Excellent example of a great classic dive bar. Quaint, with awesome locals, fascinating for people watching and eavesdropping others lives. They pour a proper Guinness. Coupled with an Ice cold Smithwick you have the best black and tan in the entire world. read more

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Love this place. Bartender knows how to make an excellent vodka soda and is actually friendly

I love this bar!! I had the pumpkin head ale which is super delicious!!! Go up to the lounge on the second floor. It feels like your own bar read more

Durty Nelly’s - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Dateline: Tuesday Night Things were looking bleak; Ben L. and I were the only Yelpers at the bar for a solid hour. They looked better when 'tender extraordinaire Nick poured me Jameson, cheerful when he mixed me a cherry-chocolate concoction, spinny when he suggested a guinness with blueberry vodka, and by the time his radioactively green take on a long island came around (aptly named "The Living Dead"), things were downright hazy. Recollections: "Do you like Guinness?" "Yes!" "Do you like blueberry muffins?" "Y-esss?" The soothing musical stylings of my future husband Something about hearing sleigh bells when you pee....? .. umm, that's about it, actually. At some point it turned Wednesday and me and Ben had turned into me andBenandLauraandPeteandLauraandDamienandJohnnaandHemanthandCaitlyn and I vowed to return with half a turkey to toss in the deep fryer. 'Cause Nick'll let me. Oh yeah! Parting recollection upon leaving, inadvertently spoken aloud: "I'm going to make this place my bitch." read more

UPDATE: 2/5/13 A month after I wrote this review, I received a message from the management of Durty Nelly's, apologizing for my experience on New Year's Eve, and saying that the bar had looked into the matter and taken internal action. Mad respect for a business that takes customer complaints seriously and takes responsibility for the actions of its employees. For that reason alone, I'll give them another chance next time I'm in Boston. --- Before I begin this review, a disclaimer: I am notoriously unpicky about service. I will ignore indifferent, sullen, and inattentive service if the food is good or the drinks are cheap. I have never taken stars off a review for bad service. I am not a difficult person to please. That being said, I have never, NEVER been so poorly treated at any business I have patronized in my life. I was completely shocked. To give the bartender the benefit of the doubt, it was New Years Eve, but the place was not busy and we were 100% sober. Here's the story: We had come straight from the fireworks on the harbor and were looking for a beer to pass the time while we waited for the T to be less crowded. There were three of us - we are all quiet and non-threatening - you might go so far as to call us nerds. We took a seat in the corner and took a second to get settled in. My friend went up to the bar to check out the selection. I always carry a Nalgene bottle of water with me, and I took it out to have a sip. The bartender told my friend that I needed to put my bottle away or we wouldn't be served. My friend walked back to tell me this - I took one last sip (I was thirsty!) then closed it and put it away. The bartender then started yelling at us, using profanities and ordering us to get out. We were so shocked that it took us a second to process what was happening. The bouncer then came over and showed us out. Now, I know that bars may have strict policies about outside drinks, but the bartender handled this situation in a completely appalling and unacceptable manner. He could have asked me to put my drink away - which I did as soon as I was asked to. Even if it was business policy to kick us out, there was absolutely no need to scream, use foul language, and be unnecessarily rude. I understand that people in the service industry get stressed and have bad nights, but his rudeness was completely out of line. I'm not sure that someone who so clearly hates people should pursue bar tending as a career choice. I have seen from other reviews that other Yelpers have encountered this awful excuse for a human being. It's a shame, as it seems that the other bartenders at this bar are friendly and helpful. This bartender is a liability to the business and should be fired before he scares off any more customers. read more

Durty. Filthy. Nasty. Too durty to clean my act up. If you ain't durty-you ain't here to PARRR-TYYY. Come on a Tuesday night and enjoy inane conversation with friends around a roaring fire, beverages concocted by a mad scientestesque bartender and the musical styling of a man named Reed Waddle whom I am concerned will eventually end up deep fried because that seems to be the inevitable fate of all things that enter this establishment.* Then, apparently, wake up at 9am and do it all again. *Note-This is poetic (yelpetic?) license. You need not be worried about yourself or Reed Waddle ending up in a vat of bisquick. Unless you're into that sort of thing. Now that's durty. read more

For a tourist area, I was shocked to discover everyone at Durty Nelly's was a regular. When my boyfriend and I sat down, we were ignored from the start. The bartenders were too busy yelling profanities and discussing their personal lives with the regulars at the bar. Thank god we were only bar hopping! We tried to pay our tab as fast as we could and chug our beers, but it took over ten minutes for me to get the bartenders attention so he could run our card....and we were literally right in front of him! Yuck! read more

So I did some research and Durty Nelly's is named after Nelly O'Sullivan from County Cork, who got the nickname "Durty" on account of her old shawl which she never washed - "Ah sure it'll only get durty again!" she would often say. (or so legend has it) If you love deep fried food, then this is your place, chicken, mozzarella, hot dogs, cookies. Yes, you heard me correctly, cookies. Bartender with too much time (and imagination) on his hands + fryolator + bag of cookies = deep-fried Oreos! And they were great! (Especially when sprinkled with powdered sugar - yum!) Cold beer, strong drinks, entertaining music, good company and fried oreos. Life doesn't get any better than that. Ah sure. read more

Was trudgin through Boston on a lonely Thursday night when I found myself in a dark dark place. Except this place was an alley way and the bar atop Of the steps was a great find. This place is a small, divey, you're welcome to have a drink, but fuck you if you don't like it kinda bar and I loved every minute of it. Great conversation, welcoming bar staff and patrons, definitely didn't feel like an out of towner amongst the locals, which can turn a night the wrong way fast. Highly recommend this spot if you're in the Boston area and want a place to just kick back and have a drink, this is your spot. No BS, no upsell, no tourist tax. read more

Went to Durty Nelly's last night. My co-worker and I were in town on business and decided to get a drink. Co-worker is Latino. I started talking to a couple of very cool people when the bartender cut off my co-worker saying he was drunk. My co-worker hadn't finished his first drink. I told the bartender I would watch my co-worker. 10 minutes later we both got kicked out and the bartender refused to say why. This prick of a bartender even called the bouncer over. Some serious racist shit going on in this bar. read more

Call it a grownup oasis in the Fanny Hall area. A narrow but friendly beer menu, fried, greasy apps, and a decent playlist for the start of a fun night out. Be careful about coming here on weekends after the farmer's market: the street outside looks like a post-apocalyptic world covered in chard and apple cores. But for real, the street is dirty, kind of gross on the weekends. Here's your play - Durty Nelly's Switcheroo: - Friends say they want to get trashy at fanny - You say "Cool I'll meet you there." - You come here, drink alone with everyone else and text them at 1 am saying you found a chill spot for a wind down. Solid pub. Don't tell the drunk kids around the corner about it. read more

Ahh the place where you come once and it turns into cheers...everyone knows your name. The only bar in the city where you walk in and make instant friends with people. Plus the food is awesome along with great drinks. Lots of locals, regulars, and tourists in here and its always a fun time. Don't forget to say thanks to the bartenders there too. Some of them are military veterans "even though you may not realize it." Oh yea, ask Nick for a watermelon margarita. read more

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This was supposed to be our last stop on the 3rd Annual Freedom Trail pub crawl, and they wouldn't let half of us in. I am in a fight with the bouncer Mathilda because she said that I was TOO drunk to get in... Mathilda was wrong... even though I had gone to 10 bars in 8 hours, I had been pacing my self for the last stop at Durty Nelly's... at least that's what I was telling myself. You better believe i marched myself back there to hand her my "you've been yelped" card. As my friends pulled me away, I yelled back "you'll be sorry Mathilda" It was at that point that she probably realized how sober I was and that she had made a BIG mistake... i'd love to come back to this place when i haven't been to 8 bars before-hand. read more

Dive bar extraordinaire! We'd been wandering around the North End all day and were looking for cheap drinks to unwind. It certainly looked cheap, but I was skeptical. I asked the doorman, "does this place suck?" "Actually, we were voted the best dive bar in Boston!" You may be a fantastic liar, but either way, you were charming enough to get us to come in. Good work. We were greeted by Nicky, the hot super-Bostonian bartender. Fantastic first round of cocktails. Next, shots. He let me try Frangelico for free because I was curious what it tasted like. (Gross.) Then my friend and I ordered shots, at which point Nicky did the sign of the cross. My friend winced. I didn't. "Impressive!" We may not look like much, but we can drink you under the table any day of the week, "kid." Long story short, we had a great time here, minus the bartender upstairs who made much crappier cocktails -- cocktails Nicky even offered to make for us the right way. The night ended when we were invited to Nicky's place and I ate cheez doodles out of my crotch then told Nicky to shut the fuck up in his own apartment. Needless to say, a cab was called and we were on our way home. Next time we come, I'll wear a mask so Nicky doesn't recognize me. Many awesome times to be had at Durty Nelly's. read more

One of the best bars in Boston! Total dive! The bartenders are friendly and my tab was so low at the end of the night I had to make sure it was mine. It gets a little cramped later in the night. Get there early to grab a seat. Especially if they have a band playing. My only complaint would be the tiny unisex bathroom. read more

We stumbled upon Durty Nelly's while trying to find a laid back atmosphere during our vacation in Boston. Friends in the area told us to go to Sissy Ks, the Purple Shamrock and the Black Rose, but they weren't what we had in mind. My bf and I laughed when we saw the Durty Nelly's sign from the alley. We knew we had to stop by after dinner. It was the perfect place for us to kick it in Boston. All we kept thinking about was how we'd never find a place like Durty Nelly's in L.A. We stayed on the 1st floor the entire time. We had a great time our 1st night there, yes that's right, we returned the night before heading back to Cali. Our 2nd night was even better. The bartender was fantastic and we listened to some great live music by Colm O'Brien. We also had some old guy keep buying rounds of Guinness and shots of Jameson for the house. Too bad I can't keep either of them down. We fell in love with Durty Nelly's. No pretentious people in sight. Decent prices, sexy and nice bartender, tasty greasy bar food, great music, and the perfect laid back spot. read more

Mike Barrett on Sunday nights Makes this place rock! A great musician and amazing entertainer. Do not miss this! Unless, of course, bad language offends you and you have no sense of humor. Then don't bother. read more

Never disappoints for me! Fav bartender there has to be Jared! Hands down! He always knows how to converse with patrons and make good drinks and keep us happy! Speaking of which, I might just stop after work! =) read more

Fun little bar right next to the hotel we were staying at. I think it is typically low key - but since there was a bar crawl when we were there it got pretty busy, so service lacked for regular customers - but I'd probably give it another shot. read more

LOVE it. A dive bar for sure, but thats what makes my heart warm and fuzzy. Its very small inside, but rather than this being a negative I think it adds to the general dive-y atmosphere. Went here with a group of yelpers. There was also live music courtesy of Reed Waddle. Great prices (Got Stella on draft for $4.50) and they have basic food offerings until one am (HUGE plus). Bartender was very efficient and served everyone in our party quickly. Great place to stop in for an affordable drink. read more

Arguably, the best dive bar in Faneuil Hall... both off the beaten path (read: Blackstone St where the "farmer's markets" are) and relatively cheap. Breakfast is served all day, which is music to my ears if I've been consuming many a libations in that neighborhood. The deep fried hot dog, while sounding somewhat sketchy, is anything but... and it's only $2, so throw some chili on it and call it a meal! The fried classics are also quite delish and when washing everything down with a cold brew, listening to live music on some nights in a small, seedy joint you have a recipe that'll be sure to delight. One of my most favorite things about this place is that aside from it never really being all that packed, you get the sense that you're in one of those authentic Boston drinking establishments. Having been born and raised here, that should come with a certain amount of credibility. read more

My friends & I found this place during St. Pat's '07 (INSANE in Boston) and decided to try it because it had no cover and cheap beer-- we loved it! Tucked into a little side alley, you actually feel like you're heading to a pub somewhere in Europe. The downstairs is Pete's Pub (note Bryanne's review) and the upstairs is Durty Nelly's, where we stationed ourselves. Very small, but a lot of fun, this bar has Irish bartenders complete with brogues! It was packed to the gills, but we were still able to enjoy ourselves and flit around with our large group, all the while making friends with other people. Unfortunately, I haven't had a chance to make it back since then, and I'm sure it's different normally, but it was a blast-- and the bathrooms really were clean! read more

"Cozy" just seems like the absolute wrong word for a place like this, but that really was the feel I got here. We occupied a large part of the terrace in the back on a nice evening - good service, decent beer list, very good cocktails. It was a bit crowded, but that sort of added to the atmosphere here. Just be aware that if you're a smoker sitting in the patio area in the back, you take your cigarettes with you beyond the chain but not your drinks... yeah we watched a few folks getting called out for that. It just adds to the experience. read more

Nick made sure our party was the best ever before my friend left for Cali!! Drinks we're good and reasonably priced.

Sept. 27, 2019, 11:00 am. We went in to spend good money on a few whiskey's to toast being together in Boston. The young, white, heavier bartender was curt, even hostile. The owner should know, we bought one beer instead of several rounds of whiskey on our large group, and left. Bartender must be a relative or he wouldn't have a job. He busied himself away from the bar; going to the backroom for extended periods of time. Coming back only to pick up a watering can to water plants for a while. Could have stolen anything I wanted and he'd never know. Owner should take note. UPDATE: Went to the Black Rose and dropped $225 in whiskey....before the tip.. AND 5 tee shirts! So another $125.... read more

Cute, cozy, laid-back, chill, relaxed - sums it up. Great place to catch up with the person on Facebook that you reconnected with but didin't really mean it when you said "we should get together!" or a first date with the guy you met on Match but were unsure about because the pictures were a little fuzzy and you couldn't tell from his emails and the brief phone chat if he was witty and quirky or just weird. This is a great place for that! Great beer on tap, nice atmosphere and good people watching. read more

The thing I love the most about this place is how early they open. The second thing I love about this place is the bar staff. Every time I have come here I have had great service. No waiting too long for a beer, no rudeness, just quality service. The beers are always cold and if they have to bring some up because the cooler's low, they stuff it in the ice because they know you're going to be asking for more. The place is super small and that's ok. This isn't a place to come and dance. this is a place to come and have a few drinks and have a conversation with your friends for a while. That's part of its charm. This is the kind of bar that you would've seen all over the place in the old days. The beer selection is ok. They have the classics and some other surprises. I come here for the Narragansett and PBR pounders. They also have local ciders which is awesome. Not many places do. And from what I have seen they make a mean Bloody Mary. This place keeps me coming back and that's a good thing. read more

Having a great St. PATRICK'S DAY at Durty Nellies. Great service. Fun people. Good job. read more

Durty Nelly’s - St. Patrick's day. - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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I like this little bar. Probably been here a dozen times. It's nothing special. Sort of a hole in the wall place but the service is always decent, the beer is cold and I've never had a bad time here. It's not much on ambiance or really anything specific, but you could end up losing a lot of time here! There's something awesomely comfortable about this place. So hard to describe because it's such a dive, yet such an attractive hangout. read more

I want to love this bar- I really do... but the bartender is horrible- he is rude, unfriendly and when asking for a beer, it seems as if your bothering him? They solely play one genre of music- EMO. If your goal is to come out ranging mad and depressed come to Durty Nelly's- otherwise drink at home you'll be happier and ur ears won't be bleeding from the screeching garbage they play. read more

I used to stumble into 'Pete's Pub' after a night in the North End feasting on fine Italian cuisine. I recently made my way to the bar that has replaced Petes, Durty Nelly's. I was happy to find out that Nelly's is very much the same as Pete's. They spruced the place up a bit, but the first floor bar is still a cozy(ie small) place to have a bunch of pints with friends and strangers alike. It seems to remain a hidden gem located just one block away from the strip of bars that overflow with people near the Haymarket Orange Line T Stop. That's fine by me. I'll keep Nelly's in mind during future trips to the North End. read more

This is a great dive bar! But I guess with the dive bar comes the crappy service. Both times I have come in and had a young man who is rude and sarcastic. His comments about our conversations are completely out of line. Today he spilt my drink all over the bar and it was dripping off my side of the bar for at least 5 minutes before he decided to help us clean it up. When he is not there I have really enjoyed the place it has a great atmosphere and there is a great beer selection. Though all the tap handles were miss labeled so you had no idea what was on tap till you asked. Its worth a try, if you are doing a pub crawl or just looking for a beer go to Nelly's for at least one read more

This is my final Boston review. It's fitting it's my favorite dive bar that I discovered because it had a back alley that I was so curious about one beautiful anti-social evening. So, I threw myself a goodbye party there. I invited everyone who was anyone in my life (18 people maybe) and we celebrated in the style I am so accustomed to. Beer, making ironic homophobic jokes and good friends. Nick (I refuse to call him Nicky because no self respecting woman would ever sleep with a Nicky), was a darling, as usual, and put up with my slightly inappropriate flirting. He made sure my group was happy and drinking and made lots of fried deliciousness for everyone until... Nate arrived. Then we got to go upstairs and have a semi-private party and took over the place, played darts, drank beers, talked shit... it was perfect. We made fun of Nick for his yelp review stating that he may or may not have eaten cheese doodles out of someone's crotch (he didn't). So Nate created me an amazing shot called "The Cheese Doodle" that will forever live in my memory. And then I blubbered my way out of there. It was a brilliant night. read more

This is one of the gems of the Irish bar area. What's makes it so awesome is the fact that it isn't stuck on the strip with the rest of them so you get a bit of room for your elbows and can relax without worrying about some random drunk person stumbling over you. Well if some drunk person stumbles over you it's probably someone that you know. Don't be put off by the fish markets and remnants of Haymarket keep you away. Once you are inside the place is pretty clean with a classic dark bar feel. The Bar goes lengthwise and it isn't too hard to find an open stool. During weekdays it can be a little slow but on Friday and Saturday there is a nice little flux of people without being crowded. Ideal for right before or after one of the more packed bars nearby. read more

This place is SKETCH, but in a good way. Let me proceed to tell you how and why. 1. My four friends and I were literally pulled into this bar by a man (according to him, he was the breakfast cook) asking my friend to dance with him. We then piled onto 5 of the MAYBE 25 bar stools available. 2. Upon entering and announcing that there was a birthday girl, shots were poured. 3. Some interesting looking ladies emerged from a back / kitchen door, who looked like they might have been on drugs. 4. You cannot get to the bathroom without dancing with the guy sitting at the end of the bar (he seemed harmless - middle aged, questionable sexual preference). 5. Shots and beers keep coming... apparently we are the most interesting thing happening on mildly humid Tuesday evening! 6. Bobby Flay style cook-offs nearly happen, but alas the fryer is off and neither the bartender, nor the breakfast cook want to clean up the mess. 7. Drinks keep coming right up until that dreadful 2am maker. 8. The "Nelly's Summer Beer" is definitely MGD or Bud. 9. You feel only moderately safe the entire time that you are in this bar. However, with that being said... we had a blast. Loved the bartender, loved his brother, loved the atmosphere and all of the weirdos. Definitely a nice start to a late night in Boston... read more

our buddy who had been stationed in Boston remembered going to this place a few times when he was living here, so we swung by. turns out his memory was working as well as we hoped. solid place to stop in for a drink. both levels are kinda small; the bottom is a standard bar while the upstairs section resembles a large living room or den with comfortable couches and chairs and even a dartboard. bartender upstairs was great. forgot his name, big dude, mad friendly. my Jameson/ginger ale tasted a bit off and he investigated the taps; ginger ale needed swapping. I rarely get mixed drinks because I'm used to bartenders acting like soda can't lose carbonation or the taps don't need replacing, so it was great to not have to experience that attitude. pretty solid pricing - 8 and change for a Jameson/ginger ale. read more

Greeted by fun 80's music upon walking in. Smell of Greasy Cheese Burgers filled the air and instantly made me hungry... even though I just ate. Friendly bartender, with a decent draft selection. I opened with a Harpoon IPA which was served in the proper glass and tasted delicious. Followed by two Bud Lights that were honestly the coldest beers I've ever had (like 33 degrees lol). Decor, and TV's were both great, and the bathroom was spotless. Honestly - this would be a great place to get drunk with friends. Looking forward to trying that Cheese Burger next time. read more

I went in here one night before the hockey game for a pint. I wanted a Guinness until I saw the bartender pour one. If you are going to tend at an Irish bar at least know how to pour a proper pint. I decided on a Stella instead. With nary a word nor a smile the bartender took my order and my cash. $7 for a nickel draft. But a beer is worth what you pay for it no issues there. If you enjoy a poorly poured pint by a grumpy staff member then go here. It did have the aroma of a proper pub. read more

Loved the atmosphere! This was the first place I stopped in when visiting Boston. Being from the south my accent was only made fun of for 20 minutes as they were having me say things like boiled peanuts. The whole bar (2:00 on a Thursday afternoon, so like 10 people) were just having a great times with each other like we actually all came there together. The bartender was friendly or as friendly as a Boston native can be. Would love to go back if I ever visit again! read more

Well what can I say...love Durty Nellys! from original in Ireland to San Antone and Boston.. An Irish gal Mc lovin her Smithwicks... and Nate..thanx for you helpful tips..whata nice guy...BOSTON....I LOVE YOU read more

Durty Nelly’s - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts