A Better Glass of Beer

The Bell In Hand (45 Union St.)

A plaque outside this establishment tells the story of Old Jimmy Watson, the last of Boston's town criers, who finally gave up the town-crying business in 1795 to set up a tavern. Unfortunately, the fact that The Bell In Hand is one of Boston's oldest taverns is one of its few distinctions. This bar is exceedingly popular with a uniform group of young professionals and what one patron termed "students after their M-R-S degree."

A casual glance around the bar will result in meeting the intense gazes of several individuals whose expressions seem to say "I am the one for you--at least for tonight." The ubiquitous plaid button-downs obstruct the only entertainment in the bar: a fuzzy giant-screen projection of "Jeopardy!" No one seems to care that the clues cannot be seen and Alex Trebek can barely be heard.

Still, the beer is reasonably priced and the bar itself has a pleasant, wood-panelled aesthetic. Those looking for shoulder-to-shoulder company and a lack of character distractions should find The Bell In Hand a pleasing match.

The Littlest Pub (47 Province St)

So just how little is The Littlest Pub? The capacity of this Irish pub is close to 25 people, but the friendly atmosphere and intimate surroundings make it seem much like an upperclass common room. Crank up the Irish music in a JCR to reproduce the atmosphere: "The Commitments" soundtrack and the Cranberries dominate the sound system, although unadvertised Irish musicians have been known to cram into one corner of the bar and perform live.

Over the years, The Littlest Pub has become quite popular with locals and tourists alike, and icons of Irish culture such as Mary Black have been known to hold private parties there. "If I got a dollar for every time someone passed by and photographed the bar, I'd be retired by now," says Sarah, the bartender. She has worked at The Littlest Pub for nearly seven years and knows a large number of the patrons by name despite the bar's flourishing tourist trade.

Eddie, the cab driver-by-day who is The Littlest Bar's bouncer, says most of the students at the Pub come from Suffolk or BU. Harvard students would benefit from joining this small crowd, sitting under the (separate) photographs of the Pope and Joe Louis and having a great pint of Guinness (drawn by someone who knows how). One caveat: the policy on underage drinking is very strict at The Littlest Pub--you can try it, but you can't get away with it.

Clark's (inside South Station--not to be confused with the Clark's at Faneuil Hall)

Clark's provides the prefect background for a pleasant night--or even for an unpleasant one. this is due to the atmosphere of calm indifference, where even an altercation will garner little attention, except perhaps from the very attentive waitstaff. The clientele here seems to understand the positive relationship between drinking and waiting for trains. Patrons are not interested in forming life-long acquaintances--or even a one-night acquaintance.

The strains of ABBA are just loud enough that the lyrics can be made out, but not so loud that a conversation of normal volume cannot take place. In fact, this is one of the best aspects of Clark's--unlike many other bars, it can be a venue for either conversation or people-watching. If neither of these activities suits you, the numerous TV screens offer silent entertainment; for those stuck watching TV, the variety of beers on tap should soothe the pain. The only reason not to pay Clark's a visit would be an aversion to either train stations or ABBA.

Daisy Buchanan's (240 Newbury Street #A)

The name of the bar is no mere coincidence: from the aged wood panelling and Tiffany chandelier to the old-fashioned cash registers and five brands of bourbon, every effort is made at Daisy's to create an environment any Back Bay Gatsby would love. Even the music tends toward eras long past, playing many of the big band favorites that first put Bing and Doris on the charts.

The clean-cut, J. Crew crowd seems to appreciate this ambience of moneyed leisure, but other passers-by are easily intimidated and leave after only a glance at the bar's pricey interior. Customers asking for a Bud Light will be disappointed--but then again, guzzling Bud isn't really the reason to visit Daisy's in the first place. Here paying $6 for a weak Jameson's and soda grants you license to be part of the scene, to drift softly among some of Boston's more beautiful bodies.

Although Daisy's is often packed (especially now that their very popular kitchen has opened its doors for the season), the best time to enjoy the atmosphere is a quiet afternoon, when the bartenders are in the mood to talk and no one really minds a customer nursing his drink a while. However, most Harvard students would probably rather drown their sorrows at a free kegger than spend upwards of $30 for the privilege of being too drunk to find the T-stop.

Mr. Dooley's Boston Tavern (77 Broad St.)

The attire at Mr. Dooley's consists of an even distribution of leather jackets, windbreakers and well-tailored suits. A crowd with a wide age-range is brought together by the promise of good music and, as advertised, 13 imported beers on tap.

Conversation is very lively at Mr. Dooley's. Despite the difficulty of talking over the music--especially when standing near the bar--one can expect to be approached by sober or drunk strangers attempting to start up a conversation.

The use of traditional Irish and Scottish instruments as part of the decor reflects one of the main attractions of Mr. Dooleys: live Irish music by well-regarded local musicians. One of the few pauses in the din of conversations comes when the entire bar sings the chorus to a cover of a Pogues song. Numerous booths allow for privacy if desired, while the bar itself is crowded with minglers. For the rare students who manage to leave the Square, Mr. Dooley's is a top choice.