Favorite Bar/Pub on a Snowy Night?

[hiddenboston]

We were talking last night about how much fun it can be to chill out in a warm pub on a snowy night and watch the flakes come down while sipping on a beer, scotch, etc. Does anyone else find themselves doing this on a night like tonight?

The Red Hat in Boston has been a place I've enjoyed on snowy nights, as well as Cambridge Common, Spirit in North Cambridge, Cronin's in Quincy, The Druid in Inman Square, The Last Hurrah in downtown Boston, The Field in Central Square, and O'Leary's in Brookline (all cozy, warm places with mostly comfortable bar areas).

Depending on how bad it is tonight, I may wander over to Spirit or CC, but we'll see...

[efreid]

It has been m a few years since I lived in the area (mid 90's) but the blackthorne tavern in Rt 138 in South Easton used to hit the spot on a cold and snowy day

[jody]

When I lived in the Back Bay I loved Joe's on a snowy night. I never set food in this place normally because it is filled with tourists, but on a snowy night, you actually get to see your neighbors. Its not crowded, is warm and cosy downstairs and has the requisite pub food.

[pondrat]

The famous Dudley Chateau in Wayland

[hiddenboston]

Isn't the Chat being renovated right now?

[pondrat]

Yup...new management and open during kitchen renovations. 6 tap beers, wireless....credit cards and mens' room remodel...but still the Chat as we know and love it.

[hiddenboston]

Ended up staying put Friday night, but we hit the Tiki Palace in Braintree during the mini-snowstorm on Saturday night. Nothing like cheesy Polynesian food and drinks on a snowy night!

[kimkim]

Love O'Learys on Beacon Street (near St. Mary's) on a snowy night.

[steinpilz]

I have good snowy memories of nights at the Plough and Stars, Bukowski's in Inman Square, and the Publick House. Last night it was the Publick House with a great panoramic view of the falling snow.

[phatchris]

For the stumble home factor its Goody Glovers for me. Last night I enjoyed a bottle of Malbec, egg ravioli, and venison loin at the bar at Prezza which was just awesome.

[yumyum]

I think you win. I want that meal.

[trufflehound]

Tonight it will be Stones Chocolate Porter at Stone's Public House, with maybe some chips n curry. If you remember that 3 footer on April fools day, I spent an hour at the Framingham train station and couldn't get out of the lot so I stumbled into the Happy Swallow. Low rent, cheap beer, cheaper women and the bartender calls the cab for you.

[ritcey]

No fireplace, but I dig Spirit - the big windows up front will let you observe the snow and talk yourself into having just one more before facing that... =)

[dulce de leche]

<sniff> I've spent several memorable snow days at the B-Side.

[xcptnl]

That is what stinks about living in Central Mass - no way to stumble home on a snowy night - nothing is close enough. I would die of hypothermia first!!! I will have to do my drinking at my house and pretend it's a warm and cozy bar.

[digga]

Are you in Worcester? We just had a great experience at Armsby Abbey (I posted on NE board). It's not the coziest room on its own, but filled with happy people, it really warms up.

[lmuller]

The Stockyard! It is not fancy but it is perfect for a night like this!

[9lives]

That's a great option too. No need to feel bad.

[Shamrock22]

Put a group together and hit Anchovies on Columbus for a good 5-8 hours.

[BarmyFotheringayPhipps]

For the Stumble Effect for me, it would have to be Deep Ellum, which has the one minor flaw that it's not a particularly cozy room -- there's a serious draft whenever the front door opens. They need to hang one of those instant-vestibule curtains or something.

Last night, I tried one of their newer cocktail additions, the Summer In Sao Paulo: basically a caipirinha plus mint and ginger.

[drewames03]

For me, its always Audubon!

[mrsx]

Why, Shay's in Harvard Square of course! Subterranean, dark and cozy! You can watch the snowflakes fall onto the Christmas tree set up on the front patio!

[Bostonbob3]

To repeat others, the "stumble home factor" is critical on a cold, snowy night. So for me, it's usually Pete's Pub (Durty Nelly's), with the occasional Corner Cafe thrown in. And while I like the food enough at The Waterfront Cafe, it doesn't have the cozy factor I need when it's snowing (and now, off to watch a Lifetime movie).

[mats77]

When I lived in Dorchester it used to be 224 Boston Street. Now I may taken hiddenboston up on the recs of Spirit and Cambridge Common.

[cannedmilkandfruitypebbles]

Last Hurrah is great on a cold snowy night- warm nuts and a scotch help too.

The bristol lounge is fantastic for this type of thing but is costly.

The bar at Scampo, as MC Slim previously mentioned, would be a nice place to sit and chat with friends while watching the snow fall on the courtyard outside.

[barleywino]

The Scampo root beer float (with sassafras infused rum) makes a nice holiday drink, maybe with their burrata bruschetta ...another good spot to watch the snow is the window seats at the bar at Radius, having one of their Knob Creek fig drinks (within stumbling range of South Station)

[tallullah]

"warm nuts and a scotch help, too." My new motto!

PJ Ryan's works for me.

[yumyum]

Love it. My new motto too....

Hey we locals should arrange a PJ Ryan meet up in the new year. Better to be surrounded by drunks you know than strangers.

[tboom29]

We tried to walk to PJ's Friday, too cold and snow blowing too harshly. But PJ's is my vote as well, and the black and blue burger is great.

[digga]

Sounds like a great idea to me - YY, you're on!

[yumyum]

Cool -- I'm going to post an open invite in January. Hope local hounds (and anyone who wants to travel) will drop in.

[MC Slim JB]

Bars with excellent cocktails: Green Street, Deep Ellum, Marliave (the cafe or upstairs bar), Franklin Southie, bar at Chez Henri, Highland Kitchen, and the bar at Toro.

Pubs with good pints and decent food: J.J. Foley's South End, The Druid, Waterfront Cafe (that pizza is pretty fine), R.F. O'Sullivan's, James's Gate, Doyle's, Washington Square Cafe, Green Briar, The Junction, Olde Magoun's Saloon, and River Gods.

Were I feeling fancy (which I'm not doing much in these times), I might choose the bar at Eastern Standard, the bar at No. 9 Park, Drink, Rowes Wharf bar (which always feels like a hideaway to me), The Bristol, the bar at The Taj, Bar 10, the bar at Grill 23, and the bar at Scampo.

[TomH]

The Olde Magoun's Saloon is a snowy trudge from my house so that is usually where I head when the weather gets bad. Nothing beats a nice Guinness and some chili to warm you up!

[digga]

We like Magoun's but what happened to Sully, the cook who was putting out some really good pub grub? We asked but no one seems to know - he took off in the middle of brunch one day. Oh well, he did seem to be the volatile sort. B still orders the crazy XL-sized nachos, but it's just not the same.

Funny, HB, we just had this same conversation last night. We love pubs within walking distance on beautiful snowy evenings. We'll be heading over to our local, PJ Ryan's in Teele Sq, later tonight. The fireplace might be gas, but it is cozy all the same. I am newly addicted to the British Isles-style chicken curry and B always orders the black and blue burger. Anything tastes mighty fine with a Chimay draft.

[hiddenboston]

Good call on PJ Ryan's. My friend and his wife live near there and really love the place for its atmosphere.

I'm starting to wonder which bars will be open and which might close early tonight, since it looks like the bulk of the storm will hit right around the time I'd normally head out. I may have to make a few calls...

[enhF94]

Any guess on the date Sully left?

[digga]

Unless you are being coy and I am missing a wink, I think it was about 3 months ago? We miss his touch in the kitchen.

[enhF94]

No winking; just trying to track the scene. When I was there a couple nights ago, the beer list had shrunk and degraded; I wondered why (though it may have nothing to do with a lost cook).

[TomH]

Sully is often in Magoun's sipping a pint after work. As a matter of fact I was chatting with him on Saturday. He is now working in the kitchen at the Sel del la Terre on Boylston Street.

[digga]

Wow! Decidedly more upscale digs! Good for Sully. We'll keep an eye out for him at Magoun's since it's doubtful we'll ever see him at SDLT - we are pub people!

And enhf94 - sorry for the weird reply. I thought you were suggesting something and I was being clueless!

[Niblet]

Can't beat a Tom & Jerry at No. 9 Park on a snowy night.

[Taralli]

Now, that is exactly the libation I was hoping to find. Do you know if they make them with rum or brandy or both? Every place has them in MN in the winter,and markets carry fresh quarts of batter, so you can assemble at home yourself. Anyone know where batter might be sold, if you don't want to make it up?

[yumyum]

I like to go somewhere I can stumble home from after ... the Tir na nOg used to be great for this, but now Highland Kitchen fits the bill.

[Bob Dobalina]

My thoughts exactly!
I miss the Nog. *sniff*

[yumyum]

Me too.

[9lives]

the stumble home factor is critical..:)

[9lives]

a window seat at the Teatro bar is nice.

I plan on Bina tonight.

dropping down in elegance, Jacob Wirth's and the Tam

[galleygirl]

The Tam?

[bostonbroad]

I'd second the Last Hurrah and add James Gate in JP.

[Richard Hurts]

Murphy's, North Quincy

[AnyaEssen]

I'd third James' Gate. They have a fireplace, which makes it ultra-cozy.