Chelsea S.

Wonderful place to go eat and/or grab a drink. The mixed drinks are really really good. The food was your standard pub food fare but very good. I went with a friend and we got the nachos to start with which would have been plenty. But then we also got fish tacos and chicken panini. The nachos were very good. The fish tacos were wonderful however after the nachos I was really too full to eat them. Needless to say we took a lot of food home. But this spot is a definite try for those in the area.

Paul H.

Pleasantly surprised. Expected typically bland tourist trap food, but Cheers exceeded expectations. I had the Ruben on rye and it was excellent, significant other had clam chowder that was great also. Kids had good things to say about their meals as well. Definitely will be coming back.

David L.

I came here as a tourist and as a fan of the TV show. I left my pretentious foodie expectations back at the hotel. The food was slightly above average. I wanted to order something themed after one of the beloved characters but what caught my attention was the veggie pannini. It wasn't bad. Remember, this is a bar with food. It is on the level with TGI Fridays or Chili's. What I really liked was the atmosphere. It really felt like a Boston bar where locals hang out. I saw tourists but I also heard the locals talking at the bar. What is also cool is a walk up nearby Charles Street after dinner. The stores are cool. No one knew my name but that was ok. I went there as a tourist. I am not a local.

MJ B.

Its a simple bar but the novelty really is the affiliation to the tv show during our childhood. We had our G&Ts and a plate of nachos that were quite good! It has a nice atmosphere and a friendly bar tender. I think its a nice place to visit when in Boston.

Tom T.

So I have been here before for the novelty, cause who doesn't love Cheers. But this last visit to Boston I thought I would meet a friend there so she could experience the inspiration for such a great time in television history. Well, as I walk in and try to get a table on a Friday around 2pm, I see a half full restaurant. I'm greeted with a lackluster "welcome" that wasn't welcoming at all. I say I'm waiting for a friend and she asks "drinks or food" rather abruptly. I say "I'm not sure, drinks and then probably food", and was told I should just "find a spot at the bar". The bar is full, the back bar is full, tables are empty...lots of tables. I go back to the 17 year old brat at the front and say "I'd love a table, we will eat here". She asks if my friend is there yet. I say "almost". "Can't seat you until your whole party is here". I ask her if she wants my business at all, and she states "they're not my rules but they are still rules". Ugh. Blah. No. There are "touristy things" and then there are "TOURIST TRAPS". Dont get trapped.

Renuka V.

Went there alone on the coldest Wednesday in May since record-keeping began and the place was packed since it was around 1pm. Sat at the bar, got a pint of SamAdamsBrickRed and immediately all of us at the bar started talking to each other so yep - although I came alone, after 5mins, everyone DID know my name!ahaha..Great friendly vibe perfect for a bar and instead of the expensive touristy items, grabbed a handful of Cheers serviettes which I gave away to mates who loved 'em!

Jeannice S.

The Cheers restaurant and bar is extremely small. The layout is very odd. The food is fair. It is fun to see the name sake of the television show.

Mallory C.

Friendly and helpful wait staff, great food, fun atmosphere. As persons who use a scooter/wheelchair, it was discouraging at first glance to think the only way to eat here was to go down a flight of stairs, but I was pleased to discover the wheelchair lift to the upstairs dining area, which was very safe. The staff was helpful and prompt with assisting me and my party with using the lift and getting and out safely. Also, the food was surprisingly good! sometimes, at these touristy places, it can be overpriced and below average, but this was an all around good meal! I would definitely return. Until everyone knows my name... (couldn't resist ;) )

Emily S.

Definitely a tourist stop but hey, it was fun! We ate there and food was good. Only thing resembling show is the front stoop/sign. Other than that don't go in expecting to see the TV show set! :-)

Brad B.

The type of place you stop in just to say that you did. A true tourist trap. But, a fun one. We planned on just dropping for a beer and to maybe buy a souveineer, but we stayed for a few. Bartender was awesome. The place was packed, but the service never lacked. They had a nice selection of beers on tap and the vibe was very cool. Glad we stopped in.

Shelby C.

Went on a weekday and got in and out pretty quick. Wait staff was friendly. Relaxed atmosphere that was enjoyable. Although the main eating area was different from the show, it had a similar feel. Loved all the pictures of the show and it's actors. Food was so tasty too! Will go back again. Decent gift shop selection.

Michael B.

I have been a big fan of the TV show for a long time, so I was excited to visit the real-life inspiration for the TV show. My friend and I stayed in Boston for 4 days and we visited Cheers twice! The bar staff was always friendly, the beer is cold and you just can't beat the ambiance. My only complaint is that the actual bar downstairs is a little small, and they reserve the tables only for people that are eating food. You can't sit at a table if you just want to drink. But overall, it's a great little bar and I will for sure be back again if I ever make my way back to Boston.

Manny F.

I love it ! I'm from California and this was pretty much the first place I wanted to go !!!! SO YOU GO NOW !!!

Joelle K.

Cheers is one of those places that you really only need to go once. We took my in-laws here for dinner because they are huge fans of the show. They got a kick out of all of the memorabilia. This place is the epitome of a tourist trap. The good thing is that the food was very reasonably priced and was pretty decent overall. I had the grilled cheese and several beers. We all had a good time, but once was definitely enough for me.

L B.

I went here on Fri, Aug 26, 2013, after a long and sweltering hot day on a "USS Constitution Cruise" boat tour and then a gruelling, heated walk through Fanuel Hall and the business district, up to the downtown crossing, through the Boston Common and Boston Public Gardens... All I wanted was to stop walking, cool off and have an ice cold drink or two. Since I previously lived in the Boston area for about ten years, and since I had never gone into this place, and since I was with two lifelong locals who had never been in this place before, as well as a third person who had never even been to Boston before (let alone Cheers)... We all decided this should be a fun place to literally chill out and have a drink. Suddenly we were excited because this was CHEERS! It's world famous! We used to watch the show on television for God's sake... How could this NOT be cool?!? Look, here are the signs... Lets take some pics before we go in! Yay! When we went down the stairs and walked inside, one of my local friends grabbed a chair and was immediately asked by a waitress what we wanted to do there. When the person told her we wanted drinks, she told us to go to the back of the place and down the hall. We went to the back room, where there was seating available, and we sat ourselves. Within a couple of minutes, a waitress stopped at the tables and, obviously very displeased with us, rudely told us that we needed to all get up and move away from the tables because she hadn't had a chance to wash them yet. She was very rude and snobby. She was not nice at all. Really, it would have been very easy for her to wipe down the two small tables (placed together) without demanding us to move in the first place. After this very unpleasant experience, a new waiter appeared. We each ordered a drink. Two of us ordered the Sam Adams Summertime Ale on draught, one ordered a lemonade and the other ordered a cocktail that offered the glass as a souvenir to keep (with the price shown as 9.95 for the cocktail with the glass and no other prices listed on the menu for the cocktail drinks). After our waiter served us our drinks, within a few minutes he returned -- not to ask us how everything was or if we wanted to order anything else by any chance. No, he returned to tell us that in 45 minutes they had a reservation for 15 people and that they were going to be needing our table. As we looked around to see many empty tables, I glanced at my watch, saw that it was 5:30 PM and then told him that we'd definitely be gone by then. I have never had such an experience in my life. The people sitting next to us seemed to be surprised by the whole thing as well. (At least they were pretty friendly with us, unlike anyone who worked there.) We left within fifteen minutes after that point and didn't even finish our drinks. The person who paid the bill left a $2 tip after the two locals said that they wouldn't leave a tip at all if they were paying the bill. To top it all off, as the person who paid the bill asked for a bag for the souvenir cocktail glass, the waiter then became agitated and said my friend needed to pay two dollars more because he only charged the refill rate since he didn't know we wanted the glass. (Note: The menu only had the one price, offering the glass with the drink and no mention of a refill rate.) If it had been me, I would have told the waiter to take the two buck tip to pay for it after everything that had just happened. I left there kind of bummed out because everyone else wanted to leave so fast that I didn't get to finish my eight dollar draught, which I was trying to enjoy (despite the rude awakening that they apparently don't give a damn what the heck ANYONE'S name is there). My two local friends said they would never go back again. One of them said they were going to contact the corporate office and let them know what happened.

Shannon A.

Boston tourist trap? For sure! A place you have to visit while in the area? Mos def! We knew we were going to visit the original Cheer's while in the area so we were pleasantly surprised to stumble upon this one while walking through the park across the street. We were still getting to know the lay of the land of Boston at the time. One of many gay pride parades were happening in front of it so it was a great time to be able to people watch, have fun, and stop for dinner and beer. If you are a Cheer's fan, this is the one to stop at. Hubs and I visited Boston a few years ago and went to the one at Quincy Market and it was no where hear as fun as this one. We were sat very quickly at the replica bar upstairs so we were able to get a nice tour as we walked through. We were sat right inside at the front window which was awesome because we could see all the folks on the street take pics in front of the Cheer's stairwell and sign. The menu was limited so that was sort of a bummer but I felt like it was all about the tourist experience so it was all good. We got the mozzarella sticks to start since we were starving and also wanted to make the meal go longer since we scored such great seats. As I mentioned in another Boston review, the eye candy was at it's best so it was great for two married chicks to take in the dapper men that walked by and hung out at the window. Yowza! Oh ok, so back to the food, I got the grilled chicken sandwich and chips and Friendsay got the veggie burger. We were both happy with our choices. Since I was in Boston, I got the Harpoon IPA and of course, it was yummy!

Say S.

I live in the city, my family came in to visit and we decided to go to cheers. I had only been to the one at faniuel hall so I decided to take them to the original... something new for all of us. We went in and told them we had 5 adults and 3 children.... He said "so 8?" In a rude tone. To which I replied, "yep 8". He told me it was 20 to 25 minutes. We asked him to put our name in and we'd be back in 15. He then told me that he could not save a table if we didn't wait there... We had a 4,2 and 1 year old... If we sat there with no food the kids would have flipped. We were going to cross the street to the park while we waited. He was not friendly at all. I'm in customer service and that is not at all the way to get people to recommend or come back to your business. You should not be a host big guy... Move in to another job.

Karen N.

After a round of "guess my name," I gave up and just ordered a crown and diet. I was pretty surprised at how small, intimate and cozy this place was. Definitely didn't have that tourist vibe that I was thinkin I would get. Folks were eating: a plate a-cheesey fries were so big that I thought I was having a heart attack looking at them. They looked so delightful! Clam chowda... And other miscellaneous bar delights. Would I come back? Only if they learned my name and to peruse the store next door for trinkets with Cheers tattooed all over it.

Joseph S.

Nostalgic feel, food was good, nothing special but the service was bad, girl we had got my order all wrong and forgot some of my wife's order. Still was cool eating at the cheer's bar though

Felicity B.

Cheers was a great place to eat for lunch. We had to wait quite a bit, but once we were seated we had great service! I had chicken tenders and I loved them! They were super crispy and way better than I expected. If you're in the area you should totally stop by! It's an added bonus that you get to experience some neat stuff from the show.

Nicole L.

Second time trying to go to the cheers pub. The first time, our gps got us lost and I an thinking it was trying to get us to the replica location. We find the original, the wait wasn't bad on a Saturday night. This place has typical bar food. The appetizer combo was good. I got the blackened chicken sandwich. My meat was a little dry but the bread was good. The fries were just how I like them, crispy and hot. All and all, it was good but definitely a tourist trap which we were.

Samantha F.

OK so its not the Cheers you see on tv. Well the outside is. but the inside is different. But it is a real bar and you can get good food and drinks here. If your expecting to go inside and see that it looks just like the tv show you will be let down. But if you want a drink and some grub. You will be happy. Just FYI there is a replica of the TV show set up down town Boston if you want that.

J. G.

Norm was not there, they did not know my name. This dingy overpriced tourist attraction is a complete waste of time. Disappointing for sure!

Kassandra T.

This is just one of those places that you have to go to in Boston because it's Cheers and you can say that you've been to Cheers. The place itself is nice. When you go in, you feel like you've stepped into a time machine. It's a cozy place with a nice atmosphere, but besides that, the food is very mediocre. This is a place that I would go to solely for drinks and not food.

Alan S.

I just stopped for the photo op in front of the sign so I can't say much about the actual place.

Jeff S.

Like any good tourist, we stopped at Cheers after seeing so much of it on television. When you first walk in you shouldn't be alarmed that it doesn't look like you expect on television. That because you are initially at the Cheers where 3 producers found a great bar they wanted to mimic. If you ask the hostess to take you to the Set Bar you will see the bar you are more familiar with. Now it's important to know even the set bar doesn't look exactly like it does on television. That's because the magic of television, studios and sound stages means the show was never actually taped at this location. Only inspired. Now, if the above isn't a let down enough for you, the food will be. The restaurant obviously plays off tourists and does not serve amazing food. Is really basic bar food that lacks anything special regardless of what you order. I would recommend simply check out the gift shop and save your calories for one of the more amazing restaurants Boston has to offer.

Alison R.

This review is based on the bar not the restaurant! When my husband suggested checking out the Cheers bar I was pretty excited. I knew it was going to be focused on touristy souvenirs and was probably not going to be that great but I was honestly underwhelmed by this bar. It is 2 levels which was impressive at first but then I realized that both bars were pretty small and the atmosphere was kind of boring and awkward. I ended up getting only 1 beer and leaving since there was really nothing of interest to look at in the bar itself and clientele was a strange mixture of old and young people so I didn't feel like mingling too much. They had a lot of touristy merchandise you could purchase like shot glasses and t-shirts and a bunch of cheap looking cardboard cut outs from the TV show that kind of downgraded the classiness of the bar. All in all I was glad I got to see it but I won't ever be coming back. The only really great part was that the beers were super cheap!

Dane D.

Ok this is definitely a tourist place, but there is some good bar food here. The burgers are adequate, but nothing great as well as the drinks they could be much higher being a tourist stop. It is cool to see the place which can give you a bit more appreciation for this place.

C A.

This is a tourist trap, nothing more. Their food is awful. Last time I had a chicken cesar. Salad was wilted and chicken was sparse. $16 for that pleasure. Today i ordered a simple cheeseburger. Tastes like something I used to eat in high school cafeteria only 10x the price. What a poor representation of our city. The least you can do when gouging the tourist is serve a decent meal.

Dee D.

The prices are really reasonable. I got hot wings, they were good enough I guess. I enjoyed the ambiance the most. It's a fun place to visit and I left there with a souvenir cheers mug. Good deals on the gifts and t -shirts.

Andrea A.

Came here expecting to walk into what looked like the show. That is not the case. We found out it was the bar the show was based on and wasn't supposed to look like it. On your way to sit for food you walk through the bar and all you see cutouts of all the shows cast members and gift shops. The food is just typical bar food sectioned out by the characters who have there own specials. If I were to return itll just be for a beer with someone who hasnt been. There are other places around that looked more worth it to try.

David G.

One the server kids was the worst. Asked if we wanted food, said no and then he said we can just go to the bar and order drinks. Real preppy kid in boat shoes. Then some other server helped us out, we ended up getting nachos. Weird place. Just lots of cheers stuff, doesn't even look like the bar. Total disappointment

Remie M.

"where everybody knows ur name?" . . . I think not! imposter! looks NOTHING like the set! totally a tourist trap. the good thing abt this place was for the awesome bartendahhh! He was funny and on point! Me and 4 other girls, went and toured the place. I really like the spiral stairwell, that's abt it!

Chris D.

Parking was a bit rough and you're going to have to luck out and when you enter they will not know your name...... Unless you do what I did and do Norm's Challenge which was a pretty good burger and it comes with a mug as well so you might as well do it.

Sean C.

You wanna go where Nobody Knows Your Name? Here's the place, you're just one anonymous tourist amongst hundreds. It's still a lot of fun, as long as you land a table and get the attention of a waitress or barmaid. The Sam Adams Brick Red has an amber tone, and is a real tastebuds massager. The memorabilia shop is tap-happy, too. I went home with a baseball tee, a stainless steel bottle opener and some Cheers napkins. However, with so many visitors per day you hardly feel like a hung horse. I felt less like Sam Malone and more like Cliff Clavin. #betamale

Zombie X.

Keep in mind that there are 2 Cheers in Boston; one in Faneuil Hall Marketplace and the "real" Cheers which is this one, on Beacon Street across from the Boston Common. The one in Faneuil Hall is more of a tourist trap and not worth your time. However, I am sure that plenty of tourists visit there and then tell everyone that they went to "Cheers in Boston", which is simply not the case. This location is the real deal inspiration for the show that many of us know and love and fondly remember from the 80's and early 90's. I have visited this location many times. No, it is not a replica of the TV set, but the exterior is identical and the interior has the same ambiance and some of the same set pieces such as the wooden indian, signs, lighting, and decor. It's in a very good area and a great place to have a drink or 2. My girlfriend and I recently visited on a Saturday early evening. The staff was super friendly, the drinks were reasonably priced, and the crowd was a good mix of people. Definitely did not come across as a tourist trap and we got a couple seats at the bar with no wait at all. We even watched an episode of Cheers on my iPhone for laughs. Overall had a great time and I will be returning again.

Andrea S.

Ambiance is great, food was surprisingly good (blue burger was amazing and my friends said the Meister burger was good too) and staff was very attentive also. Over all very satisfied with my experience!

Vira P.

Note: This is a tourist attraction! With that out of the way, it serves regular pub food that's themed around the characters. My friend and I weren't too hungry, so we ordered appetizers. The lobster and artichoke dip was insanely delicious and it came with lots of tortilla chips. And I had a blueberry ale and it too was delicious. So don't expect too much. In the end, it's just another pub.

Andrew T.

Disgusting! This may sound like hyperbole but this was the worst food I've ever had in Boston. The dip, nachos, buffalo wings, and burgers (all things difficult to mess up mind you) were atrocious and inedible. The food was so bad, the server cleared full plates and didn't bother asking how everything was. The atmosphere is great upstairs, but as a fan of Cheers, the current management/ownership is desecrating the show's reputation with reheated, frozen food too disgusting to ingest. STAY AWAY!

J. K.

I was in town for a meeting and came here afterwards. I guess it wasn't as epic for me, since I don't watch the show. It's a nice place, but really nothing special. They had good happy hour prices and a friendly bartender, but it just didn't speak to me. (What DID speak to me, though, were the two English people to my left.) Maybe I have been spoiled by New York watering holes. I'd definitely come back to Cheers, but wouldn't, like, go to Boston just for it.

Ae K.

We only visited the replica bar area by the gift shop, but what a treat. Being a Cheers tv fan, I sat in Norms spot at the bar. Good local brewery beers and very friendly bartender. We met other tourists and enjoyed our time there chatting and taking pics.

Mad I.

Cool for pictures out front, only had beer ($6 more bucks you keep the mug). Was pretty bummed when I found out the "set bar" in the back was not the actual set...duh...hello Hollywood.

Megan M.

I went into Cheers with a mission...well, two missions. 1: I wanted to go to the original Cheers while I was vacationing in Boston, not the really touristy one that wasn't even used in the show at Faneuil Hall. Check....and we took pictures. 2: Get the bartender to know my name....because it's Cheers, where everybody knows your name. I sat at the bar and propositioned our bartender, Jeff, to play a little game with me. What a good sport. Jeff poured me a drink. He had to guess my name, and for every wrong guess, I'd take a sip. After every full drink, he would get a clue. Jeff was so slick, and truthfully, I really didn't think the game through because for my first drink he guessed names like "Agnes" and "Misty"; I'm not an 80 year old grandmother nor am I a stripper. About halfway through my second drink, and with a little buzz going, Jeff guessed my name! It was a fun time with a fair bar tab and lots of laughs. I was expecting to be at Cheers for one drink, and then heading to all of the fabulous bars recommended by Yelpers and friends living in Boston, but truthfully, I had the best time at Cheers. It was laid back, didn't take itself too seriously, and it wasn't crawling with obnoxious college kids and crazy tourists. It felt like I was drinking with a few locals from the Beacon Hill neighborhood, just stopping in for a drink and enjoying the relaxed vibe. We had such a good time, and although I was eager to check out the other bars, I didn't want to leave. We had a great time. Mission accomplished.

Dustin S.

Enjoyed a beer and cheesy fries at this famous bar. I really thought it was a great experience.

Antoinette P.

It is what it is, people; a tourist attraction. If Cheers is your show, you might be disappointed; however, I found it satisfactory for a pit stop during a long day of sightseeing. We stopped in for a beer and water, and a couple people from our group stopped in the gift shop to buy shot glasses for family back home. The prices were not as expensive as I had expected for beer, and I was quite happy with the kitschiness level of the bar. Who doesn't like taking pictures with cardboard cut outs while getting a midday buzz with the fam? My suggestion is to use the bar for what it's worth--an excuse to day drink and take pics while seeing the city.

Seth S.

As a Cheers fan I was very excited to stop in on the Cheers bar. And though the bar was not actually the one used in the show nor does even resemble the bar it was still cool. The outside is, in fact, the bar that they used for the exterior shots though. Needless to say the bar was filled with tourists like myself. I highly doubt that many true Bostonians end up in there. There are two bars, one upstairs and one downstairs The downstairs bar is pretty small but it does have a little plaque to commemorate Norm's seat. My girlfriend happened to sit in that spot while we were there. There is a "replica" of the tv bar upstairs. I put replica in quotes because it is substantially smaller than the bar from the show and, since it's upstairs, is obviously not in a basement. There are also two gift shops. One up and one down. The upstairs one is much larger. All draft beers are $6 which I thought was kind of interesting. They had a few good beers on tap. I didn't try the food but it looked like pretty typical bar food. I would probably avoid the mixed drinks. We watched the bartender make one. He was reading the menu to figure out what was in it and looked to be putting pretty arbitrary amounts of booze in. It was pretty funny to watch actually Pretty much this is a cool place to stop for a drink if you're a tourist. I thought it was worth dropping in.

Chris W.

Went here for dinner and drinks with some friends and had a decent time. The food was standard pub fare, but what I liked more was the ambiance and space. It's not a big place, but I liked the intimate setting and it was great that the music was not too loud so my friends and I could actually talk and hear each other. Overall, a good place to have a quick dinner and a drink with friends. But the service was slow and I'm not sure why...it's not that big of a venue.

Eric B.

My first introduction to the Bull & Finch Pub (AKA Cheers Beacon Hill) was when I was studying for my MBA and this property was the subject of a Harvard Business School Case Study. So when I was watching the old Cheers series, the references to the upstairs restaurant (now the Hampshire House) were comfortably familiar. TRIVIA QUESTION - What Star Trek character was fashioned after a noted Cheers star? See the Answer at the end of this Review. So the last time I was in Boston, I was in the neighbourhood and decided to stop in to the place "Where Everyone Knows Your Name". It was OK in its sports bar kind of way and had the correct degree of Yankee hate. The beer was cold, the food was decent, the memorabilia was interesting, and another one of my boxes was checked. Onwards to another Field of Dreams. TRIVIA ANSWER - "Morn" is an anagram for Norm, the barfly played by George Wendt on Cheers. Morn was ever present at Quark's Bar on Star Trek - Deep Space Nine.

Ayshen C.

I went in expecting a tourist trap but...I was a tourist and wanted to see the Cheers bar, so I wasn't expecting much from the food. Lemme tell you, the lobster artichoke dip WOWED me. Cheesy, gooey, with actual chunks of lobster. Also had the clam chowder, it was...as my waitress put it, wicked good. Plus I got cute touristy souvenirs with the logo.

Seth D.

My wife's parents live in New Hampshire, and a lot of her family from Ireland was in town for our wedding. One of the days, they decided to spend in Boston, so we all tagged along. We found out the lunch plan was to eat here, and I was more or less indifferent. I mean, I didn't expect it to be amazing food, but even Hard Rock Cafe and McDonalds have some redeemable menu items. Cheers has redeemable menu items too--they come from local breweries. But the food is atrocious. For appetizers, a number of people from our table ordered buffalo wings, and all three orders were undercooked. Undercooked as in rubbery, pink chicken. In their defense though, the buffalo sauce was great. I ordered a burger with mushrooms and whatever else came on the burger that had the mushrooms and it was really not good. I got it cooked medium, and while it did have some pink in the center, it was dryer than dry. The bread was dry. Even the pickle that came on the plate was dry. They did have good beer on tap, but so does just about any other bar or restaurant in the city. I'd avoid this place for sure.

Michael U.

I went. I took a couple pictures. I looked through the shop. I realized I never liked Cheers anyhow. I looked at the menu. I left. The end.

Anup S.

Always a great place to grab a brew with friends!

Justin B.

Lots of local beers. Full service bar and kitchen. Great service. Friendly. Huge tourist trap. Neat place to visit in Boston.

Katherine Elizabeth M.

Unfortunately the food wasn't very good, the service wasn't much better and the touristy vibe that I had prepared for (I lived in Boston long enough that I should have been there at least once) turned out to be as lame as expected. I was hoping for a corny but it just felt sad. Might I mention, there seemed to be a LOT of drunk people for lunch time. While asking how long the wait was, my Partner in Crime was accosted for having a Dunkin Donuts Iced Coffee cup in her hand. (which she had been on a very lengthy plane ride from California to get her hands on) They couldn't get over it. She kept asking "I just want to know if we can be seated first" and they kept trying to get her to throw it away first. Finally the hostesses assistant (I don't know what the hell he was) went for her cup and Partner in Crime grasped onto her drink like a fierce mama bear and told them, yet again, "I don't want to throw away my coffee if we can't be seated." as we would have just left and gone elsewhere if there was a wait. With being a total assmuncher the hostess said we could be seated and Partner in Crime gladly threw away her coffee. Mass state law is Mass state law. And no one in our party, not my Partner in Crime, my-pregnant-self, or my toddler had an issue with this. But we were on the steps before entering the restaurant. Calm down. Yes, you're very important because you seat people at the crappiest restaurant in Boston. But get over it. I went into this trying to be honest but the pregnancy rage took over. I can make no apologies for my hormones folks. Rant. Done.

E T.

Probably the sadest part of my trip to Cheers is when the 18 year old kid next to me at the bar asked his friend, "Is this a famous restaurant or something?" I don't think I've ever felt so old before. Don't they have Nick at Night in the college dorms? Okay ... anyone coming here and not realizing that they are stepping into a tourist trap is not going to like this. You go to Cheers because it is Cheers. There are a bajillion bars in Boston offering better buffalo chicken fajitas or hot wings than Cheers. Some things to know ... outside, it is where the exteriors of the show was filmed. Inside, it looks nothing like the bar from the show. Anyone who doesn't realize that they film television sitcoms on sets vs. on location won't like this place. This is (one of) the bars the show was BASED ON. You see a lot of dark woods, brass bar rails and stuff hanging from the walls and ceilings here, just like the show. However the actual restaurant and bars are much smaller, more crowded and less clean looking. There are still crowds here on weekends. Back when the tv show was still on the air, you literally had an hour wait just to sit at the bar. Now, you can pretty much walk in at any time and get a table. The hosts are either incredibly rude or aloof because most times you just walk right by them and they are looking down reading or something. My advice is to sit at one of the bars and eat. Kids can sit at the bar until 10 p.m. There are plenty of tables as well, but come on ... you don't come to Cheers to sit at a table. The food here sucks. It is pretty much on par with any decent college cafeteria you go to. Maybe just a bit below a casino buffet. I don't kid. It's pretty bad stuff. It is almost insulting to read the menu because every single menu item is named after a character in the show, even though in the show the bar served no food. The Fraiser Crane Salmon Sandwich, Norm's pub burger or Cliff Clavin's bowtie pasta are pretty cheesy. They even go pretty deep into the cast of characters to name food bringing back obscure characters. In fact, this bar should change the name from Cheers to 'Cheese' because the branding here is waaaaay overly cheesy. However, for Boston ... the prices aren't as bad as the food. Average is around $10 per item, which is good for Beacon Hill. And, if you come to a tourist trap looking for good food ... I don't think you belong on yelp in the first place. If Guy Fietti is your idea of a good chef, you probably won't mind the cooking here. otherwise, just shut up and eat it and enjoy the scenery. The fact that you can pretty much buy a souvineer of anything with the Cheers name screen printed onto it. Who doesn't want a beer mug, key chain or sweatshirt for $30 with the name of a show that went off the air 20 years ago on it? Inside is a warm and friendly type of atmosphere ... I think if this was a local bar and not full of Japanese tourists, it is the type of place I would want to throw back a few beers with the regulars if I lived in Boston. Of course, the concept of the show is a lot better than the actuality of it considering that Norm and Cliff and Carla and Sam would probably pay close to $40 per day just to park their cars because there is no parking nearby, except for the big garages or resident spaces. And of course if Norm drank from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. every single day he would look more like Keith Richards and it is doubtful he would still have his license after attempting to drive home to Vera every night after 32 beers. Of course in 10 years kids will ask of Cliff Clavin, 'What is the post office?' Because by then it will probably be out of business the way it is being run. These are type types of observations you and your friends/family will have time to make during the course of your dinner or lunch at Cheers. And you will take plenty of facebook pictures.

Cynthia L.

THE CHEERS BAR IS FREAKING AWESOME!!! Jake, our bartender, was hilarious. My friends and I were all visiting from out of town and we had a great time.

Chrizzle D.

No one knew my name. =( That being said, it was alright. We managed to get a seat at the front bar as soon as we walked in. The beer was, surprisingly, reasonably priced. Either way, I don't think we'll be back. Lots of other great bars in Boston.

Lauren L.

Sure, a tourist attraction, but my friend from out of town said she wanted to check it out, so I was game! I had never been there! It was in the early afternoon and we sat at a high top near the window. The bartender/server was pretty attentive, albeit busy. We each had a few beers, enjoyed the tourist views, and generally just hung out. Minuses: bathrooms were limited and needed attention, both upstairs and downstairs. It's really loud in there, there was a table of about 15 people, plus 4 screaming and crying children. I'm glad we ate at Bombay Cafe before coming here, the food offerings on other tables looked pretty sad, and I'm doubtful there is anything vegan friendly here.

Monica F.

So this is what it really looks like.... Teeheee. Cozy little bar....Friendly Bartender... A few selection of beer.... and $5 souvineer Cheers mug. Oh, why Not. If you're a fan of the show..then yes..have a seat at the bar...get a drink, and get friendly... If you're not... Meh. Go find another bar for a more decently priced bottle.

Lauren T.

As a tourist, I found this place pretty darn good! It was better than I expected. I had the Grilled Salmon Fillet and it came with veggies, lots of them! It was a generous portion all around. For dessert, I shared a slice of Boston Cream Pie and it was delicious! If you're concerned about calories, definitely share with others.

Joanna S.

Straight up one of Boston's best tourist attractions. It's even hard to get a seat here, with people from all over the world visiting this famous hit TV show spot. Growing up, I always watched Cheers with my dad (partially because Sam Malone was so hot). So, it was fascinating to come and actually see the familiar sign outside, and the stairs to go down to the cellar main door. Don't expect anyone to know your name in here though. It's a pure tourist attraction, and they're main goal is to keep people moving on through. We snatched up a bar table upstairs, and grabbed a BAHHston Lager. Even the beer mugs were great replicas of the show, with Cheers written on them. There's about 3 areas for souvenirs and memorabilia and the TV show theme song playing everywhere. Ah, really takes me back to childhood and memories of the show. I must admit, I was quite a giddy tourist!

Dean S.

I stopped by here as a tourist on my way back to my friend's apartment after a long day of walking around and enjoying the sights and sounds of Boston. A few days earlier I stopped by the bar in NYC that they based the setting of "How I Met Your Mother" on a whim. So naturally, I wanted to make it 2 for 2 in terms of visiting TV show bars. Anyway, this place was okay, but I don't think I'd ever come here for any other reason that to say that I was at "the Cheers bar." I mean, if I lived here I would not make this place my usual hangout because of all the fucking tourists. But other than that, this place is okay. The ambiance is pubby, with tons of memorabilia (both sports and Cheers related) whored out everywhere. I looked around, took a picture or two and got a beer. It was kind of on the pricey side for a cold frosty one, but what can you do. Oh, and nobody knew my fucking name! It's a bar built on lies!

Dan B.

Came here because my girl was dying to try the New England Clam Chowder soup. We didn't do a tour and there was no wait time to grab a table and just reminisce of the show. The waiter mentioned that the upstairs bar and eating area is not the replica model of the bar in the show, which is where we ate. Downstairs is a replica model of the bar but there was a private event going on down there so we didnt get to see it. I def recommend this spot for a bite to eat and just some sight seeing. Across the street you have a beautiful park with an ice skating ring.

Stephanie S.

We were a little sad that no one actually knew our name...but despite that we still were glad we came! The place is actually huge with several levels and small alcoves, so it would be easy to get turned around. We were a little sad we had to sit upstairs and not in the bar area that looked like the set from the TV show, but the beer was still cold, the food was still hot and tasty, and we still got to go to the gift shop so all was not lost. We were worried it was going to be way crowded but we got a table right away (on a Sunday afternoon). The staff was friendly, and we enjoyed the menu selection. The rueben was great! I would definitely recommend stopping here, it isn't as much of a tourist trap as we thought, reasonable prices and the food is good.

Alana C.

Obviously this is a tourist place and it has standard pub fare. There are few pubs that I go to and think "WOW these fried plates of grease are the best I've ever had!". You go because it is Cheers and take pictures in front of the sign and maybe get a shirt for your dad. I can't imagine anyone having such expectations of a bar that is supposed to be your standard neighbourhood bar in a TV show...from the late 80s early 90s. I had a cheeseburger and fries with a Coke - not unbelievable but very good. Manage your expectations and this place will give you want you want: artery clogging goodness with a hint of nostalgia.

Bob M.

Stopped in for a beer and the atmosphere was great. The bartender had a personality of a grape. I had more conversations with the patrons. Too bad the bartender didn't offer up more. I will return only for a beer.

Patricia S.

Stopped by the original Cheers for a quick drink and to take pictures. Fun locale of the set of Cheers. Got a nice recommendation for dinner. Always ask the locals for the best locations.

Sharon M.

I went inside, but didn't get anything to eat inside, so I don't know if I am qualified to offer a review, but if you grew up watching cheers like I did, then just going to see the sign and the inside was enough to make me happy. I had never been to Boston before, and seeing Cheers was definitely on my to-do list.

Julia S.

Walking in, the host pointed us to the back rather than bringing us which I thought was very unprofessional. It was really cool to see but their food is not great at all... In my husbands words- "this was the only piece of bacon I've ever had to spit out." The atmosphere is good, but don't expect anything other than mid grade service with low grade food at a high price and you'll be set :)

Annamarie T.

Although this is a tourist trap, it was not bad at all. The food was good and so was the service, making it an overall great experience. Came here for an early dinner so I was able to skip the whole long wait for a table which is always a plus. Our server was friendly and helpful and did a good job taking care if out table. I end up ordering the burger which was delicious, and came out quickly. One random thing that made me happy was they offered muenster cheese for their bugers, my fave. All in all great place def worth checking out.

Robin K.

Okay! I loved this place... Everybody told me that it was going to be a disappointment to go here... I loved it. You go in and yes it's not the same, but the bar is dark down below and continues upstairs where there is light and many Tvs. You could catch a game, drink, eat and make friends. We sat down and immediately made friends with the people next to us. How is that a disappointment. That sounds just like cheers tome...

Channa P.

Not much to say here. It's Cheers, so I went for the name association alone. Unfortunately, I was not able to go to the original. Nonetheless, I went and got what I consider to be pretty good buffalo wings. They were decently spicy, but I could have had a bigger portion. I can add my travel companion that pretty much eats wings wherever he goes noted they were the best wings he' had in a while. The burger on my friends plate looked good, but not amazing. What can I say, no one here knew my name. But, the waiter had great things to say about Tennessee. I can't argue with that.

Dave A.

Cool because it was inspiration for the show. They serve a Sam Adams beer you supposedly can't get anywhere else. It was good. Smaller than you would think if you only knew it from show. Service was good people are friendly. Nice location. Didn't try food because I heard it was typical bar food.

Cherine A.

I visited here on a work trip to Boston. Since I'd never visited the city before, I wanted to do at least one touristy thing, so my boss and I came here for dinner. We sat at the bar to eat since there were no tables available, and the two bartenders were friendly and put up with all of us tourists nicely. The group next to me asked one of the bartenders to take picture of them, and she took several to make sure it came out well. Don't come here for the food. It's just not very good. My Caesar salad was overloaded with parmesean, and some of the lettuce was turning brown. I picked at it but I ate less than half of it before giving up. As for my meal, I was the weird person who ordered mac and cheese. The bartender had said it was good, but I respectfully disagree. It was bland and soupy, and the panko breadcrumbs they put on top weren't even browned. I ate maybe a third of that. Like one of the other reviews said, you come here to take a picture in front of the place and buy a souvenir. I did manage to buy a shot glass (I collect them) and mug to mark the occasion. I was young when Cheers was on, but I loved the show, so I can cross this off my bucket list.

Carina R.

Being in Boston, I had to come to Cheers. I mean Cheers - where everyone knows your name, right?! Sadly though, no one knew my name there. And it just wasn't the same as it was on the show. Nonetheless still cool to be in the bar. However, if it weren't for the show, the bar would be nothing special at all. They have several bar areas to sit and then seating for food and dining. We decided just to have beers. They had a pretty good selection of beers on tap and the bartender who served us was nice enough. The food didn't look that great, though. If it weren't for the name and the show, I don't think a lot of people would go to this place. It seemed like it was mostly tourists and out of towners anyways. Ehhh...

John C.

Great to see where the outside shots of Cheers were filmed. Bar inside not like the TV program. Glad we went and the beers were not too expensive!

Jennifer H.

You come here bc you have to...I mean, it's Cheers after all. That said, the food is horribly sub-par! I ordered a turkey sandwich, sticking to safe and simple and it was disgusting! The cheap turkey wax covered in gel and never mind...the food was horrible, but hey--I've been to Cheers.

Samuel C.

Sometimes you wanna go, where everybody knows your name... and there always glad you came... yada yada.. Can't make a trip to Boston without going by Cheers. The classic Norm arguments. The dry kelsey Grammer comedy; classic 80's show. If your a beer drinker, there is a unbelievable large selection of local beer. The ultimate challenge is the the 2lb burger. 2 patties, an onion ring, and ALL the fixings on a whole wheat bun. I watched 2 CHUMPS try and fail. Try at your own risk!

Jonathon C.

Very good experience. Didn't have food just a Sam Adams at the bar! I grew up watching Cheers so the entrance is exact but the inside is way smaller. Very touristy, but you have to see this place if you've ever watched the show!

Amy G.

Cheers would have been more special for me if I were a fan of the show but I'm completely clueless about the sitcom so this place held no significance for me in that respect. We had reservations as a group of more than 24 people and were limited to a smaller menu of about four different entrees, which sucked. I got the Cheers burger, which is the most standard burger you can imagine with a patty, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and fries and a pickle spear on the side. I barely ate it though because I had had a hamburger the previous night and did not desire a heavy lunch. This place is probably fun for followers of the show, but the food did not impress. I would suggest just looking around if you're curious but patronizing a better restaurant nearby.

Cathleen S.

They didn't know my name, but they poured a mean Bloody Mary. Stopped in here before a visit to the park. It was mid-day, the place was busy. Our bartender was very nice. She made a seriously spicy bloody mary - tasty. A tourist place for sure, but, if you're a fan of the show Cheers, you gotta stop by here just to see the famous staircase.

Theresa M.

Cheers is a great place to visit if you happen to be in Boston and looking for a bite to eat. I've gone here several times after ice skating on Frog Pond and I think it's great. The prices are acceptable and the food is good. They have a nice selection of beers; some that are not even available elsewhere. I usually get the Chili and my boyfriend likes the Clam Chowder. I have no complaints. The service was friendly and efficient. Lots of memorabilia displayed from the TV show (which I enjoy as well) and they even have a gift shop.

Mariana C.

Great Burgers paired with a cold Sam Adams-Heaven. Love the Bloodies. Services always good. Prices are fine.

Tony T.

Drinks are good enough but the food was pretty awful! Burgers are clearly cooked from frozen. I'd do a better job cooking them myself at home. Yuck!

Simon W.

The most familiar bit about the original Cheers is the frontage and signage once inside, you'll find somewhere that sort-of looks like the set from the series, but is more packed than on any night Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson were serving.Summing up - a slightly overpriced and hugely overcrowded tourist trap. The beer is at least cold ( the bar upstairs is somewhat less cramped), but you'll struggle to find somewhere to sit at popular times. The food ( unsampled) looks unexceptional. The venue sports a big souvenir shop, if you really must have something with Cheers on it. Looking for a positive, it's marginally more authentic ( if that's the right word for somewhere a bit like a fictional place) than the Cheers themed sister venue over by Faneuil Hall.

Al Z.

I have never been to the cheers place so I figured why not. the three of us put our names on the list, they gace us the transponder beer thing and we went upstairs to the bar. a few minutes later the beeper starts vibrating. We go back downstairs to the hots stand and they direct us to the back room. We arrive and they sat another party instead. They apologized and we continued to wait. The waitress comes back with the manager where he greatly apologizes and buys us a round of drinks! People make mistakes so I was not too upset. the food was good (chicken ciabatta). I recommend this place!

Keith P.

No one knew my name! BUT Jenni and Scott were super cool and played along when I asked them my name for a goofy video. We had the pub skins and they were delicious! Exit through the gift shop....

Athea G.

You go because you're a tourist. You go because you think they'll know your name. And darn it, you go so you can go back to work on Monday and tell everyone you went to Cheers. (Yeah, that show from 20+ years ago...) And, well, yep... I can check this one off my list. Even bought the t-shirt for my dad. And while it wasn't a horrible experience, they could use a new cook. Our server didn't know my name. He couldn't even bring me the burger I'd ordered; or serve the food to the correct person at our table of four. Side salads criss-crossed, dressings miss-matched, and my "Burger Meister" didn't have mushrooms or muenster on it initially. But, once corrected...pretty darn good burger. Oh, and the French fries....boring! Plain. No seasoning, no steak cut or waffle cut or anything. Bor-ring. And I love me some French fries. The Mac-n-Cheese was just about as boring too. Processed brick cheese would have had more flavor. And WHERE did they learn how to pickle?! That was more like a soggy cucumber with slogged thru garlic water and salt before flopping it's way onto my plate. Yuck. But, like I said, you come here to check off an item on the bucket list. Not for the culinary masterpieces. Decent prices in the gift shop too, added bonus.

craizyman p.

aside from the nostalgia of the show, great service staff and just damn good bar food. what else do you need? i get a cheers mug too? place is friendly and a great sport to visit by the park or just a night on the town.

Tammy G.

Speaking as a tourist - which I have done twice now ...it's worth the stop, if you were a fan of the tv show. The re-created bar is really a fun touch, not there the first time I went. The food is what you would expect - decent, and filling. Cold beer....fun atmosphere, and shopping on the way out. If I lived in Boston, I'm sure I'd just go when I had visitors...but that is what the place is geared for, so I say it's a success.

Sun K.

Awesome tourist trap! Bring home the Cheers mug for $6.

Jason K.

My wife and I stepped casually into the Bull and Finch Pub waiting for a sweet Cheers experience. When you get in there, it is nothing like you would expect. We were brought downstairs to a place that had another bar and we were basically in an Applebees. I ordered the taco salad,which was pretty good and a couple of beers I had never seen. Kind of cool. A nice restaurant, good service, but nothing special. Go find a one of a kind restaurant in Boston. Heck, you are on vacation!

Dylan H.

Anyone who ever caught a couple of episodes of Cheers needs to come here when in Boston. The prices are decent, but the pub isn't big. I'd advise a quick beer and a picture before you head back out to the street.

Jaime D.

we came here because my gf wanted too. i don't know much about the show but the beer is good and great prices. can't complain!

Gomer K.

I really liked it here. Not because the facade is from Cheers but because I love historical bars. There's something about drinking at a bar that Ethan Allen may have sets me off. That being said it's full of Cheers fan but what was I supposed to expect. I love Cheers too don't get me wrong but I wouldn't seek this place out because Cliff Claven was supposed to be inside drinking when we was really on a tv set in L.A. I didn't order any food. My friend had the chili and it was ok. Doubt I'd go back.

TennisTravels T.

Had to visit while in Boston. Immediately seated for a late lunch, 2:30. Was extremely crowded. Ordered fish & chips. Received meal quickly, received a beverage refill promptly. Overall service was good; food average; atmosphere great.

Lisa G.

This is the kind of place you go to because it's Cheers and you're a tourist. Otherwise, skip it.

Lisa N.

Tourist trap. Need I say more? Sure it's the set of cheers and it was a little exciting to see, but not worth it to sit and have a bite to eat. Jammed packed with people. Tiny bathrooms. But if you saw Cheers, then check it out and you can say you've been here!

Kelli L.

We have been several times and love Cheers! I would say our only complaint is the menu selection is quite limited...pretty much just burgers. I know it's a bar, but it would be nice if they could diversify their menu just a bit. Other than that though...we have always had great service and the food has always tasted great. I think we always end up sharing an appetizer and the ginormous Norm's burger - and a few beers of course. One time our server accidentally brought me the wrong beer. But I liked what he brought so told him not to worry about it at all and then when he brought the bill he didn't charge me for it. I even told him to go ahead and add it that I don't mind paying - I drank it. But he insisted. Pretty cool I think. The atmosphere is absolutely awesome too, especially if you grew up watching the show. We really love it here and would for sure recommend it!

Sarah H.

the main reason i went here was because it was a tourist attraction, and a good one at that! i thought the decor was interesting and i really enjoyed the clam chowder! might have been because it was so cold out :) i'll definitely be recommending this to my friends that visit boston!

Jeremy S.

Can you say tourist trap?

Nish N.

Maybe if the Woody Harrelson from Natural Born Killers or even Wag the Dog hung out there, I'd consider stopping in. But otherwise, there are plenty of better places to kill some brain cells, with all due respect to a fantastic show.

shannon m.

I am torn between saying that you may as well stop in here if you happen past it while wandering through Boston Commons and saying don't bother. I think I'm leaning toward the latter. Yeah, there are a few things that you'll recognize from the show, but really, it's nothing at all like it. I ended up in some far flug seating area that felt like a addition afterthought. Oh, but Sam Malone's "jersey" was on the wall. Big whoop. Ok fine, the place inspired the show, it wasn't ever meant to be an exact replica. Even so, a visit won't leave a lasting impression and please, please, don't cough up your hard earned cash in the overpriced gift shop. Save it for Quincy Market cart vendors!

Christie L.

Went here on a Sunday afternoon while the parents were in town. I was a little skeptical because I'd been to the one in Faneuil Hall and it was just ok....more of a place to people watch then enjoy food. Here, we walked in and went straight to the back bar rather than wait for a table. It was crowded for a party of four and there were only two seats open. So we ventured upstairs and I'm so glad we did. It's the "set bar" and it's so much more spacious there. We found four barstools in a row and had a couple beers. If you buy a beer there, then you can buy a Cheers glass for only $5 (normally $10 in the gift shop). We also got a petite burger which I loved and some good fries. The wings were pretty good too. We all loved the atmosphere and would give it 5 stars just for that. If we'd stayed downstairs I don't think we'd give it that rating. I'd definitely go here to drink and grab a burger again - even if it is a tourist trap.

Rondal B.

While they did have some good local beer, Samuel Adams and Harpoon, the overpriced bowl of clam chowder was mediocre at best. I would have shrugged the poor service off as just a bad night there but in the four times I've been it's pretty much been the same experience. I wouldn't ever choose to go back but when friends come to visit in Boston they typically want to see the place. If you want to eat somewhere that you are really just paying for gimmicks, go check it out.

Tim B.

Cheers IS a fun place to go. Do not go here with high expectation or with the thought that you are going to go get drinks/food on a Hollywood set or some crap, because if you do you will surly be disappointed! What Cheers is, is just a normal pub. It has the feel of a friendly (slightly expensive) neighborhood pub. I loved this place! Prior to going, I read up on a lot of the Yelp reviews (pretty low scores) and had very very very low expectations, but as a first time tourist in Boston, I felt it was my duty to try this pub which I sorta grew up in! Both my fiance (who is from Boston, and had never even wanted to go here) and I had a blast! We immediately made friends with a local gal sitting at the bar who was preparing herself mentally for class (chug-chug). I honestly was expecting a very pretentious and touristy crap-hole! We never ate here, nor did we 'hang' at the Set bar; we only drank, drank, drank, and left. Good times!

Charlotte S.

I was in Boston for the weekend and my boyfriend wanted to come and buy some glasses because he looooved the show... so we actually were lucky enough to get a seat at the bar and had a very nice time! We sat at the bar that is right when you come down the stairs where the Indian statue is at the front door... I think that is the only part of the whole place that gives the vibe of the show. We had a few drinks and watched a baseball game on one of the tvs...the bartenders are extremely helpuful and attentive. It was overall a very pleasant experience at a tourist trap!

Hailey T.

As far as all the comments about it being a tourist trap, it wasn't packed, the bartender was really cool, as were a couple locals I spoke to. Yes, out of towners go here, but it's a cool bar, fun atmosphere, and they serve some good brews.

Dean S.

My dad and I went here, fully expecting mediocrity; it IS a tourist trap, after all. I wasn't expecting to be so completely disappointed, however. The waiter said they had "LOTS" of beers, and proceeded to list all 8 or so, none of which was particularly good. I ended up getting a Sam Adams, good but nothing special, because they wasted all the other spots on the tap on raspberry beer, blueberry beer, and boring beer. The fish and chips were strange: a full plate of fries with 2 tiny (maybe 3 oz) unnaturally cylindrical pieces of soggy fried fish. My dad's cheeseburger was just as underwhelming, the burger patty was pretty clearly the frozen variety. Yes, it's cute, yes, there was a TV show based on how great the place apparently used to be, but take a picture of the entrance and move on. There are a million better pubs in Boston, and it just isn't worth the wasted meal to eat here. Edit: Also the downstairs was much cuter than the upstairs, but, despite the empty tables, we were told that we were not welcome to eat downstairs, because the upstairs staff hadn't seen anyone all day. Lame.

Ronda W.

Nice touristy spot. I would definitely go back for the clam chowder. It was the best I've had so far out here.

Boys Have Cooties ..

I took my friend who came from out of town here...tourist city...it was packed and it looked nothing like the show although the food was good i would not go back unless someone from out of town comes again.

Merri L.

if you're gonna go to cheers, go to this one, cuz it's the original. but there's no real reason to go. i never saw the show so not sure how accurate it was. no one knew my name. except for the one person i was meeting there. he had a burger, which he liked. i'd already eaten. it wasnt crowded at all, but it was earlyish on a friday night. when we left there were more people coming in. im sure you can find a better pub place to go to. but if you want to be a tourist, by all means, check it out.

Brenden L.

Expensive drinks and food...this is a tourist trap. The blue cheese burger and a few other things here are actually quite good but overall not the best place to go.

Phil P.

Three stars for being where everyone knows your name. And in this case it was true. A friend of mine is the guitarist for an unnamed recording artist, and after their show, I met up with the band so we could catch up. They are out of Atlanta, and were just in town for the night. They wanted to go to Cheers so I didn't fight it even though I could think of plenty other places I'd rather grab a drink. Well, it turned out to be a real fun time. We walked through the door and there was a group of about 20 people there that had been at the show. We ended up not paying for drinks all night, which consisted of rotating rounds of beers, Jack, Crown, and Jager. The bartender had said that they didn't have any Jager, but somehow it mysteriously made itself available as the night wore on. This turned out to be the start of an altogether rough evening. The band probably will now be showing up on youtube in a video of a group circle rendition of the Cheer's theme song. I don't know if that is a good thing. This turned into a surprisingly fun time. At the time of the writing of this review, I am still in recovery. I guess if you are with the right people anywhere can be the place to be at that moment.

Gary K.

I haven't been in this place for years but when it was the Bull and Finch it was one of my favorite haunts. I happened to stop by the other day and it's just not the fun place it used to be. I think a big part is the the whole Cheers thing. Poeple expect it to be like the bar in the show and it's not even close. It's a great tourist attraction but not too cool for the locals anymore.

Bonnie G.

NORM'S NUTS!!!! I give 5 stars for now possessing NORM'S NUTS!!!!

Anthro Food E.

this place is a total tourist trap, but on the other hand, its great for pictures for your parents were really into the show back in the day... the bar was actually smaller than i thought it would be...so it was a little cramped...it seemed like a mix of locals and tourists come here for drinks...beware! the mixed drinks were pretty stiff!

Nick M.

You remember the tv show...or maybe your sibling does...or your parents do. You won't find the mailman or Norm here, but you can see the real bar that inspired the show. Don't expect it to be an exact replica, but you'll see some similarities. Eat like you're at a bar and the food isn't bad, but expect tourists and slightly inflated prices. Go home with a t-shirt or souveniers, which you can buy upstairs in the store.

Anne H.

I went here with an out of town guest. It was so touristy and commercial I wanted to puke.

George K.

The original, and still the best. Yes, it's a bit touristy, but this is the pub that inspired the 80s sitcom. You have to love it for it's nostalgia if not for anything else.

danielle d.

okay food.. but to bad cheers was only a set but this cheers is the original outside of it only... nothing serious

Dachary C.

I'm rather shocked that this place hasn't been reviewed yet, but perhaps that's because people who write reviews in Boston are from Boston, and no self-respecting Bostonian would set foot in this place. It's known locally as a tourist trap, and apparently even the tourists know that. That being said - this place is *always* crowded. I've attempted to enter several times, being new to Boston and determined to check out all the Boston landmarks, but I didn't feel like waiting for 30-45 minutes for a table. When I finally bolstered my patience enough to endure a long wait, I went in and asked the host to be seated. He told me the wait would be about 45 minutes. I replied that I'd wait, and he asked if I wouldn't rather sit at the bar which was open seating. The bar was 7 deep and there were *no* seats, which both of us could clearly see from the entrance where we were standing. I repeated that I would wait... and then this arrogant man actually had the temerity to argue with me. Normally, starting a visit on such a bad foot would be enough to drive me right back out the door, but I had determined to go to the Bull & Finch, so I held my own until he relented and finally put my name on the list. He gave me one of the blinky, buzzy, coaster-looking things that restaurants use to indicate your table is ready, and left me to wait. There's no entry space to wait at the Bull & Finch, so be prepared to wait outside. I went upstairs to the gift shop and read the bar recipe books to kill some time. Typical souvenir shop, very touristy - but the stuff was actually kinda neat and not particularly overpriced for what it was. If you're determined to have a Cheers souvenir, it's worth checking out. An hour later, my blinky buzzer coaster thing blinked, buzzed, and vibrated - and off I went, back downstairs. I was seated quickly when I got back, but discovered exactly how tiny and cramped the place is. If they got rid of 20-30% of the tables, it might be comfortable, but as it is, you'll be sitting on a neighbor's lap. It's very loud and too warm. The food was disappointingly average and overpriced. Service was slow. In general, it was a rather unpleasant experience. I just couldn't get a sense of the type of place "Where everybody knows your name." If you're determined to visit it for what it is, just keep in mind that it's a typical tourist trap and be prepared for all that entails. I'd do it just to say I'd been there, but then I'd never look back.

Kristina G.

Predominately unimpressed as I found this restaurant to be highly overrated and overpriced for mediocre food and beverages. They're all in it for the name - it's definitly just a tourist attraction. I wouldn't recommend going if you wanted a good meal.

Rob M.

What really saddened me was when they changed the name of the place TO Cheers. Not just life imitating art, life surrendering to the corporate image of art. Sure, a whole generation of tourists wanted to see "Cheers" but c'mon, that shows been dead for years and a younger generation wouldn't give a crap. Perhaps if they'd left well enough alone the tourists would've eventually stopped coming and allowed this place to return to something for the locals but no, they had to doom that completely. Avoid at all costs.

Heather D.

I can't complain! I took the safe route and ordered a grilled cheese with fries and a Coke. I did pay to keep the glass, yes. I did take a picture with the large Norm cut-out by the bathrooms, yes. I did even buy my mom a stuffed frog with "Cheers" written on its belly at the airport, just in case the mug I paid for broke on my way back to Phoenix; it's true. I am a shameless tourist when I tour my own country. I think visiting places like this are part of the fun. Really, my food was delicious, and I was not disappointed with the service either. My best friend (along with my boyfriend) once again ordered clam chowder (as they do everywhere in the Boston area), which they were pleased with. My best friend also had some questions about charges on the bill, which the server was polite and happy to address multiple times, even during the busy lunch hour. I don't see why I would come back, but I would not be disappointed if I were to do so.

Joyce K.

I did lunch here with a couple of girlfriends after traipsing across town on the Freedom Trail. The prices weren't outrageous but the food was terrible. The name is the only thing going for this place. I'm a grazer so I picked off of other people's plates which my taste buds scorned me for. In summary, you know it's not a good thing when you ask for the check and most of the plates on the table are still full.

Doug H.

I've been here a couple of times. It's definitely a tourist trap, and the prices a little high, but I've only gone for a beer or two. It may not look like the TV show inside, but it's pretty comfortable, and the staff nice. You could do better, but you could do much worse, too.

Ruth P.

...You know youre a true Bostonian if you've NEVER been to Cheers....

Rebecca Y.

Don't bother going inside - you'll be disappointed (becuase it doesn't look like the TV bar) and the beer prices are outrageous. Take your picture by the staircase and go to Boylston street for a beer.

Kathleen M.

I used to think that this place was a "must-do" with out of town guests, as so many people have it on their list of places to go in Boston and it's nearby to the public garden, which is a "must-see" in Boston. However, I now have given this place a "lifetime ban" as I vow to never enter the bar again. Why, you may wonder? I attended a wedding at the Hampshire House recently (quite nice, just upstairs from the Bull&Finch). In their wisdom, the bride&groom knew that some guests would like to go somewhere after the reception was over, and had even suggested the Bull&Finch on an "informational card" that accompanied their wedding invitation. When we went down the famous stairs to enter the bar, no one shouted out my name. Instead, we were told by the bouncer (a very nice fella, so I can't blame him) that the manager told him not to let anyone from the wedding upstairs into the bar. Apparently, the assumption was that we were going to be unruly or something similar. No one in our party was out of hand, and we were welcomed into a bar down the street with no problems. If you do decide to go into this tourist trap, I hope you are treated a bit more kindly.

tony m.

honestly, i'm not at all bothered by the tourist appeal here. in fact, cheers should play it up more!!! how about making people feel freakin' WELCOME...since they're only visiting to see "that place". nothing wrong with mediocre pub food when you have the only cool and cozy pub within blocks and blocks. use what you got, my friends!!! my gripe is TOTALLY with the service. lame. jeff, in particular. but also the too-cool-tweens that pretend they don't see you. i swear, if i walk in one more time and have a server walk away (when i'm trying to entertain out-of-town guests, or just have a casual beer) i will freakin' scream. jeff is such a consistently inattentive, uninteresting, uninformed townie. he makes norm look like a harvard genius. anyway...regardless of that poor excuse for a server...it would be great if cheers embraced the "tourist trap" draw, and hired people with enthusiasm and personality! if you can get locals as well as tourists to walk through the doors, then go for it... sometimes the business-set doesn't want to hang on charles street after work. but they don't need the only other option to be jeff...someone to ignore them and /or rant about his personal reasons for being "too good for cheers". it's embarrassing. and uncomfortable. i'll still keep visiting and waiting for the gregarious service!

Nicole L.

I'm kind of disappointed to see that Cheer's only has an overall score of 2.5 My boyfriend and I went here in April of this year and enjoyed ourselves. We made it here on a cool, drizzly Wednesday for lunch pretty much immediately after checking in to the hotel. Who knows if the long day had limited our judgment or not. There was a wait for the table, but not too long. A little trip upstairs to the gift shop made the time go by swiftly and I wanted a shot glass for my collection anyway. The burgers were surprisingly good. My boyfriend and I enjoyed them throughly. The "Monsta Beer" which is only available in Boston apparently (as is the Sam Adams' Brick Red) was pretty good. The set-up is very much like Cheer's but it's smaller than one might think. A good time.

Gerald H.

The Cheers set is on the top floor. The restaurant is in the basement. It is busy so hard to actually get someone to take your order. They have a small beer selection but folks go there for the nostalgia not beers.

Ingeniously M.

I was in town on vacation to catch a ballgame at Fenway (bucket list) and decided to check this place out. Took a few pics outside and walked in to enjoy a few tall ones at a reasonable price, can't ask for much more than that! Service was good and the brew even better, salud amigos!

Christina V.

Sadly.. no one knew our names... :( But the food here was great and the staff was wonderful! So that made up for it. It is located right above beacon hill... a couple of blocks down the street from the State House. You first go downstairs, just like in the show, to get to the restaurant. We ate above at the 'set bar'. The Clam Chowder was SOOOOOOOOO GOOD! My fiance and I shared a mug cause we had never tried it before. Alone with that we just had burgers and fries.. which were all delicious. I told the bar tender that I wanted to try a beer but I didn't know which one so he told me about this beer called Purple Haze, it had raspberries in it, and assured me it was ''Awesome" so I gave it a try. It really was awesome! Nothing but great things to say about this place. The prices are reasonable.. they're slightly elevated due to the fact that its a well known place, I'm sure. But its nothing out of this world. I'd eat there again just because the food was great and the people there were so friendly. Five Stars Cheers Bar!!!

Harri S.

As an unabashed tourist, the taking pictures part was fun. Then we saw the prices for gift shop goods and it went downhill from there. THE GOOD: 1) Place that inspired the TV show, brings back memories of a slender Kirstie Alley and smokin' hot Ted Danson...uh-oh. 2) The neighborhood, for a tourist it's easy access and Beacon Hill is purty ritzy. 3) The beer, you can't go wrong with Sam Adams I guess. THE BAD: 1) What the fuck dude? THIS IS BOSTON! How the hell do you "no longer have Boston baked beans on the menu?" Seriously? 2) Ridiculous wait for a table. Ridiculous wait for food. 3) For paying an arm and leg, could you spare me some more coleslaw? Please sir... THE VERDICT: This place is as big of a tourist trap as the Freedom Trail. The only difference is that it doesn't intersect Little Italy and hence doesn't smell like piss.

Rhoda G.

Heh, the food is not that great here. I wanted to come here to get my picture in front of the Cheers bar, but I was hungry too. So I killed two birds with one stone. I got Carla's Petite Burger (1/4 pound burger patty instead of the 1/2 pound patty), which had onions, lettuce, and tomato. I paid an extra dollar for cheddar cheese, but it looked American to me. I didn't want to make big deal out of it. The best part of my meal was the Boston Brick Ale I got with my meal. If you want to come here, you are better off just taking a picture and drink a pint of beer to say that you were at the Cheers bar or buy one of the souvenir glasses. If you are really cheap, just grab a couple of napkins. It has the logo and everything.

Carol K.

Screaming tourist trap. Good brews. You can't help but hum the tune. Did it, won't go back.

Giselle E.

Cheers is getting one star not because I had a poor experience, but just because I sincerely believe that the food they serve here (2 hot dogs and fries?! c'mon now!) is not worth $7-$8 without tax, and that I can make that on my own at home (or make a trip to the 7-Eleven down my street and get a better deal for the buck). The tables are really close to one another, which doesn't give you any privacy. A lot of the tables looked unclean/sticky, but that may be just because it's been around for a while. Burgers attempt to seem interesting by having "uncommon" ingredients (avocado, for example), but doesn't do much when trying to get me to come back. I say, go to Cheers if you really want to visit the place and their gift store, but keep in mind you're jeopardizing yourself as a fan to 'Cheers' if you do so. Don't get the food, because you'll feel even more robbed, and you'll question why you didn't go to 7-Eleven. Go here to drink, and nothing more.

Lily T.

I'm a sucker when it comes to tourist traps, so giving this place a visit was inevitable. We had one of the friendliest waitresses ever (sorry, didn't catch her name). My friend and I ordered and shared: clam chowder, Asian chicken salad, fish and chips. We actually didn't originally plan on having dinner there, so we weren't choosing with our brains (or the Yelp recs via my smartphone), but purely with our eyes and stomachs. Hey, the body wants what it wants. To our pleasant surprise, the clam chowder was exceptional--creamy, frothy, and hearthy (aka heart attack inducer, don't eat it everyday). The salad was kind of bleh. First, they use iceberg lettuce instead of romaine (screams of cheap ingredients). Second, no scallion. To summarize, the food wasn't spectacular, but it was overshadowed by the wonderful service. Plus, I was in a good mood, so that may have skewed my rating too. Having low expectation helps too.

Evi D.

We were visiting Boston in May and as we walked by, we stopped in! Obviously it gets lots of hype since it was on a TV show, but it was a cute "next door" kind of bar. Very low key (we sat in the downstairs part) at the bar, got served right away. I'd definitely go back for a drink!

Bob A.

Never again. Surly staff. Not fun surly, just surly.

Rachel S.

Go for the experience, but that's about it. Bloodys are not what they are cracked up to be.

Colleen G.

Had a really good day here.. Plenty of memorabilia, large portions of wine good atmosphere although we were there during the world series when the red Sox won which helped

Lindsay B.

Definitely a tourist bar. I'd only check it out if you were a big fan of the show.

Anna S.

If I were a resident of Boston, I'm not sure how to rate it. But as a tourist, it became a good memory for me to visit there. (Actually I have never watched TV program. So I didn't have any expectation before....) As many people say, food is average. However, I think clam chowder is delicious! It is yummy even if compared with those of other famous seafood restaurants in Boston. I think it's ok as total ...

DJ M.

Dark, crowded and definitely a tourist trap and No one knew my name! Unlike the popular belief that Cheers came about after the sitcom, this restaurant, then named the Bull & Finch Pub actually inspired the TV show. The food is your average bar grub and the menu items are named by the fame of the stars on the show, like the Norm burgers, appetizers are "Sam's starters", the salads are "Woodies garden goodies" and there is Frasier's chicken panini. You do not get the feel of everyone knowing your name, since it is now a packed tourist spot where you are shuffled in and out. The Boston cream pie is a moist and delicious cake made fresh daily and I did enjoy the lobster artichoke dip which is served hot and with large corn chips for dipping. The clam "Chowda" is pretty good and they claim to have won awards for it. The fish & chips are crunchy and flaky and you always get cod or haddock in Boston, because they know how to do it right. Cliff's grilled cheese has three different cheeses, olives and tomatoes and served on a grilled multi grain bread. Their mac and cheese is good and comes with a salad, but overpriced. You know how it is when you live in an area for quite a long time and everyone who comes to visit has the same list of places they want to see... Been here, done that, many times. If in Boston, you must visit Cheer's, once! Cheer's is wheelchair accessible using a lift and an elevator!

Dan G.

Its lame and cheesy beyond. Even back in the day when I was a tourist, I never wanted to come here (Yes I love the show). I went one time because a friend HAD to go and while it wasn't horrible, it also wasn't even..good. Stay away from the trap unless you really really MUST. Funny thing is I could never imagine a coworker asking me if I wanna go to Cheers, I would say no cheers to that.

Meghan S.

Tourist trap? Heck ya! Great lunch place? Yes! We went around 3 and it was still pretty great. The wait staff was pleasurable and answered anyone's question whether trivia or sightseeing, I think Sam Malone would approve!

Pj B.

No one knew my name in here until I paid the bill! BUT that being said, playing the part of the tourist, I had to check out the tv bar where They knew everyone's name because they were paid to. Welcome to Cheers! Walking down the steps to the bar brought me back a lil as a kid watching the show. Once opening the door you see that it's pretty busy because of the hype behind it. Made my was through the plethora of gift shops to a bar where I was able to snag a seat and order a round and a cup of clam chowda. The beer was Sam Adams brick red. A damn good choice! If you haven't tried, DO IT! Since this was my first full day in Boston, I felt I was obligated to order up some clam chowda. Sure enough I got a cup, which was over flowing btw. Not a bad way to start my clam chowder mission. The chowder was delicious and tasted really fresh. Not my favorite of my Boston trip but still far better than any I've had in San Diego. If you've never been to Boston, or have even seen the show Cheers, this is a nice lil addition to a tourist stop, just be warned it gets packed.

Valerie V.

Booooo! Ended up at Cheers because my fiance and I were in that area and totally starving. We figured there was no way that they wouldn't have some sort of salad with chicken for me and a sandwich for him. Well I guess they technically had both of these items on the menu, but the salad (Lillith's Pan Asian Salad) could not have been more disgusting. I was actually a little bit impressed by just how bad they were able to make such a simple salad. The lettuce was watery, the chicken was flavorless, and the portion was small. AND IT WAS $13! My fiance enjoyed his burger just fine but it certainly wasn't the best one he ever had. The greatest thing we tried was the fries, which were crisp and golden. We sat at the "set bar" upstairs where we had to suffer tourists but its probably unfair to complain about that. The bartender was totally dismissive and impersonal which was ironic being that we were at the Cheers bar and its supposed to be a place where you feel at home! If you are a tourist and love Cheers, go take a picture and then eat somewhere else. If you actually live in Boston, stay away entirely.

Jeffrey H.

Unfortunately, nobody yells your name when you walk inside, instead you're greeted by an I.D. checker and hostess. Sadly, the bar looks nothing like the one on TV...in reality this space is cramped with two bars and is cluttered up by souvenirs and other useless tchotchkes. Disappointingly, the staff seems friendly only with each other...not so much the clientele. Inevitably, this is a giant gift shop in the form of a restaurant and bar that is making money off of mass media consumer whores like me.

Ryan C.

Tourist Trap...beware. $$$ for beer. You pay for the name.

Lexi C.

I think it's fun. When I went it was back in the 90's so I wasn't going to review it but since it was a nice experience I changed my mind. Not sure if some people understand that the show was based on the bar/restaurant and not the other way around. It isn't really their fault it is filled with tourists bringing the place down. Please don't NOT go because of this reason.

Megan A.

Came here with a bunch of colleagues while in town for a conference. The food was okay (regular ol' burger) but I have to say, I was a little disappointed that it didn't look more like the show... great place to say you've been, but once is probably enough.

Truemornings N.

Currently my boyfriend and I are visiting Boston for vacation. We were really hungry and just decided to stop by the Cheers place (I never watched the show, but my boyfriend did). We were seated promptly upstairs and it was noisy, but it was expected. The prices seemed decent for being in a big city, so it was good. However, I am vegetarian so I ordered the veggie burger. It was terrible! It looked handmade, but it was clearly a frozen piece of crap. All the outside of the burger was hard as a rock and not very warm inside and had no flavor even with toppings on it. The fries were ok. According to my boyfriend, his real burger was pretty good. I'm highly disappointed that I paid $10.95 for a frozen piece of junk and sub par french fries. Never again.

Thaddeus M.

They are lucky that they had the show to back them up for marketing. Because honestly there is no other reason to go. The restaurant isn't horrible. Service is standard, nothing amazing/ The waiters just don't care. Food is ok.... and you have to wait for some time. All in all go somewhere else.

Mickey M.

Fits the bill as a tourist spot. Expensive beer, food, and gift shop for you to get a shirt. It is worth noting that there are many more tourist spot bars that haven't whored themselves out nearly as bad. It's not a bad bar, but it IS a generic check-out-the-giftshop tourist spot. If you've got the cash to pay premium prices, go nuts.

Christopher B.

My wife and I visited here during our trip to Boston. We had lunch, a couple of beers and bought a couple of things at the gift shop. It's a nice place to visit if you're in town. We enjoyed it.

Dave H.

Big, greasy burgers, little space. Where's Norm? I came to this tourist trap for lunch awhile ago. Basically the main bar and dining area are overwhelmed by a crapload of souvenirs and display cases. As one would expect, only the outside of Cheers resembles the TV show at all. I heard there's another Cheers location in Boston, but haven't had a chance to check it out. Stop in to say you've been here, but don't stay for drinks or food. It's bad, even for a tourist place, since the food isn't all that, and it's way too bright inside for a bar.

Charmie S.

This is the obligatory stop if you have out of town visitors. So I ended up here because of that reason only. The Bull/Finch Pub is for sure dingy, and really not my taste. Add to that a nasty bartender who insisted on carding again, after we had been carded downstairs. Had to shut that down, grab the hard cider, drink, and bounce. Better believe there was no tip involved. Keep it moving, y'all.

Dan C.

While visiting Boston from California, we had to visit Cheers Beacon Hill. The Bar downstairs was full and a table for five had to be had in the upstairs Bar (set). The dining area was small and crowded. I tried to order the Half Price Appetizers but was told it was a Holiday and they were full price. Holiday - St. Patrick's Day? Did I miss that on the official calender? Presidents day, veterans day, Christmas and St. Patrick's day. This seemed like a poor attempt to soak the tourist for every penny. Anyway, we ordered diner. The food arrived hot and quickly. Very average overall. My advice - come for a beer and a visit , go have dinner somewhere else is this great city.

Jen S.

I used to be an ESL teacher, and one of my favorite classes to teach was Legends of American Comedy (I created the class because I'm just THAT much of an awesome ESL teacher). I thought I'd show Cheers since it has a lot of Boston references, and I wanted them to see it for certain themes/vocabulary words, etc. SOO before The Showing, I took my class to Cheers- not because I thought the inside looks the same, not because I'm dumb enough to believe it was filmed there (other than the 2 seconds in the opening theme) but because I knew my foreign students would be excited that "they went there" after watching the show. (I was right by the way, they were excited, especially when they saw the theme). Holy COW the food is overpriced. $13 for a chicken quesadilla and it wasn't that good. And I am just speaking for myself here. Everybody at the table had the same feeling. It's worse than Hard Rock Cafe. Another major tourist trap!!! The inside is cramped. It's nice to see all the memorabilia; otherwise, it's just a clusterfk of crap. Our server was really nice though. At least they have nice servers. And at least the place is clean. Only nice things I'll say about this place. Sooooo many tourists. Seriously, visitors, just take a picture of the outside and go somewhere ELSE. No wait- stay there, and keep the local places free from your mania! And buy a lot of crap in the gift shop. The Economy Needs You. Not a terrible experience, but I had my time at a Tourist Trap and I will not go back. I'll recommend this place to serious Tourist Trapper friends, but I won't go with them.

Michelle B.

If you're a fan of the tv show (like me), you'll enjoy a visit to the Cheers bar. The outside is almost exactly the way it appeared on the show. The inside is about 1/3 the size, however, there's a ton of memorabilia to peruse as you guzzle down your alcoholic beverage of choice. Also, the service is great. The bartenders are attentive and friendly. The Cheers bar was a nostalgic experience for me which I truly enjoyed; however, if I wouldn't frequent this place if I lived in the Boston area. A majority of the patrons are tourist so it loses that local bar feel which the real Cheers is all about.

Jeanette U.

Would recommend sitting at the bar upstairs.

trina e.

I didnt expect anyone to know my name, but when I walked in wearing my LA Dodgers cap, everyone suddenly knew my name! ELLLAYYYY!!! Well, It happenned to be the day of game 2 of the Dodgers/Red Sox 3-game series that the Sox swept...enough about that! We were seated in the restaurant portion in the back of the place and I realized at that moment that this IS a tourist spot, but it was CHEERS! I knew I wouldnt bump into Woody, or Sam, and I didnt hear Rebecca's big mouth anywhere...kinda glad about that! We ordered, burgers and hot wings...and Sam Adams Summer Ale! The Ale being the best part. Just know that this is a tourist spot so set your expectations accordingly. If I were to close my eyes while eating, I could have been at any TGI Fridays, or Applebees restaurant in America. Still, it was a fun place to visit and FYI, the best souveniers are the cocktail napkins. NOT the ones in a package for $3.50, but free the ones on the bar...just make sure no one is looking! Cheers!

Jenny Q. V.

You can't go to Boston and not go by the ORIGINAL Cheers so I went when I traveled with my girlfriends to Boston. You cna't expect to much from Bar Food. The drinks were good and our bartender while waiting for a table was very attentive and sweet.

Nathan I.

Ever since they started the Cheers reruns on Hallmark after the Golden Girls...well, I had to visit this previously ignored location. Very touristy got a picture with the sign though. Went to the downstairs bar, and even though I knew it was a sound stage on the show, I was a little disappointed not to find a young Ted Danson, or Norm and Cliff drinking at the end of the bar...but not that endlessly irritating Shelley Long. I sat down next to a cute young guy wearing a Tennessee college football hat and he seemed to be very into his beef stew. A foreign couple of unknown origin were loudly involved in a verbal hard to get; the sleazy man was apparently trying to convince this obviously new female acquaintance either to go home with him or at least agree to another date. It was partly in English, and partly in something I'd say was Eastern European. Total weirdos. The cute guy and I exchanged a couple amused "WTF?" glances with each other regarding this charming couple, but once he was done with his grub, he left. I had an overpriced Guinness and left. Roll credits and cue the Cheers music: Sometimes you wanna go, where absolutely no one knows your name...and I'd be happier if the cute guy came...I wanted to go where I could see...my troubles are not the same....I wanted to go before those weirdos in the corner knew my name....

Mitsuo K.

The food was just typical boring American food. I expected better. The service was slow as well. Also the music choice was not very good

Jeff C.

Cmon people this place isn't supposed to reinvent the wheel here. I see all these terrible reviews about a bar based upon another bar from a tv show, did you really think you wouldn't be ordering beer? I usually keep it for my return spot after taking the missus ice skating and not one time have I been disappointed. The food has always been well cooked and the servers are always a delight. I'm not sure what went wrong with other reviewers to garner an fairly low score but honestly the place is balls if you accept it at face value and whatnot.

Christmas M.

Sometimes you want to go where everyone knows your LAME. This bar looks NOTHING like Cheers on TV. The staff look like trailer trash and have bad complexions and dirty hair. Their bathrooms are near the entrance and there is no "pool room". The food and drinks are overpriced and bland. The bartender waters down the drinks. The food tastes like it was frozen and microwaved for serving. I jokingly asked the waitress if Sam Malone was working tonight and she rolled her eyes and walked away. Just for that, she didn't get a tip. Don't go in there expecting great service and food and a "Cheers" experience. There's no "regulars" or "locals" in the bar. Everyone is a tourist. Lots of kids and families in there. No one really sits at the bar. There's only like 4 barstools.

Wendy T.

The outside is the only thing that you'll recognize from the TV show, inside downstairs is a small restaurant & bar where we ate the food was good and for $5 you can purchase a Cheers mug. Upstairs is a replica of the set bar, not the whole bar, just the bar itself, which has two plaques on it indicating Norm and Fraziers seats, kind of cool. I guess it wouldn't be a trip to Boston without a stop at Cheers!

Michael M.

Not bad at all. We expected the worst of this tourist trap, but it was surprisingly innocuous. We had no problem getting a seat in mid-afternoon, and the downstairs pub was charming and welcoming. The bar saw a fair amount of traffic, but it never got too loud or crowded. My cheeseburger was standard pub fare; nothing special, but perfectly fine. My wife had Carla's Salmon Panini, which she thought was surprisingly good. The prices weren't terribly expensive, the servings were perfectly adequate, and we found no reason to complain. Sure, it's nothing world-shattering, but since most people are going there to see the set bar or gift shop and simply enjoy the Cheers experience, there's no reason not to look forward to a pleasant and satisfying visit.

Kelley D.

Meh. I could give it 2 stars but I would never go back so I guess a 1 is reflective of that. Just wasn't very good, cramped, tiny menu and drink menu with hardly any options. They try to pressure you into buying the novelty mugs/glasses repeatedly. I thought the food would be the saving grace but it was average if not below average bar food. I think I was one of the unlucky ones, but I got seated directly next to the live music. I mean directly, as in couldnt get up through the whole meal because he was playing. The manager joked "if he hits you with his guitar, i'll buy you a beer." How about you buy me a beer because my table had to sit still and in silence the whole dinner.

LJ H.

Loved this place. It was neat to go up stairs to the bar that looked like the TV show set. It even had names of characters on the bar to show where they sat. The food was good and so was the bet. The bartender was very nice and the atmosphere was great. I would come back here again

Jonathan W.

Ghetto hole in the wall....just take a picture outside and call it a day. Stepping foot in here is scary.

Kim S.

Great atmosphere and the bar tender was great. Met some great people too. Lots of beers on tap. Not as busy as I thought but still great.

Rico R.

Cheers the TV show kept me company during a very difficult time, so being able to visit was a real treat! We enjoyed the bar and the fish and chips (ended up ordering two!) Nice bar staff. Thank you CHEERS!!!

Tu-van L.

The only draw to this place is the original bar serving area original to the show. It feels nothing like the show since a TV set provides roomier space than the small room it really sits in. Besides that just a tourist trap. Located just across the Boston Common/Boston Public Gardens.

Dionisio D.

Bun tasted and felt microwaved. Beers nice and cold

Derek A.

Typical tourist trap but definitely worth a visit. Come in, buy some souvenirs, take some pictures and you're pretty much set. You don't really have to be a fan of a show to want to see it here, but its located near many attractions in Boston so it would make sense to make this one of your stops as well right?

Lindsey G.

Tourist trap but deal with it - we all loved Cheers! My friend and i were walking around the park and just needed a quick, cheap bite. A table was available so we walked in and were seated upstairs right but a window. Perfect little spot for enjoying the view. He had fish and chips, I had the tomato soup with a bead bowl that. Both were good, pretty standard but good.

Timothy M.

Fun place if you are a fan of the TV show. I was, and it was fun to go there. The service was friendly and fast, the food was pretty decent, and everyone was from somewhere else. THe bar from the TV set is now in use in the upstairs part of the restaurant, which is cool.

Harout K.

We went there because it was the tourist thing to do. The people that worked there were friendly, the food was good but not great. Definitely a place to visit, but only once.

Siniaya K.

OMG, It's TINY!!!! And where was NORM @ the whole time??? Must have been in the leiu They had an excellent gift shop and merchandise "i give them serious credit for capitilizing on there fame" If In Boston a must see...Simply to say you've been to cheers oh the food was pretty good too

Gabrielle F.

Traveled from Miami, Fl and Cheers was a must see for me. Beacon's neighborhood alone is so beautiful and such a joy to walk through. The restaurant is located downstairs just like the show. You first walk in and it's mostly like a bar and if you want to have dinner they lead you upstairs. Upstairs they have the big bar in the middle and tables surrounding it. They had a fireplace lit and it was beautiful ( my first time seeing a fire place lit ) The food was really good but a tad pricey. The service and staff are great. Overall, I really enjoyed this place.

Han S.

Touristy, yes--but stopped in one for a Bloody Mary after a morning run, just to say I've been. Not a place I would make a regular stop, but the Bloody Mary was good and they had a decent beer selection on tap.

Vick S.

Must visit spot in my opinion for anyone visiting or otherwise. There are two bars and a decent environment for drinks and quick food

stephanie w.

Our experience here was purely based on the clam chowder because we both had that for lunch. It was so good especially after getting off the plane from Taiwan. The service was very friendly. I liked the ambiance as well.

Ahmad A.

By southern California standards... the burgers were beyond sub par, the clam chowder was good, but the service was okaaaay.

Michelle B.

If I could only give it negative stars! We stopped by there today while on the freedom trail. The girl who greeted us was so rude because we had walked in past the hostess stand...Really?! The only reason we went past was because we had a stroller and couldn't all stand in the foot and a half space. We were told by her to "go stand over there where it says wait to be seated!" Are you kidding me? It's not like we had sat at a table... We were just standing past the stand four feet. We then were told that because we had a stroller we could not fit in there & were not given any alternatives. Our baby is 4 months old and we have taken her on 3 trips already all over the nation, needless to say we are extremely flexible and understand that it we need to make things work with the establishments restrictions, but we have never encountered a place so rude about it. It smells pretty rank too. Or maybe that the smell of bad service and grease mixed together. Don't waste your time...get a picture with the sign and move on to the Beantown Pub, where they were so nice and the sandwiches are huge and bar food was great!!!

Justin B.

Stopped in here for a quick beer and knock off a tourist hotspot. Bartender was really friendly and people sitting at the bar were really friendly and helpful for tourists like myself. Didn't have the food, but I wasn't disappointed. Nice place.

Jennifer C.

Neither Sam Malone or Woody were on shift, and I didn't see Carla anywhere. What the hell? I thought this was supposed to be the original Cheers bar? Seriously, though, despite this place's cemented "tourist trap" status, it's not so bad. I was really turned off upon initial arrival, as the crowds were thick, the wait time for a table was an hour, and I was being accosted by Japanese tourists imploring, "Will you take my picture in front of this bar?" Once I mentally and physically got past all of that and was seated, it was a pretty good time. I did have a hard time getting my head around the fact that this is the "original" bar from a TV show yet it looks nothing like said TV show bar, so they have a "replica" bar upstairs that DOES look like the TV show version. Huh? It took a long time (read, a good hour) for all of our party to arrive and the server didn't give us any grief whatsoever. We ordered apps while waiting, and because the server inadvertently hit the "combo plate" button on the cash register instead of the "lobster artichoke dip" button, he comped us the latter. Our fries were great, and the surprise combo platter included tasty chicken strips (with a side of very good honey mustard), mozzarella sticks, onion rings, and ho-hum potato skins. My friends said the wings were good. Wasn't crazy about the lobster artichoke dip as I felt like it had some kind of misguided spice...nutmeg, maybe? Not sure. My BFF and I agreed that the New England clam chowder was fantastic, and while the salad portions were generous I was disappointed that my Caesar dressing seemed more like creamy Italian. There IS a difference. My other friend proclaimed the nachos "awesome", and BFF's husband wasn't complaining about $13 pitchers of light beer. Keep an open mind on this place and you might just be pleasantly surprised.

C M.

Perhaps the ancestral labeling of the Bull and Finch Pub being the ultimate tourist trap is not rendered through insecurities, but rather, certainties and observations of local Bostonians. Of course, for those tourists that wish to pay homage to the backdrop (not literally) of the infamous "Cheers" bar, one must partake in the visitation of such proprietary stature. Of course, having the privilege of (at the very least) viewing or sipping a Samuel Adams at Cheers is privy to few. With that in mind, off to the place where "everyone knows your name". The decor: Descend a modest flight of stairs to find the entrance to the Bull and Finch Pub. Upon immediate entry, patrons will discover that although the infamous television script is showcased after this locale, the backdrop of the physical establishment mirrors none of what is depicted on the small screen. As for the décor, light cherry mahogany wood paneling and seating is decked throughout the furniture and walls of this establishment. Although a bit claustrophobic, the minimal spot lighting available at this establishment creates both a theatric and subtle feel. There's not much that needs to be mentioned aside from the above, the Bull and Finch captures the essence of the "Pub" type atmosphere through the establishment's layout. Although a bit small and confined in nature, the establishment addresses the sole purpose for it's operations. Food / Beverages: Beverage: Guinness - Although tradition dictates that a Samuel Adams be ordered at Pubs / Bars in the Boston area, the classic test for bartenders at pubs should be evaluated through their ability to pour a proper Guinness. Luckily, the bartender did not disappoint. The Guinness possessed the proper level of foam to denote an excellent pour. Buffalo Wings: Although excessive in terms of the level of heat in the wings, the execution itself was superb. Consumers will find that the overall textural contrast between the exterior fried skin and juicy interior chicken meat work in conjunction with the tangy spiciness that sets the base of the sauce. Although the excessive spiciness became burden after the consumption of 6 wings, the overall execution and taste of the Buffalo Wings were well represented with Bull and Finch's rendition of a Buffalo, NY classic. Immediately after consumption, a tour of the establishment must be conducted. To the immediate back left, patrons can find the gift shop of the Bull and Finch Pub. Souvenirs ranging from Beer Mugs, Key Chains, and T-Shirts are readily on display in the cramped confines of this segment of the establishment. Granted, no one at the establishment knew my name. But that doesn't take away from the overall relaxed Pub feel of the Bull and Finch. There's little denying that the bar lacked the rowdy type atmosphere commonly found in related establishments. Of course, the essence of a Pub relates to one's ability to sit, relax, and consume without utter chaos in the background. For the simple representation alone, the visitation was noteworthy, but by no means magnificent.

Bryan C.

You get what you expect---- a bunch of merchandise everywhere, overpriced beer, and standard American bar fare. Service was sloooow --- took about ten minutes to get a beer delivered to our table. Also, when the potato skins arrived, the little plates that came with the order were filthy. Lots of stuck on bits of cheese. Not sure what was going on with their dishwasher, but it was unappetizing! The burger was overcooked, but the fries and potato skins were great... if you want to get the best of this place, take your photos outside, and then take your business elsewhere to a place with more interesting food.

Heidy C.

It's named after a tv show so it's a tourist place. They had a decent beer list it was small but had some local beers and the popular ones. tap beers get poured into a cute cheers mug. Bartender seemed busy but the bar really wasn't so i don't know why he was running around...eh to each his own, maybe he works better that way. I think it's nice for a afternoon beer (when i went) but doubt i'd go there for a fri or sat night out.

Scott J.

Nobody goes to Cheers for the wings. Of course it's a tourist trap, but there's something kitschy and fun about walking by the facade we saw on TV all those years ago, heading down a flight of stairs, and stepping into a replica of Sam Malone's bar. It's basically a televisioned version of Hard Rock Cafe with memorabilia from the show and the city of Boston. At least it's at the actual location where Cheers supposedly would have been -- and it's a nice walk from Park Street and the Common. I like this location better than the ones in Faneuil Hall and Logan Airport and it pretty much lives up to your expectations. And, hey, the wings are really good!

Maciej K.

We tried to grab a couple pints here today. The place was packed, which is fine, but the waitress was literally so rude to us we got up and left. Terrible experience, I dont think I wil ever set my foot there again. Horrible waste of time.

Darin D.

What's a trip to Boston without stopping in for a pint of Sam Adams here? Sure, it is a tourist trap, but it was exactly what I envisioned ... a quaint, small local watering hole. The replica bar from the original sound stage was a neat thing to see.

Kristine Y.

This place is fun if you are a tourist in Boston and you know something about the TV show. Besides that, the food is mediocre and a little overpriced. I got the Fish and Chips and a cup of Clam Chowder. Fish and Chips were not that good and the clam chowder was just average. Drinks were way overpriced... I got a cocktail for $7 and barely tasted any alcohol. My problem with the fish and chips were that they were very overpriced. For the price you pay, you get only TWO pieces of fish that are very small and not very crispy. If you want another small piece of fish, that's another $5!! Ridiculous. Also the cole slaw that comes with it is not very good and the fries are just average. Also, service is slow but it's pretty busy so I guess it's understandable. Just another tip, there are two Cheers in Boston. The one on Beacon St., this one is the original whereas the one in Fannueil Hall is the remake. All in all, the place is fine if you go for the environment. For good food in Boston, go elsewhere.

Behr S.

Honestly, after years of watching the show, I had to come check out the "original" to see if there was indeed any similarities. All I can say is, "WHAT THE FUCK!?!" I came in, waited to be seated, and that was the last I seen of any waitstaff for about 20 minutes. By the time they finally DID come to the table to take our order, I was appaled at the "don't give two shits" attitude of the waitress. She took our order but looked like she would much rather tell us off. We got our drinks, and every one of them was wrong or so damned watered down it was sick. I mean for christ's sake, if you are paying anywhere's from $6.50-$8.00 for a drink, it better be right and better be more alcohol than half melted ice. I will say....this place sucked.

Becky M.

I'm sure it is my magnificently dorky tourist tendencies rearing their ugly heads, but....LOVED LOVED LOVED IT!!!!! We took pictures to our hearts content, had lunch and shopped in the gift shop! It was all magnificent. We ate lunch in the "set bar" and my meal was pretty tasty, you won't go wrong with Fraiser's Panini. Although my companion said that her burger lacked effort. BUT WHO CARES???? We don't give a fuck that you can't grill a burger Cheers!! All we care about is the fact that you provide us ample photo taking opportunities - and you didn't disappoint!!! We love you Cheers, because everybody there knows our names!

Tony K.

I went here for drinks last night. NOT my idea. The place was pretty dead for a Saturday night and my group of 6 was able to completely dominate the small bar area. Bar service was fine, but the beer menu was weak and overpriced. $6.50 for a weird "mug" of unknown size, I suppose it could have been a pint. So yeah, you pay for the sign hanging out front. Do yourself a favor, get your photo of the sign out front and don't bother going in.

Howe L.

Bad food. Boring food. Overpriced food. One extra star, only because of the coolness factor. Otherwise, stay away from this tourist-trap.

Disappointing if you expect to see the "set" from the TV programme of the same name. We had to stand in a cramped area and I think everyone was waiting for Ted Danson to walk in. It is a shame because so much could be done to make it a theme pub. I bought some souvenirs which were placed in a plastic "Cheers" bag... I feel the sign outside is misleading.......................

Paula H.

Weak drinks. But a must just to go. A lot smaller than I expected

Li S.

I admit, I did get excited walking down the stairs and through the front doors. But I was actually relieved to be sent upstairs to eat instead. There was more room and less noise. I ordered Carla's Caprese Pasta and Woody's Wonder cocktail. Neither were much to write home about. I should've stuck to the bar food. My friend ordered chicken fingers and fries and both were SO GOOD. The chicken fingers had an extra-light and crispy batter. And the fries were the BEST I've had all year! No fancy truffle oil on these. Just plain fried potatoes you've never tasted so good. All in all, I'm glad I went, just to say I went. But I'd only return for those fries.

Eric D.

Cheers was a little smaller than I expected, but still very cool. It was great seeing the sign out front and taking a picture with it. Hey, I was a cheesy tourist in Boston, what can you expect? The place is nothing special, and if it was any other bar, it would probably get a lower rating, but it Cheers! So it gets more stars. It's near the commons which is cool too. Don't go there expecting too much, just go to have fun!

Elena T.

If Cracker Barrel was a bar it will be Cheers. Crowded with tourists (poor souls like us looking for a special moment), unfriendly staff, limited bar seating and mediocre beer (compared to other bars in Boston - i.e. The Roadhouse and Public House in Brookline). Our friend was determined to see the original Cheers on Beacon Hill. So on New Years Day, after a hearty delicious lunch at The Fireplace we took the subway downtown. We battled the 10 degrees bone chilling weather, walking headwind for a mile while slowly putting one foot in front of the other on the inch thick ice. By the time we got to Cheers I couldn't feel my toes and my husband realized the hair in his nose was frozen. For the 1st time on our trip we welcomed the 90 plus degrees temperature rule inside all Boston's establishments. We couldn't wait to cozy up and drink some good beer while "everybody knew our name". "What do you want"? welcomed us the official greeter. "To sing carols to your patrons" was my initial reaction but I bit my tongue and replied "We would like to get a drink". Why else would people come to Cheers? The place was packed. We could see there were no seats available at the tiny bar. "Try in the back" was his final help. Dismissed we ventured on our own. Through the main dining room and the kitsch bazaar filled with cups, posters, shirts and lots of other crap. One baby T-shirt read "I don't even know my name". Quite appropriate. We made it to the back dining area featuring an even smaller bar. Of course it was full. One of the waitresses smiled and asked us if we want to eat. We insisted we just wanted a drink. Smile gone she left us standing. At this point we could bite the bullet and get a table or just stand there in the middle of the kitchen traffic waiting for 4 seats to open at the bar. We caved in and got a table. We were full from our meal an hour before so we could only mustered in two Boston cream pies and a sandwich. My friend and I were disappointed with our pies (the sandwich was OK). After spending 4 hours and $200 drinking top-notch beer at The Roadhouse the night before, we snobbishly ignored Cheer's selection and ordered a martini, bloody Marry and a cocktail. They passed but we were not impressed. The guy that served us did fine. Third time a lucky charm?... Meanwhile people kept on coming, spending money and eating fast. I doubt there were any locals (as portrayed so wonderfully on the show). The supervisor used walkie-talkies to communicate with its staff. Really felt like we were inside a shipping center: methodically moving packages around not missing a bit. You better not hold the line! The best thing about Cheers was the free self-guide walking map featuring 25 notable historic attractions downtown. I may use it next time we visit Boston. The bar can wait.

KebShi L.

this is just a touristy spot for people that want to say that they've been to the "cheers" bar. i didn't order and food. just a sam adams.

A Z.

Unless you're a huge Cheers fan, stay far away. Unless, of course, your idea of a good meal us getting elbowed and shoved for 40 minutes while waiting for a table. This location has two floors, is thoroughly confusing to navigate, and is swamped with tourists. Just know that. The food is mediocre at best, nothing I had (a burger, fries and a salad) stood out. Which is why I say, unless you loooooove Cheers, go somewhere else!

Heather H.

I must admit I'm hesitant to even write this review - I don't want anyone I know to hear that I went to this awful, gimmicky establishment. After being dragged here by out of town guests despite my proclamations that there were MUCH better places to eat around the Common, I reluctantly went inside with my guests. We were seated in a crowded downstairs area, and served luke warm food that I could have made better at home. I understand that Cheers is a major tourist attraction, but the prices were ridiculous in comparison to the food that we were served and not worth it in any way.

Gary S.

having a Sam Adam's Brick Red and enjoyed every drop of it.

Amanda H.

This is a fun spot to stop and have a drink while in Boston. There is a Cheers Shop full of merchandise if you are a true fan. The beer is good and the drinks are strong. What else could you ask for?

Dan O.

Seems like alot of the locals don't fancy this place. I can understand its a major tourist trap. I've never been a fan of the Cheers show but we came here for some drinks after dinner. From what I understand, this is the replica of the infamous Cheers bar, but whatever right? This place was packed, but somehow we made it to the back of the place and found a table right in front of the live karaoke stage. We played drinking games and the loser had to sing boyband songs in front of a full crowd. Good times.

Payal P.

cheers - you get 2 stars, 1 for being cheers, 1 for having a cool gift shop. your food kinda sucks and half your wait staff may want to kill themselves due to their own lameness. do yourself a favor - take a picture under the sign, grab a beer, walk to the gift shop inside and buy a t-shirt or a mug and go eat somewhere else.

Sofia P.

It was my first time in Boston and I thought it'd be a great novelty to step inside and bask in the place where the classic show, "Cheers" was filmed. But then we were told that the only authentic thing about this bar was the sign that hovered outside the door. But besides having my bubble burst, a bar is a bar and all that matters is the company; my two friends were great and the bartender was friendly. Still, there was nothing special about this bar. The only thing that distinguishes it from other bars was its emphasis on "Cheers" and the gift shop in the back which sold "Cheers" paraphernalia. But these just made it seem like a knock off version of Hard Rock Cafe.

Gloria L.

last time i was in boston, they didn't have the upstairs bar that's a replica of the tv show... so this time around, we went upstairs and sat where frasier normally sat... it's just like a regular bar... i thought they could have done more to make it look more like Cheers from the show, but the novelty is still cool!

Brian R.

They just laid off Eddie Doyle, the main bartender there since the 1970's. Recession or not, that's poor management. I know loyalty runs thin in the buisness world but he was the only decent thing about this tourist trap. I hope this place goes out of buisness just on principle. Screw you Cheers!

Tarn Charles S.

As someone who worked at Cheers for 2 years, let me sum the place up in two words- 'TOURIST TRAP'. The food is adequate, and there is an ample beer selection, but the place is usually packed with gawking tourists, and 99% of the people are obese families from the midwest. You will seldom if ever catch a Bostonian visiting Cheers- most locals avoid the place like the plague. I suppose the thing that drove me over the edge were the 100 odd times each day someone who ask 'Is Norm Here'? God help me. If you are a groupie of the show, by all means check it out, but it's as hokey as it gets...oh, and rest assured the interior looks nothing like the set from the show... But if you need to use the bathroom to pinch a loaf, you'll find the bathroom facilities are right past the lobby, and are quite nice.. Public restrooms are a rare commodity in Boston, so if you are downtown and need to take a dump, head to Cheers..

Dan S.

I used to watch TV all the time before I went to college. During my high school years, there were two episodes of Cheers every night on Nick at Nite. This was back when my addiction to the internet was fighting my television addiction. But as 10 o'clock would roll around, I'd think, "Oh, I've got to get off the computer - it's time for Cheers." Maybe around 9:45 one day I decided to combine my two addictions and Google the show. It was then I found that Cheers was a real bar. Fiction and reality were clashing, and I was in the middle. I could walk down that staircase! I was determined to go! Alas, I was 16 years old and I lived in New Jersey. There was no way, I thought, I would ever get to go to Cheers. But the over next few months I completely immersed myself in everything Cheers. By day, I was on the internet, learning every thing about the real bar that I possibly could. I read the reviews. I memorized the menu. I must have taken the online virtual tour hundreds of hundreds of times. By night, I would watch my two episodes of Cheers on Nick at Nite and as I would see Norm, Frasier, and the rest of the gang walk down those stairs and into the door and sit at the bar, I imagined myself doing the same thing, and knew that one day it would be true. But Cheers was just a fad in my life, like many others before and after it. I grew up and I moved on. I hardly watch TV these days. Had things been continuing status quo, I would've never again thought to go to Cheers. Until my father got a job in Massachusetts. "Where do you think you'll live?" I asked him. "Well, we were looking at Beacon Hill..." BEACON HILL! Beacon HILL! Cheers is in Beacon Hill. "Oh my god!" I exclaimed. "Did you go to Cheers?!" "No," he responded, unsure of my sudden excitement. "I thought that was somewhere else in the city, anyway." "You're thinking of Cheers Faneuil Hall," I said, the memories coming back to me. "That's the fake Cheers. The one in Beacon Hill is the real one. It's got the staircase and everything." For the next few weeks it was all I could think of. Everything was as it was before. Except I couldn't watch it on TV. Thankfully we here on the internet have something called Youtube. I even saw videos of people playing the theme song on piano! I remember I used to want to play piano JUST BECAUSE OF THE CHEERS THEME SONG. It all came down to Thursday afternoon. We were staying in temporary housing in the Boston suburb of Hingham and my parents were talking about meeting up with the realtor on Saturday to look at places to lease in Boston. "We're going to Cheers, right?" I piped in. "You're gonna come with us to look at places with the realtor?" "Of course! I have to go to Cheers!" "Okay, okay, we'll stop in for a drink." And how did I repay them the next day? By revealing that I had been deceiving them about my school grades all month. Our family dynamic changed completely. But on Saturday morning, we were on our way to look at apartments in Boston, with my main question being "How far away is this from Beacon Hill?" Of course, I was really asking how far the place was from Cheers. All the while I could feel the scorn in my parents' eyes for what I had done. After a good few hours of apartment-hunting and unspoken parental disappointment, we finally arrived across the street from the familiar facade of the dreams of my youth, 84 Beacon Street, Cheers. I could see everything. There was a British guy on my side of the street attempting to take a picture of his equally-British companion who was across the street leaning against the staircase. My parents were arguing about how much money to put in the meter. It became clear to me that they were operating under the impression that we would not just be "going in for a drink", as previously stated, but going in for a full meal. Once they saw the menu located outside on the staircase, it was determined between the two of them (even though I had spoken about it multiple times) that there was indeed food there and that we would be having lunch. It was quite crowded as we walked in. Small children were everywhere. We were given one of those blinking electronic devices one usually only encounters in soulless chain restaurants and told to wait at the bar. From a middle-aged female bartender I pretended was Rebecca, I ordered a Sam Adams Winter Lager, because what else could be more appropriate at a bar in Boston during January? Now, at this point it was 1:30 PM and I had not eaten all day. I drank my beer fast and was asked by faux-Rebecca if I wanted another. I gladly accepted and after a few sips of that one, I was feeling pretty wonky. [because of the character limit this review is continued at musicspeakslouder.blogsp…

Courtney H.

Food here is ok, and it's definitely a touristy spot, but I much prefer this one to the one at Faneuil hall. Much less crowded and you might even spot an occasional local! It's probably one of the easiest to get to an affordable joints in the area, so if you are craving a burger or a beer not a bad place to stop in.

Jason C.

Went here because I had to take a crap before I got on the subway at Park Street.. The one star is for the clean bathroom. If you like drinking with suburban soccer moms from places like Ohio and men with fanny packs, this place is for you. Basically a TGI Fridays with lots of tourists.

Bob H.

Cross one off the list. Now I can say I have been to Boston.

francine s.

I gave this place 4 stars just because of the shows memories, but honestly the food was pretty bland. Not horrible though (I mean how bad can you mess up a burger?) But, still a great experience for first timers. I just wouldn't go again unless I go with tourists who loved or liked the show.

Hiroko S.

One time that's enough. But still I could find upside. -the girl was so friendly and helpful. I like her smile.

Paul C.

Like the others have said, it's a tourist trap. There's nothing really special about this place that makes you want to come back. I only stopped by briefly as I was exploring Boston but it definitely didn't impress me...

Daniel Z.

Of course we went here because it was the inspiration for "Cheers", the television show. The basement part looks similar to the TV set, but is obviously not the same. Suprisingly the food was pretty good. I had the "Frasier" chicken panini which came with a pickle and potato chips. It's a bit pricey, but it's a tourist spot. The service was friendly and effiecent and there's a gift shop next to the dining rooms with all sorts of "Cheers" merchandise. Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name.

Steven H.

Boring place. A real tourist trap. The whole cheers hype lasted about 10 seconds. The beers aren't cheap and the gift shop is a rip. They try to sell you everything here from you mug to t-shirts and even ornaments. WTF!

Yan G.

I imagine if I lived in Boston, I probably would never come here. Then again, I probably wouldn't be a Yankees fan, either. ;) Just like at any other touristy, TV-show inspired dining establishment, you pretty much know what to expect. The food will be average at best, the service will be sub-par, the patrons will have cameras hanging from their necks and the menu items will have cheesy names that make you cringe every time. My Dad and I came here before Friday's Red Sox/Blue Jays game, which was played despite the steady rain, by the way. We parked at a broken meter and walked a block and a half. The hostess noticed my University of Pennsylvania t-shirt, and we had a nice 2-minute conversation about life in the University City district of Philadelphia. "In West Philadelphia born and raised On the playground was where I spent most of my days Chillin' out maxin' relaxin' all cool And all shootin' some b-ball outside of the school..." Anyway . . . We were directed to the Oak Room, which was on the ground floor. Cheers itself, of course, is in the basement. Adult contemporary music was playing way too loudly, and the TVs tuned to NFL Network showed head coaches' interviews with no sound. The room itself looked as though a frat house took over an old private club. Strange atmosphere, I agree. We ordered 2 salads, 2 burgers, a beer and a diet coke. The salads were made from very fresh ingredients, although they were kind of bland. The burgers were juicy and cooked medium, just like we asked. I was actually surprised that Cheers was able to exceed my admittedly low expectations. Our waitress was quick, friendly and efficient. My Dad even took a commemorative beer mug home, only to realize he had already owned 2 Cheers commemorative mugs. Hmmm. We left our car at the broken meter and took a cab to Fenway. Cab rides to and from Fenway cost us $18, while parking at Fenway is at least $35. Who's a savvy tourist now, huh?

Barney B.

Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows you're lame. Come here and we all will. Seriously, take a snap in front of the sign and move on. Ok, if you reeeeealllly want to come here, send me a note and I will point you to. a great late-night food option - the joint "two guys and a girl" was supposed to be.

Jeff C.

If you are in the area of the Boston Commons, the you should definitely take a peak/picture at this timeless show. It looks exactly like the show without the actors. I didn't dine nor get a drink when I stopped by but hey at least I was able to take a picture at the front. This brought me back to the days when I used to watch my grand parents watch this show. (I didn't watch it but I do know the theme song at least...)

Meghan P.

On our Boston/Cambridge touristy/sight-seeing trip, our visit to Cheers was brief. We snapped a photo at the entrance, ordered one $6 pint to share, snapped a couple more photos, raced through the gift shop and left. They did have a good beer selection on tap though (I love apricot Magic Hat #9!) and I actually expected it would be even more expensive... One visit is probably enough for me though!

Grant W.

Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name...well...that is if you just want to go to a tourist trap. The food was over priced, the drinks were "eh" at best. And the place is pretty cramped for space. If it didn't have the nostalgia of the TV series I probably would not have enjoyed it.

Molly P.

The best part of the experience is actually walking down the stairs, opening the door and walking in. It feels sort of sur-real and made me somewhat giddy with anticipation. Thats about where it ended. It was friday night and we were immediately re-routed to the upstairs section of the bar, where the gift shop etc is. I wondered how much like a tourist I really looked. I had a burger...not bad. It wasn't anything spectacular. About what you expect at most restaurants. If you go here you are definately paying for the experience and atmosphere. Glad I went, but don't need to go back.

Kenny L.

Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got (Mass State House) Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot (Common and Public Gardens) Wouldn't you like to get away? (Sure!) Sometimes you want to go (Not Cheers?!?) Where nobody knows your name, and they're not always glad you came. You wanna be where you can't see, our troubles are all the same You wanna be where nobody knows Your name. You wanna go where people know, people (tourists) are all the same, You wanna go where nobody knows your name.

Celeste M.

So many haters! Anyway, this bar is what it is. It's the inspiration for Cheers. It's cute. The staff is really nice. If you go here and don't like it -- you have no one to blame but yourself. It's not like you didn't know where you were going. We came here on a scavenger hunt and the staff was so nice. The bartender held up a sign that said "Norm!" and took a picture. They gave us a kids menu with crayons. We didn't spend a dime here but they were absolutely great. So come in and get a drink sometime if you want - but don't complain about it.

Ryan C.

Visiting Boston? Do yourself a favor and skip eating here. Sure, visit the gift shop, take a picture by the sign, peek inside to see what inspired the show (though I'm not sure they sold 'cheers' branded socks and baby clothing back then), and head over to another restaurant if you want to eat. The "eNormous' burgers are just above McDonalds quality, and the other character inspired dishes are just not enticing or appetizing either. I sure hope they don't make a tv show about any of my favorite restaurants in the near future...

hans simon f.

Yeah, I finally made it to my favourite TV watering hole!!

Moses G.

tourist trap but worth the experience.

Joseph W.

The kind of place that I would hate if I didn't love Cheers so much. So I was 'that guy' who was singin' theme song over and over again. I don't care if it isn't cool. I loved that show and Cliff, Lillith, Carla and everything.

Sonny S.

I like every other tourist, went to check out the Cheers bar. I was fairly disappointed in the overall experience. I didn't expect it to match at all from the show, but not even the vibe or anything resembled it. The beer was nothing special and the food was pretty bland. The staff was pretty rude; I can imagine how many tourists are disappointed with the bar when it isn't up to par from the tv show. Nothing special and not even worth going in; you can take pictures from the outside.

Brian H.

This gets a one purely on the fact that I expected it to be even some what like the bar on the TV show. I realize it is still a tourist attraction, but I was insanely disappointed. Everything seemed over priced and cluttered. Even when you sat at a table it still seemed like their plan was to pack as many people in as possible. The food was mediocre and drinks were above average for the area. The service was pitiful on the night I went. I thought I may have been too hard on this establishment at first because I wanted it to have the Cheers vibe I expected from the show. Not only did I not get that feeling, but I really felt like this was a place I never cared to go back to. If you want your picture with a cardboard cut-out of Norm...stop in...but just for the pic.

Aclaire H.

Clam chowda was good! Mmmm.

Alena B.

It's pretty small and obviously crowded. It's typical bar food and typical drinks and higher than average prices. The location is top-notch though. I Beacon!

Lauren P.

I am ashamed to admit I have finally been here. I would like to try to redeem myself by saying I was forced by a friend who had never been to Boston before... Anyway, its true you will not find a SINGLE person in this bar actually from Boston or the Boston area. In fact, we came across people from North Carolina, Wisconsin and even Washington State... all in their newly purchased Boston/Celtics/Red Sox gear. There's even a gift shop attached, and an employee walks around to each group 10 minutes before it closes to let you know its your last chance for paraphernalia. To call this bar touristy is to say Anne Coulter is just a little conservative. The bouncer ("host") means business and does not appear to want to know your name, nor is he glad you came and he has to deal with you. The bartenders were friendly enough, the beers were overpriced. Now let's never speak of this experience again.

Lisa O.

Hi, my name is Lisa and I've been to Cheers waaaay more times than I'd like to admit. Seriously, every out-of-town guest who has come to visit me in the last 4 years has demanded we go to Cheers. And I am nothing if not an accommodating hostess, so I comply. Really, it's not that bad. Definitely touristy, definitely overpriced and definitely not somewhere I would go unless forced, but not horrible. They have decent sandwiches and burgers although they cost about $3 too much. Floofy drinks aren't worth the money so get a beer, kick back and revel in the kitschy touristyness, content with the fact that you won't have to come back until the next visitor arrives.

Sarah P.

I went here with a friend who was visiting from out of town. We went on a Saturday and the place was packed, but we still got seated right away. We both had burgers, my friend a classic burger and me a blue cheese burger. To my surprise, it was the best blue cheese burger I have ever had--really, very delicious. The fries were good as well. My main complaint about the place is that it is small and packed to the brim. We sat at a tiny table about six inches away from the tables on either side of us. People were seated at the bar and at tables and were also just standing--most people appeared to be tourists, which didn't bother me, but if you aren't tourist friendly I wouldn't recommend this place.

David L.

Eating here is more for the experience of being at the bar that inspired the Cheers TV show, and probably less for the actual beer and food. Everyone who comes in here should and probably do know that. They do accommodate tourists well: 1) The Cheers sign is out on display and their staff is even more than willing to snap your picture on your camera for you. 2) They have gift shops are located on the main floor and within the dining area. 3) 10% off gift shop or food purchases can be found in various travel brochures. Despite being a tourist trap, their food is not that overpriced and is really not that bad. I had the Frasier's Chicken Panini ($10.95, served with potato chips) and my wife had the bunless burger ($9.95, served with caesar salad). Bottom Line: It was a satisfying meal and the service was decent.

Stephen B.

It's crowded. Why? I have no idea. The only connection this place has to the TV show is the sign out front. Still, the bar has managed to profit from the connection, as it offers souvenir mugs, t-shirts, nuts, umbrellas, breakfast cereals, orangutans, sloths, and giant komono dragons. They even offer menu selections, with food quality just a hair better than hospital cafeteria. Do yourself a favor and take a picture out front with the sign and move on. You're not missing much.

Amy S.

We didn't stop to eat or drink or buy souveniers when we went. I just HAD to go because...you know...it's Cheers. I was too proud to even take a picture outside with the sign. I didn't wanna look like a dumbass tourist. I should have. I was a tourist. And I want my damn picture with the Cheers sign. The place was so dark and crowded and loud, I couldn't imagine actually staying there to do anything but cry in the corner about how it was nothing like you expected. I will go back for my picture one day though!

philip m.

I am sure there are cooler bars and pubs around the area. But it IS the bar that inspires a period defining show, it deserves a special place in the hall of fame of bars.

Joselita T.

We split a petite burger and fries and a beer for ~$16 at the Cheers set on the 2nd floor (next to the gift shop). It's a small place so it gets crowded easily but it has everything that you see when you watch Cheers. Great atmosphere and everyone is just super friendly :)

D S.

Best clams. Lots of tourists but fun place, reasonable food.

Dave C.

Don't expect the TV show bar inside, but we had a good pint and burger,; both were tasty! This building is also amazing (again, don't expect the tv show setting). Have a walk through the building and check out the fantastic spiral staircase at the back of the building.

Kyle B.

This place should be avoided... WAY overpriced for food that was mediocre at best. They are very busy and very disorganized. As we were waiting for a table, 3 groups of people walked buy us and just took a table.. When the greeter came to take us to our table, the people who chose not to wait and were sitting where we were to sit refused to move so all she did was shrug, and tell us that we would have to wait a little longer..... You really had to be there! There are MANY better places very close to here. When you think about it, it is only a cheezy tribute to a cancelled TV show... if you love Cheers, buy the series on DVD, and have a meal somewhere else.

Anna B.

Over the years I have taken many tourists here for average meals - they get to take pictures and say they were here. I expect little from touristy places and this is as touristy as it gets. But the food used to be edible! Tonight I took 5 tourists to Cheers and wish I hadn't. My burger tasted like greasy cardboard and 2 people said the fish and chips were "disgusting". The only thing people liked was the lobster-artichoke dip which was so small it was gone with, like, 10 chips. We were left with a massive pile of chips and no dip for them. If you must go to Cheers my recommendation would be to have a beer, take your pictures and leave.

Nhan T.

it is what it is. it's touristy, its crowded. waitress was attentive if a bit short, though it didn't seem terribly busy a saturday afternoon/early evening. even so, we didnt have a wait for our party of two. got the chowder, which was good, and the calamari, which was okay. beers were good. picked up a mug as a cheesy souvenier, because why not? although the server never mentioned to us that it's cheaper if you buy a drink, so i almost wound up paying $9.50 instead of $6, but luckily my bf saw a sign that advertised the cheaper price.

Antonio A.

The first time I went to Boston (now that I think of it, it was also the only time I've been there), I just HAD to stop by Cheers and see what was up! When I first spotted the famous awning outside, I thought, COOOOOOOOOOOOL and immediately began snapping pics, enough to make even the most hardcore Japanese tourist proud! This all took me back to my childhood of watching Cheers on TV, with my favorites, Sam Malone, Norm, and Woody! Made me remember how much I used to hate that annoying beyatch Diane too! However, when we sat inside and ordered up our food, I realized that it was nothing more than Boston's own version of TGI Friday's... which, is okay I guess, since I wasn't expecting awesome food or anything. The food was ok, nothing mind blowing... expect typical stuff like buffalo wings, burgers, n stuff like that. I think the reason why most people would go here anyway is just to say you've been there. I know that's the reason I did.

Vik S.

Ok, Ok, I dragged my California-born ass to Cheers to see what is was all about. Great show, medicore bar. At least my souveniers will make my family happy, as this was one of my father's favorite shows. Its tiny!!!!

Pam W.

We came here because we read about it. There is really no where to park if you are from out of town.. We parked a mile away and walked. Dont go here for the food.,we had a bowl of clam chowder and a Ruben sandwich, which we shared both. Let's just say I could have put a cup of 1/2 and 1/2 in the bowl with some clams and cube potatoes and UT would come tasting just like theirs. Ruben sandwich was ok the meat a little chewy for my taste... The atmosphere is why you would go and the waiter was friendly..

Marc C.

stop for what it's for... a place for Cheers fan wich i am. i stopped to get a couple of beers at the bar, took some pictures, bought 2 souvenirs and that's it!!! and for a tourist place the prices did not seem exagerated

Dan L.

God damn tourist trap. I am giving this place 2 stars for 2 reasons. Reason one. The outside of the building is the only thing common with the TV show. Reason 2. They have booze. Nothing about the inside resembles the show, so it's majorly disappointing. It's one of those places to go just to say I went, but other than that, don't waste your time.

Kyle D.

Go where everyone know your name. I like the appetizers here, including the mozzarella sticks.

Melissa B.

It's touristy but that's what you expect at the bar where everybody knows your na-ame. bum bum bum bum. It was a good pit-stop after a day of touristy stuff. I enjoyed having my first Sam Adams Seasonale. Why isn't that stuff more commonplace especially around Boston? The cup of chowder, I have to admit was pretty damn good. Me likey. Fried tasting platter, fried well. Unfortunately I didn't get a chance to try their bloody mary's which apparently won an award. For me, I expected it to be crawling with tourists and it wasn't at all. Pleasant surprise all around with the food, cheap beer and nice tender at the bar. Cheers you have my vote!

Kathleen A.

I didn't think my experience was bad at all.. Good burger. Tasty fries. Decent clam chowder. Beer on tap. Good service. Unexpectedly short wait. I was happy. Sure, there is probably some hole-in-the-wall in Boston that has cheaper and better burgers, but, it's a fun spot to visit, especially if you have just moved to Boston (me), or if you have visitors, regardless of whether or not they were a fan of the show. Cool beer mugs!

Christopher N.

How did I miss this one? I went some time ago. I remember watching Cheers each night before bed as a kid. Visiting the actual bar was symbolic of sorts. The place is sort of a Boston passage to the past. We had a beer and some appetizers. The food was typical "bar food". Greasy! Not my style. Nonetheless, it had to be done. Won't be back, but glad I went.

megan f.

Very tourtisty. Not what I was expecting but it's Cheers so I had to give it at least 3 stars

Liz K.

You go here if you're a tourist or hosting tourists. We went for lunch at 2pm on a Saturday and still had to wait 35 minutes. The food and drinks arent that much to make the trip for, just the concept that you're going to Cheers.

Gabrielle P.

VERY touristy. We grabbed a few (overly priced) beers and were not impressed with the menu. We really just came here to say that we had a beer there and to take a few pictures. It really wasn't anything special.

Andy H.

People (mostly tourist) will go to Cheers for the sake of going. Just go, order your burger, fries, and beer, then perhaps grab a nice Cheers mug on your way out. Once you're outside, stretch out your arms and take a nice stroll through Boston Common. Don't worry, if a homeless person approaches you in the park, tell him/her that you just came from Cheers. Food: sucks. Atmosphere: whatever.

Ed M.

Cheers is truly a friendly place and I suspect that if you go often enough everybody knows your name. We stopped there for drinks while in Boston for a wedding. We had a light lunch while we were at it. The food is OK. The atmosphere is what this place is all about. Drinks are a bit on the pricey side but it is Boston. It's certainly worth a visit.

Toni D.

Tourist spot. Food wasn't that great. A little over priced bar food.

Sara S.

Whatever. This place is fine. While it's really for the tourists, I used to go here quite often for a quick, casual meal in Beacon Hill. It's all pub grub food and average; chicken fingers, fries, nachos, and grilled chicken sandwich are all decent. Nothing on the menu is a standout at all; but I guess if you're Cheers, you could potentially serve crap and it wouldn't matter. Prices are one thing it has going for it, as it's one of the few touristy places that's not completely overpriced.

Ameer N.

it felt like TGIF took over the old cheers joint but kept the sign out front. i stopped in and had myself a coors light. this experience was just not as cool as i thought it would be.

andy m.

Went there on a Thursday night around 10pm., could not sit at a table and have a drink. No one came in to sit at a table after that. This place is a joke. We had to crowd around the bar to have a drink and the table sat empty. A very poor way to treat customers.

Mike J.

cool for a photo or too but a waste of time, way too crowded

Annie P.

What did all of these reviewers that gave terrible ratings expect? This is a touristy place, not your local neighborhood pub. I love this place! We come here every year when in town for the marathon. Love the location-- right across from the Boston Common and in the cutest neighborhood ever. It's a bar. They have normal drinks and a good atmosphere. The staff we encountered seemed very friendly and ready to talk Boston sports-- or trash talk the sports of your home town. It may be a cheesy, touristy place, but I have to visit every time I come to Boston.

RJ M.

The place is pretty small so don't even think that the inside looks like the "Cheers" you normally saw on television. It's definitely a tourist place. While the service good the food was just okay. We just had appetizers, a pie and a bowl of clam chowder. I thought that for a tourist spot it should of had decent chowder, but I've had better from a can. Next time I'd come by again for a drink and a light snack, but not to eat a full meal.

Only really worth going for Novelty value alone as the food and drink are massively over-priced for the quality and the service isn't particularly friendly. Gets really REALLY busy so expect some queues especially if it's raining!

Kat L.

Nice wait staff and decent beers on tap. Worst salad ever (brown iceberg lettuce, limp veggies) and way overpriced! Tourist trap for sure. Would not recommend. Both my husband and I were not feeling so hot the next day. I want the $30 we spent on a garden salad, sandwich (with chips only) and a beer back!

Francesca R.

I went here upon the insistence of some out-of-town guests. If it weren't so overpriced, I think I would give it three stars. The burgers were good, the atmosphere was pretty fun, the service was surprisingly decent given that this place is patronized solely by tourists. But because it's Cheers, the prices are cranked up, which is just lame. So I won't ever be back, even if someone insists. Just take a picture of the sign and go a few blocks over to the much better 21st Amendment for your burgers.

David H.

You have to eat at the original cheers! Don't go to the fake one! Burgers were great and souvenir mug was awesome!

Erin M.

I really wish that they had kept the original name on the bar of the Bull and Finch. I think that would have given it a bit more character. But, the owners didn't do that, and Cheers is a place on Beacon Hill that looks nothing like the TV set bar that we all remember. Instead, the Beacon Hill Bar is actually a nice bar in its own right. It is quaint and cozy, and has a great staff. But on the flip side, it is also a tourist trap where beers run $7 each, and the food is just so-so. If we had visited during the high tourist season, I would have just hit the door and not bothered, but we visited during a relatively low point in the tourist traffic. We ended up visiting twice as both my husband and I really enjoyed walking around the Public Gardens and the Boston Common. On our first visit, we had two pints of the New Hampshire Brown Ale on the guest tap along with food to split in the form of an order of potato skins, a bowl of clam chowder, and a side salad. It was good and basic bar food, but in no way was it worth over $50 for all of that. On our second visit, we just stuck with the beer, and that ran us $28 for two beers a piece. Cheers is great to just see and visit, but I would not waste too much time there if there was a crowd, as then it goes from quaint and cozy to just a plain old tourist trap.

Justin H.

I stumbled upon this Cheers scene while walking through Public Garden. Bull and Finch bar would not survive had it not been for the TV show choosing Bull and Finch to be the establishing shot. Way too touristy and no chance in hell anyone is going to know your name. This place will live on forever due to a camera angle, a TV show and a gift shop.

Elizabeth K.

Look, this IS a tourist spot, just know that going in. It IS however, a really fun little tourist spot. Obviously cool for anyone who loved the show, BUT, I thought the food was really good! We were lucky and were there when they had 1/2 price appetizers so we shared nachos and wings that were only $5 each. Wings were "ok" but the nachos were massive piles of cheesy goodness. We also shared a crock of mac and cheese with a house salad and again, quite good, especially for the price. Staff was super friendly, food was fairly priced and suprisingly good, definitly a fun little spot to grab lunch or dinner!

Where everybody knows your na-a-ame. Well no-one knew my name but I did get recognised from being at Harvard that morning by someoneso who knows there may be something in it. Absolutely packed! But fair enough, it's kinda a Boston Institution. As we where only there for a drink we had to sit at the bar, tables where for food only. Which in itself was a bit sad as it is supposed to be a bar. But that said if they can cash in on the name and make a profit from selling food they're going to arn't they. Still nice to have a drink and watch a bit of baseball and to come home and say you've been. Of course you've got to go.

Bryanne R.

Total tourist place, and again I took my parents here for some pictures and drinks at the bar. Friendly bartenders, fun atmosphere, and nice bar mates to chat with. The business card holder above the bar is pretty cool to see where everyone has come from to visit. Also, if you get a drink at the bar you can buy a mug for cheaper than at the souvenir shop. It's a great place to go and take care of any lingering tourist cheese you might have.

Jake D.

Cool but nothing special

R V.

I suppose you've probably gotta do it at least once, whether you're a local or a tourist. Be ready for a headache; it can get VERY busy in there. In the end, I'm not sure how worth visiting it is.

Katia M.

Had never been, but friend in town wanted to buy some Cheers glasses so I ended up going here for lunch. Not impressed with the food, and it was full of tourists. Plus eleven bucks for a subpar chicken sandwich and fries seems a bit steep. My first and last time there!

Matt M.

When you get put on the waiting list and they ask you your name.....don't tell them that your name is Norm, they don't like that. I should have known better than too be funny by telling a joke that a person hears about 100 times a day. The food was ok and the beer was better. If you go, go for the experience of being at Cheers and don't expect everyone to know your name.....that's just silly.

Alysaun K.

I haven't watched the show, so it didn't mean much to me to come here- But the look on my boyfriend's face when we ate at Cheers was like a kid in a candy shop!! We had beers at 11:30 in the morning, and we got the keepsake mugs for $8 or something like that (including the beer to fill it!) I figured we would just keep the mug we drank out of, but they got us brand new ones to take home and even bubble wrapped it for us. The food was ok, not bad not super good, normal bar food. But my boyfriend swore it was THE BEST clam chowder in Boston. And he ate clam chowder every single restaurant we went to, including the Union Oyster House, so I consider him an expert. The waiters were super friendly. Really attentive and speedy. I asked if they could play the Cheers theme song and they laughed at me and said they would die if they had to hear that song all day. It was pretty funny. We got there before the lunch rush at 11:30...at noon or so, people started POURING in through the door, so maybe go a lil early like we did.

A P.

I've been to this Cheers twice with visiting friends who wanted to do the "tourist" thing, and once to the one in Faneuil Hall with my parents who wanted a quick, generic dinner. It's been three times too many! This place is a complete tourist trap. The food is definitely generic- not bad, but nothing special, either, and completely overpriced. For a bar, their beer selection is absolutely pathetic, and they don't put prices on their alcoholic drink menu, so the bill can lead to some surprises. Don't fall for the novelty glasses, they add about $10 to the price of your drink! My main complaint is the service. Both times I went to this location, the service was horrible. The sodas were warm because they don't put in enough ice to keep the soda cool, or there wasn't enough ketchup at the table and no one brought more when we asked, or the bill was calculated incorrectly, or we got the wrong receipt, or the wait staff kept bothering us. The first time I went, it was a Saturday at the height of Tourist Season, so it was understandable that the waitresses were a little harried and wanted to rush us out as quickly as possible. The second time, it was a cold, rainy Wednesday night, and the place was absolutely empty, yet our waiter wouldn't leave us alone and rushed our check to us. He visibly eavesdropped on our conversation several times, commenting on how "awkward" some of the things we'd said were. There was no line, no crowd, and therefore no reason to rush us out so quickly. Basically, if you go to Cheers, you're paying to go to a crappy pub-style restaurant with mediocre food that's named after characters from a 30-year-old TV show, and that tries to get you to buy overpriced souvenirs from a 30-year-old TV show. I don't get why anyone would want to do that in the first place, but if you get that urge, ignore it and find somewhere better to go.

Saman S.

A little touristy, and expensive... Good just to say you went there.

Dennis K.

This location has less of a tourist trap feel than the on at Fanual Hall and the atmosphere is certainly a lot better. I took refuge here during that disasterously arctic first night and so for their semi-hospitality i'm given it 2 stars instead of 1. However, if not for the "cheers" motiff this would be an average bar at best. The prices are definitely for tourists given the quality and quantity of the food. Also, who the hell living in the city would want to be coaxed in to buying a cheers mug? Yes, avoid this place as you would the tourists.

Ryan W.

I worked here for a while, so if you are headed there with out-of-towners (despite the admittedly poor food quality), here's a quick user's guide: 1) Get the straight-up burger, or if you're a vegetarian, get the veggie burger. They are the most legit things on the menu. Order a side salad or onion rings; the fries are like cardboard. 2) This is not the place to try all things Bostonian, i.e. seafood and clam chowder. They are soulless and they will only break your heart. 3) If you're still worried (and right you are), go on a Sunday: the Hampshire House, which is the building that houses Cheers, is actually an old and sumptuous mansion, and they serve a decadent brunch in the library upstairs, replete with lobster omelettes (albeit $23 ones) and a jazz quartet. The chef is the same one who manages the nearby gourmet restaurant 75 Chestnut. While it's true that NO real Bostonians frequent Cheers, a good many Beacon Hill Brahmins still sneak up to the library to relive days gone by when the pub WAS a neighborhood place and the Hampshire House was THE place for entertainment. They can do this because tourists don't know about it, but now you do. 5) If you do eat in the pub, do not ask your server/bartender/fellow drinkers "DO YOU KNOW MY NAME?" The staff are all college kids who suffer the irony of Cheers daily with a smile, but it's a statistical certainty that one of them is going to crack at the sound of that line someday, and it will be in all the papers. You don't want to be the one to send them over the edge, do you? 6) Also, if you must comment on the fact that the downstairs doesn't look the same as the show, try not to frame it as a problem statement. The Bullfinch pub, which has been around for decades, has a working kitchen that takes up most of the floor space, it's dark and it's located in the busiest area of Boston; you can't squash a live studio audience inside and you can't even park a Smartcar on that street, much less negotiate Boston traffic with the 20-odd vans and vehicles needed to film a TV show over the decade it was on air. So the studio execs who wanted to base a show on it made their own set. Moral of the story: television is not reality. 7) That said, chat up the bartenders if you can. They're all real characters, especially Eddie Doyle, now in his 60's; rumor has it that he was the one who convinced NBC scouts to use his pub for their muse all those years ago as he served them a pint. No one knows whether he was rewarded for making owner Tom Kershaw a multimillionaire, but he now spends most of his time managing the Cheers for Children charity fund and designing t-shirts. If you find him tending bar when you come in, you will be experiencing a piece of history. 8) If you or a loved one are going to buy a souvenir, go for the Cheers Bloody Mary mix. It's one of the cheapest things to buy, at about $5 a bottle, and it's tax-free. And as they really do make award-winning Bloody Mary mix, a fact around which an entire episode of the show revolves, and they really do serve it in the bar, it may be the only authentic thing inside.

liz d.

Very touristy, but I was one of them, so I can't really say much about that. Cool bar, took some pictures, drank some beer. Door staff funny and friendly, but man, is it hard to get your drink on in here. With like three bars in the whole place, it was still about 3 people deep at the bar. We did eventually throw back a few, shopped in the gift shop when buzzed (never a good idea), and grabbed some pub food. Great place to stop by and snap a few pics if you're in the 'hood.

Kristen L.

So, ok they weren't total assholes here so that has to count for something right? It's a tourist trap, people will take your picture heading in and the food is totally eh but yes, it's A-OK...

Maria L.

It was packed with drunken yuppies who didn't know my name.

Alison M.

Oh come on, it's not so bad! I mean, if I lived here, I'd never go here. The drinks are overpriced and frankly, the place looks nothing like the set once you're inside. But, still, it's kitchy and fun to say you went-- besides, where else are you going to be able to purchase a full set of Cheers Koozies?

Elisabeth T.

It's nice to go to place for the experience once in a while, but you would hope that they would have better food. Sure, the fries were pretty gosh darn good, but the rest of the meal was fairly lackluster. The good thing was that a bucket of miller was only $12. Not a bad deal for us. So I have my picture in front of the sign. Now I don't have to go back, and I probably wouldn't anyway.

Christine C.

My boyfriend and I stopped for a nightcap here purely for convienence. It happens to be halfway between the movie theater and his apartment. We walked in and it was FREEZING, I almost wanted to leave but it was so close and we weren't quite ready to go home so we stayed. There were about 8 people at the bar so we were able to grab a couple of seats to wait. Wait we did, the bar was unmanned for about 10 minutes and when the bartender finally did show his face he was rude and in a hurry. I ordered a dark and stormy which I know is a long shot but he was very rude about not having the ingredients. I opted for a G 'n T which was standard, as they all are. I must have had a severe allergy to something in the bar because my eyes were watering, my nose clogged up and sneezing like crazy! We decided to leave after the first drink and were out of there in about as much time as we waited.

Jennifer D.

Mediocre food, as you'd expect in a tourist attraction like the Cheer's Bar. I felt like I was at a restaurant at Disneyland or something. You are there to brag to your friends that you went to the Cheer's bar, but the food is nothing spectacular. I ordered some sort of sandwich with fries. It was pretty much what you'd expect out of a sandwich and fries.

Jess S.

What a tourist trap. Bogus.

Gino T.

I knew the facts going in. I know that it wasn't going to be what I saw on TV ( c'mon since when is everything on TV true?). Yup there were plenty of tourist, and why wouldn't there be, it's a tourist spot. With all that being said the food was OK, drinks OK, prices are tourist prices, not OK. I came here just to say that I went to Cheers, not because I'm into some weird Cheers role playing game. I wonder how many people come to Cheers for the specific reason that Eddie Doyle was the bartender! Or how many people really expect to see Sam Malone!?

Lance K.

They did'nt know my name.

Chris S.

Stopped in on a freezing winter Wednesday. There were a handful of people inside and a friendly bartender. The interior is not the Cheers from TV but if you use your imagination you can see the influence. All that together with a few beers makes for a fun time at the bar. I wouldn't go out of my way for the experience, and I definitely wouldn't go in the summer when you know it's swamped, but I'm glad I hit it up once.

Jennifer L.

Where absolutely no one knew my name. And a coworker tried to get a reaction by yelling "Norm!" as she walked in. When she was met with icy glares and rolled eyes, I gently reminded her that they may have heard that a time or two before. But COME ON people. You're Cheers for Chrissakes, of course people are gonna do that. You'd just be the Bull and Finch or whatever the hell the bar is also called without the fame from the tv show. The bartender was bland, the patrons were bland, and it's entirely too bright in there. It's a bar. It could easily be just a good bar if it didn't have the stigma of being "Cheers" I think. The back room (accessed through the Cheers gift shop, of course. Convenient if the larger gift shop upstairs in the Hampshire House has already closed.) was hosting karaoke and definitely seemed the place to be. The front room though was pretty lackluster. A coworker wondered how it could be so dead on a Friday night, and my only thought is it must be how Fisherman's Wharf in SF looks on a Friday night. Full of a few excited tourists and some embarrassed locals. It really could be a decent bar. Pity. As for us tourists, Wooooo! Norm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Daniel M.

Ok, in 2007 I took what I thought would be my first and last vacation, alone, to Boston MA(Unbeknownst to me what the future would lie ahead). After exiting the plane, hopping into a taxi, the first words from my mouth were "take me to Cheers!". Upon arrival at this establishment, thinking of the late nights chilling with my pops watching norm with his anecdotes relating to life in the beer lane, nostalgia swept in my gutteral as I sipped a sierra nevada while sitting on norm's chair......Later that week my patron for whom was so kind to house me for my stay went back and took a few down---if one goes to myspace, one will see our hands crossed over each other with the cheers stamp on em.....oh how i miss the place....it was not where the actual show was shot, but you know those pictures at the beginning credits of the show? ya thats it.!

Dave K.

Like most of the insanely attractive people in this world, the outside gets you excited but seeing what's inside is a letdown. Cheers was one of my favorite shows growing up, so it was a dream of mine to go to the Bull and Finch and take my requisite tourist picture in front of the facade. That's what it is, a facade. Once you go in, it feels like any other dilapidated bar with regulars, only it's also crowded with tourists trying to by some scintilla of evidence that they were there. Yeah that was me too, I bought a shaker, a towel, shot glasses, and something else completely useless that's now sitting in a box.

Brian K.

Let me preference this review by saying that if you are looking to walk into the set of Cheers, you may be disappointed. On a recent trip to Boston, I decided to check this place out. I mean you have to have a beer at Cheers right? I thought for such a tourist destination, that it was rather good. I had a couple beers and really enjoyed the ice cold mugs that they were served in. It made the beer taste so much better on a hot summer day. I tried the clam chowder and chicken fingers and both were good. They weren't amazing, but for bar food I really enjoyed them. The chowder was tasty and the chicken fingers were nice and breaded and crispy. Don't go in with high hopes of a fancy meal and you won't leave disappointed. I would still recommend checking it out and having a beer or two!

Jim C.

While in B town hit Cheer's for some beer and Nachos.....whats to say except for nice atmosphere and good beer made for an excellent "CHEERS" experience. Only exception though, everyone didn't know my name.

Nashvile S.

Wow I've never been to a multilevel Applebee's before! Every time I have frequented my neighborhood Applebee's no one required the id check handstamp at the door, so I figured I was in for a real treat. I took my seat at the "set"(?idk) bar as sixpence none the richer started playing. at this point I am 100% sure either the 30 something bartender with suboptimal scruff had accidentally shuffled his aunt's spotify account, when it struck me, "this truly phenom this applebee's themester has thought of everything." For sure this Applebee's is a 2000s retrothrowback themed restaurant. But the food looks 2x worse than yr average apps and it's way too well lit. I know I know, everyone wants to look at their date slip into drunken oblivion betwixt mismatched decor in fluorescent lights, but I guess I'm not everyone :/

John Paul N.

My wife and I visited Boston for the day a couple of years ago, and we ended up stopping by here for an afternoon beer and burgers. Yes, it is a bit of a tourist trap, and, while the exterior is used for the beloved television show, the interior is much, much smaller and underwhelming. The beer selection was serviceable but not great, and the burgers were not very memorable. However, it was a treat buying his and her souvenir beer mugs with the Cheers logo. To this day, I often use the beer mug, and it reminds me of our wonderful visit to Boston. For tourists, I recommend not planning the day around your visit here. Rather, stop by for an hour, have a beer or two, buy a souvenir, and walk across the street to Boston Common for a nice leisurely stroll.

FD F.

Wow. What stood out to me is how cold the beer is. It's exceptionally cold. Jessica is the best bar tender. She is courteous, friendly and positive and enjoys her job.

N.j. C.

0 out of 10. Don't waste your time! When guests fly out for a weekend and they want some nostalgia I steer clear of Cheers! I've been forced to go three or four times now. It is filthy! Dirty! Flies are circling your drinks. Cobwebs are everywhere. There are burnt out light bulbs and tattered raggedy seats. The walls are covered with dirt and finger prints and old food. I would give this place zero stars but nothing higher.

Amy R.

We came here for drinks and happened to score a seat at the downstairs bar. The bartender was named Bradi and she was great! She was so helpful with recommendations on where to eat and things to do. The gift shop is a little pricy for sure, but that was a little expected. Make sure to check out upstairs if you want some cool pictures!!!!!! We left not knowing everyone's name, but we had a great time!!!

O G.

after living under a rock for the last 31 years. i finally made the trip to cheers. the irony or main reason why i made the trip was due to being addicted to the show that is now available on netflix. it's a simple bar with simple food and i was happy with my trip. ended up buying the beer mug for $7 as a souvenir. it was good time and def will visit again

Brennon H.

The place was neat. Worth checking out but it was crowded and the bar tender upstairs was rude. He acted like everyone was bothering him. If you're going to be pretentious than don't work at a tourist bar! I didn't catch his name but he worked 5/31/14 around 3:30

Matt J.

Service good, food average, prices way too high. The place is cool and really touristy. I can now say I was there, but not going back. Why? when there are so many outstanding places to eat and drink in Boston. Nobody new my name and I didn't see Norm.

Teresa B.

When I see so many mediocre reviews for Cheers, I wonder what the expectation level was. Seriously, was Norm supposed to be planted at the bar expounding philosophical thoughts with Fraiser and Cliff Claven? Give credit where credit is due... 5 stars for the prompt service that guided us to the privy upstairs. 5 stars for the attentive waitstaff that has to deal with us tourists. 4 stars for the food, which is no worse than any Hard Rock Cafe or House of Blues. There really is a jovial ambiance of everyone taking pictures of the iconic experience. You have to visit Cheers just to say you did. Here's my favorite Cliff quote: (Cliff: Ehh. Well, I got the answer.) (Frasier: Somehow I knew you would.) Comfortable shoes. (Frasier: Shoes?) Yeah. If you're not wearing comfortable shoes, life is just chaos. I mean the greatest accomplishments in history have been made by men wearing accommodating shoes. Uh, Frasier, tell me, who do you think is the greatest thinker in all mankind? (Frasier: I don't know, uh, Aristotle.) There you go: sandals. Perhaps the most comfortable shoe there is. You hardly even know you have them on. I mean Confucius: thongs. Einstein: loose loafers. I say flip-flops and Cheers!

Gladys M.

I got lost in the Bar. No one new my name. This is bullshit.

Alexis S.

Come for the nostalgia not the service. It's really cool to come to the place that inspired such a great and classic show as Cheers. However the level of service I received from my server was beyond atrocious. Communication skills were poor. I had to call her over multiple times to get our whole tables orders in. It's a real shame this restaurant has chosen speed/quantity over quality. Not to mention, the chowder was just broth, the mozzarella sticks cheese was hard and the wings were over cooked and cold. I will say the only reason this is not a 1 star review is that the manager, Billy, made an avid attempt to rectify the situation by offering us free Cheers mugs. Thank you Billy.

Katie C.

This is not a particular establishment as I would frequent since it is known as a tourist-trap and getting in the door consists of trying to get through a crowd of people taking their pictures in front of the "Cheers" sign near the entrance. At any rate, my alumni association had an alumni social here and being a better alumnus than I was a student, I ventured to Cheers. On this particular evening, it was raining/sleeting/snowing outside and the steps to the downstairs bar were not treated at all. That's a lawsuit waiting to happen. The stairs are steep and unforgiving! Anyhoo... once I was in the bar, the gatekeeper, errrr... hostess, practically interrogated me as to why I was there the second I crossed through the threshold of icy weather to a warm bar. I explained to her that I was to meet my alumni group and she quickly responded back with, "They're not here yet." Yeah, no shit. She didn't even let me finish with, "I'm early." I sat at the bar for a drink while I waited for the group. The beers themselves are pretty average priced for Boston, let alone a tourist trap. The two Miller Lite drafts (served in a quintessential Cheers pint) were $11-something after tax. The bartender was nice and totally didn't mind that I was only there for a beer or two and not for dinner and drinks. Plus, the coat hooks were behind the bar on the wall which meant you didn't have to drape your wet coat on the back of your chair!! When our group finally arrived, we were hustled to the back dining room like cattle and seated in the corner. It was like we were in time-out. There were several appetizers provided and we were responsible for drinks (totally cool, though. This would have been the first thing my school ever did to repay me back). The service was quick. There were a few other tables in the area and once they cashed out their checks, our server was quick to tell us that they would be closing down the dining room and that we could cash out our tabs now. Want to get people not only out of your restaurant for the night, but for good? Do exactly what was mentioned above. I understand that you might want to get home, but we were ready to tip and to tip well at that. Not after that move. I left a standard 15% tip and vowed to never go back. We might have been one table, but we were drinking and spending money. Telling us to cash out our tabs did exactly that ... we cashed out and didn't spend a dime more.

Adrienne M.

The food was okay. Our favorite was actually the fish and chips. The batter was cooked well and the fish had a lot of flavor. The service was eh... okay. Nothing spectacular. Everyone was busy with other thing and there wans't really any one person waiting on tables. It was a super fun historical trip.

Lee D.

Just finished lunch. Cheers seems like a fun place. Just don't like waitstaff that makes you feel like they are doing you a favor Food not bad but also not great. Fun place for a drink and visit with friends. Btw 85% say it's a mug

Edward H.

I was excited to eat here being a super fan of the show. The service was horrible. The staff here should all be removed as this is not the job for them. We got a table and had to wait over 15 mins to get a drink order. The food was ok, we just had burgers. Our waitress had a terrible attitude. The only reason this place probably survives is due to the cheers TV show . As a tavern, it's terrible!

Jeremy S.

Love the burger. It was cooked good and really large portions. The beer was tasty and the staff was quick on getting to us. The gift shop was kind of pricy and the other (set build bar) was closed to the public.

Andria T.

I still think it's weird that I've been to this place, but I'll try anything once. It has the awning from the show Cheers outside, but the bar itself isn't like the set from the tv show. There's a gift shop and a bunch of cardboard cutouts of the cast all around the lobby, and the full color Diane cutout scared the crap out of me when I was leaving the Ladies Room. The beer selection is decent, and the service is ok. We just had drinks, so I can't speak to the food at all. Strangely, this place felt more aggressively touristy that any other place in Boston I've visited, but maybe that's because it's confined and not an historical site. Either way, it was kind of an odd choice, but now I can say I've been there. There were two asshole kids hanging out outside who offered to take our picture and then taunted us for refusing, but that was the most eventful thing that happened.

Greg B.

Worth it if you've never been there and are/were a fan of the show.

Mark S.

Four stars for being the inspiration for Cheers. I mean really, how many people have made the joke entering here about one's name being called out like Norm's. Two stars for the food. It really is bland and Dennysesque. I didn't even finish mine, but of course I was spoiled as the entire New England area has some excellent places. But for having a cold beer in the place that started the classic show I've watched many an episode of, it's a good solid three. If you go, skip the entree, have a beer and enjoy some appetizers.

Joleen D.

This place sucked ass the service sucked the food sucked it's drink selection sucked. Sheer disappointment.

Chris B.

Another one of those things you sort of have to do on a trip to Boston. I was surprised though that it really wasn't as touristy as I expected. We sat up at the bar and made friends with the bartender. The drinks were cold as they should be, and the prices weren't as expensive as I thought they'd be. Cozy little place!

Brittney G.

Small, connected to hotel. Inspiration for the show location and has a shop to get all your Cheers mugs, shirts, hats, etc. Nothing all that special except you get to say you went to Cheers. Located right across from the garden, which is nice because you can go grab a beer and some snacks then walk around. Nearby the T which is also nice. Good location, but otherwise just a regular bar.

Rasien I.

"Where every body knows your name..." ((Okay, so I had to throw that cheesy line in.)) I had to come here knowing full well that this place is a tourist trap. After all, I was a tourist in Boston. After a little research, its only the facade of the building that was filmed for TV. Inside its actually a tiny bar, dark and dingy, with giant flat screens on either side. The menu was filled with touristy cheers items such as the Norm Burger or Carla's Italian sub...The food and beer was average. The service was quick but lackluster and at times a bit rude. Go. Stop in. Have a beer. Take a few pictures. Get out.

Bruce K.

A let down as far as the Cheers portion goes. Sure, it has all the exterior that we've come to know and love form watching the great TV show but on the inside it looked nothing like the bar. Plenty of opportunities to buy all the overpriced tshirts and other baubles that you would expect. As far as the bar goes, I had a beer before starting to make my purchase and thought happy thoughts about Norm and Woody and Sam and the rest of the gang. Meh.

Samuel C.

I couldn't help get a lil teary eyed!! I pretended to be norm. for a split second. It's definitely worth the trip. Especially if you remember the show. I'll admit it's a bit different and super touristy but... I liked it!

Zack H.

My friend whose one of the biggest Cheers fans took me here during a visit in Boston. While Cheers is definitely one of the greatest American television shows of all time I can't say this replica bar instilled that same greatness. It's definitely worth going to visit, getting a Cheers pin, maybe testing your Cheers trivia, taking some photos and maybe having one beer. The bar was clean and the waiting staff were really friendly and nice. I ordered an imperial pint of Harpoon IPA and it cost $7 which was a bit steep for a beer (hence why I recommended having maybe just one beer).

Analisa S.

I can't believe I've been to Cheers 5 or so times and still haven't reviewed that. Yes its touristy. No, I've never watched Cheers. But it is so so cool. They have a downstairs dining area and then the upstairs which looks like the set of Cheers. The bartenders have always been nothing but friendly (no matter how slammed they get) that I have to give them a stellar review. Plus I have a soft spot for Woody Harrelson and there's a 7 foot photo of him (and some other people, I think there were on the show?) upon entering the second floor.

Corey L.

So I've lived in Boston for a few years and ppl talk all kinds of crap about this place. Mostly that it's crazy expensive and the food is awful - only for the tourists. I disagree. It's definitely for tourists, but the food was decent (not great mind you, but I wasn't disappointed), and the prices were totally reasonable. And I bought a mug - I've shopped for glassware and these mugs are a decent price ignoring the fact that they have Cheers on them. I'm always looking for cheap good-sized mugs, so that worked out well for everyone. And my date was pretty and smiled a lot, so that's good.

Kimberley T.

I had not been here for a donkeys age, but happened to be attending a wedding in the venue upstairs recently and had to stop in. Our one goal in attending this wedding was to steal the groom away for a Guinness toast, we were so successful that we also stole the bride and remaining wedding party away too. They fabulously accommodated our Guinness toast wedding party (you know it takes a spell to poor ten Guinness, right?) and the blonde, female bartender was ever so patient with us. Whilst we waited, some lovely tourists did tequila shots with the bride and groom! When I lived in Boston, Cheers was always on the must do list for visitors.

Joey G.

I absolutely insist everyone get the New England Clam Chowder here!! The bowl feeds 2 people.. its delicious!!

Jonathan A.

Meh. Tourist Trap. No real reason to go here. Just walk by to see the sign. Other than that its a waste of time.

Audrea Rachelle G.

I would only ever go here because of the show - obviously. I didn't like the beer selection & the place was a bit dark & dingy - but it was fun to experience & the cheers beer mugs are a great weight!

Jose Miguel S.

I really liked and enjoyed the simple fact of being there and see all that picture of such a famous show.. Not so overpriced just because of being a famous place from a tv show. The food is the classic American with burgers, wings...and some north touch like clam chowder. It's an average U.S. Bar.

Liz R.

'Going to Cheers' was Ken's only wish for our Boston vacation, and the rest was up to me. I expected this place to be a tourist trap, and it is. The outside is the TV show, and Ken HAD to have his picture taken by the sign (tourist)... the inside, hmm, not so much (they have a replica of the actual bar, with the same menu, at Faneuil Hall). We got in just before the rush, snagging two seats at the bar. Thank goodness because there's really no place to stand and wait for seating. Tigh quarters all around. The beer selection was decent, not woohoo great. The menu is fair sized. Prices are high. $10 bowl of chowder, $8 mug o' Boston baked beans. Our bill, before tip and including two $6 souvenir Cheers mugs, was $60. Steep for two beers, soup, beans, two mugs and one burger. At least I thought so. Especially since the food was just alright. Cheers merchandise explosion in the couple of stores in the building. Fun to look at.

Ashleigh M.

If you are a tourist and you're looking to enjoy a little fun history in Boston and good food and beer then you must head to Cheers. Trust me it will be worth your visit. It's a great experience and it's not too far from the freedom trail and believe it or not it's a true flashback restaurant. A replica of the actually sitcom. Trust me it's a must see with reasonable priced gift shop items.

Leslie G.

A tourist attraction, but not a trap! They have a few craft beers on tap - I had a blueberry beer from a brewery I can't remember. If it is there when you go, get it, it is super good. Like drinking a light beer while smelling a blueberry pie. Prices are normal - not a touristy rip off. I think the beers were all around $5/pint. They have bar food that looked and smelled good, but we just had a beer. Service was quick and friendly. Minus one star because not everyone there knew my name - in fact, no one did. (Kidding!)

Johanna P.

Got our picture next to the sign and enjoyed some good bar food and atmosphere. Very busy, suggest getting there early, happy hour deals are good! Nachos were amazing :)

Elizabeth M.

I came here back when Cheers was still on the air and it was so packed that you were basically herded through like cattle and awww gee wiz you're in the gift shop buying $30 t-shirts. Fast forward to 2015. My bf has never been to Boston so obviously you have to go to Cheers, right? Just to get a picture and say you went. The host - Maybe it's because I'm a bitch New Yorker but I came really close to asking the dude if he actually talked like that or was just trying to lay it on extra thick for the full tourist Bahhhhhston experience. The place in general - It's 2015. Nobody cares anymore. The place was practically empty on a Saturday afternoon. I think it's time to give it up. It was mostly just sad to watch. The food - Cant say because I'm not stupid enough to order food from a tourist trap. Drinks - 1) We got a round of Cold Snap. Sucked. 2) He got banged out for a Miller Light and I got a Blue Moon. Blue Moon was nasty. Who knows what kind of crap they were serving or when the last time anything was cleaned. Then I remembered you can't always trust taps. They can say anything and who knows what keg it's hooked up to. I was trying to watch the hockey game so I didn't want to leave but they didn't even have Captain Morgan. How the efffffffffffffff do you not have the captain???? I came close to ordering premium vodka and club and scanned the bottles and said to myself, this place sucks and probably filled the bottles with cheap sh-t and I'm not even going to bother. We stood up to put on our coats and this chick at the bar was asking me if I'm from here because she liked my hair color. That cracked me up. Yeah I'm from Boston and I spend my weekends hanging out in a tourist trap, you idiot. The "set bar" - Even the set bar was BS. The room looked nothing like the set except for the fact that it had a mini center island bar. Tips*** Walk by the front and get your picture taken and go.

Daniel F.

I walk though the door hoping that someone knew my name. My entire time here, not one bartender or staff tried to talk to me or anyone sitting by the bar. I sat there and I decided to look up the history to this place on my phone, and found out that Eddie Doyle was laid off. He was there before the show even started, just shows how this pub operates now. Went to the gift shop section because I wanted to grab something home for me and some friends. Walked out paying close to 25 dollars for 4 shotglasses. Quite Sad... And like everyone else on yelp... yes its a tourist trap

Theo J.

I used to watch Cheers all the time so coming to this restaurant made me feel nostalgic. This inside is a replica of the set, but they actually used the outside in the TV show. It was a hot day so my friend and I ordered a beer each along with lunch. They served it in the cheers mugs and you can purchase one to take home, but we didn't. We sat at the bar, well the whole place is pretty much a bar and it isn't big. I ordered boston baked beans and the fenway hot dogs and my friend had a hamburger with fries. The food was good. No complaints at all. If you are in the area, you should stop in, at least for a drink. Don't forget to take come pictures outside and check out the souvenir shop. The bartender was friendly and the service was quick. We were in and out in a matter of time and back to exploring the city with our stomachs full and happy.

Linda V.

The worse service I have ever experienced! The waitress spilled a wine on our table (barely saying sorry), had an attitude and wouldn't smile for the whole time! In the end, we decided not to stay for dinner and asked for a bill. The waitress then asked us to leave the table even before finishing our last drink because she was having another party arriving?! It was absolutely unprofessional and rude. It was a huge disappointment and it spoiled our evening. These guys know that most visitors are tourists and wont probably come back anyway, so they don't even try. Go only if you really have to see the place (and only for drinks).

Stephen G.

We walked in to get a table and what was their first mistake? Asking me my name!! They should know it dammit, because that's what they promise. The replica Cheers bar is up a pair of staircases away from the "Bull & Finch" bar the show was originally based on (and the frontage of which features in the opening montage) Take away the Cheers branding and this would be just like hundreds of other average sports bar littered across Boston. They've tried to jazz everything up by naming the menu items after the show's characters (no sign however of "Norm's Obesity Burger") and offer a decent selection of beers... but it's all decidedly ordinary. I ordered the fish & chips, my wife had the Happy Hour half-price nachos. Everything was merely "OK", nothing special and certainly not worth the premium you pay for the privilege of sitting in what amounts to a fake film set. If you're a big fan there's an adjacent gift shop - almost a big as the bar - where you can buy a whole slew of imported tat with the "Cheers" logo on it, and a bunch of memorabilia to coo over. My advice would be to have your photo taken outside the building, buy some of the ephemera if you really want it and then go and eat and/or drink somewhere else. This is kinda tourist trappy crappy.

Kristen C.

Staff sucks- foods ehhh and overpriced-but its a staple,

Andrea C.

Total dump! What a disappointment. Went here on a date. What a mistake! Neither of us had been before, so we played tourist in our own town. There was a dirty band-aid under the table and the bench I sat in was covered in crumbs. Not to mention the crap on the walls is dirty and could use a good cleaning. I would never go back to this dive. So embarrassed I recommended it for a date.

Jean Z.

Totally yummy, great service, great location, cool tourista crowd! The price is right, portions are perfect, and the store has really cute things! A must in Boston.

Sarah R.

I'm a huge fan of Cheers so I made my family eat here. It was small and cozy. The staff was great and fast. The bathroom sucks but I just chalk it up to old city life. They have a gift shop upstairs which is pretty cool.

Amanda J.

Tourist trap! I honestly don't know what we were expecting coming here besides the fact that it would be a tourist trap so there really shouldn't have been any suprises. We walked there and figured we would be able to get something to eat. The food was of such greasy bar selection though that we decided against it. Be prepared to show your ID at the door and get your hand stamped...even at 3pm! Two beers later we were in a pedi-cab flying back to our hotel!

Elizabeth M.

Not sure why people haven't written better things about this place. (no, they didn't know my name lol) Was on the Freedom Trail and got sidetracked and walked over half a mile to get to this place. Got there 11am on a Saturday, got lobster artichoke cheese dip with chips - was excellent. Beer was good. Local beers on tap. Good service. Kinda expensive but cool to experience. They also have a 'set bar' and giftshop. Be sure to take a look around!

Deborah M.

$70 later, including tip, we three strolled out of this friendly place saying....huh? $9 for a cup of (good) chowder seems a bit much. $6.50 for beer. Little burger plate had good fries, but nothing to write home about. Naked burger plate was the best of the lot, with a really good medium rare naked burger and a delicious caesar salad side. But!!! the steak and cheese was wretched. Gristly beef bits and unmelted American cheese slices straight out of the cellophane. Do yourself a favor and check this place out, then order the t-shirt at the gift shop and get lunch elsewhere. (Wait staff was great, very efficient and friendly.)

Kate F.

Its like Chilis, but Cheers. They were also playing an Arcade Fire track, officially signifying that band's uncoolness. This show hasn't been on the air since 93 ... I'm sure most people under the age of 16 have never seen it. How many more years can TV nostalgia keep this place open?

Melvin C.

"Where everybody knows your name." Not really, no one knew my name at this bar, but I still had a blast. After reading some reviews, some people mentioned that this place is small, but from the bars I've been to in Boston; every bar is like that so get over it. It is true, if you are a fan of the show, then stop by and have a beer and enjoy the fact that you are having a beer at Cheers. If not, then go to any other around this great city. The service was great and the bartender was friendly. The choices weren't that great, but heck, I was drinking at cheer!!! What more can I ask for, then to have a brew a great place. Maybe if I live here, the people will remember my name... or not. There are two parts to this place from what I remember. There is a bar located downstairs, where you have to take the steps down to enter the bar, just like the TV show. This bar isn't that big, but you can get everything you need at a bar in this place. Food, beer... well that's pretty much all you need at a bar. They have another bar which is located above that is made to look like the actual set and a gift shop. In order to sit (not at the bar) you need to place your name downstairs. The food at this place is pretty good bar food. If you are expecting great food, then a bar is not a place you are looking for. Stop by and have a beer at Cheers!!!! This place gets four stars because of the friendly service and overall a great atmosphere. Plus, then you can now say that you had a beer at Cheers!!!

Jenna A.

My mom said, "Please get pictures of Boston and go to Cheers!" I didn't dine here but I got a picture outside and one with a cardboard Shelley Long, a mug for my mom and a magnet for my boyfriend. I'm glad I stopped by. The park across the street is magnificent! Little tip: I hear you can get glasses downstairs at the restaurant for $5.00 - they are $9.50 in the gift shop!

Sarah S.

I'm surprised this place has such bad reviews, or is it because I didn't eat here? The original Bull and Finch pub that was the inspiration for the show is located downstairs, but the stage pub is upstairs, next door to the gift shop. I love movie/ tv show stuff- so I had a fab time here. And they have a deal where if you buy a beer you can get a Cheers mug for $5. Which is totally worth it. And since I don't drink beer the bartender said that the deal applies to any drink so that was awesome.

Melissa M.

Sometimes you wanna go where evry'body knows your name! And, sometimes you just want to tell tourists that they are going into a trap. This Cheers does not resemble the Cheers you all know and love. Norm will not be sitting at the bar. Carla will not be sassing you while she gets you a beer. You will enter and think to yourself, "Self? Is this the RIGHT place?" It's called Cheers but it's really just your average chain restaurant. It's where the tourists go. Don't be a tourist.

Maria M.

Small bar, service is ok. Nothing special about the food or beer, and no, they didn't know my name. Agree with the comments below, this is a tourist trap, but my guests from out of town LOVED IT.

Jeffrey K.

Arlington on the (whichever) Green Line! I'm not sure why people have been giving this place such poor reviews! Yeah it's totally a gimmick from the show, but the meal I had there was definitely four stars worthy. I had a mug of their clam chower, which was not the best, but definitely respectable. For my main I had their chicken panini grill sammich, and made sure to get extra pesto. Really good, really juicy, and the perfect amount of pesto. Top that off with two guinnuesses and two cheers mugs (for $5 each!), I'd say it's a solid 4 stars.

Jesus V.

Better than expected for a touristy place. Service: The service that night was phenomenal. The waitress was extremely friendly and accommodating. It wasn't even just good for a touristy place it was good for any place. So that made the experience great for us and is why I gave it 4 stars. Atmosphere was a regular sports bar upstairs and a cosy almost dive bar downstairs. Food: This is no where near a foodie place but the food was good as far as bar food goes. The Burger Meister was cooked to order (always med-rare) with Munster cheese and mushrooms and was pretty good and well priced. We also had good spicy wings, cheesy fries and lobster dip (warning it's for those that like a creamy light lobster flavor), Nachos look good too but we sadly didn't get them. They looked fresh and not the kind with just globs of things thrown only on top without any thought to it. Beer: The beer selection was mostly local and seasonal and good. Wouldn't go there just for that but I was happy to have something to drink.

Travis O.

Stopped by for beer and souvenirs. Great beer and bought shirt. Mission accomplished.

Eddie S.

Had fun and the food was average, but didn't go for the food. Cool place.

Jonathan E.

Ill start by saying that I knew it was a tourist trap going in... But having grown up with the Cheers show on TV, I had to visit during my first trip to Boston. Of course, it looks nothing like the bar from the TV show, but the exterior on Beacon Street is the same as you see it in the opening scenes of the show. As you walk down the stairs you immediately notice it's nothing like the spacious bar ran by Sam Malone. It is pretty tiny and dark, but it did have a New England atmosphere. The Bruins game was on the big screen and the Sam Adams was plentiful. Service was so-so... I cant say it was either good, but it wasnt terrible either. I had a Sam Adams alpine spring (I think that's what it's called) per the recommendation of the server. I was pleased with it and since I was in Boston I felt compelled to drink that particular brand. The menu was pretty touristy--all named after Cheers characters. I ended up sampling the Sam Malone turkey sandwich because it had cranberry sauce on it. If I was rating just the food, Id have to give this place 2 stars, but I think when you visit a place like this you have to take into consideration the value of the experience. For me, it was neat to see this bar and to be able to say I had a drink at Cheers. Pros: Location on Beacon Street, childhood memories of a great TV show, cozy bar/dining space, huge TV Cons: Average service, mediocre food, touristy

Geoffrey T.

Come on its cheers! Well kind of. It's a great tourist spot for tourists like me. Get your picture taken, get a cheers mug, and call it a day. Food is not so good, drinks are about the same. Don't go for the food, go so you can say you've been there.

Nikki C.

It's a bar with the Cheers sign out front. That was cool. The inside is PACKED, but there are 3 bars to choose from. Each bar area was rather small and tight, though. We went to the "set bar", which I don't understand what that means because it looked nothing like the one on the show. Actually, nothing inside did. Though, I do understand that the Bull & Finch Pub is just the bar that inspired the show. Fair enough. It's still a novelty to be IN there. Admire the show pictures on the walls, peruse the gift shop, have a drink just to say you had a drink at Cheers, take pictures of your mug and napkin. It's the 2nd most visited tourist attraction in Boston and the show has been off the air for 25 or so years. Amazing! They do have a food menu, though I did not eat. Must visit!

Aaron L.

Yes, it's a tourist trap. No, the inside is nothing like the TV show. Yes, extremely overpriced souvenirs are available. No, they didn't know my name. HOWEVER - It literally faces Boston Common, which you know you're going to visit when in the Boston area anyway. So you have to at least stop in for a pint. Enjoy!

Lizzie B.

Super disappointed from the service from our bartender in the upstairs set bar today 12:30pm on 7/17. I had taken my coworkers out to lunch to see some tourist spots as we are from out of town. We needed separate checks and alcohol on a separate check for business purposes. I know that's a pain but we told him before ordering anything. When the bill arrived he threw out the itemized checks of my coworkers after they paid with a credit card. When they asked him for another copy of the itemized check he pulled them out of the trash and said to them "lunch shouldn't be this hard ladies" geez. I know some Boston peeps have an attitude but this was just down right unacceptable and really just made us feel bad. Up until then lunch was great. Shout out to the lady bartender because she was sweet as pie.

Jen O.

Yummy! Nachos with chili and blue cheese burger!

Justin J.

First of all, it is what you think it is..sort of like a Hard Rock Cafe, but Cheers themed. The show is based loosely on this bar, so aside from the street entrance, nothing else looks like the show or would be recognizable from the show. The beer and take home dimple mugs are a bargain, I thought. It's also across the street from Boston Common. The food was average, but service impeccable.

Mark W.

Went there last night because my friend wanted to go to the "cheers" bar. Food was sub-par. Beer was ok, service was ok. I didn't feel welcomed there at all. It seemed like an inconvenience to have come in... Ordered the Bacon Blue Burger. The bun was stale, the bacon was flat and microwaved. (Think free motel breakfast bacon) The blue cheese wasn't even crumbles, it was like this glob of spread. The onions were like McDonalds standard. On the good side, the lettuce was crisp and fresh.

Sarah B.

My friend recently relocated to Boston, and hadn't yet been to Cheers. And my two friends and I had never been to Boston, so we HAD to go where everybody knows your name. We were tourists, dammit. We checked out the gift shop and afterwards asked to be seated in the Set Bar area. We got a table and a friendly waitress. We ordered drinks and, not being very hungry, nachos to share. The waitress (err .. I don't know her name) was attentive and sweet and didn't rush us. The nachos were tasty and our drinks were cold, so I can't complain about anything. We paid the check and took a picture outside with the Cheers sign. No regrets, it was a good time.

Benigno A.

It is F---ing Cheers Man!!! Sam MayDay Malone pour me a BEER!!! Had to stop by with the family when we came to Boston on a recent visit. You come for the nostalgia of the show. I remember watching this show with my mother growing up. It was one of her favorite TV shows. There apparently are two bars. This one which was the original. There is another bar a bit away that is a replica of what was in the show. Even though the original bar is not the same as what you saw on the show, you feel like you walked into a little slice of TV history. They have all your typical tourist things likes shirts, buttons, hats, pictures, etc.... The food is quality bar food. Nothing fancy but good. They have a nice selection of local crafts, as well as some nice selections of Sam Adams. They must have of been blasting some old school Otis Redding on pandora because we were jamming the whole time. If you love the show it is worth the trip!!!

Paul G.

If you watched the show with your dad like I did this is fun to have on your been there done that list. Later night not so touristy in July which is nice. I've been here before when you couldn't get a drink. Nostalgic evening going back to my childhood. One of those you wish you were sharing with your dad.

Lindsey M.

Went by while on holiday at the last minute on a Saturday night and got seated right away. Food was okay but the clam chowder was very very good.

Yulian O.

I visit Cheers with my wife few months ago, Its a nice old place. The place is completely full, we found seat 10 minutes later in a small table near a windows. Actually I moved to Florida and I miss all place in Massachusetts. LOL

Caroline F.

Yeah... it was fine. We were there for the tourist aspect and took pictures out front by the sign. We each had salad for lunch (with reasonable up charges to get salmon instead of chicken)... and it came to over $45 with tip. This is kind of a lot, but kind of not, considering it was Boston and a tourist trap. Hubby loved his salad (Grilled Chicken Taco Salad, sub Salmon). I opted for the Lillith's Pan Asian Salad, sub salmon. The salmon was cooked well. But... there was no salad in my salad. It was all tomatoes and crunchy wonton strips. I asked for a side of lettuce. Server was efficient but we struggled to make eye contact and flag him down for the lettuce... he was pretty busy. Meh.Tourists should totally go. Locals... Probably not.

Seema S.

This would probably be a good place to hang out with friends at night. Not much of a family oriented place. Food was mediocre that any bar would have. Service was ok as well, our waitress was nice and pleasant, appetizers and drinks came on time. There definitely a big hype of this place, and I'm sure the hype is because of show, and that's the main reason this would get fame. The receptionist was nice but wasn't the more nicest person. Overall, average place that I would compare to chilis. I was expected a lot more out of this place since I would watch "cheers" as a kid.

Kathy C.

They may know your name but the rudest servers I've ever felt with. If your looking for anything more than just a nostalgic look at 80's TV you're going to want to go somewhere else.

Christopher T.

The only reason this place gets a 3-star review is for nostalgic purposes. Who hasn't wanted to take a seat in the Cheers bar? This review gets an instant +1 star just for this fact. The place itself is quite large. I believe there are 3 different bars, one of which is the "Cheers set" replica. There are also a couple of souvenir shops in this place. We decided to have a couple of beers in the "Cheers set" bar. The bar stools were wobbly, it was packed and it was very dirty. I don't think this place has seen a sweep or mop for a very long time. It's not just surface stuff, it's more like grime. The food didn't look too appetizing so we didn't order anything to eat. Not that we would have had the opportunity to anyway because our server was so slow. We weren't even greeted for around 15 minutes - and that's a really long time when you want something to drink. It took another 10 minutes or so to get our drinks.

Donna B.

I can't really give a fair rating since the place was packed, arrived on a Saturday afternoon...Didn't eat or drink here, was too long of a wait, just walked through the restaurant part. The downstairs is "not the actual studio set" so it looked like nothing like you'd see on the TV show but upstairs is, however that wasn't where it was filmed. Most of the filming was done in LA. There was a store upstairs where you could buy all the Cheers paraphernalia you want. If you're ever in Boston it's worth the walk through and check out.

Debbie H.

Well, OK it's all a bit cheesy and half the clientele in the bar looked like they were born after the TV programme had finished, but it was all very good natured and the beer was no more expensive than the other bars we visited. We had to wait about a bit before seizing two stools at the bar. Once there we sat and drank it all in...a fun pint.

Barbara K.

Like millions of people so far, perhaps billions, I made the pilgrimage to the Cheers bar in Boston. Formerly, or currently, it's called the Bull and Finch, but it is impossible to get past its famous legacy. They have plenty of bar and grill space for eating and drinking. It was very crowded when I was there, but it was Independence Day weekend, so I'm sure that had something to do with it. We chose to go full frontal tourist and have a couple of beers in the "set bar," which is an identical replica of the Cheers set. It was also crowded, but when we were looking for a seat, the person sitting in Cliff Clavin's spot moved, and there I was - sitting at the bar, being Cliff! It was a lot of fun. As I was leaving, a guy asked if the spot was open. I said, "yes," and he geeked out over getting to be Cliff. Sometimes, it's fun to be a little dorky...and the beer ain't bad, eiither!

Jonnathan B.

A must for any Cheers fan or bar enthusiast. Such a friendly and social atmosphere with good drinks and food. Ordered the nachos and that was more than enough for three to share. We even had leftovers. Sam Adams and Yuengling are readily available. At the time during our visit, Travel Zoo had a voucher which gave us some discount on the bill - more than worth it! There's also a mini souvenir area on the way to the restroom where you can pick up any Cheers memorabilia. Fun spot, definitely a neighborhood bar.

Haiti U.

I was invited there by an old friend that I havent seen for a while. It was a pretty nice place although it look small, you can still have a good time. It is more like a towney place , it seems like most of the patrons are regular, They have a few table in addition to all the stool at the bar that you can sit at but most of the time I guess you have to order food to use them. Like I said it is a nice place to have a drink or two before going to club .

Cory S.

I can say this was a major disappointment! I know what you are getting with this place a tourist hub but the place was dirty, run down and was more concerned about selling you a shot glass and a t-shirt then getting you a drink. If you are a fan of the show go, check it out walk around but after that leave. There is a great park across the street.

Adam O.

Waitresses good. Food very average. Greeter at the bottom floor not good. Go to the gift shop and find a better bar.

Kevin M.

Went at lunchtime and service was lacking. The good looking ladies at the bar got excellent service though so perhaps their review will be better. Food was good but certainly nothing to write home about. Worth a visit for the nostalgia but nothing to write home about.

Sarah S.

Alright, I had to. I know it's super touristy, but I just HAD to. The initial plan wasn't to eat here, but maybe stop in, look around, and buy a t-shirt. But once we got here, we were pretty hungry, so we decided to eat here too. You enter the building downstairs and if you are eating upstairs, you are handed a blue card that you hand to a waitress upstairs (after wandering through some hallways and up some sketchy stairs). Upstairs is cramped! The two of us barely had room for both our drinks and plates. Plus, there is nowhere to put your purse and/or jackets. I ordered a mug of the clam chowder and the steak and cheese sub. The chowder was just ok and needed some salt - it was a lot of soup, which is why I guess a mug is only $1 cheaper than the whole bowl. The steak on the sandwich was really tender and not overdone. I didn't attempt to pick it up because it just seemed too messy, so I used a fork and knife. The sandwiches come with a pickle and a bag of potato chips. The prices here are little outrageous ($10 for a mug of soup and $15 for a sandwich!) But since it's a touristy place, they know they can get away with it. The gift shop is also outrageous - two t-shirts and a shot glass for $70. wow. Anyway, it's worth a stop to check it out and say you've been there. But if you're looking for a really good lunch (for a decent price), this isn't going to be the stop for you.

Mayuri M.

THE GOOD: My god, the food here was excellent! We initially visited mostly because it was a tourist attraction and iconic. But I'm so glad we ordered some food too! My fish & chips and clam chowder was excellent. The clam chowder had tons of clams, very creamy and tasty but not too heavy. The fish and chips were fresh and the batter was fluffy without being too oily. We also ordered a salad which was also good. The vege burger was a little underwhelming though. THE BAD: Service was a bit slow but it was busy so they really can't be faulted. OVERALL: It was a great meal. Of course, the decor matched the TV show so that was a plus too. Definitely worth a second visit!

Ju L.

It's too touristy for my taste. The food and drinks are somewhat expensive for the mediocre quality you receive. Been here two times, and the second time we were there, they were kind of rude since we had a member in our party who had a birthday.

Roger Q.

Burgers and Reuben were good. Rings too. Cheesesteak not so much. Great history of Cheers. Friendly staff.

Matt O.

Cheers. Where they won't remember your name, your order or that you asked for water thirty minutes ago.

Brandon B.

This place was packed and loud and kind of small, but that's why everyone knows your name. I'm giving it 4 stars because my burger was cooked perfectly huge and my Oktoberfest eat delicious, service was not great. But ours busy so understandable. Cheers

Andrew K.

I admit, I've never watched Cheers, so I can't give the place any props for nostalgia or anything like that. Instead, I came here a few hours after running the Boston Marathon in search of the Sam Adams 26.2 Brew the place was listed as having. There are a few bars and we sat in the back one. I hate to say it but it just reminded me of a bathroom. Bright, fluorescent lighting with white tiles and the feeling that it just wasn't very clean. Took a while to get the bartender's attention, only to find out that they were out of the 26.2 brew... apparently had gotten pretty tired of people asking for it as well. Went with another beer I can't remember and left shortly afterwards. Nothing special. Despite the touristy nature of the place, there seemed to be a few barfly "regulars", one of which struck up a short conversation. Can't say it really added too positively to the ambiance. If you're a huge fan of the show then I guess this place is worth checking out. Otherwise, there are plenty of other options in the area.

Jacqui B.

Come onnn, it's Cheers!! You gotta love it! It's actually pretty big inside. We were seated downstairs, which kinda feels like a dungeon but it's cute. I would have liked to have been given a little more info on the bar itself. There was a little blurb on the menu, but that's not enough for me! We are all here for the history. Our waiter was super nice and the food came fast. We got the steak and cheese sandwich and a burger and everyone liked their food. Here's why I can't give it 5 stars: Wayyy too dark downstairs. Also, while the menu wasn't TERRIBLY expensive, the gift shop is nuts. They need a gun in there with those prices. I didn't like that. I'm not sure it was as clean as it could be either. However, it was nice to eat at the place I had been watching on TV for all those years, and I would recommend it to others because despite the tourist vibe, the food was good. You should go :)

Kensey W.

not a bad place to stop! boston-y beers on tap and i never don't enjoy something based off a tv show. the bartenders were friendly and i loved getting the full touristy experience. didn't have to food. the only other thing i would say is that while my friend and i were here, the crowd consisted of some creepy over-friendly characters. the bar is not to be blame though. oh yeah, there's a cool cutout of norm everyone should get a pic with.

Chris J.

Yup, Sam Adams summer ale and some greasy appetizers, this is just as good as your local pub. Don't miss the set bar upstairs and the gift shop, where you can pay for overpriced pint and shot glasses! Would only come back here if someone's never been, nothing to write home about.

Yesenia C.

An "older" crowd, and smells like pee. But cool to say you've been there; however, much cooler spots elsewhere. Food not so great.

Dinah W.

Went to this place twice trying to get a table. The wait was long (40 minutes) both times, so my companion and I went up to the actual set bar where they did the filming. It was also packed! There was only one bartender serving and she never came to us offering a drink. It was so cramped In there that people were standing against the wall while others sat at the actual bar. It ruined the experience for me. So we left after making a stroll through the gift shop.

Stacey E.

So good! okay... So the time I went here was during the summer (July) and from what I remember, it was fast service, I had a good view of Quincy market attractions. I ordered a burger with fries and had clam chowder soup ..yum !!! Atmosphere is great too since your in Quincy market and there are bars, entertainment and gift shops around you. My friend even asked the waiter if she could take home the beer glass she was drinking. She got it for $8 but still that's pretty sweet Oh yeah they charged my dead phone , I was pleased by their service.

Lindsay M.

A real disappointment! We were in that end of town today so we decided to pop in. Big mistake! Sure it's cute and novel, but honestly it's very cramped and uncomfortable. Even the bathrooms are a right squeeze! The service was a MAJOR disappointment! I had to ask for cutlery and was only given 2 clean forks and 1 dirty one (which by the way I was never able to get replaced even though we tried to flag someone down several times)! Friends ordered the fried calamari which they hated, half way through a waitress came through with another plate of it and offered it for free, was so bad that my friends declined the offer. Then out came our order, I split a plate of potato skins with one friend (and tried asking for the fork then and the waitress literally ignored me and walked away) out other friend ordered fish and chips. (This was after an exceptionally long wait - 45 min - and we didn't even think we would be able to eat as we had plans to go to a movie (45 minutes of waiting after we ordered)) the fish and chips she ended up sending back, the chips were cold, and since we couldn't get a full set of silverware we didn't have a butter knife to get the ketchup out with. The fish she said tasted freezer burned. The potato skins were okay, difficult to eat with your hands! When the waitress finally came back so we could send back the fish and chips, she "topped off" my sprite I was drinking with water (it was still half full) at this point we just shook our heads and asked for the check, yet another wait, late for the movie! Go see it please if you're a fan of the show it's a fun little novel trip and they have some over priced sweaters and cups, skip the over priced food, not worth the wait or the price!

Hannah M.

Not bad, but not spectacular either. Visiting Boston on business & had the day to do the typical touristy things. Bloody Mary was the highlight; good spice. Burger was bland & forgettable, as well as he fries that accompanied. Clam chowder was really thin & not much flavor. Staff was friendly even with dealing with having no fountain drinks. I can check it off my foodie, bar bucket list but will not return if ever in Boston again.

Sarah G.

Truth be told, I was dragged here by my wonderfully tourist-y friend and I'm so glad. We originally went in just to see the place and get our friend a t-shirt, but ended up staying for a beer. We had a GREAT time. The service was fast and friendly, beer selection was solid and the beer was nice and cold. It was good tourist-y fun, drinking and taking pictures with other tourists. One beer was enough, but definitely worth stopping in. If you think you're too cool for Cheers, you're probably wrong, and you're going to miss out. Embrace your inner tourist!

Erin W.

After going to the replica bar thinking that it was the original spot, we found a brochure that stated this was in fact the main one. Inside was packed. We found a spot in the back bar and had a drink. Service was alright. Beers were good. The set bar was closed which was pretty disappointing, but still cool to check off the list of things to see.

Thomas B.

We had just finished watching all 10+ seasons of Cheers before visiting Boston so we wanted to see the bar. It was worth a look. We also ate lunch there. The food was good but not memorable. They definitely cater to the tourists. Both of us had cheeseburgers that were good. My wife thought that the pickle was lame-too much like a plain cucumber. The best thing about the place was the beer. Just go and wait for a seat at the bar and save some money. You might even get to sit in Norm's seat! That would be better than anything and then you can get better food elsewhere.

Jeff M.

Visited Cheers on our most recent trip to Boston. Loved the atmosphere and the food was better than I was expecting after reading some reviews online. Started with a cup of Boston Clam Chowda, seriously one of the better chowders I've had, really should of gone for the bowl.. Next came the Burger Meister which along with the fries were just perfect.

M R.

We went there for the novelty of it but we really enjoyed it. It was very busy but the service was quick and the food was very good. Get there between 4-6 and take advantage of the half price appetizers.

Ty W.

Just had drinks here. Beer was ice cold with a frosted mug. My lemon drop was ok. Nachos looked good.

Danielle C.

My family and I were in Boston for Easter & the staff at Cheer's was not friendly nor welcoming. The host was complaining about us to other servers loud enough for us to hear & they were very rude. Being a waitress myself, I would have never treated my guests so poorly. I will not be going back there.

Jacquelynn C.

Typical touristy spot...yes yes, I know. Is it worth the LOOONG two blocks I had to walk in the cold from the T station to get here? I'd say no but nonetheless the bartenders here are very friendly and the beers are cheap! Does everyone know my name? No. lol Its a typical pub with the notoriety that a bar would come with if It came out on a TV show. Did I buy anything from the gift shop tucked away towards the back on your way to the toilets? Probably not., but atleast I can say I have been there, had a couple of beers and left. Pros: Its the ONLY bar in the foo foo area Cons: too far away from the T line and it closes too early...11pm really?!

Kelly H.

It was cool to see the famous stairs leading down to the bar and the Cheers sign out front, but after that I wasn't impressed. It was an overly crowded tourist bar, but that should be expected. The bartenders were extremely rude and seemed like they did not want to be there and if you took more than a minute to order your drink, you were wasting their time. Our bartender, Jeff, was not afraid to let you know that. It was a one time thing for me. If I were to visit Boston again, I would not return.

Jonathan S.

Yes--it's a tourist trap. But a great one! Anyone who watched Cheers is going to feel a little sumthin seeing that familiar sign up close, and walking down into the basement bar is just a cool experience. NOTE: The upstairs bar looks like the actual set, but the bar fill up fast. Downstairs is a little more open and (surprise) the beer is the same. Verdict? If you can't snag a spot upstairs, go down for a drink. OH. The souvenir beer mugs ($7 each) are a pretty nifty trinket.

Art C.

Didn't try the food cause I already read it was terrible. Took one step into the restaurant and thought the reviews were probably right. Went to the bar, had a miller lite and sat where Norm would have sat. For Cheers nostalgia, it's a great place. Giving it 5 stars solely for nostalgia.

Megan M.

I mean, it's Cheers. I grew up watching the show so I had to stop in. We had one beer, perused the upstairs bar area and pondered if it was really where they shot the show (they say it's the original set, but it looks a lot different) and left. There's a small gift shop with a few things, but not anything too interesting. If you liked the show it's worth stopping in for a beer; otherwise, just take your photo with the sign out front.

Amanda S.

I feel like if you come to Boston and at any point and you watched or had to watch Cheers when you were younger this is a must stop. There are two locations, but this is the original one from the show. I remember watching Cheers with my parents when I was little and they loved it. Being there did bring me back to some of those memories. I was surprised at how small the bar actually is. Be sure to check the hours before you come as they close earlier than you may expect on some days. We did not eat when we stopped in, but each grabbed a Sam Adams beer which comes in the Cheers mug. Beers are about $7 and for another $7 you can purchase a mug to take home. I would get the mug if you were a fan of the show for sure! The service was ok here, but the experience of coming here was definitely memorable.

Jack R.

I'm old enough to know what this show is about, but young enough not to have watched it, LOL. Came here because my friend is a huge Cheers fan. This review is for the bar and drinks, and not any food. I guess it's a must to saddle up to the Cheers bar and have a drink. The thing is, the bar downstairs is super small, and if you want a bar that looks like the set, then go upstairs. Wish they would have told us that before we went downstairs. Noisy, crowded, a bit dark. More like a speakeasy than anything resembling the show. I was literally expecting it to look like the show, or pictures of the show. So if you're a Cheers fan, I'm sure you'll love this place, but if you're in the middle like me, and just tagging along to support your buddy, then it's really not all that it's cracked up to be. That's Hollywood Tv Show magic for you.

Patty G.

When in Boston... I mean yeah, you come for the name more than the food but it was a cool visit. This place is filled with some much memorabilia from the show which was cool to see. Definitely overpriced for the food they're serving. You're paying more for the name then the quality of the food. We got wings and chicken tenders. Both were good but not past that. Service was okay and for $7 you can take your own Cheers mug home. Pretty chilled spot one of those places you probably go to once just to say, "yeah, I've been to cheers"

Stefanie A.

While visiting our Boston friends (we're from Chicago) we did a few touristy things and this was one of em. Came here for a beer in the upstairs bar. Unless you're a huge fan of cheers, you won't be impressed- it's just a bar. Saw some people eating food and the it looked like typical bar food, nothing special.

Melissa B.

Norm! Tourists come in for the name alone and besides that there's really nothing special offered here. Cool memorabilia on the walls and I loved the entry way and signs on the door that the show mirrored. Good cold beers but the food was pretty bad. But hey, we were here to have a beer at cheers and that was fun.

Michelle T.

I was at the Boston Public gardens and saw that this place is close by. I was surprised how tiny this place was. I went inside, saw the actual bar was super tiny, went into the gift shop then left. Not as special as I thought it was going to be. It was pretty crowded and I suppose since I was too young to remember cheers it wasn't as nostalgic as it was for some older people.

Danny B.

Came here to grab a beer and hang out at the Cheers bar. Can't comment about the food since I didn't have any, but the staff were very friendly and although it's a big tourist attraction, it had a nice homey feel to it.

Jessica R.

This review is strictly on the bar and not the food. Of course as out of towners, this was a must do. We walked through the commons to get here which was perfect given the weather. We were greeted by two guys at the door that asked if we wanted to eat or just grab a drink and since we were there to just grab a quick drink he let us right in. I overhead him quoting 45min+ for a table which I personally think is crazy. Space: The entrance is misleading because you walk into a small bar, but they explain that there is another bar in the back and one upstairs. The basement floor made me feel claustrophobic so we decided to go upstairs. This space was much bigger even though the bar was small. It had windows which made it appear bigger. All in all, it was cool to stop by after walking through the town, but it's not anything special. Sorry.

Theresa M.

Clam chowder please! We loved the atmosphere. They have regular bar food here. My review is on the clam chowder and atmosphere! Good beer too.

Brad M.

Wanna get a bunch of laughs, and piss off the bartender? Call everyone who walks in the door "Hey, Norm"! Yes, we know NBC owns CHEERS, and this isn't it. However, when your bartender hates the reason most of the customers walk in the door... you're gonna have a bad night! I get it... you gotta go. I'm not telling you not to. I'm just saying, go get the T-shirt, and your picture taken by the sign. Stopping for a drink is unnecessary... and the staff would really prefer you weren't there anyway. Go ahead, and help him out... take your picture, then take your business somewhere else.

Jeff H.

Located in Beacon Hill, this is Boston's most famous pub. Formerly known as the Bull & Finch, today it is called Cheers as this was the bar that the famous TV show was modeled on. As a result it is prob more filled with tourists than locals - except when the Patriots are on TV. I never saw the TV show Cheers but I can say that this pub does have a warm atmosphere and a friendly staff. And good beer too! I had a Samuel Adams seasonal white ale which went perfectly on a very cold winter's day with a bowl of Boston baked beans. The bowl of chili my friend had was awesome as well. Hey I can easily sum up being in this pub in one word - "Cheers!"

Jenifer S.

When I lived in Boston I never went here but now I'm a tourist I just had to! We had a nice light lunch here served by very cheery waitpersons and found it quite fresh and tasty but nothing special. The place is filled with Cheers and other memorabilia and has a gift shop but overall feels quite comfortable and not too cheesy. It's located in the basement of the Hampshire Hotel down a steep long flight of stairs so definitely not wheelchair accessible. Likewise, there's a step up into the very narrow bathrooms.

Linda S.

Loved the atmosphere and the nostalgia. My husband had a great beer, I had a mixed drink and our food was outstanding - don't know where these other food reviews come from. We loved it - if in Boston, I'd visit again.

Jeremy G.

Great food. The place is a little misleading as the only thing actually shot here for the show was the stairs leading into the bar. But the atmosphere was fun and very energetic. Packed really. The beer was cold and good and we chose to buy the mugs as they're very high quality souvenir glass mugs that could put a hurting on you if you chose to drop it on your foot. Appetizers were good, meals were great, desserts were acceptable. My buddy ordered something that resembled a cool whip bowl on top of something possibly hidden beneath? Regardless it was still a great experience.

Breanne W.

We were in the area so decided to check out Cheers and then decided to stay for dinner. It is definitely a homey bar and our service was great. We got seated really quickly and of course opted for the take home mug (pretty sure as a tourist it's a must have). I did find the $7 for the mug a little expensive but hey, you only live once, right? I asked the server what she recommended and so went with Carla's brocolli and ziti alfredo and it was good. The garlic bread was fantastic! Service was quick and friendly and although the bar was full it was overall a lot of fun and not expensive for dinner. It is definitely a tourist spot but the prices were still reasonable and service was good and food was good so I would recommend checking it out.

Sarah A.

This place is just the cutest. Total tourist spot, and lovely service. Our server was really friendly -- his name isn't on our check it just says "404 Slider" but he was like a tall boy with brown hair and super patient and nice. I was with my grandmother and she just thought he was so lovely. When he boxed up her lobster dip he offered to put in a side of salsa in the box so she'd have it for later. Very sweet! Great hospitality!

Kymberly G.

Touristy? Of course. But also a must-do if you were a fan of the show. The bartenders were fast and friendly, even with a very busy scene going on around them (4th of July, on a Saturday). The decor was a ton of memorabilia from the show, and the different bars throughout the building were great fun to wander through and each had a different vibe about it. The gift shop is well stocked with some great Cheers Bar themed items, as well as some basic Boston trinkets. We didnt have food here, but the drinks were well made, and the customers friendly throughout.

Debra L.

Sentimental attachments and novelty elements aside, I'm not sure I understand why people come here. The food is very average, assuming you have a low standard for what average is. I've tried a couple of apps from the "Sam's Starters" section of the menu, but each time I ended up just begrudgingly picking at what I ordered. Notably disappointing were the chicken fingers--very dry chicken strips encased in a hard and crunchy fried shell. Even good honey mustard couldn't hope to rescue it, let alone theirs. The only plus is that they have half-priced apps on Mondays through Fridays from 4-6 pm. I'm usually a sucker for a good deal, but from what I've tried, even half price can't convince me to come back for the food.

Brandon H.

The appeal of this spot is that its Cheers. I went here only b/c my mom wanted me to bring her a Cheers T-shirt back from Boston. The nostalgia is what brings people here. We were lucky enough to be sat for dinner in the set bar, which was really cool. To be at the bar on which was actually on set during filming. The food was descent enough. I played it safe and got a cheeseburger. The other people in my party were satisfied with their meals as well. I ordered a beer which comes in a Cheers mug that you can buy afterwards. I passed on the offer. Overall, this place is 98% tourists and for good reason. If you're a fan of the show, stop in for a visit. If not, no real reason to visit.

Jason R.

We visited the restaurant on perhaps one of the craziest possible days for a trip to the bar...the 4th of July. We sat in the original bar downstairs which was both amazing & a little annoying at times. It was only noon & the patrons were already rowdy & completely toasted. Given how small the bar is, it can get very loud rather quickly which wasn't pleasant. However, we were truly impressed by the speed of the staff & chefs. As crowded as it was, they had our drink order in & food prepared faster than some of the restaurants that weren't that busy. And, the quality of the food didn't suffer. For me, it was just a memorable experience simply due to the nostalgia. If I had any regret it's that I wish we could have had a closer look at the memorabilia on the walls. It was too crowded to even think of trying to do so, but all in all, I highly recommend a visit.

Denise G.

If you remember the show its fun to take a pic outside by the sign. It does not look like the actual bar inside...at all. They serve food & drinks if you feel the urge to tell someone you had a beer there but its nothing exciting. Would only recommend stopping here if you are in the area.

Char P.

First time in Boston... Great tourists stop.. Food is great. Had the clam Boston bake beans bread bowl. I ask tasted the New England clam chowder. Staff is very hospitable and knowledgeable about the show..

Larry K.

Great people great atmosphere....where everyone knows you name. Both the original and the new I would recommend

Diana Q.

Visit Date: August 30, 2014 Hubby and I squeezed in a visit to Cheers in between our duck tour and ghost tour. It was pretty crowded but we did manage to get a table with our friend pretty quickly. We didn't have much time before our ghost tour so we informed our server and she bought out our food and check as quickly as possible. I had the mac n' cheese off Diane's section of the menu, I loved it. It was creamy, tasty, and cooked to perfection. If we had more time I would have eaten all of it. The mac n' cheese came with a side salad that was very tasty too, the vegetables in the salad were fresh, crisp and delicious. Definitely stop by the original cheers if you're visiting Boston!

Martin H.

Bar. A lot of tourists here, understandable. It's good to stop by here after walking around in Boston Common for som refreshments. But it's nothing special. Not bad, not really good.

Karin L.

Where everybody knows your name!! Well, nobody knew my name here, but I guess it's one of those places you have to visit at least once when you come to Boston. I'm guessing this place is always busy, since we came at 4pm on a weekday and it was already pretty packed. Typical bar/diner food here with some fancy names referencing characters from the show. I had the buffalo chicken sandwich which was everything I expected -- nothing impressive but not too bad. Obviously not a place people come for the food, but for the atmosphere and Cheers memorabilia. On the bright side, my Sam Adams was delicious! They have it on tap as most bars do in Boston, and you can even purchase the Cheers mug to take home of you like. I was tempted -- but in the end do I really need one more piece of bar ware at home?

Pamela G.

We had to do this. It was worth walking a mile out of our way to say we did it. The food was good. The service was good. It was fun.

Kelly M.

Mmm... mediocre. So here's what the two stars are for: service and esthetic. Staff was great, we were seated and served rather quickly given the size of our group (14), and the ambiance was true to the Cheers legacy (albeit entirely gimmicky). As for the food, I can speak for 3 dishes: 1.) The chowder was good, pretty standard yet qualified to satisfy a clam chowder craving (thick, creamy, clammy... but nothing to call home about). 2.) The Norm Burger, it's all it said it would be. Stacked high with two patties and all the fixings, but again it was something you can probably get at a Red Robin or Chili's. Also my husband added bacon which they forgot but when they brought it the burger was great so it's probably a good idea to add that if you order this. 3.) The fish and chips, the ultimate disappointment. This is standard bar food and Cheers is a bar so you'd think they'd have this down, or at least take pride in what they serve to loyal fans of the show. Completely flavorless fish which was obviously pre-frozen because the only taste I could detect was defrosted ice. The batter certainly appears homemade, however, this too was unsatisfyingly bland. I didn't finish this meal. The slaw was standard (nothing special) & the fries were probably the only good part of this dish (also something you can get anywhere). I would like to add too that this place was pretty overpriced, for these 3 dishes and and three drinks we ended up paying $76 with tip, wasn't worth it. Won't be going back but I would recommend it if you're a fan of the show and are not expecting much in the way of bar food. Cheers!

A. C.

(6/13/2015) Stopped in for beers at the original Cheers location (aka The Bull and Finch) off Boston Commons. Def get to this one rather than the other fake ones (although, I doubt there's much of the original look left here). There's plenty of space if you just want to sidle up to the bar, rather than have a sit-down meal, and turnover is pretty quick there (many tourist much like us around). The beers were cold and large in volume and reasonably priced ($7) and for another $7 you can keep the souvenir glass. We sat at the set bar in Frasier's spot (designated by a gold plaque), on the other corner was Norm's spot and a section for Carla, Cliff, and Tom, The Lawyer. It didn't much look like the TV show to me, but plenty of touristy junk to look at and certainly it's an acceptable place to get a drink.

Jeff B.

Had it not been for the fact that I was with a fan (of the TV show) who had always wanted to visit Cheers, I wouldn't have bothered. I first hit Cheers several years ago and was greatly disappointed when it came to the food. Apparently, little has changed. The food was mediocre and the service was beyond poor. I mean, how hard is it to keep a pot of clam chowder (at least) warm? And how tough is it to serve hot dogs that are at least lukewarm? Seriously -- two of the easiest items on the menu to cook/serve...and they screwed it up. Having worked in a variety of foodservice positions, my guest and I pinned the mistakes on the somewhat surly "runner," who seemed put off when we asked for condiments (because, you know, mustard is a bit much to ask for when you've ordered hot dogs). If you've got to see Cheers, just drop in for a drink...take your photos...buy a souvenir...and leave. No one goes to an amusement park for the food...and that's how you should think of Cheers -- as a TV show theme park. Nothing more.

Joe E.

I dragged our group here because it's Cheers. I just had to check it out. We did not eat or drink and nobody seemed to know my name.

Jenna C.

I wonder how many people started this review with a reference to how they did not know their name. Anyways, I guess this is one of those places you have to go to on a trip to Boston. There are three or four different rooms/bars inside that you can choose from. We went upstairs, where they still have the lighting set-up from the show. We shared some Harpoon beers and pretended to be cool on the set of a show we never watched.

Rachel H.

I'm not from Boston, so of course I had to visit the Cheers bar! It's a really cute place, and I had a good time, but the food was just ok. For my drink, I ordered the dirty water, and for food, I had the fish and chips. My drink kind of tasted like cough medicine, so I didn't really care for it. The fish and chips were just ok. The fish was cooked perfectly, but the pieces had no flavor. My waitress was really nice, but she seemed a little stressed out. On a side note, if you order a cocktail, you can take home the glass! (The server gets you a new one all protected in bubble wrap.)

Troy M.

Had a burger and not impressed. Not disgusting but there are FAR better places in this city. Yes it's kinda cheers but that's all it is

Dianne B.

Quick and friendly service. Bar looks and feels like the show! Great picture opportunities. Food comes out quick and hot. Great chicken sandwich and fries. Bun is perfectly grilled too, rare find.

Christina E.

Cool place to stop in for a brew to admire the Cheers memorabilia. Crowded, elbow and standing room only at most of the bar counters. Interesting place to stop by at least once. Even though it was absolutely freezing outside, the AC was blasting inside. I had my coat and scarf on the entire time. Unless you're a big Cheers fan, I'd say keep on walking

Alison H.

Jessica was a delight. This has the potential of being a true tourist trap, but I felt like I was truly in a local pub. She was so patient, informative, and friendly. You are so lucky to have a bartender like her working for you. Definitely a diamond.

Julio O.

Food was good. Beer was cold.

Becky T.

We went to Bull & Finch/Cheers to celebrate our bride for a Bachelorette weekend. We had just had a poor experience at a different restaurant and were really hungry. The hostess was just about to close down the back room when she went in to check to see if our party of 5 could be let in...and the answer was yes! We felt like we were getting star treatment all night. We were the only ones in the back room and it was a nice, quiet, and perfect way to end what could have been a disappointing evening. The waitress was super friendly and felt like someone we've known for a while ("...where everybody knows your name...") and the food was spectacular! We left her a thank you note with our tips to thank her for saving our Bachelorette party and went off to use the restrooms before leaving. The waitress surprised one of the bridesmaids on the way out of the rest room. She was asking, "Where's the bride?" who was already at the front door by then. She had a gift for her, which we carried to her- a complimentary Cheers mug as a congrats to her and a thank you for being such sweet guests. I mean, how do you get any better than that?

Matt H.

It's nice to say you've been here but other than that, blah. Food was like anything you'd find anywhere. Beer selections were nothing special. Cool to grab a quick drink and visit, but other than that I wouldn't recommend it.

Jason C.

Waited 15 minutes, watched 6 servers gab to each other, nobody talked to us aside from forcing us to move tables. Left. Waste of time tourist trap.

Tom H.

Nobody knew my name, what a rip off! Seriously though, it cool to go to see the history of the place in regards to the TV show. I got the Norm Burger, which until the food was placed in front of me, if I finished I would get some recognition for finishing it. I did finish it and now you can find me on the website! I'm totally famous! Overall everything is like typical bar food. Nothing is outstanding but nothing is bad either, everyone in my group enjoyed it. It's pretty solid!

Amy A.

What can I say. Immediate seating on a Sunday Football afternoon with many TVs Fast service and great food Not to mention the daily specials are very New England. Lots of great music, and tourists. Beers on tap and huge cocktail menu. The servers are really great and actually seem to enjoy their jobs! What?! - the only con would be the space issue. It's very small upstairs and down. So if you have physical disabilities that prevent you from getting in and out of small places this could be tricky.

Michelle G.

I grew up watching Cheers with my dad, so while visiting Beantown I had to stop for at least one beer. We stopped in on a Friday afternoon and it was pretty busy. We( my hubby and I) enjoyed a cold Sam Adams at the famous bar. I sat next to Frasier's corner. The souvenirs for sale here were pretty pricey so all we left with were memories of a cold beer at a famous bar. If your in the mood for a drink, why not stop by here.

Rhea Z.

This place is awesome. Ordered Sam's Turkey Sandwich and it was awesome. The beers are great too. Arrived at 11am and it slowly started to pack out on a Friday. This is a spot where everyone should stop by and try it !

TinoX T.

Nice Place,Lots of Memories with this Place,Good Food Nice mood

Benjamin M.

Yes, it's absolutely tourist central! But I figured we had to check it out anyway after walking around the neighboring Public Garden. I stopped by here for a quick picture and to the Quincy Market location for a drink on a previous trip, but this was our first real visit to the "original" Cheers. The good news is, the old Bull & Fitch Pub was a little better than I anticipated. It is certainly bigger than I expected (and if you also expect the TV set layout, it's not even close) as we were escorted down the zigzag hallway to a table in one of the back rooms. The menu isn't anything to get excited about, filled with standard appetizers and sandwiches complete with Cheers character food naming conventions. I opted for a Buffalo chicken sandwich with obligatory fries (and a pickle!) for lunch, complimented with a Sam's Red Brick ale, of course. Once again, aside from the obvious show references, Cheers is nothing spectacular. But for a fun and simple Boston lunch, I didn't leave unsatisfied either. Just accept it for what it is and, if you're a fan of the show, stop by at least once to check the box. 3.5 Stars

Jenny L.

Stopped by during our visit to Boston. We dined in downstairs and had several drinks. We ordered the Norm's Best Combo platter which consisted of mozzarella sticks, wings, chicken fingers, and potato skins. The lobster and artichoke dip, the dip was on the thick side and you couldn't taste any lobster. And the fried calamari. The food is just meh, but the atomosphere, drinks, and the gift shop is amazing!

Meghan P.

On our Boston/Cambridge touristy/sight-seeing trip, our visit to Cheers was brief. We snapped a photo at the entrance, ordered one $6 pint to share, snapped a couple more photos, raced through the gift shop and left. They did have a good beer selection on tap though (I love apricot Magic Hat #9!) and I actually expected it would be even more expensive... One visit is probably enough for me though!

Grant W.

Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name...well...that is if you just want to go to a tourist trap. The food was over priced, the drinks were "eh" at best. And the place is pretty cramped for space. If it didn't have the nostalgia of the TV series I probably would not have enjoyed it.

francine s.

I gave this place 4 stars just because of the shows memories, but honestly the food was pretty bland. Not horrible though (I mean how bad can you mess up a burger?) But, still a great experience for first timers. I just wouldn't go again unless I go with tourists who loved or liked the show.

Hiroko S.

One time that's enough. But still I could find upside. -the girl was so friendly and helpful. I like her smile.

Paul C.

Like the others have said, it's a tourist trap. There's nothing really special about this place that makes you want to come back. I only stopped by briefly as I was exploring Boston but it definitely didn't impress me...

Daniel Z.

Of course we went here because it was the inspiration for "Cheers", the television show. The basement part looks similar to the TV set, but is obviously not the same. Suprisingly the food was pretty good. I had the "Frasier" chicken panini which came with a pickle and potato chips. It's a bit pricey, but it's a tourist spot. The service was friendly and effiecent and there's a gift shop next to the dining rooms with all sorts of "Cheers" merchandise. Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name.

Steven H.

Boring place. A real tourist trap. The whole cheers hype lasted about 10 seconds. The beers aren't cheap and the gift shop is a rip. They try to sell you everything here from you mug to t-shirts and even ornaments. WTF!

Molly P.

The best part of the experience is actually walking down the stairs, opening the door and walking in. It feels sort of sur-real and made me somewhat giddy with anticipation. Thats about where it ended. It was friday night and we were immediately re-routed to the upstairs section of the bar, where the gift shop etc is. I wondered how much like a tourist I really looked. I had a burger...not bad. It wasn't anything spectacular. About what you expect at most restaurants. If you go here you are definately paying for the experience and atmosphere. Glad I went, but don't need to go back.

Kenny L.

Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got (Mass State House) Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot (Common and Public Gardens) Wouldn't you like to get away? (Sure!) Sometimes you want to go (Not Cheers?!?) Where nobody knows your name, and they're not always glad you came. You wanna be where you can't see, our troubles are all the same You wanna be where nobody knows Your name. You wanna go where people know, people (tourists) are all the same, You wanna go where nobody knows your name.

Celeste M.

So many haters! Anyway, this bar is what it is. It's the inspiration for Cheers. It's cute. The staff is really nice. If you go here and don't like it -- you have no one to blame but yourself. It's not like you didn't know where you were going. We came here on a scavenger hunt and the staff was so nice. The bartender held up a sign that said "Norm!" and took a picture. They gave us a kids menu with crayons. We didn't spend a dime here but they were absolutely great. So come in and get a drink sometime if you want - but don't complain about it.

Ryan C.

Visiting Boston? Do yourself a favor and skip eating here. Sure, visit the gift shop, take a picture by the sign, peek inside to see what inspired the show (though I'm not sure they sold 'cheers' branded socks and baby clothing back then), and head over to another restaurant if you want to eat. The "eNormous' burgers are just above McDonalds quality, and the other character inspired dishes are just not enticing or appetizing either. I sure hope they don't make a tv show about any of my favorite restaurants in the near future...

hans simon f.

Yeah, I finally made it to my favourite TV watering hole!!

Moses G.

tourist trap but worth the experience.

Joseph W.

The kind of place that I would hate if I didn't love Cheers so much. So I was 'that guy' who was singin' theme song over and over again. I don't care if it isn't cool. I loved that show and Cliff, Lillith, Carla and everything.

Sonny S.

I like every other tourist, went to check out the Cheers bar. I was fairly disappointed in the overall experience. I didn't expect it to match at all from the show, but not even the vibe or anything resembled it. The beer was nothing special and the food was pretty bland. The staff was pretty rude; I can imagine how many tourists are disappointed with the bar when it isn't up to par from the tv show. Nothing special and not even worth going in; you can take pictures from the outside.

Brian H.

This gets a one purely on the fact that I expected it to be even some what like the bar on the TV show. I realize it is still a tourist attraction, but I was insanely disappointed. Everything seemed over priced and cluttered. Even when you sat at a table it still seemed like their plan was to pack as many people in as possible. The food was mediocre and drinks were above average for the area. The service was pitiful on the night I went. I thought I may have been too hard on this establishment at first because I wanted it to have the Cheers vibe I expected from the show. Not only did I not get that feeling, but I really felt like this was a place I never cared to go back to. If you want your picture with a cardboard cut-out of Norm...stop in...but just for the pic.

Aclaire H.

Clam chowda was good! Mmmm.

Alena B.

It's pretty small and obviously crowded. It's typical bar food and typical drinks and higher than average prices. The location is top-notch though. I Beacon!

Lauren P.

I am ashamed to admit I have finally been here. I would like to try to redeem myself by saying I was forced by a friend who had never been to Boston before... Anyway, its true you will not find a SINGLE person in this bar actually from Boston or the Boston area. In fact, we came across people from North Carolina, Wisconsin and even Washington State... all in their newly purchased Boston/Celtics/Red Sox gear. There's even a gift shop attached, and an employee walks around to each group 10 minutes before it closes to let you know its your last chance for paraphernalia. To call this bar touristy is to say Anne Coulter is just a little conservative. The bouncer ("host") means business and does not appear to want to know your name, nor is he glad you came and he has to deal with you. The bartenders were friendly enough, the beers were overpriced. Now let's never speak of this experience again.

Lisa O.

Hi, my name is Lisa and I've been to Cheers waaaay more times than I'd like to admit. Seriously, every out-of-town guest who has come to visit me in the last 4 years has demanded we go to Cheers. And I am nothing if not an accommodating hostess, so I comply. Really, it's not that bad. Definitely touristy, definitely overpriced and definitely not somewhere I would go unless forced, but not horrible. They have decent sandwiches and burgers although they cost about $3 too much. Floofy drinks aren't worth the money so get a beer, kick back and revel in the kitschy touristyness, content with the fact that you won't have to come back until the next visitor arrives.

Sarah P.

I went here with a friend who was visiting from out of town. We went on a Saturday and the place was packed, but we still got seated right away. We both had burgers, my friend a classic burger and me a blue cheese burger. To my surprise, it was the best blue cheese burger I have ever had--really, very delicious. The fries were good as well. My main complaint about the place is that it is small and packed to the brim. We sat at a tiny table about six inches away from the tables on either side of us. People were seated at the bar and at tables and were also just standing--most people appeared to be tourists, which didn't bother me, but if you aren't tourist friendly I wouldn't recommend this place.

David L.

Eating here is more for the experience of being at the bar that inspired the Cheers TV show, and probably less for the actual beer and food. Everyone who comes in here should and probably do know that. They do accommodate tourists well: 1) The Cheers sign is out on display and their staff is even more than willing to snap your picture on your camera for you. 2) They have gift shops are located on the main floor and within the dining area. 3) 10% off gift shop or food purchases can be found in various travel brochures. Despite being a tourist trap, their food is not that overpriced and is really not that bad. I had the Frasier's Chicken Panini ($10.95, served with potato chips) and my wife had the bunless burger ($9.95, served with caesar salad). Bottom Line: It was a satisfying meal and the service was decent.

Stephen B.

It's crowded. Why? I have no idea. The only connection this place has to the TV show is the sign out front. Still, the bar has managed to profit from the connection, as it offers souvenir mugs, t-shirts, nuts, umbrellas, breakfast cereals, orangutans, sloths, and giant komono dragons. They even offer menu selections, with food quality just a hair better than hospital cafeteria. Do yourself a favor and take a picture out front with the sign and move on. You're not missing much.

Amy S.

We didn't stop to eat or drink or buy souveniers when we went. I just HAD to go because...you know...it's Cheers. I was too proud to even take a picture outside with the sign. I didn't wanna look like a dumbass tourist. I should have. I was a tourist. And I want my damn picture with the Cheers sign. The place was so dark and crowded and loud, I couldn't imagine actually staying there to do anything but cry in the corner about how it was nothing like you expected. I will go back for my picture one day though!

philip m.

I am sure there are cooler bars and pubs around the area. But it IS the bar that inspires a period defining show, it deserves a special place in the hall of fame of bars.

Joselita T.

We split a petite burger and fries and a beer for ~$16 at the Cheers set on the 2nd floor (next to the gift shop). It's a small place so it gets crowded easily but it has everything that you see when you watch Cheers. Great atmosphere and everyone is just super friendly :)

D S.

Best clams. Lots of tourists but fun place, reasonable food.

Dave C.

Don't expect the TV show bar inside, but we had a good pint and burger,; both were tasty! This building is also amazing (again, don't expect the tv show setting). Have a walk through the building and check out the fantastic spiral staircase at the back of the building.

Kyle B.

This place should be avoided... WAY overpriced for food that was mediocre at best. They are very busy and very disorganized. As we were waiting for a table, 3 groups of people walked buy us and just took a table.. When the greeter came to take us to our table, the people who chose not to wait and were sitting where we were to sit refused to move so all she did was shrug, and tell us that we would have to wait a little longer..... You really had to be there! There are MANY better places very close to here. When you think about it, it is only a cheezy tribute to a cancelled TV show... if you love Cheers, buy the series on DVD, and have a meal somewhere else.

Anna B.

Over the years I have taken many tourists here for average meals - they get to take pictures and say they were here. I expect little from touristy places and this is as touristy as it gets. But the food used to be edible! Tonight I took 5 tourists to Cheers and wish I hadn't. My burger tasted like greasy cardboard and 2 people said the fish and chips were "disgusting". The only thing people liked was the lobster-artichoke dip which was so small it was gone with, like, 10 chips. We were left with a massive pile of chips and no dip for them. If you must go to Cheers my recommendation would be to have a beer, take your pictures and leave.

Nhan T.

it is what it is. it's touristy, its crowded. waitress was attentive if a bit short, though it didn't seem terribly busy a saturday afternoon/early evening. even so, we didnt have a wait for our party of two. got the chowder, which was good, and the calamari, which was okay. beers were good. picked up a mug as a cheesy souvenier, because why not? although the server never mentioned to us that it's cheaper if you buy a drink, so i almost wound up paying $9.50 instead of $6, but luckily my bf saw a sign that advertised the cheaper price.

Antonio A.

The first time I went to Boston (now that I think of it, it was also the only time I've been there), I just HAD to stop by Cheers and see what was up! When I first spotted the famous awning outside, I thought, COOOOOOOOOOOOL and immediately began snapping pics, enough to make even the most hardcore Japanese tourist proud! This all took me back to my childhood of watching Cheers on TV, with my favorites, Sam Malone, Norm, and Woody! Made me remember how much I used to hate that annoying beyatch Diane too! However, when we sat inside and ordered up our food, I realized that it was nothing more than Boston's own version of TGI Friday's... which, is okay I guess, since I wasn't expecting awesome food or anything. The food was ok, nothing mind blowing... expect typical stuff like buffalo wings, burgers, n stuff like that. I think the reason why most people would go here anyway is just to say you've been there. I know that's the reason I did.

Vik S.

Ok, Ok, I dragged my California-born ass to Cheers to see what is was all about. Great show, medicore bar. At least my souveniers will make my family happy, as this was one of my father's favorite shows. Its tiny!!!!

Pam W.

We came here because we read about it. There is really no where to park if you are from out of town.. We parked a mile away and walked. Dont go here for the food.,we had a bowl of clam chowder and a Ruben sandwich, which we shared both. Let's just say I could have put a cup of 1/2 and 1/2 in the bowl with some clams and cube potatoes and UT would come tasting just like theirs. Ruben sandwich was ok the meat a little chewy for my taste... The atmosphere is why you would go and the waiter was friendly..

Marc C.

stop for what it's for... a place for Cheers fan wich i am. i stopped to get a couple of beers at the bar, took some pictures, bought 2 souvenirs and that's it!!! and for a tourist place the prices did not seem exagerated

Dan L.

God damn tourist trap. I am giving this place 2 stars for 2 reasons. Reason one. The outside of the building is the only thing common with the TV show. Reason 2. They have booze. Nothing about the inside resembles the show, so it's majorly disappointing. It's one of those places to go just to say I went, but other than that, don't waste your time.

Kyle D.

Go where everyone know your name. I like the appetizers here, including the mozzarella sticks.

Melissa B.

It's touristy but that's what you expect at the bar where everybody knows your na-ame. bum bum bum bum. It was a good pit-stop after a day of touristy stuff. I enjoyed having my first Sam Adams Seasonale. Why isn't that stuff more commonplace especially around Boston? The cup of chowder, I have to admit was pretty damn good. Me likey. Fried tasting platter, fried well. Unfortunately I didn't get a chance to try their bloody mary's which apparently won an award. For me, I expected it to be crawling with tourists and it wasn't at all. Pleasant surprise all around with the food, cheap beer and nice tender at the bar. Cheers you have my vote!

Kathleen A.

I didn't think my experience was bad at all.. Good burger. Tasty fries. Decent clam chowder. Beer on tap. Good service. Unexpectedly short wait. I was happy. Sure, there is probably some hole-in-the-wall in Boston that has cheaper and better burgers, but, it's a fun spot to visit, especially if you have just moved to Boston (me), or if you have visitors, regardless of whether or not they were a fan of the show. Cool beer mugs!

Christopher N.

How did I miss this one? I went some time ago. I remember watching Cheers each night before bed as a kid. Visiting the actual bar was symbolic of sorts. The place is sort of a Boston passage to the past. We had a beer and some appetizers. The food was typical "bar food". Greasy! Not my style. Nonetheless, it had to be done. Won't be back, but glad I went.

megan f.

Very tourtisty. Not what I was expecting but it's Cheers so I had to give it at least 3 stars

Liz K.

You go here if you're a tourist or hosting tourists. We went for lunch at 2pm on a Saturday and still had to wait 35 minutes. The food and drinks arent that much to make the trip for, just the concept that you're going to Cheers.

Gabrielle P.

VERY touristy. We grabbed a few (overly priced) beers and were not impressed with the menu. We really just came here to say that we had a beer there and to take a few pictures. It really wasn't anything special.

Andy H.

People (mostly tourist) will go to Cheers for the sake of going. Just go, order your burger, fries, and beer, then perhaps grab a nice Cheers mug on your way out. Once you're outside, stretch out your arms and take a nice stroll through Boston Common. Don't worry, if a homeless person approaches you in the park, tell him/her that you just came from Cheers. Food: sucks. Atmosphere: whatever.

Ed M.

Cheers is truly a friendly place and I suspect that if you go often enough everybody knows your name. We stopped there for drinks while in Boston for a wedding. We had a light lunch while we were at it. The food is OK. The atmosphere is what this place is all about. Drinks are a bit on the pricey side but it is Boston. It's certainly worth a visit.

Toni D.

Tourist spot. Food wasn't that great. A little over priced bar food.

Sara S.

Whatever. This place is fine. While it's really for the tourists, I used to go here quite often for a quick, casual meal in Beacon Hill. It's all pub grub food and average; chicken fingers, fries, nachos, and grilled chicken sandwich are all decent. Nothing on the menu is a standout at all; but I guess if you're Cheers, you could potentially serve crap and it wouldn't matter. Prices are one thing it has going for it, as it's one of the few touristy places that's not completely overpriced.

Ameer N.

it felt like TGIF took over the old cheers joint but kept the sign out front. i stopped in and had myself a coors light. this experience was just not as cool as i thought it would be.

andy m.

Went there on a Thursday night around 10pm., could not sit at a table and have a drink. No one came in to sit at a table after that. This place is a joke. We had to crowd around the bar to have a drink and the table sat empty. A very poor way to treat customers.

Mike J.

cool for a photo or too but a waste of time, way too crowded

Annie P.

What did all of these reviewers that gave terrible ratings expect? This is a touristy place, not your local neighborhood pub. I love this place! We come here every year when in town for the marathon. Love the location-- right across from the Boston Common and in the cutest neighborhood ever. It's a bar. They have normal drinks and a good atmosphere. The staff we encountered seemed very friendly and ready to talk Boston sports-- or trash talk the sports of your home town. It may be a cheesy, touristy place, but I have to visit every time I come to Boston.

RJ M.

The place is pretty small so don't even think that the inside looks like the "Cheers" you normally saw on television. It's definitely a tourist place. While the service good the food was just okay. We just had appetizers, a pie and a bowl of clam chowder. I thought that for a tourist spot it should of had decent chowder, but I've had better from a can. Next time I'd come by again for a drink and a light snack, but not to eat a full meal.

Only really worth going for Novelty value alone as the food and drink are massively over-priced for the quality and the service isn't particularly friendly. Gets really REALLY busy so expect some queues especially if it's raining!

Kat L.

Nice wait staff and decent beers on tap. Worst salad ever (brown iceberg lettuce, limp veggies) and way overpriced! Tourist trap for sure. Would not recommend. Both my husband and I were not feeling so hot the next day. I want the $30 we spent on a garden salad, sandwich (with chips only) and a beer back!

Francesca R.

I went here upon the insistence of some out-of-town guests. If it weren't so overpriced, I think I would give it three stars. The burgers were good, the atmosphere was pretty fun, the service was surprisingly decent given that this place is patronized solely by tourists. But because it's Cheers, the prices are cranked up, which is just lame. So I won't ever be back, even if someone insists. Just take a picture of the sign and go a few blocks over to the much better 21st Amendment for your burgers.

David H.

You have to eat at the original cheers! Don't go to the fake one! Burgers were great and souvenir mug was awesome!

E T.

Probably the sadest part of my trip to Cheers is when the 18 year old kid next to me at the bar asked his friend, "Is this a famous restaurant or something?" I don't think I've ever felt so old before. Don't they have Nick at Night in the college dorms? Okay ... anyone coming here and not realizing that they are stepping into a tourist trap is not going to like this. You go to Cheers because it is Cheers. There are a bajillion bars in Boston offering better buffalo chicken fajitas or hot wings than Cheers. Some things to know ... outside, it is where the exteriors of the show was filmed. Inside, it looks nothing like the bar from the show. Anyone who doesn't realize that they film television sitcoms on sets vs. on location won't like this place. This is (one of) the bars the show was BASED ON. You see a lot of dark woods, brass bar rails and stuff hanging from the walls and ceilings here, just like the show. However the actual restaurant and bars are much smaller, more crowded and less clean looking. There are still crowds here on weekends. Back when the tv show was still on the air, you literally had an hour wait just to sit at the bar. Now, you can pretty much walk in at any time and get a table. The hosts are either incredibly rude or aloof because most times you just walk right by them and they are looking down reading or something. My advice is to sit at one of the bars and eat. Kids can sit at the bar until 10 p.m. There are plenty of tables as well, but come on ... you don't come to Cheers to sit at a table. The food here sucks. It is pretty much on par with any decent college cafeteria you go to. Maybe just a bit below a casino buffet. I don't kid. It's pretty bad stuff. It is almost insulting to read the menu because every single menu item is named after a character in the show, even though in the show the bar served no food. The Fraiser Crane Salmon Sandwich, Norm's pub burger or Cliff Clavin's bowtie pasta are pretty cheesy. They even go pretty deep into the cast of characters to name food bringing back obscure characters. In fact, this bar should change the name from Cheers to 'Cheese' because the branding here is waaaaay overly cheesy. However, for Boston ... the prices aren't as bad as the food. Average is around $10 per item, which is good for Beacon Hill. And, if you come to a tourist trap looking for good food ... I don't think you belong on yelp in the first place. If Guy Fietti is your idea of a good chef, you probably won't mind the cooking here. otherwise, just shut up and eat it and enjoy the scenery. The fact that you can pretty much buy a souvineer of anything with the Cheers name screen printed onto it. Who doesn't want a beer mug, key chain or sweatshirt for $30 with the name of a show that went off the air 20 years ago on it? Inside is a warm and friendly type of atmosphere ... I think if this was a local bar and not full of Japanese tourists, it is the type of place I would want to throw back a few beers with the regulars if I lived in Boston. Of course, the concept of the show is a lot better than the actuality of it considering that Norm and Cliff and Carla and Sam would probably pay close to $40 per day just to park their cars because there is no parking nearby, except for the big garages or resident spaces. And of course if Norm drank from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. every single day he would look more like Keith Richards and it is doubtful he would still have his license after attempting to drive home to Vera every night after 32 beers. Of course in 10 years kids will ask of Cliff Clavin, 'What is the post office?' Because by then it will probably be out of business the way it is being run. These are type types of observations you and your friends/family will have time to make during the course of your dinner or lunch at Cheers. And you will take plenty of facebook pictures.

Ayshen C.

I went in expecting a tourist trap but...I was a tourist and wanted to see the Cheers bar, so I wasn't expecting much from the food. Lemme tell you, the lobster artichoke dip WOWED me. Cheesy, gooey, with actual chunks of lobster. Also had the clam chowder, it was...as my waitress put it, wicked good. Plus I got cute touristy souvenirs with the logo.

Antoinette P.

It is what it is, people; a tourist attraction. If Cheers is your show, you might be disappointed; however, I found it satisfactory for a pit stop during a long day of sightseeing. We stopped in for a beer and water, and a couple people from our group stopped in the gift shop to buy shot glasses for family back home. The prices were not as expensive as I had expected for beer, and I was quite happy with the kitschiness level of the bar. Who doesn't like taking pictures with cardboard cut outs while getting a midday buzz with the fam? My suggestion is to use the bar for what it's worth--an excuse to day drink and take pics while seeing the city.

Cynthia L.

THE CHEERS BAR IS FREAKING AWESOME!!! Jake, our bartender, was hilarious. My friends and I were all visiting from out of town and we had a great time.

Chrizzle D.

No one knew my name. =( That being said, it was alright. We managed to get a seat at the front bar as soon as we walked in. The beer was, surprisingly, reasonably priced. Either way, I don't think we'll be back. Lots of other great bars in Boston.

Lauren L.

Sure, a tourist attraction, but my friend from out of town said she wanted to check it out, so I was game! I had never been there! It was in the early afternoon and we sat at a high top near the window. The bartender/server was pretty attentive, albeit busy. We each had a few beers, enjoyed the tourist views, and generally just hung out. Minuses: bathrooms were limited and needed attention, both upstairs and downstairs. It's really loud in there, there was a table of about 15 people, plus 4 screaming and crying children. I'm glad we ate at Bombay Cafe before coming here, the food offerings on other tables looked pretty sad, and I'm doubtful there is anything vegan friendly here.

Monica F.

So this is what it really looks like.... Teeheee. Cozy little bar....Friendly Bartender... A few selection of beer.... and $5 souvineer Cheers mug. Oh, why Not. If you're a fan of the show..then yes..have a seat at the bar...get a drink, and get friendly... If you're not... Meh. Go find another bar for a more decently priced bottle.

Lauren T.

As a tourist, I found this place pretty darn good! It was better than I expected. I had the Grilled Salmon Fillet and it came with veggies, lots of them! It was a generous portion all around. For dessert, I shared a slice of Boston Cream Pie and it was delicious! If you're concerned about calories, definitely share with others.

Joanna S.

Straight up one of Boston's best tourist attractions. It's even hard to get a seat here, with people from all over the world visiting this famous hit TV show spot. Growing up, I always watched Cheers with my dad (partially because Sam Malone was so hot). So, it was fascinating to come and actually see the familiar sign outside, and the stairs to go down to the cellar main door. Don't expect anyone to know your name in here though. It's a pure tourist attraction, and they're main goal is to keep people moving on through. We snatched up a bar table upstairs, and grabbed a BAHHston Lager. Even the beer mugs were great replicas of the show, with Cheers written on them. There's about 3 areas for souvenirs and memorabilia and the TV show theme song playing everywhere. Ah, really takes me back to childhood and memories of the show. I must admit, I was quite a giddy tourist!

Dean S.

I stopped by here as a tourist on my way back to my friend's apartment after a long day of walking around and enjoying the sights and sounds of Boston. A few days earlier I stopped by the bar in NYC that they based the setting of "How I Met Your Mother" on a whim. So naturally, I wanted to make it 2 for 2 in terms of visiting TV show bars. Anyway, this place was okay, but I don't think I'd ever come here for any other reason that to say that I was at "the Cheers bar." I mean, if I lived here I would not make this place my usual hangout because of all the fucking tourists. But other than that, this place is okay. The ambiance is pubby, with tons of memorabilia (both sports and Cheers related) whored out everywhere. I looked around, took a picture or two and got a beer. It was kind of on the pricey side for a cold frosty one, but what can you do. Oh, and nobody knew my fucking name! It's a bar built on lies!

Dan B.

Came here because my girl was dying to try the New England Clam Chowder soup. We didn't do a tour and there was no wait time to grab a table and just reminisce of the show. The waiter mentioned that the upstairs bar and eating area is not the replica model of the bar in the show, which is where we ate. Downstairs is a replica model of the bar but there was a private event going on down there so we didnt get to see it. I def recommend this spot for a bite to eat and just some sight seeing. Across the street you have a beautiful park with an ice skating ring.

Stephanie S.

We were a little sad that no one actually knew our name...but despite that we still were glad we came! The place is actually huge with several levels and small alcoves, so it would be easy to get turned around. We were a little sad we had to sit upstairs and not in the bar area that looked like the set from the TV show, but the beer was still cold, the food was still hot and tasty, and we still got to go to the gift shop so all was not lost. We were worried it was going to be way crowded but we got a table right away (on a Sunday afternoon). The staff was friendly, and we enjoyed the menu selection. The rueben was great! I would definitely recommend stopping here, it isn't as much of a tourist trap as we thought, reasonable prices and the food is good.

Alana C.

Obviously this is a tourist place and it has standard pub fare. There are few pubs that I go to and think "WOW these fried plates of grease are the best I've ever had!". You go because it is Cheers and take pictures in front of the sign and maybe get a shirt for your dad. I can't imagine anyone having such expectations of a bar that is supposed to be your standard neighbourhood bar in a TV show...from the late 80s early 90s. I had a cheeseburger and fries with a Coke - not unbelievable but very good. Manage your expectations and this place will give you want you want: artery clogging goodness with a hint of nostalgia.

Bob M.

Stopped in for a beer and the atmosphere was great. The bartender had a personality of a grape. I had more conversations with the patrons. Too bad the bartender didn't offer up more. I will return only for a beer.

Patricia S.

Stopped by the original Cheers for a quick drink and to take pictures. Fun locale of the set of Cheers. Got a nice recommendation for dinner. Always ask the locals for the best locations.

Sharon M.

I went inside, but didn't get anything to eat inside, so I don't know if I am qualified to offer a review, but if you grew up watching cheers like I did, then just going to see the sign and the inside was enough to make me happy. I had never been to Boston before, and seeing Cheers was definitely on my to-do list.

Julia S.

Walking in, the host pointed us to the back rather than bringing us which I thought was very unprofessional. It was really cool to see but their food is not great at all... In my husbands words- "this was the only piece of bacon I've ever had to spit out." The atmosphere is good, but don't expect anything other than mid grade service with low grade food at a high price and you'll be set :)

Annamarie T.

Although this is a tourist trap, it was not bad at all. The food was good and so was the service, making it an overall great experience. Came here for an early dinner so I was able to skip the whole long wait for a table which is always a plus. Our server was friendly and helpful and did a good job taking care if out table. I end up ordering the burger which was delicious, and came out quickly. One random thing that made me happy was they offered muenster cheese for their bugers, my fave. All in all great place def worth checking out.

Robin K.

Okay! I loved this place... Everybody told me that it was going to be a disappointment to go here... I loved it. You go in and yes it's not the same, but the bar is dark down below and continues upstairs where there is light and many Tvs. You could catch a game, drink, eat and make friends. We sat down and immediately made friends with the people next to us. How is that a disappointment. That sounds just like cheers tome...

Channa P.

Not much to say here. It's Cheers, so I went for the name association alone. Unfortunately, I was not able to go to the original. Nonetheless, I went and got what I consider to be pretty good buffalo wings. They were decently spicy, but I could have had a bigger portion. I can add my travel companion that pretty much eats wings wherever he goes noted they were the best wings he' had in a while. The burger on my friends plate looked good, but not amazing. What can I say, no one here knew my name. But, the waiter had great things to say about Tennessee. I can't argue with that.

Dave A.

Cool because it was inspiration for the show. They serve a Sam Adams beer you supposedly can't get anywhere else. It was good. Smaller than you would think if you only knew it from show. Service was good people are friendly. Nice location. Didn't try food because I heard it was typical bar food.

Cherine A.

I visited here on a work trip to Boston. Since I'd never visited the city before, I wanted to do at least one touristy thing, so my boss and I came here for dinner. We sat at the bar to eat since there were no tables available, and the two bartenders were friendly and put up with all of us tourists nicely. The group next to me asked one of the bartenders to take picture of them, and she took several to make sure it came out well. Don't come here for the food. It's just not very good. My Caesar salad was overloaded with parmesean, and some of the lettuce was turning brown. I picked at it but I ate less than half of it before giving up. As for my meal, I was the weird person who ordered mac and cheese. The bartender had said it was good, but I respectfully disagree. It was bland and soupy, and the panko breadcrumbs they put on top weren't even browned. I ate maybe a third of that. Like one of the other reviews said, you come here to take a picture in front of the place and buy a souvenir. I did manage to buy a shot glass (I collect them) and mug to mark the occasion. I was young when Cheers was on, but I loved the show, so I can cross this off my bucket list.

Carina R.

Being in Boston, I had to come to Cheers. I mean Cheers - where everyone knows your name, right?! Sadly though, no one knew my name there. And it just wasn't the same as it was on the show. Nonetheless still cool to be in the bar. However, if it weren't for the show, the bar would be nothing special at all. They have several bar areas to sit and then seating for food and dining. We decided just to have beers. They had a pretty good selection of beers on tap and the bartender who served us was nice enough. The food didn't look that great, though. If it weren't for the name and the show, I don't think a lot of people would go to this place. It seemed like it was mostly tourists and out of towners anyways. Ehhh...

John C.

Great to see where the outside shots of Cheers were filmed. Bar inside not like the TV program. Glad we went and the beers were not too expensive!

Jennifer H.

You come here bc you have to...I mean, it's Cheers after all. That said, the food is horribly sub-par! I ordered a turkey sandwich, sticking to safe and simple and it was disgusting! The cheap turkey wax covered in gel and never mind...the food was horrible, but hey--I've been to Cheers.

Samuel C.

Sometimes you wanna go, where everybody knows your name... and there always glad you came... yada yada.. Can't make a trip to Boston without going by Cheers. The classic Norm arguments. The dry kelsey Grammer comedy; classic 80's show. If your a beer drinker, there is a unbelievable large selection of local beer. The ultimate challenge is the the 2lb burger. 2 patties, an onion ring, and ALL the fixings on a whole wheat bun. I watched 2 CHUMPS try and fail. Try at your own risk!

Jonathon C.

Very good experience. Didn't have food just a Sam Adams at the bar! I grew up watching Cheers so the entrance is exact but the inside is way smaller. Very touristy, but you have to see this place if you've ever watched the show!

Amy G.

Cheers would have been more special for me if I were a fan of the show but I'm completely clueless about the sitcom so this place held no significance for me in that respect. We had reservations as a group of more than 24 people and were limited to a smaller menu of about four different entrees, which sucked. I got the Cheers burger, which is the most standard burger you can imagine with a patty, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and fries and a pickle spear on the side. I barely ate it though because I had had a hamburger the previous night and did not desire a heavy lunch. This place is probably fun for followers of the show, but the food did not impress. I would suggest just looking around if you're curious but patronizing a better restaurant nearby.

Cathleen S.

They didn't know my name, but they poured a mean Bloody Mary. Stopped in here before a visit to the park. It was mid-day, the place was busy. Our bartender was very nice. She made a seriously spicy bloody mary - tasty. A tourist place for sure, but, if you're a fan of the show Cheers, you gotta stop by here just to see the famous staircase.

Theresa M.

Cheers is a great place to visit if you happen to be in Boston and looking for a bite to eat. I've gone here several times after ice skating on Frog Pond and I think it's great. The prices are acceptable and the food is good. They have a nice selection of beers; some that are not even available elsewhere. I usually get the Chili and my boyfriend likes the Clam Chowder. I have no complaints. The service was friendly and efficient. Lots of memorabilia displayed from the TV show (which I enjoy as well) and they even have a gift shop.

Mariana C.

Great Burgers paired with a cold Sam Adams-Heaven. Love the Bloodies. Services always good. Prices are fine.

Tony T.

Drinks are good enough but the food was pretty awful! Burgers are clearly cooked from frozen. I'd do a better job cooking them myself at home. Yuck!

Simon W.

The most familiar bit about the original Cheers is the frontage and signage once inside, you'll find somewhere that sort-of looks like the set from the series, but is more packed than on any night Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson were serving.Summing up - a slightly overpriced and hugely overcrowded tourist trap. The beer is at least cold ( the bar upstairs is somewhat less cramped), but you'll struggle to find somewhere to sit at popular times. The food ( unsampled) looks unexceptional. The venue sports a big souvenir shop, if you really must have something with Cheers on it. Looking for a positive, it's marginally more authentic ( if that's the right word for somewhere a bit like a fictional place) than the Cheers themed sister venue over by Faneuil Hall.

Al Z.

I have never been to the cheers place so I figured why not. the three of us put our names on the list, they gace us the transponder beer thing and we went upstairs to the bar. a few minutes later the beeper starts vibrating. We go back downstairs to the hots stand and they direct us to the back room. We arrive and they sat another party instead. They apologized and we continued to wait. The waitress comes back with the manager where he greatly apologizes and buys us a round of drinks! People make mistakes so I was not too upset. the food was good (chicken ciabatta). I recommend this place!

Keith P.

No one knew my name! BUT Jenni and Scott were super cool and played along when I asked them my name for a goofy video. We had the pub skins and they were delicious! Exit through the gift shop....

Athea G.

You go because you're a tourist. You go because you think they'll know your name. And darn it, you go so you can go back to work on Monday and tell everyone you went to Cheers. (Yeah, that show from 20+ years ago...) And, well, yep... I can check this one off my list. Even bought the t-shirt for my dad. And while it wasn't a horrible experience, they could use a new cook. Our server didn't know my name. He couldn't even bring me the burger I'd ordered; or serve the food to the correct person at our table of four. Side salads criss-crossed, dressings miss-matched, and my "Burger Meister" didn't have mushrooms or muenster on it initially. But, once corrected...pretty darn good burger. Oh, and the French fries....boring! Plain. No seasoning, no steak cut or waffle cut or anything. Bor-ring. And I love me some French fries. The Mac-n-Cheese was just about as boring too. Processed brick cheese would have had more flavor. And WHERE did they learn how to pickle?! That was more like a soggy cucumber with slogged thru garlic water and salt before flopping it's way onto my plate. Yuck. But, like I said, you come here to check off an item on the bucket list. Not for the culinary masterpieces. Decent prices in the gift shop too, added bonus.

craizyman p.

aside from the nostalgia of the show, great service staff and just damn good bar food. what else do you need? i get a cheers mug too? place is friendly and a great sport to visit by the park or just a night on the town.

Tammy G.

Speaking as a tourist - which I have done twice now ...it's worth the stop, if you were a fan of the tv show. The re-created bar is really a fun touch, not there the first time I went. The food is what you would expect - decent, and filling. Cold beer....fun atmosphere, and shopping on the way out. If I lived in Boston, I'm sure I'd just go when I had visitors...but that is what the place is geared for, so I say it's a success.

Sun K.

Awesome tourist trap! Bring home the Cheers mug for $6.

Jason K.

My wife and I stepped casually into the Bull and Finch Pub waiting for a sweet Cheers experience. When you get in there, it is nothing like you would expect. We were brought downstairs to a place that had another bar and we were basically in an Applebees. I ordered the taco salad,which was pretty good and a couple of beers I had never seen. Kind of cool. A nice restaurant, good service, but nothing special. Go find a one of a kind restaurant in Boston. Heck, you are on vacation!

Dylan H.

Anyone who ever caught a couple of episodes of Cheers needs to come here when in Boston. The prices are decent, but the pub isn't big. I'd advise a quick beer and a picture before you head back out to the street.

Jaime D.

we came here because my gf wanted too. i don't know much about the show but the beer is good and great prices. can't complain!

Gomer K.

I really liked it here. Not because the facade is from Cheers but because I love historical bars. There's something about drinking at a bar that Ethan Allen may have sets me off. That being said it's full of Cheers fan but what was I supposed to expect. I love Cheers too don't get me wrong but I wouldn't seek this place out because Cliff Claven was supposed to be inside drinking when we was really on a tv set in L.A. I didn't order any food. My friend had the chili and it was ok. Doubt I'd go back.

TennisTravels T.

Had to visit while in Boston. Immediately seated for a late lunch, 2:30. Was extremely crowded. Ordered fish & chips. Received meal quickly, received a beverage refill promptly. Overall service was good; food average; atmosphere great.

Lisa G.

This is the kind of place you go to because it's Cheers and you're a tourist. Otherwise, skip it.

Lisa N.

Tourist trap. Need I say more? Sure it's the set of cheers and it was a little exciting to see, but not worth it to sit and have a bite to eat. Jammed packed with people. Tiny bathrooms. But if you saw Cheers, then check it out and you can say you've been here!

Kelli L.

We have been several times and love Cheers! I would say our only complaint is the menu selection is quite limited...pretty much just burgers. I know it's a bar, but it would be nice if they could diversify their menu just a bit. Other than that though...we have always had great service and the food has always tasted great. I think we always end up sharing an appetizer and the ginormous Norm's burger - and a few beers of course. One time our server accidentally brought me the wrong beer. But I liked what he brought so told him not to worry about it at all and then when he brought the bill he didn't charge me for it. I even told him to go ahead and add it that I don't mind paying - I drank it. But he insisted. Pretty cool I think. The atmosphere is absolutely awesome too, especially if you grew up watching the show. We really love it here and would for sure recommend it!

Sarah H.

the main reason i went here was because it was a tourist attraction, and a good one at that! i thought the decor was interesting and i really enjoyed the clam chowder! might have been because it was so cold out :) i'll definitely be recommending this to my friends that visit boston!

Jeremy S.

Can you say tourist trap?

Nish N.

Maybe if the Woody Harrelson from Natural Born Killers or even Wag the Dog hung out there, I'd consider stopping in. But otherwise, there are plenty of better places to kill some brain cells, with all due respect to a fantastic show.

shannon m.

I am torn between saying that you may as well stop in here if you happen past it while wandering through Boston Commons and saying don't bother. I think I'm leaning toward the latter. Yeah, there are a few things that you'll recognize from the show, but really, it's nothing at all like it. I ended up in some far flug seating area that felt like a addition afterthought. Oh, but Sam Malone's "jersey" was on the wall. Big whoop. Ok fine, the place inspired the show, it wasn't ever meant to be an exact replica. Even so, a visit won't leave a lasting impression and please, please, don't cough up your hard earned cash in the overpriced gift shop. Save it for Quincy Market cart vendors!

Christie L.

Went here on a Sunday afternoon while the parents were in town. I was a little skeptical because I'd been to the one in Faneuil Hall and it was just ok....more of a place to people watch then enjoy food. Here, we walked in and went straight to the back bar rather than wait for a table. It was crowded for a party of four and there were only two seats open. So we ventured upstairs and I'm so glad we did. It's the "set bar" and it's so much more spacious there. We found four barstools in a row and had a couple beers. If you buy a beer there, then you can buy a Cheers glass for only $5 (normally $10 in the gift shop). We also got a petite burger which I loved and some good fries. The wings were pretty good too. We all loved the atmosphere and would give it 5 stars just for that. If we'd stayed downstairs I don't think we'd give it that rating. I'd definitely go here to drink and grab a burger again - even if it is a tourist trap.

Rondal B.

While they did have some good local beer, Samuel Adams and Harpoon, the overpriced bowl of clam chowder was mediocre at best. I would have shrugged the poor service off as just a bad night there but in the four times I've been it's pretty much been the same experience. I wouldn't ever choose to go back but when friends come to visit in Boston they typically want to see the place. If you want to eat somewhere that you are really just paying for gimmicks, go check it out.