Located across the street from TD Garden North Station, this bar is a good stop before and after any event. I will sometimes stop in before Bruins games to "pre-game" and enjoy the company of my fellow fans. Sullivan's is a long narrow bar with numerous TV's and random games to pass the time before events.
The drinks here are fairly cheap and the bartenders are always good-spirited. Be prepared to pay in cash as they do not accept credit/debit cards. Our last stop in we enjoyed our time with a few friends and the bartender took care of us very well. It can get pretty packed here, but it is fairly well put together with the long bar and plenty of spots to squeeze in to get a drink.
We will continue to stop in on occasion before games and always enjoy our time here!
Sullivan's Tap is a microcosm of Boston- sports oriented with reasonably priced drinks. The bartender on my most recent trip was ready to shoot the shit and was not in the least afraid to voice his opinion. In my case, we discussed hats and how fashion has changed. Once my friends received our drinks, we played some arcade games, caused some ruckus, and overall had a fantastic time.
One draw back- cash only. Otherwise, I love Sullivan's Tap!
$4 mixed drinks, cheap beer, AND video games? Â Yes, this bar has it all. Â Great place to go for a drink or two before a game, or if you have an affinity for playing Ms. Pac Man and Air Hockey while drinking. Â I did notice that they save money for things like straws by stealing Dunkin Donuts straws and using them in your mixed drinks. Â I think the cheapest beer there would be the Pabst for $2 and then the next cheapest is Rolling Rock for $2.50 or something ridiculous. Â But make no mistake about it, if you are on a budget and like drinking and games, go here. Â Nuff said.
Review Source:Sullivans is all about the atmosphere. The bartenders were great, engaging with all their customers. They have a good selection of beer in bottle but limited on tap. Once the bar seats all fill up its standing room only but can get filled pretty quick. I see this bar as a great bar for before Bruins or Celtics game drinks rather than an after party.
Review Source:This spot is absolutely perfect. I mean. Well....
There are stools.
They have a  restroom.
They got some of them entertaining games.
They happen to have the best handrawn pictures of various sports stars that I have ever seen.
There are bartenders.
They got some locals at the bar.
There is an unsettling vibe best described as collective-drunk-freak.
There are bouncers.
There are huge lines after events but if you get there at an odd time you are A-OK. There is an incredibly long bar.
There is alcohol.
There are dragons.
There are unicorns.
There are old timey sea captains playing accordions ALL OVER THE PLACE.
This is my new go-to in the Garden area.
Best. Dive bar. Probably in the world. The bar has old tickets from the Garden laminated on the top and there are plenty of other sports memorabilia that makes you feel like your apart of the action when there's a game going on across the street.
Prices are great. Â There's no place that's this close to the Garden that you can pre-game without spending an arm and a leg.
Amazing place to be before a game, always packed.
This Sullivan's is a place you must visit at least once.
This is the definition of "dive bar" It's cheap, smelly, sticky, cramped, and pretty awesome.
I go here sometimes before a game and it is super packed with dude-guys... I never seen many other females here.
They have promotions from time-to-time like the budlight girls or whomever.
I wouldn't go here on like a regular old day I don't think, but its good for game nights.
I used to like Sully's tap a lot. Â I used to go every Friday when there was a Celtics game. Â It has all of the things that dive bars need. Pool, Hot Hoops, and cheap beer. Â I would even go here on nights when there was no game, because I could be assured that I could walk right up to an empty bar and get some cheap beers without a wait. Â
However, during Winter of 2010 I ventured in to Sully's tap after work on a Friday, like I always did, to grab a few pints before the Celtics game. Â On my second beer, one of my friends noticed something stuck on the inside of my glass. Â It must have been hidden by the foam when I ordered it. Â I have no idea how I didn't notice it. Â Upon further inspection, I realized it was a piece of food of some sort stuck to the glass. Â Hey, I understand these things can happen in a hectic dish room. Â But there is just one problem. Â
SULLY'S TAP DOESN'T SERVE F-CKING FOOD. Â
In my head, I tried to work out a scenario in which a piece of food could get plastered to the inside of my pint glass full of beer. Â No matter how I mulled the scenarios in my head, I realized that there was probably no scenario that wasn't gross. Â
Anyway, I like I said, I used to like this place a lot. Â Luckily, I am not that squeamish, so I might even go back this winter, but I will stick to bottled beer.
So, the last time I was at Sully's I noticed a microwave behind the bar and I vowed never to return to the Tap without HotPockets in my hot little hands. I failed at this micromission - however, I did not fail to have yet another excellent time. Â
This bar has a little something for everyone - offering you the opportunity to shoot some pool, hoops, sexy pics posed on the pinball machine or your worst enemy with guaranteed easy access to one of two exits. CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE!
This place is not often crowded which is a plus when I'm meeting up with a bunch of friends. Were there only two of us - I might tap out on Sullivan's.
Bartender: "Last call people, last call."
Me: *Looks at watch*, "WTF?!? last call? at 11:30?"
Yup, this place had a last call at 11 freakin 30! I know, I know, I couldn't believe it either. Best part was the basketball hoops even though Hemanth destroyed my hopes and dreams. (Now I know what he does on his free time.)
Bartender was lame because he didn't know how to make any drinks I asked for, so, I just went with a Maker's Mark with Ginger Ale, which was quiet good. They had a good selection of beers, just wasn't a beer night for me.
Dudes - come here with your buddies to play pool, basketball and some video games I didn't pay attention to. You'll have a good time.
Ladies - may only enjoy this place if coming with your lady friends, or a boyfriend to kick his a** in pool... or basketball.
'Gansett tallboys at 3.00 each are still a ripoff, but I feel the same way about 2.50 bottles of MGD. Â
The bathroom looks like the video for "Don't Come Around Here No More" by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and inspires similar feelings of disconnectedness. Â Nevertheless, having been the site of several UYEs and a place at which the Boston Yelp crowd has done plenty of rounds, I have to give them props for putting up with us. Â I can't believe they did a last call at 11:30, but then again I still think the Apollo moon landing was real.
They boast some pretty good dive-bar fare: basketball head-to-head game, Golden Tee, Buck Hunter, more BAGS, internet jukebox, pool and a bartender who, in an alternate world, might have started <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Flookatthisfuckinghipster.com&s=a472878a66f30a362bbf2783f5bc6132943a7e292f4574b68451d2693eb6cb04" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://lookatthisfucking…</a>.  But the lack of a 1.50 option drops you down one star.
"Sully's: When You Don't Want to Go Home Yet"
That's my personal motto for Sullivan's Tap, and you can take that spun on the + or the - side. As an Orange Liner, this is my go-to location for "one more drink" before heading home to the nawth and back to reality. It fulfills this need rather nicely, I say.
It's the sister bar of the Tam and these two fine ladies definitely look related. Sully's is def the taller of the two and she has a few more bells and whistles, if you know what I mean *gwink* There's a couple basketball hoops, pool tables, and a pinball machine in back, once you sidle down the
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hallway bar on your way to the back. Just want to get right to the point of this whole freakin' experience? Sully's has a decent selection on tap, with the usual hop suspects represented along with a couple surprises such as Longtrail. The cocktails are no nonsense and served with a heavy hand, just as God intended. It's a good place to watch a game as there are several TVs at the bar and an even better place to watch the people. When I've been, it's usually a mix of Boston lifers, the 21-40 shitshow set, a couple quiet alkies, and sometimes a hipster wanders in and looks super confused until he texts with finger-less gloves to figure out where his friends went. If they left Sully's, then they have chosen... poorly.
I love Sully's. I go here all the time before Bruins games, and there is no placed I would rather be. My only complaint is that is actually not super cheap. I don't blame them for having kinda pricey beers, due to the proximity of the bar to The Garden. They always have monthly specials and you can usually get a Bud or Coors Light 16 oz for around $4.
If you are wearing a suit , or dockers and a pink shirt with your Vineyard Vines tie, keep walking cause this place is not for your. If you are wearing a wife beater, leather jacket, or any old school Bruins logo apparel, get to Sully's right around 1.5 to 2 hours before game time so you can get a seat at the bar. If your girlfriend is brave enough to come with you, tell her not to ponder what fruity cocktail to get and stick to beer. Also remind her that adult men in Bruins hard hats are perfectly normally for hockey fans.
Don't forget quarters for pool, Buck Hunter, or for some cheese and peanut butter crackers from the vending machine in back. Also bring cash cause Sully don't take no cards.
Good luck if you have to sit down to go to the bathroom. You can see right outside...
Before I start my review, you need to know:
1. I haven't YELPED in approx. 2 years. Â This experience promulgated a review (so please keep that in mind).
2. I get along with ANYONE. everyone.
3. Am particularly a fan/appreciator of dive bars, or any local old-school establishment, for that matter, where one can kick back a pint or two without judgment in the middle of the afternoon.
Having said that, I write my review with extreme disappointment. Â At first impression, LOVED it.....The diveyness, the fact that the old man bartender (I refer to him as this...you'll see later on) told me there was no salt for a margarita, the fact that someone in a suit literally walked in and said nothing and downed 2 double shots of cap'n and walked right out probably on his way to the train, the fact that the heavyset bartender was walking around in socks.
Back to the salt. Â Old man didn't want to deal with my order for some reason, so immediately passed it off to the heavyset bartender (a cheery gentleman) who told me he'd 'improvise' and he did. Â He salted my rim (that sounds bad?) with table salt, which was fine for me, and went on his cheery way. Â I then got a draft Bud Light (which tasted very flat, by the way, but not the reason for this review).
This merry experience ended in the last 30 sec of me stepping out the door. Â As I passed the cheery bartender on my merry way out having had a lovely experience, I said "Thank you, and thanks for getting me salt!.' and gave him a litle playful punch on the shoulder.
Old man bartender, hearing this and sitting next to him, said the following: Â 'F*CK YOU.' Â followed by a chuckle/more-so surprise by his peers sitting next to him.
Never in my life.........
I easily could have confronted the situation but instead said, 'are you serious? calm down, dude' and walked out.
I DO NOT CARE WHO YOU ARE. Â You do not speak to ANYONE in that manner, let alone a female, especially a pleasant customer, for that matter.
GO F*CK YOURSELF, SULLIVAN'S TAP. Â Your tap tasted like you pulled it from your ass, anyway.
I came here to meet up with my family last may after my graduation. Â It was pretty close, and I figured it would be pretty desolate. It was, although there were a few guys hanging out watching home improvement.
It was a good time, definitely provided me with lifelong family memories. Although I was disappointed when my mom ordered a drink and it came in a dirty glass. I thought that they might put on a little shine for the ma dukes during the daytime.
I like Sully's. Â I can't say I love it, cause that would be going too far, but as far as dive bars go, it rocks. Â Yeah, the layout is weird...it's a very long, very narrow room and so if you want to be near the bar, you're going to be cramped. Â But if you like the kind of place where you walk in strangers and walk out aquaintances or day I say, friends, then this is the spot. Â
Because the place is full of guys, it's one of the only spots in the city where I can chat about sports and still be taken even semi-seriously. Â Also, I love that I can come here and not be bothered...it isn't an annoyance where every guy tries to pick you up, they're usually too embroiled in hoops or whatever game is on one of the televisions.
Often referred too as the holy grail of sports-related dive bars for the city of Bahston, Sullivan's Tap, or Sully's for the frequent, intimate and alcoholic patrons such as myself is the place to go to to grab a decently priced beer.
Don't expect friendly service. It's more of a "What d'ya want?" kind of place. Really. It's full of assholes before games and is far from classy. Hell, it's not even remotely good as a dive bar. You want a good dive, to go the Tam.
The setup is poorly designed and people are forced to pack around the pool tables in order to catch a rare breath of oxygen. It is usually very busy and the air conditioning is non-existent. It usually smells like BO too.
When I refered to decently priced beer, I didn't say cheap though. I guess they have to take full advantage of the fact that they are at a very seasonal location and that in the summer when both the Bruins and Celtics are off, business is down... Then again if they were to change things up a little, remove some of the neons, clean up a the place and turn the pool area into a bigger standing area it would be a lot nicer.
I have mixed feeling about this place. I don't hate it but don't love it either. I guess you'll have to check it out for yourself to get your own opinion.
You should visit Sully's for only two reasons. Â The first is an event at the Garden. Â The second is a pub crawl. Â
This is not a destination bar. Â This is not a classy bar. Â It's not even a good dive bar. Â The set up is atrocious. Â But it works if you and a friend want to down 2 Bud Light for a lot less than the thieves on the inside of the Garden will charge you. Â Yes there's Buck Hunter, but beware, near all games of Buck Hunter you will find the classic Hunting Douche. Â These are guys who never have held or seen a real gun and enjoy shooting cartoon rhinos with an orange shotgun. Â Beware ladies. Â No one shoots a gun with a popped collar and a baseball cap on backwards. Â
You have been warned.
Oh and this place has that Barfly display which is awful. Â One time I saw the obituaries on it and I had to ask the drunk next to me if I was seeing what I thought I was seeing.
I would never recommend this as a dive bar, let me tell you why.
Headed here tonight for a Sunday evening pub crawl with a few friends. First, the atmosphere is decent enough for a dive, poor mixture of florescent and incandesant light, the bar itself was properly coated in multiple layers of laquer. The prices weren't great. We didn't try the food.
I got a fairly standard Stella Artois, and it tasted bad enough that i couldn't finish it. How does that even happen?
It has Buck Hunter Safari, so i give it a star for that.
I'll never lie to you people. I'm a straight shooter. And I tell it like it is. There are really only three reasons you'd go to this place:
1) You work there.
2) Every other bar around the Garden has a cover, or is too crowded.
3) You're under the mistaken impression that because this place is such a shithole, that it's cheap.
Really, there are about 20 other bars better than this place within walking distance. The sad thing is that it could probably get away with just being a decent dive bar if it had dive-bar prices, but it doesn't.
I was going to give this place one star, but it does have its share of hot college aged cuties every so often - so I bumped it up to a two.
SULLY'S!!!!! Â Everyone loves you!!!!! Â Well, at least I do.
Like everyone else said. Â Cheap booze with in a more than laid back place. Â Newly improved since the last time I was there with nice big flat screen tvs. Â Pool table with quarters, naked lady photohunt, Buck Hunter, basketball, jukebox, vending machine, what more could you want in your bar? Â I know there were more things that took quarters, but I can't remember what they were.
Note: they only take cash so stock up before you go into this adult's playground.
So your colleague from Europe is in town for the night and you want to disprove his perception that Americans are a fat, culture-less mess. Where do you take him?
Sully's Tap of course!
Seriously - this place has everything - Massholes in their native habitat, Bruin's apparel a plenty, Hoop Fever, Buck Hunter, Billiard's, a snack machine, and of course, the mother of them all, booby photo hunt (an apparently truly American phenomenon).
So next time your friends try to tell you that Massachusetts is home to white trash, or that Americans are fat, cultureless, loud, self-centered, assholes, prove them wrong...
or just own it.
Either way take them to Sully's.
PS - a helpful tip, there's a couple here who hussles like whoa - their games of choice are billiards and hoop fever. The dude has a half sleeve on his right arm - don't get taken by them (not that I did, but you know, you might hear stories or might wander why they're pointing and laughing at your friends who are hanging their heads in shame...)
The only night Sully's Tap is unacceptable is when there is a Faith Hill concert going on at the Garden. On nights like that, Sully's is filled with fake blonds who've probably never been further south than Providence spilling out of their rhinestone-studded tube tops and sporting pink cowboy hats.
But normally, Sully's is a great place to kick back after work. Once you make your way past the brooding, loner male 50-somethings at the bar, there's dual basketball hoops, Big Buck Hunter, and pool. Not to mention that thing where the wannabe He-Men punch the bag to earn points and coveted titles such as "Killer" or "Superman." (I may have made those titles up, but you get the idea.) Cheap drinks and Hoop Fever make Sully's one of my favorites. Punctuate that with the inevitable bar fight and you've got the perfect Sully's night.
Love it.
Reading the Yelp reviews I imagined Sully's to be dark and dingy full of scowling U-bar mustached men with mullets. How cool would that have been? I was so wrong. Prepare to enter the world of sports jackets, bellies hanging over stonewashed jeans, baseball hats and neon.
Inexplicably, I get this weird satisfaction from going places I don't belong. So I stayed and ordered a beer from a polite fellow who resembled a foosball guy moving back and forth on the same plane in his attempts to handle all the hollering men waving bills at him.
Had it not been so crowded I would have milled my way to the back through the narrow aisle and shot some Big Buck Hunter or boxed but instead I marveled at how Baaaahston the whole experience was. And then that there's an entrance/exit on two streets. Perfect for a one beer walk through.
A top notch dive bar!
I never knew that there was a liqueur license that would prevent you from being served a drink that contains more then 3 different types of alcohol in one drink...until I hit the tap. I asked for a Long Island and the nice gentleman said he could only make it with 3 liqueurs but said he could make one that taste just like it. Yea not so much, the result was a mixture of drinking diesel gas and rubbing alcohol....but mad did I get sloppy drunk.
This is the type of place were you can go and light yourself up a little bit before you go to a bar with all its teeth. A delightful little spot in the heart of Boston with cheap beer and drinks that will give you can feel like a fat man sitting on your chest (don't laugh if it hasn't happened to you....it will).
What can you say about Sully's Tab? Its like pre-gaming before a 1980s Bruins game. Its small...loud (at time), cheap and about as friendly as Vladimir Ruzicka (he's acctually very friendly!). It has doors on Canal and Friends St! So running from the cops...that comes in handy (up Friends...through Sully's and then over the dam)!
The drinks they have are just as good as anywhere else. They have Sully's Light (house beer)....Stella.....Blue Moon....Sam and the Sam Summer, Winter....ect....Any hard drink you could want...but don't drink anything to heavy...the bathroom is very interesting. Urinal...Urinal....toilet with a 2 foot wall seperating it....so you'll be taking your #2 with your 2 buddies peeing. Ohh yea...and who ever is outside in the Friends St end of the bar. As the door opens with a full view!
This place is great to pre-game or just get shitfaced before going to any of those "hip" bars in North Station! Get drunk for 20 bucks then pay 20 bucks to get into some place when the drinks are twice as much!
This place is Boston before the 90s and every fun loving true Bostonian will love it!
In the back near the leaking ceiling is one of those always fun downloadible juke boxes. There is nothing like some Daft Punk at Sully's Tab!
I wouldn't go so far as to call Sully's 'quintessential,' but that's on a short list of things I wouldn't call it. Â
I'd call it the closest thing in Boston to the Perfect 'guy' Bar. Â By "guy bar," I mean the kind of place you go with your buddies when one of them gets dumped in order to drown his sorrows deep in shots of cheap vodka, cheap beer, and cheap Pop-a-shot. Â Â
I'd call it the best place to pregame before a game at the fleet center. Â Don't get too into your Buck Hunter games, or you might miss the first period/quarter. Â If you do, it's OK, because beers are cheaper here, and there are still 2/3 periods/quarters left. Â
The bartenders may come across as grisly, but in reality, they're all pretty nice. Â If you go on some non-game-night afternoon, they'll be happy to debate sports topics with you all day long. Â If you go on a game night, they'll notice you, and you'll have your beer in the order you arrived at the bar. Â Top notch bartenders all around.
And there's big buck hunter.
I'd call it one of my favorite bars.
What a poopy-hole.
I ordered a Stella Artois. The bartender probably thought I was gay or something. Anyway, I couldn't finish it because it smelled like bad meat. It was gross. I don't know if it was the glass or what. My homosexual looking companion first noted the stench.
Way too bright and see my review of the Powderhouse Pub for my thoughts on dive bartenders.
Sully's has it all  - $2.50 Brubakers, tv's, pool tables, cool bartenders, what more could you want?  Sullivan's Tap makes all the other bars on Canal Street wet their pants.   Instead of trying to be something, (you suck, Hurricane O'Reilly's!!), it just is.  Most Boston bars are constructed to be some lame-o concept, but Sull's just kicks ass, plain and simple.   What a joint. Â
This is THE place to be before any TD Banknorth Garden event. Â If you're hungry, get thee to The Fours right next door for some steak tips, but after that, kill some adult beverages at Sull's, and you'll be ready for the game. Â Afterwards, get your ass back in to celebrate a win or commiserate.
If only I were of drinking age during the Celts' glory years. Â Â Go on in, grab a Bru, watch the game. Â You'll feel better.
This too is one of my top two or three bars in city. Â This is a "dive" without all the campy attributes. Â This is the best establishment to frequent before watching my beloved Celtics do battle. Â Their diversions are second to none; Buck Hunter, Pool, a kickass jukebox, and HotShot (a game in which I hold several single game, and career records, but that is a yelp for another time). Â It's claim is that it is the longest bar in Boston, but I have a feeling that is bullshit.
The drinks and beer are cheap, and it is only crowded before events at the Fleet. Â The bartenders are not the type who are impressed with themselves for the fact that they work at a dive, they are, in a word, angry; but if you get to know them, are polite, they can be a delight.
Do yourself a favor and clear an extra hour or so before a game or concert and head in around 5, the atmosphere with speak for itself.
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