Great place since the 70's I was apart of a horn section in "76" known as roomful of blues for the one night that there trumpet player didn't show? I too like the sphere, "One without pretence is one moment in the shade". crowded but cool. read more

This is an awesome night spot with a lot of character and great live music. Its the type of hole in the wall music club that I always dream of going to, but so rarely do I find. There are only a handful of tables in this narrow venue, and a small bar right near the door. You're unlikely to get a table or a seat, so prepare to stand. But no matter what, you'll be treated to some excellent live jazz music. read more

A great evening of live jazz in a very small venue. Getting in before the man band (before 9:30pm) is key to getting a seat; otherwise, you'll be standing. Well drinks were quite expensive ($12) but beer is $5 so that's probably the cheaper option. read more

Thursdays is undoubtedly my favorite night to come by, for Tim Mayer's Latin Jazz band. Get there early if you want to make sure you're not stuck behind the "yuppie/scenesters" Melissa B. mentions. It's often "standing room only" by 10:30 or so. However I like standing near the stage by the bathrooms, for the livest, most raw sounds. No food here, so eat before coming down. Also, drink prices go up when the band is playing, so keep that in mind. They have a specialty cocktail menu but you're better off ordering standard call/well drinks. read more

This is a cozy little dive bar with great live music. There is no cover so drinks are a bit pricey but with great music, it's worth it. The place fills up quickly but it's a small bar so you can stand or sit anywhere and enjoy the music and company. read more

Authenticity is the word that comes to mind when entering Wally's. If you are coming for real music being orchestrated by emerging jazz artists than this is your place. ............. read more

Wally's is a gem. No, you're not going to see established jazz performers like Wynton Marsalis here (though as a jazz musician , I assure you that the performers here are very, very good). No, you're not going to have the cheapest beverages here (though I don't understand the reviews that complain about the prices, $5 beers is pretty good, especially when you don't have to pay cover). No, you aren't going to get food here, besides a bag of chips, though they have no problem with you bringing food from outside. What you will get is a grungy, affordable jazz experience while listening to up and coming jazz musicians strut their stuff on stage. If you want an upscale experience with the most famous jazz acts, go to Yoshi's in San Francisco, or House of Blues in Boston, or Blues Alley in DC. But if you want a casual good time, this is your place. read more

Always such a guaranteed good time here. Exceptional acoustics in a cozy rectangle of a bar means you always feel the music (in more ways than one - this is jazz we're talking about). The bartender pulls off the superhuman feat of always being here, so you feel like a regular even if you don't frequent the place. It drips with cool in the place at all times, and they feature live music - get this - 365 days a year. The only thing that could make the place better? Get rid of the very distracting TV screen in the place, which jars you out of what would otherwise feel like a first-class ticket to another time period. read more

I love the live jazz, a perfect hole in the wall but the over priced drinks and sometimes rude wait staff makes me think twice about venturing over there. My suggestion is to eat and grab drinks first, then head over early. That maybe the only way you have a place to sit, because it gets pretty crowded! read more

Nice little hole in the wall place for jazz. Quite a mix of clientele, from teens with their pants down to their butt to "older folks". The jazz itself was good. Drinks were outrageously priced for this hole in the wall. $9 for a beer and $12 for a drink. read more

First, don't be fooled by "cafe"; no food is served here. But, they are quite happy for you to bring food in from a nearby restaurant. BYOB here is "bring your own burger". You come here for the jazz, typically a jam session by local students. The place is small and the drinks are a bit pricey for the decor, but it's a great place for a drink before dinner. read more

Wally's proved the perfect place for the perfect first date with my perfect now-fiancee. What more could two jazz lovers ask for? This place is the epitome of jazz bars with amazing music, cheap drinks, and an atmosphere that takes you back to the heyday of jazz. read more

Great little hideaway for jazz. Don't expect a roomy place with lots of places to sit. It was standing room only for us but it's so small and intimate that it didn't matter. The bar tender was the grandson of Wally. Very cool. read more

If you can get into Wally's you'll have an awesome time! Fantastic musicians hang here, some going to school at nearby Berklee and some old school locals who come out to jam. Kind of a small place, seating is limited, so get in early and get yourself a seat. read more

Wally's is ealisy the best place in Boston to see live music 7 nights a week!!! They are hang out for students from the Berkeley School of Music and often feature groups from the school. The croud is diverse, with pimps, students, bohemians, and Red Sox players, all sharing the same tiny bar. Check it out...you'll love it. read more

I love a place that's completely packed on a rainy Monday night. There's not that much around Wally's, so if the place draws that kind of crowd when the weather's foul, you know if has something going for it. The blues were great - the band came on a bit late, but made up for it with quality. I'll definitely be returning to check out some of the other nights (latin jazz is very cool, I'm told). Just a block south of the Orange Line Mass Ave stop. read more

Very "local"place. Lots of regulars and great music. Super diverse crowd. If that appeals to you, then def worth a visit.

For only checking out this place once, I can already say with confidence that it is one solid jazz club and I plan to return next time I visit Boston. It was latin jazz night and we were able to score the table right at the front. The keyboard was right next to me and I was tempted to jump in on the jam sessions but I held back. The band was great - bongo drummer's hands were a blur, drum set guy jumped out of his seat when he got excited, and the keyboardist was badass. The bar itself was super chill. Bartender was welcoming and I love how they serve bags of Dorritos. If Dorritos don't fill you up, you're allowed to bring in your own food. Get there by 8:30-9ish if you want to score a seat. read more

No food. Tiny place. Lots of drinks available. Looks a bit worn down. But the live music is unbelievable! Young artists mostly presenting their best. Must visit. read more

Bring your earplugs, don't plan to get drunk here (too expensive, not much of a beer selection), and go for the music. The level of talent is really impressive, on a consistent level. I've noticed a few people giving low ratings to Wally's because they don't like jazz. Wally's is a jazz club..you're stupid to go here if you don't enjoy jazz and then give it a low Yelp rating because of that. Don't go here if you don't enjoy jazz! Not good for the claustrophobic, though I tend to get claustrophobic in small areas but usually I'm paying enough attention to the music that the smallness and crampedness doesn't bug me. It's really all about the music! read more

Great music. Family represented. 2nd time here. Bartender checked I wasn't driving before served me the doubles I was drinking. This is the place you want to be to have a great time and get home safe. Did I mention the music was great. read more

Come for the jazz first and foremost, and you won't be disappointed. Quality music and great atmosphere. All they sell is liquor, so yes drinks are overpriced, and don't expect to sit around for two hours sipping a cocktail without getting badgered a bit....but that's to be expected...at least they are strong! read more

Wally's rocks. Actually, Wally's jazzes. Great room to check out live jazz and Latin jazz with neighborhood types and Berklee students rounding out the crowd. I was once served the coldest beer I have ever been served in a bar at Wally's... ah memories. But the music is really the attraction here and like many of Boston's best rooms, it's small so you can really get your groove on. read more

Wally's is by far the BEST spot in Boston. I lived in Boston for 2 years and unfortunately only found this gem in the last few months that I lived there--it might have even made me stay! The music is fantastic and groovin' and the crowd is always mellow, eclectic and vibin'. It was one of the only places where I could consistently go and never be disappointed and always find someone new to have an interesting conversation or fun dance session with. read more

Wally's is one of the few places keeping Boston from becoming a complete Slut. its legit music. its the only legit jazz in town.

Very nice jazz bar. Don't come here to talk, come here to listen to the music and you won't be disappointed.

All you need is a stiff drink and an open mind and this is heaven.

You wont get a seat, you will get something spilled on you, and chances are a very tall person will block your view of the stage, but still you will love Wally's and you will want to come back. There are a lot of regulars at Wally's and Im sure that for them this place is the most Cheer's-esque bar in Boston--everybody really does know their names. The jazz styles change up every night so check out the website for the lineup to make sure its what you're into--they range from Blues to Latin Jazz to local Berklee students playing random-unclassifiable jams. The drinks are relatively cheep, they have a limited beer selection and can make an OK martini --dont order anything fancier than that! read more

There is nothing in Boston like Wally's...and that's the best thing about it!

The Sun. jam sessionon was a good way to spend a couple of hours. The potent Sapphire and tonics helped as well. I usually go late night when it's packed, but the mellower afternoon session was still great. Never a bad time! read more

well run place with a friendly, accomodating bartender and great live music! many acts i'd imagine coming from the talented kids 'cross the way at berklee was entertained at the bar overhearing a pretty young lady talking bout how she danced in her underwear in barcelona to a song that was covered by the funk band this eve pretentious or not it was fact and impulsive as chit chat in a dive bar in my hometown consists of did ya catch the game, what did ya bowl? or see ya friday at the fish fry small and comfy lil underground feel to this southend jazzhouse that will get ya movin and feelin good read more

I love, love, love this place. It has everything I expect from a Jazz Bar - it's cramped, narrow, the service is excellent, the atmosphere is great and most importantly the music is just really good. The only thing that's missing is the smoke.. (just kidding!). The Gin-Tonic was a bit weak for my liking (and the price), so I'll stick to beer next time. We were also disappointed by the fact that it closed as early as 1 a.m. on a Friday night. Still, I'll definitely be back! read more

A little tight, get there early, but such a hip place. If you're hungry go to corner, get some pizza, they even let you bring it back to Wallys. It makes me feel like I'm new orleans - it's a cool musicians scene with band members old and young. Afro-cubano night wasn't my favorite, but jazz is great there. read more

I went here on a first date not knowing where/what Wally's was, and was pleasantly surprised. It's what I expected a little jazz bar to be - small, cozy, dark and overstuffed, brimming with sex. Everyone seemed genuinely happy, grooving, and enjoying the great jazz music. There was an eclectic crowd which I loved - and the place was really friendly to boot. Because of the crowds you won't always get a seat; but there were some seats available at other peoples' tables which we were welcomed to. Pretty good beer selection but the ambiance is what really makes the joint. You don't feel like you're on Massachusetts Avenue, or even in Boston at all. read more

This is a cool place to stop in and hear some jazz. I think because it's a go-to for aspiring Berklee musicians it tends to have more up tempo jazz rather than the slower smokier stuff. Consequently, I think it draws a younger crowd, and by that I mean ones that don't have a house/kid/mistress. And for the baller on a budget...they serve PBR! The location is really neat too, being in the basement of an old brownstone building. I don't know what time it starts filling up, but if you don't get there before that you're likely to be standing all night. But beware pseudo intellectual conversations may abound. I don't remember what this dude was saying but it was such crack-pottery. About as ridiculous as this guy that claims to have unified all the forces using only dimensional analysis and concluding that amperes are actually a unit of length : \ read more

It's a place you walk by a lot and wonder what it's like to go in. Then you go in and you're like 'WOW what is this? this place is pretty cool..' The vibe is really great at Wally's and you won't find this kind of jazz cafe anywhere else in Boston - it's one of it's own kind and I highly recommend it! It may not be the best for big groups, in fact, I highly discourage you to go in a group as this place feels like the size of a closet when you walk in. Go with someone you know who will enjoy the music and it will be a great time :) read more

Great place to chill and listen to good jazz from local to commercial artists they have no menu i think just potatoe chips and peanuts but there is a pizza shop on the corner that may fill the void it is really small here so get ready to have a few drinks spilled on you lol,,,i reccommend this palce to anybody who likes jazz and some socializing.... read more

Wally's is largely hit-or-miss, but for the price it's a great alternative to the more expensive Regattabar or Scullers. Drinks are weak and expensive, but with no cover what do you expect. But even if you catch it on a bad day, the musicians are always excited to be there and the place has an authentic atmosphere (authentic = it's about the music, vs Regattabar or Scullers where it's also about the swank). Go early (ie before the set starts) if you want a table, especially if you have more than a couple people - it's a hole-in-the-wall for sure, and gets crowded even on weeknights. Because once there are seven people there it's crowded. read more

Such a fun spot. Great music and you can bring your own food! I would recommend getting here early with earplugs bc the place gets crowded (it is very small) and the jazz is very loud. read more

The perfect jazz joint! Small, unpretentious, and incredible music. They only serve drinks but there is a pizza place right next to it. They have live music every night and the Latin jazz group was fantastic. I would go there in small groups (4 max.) and don't expect to talk much: the bands are there to be listened to. If you like to dance salsa, you can figure out a way to fit between the stage, the tables, the restrooms and the bar. Great value/price ratio. I am definitely going back. read more