My "Thrill of the Hunt" can apply to a liquor store too, especially when confronted with a large variety of wines unfamiliar to me. It took a minute to get oriented as well, given the wines are organized alphabetically by type. Am I getting some unknown wine with a bit of a markup, or am I getting a wine that will be a pleasant surprise. Our purchase of a Malbec here turned out to be of the latter, fortunately. The location is certainly convenient too. read more

A few years ago, one approached Liquor World with trepidation. The employees were downright rude, while the store was grimly kept and it was sorely lacking in selection. After a recent visit, I have come to one of two conclusions about the vast improvement in one's experience at Liquor World: A.) They have taken into account their missteps and have vowed improvement to encourage repeat business. B.) These motherfuckers are getting high on their own supply. Whatever the case may be (of which yet, I have not determined) Liquor World is a WAY more pleasant place to pick up booze. The spirits selection is very good (note Ben L's reference to Bols Genever) and if you cannot find a beer or wine that suits your fancy (from pricey choices for special occasions or cheapies to get you good and sloshed) perhaps you're just weeeee bit too picky. Don't expect anyone to jump out from behind the counter to help you find anything (which can be noted as a positive or negative, depending on how you like to shop), but do expect to find deals, prices and even a personable cashier when you're ready to fork over your dough. read more

Porter Square Wine & Spirits - liquor world - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Used to frequent Liquor World (like the Disney World for adults!) quite a bit in college and I find myself coming back here whenever I find myself in Porter because it's just so much cheaper than what's close to me now. Liquor stores tend to come in two flavors in Boston: fancy, expensive and upscale (think ~*Le Vin de la Cellar*~) or grungy but cheap (your corner convenience store). Liquor World manages to be organized, clean, and also pretty affordable. They have a good selection of both top shelf and budget liquors and a good selection of wine as well. Warning - not a great selection of the Franzias and Vellas of the world. I think prices tend to be on par with Supreme Liquors, but more expensive than Blanchards. This place is definitely better for the liquor selection than the beer selection. Staff is pleasantly non-obtrusive. They tend to know where things are if you ask them for help but otherwise expect to be left alone. Checkout is fast and pleasant - ID check, scan, bag, out the door. Line can get a bit long sometimes, but they try to keep people moving. read more

Super convenient, not a mega store and loaded w/ some of the best craft beer to make it to the area. Prices are incredibly modest when compared to Downtown W&S down the road. Excellent customer service and very knowledgeable when it comes to beer, wine, scotch, whatever... They offer discounts when you buy multiple bottles, have a twitter account if that is your thing and will learn your buying habits and soon make recommendations in a heartbeat on what they feel is right for you. Great place. read more

Good wine choices but rude staff! Confrontational, arrogant and just an awful experience all around! Sometimes the best part of shopping is enjoying talking to the person that works there and forget this place! The attitude is as though the customer is annoying and the employee is holier than thou! I don't care how much you know about wine there are certain ways to treat people in a humane polite way and whoever this guy was he needs to learn common decency and kindness! He must be a very unhappy person to treat others the way he does! read more

Liquor World (can you tell by the name?) is not exactly a boutique liquor store, but it does carry a good selection. The problem is, in my experience the foreign beers on the shelves are sometimes spoiled. Better to go with the beers in the refrigerator. Also, there's more fridges with more beers in the back, so poke around for the best selection. I like that they're open later on Sundays than some liquor stores, too. read more

Fine selection of alcohol, especially spirits. However, one of the employees was so unpleasant and rude that I will not be coming back here. He was condescending and aggressive. Also be aware they will card every single in your party regardless of if they are purchasing anything. This is totally fine and I understand it, but since it is so uncommon I would expect them to be a little more upfront about it instead of acting like we are burdening them or trying to buy underage when we asked for clarification about who had to be carded. Overall the experience felt very condescending and was not worth it considering there are other liquor stores nearby read more

What a vast VAST improvement from four short months ago. The boxy O bitch busted out a huge display Swiffer and remodeled with a neatness never before seen at 13 White Street. Wines on the right, ports, cordials and mixers in the middle, refrigerated beers in the back and spirits on the left. More booze and juice than brew, but they have what counts and it looks so pretty. Couple this with the convenience of Porter Square, Maine Root Ginger Beer by the bottle (item price less than anyone sells in a 4-pack) and 21st Amendment's Hell or High Watermelon Wheat on ice? Somebody lend me some Tic Tacs -- Liquor World and I are going on a second first date. read more

Liquor before beer... how does it go again? Oh yeah, beer before liquor never been sicker. Then you say: "Liquor?! I don't even know her!" And I laugh uncontrollably, because I'm wasted. Yeah, it's a liquor store called Liquor World, mere blocks from my house, and therefore rules. I mostly use them for 2 for $10 deals on shitty wine and the occasional case of beer. The selection is nothing like my beloved Downtown Wine & Spirits in Davis, but hell, I kind of like the way they treat me here. I don't go here to have my ass kissed, I'll put it that way. I like the way they smack me around. Get drunk and go here to get drunker. Or something. read more

This store is surprisingly small. For a name with the word "world" in it, you might have envisioned something a little larger... Well, I did, anyways. This store has a decent variety, and a slightly small selection of [chilled] beers. The prices seem to be a little too high for me. It's kind of out of my way, so I prefer to go to other stores. I'm more of a beer drinker than anything else so this store really doesn't really get me. I agree that they have stepped it up the recent past. They were really kind of rude, and were very quick to put me off from passing through the door. I may be back in the future, but it's not my first choice. read more

It smells like Hobos in here! Maybe that's where they go to buy their booze? I don't care, I got a nice bottle of Cava for 9 bucks. I'm not gonna complain and the man that I handed my plastic over to was very nice. This place is tiny, it was getting a little crowded and it's across from my gym. I forsee myself becoming a regular! read more

I enjoy this liquor store for, in no particular order, the proximity to my house, its placement en route from the supermarket to my house, the delicious high-quality mixers on racks next to the cash register, the unlimited supply of my preferred summery ales in the fridge, the eternal fantasy of pulling my boyfriend into the big, open-to-the-public walk-in fridge in back for some chilly lovin', and the wall art of confiscated fake ID's, hung with a casual, don't-even-try-it-asshole air of mid-twenties professionalism. I do not, however, enjoy leaving this place covered in snot. A few weeks back, I swung by on my way to a BBQ when my phone rang. Not recognizing the number, I took the call, and found myself, much to my horror, roped into a customer survey for Comcast, proctored by a robotic girl for whom my pity enabled the endless barrage of questions. Amidst the one-word answers, I went to the back, pulled out my beer selection, and took it to the counter. "Um..." snotted the tattooed, blonde female hipster behind the counter, "I don't ring people up on who are on their phones." My face could not have borne a more apologetic smile, as I pointed to the phone, held it away from my ear, and whispered, "It's a survey. She won't shut up!" Frosty stalemate. She was this close to calling on the person behind me when I asked the survey girl if maybe I could call HER back, and she immediately dropped the robot voice and became as affronted and whiny in her tone as this Snot Face Hipster was in expression. SFH finally uncrossed her arms and rung me up, giving me the stink-eye the whole time. Now, I've worked for a few years in the service industry myself, and I know it's annoying when people treat you as an incidental interrupting their phone conversation. But the bottom line is thus: I was charmingly and apologetically trying to give you money, SFH, and you were preventing me from doing so. Most employee-imposed customer service rules can be bent when the customer is nice, and you know it. Anyway, that said, the rest of the employees are pretty cool. The end. read more

This stuff is a bit of a beer diamond in the rough...really rough. The store itself isn't much to look at, it feels cramped and dingy. But once you look past that, there's a great hidden secret to this store. While the coolers in the back are stocked with great craft beer 6 packs, the real surprise here is the other coolers. Walk to the back of the store and go down the hallway on the left. Once you do you'll be greeted with a fantastic selection of bombers and 750's of very tasty beer. Prices are good, beer is fresh and I find myself here more and more. Add the fact that there's a big parking lot (in same complex as the shaws) and it's a winner. read more

It's a bt pricey and the wine selection is good. But they do not give bottle and can refunds back, even with the receipts. I thought that was illegal. If they charge you a deposit, they have to by law honor that transaction. read more

You go Liquor World! The store looks great all fixed up and organized. I don't think their prices are out of control, maybe a little more than Sav Mor, but this place is much more convenient for me. Huge wine and booze selections, not quite as much beer. Knowledgeable and nice staff. read more

This is my local store so I end up here sometimes, but I prefer not to. The wine and liquor are very expensive, more so than Pemberton or Ball Sq, even for the same items. There aren't many wines for less than $18. The beer selection is bad. read more

A lot of people have praised Liquor World's beer selection, which is decent but easily outdone by other packies and wine shops in the area (Downtown Wine & Spirits, Ball Square Wine, et al). My main complaint, however, is the prices, which are confiscatory. Perhaps it's a result of their location: they're right in the middle of a huge shopping center, and they're visible from both the Porter Square T station and Mass Ave. Whatever the reason, their prices have driven me to other packies more than once. A few weeks ago I was walking home from Christopher's after a tiring day and decided to go to Liquor World and pick up a bottle of scotch. I knew from experience that they weren't the best liquor store, but I was tired and already nearby. Upon seeing the sticker price and thinking "That can't be right," I took a chance and walked out of my way to Downtown Wine & Spirits in Davis Square (hardly out in the boonies, for those who attribute Liquor World's prices to location). The same bottle of scotch was $7 cheaper! Never again. read more

Been going there for around a month now and after today will not go back. As I work around the area, I had started to shop here as it is near the T stop and has a decent selection of N/A beer to select from. I work in facilities so I understand that my "look" may be suspicious given that I may have a hoodie with a paint stain or a pair of pants that have a spill on it. With that, I have always noticed that I get watched closely when I go in. Understanding the location, I remove my hood always and try to verbally acknowledge the workers to kind of lighten the mood; I understand the scenario given the location though it becomes borderline irritating when this becomes the norm on every trip. On my last visit, and it will be my last visit, I had brought 3 packs of non-alcoholic beer to purchase to the counter. Upon displaying my ID, the man behind the register had noticed that my ID had just expired; I should have paid more attention to this but unfortunately, I did not catch this. The man behind the counter (older, short blonde hair) informed me that my ID had expired and that he won't be selling me the beer. (Heineken is 0.0% abv mind you; while I get that he'd need to ID me for a .5% beer, this is not the case for Heineken 0.0 and having been 6 months clean, I have never run into this before and have been told numerous times by other stores that they'd have to ID me for .5 but not for 0.0 beer). On 3 separate occasions, this same gentleman had not only assisted me during check out, he'd also help point out where the N/A beer was kept (because he was trying to keep an eye on me but I got what I needed anyways so no big deal) & made small talk a few times about my N/A choices. My ID is expired now for 3 weeks (my fault) but during those 3 weeks, I've visited this store roughly 5 times and not once was it an issue. To be made to feel like a thief repeatedly (guess my "look" is not very "Cambridge") and to be quickly dismissed by the man with simple "welp, not selling to you" is really great customer service. Had I not been made repeatedly to feel like I was being watched and given a "I'm so sorry, I cannot sell you this because of your ID" I'd walk away with a different feeling. Unfortunately, now no one that I work with will bother with the store given the repeated treatment from the workers there and how they deal with local customers. read more

I don't have much to say about the selection, prices, whatever. I wasn't looking for anything out of the ordinary when I came here. I will, however, comment on the service. Adrienne said it best--"quite rude." So I bring my selections to the counter and present my (real) ID when Guy 1 at the counter examines it, grunts a little, then turns to Guy 2 and says "I've seen more Pennsylvania IDs today than Massachusetts. " Guy 2: "Yeah, we've had a lot of them." Guy 1: "Someone must be making fakes for cheap." Um, hello?!, I'm standing right here, if you want to accuse me of having a fake ID, please do so directly. I will not be back. read more

This isn't my typical liquor store stop, but some nights when I'm getting out of work and need booze immediately it works out to be pretty convenient. Like Lynn said, its a pretty small shop, but they have a crazy selection of lesser known, but really good beers, and I always end up overwhelmed with choices. They also have bottom shelf plastic jugs of booze that all my friends make fun of me for, and won't drink, so I get to keep it all to myself at parties. The staff isn't exactly jumping to help you, but are always polite when you do seek their opinion or help. Plus, I like buying my booze somewhere that sounds like an amusement park. read more

Went there without taking my roommate's advice and was so traumatized that I'd never go back again. Originally I was thinking of getting a bottle of vodka but I wasn't able to find my favorite brand (Ciroc), so I decided I'll look around for some beers. They had a pretty decent selection, a lot of local options as well as imported, but the beers are way way way over priced. I then moved on to the wine section and again they had a good variety of options, but they were also expensive for what they were. And the organization of the wine sections are such a huge mess that I lost patience tracking down which is where. The staff were swearing and cursing at each other, making gross and sexist comments. I end up getting a bottle of wine since I already spent way too much time figuring things out in there, but that'd be my very last purchase at this place. (would have given it one star, but I do think they had a decent variety so I threw in an extra star) read more

Very helpful staff, great selection including unique, local and small batch wines, beers and liquors.

Not the Best place for prices If you want Beer or Tequila, but the selection is serious. I come here for whiskey mostly, and good beers. $75 for whistle pig, Supreme Liquors Whistlepig: $100. This place is a hidden Gem for Whiskey prices, only place better is the liquor store in harvard square but only by a dollar or so. If you just want a 30 rack, check out Woody's on Somerville Ave. Whiskeys worth the Price at Liquor world Eagle Rare-$40 Blantons, $50 instead of $53 Barrell Whiskey$64 Bookers-$50ish Gun powder rye-$48? Coloneral E.H. Taylor Green label or brown label, they rarely have the orange label but it was my favorite, I think about it sometimes when I look up at the stars. Whistle pig- they have all 3! Best prices too, if you have $100 ish dollars, the 13 year should be worth it. the 10 year is amazing and cheaper. Smooth with a bold 100 proof. Staple Whiskeys worth looking into, sometimes same price, but sometimes a dollar or two cheaper other places. Elijah Craig Knob creek Bulleit Bourbon Corner creek read more

Decent selection throughout the store. Vast array of cold cases of beer inside the cooler. Don't be afraid to walk in, they rarely lock customers inside. read more

Went in at 8pm to check out their wine selection. Pretty large wall to choose from. Spent the next ten minutes listening to the employ working the floor complaining about the owner to the one behind counter. Didn't bother interrupting to ask if they had what I was looking for. read more

I love this place. I work in the Porter Square Shopping center so I am in here at least 3 or 4 times a week. The staff is super knowledgeable about what they carry and both the beer and wine buyer couldn't rock any harder on knowing their shit. The prices are normal for the area and the selection is amazing for a shop that is on the small side. If you need to return bottles they'll take em after 5pm which is swell because they don't have machines and you deal with an actual person. Wicked beer selection, all kinds all prices, my favorite is the People's Pint Farmer Brown Ale (recommended by the staff of course). I heart you Liquor World for providing my vices. read more

Really conveniently located liquor store that holds a solid selection of beer, wine, and hard liquor. I've noticed the music or npr in the background are great choices and very Porter Square. The help is nothing extraordinary, however they aren't pushy like a number of wineshops in the city. Place is always clean and staff will quickly jump on more registers if a line begins to form. That huge and very much appreciated! read more

Liquor World clearly relies a lot on their convenience and location, considering their closest competition is at least a half a mile away. I'm always pleasantly surprised by their craft beer selection, which they have recently expanded. It seems like they find new and cool beers. The wine and liquor selection is pretty average, but the prices do seem to be a little pricier. If I want a good bottle of wine (with a friendly recommendation) I'll go to Pemberton Farms or Dave's Pasta. The staff is very hot and cold--sometimes they'll be friendly, and sometimes they act like I'm seriously imposing on them. I know working retail can suck, so I try not to judge too harshly. I often get attitude if I don't pull out my ID immediately at the register, but other times they don't even ask, so now I make sure to have it available as soon as I walk up there. Overall, Liquor World could be better, but since it's the only beer/wine/spirits store in Porter Square, it doesn't have to be. read more

It's convenient and has an OK selection of alcohol. Tons of friends and even Beer Advocate boasted about the craft beer selection. Yeah, there's more craft beer compared to Budweiser selections, but the way everyone was talking I expected to be blown away by what they had. Not so much. It's the typical stuff you could find in just about any local liquor store's craft beer section with a handful that are unique to Liquor World. For a novice craft beer drinker, I guess it's a good enough selection. If you're looking for something more, you may be disappointed They didn't even have beer as commonplace as Southern Tier or Heavy Seas. What I was looking for may have been sold out, but twice I looked for it and was disappointed. The wine selection wasn't all that great and was ridiculously overpriced. I bought a bottle of Conundrum marked down to $26 (original price $31), which on sale is more than I would pay if I didn't need that specific bottle right then and there. I usually had pretty good luck with the people who work there, but was a bit put off by the guy in today. When I asked if there was any gluten-free beer, he was pretty snarky in his responses to me. Again, I realize that if you're looking for convenience this isn't a bad place. But given the selection not being up to my standards, I'll likely pass on coming here in the future. read more

Beer, beer, beer. Fantastic beer selection. Founders, Firestone Walker, Troegs, Cascade, Bruery, Stillwater, Goose Island limited releases and Lost Abbey. Amongst other things. A little bit pricier than other shops, but with this selection, I kind of don't care. read more

For such a small store they manage to fit a lot of liquor, wine, and craft beer. As Devon R. mentioned, the coolers in the back really are awesome if tasty delicious beers are your thing. The staff has always been super helpful and friendly. If you can't decide on something, don't be afraid to ask. And no, they don't sell Mad Dog 20/20. read more

It was one of those days. A Tuesday, as I recall, and the kind of day at work that makes you say, "damn, I need a drink." My head was pounding as a result of a long day at the office. And boy, did I need a glass of wine. Or 3. So I was pleased when my boyfriend texted me, requesting that I pick up some white wine for a dish that he was preparing for dinner. Yes, sir! I got off the T at Porter and walked over to Liquor World. Sure, he wanted it for cooking, but I wanted it for drinking, so I was going to take some time to find a nice white wine that would suit both purposes. Maybe even get some assistance from their staff, who in the past have seemed friendly. Then I entered the store. Death metal, playing VERY LOUDLY, was screaming over the speakers. Really, really loud death metal. The sullen looking staff didn't move from behind the counter. I went over to the wall of white wine.... thump, thump, thump with SCREAMING over the speakers. I couldn't even think about wine... all I could think of is "I need to get out of this horrible, horrible, loud, God-forsaken store!" I grabbed the first bottle I saw, paid and left. I usually buy 2 or 3 bottles at a time, but the whole experience at Liquor World was so freakin' unpleasant. And loud. I could not get out of there fast enough. I'm not saying you gotta play classical music or the like to make a shopping experience pleasant, but damn, do you need Death metal music playing at the highest decibel? Really? Well, not if you want my business. read more

Ah, Ye Olde Liquor World. I sometimes stop in here on payday to reward myself for working at the same job and getting so little in return *sob*. It is indeed tiny, and expect to want to get up in someone's grill for blocking your view of the shiraz. There are lots of good deals to be had on wine, and LW does well in supplying a good selection of beers great and small. The liquor prices are...ehhh, not fantastic, but I'm not much of a liquor buyer anyway so no big deal. The customer service has always been pleasant. The last time I came here I was looking for a good dry white wine to make a broth for mussels. The girl I asked went lickety-split (ha) over to one section of a shelf and pulled out a $10 sauvignon blanc, correctly guessing that I didn't want to spend too much money, yet still wanted something I could both cook with and drink. (One for me, one for the broth, one for me...and so on) The cashiers have always been friendly too, and are usually kind of lax with checking my ID, which is kind of funny considering that they make a show out of plastering confiscated second-rate fakes above the registers. Bonus: the radio is always tuned to NPR. I love me some Downtown Wines & Spirits, don't get me wrong, but Liquor World is way closer and it's super convenient for popping in after work on my way to Shaw's. read more

A good end to a work day. No I do not have a problem. Rogue with siracha? No need to sway. Like Tegan and Sara everything is awesome. Seriously their selection is great. Small batch beers... goblet please! If a girl takes me there before IKEA... checkmate. Nice beer before Swedish meatballs? What a tease. read more

Two words: Liquor World. Is this just a place in my dreams? No, it's the place where I buy booze down the street. The staff is really laid back and friendly. They're no Party Source in Newport, Kentucky, but I really don't need to have Everclear in my cabinet these days. However, ladies be wary of the creepy Spare Change paper guy who usually stands outside the store on a regular basis. He's probably going to sexually harass you on your way out. read more

As a very recent transplant to Cambridge from Boulder, CO, I'm thrilled to have found Liquor World walking distance from my new home. The prices are higher than I'm used to, but that seems to be the case for ALL of Boston. E.g., a bottle of Rittenhouse in Colorado runs $24 ($21 on sale), so $28 at Liquor World feels expensive. On the other hand, Liquor world sells yellow Chartreuse for $58 and green for $63 ($68 for either is typical in Colorado). But more important than prices is selection, and Liquor World has it: a nice selection of aromatized wines; plenty of solid foundational spirits like Rittenhouse, Laird's Bonded, and Smith and Cross; a wide assortment of amari; AND a complete assortment of items from Tempus Fugit (impossible to find in many parts of the country). The only major hole in their stock seems to be items from Buffalo Trace, but that's no deal-breaker for me. Also: friendly, responsive, knowledgeable service! read more

I've been shopping at Liquor World for over a year, and for more reasons than just the fact that it's close to my house. This place is constantly surprising me. There's always a great selection of beer, wine, and spirits. I love craft beer, and there's always a big selection of my favorite breweries. On top of that, they have a shelf at the back which is just micro-breweries. I've never had a bad beer there. The staff are super casual, but they seriously know their stuff. Phil always has great recommendations for spirits, whether I'm buying to stock my bar or for a gift. Dave knows beer like no one I've ever met. If you ever want something new to try, he's your man. Given the location and the fact that it's a locally owned business, the prices aren't crazy either. Overall, a great place to shop and pick up a drink, while having a chat as well. read more

This is the kind of place that I REALLY didn't want to like, but because of their convenience, I begrudgingly would stop in for alcoholic beverage needs when I was in the area. Well, their selection and customer service have won me over and that's why I keep going back. Plus, they always have plenty of magnificent Slumbrew in stock. Always friendly checkout service, fun laidback vibe, and like I previously mentioned, a very good selection. Pricewise is what you'd expect for a packie off the T and in Cambridge. Look for discount deals on multiple bottles and other specials. I'm happy to visit Liquor World, and I hope our worlds can continue to co-exist peacefully and meaningfully. read more

It's hard to find a store that is this convenient and yet boasts such a great craft beer selection. Yes, Downtown Wine and Spirits has a more extensive selection. But if I want to be able to stop at the grocery store for a last minute dinner item and I want to pick a drink to pair with my dinner, it's nice to be able to stop at this strip mall. read more

Decency and Manners are not Dead. This is not my usual stop for my drinking needs, but after tonight... The woman working the counter is one of my heroes. Discretion being the better part of valor let me just say that the service was a testament , a validation that the entire planet has not gone to the dogs. Many thanks! read more