this is the darkest bar in the world.
i couldn't see my friends sitting across the table from me, and then somehow the lights were turned DOWN at one point in the evening. we left at 10pm and it was brighter outside than in.... and there was no moon that night.
otherwise, the beers were reasonably priced and it wasn't crazy crowded on a friday night.
I moved to J.P. many years ago to be closer to a girl I was seeing, and The Behan became our regular hangout. One of the more painful parts of our eventual breakup was figuring out how we could both still go to The Behan. It's that good of a bar: neither one of us was willing to cede a night there! I am sure many other ex-couples have had fights over their own visitation rights.
Anyway, you didn't come here to read my diary. The Behan is a great local bar, and it's worth the trip to J.P. if you're not from the neighborhood (and you'll make friends at The Behan, and those friends will lend you their couches so you can crash there after last call). While I'm mostly into cheap swill these days, The Behan has one of the more impressive draft lists in town, so like me you might be tempted to sample the finer things in life when you're there. Friendly staff with great taste in music, too. Whether you're looking for an afternoon drink or a Friday night of bad decisions, The Behan is a fun place to spend your time.
My friend and I were out exploring JP, I just moved there. Honestly, its not that happening in JP. We tried Canary Sq. first and that was a little more uppity than we were looking for on that night, so we walked down to Brendan Behan! A little intimidated at first, we were the most "college" looking girls in there, but the door man was really nice. It wasnt crowded at all (it was saturday night). The beer list is great, but I had no idea what I wanted.
Even though the bar was full, the bartender (the guy) called us to the end of the bar, seeing our struggle faces. He was so nice and asked us what we like to drink, and got us samples of different beers to try. It was great! We found beers we liked, and the prices were good, compared to bars downtown/backbay, obviously. He made us feel really comfortable. THANK YOU!
Its dark and divey in this bar. But we were looking for a laid back place to just chat, it was good! I would have liked to try more beers here, but two sort of creepy guys came and sat with us, so we had to leave asaprocky.
The night ended with chinese food from across the street. Successful evening! Id like to come back again! (maybe bring my dog?)
Most pretentious bar in Boston. First time ordering a drink there and I made a mistake in the title of a beer. The bartender laughed at me and then made an inappropriate joke. A few seconds later I saw him pointing out the mistake to his bouncer behind the bar and they had a good laugh.
The selection of the beer was great, but nothing makes a beer taste bad like some person laughing in your face!
Will never return.
I came here with local friends and really liked the atmosphere as well as the beer selection. Â It's got just the right amount of light (not too much), and you're not looking at a TV on every corner of the wall like you might at other pubs. It's casual, it's social, and it's friendly - and that goes for the bartenders too.
Review Source:I went here recently with a friend who lives in the area and I can't put my finger on it, but I really liked this bar. The bartender tried to appease my finicky beer tastes (it's my problem, not the bar, they have a pretty wide selection) with some samples and didn't make me feel like an asshole for liking neither, which I really appreciated. They don't have a kitchen, but they make it up to ya by letting you bring food into the place. There are some places across the street, which makes it easy. The reasons I don't give it 5 stars are: 1) The music was a bit too loud, 2) it was a bit too dark (wow, I sound old), and 3) cash only. I would return the next time I'm in JP.
Review Source:Great little pub in JP, off the beaten path.
I love the bartenders: very helpful and knowledgable. For some reason, I love the chalkboard on the wall to the left behind the bar. The bartenders write the ever-changing beer list on it; I just love the way that chalkboard melts into the wall.
A bit crowded on the weekends, so get there early and grab a seat.
They don't have a kitchen, but you can bring in your own food. I suggest stocking up on some Food Wall from across the street.
Dogs allowed. I swear I once saw a pet pig in there, but maybe not? I could be making that up...
Cash only, but there's an ATM.
I like this place, though I feel it could be a bit more "pub" like. That is not to take away from the decor, but rather that a lot of times the place is so packed full of "new" JP residents that it feels more like any other bar than a cozy pub. Plus, if there is anyone ever standing in the corner, they won't let you play darts.
Good beer selection and extremely helpful staff. I would check this place out in the afternoon when you can get lost in your pint instead of in the drone of an average bar. Otherwise, you're going to find an experience and can be easily replicated elsewhere.
One of the things I miss about JP. Â
I came in here last Saturday night for a quick drink and walked right into the middle of a mini-concert that was a chock full'o string instruments with a few drowsy dogs camped out. Â Where can you get something like this elsewhere in Boston. Â What I always loved about Brendan's is that it's a real pub with real people and not a fake Irish bar like the ones that populate downtown Boston. Â This is as close to authentic as you are going to get. Â Enjoy.
Found out the hard way that dog friendly does not mean pet friendly. After hearing rave reviews about this place from a few friends, my boyfriend and I decided to stop by for a Sunday afternoon drink with our pet pig (he's a house pet, about 20 pounds at 8 months old). When we tried to walk in, the bartender greeted us with a 'No way, no f**king way I'm turning my bar into a barnyard!' He then asked us to leave. I understand if we aren't allowed in (there are only a couple places that do), but a simple 'I'm sorry we are dog friendly but can't let a pig in would have been sufficient. I honestly can't remember the last time I was treated so rudely. Needless to say I won't be going back, and will be recommending to all of my dog and pig-loving friends to go elsewhere as well.
Review Source:Tiny space full of music, dancing and dogs.
That's what we walked into last Saturday evening, after a nice dinner. Ready for a nightcap and in the area, how could I skip on a bar that advocates dogs? Unfortunately I didn't have one of my own, but there were still a couple that hadn't turned in for the evening lounging on the ground when we arrived to the tune of an Irish band (what else?) Jameson on the rocks and a table in the corner was the recipe for success here.
Pretty crowded, but that's unavoidable at a tiny spot like this. The locals were friendly too - and not just those of the canine persuasion.
My desert island bar. Arguably the best bar in the known universe.
They have:
- Awesome beer list
- A pro-dog policy
- Trivia (gets crowded!)
- A solid actual pub feel (books on the walls)
- Music played by customers every once in a while
They don't have:
- Jerks for staff or for customers
- TV's (except for sporting events/etc when they pull out the projector).
- Food, ergo you can take your own. (pour one out for the pupusa place, but pizza next door is OK and Blue Nile across the street is a winner)
I think it's a win/win/win/win
Sometimes commonly referred to as "Dog Bar", this cute little pub allows owners to bring in their dogs while they enjoy a pint or come in for Trivia on Tuesdays. Â They have a great selection of beers and if you're feeling like being a hipster or drinking cheap, you can always grab a PBR pint for $3. Â I would give this place a 5th star, but a bar automatically losses a star for being cash only. Â On the plus side, the bartenders are always friendly and if you're hungry, they allow you to bring in your own food! Â I highley recommend going across the street to the Kennedy Fried Chicken for some cheap delicious grub.
All in all, a great place to go to with friends.
I adore this place. It's a fun, comfortable spot. It's affordable. There's never a cover. The people who work here are friendly and awesome. You can bring in outside food. You can bring your dog. You can fawn over other people's dogs, if you're sad and dog-less like me. They have great taste in music too! But, that brings me to my only problem here. It's embarrassing to admit, but, I think the music is too loud.
I know, I'm old. And uncool. ("You darn kids get off my lawn!") My problem with the volume stems from the Behan's website, purporting it to be "the talking bar." But I find I can never actually talk to anyone here if they're not sitting right next to me and shouting.
But still, I adore this place and I'll be back. Frequently.
Everything about this place screams local pub local pub local pub. Â I used to live in Jamaica Plain for four years and frequently came here with coworker friends. Â Now that I live in Hyde Park I rarely frequent this area anymore but I did stop by Friday night when I saw via FB that a friend was there. Â Walking in brought back old memories of cold winter nights greeted by a warm atmosphere, good beer, and good friends. Â
This place is great for many reasons but my favorites are:
1) Â Local bar! Independently owned, unique, just good times. Â Not sure if they still have a juke box but they used to (which was always fun to do something crazy like play Brittany Spears in in the Behan! ) Â They also used to have movie nights - not sure if they still do but those were good times.
2) Good beer. Â Lots of local beer on tap and the bartenders know what they are doing. Â I have had many many Harpoon UFOs here with a slice of lemon.
3) Â Dark and cozy. I like the dark atmosphere and awkward seating.
4) Â You can bring your dogs! Yes you can and be careful esp during the winter because walking in the dark bar you may just trip over a dog! Â I love dogs!
5) You can bring in food! They don't serve food here so instead you are allowed to bring in your food. We used to hit up the pupuseria next door and get our Salvadoran on. Unfortunately that place closed but there are many other Chinese, pizza, etc. places around to get something to go.
6) Friends! Â Everyone goes here that lives in JP. Â It's a great place to catch up with friends or hit up the bar after a hard work day.
I miss you so much bar!
These days we are flush with awesome bars in the Hyde Square/Canary area. Â But you know what? Â Nothing beats the cozy familiarity of the Behan.
Here's the pluses:
Dogs are allowed. Â Though I'm not sure the dogs are always psyched to be tagging along, they are psyched to be pet by you.
Take out allowed.
DIY Irish music allowed on the weekend.
All that and excellent tap list. Â Just wish there were a few more seats or stools. Â This place gets crowded on blustery winter nights!
I have been to the Behan more times than I can count. Â This place is like an old friend I have only known for 5 years, yet we don't even need to speak to communicate.
The Behan is part of me. Â
I have recently traveled to Ireland and was totally shocked at how much the Behan felt like a real suburban Irish pub. Â Moreover, like a moron I kept thinking 'wow, this place is JUST like the Behan' throughout my travels.
The Behan is a place to go for a few beers, watch a big Sox game (get there early if you want to see the TV) and see people you know from around town.
It is dark, always smells like the bathroom, you trip over dogs and left over chinese food. Â It is a the perfect local Irish pub in JP. Â People who are not cool with dogs in bars and food from local establishments. Â Have fun at the Alchemist.
HAPPYHAPPYHAPPY!
Some people know this about me...you probably do not...I LOVE beer...I can't get enough of it...I think about it a lot...
I was directed to the Behan when looking for a place to eat and drink in JP. Â Through yelp I found La Pupusa for food and after asking a friend who had been there about the alcohol situation (there is none at La Pupusa) he recommended taking La Pupusa to the Behan (they do NOT serve food) and eat there...this is common and accepted and wonderful! Â
I immediately liked the decor of the Behan and was giddy about all the beers on tap, there were probably 20...maybe more, maybe less...but a great selection. Â They allow dogs so if you're afraid or allergic this might not be your best bet. Â Also, it's cash only, but there's an atm inside that only has a .99 fee! Â Hooray for savings!
This is your perfect night: dinner from La Pupusa enjoyed with a beer at the Behan and the most amazing tattoo you can ever imagine from Fat Ram's...You can thank me later.
I want to give the Behan a stellar review. Bring your own food, bring your dog, bring your friends, and sit drinking $4.50 Anchor Steam or Brooklyn Lager. A good selection of tap beers seems like fun.
However, I'm really not sure how clean their lines are. I switched to Stella after a couple of Anchor Steams. It tasted funny like sour grape bubble gum. I had this flavor tested and seconded, thirded and fourthed by my friends. Like a fool, I drank it. Don't repeat my mistake. If it tastes strange, it's probably strange. I'm pretty sure the yucky beer is what gave me a two day hangover. A terrible terrible two day hangover.
So, five stars for bottles and cans and whatever isn't on tap. Two stars for sour beer. Negative stars to me for drinking a clearly off beer.
Also, don't go on Tuesdays if you want to hang out and have a chat. 8 to 10 is quiz night. Do go if you like quiz night.
I've been in and out of the Behan Pub over the last few years, but not as a regular. Still, its apparent that the Behan makes for a top-notch neighborhood joint.
The only reason that it doesn't get a full 5 stars from me is because what most see as pros are sometimes cons to me.
Great music; But sometimes too loud.
No regular TV blaring can be a good thing; But sometimes I want to zone out starring at a screen.
Great beer selection; But I only drink cheap, don't much care.
For JP residents the Behan will always be a haven, and I'm no exception. And while I never remember to take advantage of it, when there's a fireplace, cheap beer, and free wi-fi, it should be the perfect place to relax early afternoon.
Of course, hats off for being a dog friendly bar.
I won't lie: the fact that there are always dogs in the Behan is the main reason I'm giving the place five stars. But it's far from the only reason.
The Behan is a wonderful neighborhood pub in every way possible. It has a cozy, warm, and inviting atmosphere; an extensive selection of beers on tap; a staff that's friendly and plays excellent music all of the time; and you're allowed to bring in food from anywhere you want.
What's better than eating some Food Wall, drinking a few pints, listening to The Clash, and hanging out with a load of dogs? Correct answer: almost nothing.
Why do I like the Behan? Mostly because they don't sell condoms.
Sure, they still have the condom dispenser up in the mens bathroom. Sure, it looks old enough to have only sold lambskin rubbers. Sure, it's covered in graffiti and stickers and has a huge honkin' lock on the side so that no one steals the nothing that's inside. Considering it no longer serves it's condom-vending purpose and looks like trash and kinda gets in your way if two guys are peeing and you're the one on the inside, it makes a lot of sense to take it down. But it also makes a lot of sense to say "Fuckit" and have a beer instead.
Why else do I like the Behan? You can bring your dog and won't get hassled about it. Some of the tables wobble like you're playing a booze version of Topple but you can usually find one unless it's the weekend. Â They sometimes have a broken front window or two but they've already taped a few coasters together to cover the whole and hey, they'll get to it alright? Quit being so overbearing. Have a beer and relax.
Bars are for drinking. The Behan is a bar. The Behan is for drinking.
Sometimes you just want to leave your house. Â and pay someone to pour you a drink so you dont feel like a lush looser sitting at home with your beer alone watching dancing with the stars.
Sometimes you dont want to go more than a block to drink.
Brendan Beehan is perfect for these times....oh and you can bring in your own food..major bonus!
Oh the Behan. How I've longed to enter your soft lit, wooden interior with the fish tank in the corner that pretends to be a tv.
I was worried the only other bar close to my place wouldn't provide the correct amount of unpretentiousness/eccentric/relaxed...but it has.
1. great beer selection
2. you can bring in outside food ( I suppose this means I'll have to review the chinese food place across the street.)
3. you can bring dogs
a great lab was ambling around the pub and kept coming up to me to pet it.
Here's the thing that you don't realize because it doesn't happen at other bars - dogs and beer go together.
Drinking with friends and petting a dog...outstanding.
Shame, shame, shame on me for having ever written a one sentence review of the Brendan Behan. You know that scene from that abortion of a movie The DaVinci Code when the monk dude whips his own back with that bad ass whip and then puts that garter belt from hell on? Yeah, that's what I've had to do to myself to make amends for this vast disservice.
The 'Behan' IS one word like:
-Mommy
-Papa
-Lover
-Home
I fucking love the Behan in a timeless, everlasting, endearing, cheesy, puts little cartoon fireworks in my eyes, kind of way. I feel bad when I cheat on the Behan and go to other pubs, a little piece of me dies every time I do this and I am pretty sure that this also causes baby seals to cry and the ice caps to melt faster.
If the Brendan Behan were a superhero it's strength would be awesomeness. If the Brendan Behan were a girl it/she would have awesome knockers and put out on the first date. If the Brendan Behan were your Dad it/he would teach you how to throw a killer curve ball. If the Brendan Behan were a flavor it would be, chocolate-strawberry-coffee-ginger-mint-Guinness. Yeah.
Seriously, best spot in JP. You WILL bring your dog, and your dog can rule everybody's face and just be a dog and run around and shit. You WILL bring food in from anywhere you want. You WILL have a blast if you catch a Red Sox or Celtics game here on a packed night. You WILL hear live Irish music on Saturday afternoons. You WILL get shit housed if you want to. You WILL want to move to JP once you fall for the Behan.
A fun pub that you can bring your dog to. Â It just seems so natural that I don't know why all pubs don't do it. Â And if dogs, beer, and cider weren't enough, you can get Chinese food across the street and bring it in. Â We came here as part of a group of 9 people and 3 dogs after the Hounds of Yelp event. Â It was an awesome way to spend the afternoon. Â If I lived closer and had a dog, I'd be a regular. Â Just keep Rover away from the darts, though. Â At least if I'm playing. Â 5 stars because I loved it.
Much of why I liked this Pub was the dogs and their owners. Â Thanks to Brian for organizing the day and to everyone who brought their dogs. Â It's too bad that more people and dogs didn't stick around after the Arboretum and join in at the pub - that would have only made it better. Â But really, it was still awesome. Â And I came home with enough treats for the office dog (a little white puppy who we have to keep away from the chocolate). Â Okay, this is a review about the Brendan Behan Pub so I'll just state the obvious. Â If you want your faithful hound to join you at a friendly and laid-back pub, you won't do better than here.
Last time I was here it reeked of vomit, a dog smelled my crotch, and a girl wearing a hoodie of a college basketball that opposed the team from my hoodie tried to pick a fight with me.
I like the Behan. It just gets so crowded and all the tables are wobbly. And I always end up getting stuck in the back with the weird lighting.
I find that the Behan is much better for pit stops and pub crawls than for entire evenings out.
I like beer.
I like dogs.
I like people.
I like "no attitude" places.
I like The Behan.
Sit down, have some drinks. Bring your dog if you'd like. Strike up some conversations with friendly people. Leave the attitude at home, everybody else did. People are here to drink, have fun, and hang out.
I may have gone on a date at the Behan last winter. Â I mean, it was definitely at the Behan...I'm still not sure whther it was a date or not.
It was a Tuesday night but Trivia had been cancelled so the place was pretty empty, it was dimly lit enough to be mysterious, and we were sitting right over the heat vent so it encouraged the removal of clothing. Â All good things.
It's dog friendly, which is cool, but I wasn't aware of it until I felt something wet and furry brush along my leg. Â It's a disorienting feeling if you're not expecting it, I'll tell you what.
I really only picked that spot because I know Brendan Behan's nieces and they asked me to throw back a pint for him when I got to town.
I feel that I've done my duty and I don't really feel the need to go back.
Pretty utilitarian, but in a cozy way. Â BEER - SIT - TALK. Â Oh, and dogs. Â How very JP of the place. Â Fine with me, honestly. Â I like the place. Â My wife wasn't so keen on the dogs thing as she has allergies. Â Also, she thought the place smelled of post-puke-clean-up cleaning products. Â I didn't notice, but my nose was probably buried in one of their many good pints on tap.
Seems a cool place if your plans are along the lines of "Fuck it, let's drink" and don't really feel the need to aspire to much more than that.
I really want to love the Behan. Â I really, really do. Â It has everything I normally love about bars: booze; dingy atmosphere; practically no light; big TV to watch the game on; surly clientle; and just enough noise to hide your conversation from others, but you can still talk to your friends.
Here's the problem, though. Â The Behan attracts dogs. Â Actual canines. Â I love dogs. Â I think they are cute and adorable. Â Unfortunately, my nose, eyes, throat and lungs heartily disagree. Â Some friends and I were watching the game last week and I was fine for awhile. Â But it became unbearable. Â Three dogs = Kirs non-stop sneezing, wheezing, and being generally miserable. Â I had to leave. Â Which really sucked. Â And it's unlikely I'll be back for any length of time as a result. Â As soon as a dog walks in, I'll be walking out.
Sometimes all I want is a stool and a cold beer.
And in those cases this is the perfect place to go.
Located exactly 30 steps from my front door it's extremely convenient and I honestly don't take advantage of this enough. Probably because it's usually full of scencesterish people that are WAY too cool for me or people that I don't like (aka- everyone)
I want to give this place 5 stars for back in the day.... good bartenders,, cheap booze and rockabilly. Then some bitch upstairs or next door complained so they stopped the live music, then they remodeled and now it's often filled with cheese balls and bad music. There are some good nights, and I love food wall washed down with beer, but overall now it's a 2-3 star place.
Bring back the old school Behan!
Great neighborhood bar.
Just as I love restaurants where you can BYOB, I love bars where you can BYOF (that's food.)
It always either smells dirty or of some sort of harsh cleanser. But it's a snug and humble place with character and friendly bartenders.
Don't forget about trivs on Tuesday nights.
The 5 best restaurants in the 2015 Denver Restaurant Week
3,611 Views | Category: Denver
The complete list of 2015 Denver Restaurant Week businesses
1,972 Views | Category: Denver
The tourists' guide to Portillos: 5 must have dishes
3,318 Views | Category: Chicago
Pho = Pronounced "fuh" not "foe" for pho-king sake
2,916 Views | Category: Denver
Indulgery selected to exhibit at Collision Conference
2,987 Views | Category: Press Releases
Not Logged In
BUSINESSES
Local Businesses
Near Me
My Favorites
SOCIAL
Blog & News
MY ACCOUNT
Login
Register
Contact Us
Add Your Business
