after our first pitcher they ran out of Mac & Jack. The place gives my Zoo Tavern a pretty good run for its money.

The clientele was clearly locals, people who have been hanging out at the bar long enough that they match it. And if you’re there I’d recommend using the women’s bathroom; the best part of dive bars is that there are almost always fewer women hanging out in them so the bathroom is generally unused and relatively clean.

I can’t vouch for the food–Wednesdays, I think, are make-your-own taco nights–but if you’re in Beacon Hill there’s not really any reason not to go have a drink at the Beacon Pub. It’s a great antidote to all the chrome and general shininess all the bars are being plagued with on this side of the city.