If there was ever a place to go at that point in the night in which everything turns wonderfully weird, Sligo is it.
There's writing etched into all of the surfaces, it's a little grimy, super narrow, and the beer is cheap. I love walking by and seeing people in their during the day: it's so amusing to me given that I don't think I've ever passed through those doors before 11pm (and that's being generous).
All in all, this is a no frills dive. If you aren't choosy about atmosphere or like that sort of authentic, local bar feel, I'd give Sligo a shot.
I'm giving it 3 instead of 2 b/c it wasn't as packed as the other places (Saturday night at 10:30pm) and the beer was cheap. Not a big menu, but I liked what they offered (can't go wrong w a good UFO) - and it was $4!
It is a small place w bathroom doors that don't lock. But instead of a jukebox they have a giant iPod-looking thing on the wall. That's pretty cool. I like technology. We're getting close to Star Trek, where everything is a touch screen.
Anyway, cheap drinks and jukebox of the future
Walk into Sligo, weave your way toward the back, and about halfway back, right next to a crowd of people just milling about, is where you'll find the bathrooms. That should give you the first hint of what this bar is like. The bathrooms aren't hidden way in the back of the room, woven through a labyrinthian hallway and down nine flights of stairs like these froo-froo places that value BS like "privacy" and "not peeing near food." You're gonna piss inches away from a bunch of dudes talking about the Celtics in a room the size of an airplane overhead compartment or you're going to hold it.
If you're a guy in this bathroom, the only thing keeping you from displaying your glory to the entire bar is a door without a latch, and a prayer that you can finish before the next drunk guy decides to try to walk in. The clock is running. Go.
The first time I was at Sligo, I was seated next to a man wearing a yacht captain's hat. He was singing along to AC/DC. With cheap pints, townies and a wicked boisterous bartender, what more do you want? Come here when it's dead and it's even better. Let the people watching begin. So divey, it's trendy.
Ladies, the bathroom is for drunks only, so get wasted before you even attempt it.
Cash only, though there's an ATM inside.
Sligo is disgusting. And I love it.
One of my most distinct memories of Sligo was sitting there with Damien S. engulfed in a cloud of urine stink. A normal person would leave. We ordered more vodka sodas (cash only) and then I'm pretty sure I went and picked up a pizza. And we ATE THE PIZZA IN THE URINE CLOUD.
There are two very distinctive crowds at Sligo. The locals, who piss themselves and don't brush their teeth, and the transplants who aspire to be like the locals.
All in all, this place is my jam.
I'm a local and I've never felt at home there when I was younger. Now I stroll in and belly right up to the bar.
Met up with my favorite uncle for some weekday afternoon libations. Very quite during the day. Much different than the weekend peak times where you can't find a seat or barely a piece of floor to stand on. Had some great conversation and story telling with him. We are definitely related cuz we both can TALK a good game. lol... He is a regular and well liked from the people who know him. Next time you go look at the pictures behind the bar. There's one with a guy standing under a deer head. My uncle bagged that deer. (I don't like hunting but I love my Uncle Bill)
Until they fix those scary bathrooms than I can't honestly give it 5 stars.
With all the bistros, cafes, grilles, and crowds, along Elm St., walking into Sligo was like stepping through a wormhole. It felt like you were suddenly transported to a small neighborhood bar in a small town. The crowd was mixed - college students, locals, even a couple in their 70s. Go all the way to the back for quieter conversation. Â Good prices on drinks, TVs at the bar, and a jukebox. Very small bathrooms however.
Review Source:All pints are $4, save Guinness at $5 and (to counter) PBR at $2.50.
It no longer smells of piss. Thank the fresh coat of paint in the bathroom that somehow still got tagged with a crude Sharpie penis and a "How're ya fahkin doon, dood?" To which another Sharpie-toting lad responded, "Fahkin awesome, dood." Cheers fellas.
Every bartender is bald and sporting the glasses/goatee combo while the juke still cranks AC/DC like a boss. Did they add another TV behind the bar? Business must be booming.
I may have lost my Dukedom (I will reclaim it, Haley T) but there's no love lost betwixt me and Sligo. Keep the Long Trails cold, my friend!
Come here for next-to-free PBR, relaxed atmosphere, and the jukebox. Leave here when your friends decide they want to overpay for drinks at some of Davis Square's other varied alcohol-peddling establishments only to secretly wish you could sneak away and come back for the rest of the night.
This place can get packed on weekends so it will be standing room only, but on weeknights it is a great place to unwind and actually have a conversation without having to yell over the music or chatter. It seems like the patrons of Sligo leave their pretense at the door and everyone is all smiles, which is refreshing for the area.
Protips: Cash only, and avoid the bathrooms.
Sli go
Noun: Â Â
1. A town in Ireland, in County Sligo. The second largest urban area in Connacht.
2. A notoriously well-loved dive bar located in the heart of Davis Square, Somerville, USA.
Mi grate
Verb: Â Â Â
1. to pass periodically from one region or climate to another, as certain birds, fishes, Â and animals: The birds migrate southward in the winter.
2. Â to shift, as from one system, mode of operation, or enterprise to another.
Which leads us to the obvious people:
Sli grate
Verb: Â Â Â
1. To pass periodically, typically at the end of the evening, from one region or climate to the much more hospitable location of Sligo Pub.
2. A typically occurring late-nite weekend endeavor by Somerville residents to avoid a  $30 cab ride return home by convincing all of their friends that Sligo Pub is the place to be at 12:00 am on any given weekend nite. Followed by a mad scramble to dig crumpled dollar bills (cash only!) out of pockets and make it to the bar before last call at 12:30.
I can see why Damien S likes this place so much: they treat you like royalty (and it's not just cuz he's the Duke). They're friendly without being phony, and quick with a drink. I like a place with a bar keep that knows your name.
It certainly isn't much to look at, but they have a great collection of draught beers, make a stiff cocktail and have a juke box to play your fave 80's tunes.
There's totally a wall of piss, though. No doubt.
Sligo reminds me of that song you heard on a throwback moment on the radio.  Yes, there is still a "radio" kids.  Do you ever catch the tail end of a song and say, "I need to put that on my iPod?!"  For some it could be a  Michael McDonald song.  Maybe for others it is Fugazi or even Skee-lo.
Whatever your choice of throwback music this place is a throwback dive. One that might be forgotten after a few beers but somewhere along the line will come back into conversation. Â After a few "hisssss hisssss UGH it is on the tip of my tongue......ugh I hate that....OH YEAH SLIGO!" Â
There ya go...you will remember this place as an awesome time.
For a while I kept trying to get here. Â I knew it would be everything I wanted. Â The bartender was extremely friendly and jolly. Â The place reeked of beer. Â My flip flops kind of stuck to the floor and it was packed. Â I had no problem getting a beer. Â There are TV's to watch some local sports and tables in the back.
This place defines belly up to the bar, throwback style.
Sli-gooooo. I don't know what it means, but it sure sounds sleazy! Especially when you say it like that. And you know what? It is sleazy! But I love it anyway/and/or/becauseofthis. The shoe fits, and by golly I am WEARING IT.
This place is the size of, and maintains a similar aroma to, a litter box.
Whatever. Drinks are appropriately cheap and the bartenders are surprisingly obliging (you like that?).
There is a trap door. I mean, don't mess with it or anything. Just BE AWARE of it.
Even though this is a tiny bar and is often packed, it seems it is always possible to elbow your way in and wind up with a drink in zero seconds flat. Or, you know, just take up an entire table so you can read Lolita while we stare at you.
Versatility: that's the name of the game.
Jerry, you're a dick.
My friend and I would come in here often, always enjoying ourselves.
Inexplicably, last night when her and her date went in for a drink, Jerry decided to lose his shit. Â He took her drink, put it down the drain, and threw her money in her face. She demanded an apology and, without receiving one, left the bar crying. Â When I said 'inexplicably,' I meant it.
Go fuck yourself, Jerry. Â You can't be too brilliant to be calling other male customers "faggots" for their jukebox choices, but having an affinity for George Michael yourself.
Shame on me. Shame on me for living about six minutes away from this spot for nearly a year without ever checking it out. Shame I no longer feel though as I finally got a chance to take a peak at it on my way back from a restaurant; the Bruins were playing and we were looking for a bar that was in Davis Square where we could watch the third period. Seemed like the perfect excuse and off we were.
We walked in and immediately the odor of floor beer and urine invaded my nostrils. Not very pleasant but not overwhelming. Withint a couple of breaths I had adjusted and promptly sat down at one of their tables. To my left was a TV. To my right as well. Both were on the Bruins game: Score.
After a few minutes I realized that the bartender doesn't leave the bar and had to get up to get a beer. The guy wasn't all that friendly but he was efficient. Can't complain too much I guess. It is cash only though (luckily I had cash on me for once...)
In the background I could overhear the karaoke. The crowd was young and this place is a great dive. Much better place to hangout out than Joshua Tree or the Burren if you ask me. I shall return. I liked it.
Things to bring with you:
1. An open mind and SOH
2. Like-minded friends
3. Cash money for the bar and dollar-dollar bills y'all -- for the jukebox
5. Take out from any one of Davis Square's finest
6. A knife - for carving out your place in Sligo history
7. Purell
8. A healthy regard for the concept of acquired immunity
9. Lotta luck!
Things to leave at home:
1. Claustrophobia
2. OCD
3. Heels
4. Love of luxurious libations
Things to take away with you:
1. Hilarious stories
2. New friends
3. Essence of Urine
4. A whopping hangover
Sometimes it's nice to just sit back and wallow in the filth of humanity.
Wherever you go in Davis, Sligo too.
This is one of the only bars that reminds me of my favorite bar back at Purdue, and in a positive way. Â It's very simple. Â It's booze and butchered wooden tabletops and bullshit. Â WIN-WIN-WIN! Â HUHUHUHUHUUUUU!!!!
I went recently and they have this bullshit 'game' machine in the back where you can win varying degrees of hats of local pro sports teams. Â These hats run the gamut of terrible Pats hats to a cool Bruins winter hat. Â I wish I could remember the name of that stupid game. Â But alas I did drink a good bit that night. Â Which is really the point of the Sligo, anyway, right!?! Â
Also, that night, back near that bullshit machine, a thin, darkly-dressed keeps-to-themselves couple came in and were keeping to themselves in the back corner way away from everyone, which I thought was kind of odd, but whatever. Â So, then they left and they were gone for like 40 minutes, but left their bags, and I got suspicious, and in a drunken act of paranoia/patriotism/ghuuuuu, I went over and looked around through their bags, of course, this happened right as they came back in and were all like "Um, excuse me, what are you doing???" and I explained. Â It was awkward. Â Eventually, they were cool. Â GHUUU!!! Â Have 'nuther drank! Â It's the Sligo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Also, they have a Jukebox!!!
The bathrooms are piss-poor. Â But it's a pun place!!! HAHAHA!!!!
I've never updated a 5-star review and knocked it to 1 low star... so consider it this Elite's saddest review to date.
Sligo used to be a frequent drinking spot for my circle of friends. Â The cheap beer and dirty pub atmosphere kept us coming back time and time again.
One night, it all changed. Â After my friend selected a song on the jukebox, and obviously paid for it, the bartender stopped the song. Â It was not an inappropriate song, and in fact was a decent and totally relevant song, and favorite of my friend's. Â Perhaps I've misunderstood the culture of jukeboxes for my entire bar-patronizing life, but I've always thought any song on the music machine was fair game to play for pay. Â
She inquired, and he told her the song sucked, and that he would not let it play. Â He was rude and clearly didn't care about our business.
It didn't dawn on me until hearing some tales of institutionalized discrimination, that this place blatantly perpetuates homophobia and gender inequality.
Many of my friends look like lesbians. Â In fact, they are.
As we left Sligo silently that night after being cheated out of our song, we received a genuine, heart-felt goodbye and I was referred to (by the bartender) as a "f****t."
I cannot and will not support an establishment which employs hatred.
My suggestion to Sligo: Â Hire some compassionate and forward-thinking employees who understand the concept of good customer service... after all you are in Massachusetts, and you are in Davis Square.
It's pretty clear from other reviews that this is not a gay-friendly bar, and the jukebox is a point of contention. That was exactly our experience Tuesday night.
Sure enough, the bartender (I believe his name is Jerry) shut off the music my friend had just paid for on the jukebox. When I asked him about it, he just made matters worse by being rude and rolling his eyes. We decided to leave, and on our way out, he shouted "and bye to your friend with the faggot glasses!" referring to my gay friend. Super.
I love dive bars, and even grumpy dive bartenders, but that experience was absurdly unacceptable. My friends and I won't go back.
Over a coupla brews and a badly scratched table, I chatted travel with two friends, swapped stories about crazy trips, bad hotels, learning another language and why you should never carry a regular-sized towel with you when backpacking.
Occasionally, someone would throw a jam on the jukebox...mostly rock, and it lulled the conversation along, as we continued our undisturbed debates, only to be paused ever so briefly by the bartender, swooping in to clear our empty glasses.
Leave your heels, your make-up, your credit cards, your want for cleanliness and crafted cocktails at home. Bring your beer belly, your conversation skills and very little cash.
Wow. Â I am very happy that I was in a great mood when I walked into this joint. Â The first thing I noticed when walking into Sligo's Pub was the clear and apparent smell of dead animals (it is located adjacent to Mckinnon's Meat Market). Â
The next thing I noticed were eyes leering at me, coming from the local sots who frequent the joint. Â I hadn't changed since I returned from work, and I suppose I was over-dressed for the occasion? Â Anyway, my best friend and I bought a couple of pints and headed over to the jukebox, as they do have a great jukebox with awesome songs. Â But halfway through the Allman Brother's song that I had selected and paid for, the song was shut off. Â It was later confirmed by an obnoxious drunk that the bartender didn't like my song choice and vetoed it. Â Are you kidding me? Â I had no idea that the Allman Brothers were loathed so much. Â Even my Dad likes the Allman Brothers! Â
The next song I picked was a Jimmy Cliff song, and that was permitted to stay on. Â Thank you so much Sligo's! Â That you "allowed" the song that I paid for to remain on the jukebox! Â
Sensing some strange vibes from the losers in attendance, my buddy and I finished our beers quickly and decided to move from this "establishment" for nicer climes. Â And then, completely out of the blue, a cretin said to us as we walked out, "have fun f**king each other." Â All I could do was laugh. Â Absolutely ridiculous was this experience. Â
We then moved on to the Burren where we chatted with some nice folks, were treated kindly by the wait staff, and listened to two really talented guys playing at their open mic night. Â
I love living in Davis square. Â I love the mix of people here. Â And I love no nonsense dive bars. Â But this place is utterly pathetic and filthy (flies were swarming all around me in the abhorrently nasty bathroom). Â As a result, I am absolutely ashamed for my town that an establishment like this is still in business. Â If you ever want to get the feeling that somebody wants to beat you up for absolutely no reason, then by all means, head to Sligo's Pub. Â I would give this place negative stars if I could.
When you walk in here, it smells like wet, dying dogs lying in urine.
BUT, and this is a big BUT, if you can get past that smell, and honestly, once you are inside you get accustomed to the stench more quickly than I thought I could, which now makes me feel somewhat uncomfortable, since somehow my smelling senses managed to ignore that awful awful odor.
And when you do get past the stench, the drinks are CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP. It is a cash only, but where else can you get a pint of PBR on tap for $2.25??? and a pint of sam sommers on tap for $3.50??? Ya, I can't think of anywhere else either.
Plus they have some pretty cool guiness posters and art on the wall, and the bathrooms are labeled "himself" which Matt J and I just found kind of amusing. But not quite as amusing as the sign "Tipping is a town in China" hung above the bar ha ha. Now that is classic.
This place, is definitely a divey dive, and not a place to come on a nice outing or date at all, but if you want to get drunk for cheap, or just go and grab a drink in a super laid back atmosphere with a friendly awesome bar tender who says bye and hi to everyone that comes in, and a place where you can pick your song choices on the juke box, sligo's pub is the place to be. Just hold your breath when you walk in to give your nose time to adjust to the smell of pee.....
A husky old graybeard in a Bruins starter jacket and Adidas swish pants snatched me by my lapel and murmured something in my ear.
I could not hear well above the wailing of Axl Rose on the jukebox, but I thought he asked me if I knew where to get a trampoline. Â
My uncle is in the business so I handed him Uncle Marty's business card, who specializes in the shipment and setup of oversized trampolines.
The grizzled old man sourly turned away and chucked Uncle Marty's card into the trash, and spent the next several minutes swearing to himself while trying to de-crumple a dollar bill against the side of the scratch ticket dispenser. Â
"That was rude," I said to my friend.
My friend replied:
"He said methamphetamines, not trampolines"
"Oh," I said.
"Still..."
I got scolded twice while here last Saturday. Â The first was for standing on a stool while I was rocking out to "Love Story" by Taylor Swift. Â The second was for trying to use the men's bathroom. Â
Great:
Jukebox - which my friends and I tend to hog and fill with great country hits and songs we can sway to. Â I think some people dislike this.
Cheap beer and drinks.
Swaying
I almost deducted it a star because my initial thought was that it smelled like trash...but I quickly got over it.
Sweet set-up Ice Man!
This place is great. It is super chill, the bartenders are some of the nicest I have ever encountered, the beer is mad cheap, and snacks are available for a small fee. You can also bring your own food if you want - they could care less. How cool is that?! 10 points for being within walking distance of my cribbage.
I like to try to get here early(ish), grab a table near the entrance, and set up shop for a night of silly shenanigans playing F the Dealer or what have you (bring your own cards) and drinking beer with my buddies. Once in a while I purchase a bag of Cheez-its.
If the proprietor of Sligo really wanted to bring his/her A Game and receive 5 stars from me they would install an Erotic Photo Hunt machine. I think that's the only thing that could make this place better. OH and also, they should totally have pitchers. Now THAT would be Slig-tastic.
Sligo is small, dark, maybe even a little bit slimy, but I have never not had a good time there. Â I always leave with enough money in my pocket for a couple slices from Mike's or an order of crab rangoon. Can't go wrong.
Dear Sligo Pub,
You are my favorite place to go in Davis Square when I need a real pick-me-up on a Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday night - but not Mondays, sorry, that day is reserved for Mario-Kart Wii. Anywhosie, your lusciously cheap prices, and fancy dive-bar decor are two things about you that really ring my bell.
You always know how to accommodate me with your sticky-icky-icky tables, your glorious touch-screen juke box, and your ultra amicable bartenders. Most times, you even let me and my friends play drinking games with my dolphin cards and that makes me feel nummy in my special spots.
I hope you never change, sweet Sligo Pub. You really are the frosting on my little confetti cup-cake.
I love you.
God speed,
Carolyn
"Are you horny and you know it, clap your hands!"
I kid you not, that's what we heard the Sunday night we were at Sligo. Â The night climaxed with jokes about "2 girls 1 cup," and chugging Blue Moons. Â
Sweeeet. Â
We practically lived our entire college lives at the Avenue in Allston, so I knew the kind of atmosphere I'd pretty much be walking into. Â I love dive bars, but didn't expect this one. Â My roommate and I were the only girls, but the two guys behind the bars were good for a laugh and some hearty conversation. Â We made lots of friends, and had to assure the bartenders we'd be back soon.
Although Davis is a hike from our home in Southie, this bar would be one of the only reasons we'd make the trek.
Yay Sligo. Get the Sligo punch, i dont know whats in it, but its bright pink, tasty, and you feel great after 2 of them. You may not even have to order another drink the whole night. but if you do, they have 3 dollar drafts (or 3.50..but its definitely some price below average). I like getting there early, picking my juke box songs, and getting all the mistake pours from the bartenders, who also own the place I believe. Â Theres 1 or 2 tv's, and believe it or not its great to watch a game there. I saw clay buchholz's no hitter there. I actually broke my 2 drink rule kept drinking sligo punches for fear that if i STOP drinking, he wont get the no-no. Im glad i was able to help.
I went to college in PA, so i'm all about the dive bars. This place makes me feel right at home!!
Well, as many of you know, I am a real estate agent, which some people here have a problem with. Â Yup, I commit the crime of finding people apartments and getting paid for it. Â THE HORROR. Â Well, I found this bar while I was participating in my usual criminal enterprise. Â I used to work at an agency in Davis Sq, and one of the other agents insisted that I *needed* to go to Sligo.
Why Sligo? Â Well, for one, there is this crazy sales agent they call Sligo Realty that runs his shop out of that bar. Â He talks really loudly and wears a lot of sweater vests. Â Alas, he wasn't there on my visit.
But who was there? Â This guy I used to know ages ago from the N Shores who is now a crackhead. Â I should have known he'd be there! Â
The bartender was nice enough. Â I asked him to make me something girly and he complied and it was delicious, sweet, fruity, and like $4. Â
The bathrooms are HIDEOUS. Â LIKE OMG SO BAD. Â I wished I had Purell with me so I could bathe in it.
Why two stars? Â My evil ass would go there again. Â It's not totally horrific. Â Just close to it.
Sligo has the cheapest beer in town. It also smells kind of funny, like a combination of stale beer and armpits. There seems to be a crowd of regular old dudes that chill there all afternoon and into the early evening, and then it turns into more of a college scene later at night.
What, you were expecting class???
I like beer, and I like it cheap. They have Sierra Nevada on tap for $3.25. Can't beat it.
PS. Girls, don't dress up for this one. Waste. Of. Time. At Sligo, you'd be hot  in a burlap sack.
The first time I went to Sligo, two middle-aged women got in an argument, and one of them threw a full beer at the other, and I got pelted with the back splash. Â "This place is awesome," I thought.
The beer's cheap, the juke box is good, the bathrooms are tiny, the old timers at the bar are creepy, and it's just awesome all around.
I am so sick of middle class hipster trash trying to seem "authentic" and praising sh*thole bars like Sligos. Not that all sh*thole bars are bad, but Sligos sucks. It sucks because the service sucks, its not all that cheap and the place smells like the old guy at the end of the bars colostomy bag
Sligos also sucks because it has an attitude problem. Â There is no neighborhood romance to the joint. Its just a car crash.
Of note, watching toothless townies shuffle back and forth across the street for their Social Security checks -- which the bar happily cashes -- is not "authentic." Pockmarked 17 year old chicks that are 9 months pregnant drinking Gilby's Gin straight up -- Â there is nothing "real" about that. Its just f*cking sad. Poor people and mentally ill drunks aren't entertainment you grad school dropout douchebags. It's not a G*d Damn zoo.
The only true bar in Davis. Drinks are cheap and you can entertain yourself with scratch tickets all damn night. Not a soul will bother you or you can chat up random lonesomes at the bar. Hungry? Bring some take-out or have your dinner delivered. I haven't run into white hat college kids here but I don't visit all that often.
This is my kind of bar.
This is the one of the few redeeming dive bars in Davis Sq. -- maybe the only one??
Points off for having no places to sit. Points back on for staying in the same place and not expanding to some dumb nightclub. Points back off again for the patrons that keep going out the backdoor and setting off the alarm. Points back on again for being cheap.
The last time I was there, this stranger showed me cell phone video footage of some chick giving him a hummer. He was wearing a sweatshirt with a sassy slogan on it and when he got hot, he took it off to reveal a t-shirt with a sassy slogan on it. Points back on!
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