Bukowski Tavern

Good dive bar. Tasty food. Good beer selection. Mainly your typical bar food, but definitely tastier and more creative than most. Beer selection was good, but a bit on expensive side for the more interesting brews. I dig that it overlooks a highway. Golden.

As divvy as you can get in the best possible way. I wouldn’t go as far to say it’s hipster but far from that. felt like these are were the locals drink. Great music, great beer, cash only. I was very much impressed with the beer selection and the knowledge the bartenders had of them. Food was amazing as well more like street food quality greasy and savory. My recommendation the broccoli bites. and the great part everything was reasonably priced nothing was over priced. I can definitely see how this bar has a big following and great stars on Unilocal.Next time I’m in Boston definitely stoping by again. Keep up the great work guys.

We had a 12 hour layover in Boston and where in serious need of a good American beer. We walked down a street next to Fenway Park and everything seem to touristy, I Unilocal search «craft beer bars” and the Unilocal gods a answered my prayers!
First off it’s cash ONLY! Not to worry they gave an atm right next to the entrance. The beer runs from $ 5.5−9 they give you a beer menu that lets you know which beers are made in Boston or the New England area. Nice!
Also, behind the beer menu they have the day’s food special. We had their broccoli bites and corn on the cop with buffalo sauce… So delicious! Their kitchen is open till 1am, and after midnight everything in their menu is $ 6.99. Good ass food too.
Oh and if you can not decide on what to drink not to worry!!! They have a roulette spinner to help you decide, just don’t land on a non-​alcoholic drink!
So glad we ended up in this small Boston dive bar.

A no frills, no nonsense bar. Stopped in early on a Thursday night. The bar was full, but not many in the table seating. We were looking to get a beer and an appetizer.
They had a diverse selection of draft and bottled/​canned beers and ciders. The bartenders did their job, nothing special.
When looking at the menu, they had a variety of vegetarian options for meals, but we only had time for a bite so we decided to go with the veggie potstickers that came with a chili sauce. They had a nice texture and the sauce gave them a kick.
The prices were reasonable, I would be interested in coming back to try some more of the food and check out the nightlife scene. It sounds like they put together some pretty cool events.
Be aware this is a cash only bar, there is an ATM right as you walk in.

I really, really wanted to like this place… with a name like Bukowski Tavern I expected a dark sad place with books, whisky, and beer. Instead I was faced with two things that depress me: cash only, no booze. (They do have an ATM at the front door.) This place only has beer and a limited selection of wine.
On the upside… service was fast, and bar food is decent.
But seriously… Bukowski with no real booze. Bummer…

This is one place that you can get a great burger for lunch 1.99 and it’s huge gotta love that

I was in town for a job interview and met a friend here for dinner and a few beers. I liked the vibe because it wasn’t at all vibey, just full of decent food and beer. We had a few brews, all of which were tasty. I had the chicken bomb and the coleslaw. The coleslaw wasn’t the most filling side, but it was tangy and delicious. The chicken bomb was packed with gooey goodness. I’d definitely go back.

More dive bar-​y than we originally thought. We were here for lunch and got chicken slob and California burger along with tater tots to share. Each one was good but not very memorable. It’s a good hangover spot but don’t expect much more than that. They have «snack size» beers in case you want to try something new but don’t feel like committing to a full glass.

Good spot. Lots of great beer selections and the bartender really knew her beer.
If you are not sure what to order she could definitely point you in the right direction.
Food was good and service was top notch. Convenient location if you are staying at the Hilton or Sheraton.

Heads up, this is a CASH ONLY dive bar. My friend and I were looking to go somewhere post run that was casual and low key. This place certainly meets those requirements. It is a small dive bar located on Dalton Street. You need to be 21+ to go in. It was not crowded and is a locals hangout spot. They have a good selection of beer and bar food. We decided to get a few appetizers and «sharing is caring» plates: Sautéed Brussels sprouts, buffalo chicken balls and the white trash poutine tots plate. The dish that stood out was the white trash poutine tots plate, which is spicy cheese sauce, beef gravy and scallions. The service was fine. They were good and filling. I would come back here late night only.

First off, cash only is a drag! Seriously But dive bars that serve hot dogs are fantastic. I had a post marathon hot dog craving and Unilocal pointed me here. Glad it did.
Small dark local hipster feeling bar with a decent on tap menu. The hot dog was great, fresh toasted bun and super friendly (sic) server.
Wish I lived closer!

Fun dive bar with great list. We came in here while on vacation to meet an old friend of my boyfriends and the staff was nice and the regulars were even nicer. I didn’t eat, but all the food looked good. Only downside were that the TVs were very small and I wanted to watch the Bruins game.

One of my favorite spots. What a great little dive bar. Named after Charles Bukowski, the american author. It is a cash only spot, but they have an ATM onsite too. Awesome beer list, the food is killer. Peanut Butter Burger is great, as is the Cuban Sandwich, and the tots. Good lunch spot, if you are ok with something heavier. The staff is great too and there are a lot of little quirky things on the menu and décor as part of the charm. Good low key happy hour too.

Dive bar tucked away off Dalton St with amazing food and tons of drink options.
Small wait staff so we were there for a while, but this didn’t bother us too much.
We ordered the buffalo chicken balls and tots. UMM. YES. All I have to say.
Also, I had the quesadilla and it was pretty basic but good!

The vibes are really cool here. It doesn’t get obnoxiously busy here during the evening. Cool list of craft beers and decent food. I have ordered the peanut butter burger. That, too, was decent. The meat was a little dry but crunchy peanut butter is always delicious so I wasn’t mad. You can add bacon to it, but it costs extra. I didn’t add it when I placed my order, but I guess the kitchen made a mistake and added it. They served it to me anyway, free of charge. Thanks guys! Yes, the bacon was wonderful. I highly recommend it.
I came during Valentine’s Day weekend. There were pink paper hearts with funny messages written by patrons taped all over the walls. I was with a small group of friends and the waiter noticed we were reading all of them. He gave us a stack of paper hearts and markers and let us go to town on our messages. That was fun.

Love this place and was a regular visitor when I worked in the Back Bay. It is exactly what it’s supposed to be. A dive bar… but something a bit more than that too.
You can get yourself a 40 of your choice and a couple of hot dogs or a burger. If you want to go a bit higher class, head to Inman Square and visit the updated version.
Sometimes, older is just as good, though.

It’s a great place to go just to hang out especially if you are showing visitors around. It’s pub food so it is what it is. But they have a pretty decent beer selection. CASH ONLY! It is small so having a larger group is a no-​go. But four-​six you can probably get a table.

Smelled of old oil and not friendly. Too bad. Could have been cool.

Amazingly caustic service. The group next to us was told to quiet down because they were having too much fun playing a game on one of their phones. The bar promptly turned on heavy metal far louder and more obnoxious than our neighbors. Buzz. Killed.
—- 1 star to 3 — -
The bartender, Wayne is a nice guy. I guess he was just trying to preserve the atmosphere.

Possibly one of my favorite bars in Boston. It’s so small and filled with regulars that I forget I’m in such a big city sometimes. It’s cash only and is a spot to go for ever changing beers and a snack/​food list I’ve never treated myself to… But I’m always tempted for the mozzarella sticks!
This isn’t a place to go if you’re expecting to– get beyond drunk, take cute instas, be snooty orrrr find a guy to buy you a drink. It’s very much a hole in the wall compared to its neighbors but the staff will soon be your friends.

They are known for their beer choices; 30 or 40 on tap plus a large bottle selection. We had wings and the White Trash Chile. Sat at the bar and the bartender couldn’t have been more friendly, we are willing to experiment w/​various beers and he was very helpful. Great bar food, good location, near public transportation, very comfortable. Not a real big menu but good selection of food.
I little pricey for a Pub/​Tavern but worth the visit

Great staple that was right across from our hotel, loved the atmosphere (dive-​like, chill), bartender was very knowledgeable about the beer selection and made us feel very welcome. Try the burgers, you will be satisfied.

Awesome bar. Went here two nights in a row when visiting Boston. This is a cash only bar. The door guy even tells you this prior to going into the joint. Thankfully there is a ATM right in the entrance. The bar is somehow divey and trendy at the same time and actually plays music I like (Dungen, Tame Impala, and Interpol). They only serve beer and wine. Not sure if this is something to do with their license or not, but it doesn’t bother me. Both times I was here I got the Goose Island Bourbon County Stout, which is AMAZING. Definitely a place to check out when you are in the city. I’d recommend staying at the Sheraton which is across the street.

Unfortunately Bukowski Tavern is not what it used to be. The draft beer selection was a little boring and both my beer and my date’s beer tasted off. They both just kind of tasted dirty. Our favorite, the white trash poutine, barely had any gravy and just looked kind of sad.
As far as service, it was definitely the highlight of the visit. Quick and attentive.
I’m sad to say that I don’t think I’ll be making a return.

Spot on!
This place was a cool bar, with friendly people, and great food. The tots were incredible and I highly recommend everyone spinning the wheel for a beer!!!

I met a group of friends here at 5:30 and it was pretty busy. It’s a fun atmosphere and the menu is pretty funny. Having two exams the next morning I opted for a diet coke, but they have a nice selection of wine, beer, and booze. For dinner I had the chicken tenders and a side of tots. Seriously, comfort food done right! I tasted a friend’s mac and cheese which was delicious! When we left around 7:00 the small pub was packed. It was a great first experience and I’d be happy to recommend it to a friend and return for more!
A word to the wise: bring cash, cards aren’t accepted!

We went on a Thursday afternoon. I think it’s seat yourself and we sat at a table vs the bar, but service was faster at the bar.
We ordered the sweet potato tots, California burger and the daily special «rue-​dog». The food was good and my husband enjoyed his beer.
Interesting place, glad I tried it but wouldn’t go back.

Don’t let the whole ‘dive bar in a tourist zone’ aspect of this place deter you. When we stopped here for lunch, I wasn’t expecting anything special. I consider this (yet) another lesson in being less of a snoot in the future.
The draft beer list was excellent, the food was tasty, and the prices were reasonable. The vegetarian chili dog was delicious and just the right size (read: not gut busting.) I got the side salad instead of fries, because I like to make bad decisions. Learn from my mistake — this is so obviously not the place for a side salad. As soon as I snatched one of the fries from my husband’s plate, I knew I’d been a fool.
He loved his grilled turkey swiss melt (and accompanying fries.) I’m not sure if it is a good thing or bad thing that we stopped here for our last meal in Boston. Had we tried it earlier in the trip, we no doubt would have returned, thus missing out on other restaurants. And yet, sweet potato tots and vegetarian meatball subs all went untasted, which is kind of sad.

The peanut butter burger is a dog from hell…
I had the chance to visit the notorious Bukowski Tavern this evening and had myself a fine time. The beer selection was deep, with a great selection of draft and bottled beers. Being the man that I am, I forewent all of the fancy options and went straight for a cold can of Genesee Cream Ale. For the table, we ordered the White Trash Poutine Tots (horrible name). The tater tots were smothered in a spicy cheese sauce, beef gravy, jalapenos, and green onions. This dish was good, mostly because we were so hungry, but was an altogether far too heavy way to start the meal. Continuing with this trend, I ordered the peanut butter bacon burger as an entrée. I’ve seen this on several menus during the past few years and figured there is no time like the present. I wasn’t blown away by the burger. It was interesting and I’m glad I ordered it, but probably wouldn’t again.
Contrary to other reviews, we were very satisfied with the service we received. The tavern itself is pretty tight, space-​wise, so consider this if you intend to arrive with a group. They play music very loud throughout the restaurant, something I found a bit distracting. Also, they do not accept credit cards, which remains something I can’t understand in 2015. Lastly, as a fan of Charles Bukowski, I was delighted that his image was the focal point of the tavern’s décor. I would probably return again, but only for a beer… or a burger without peanut butter.

Cash only with a wide food and beer selection. I’ve been to Bukowski’s with my boyfriend a couple of times and I’ve enjoyed almost every trip. They have an incredible variety of beers to choose from, an entire sheet of them. Some can get a bit pricey but definitely worth it, you’ll have the opportunity to try things you’ve never seen or considered before. They also have great dinner specials, although I’ve never had them. I’ve never began or ended the night here, but it is a good spot to relax and chill with a few people. It can get busy, but never with fratty boys or sloppy college girls. It seems to cater to more of an older crowd despite its proximity to the colleges in the area. My only issue is that the bartenders can be a bit rude and aloof. Plus there is VERY limited space.

The hot dogs and buns and tater tots are stellar. The service is so-​so — probably better, if you’re friends with the staff. Most of their beers are IPAs (I can’t wait for this trend to die out), but it’s cool that they rotate the selection. Small. Cash Only. Solid ³⁄₅ stars seems fitting.

All searches lead to Bukowski… beer… bar… lounge… dive bar… liquor. To this, I add one more: «attitude.» They’ve got it. It makes them who they are. You appreciate it, or you move on.
One might be tempted to call it a hole in the wall. It’s more like a tunnel, with the long row of bar stools on the left, and some tables on the right leading to more in the back. Wherever you sit, take a few moments to look at the limited food options on the back side of the flyer, then focus on the variety of beers and ciders on the front, served with attitude of course. In past visits, I’ve been satisfied with a variety of beers, and occasionally the food as well. This time I was pleasantly surprised by a cider, specifically Ace Pineapple Cider. Pineapple and Cider? They DO go together, really well. This was a great nightcap for what had been a busy day, settling nicely on top of everything else. No need to go anyplace else tonight after a visit to Bukowski either.

Bukowski is one of those small neighborhood bars that the locals go to. And when I say small, it’s prettyyyy small. I haven’t had trouble finding a table here though because turnaround can be pretty quick, or I’ve come at off hours.
**Just so you’re not surprised, BEER & WINE ONLY. and CASH ONLY! They’ll remind you though
They have a good selection of beer, and I love that they have the petite sizes! I can’t drink that much beer to begin with, so those mini ones are perfect for me :)
After midnight, their burgers are only $ 6! Ummm hellooo peanut butter and bacon burger? YES PLEASE. It even comes with a side! such a good deal. Too bad I’m a gramma and rarely stay up past 12 unless I’m already out and want some late night drunchies. BUT kitchen closes at 1:30, so your window is pretty tight.
I really liked their peanut butter burger! Not as good as Boston Burger Company, but it definitely gets the job done and I recommend it for the adventurous souls
We also shared the white trash poutine tater tots. I wasn’t a huge fan of these. The tots themselves were nice and crunchy, but the gravy, jalapenos and whatever else was on it, didn’t really add much to the dish except for heat. I’d passs
Service is always great and everyone’s friendly!
Thanks for existing Bukowski :)
*Note: beware of the guy ‘checking IDs’ outside lol. I dont know if he’s always there, but he doesn’t work at Bukowski. They’ll check your ID inside!

A dive, a dive of dives. Bukowski is located on the bottom floor of a massive parking garage. You can easily miss it since the door is tiny, but keep an eye out for neon signs and you’ll spot it. This is probably the closest legit eatery to the convention center, and by legit I mean SOUL. While I was here I overheard a dude picking up a chick, saying that he lived right upstairs. Kinda confused me since isn’t this a parking garage… well anyways…
Bar is more long lengthwise than anything. Most will likely be sitting at the bar, but that’s how it is in a place like this. Walkway up and down is kinda cramp so be prepared for people to bump into your seat. Everyone’s pretty cool here, especially the bar guys, so really don’t take anything personal here.
-=-California Burger-​=- Man, I’m just realizing I’m a Californian ordering a California Burger in Boston. It’s not the largest burger in the world, but you’ll be satisfied. I really wished that the patty would be a bit more flavorful or unique, but I guess it’s playing it safe with simple seasoning. I got this coupled with mashed potato and fries. I particularly liked that the ranch was of the spicy variety.

Three bean chili — thick, hearty, lots of beans, not spicy, not sweet, not much of a taste but I do love my beans.
Tater tots with chipotle mayo — there was a nice hint of spice from the chipotle mayo and the tots were very crispy. I’m hoping that I’m right about it being fresh because it was falling apart from the fork! I ended up using my fingers to eat them.
Woodchuck cider — it’s beer. All beers are fatty to me.
There seems to be an abundant amount of seats and it was half full during lunch time so I could only imagine how crowded it gets during night time.

Calling Bukowski’s Tavern a dive bar isn’t really fair because it is not. It is just not nearly as pretentious as the neighborhood it lives in. I came in on a Saturday for a beer and a burger and was greeted by a friendly and slightly burly bartender.
I liked that they served snack size beers because I didn’t feel like drinking too much. I ended up ordering the BBC Espresso Porter, I really enjoyed it.
I ordered the California Burger which came topped with bacon and fresh slices of avocado. The burger patty looked like a quarter pounder, a little smaller than some monster portions at other restaurants. But bigger isn’t always better, I like smaller burger patties sometimes. This burger was flavorful and well seasoned, and apparently cooked one way. Would definitely come back in for another.

Déco sympa, serveuse aux petits soins avec nous, les bugers sont bons et copieux. Le choix de bières est assez impressionnant, par contre assez cher, plus cher que notre plat ^^”