Nightlife in Cambridge

Yes, you can hear the cheers of Red Sox fan's during a home game at Jerry Remy's Sports Bar & Grill at Fenway. And the park's right field wall is easily viewed from a spacious rooftop deck. But the interior is what really reminds you that you're dining at the brainchild of the Sox's beloved announcer and former second baseman. Katharine Q. Seelye of The New York Times said in a 2010 article, "The most striking feature inside the restaurant is the view—on television. Two outsize high-definition televisions, measuring 11 feet long and costing $225,000 each, hang above the bar." The "screen monsters" make you wonder if you've stumbled onto the floor of the New York Stock Exchange or a spaceship control-deck manned by extraterrestrial sports fans. If you can't find a seat near the bar, there are 30 60-inch high-def televisions scattered throughout the pub.

Jerry Remy's generously portioned menu has caught as much attention as its collection of huge TVs. Robert Nadeau of the Boston Phoenix said, "Most of the scoring on this menu comes out of a Texas-style barbecue smoker," citing the authentic taste of the beef brisket and the juiciness of the smoked half-chicken. Bella English of the Boston Globe agreed that the large smoker located in the parking lot makes “succulent brisket, ribs, and chicken,” and reported that the huge desserts "must be seen to be believed."

Bella Luna Restaurant & Milky Way Lounge, a winner of several “Best of Boston” awards from The Improper Bostonian, is renowned for its upscale twist on traditional pub fare. Dig into gourmet pizzas, lobster mac and cheese, and ribs braised in Sam Adams “Wee Heavy” scotch ale. Behind a U-shaped bar, bartenders craft signature cocktails and pour pints of American craft beers, including Allagash White, Harpoon IPA, and Left Hand Milk Stout.

The eatery is decorated with a subdued sci-fi theme, with dangling star lights, sparkly blue barstool cushions, and Martian bouncers. Try your hand at Ms. Pacman or MegaTouch, or listen to live music on select nights.

A 40-foot mahogany bar dominates the space at The Spirit Bar, allowing bartenders to slide any of the 50 available brews to patrons while they watch up to eight different games on 12 televisions, including seven 42-inch plasma screens. The bar's year-round premium sports packages keep the apple-red walls echoing with the sounds of professional baseball, hockey, or college football, and it hosts viewings of every college-basketball tournament game and pay-per-view ultimate-fighting event. Dartboards and weekly pub-trivia nights help keep patrons occupied in between athletic broadcasts.

Even the menu strives for an inclusive neighborhood feel, featuring an eclectic combination of international and regional comfort foods. The cooks slather wings with one of 17 different sauces—such as chipotle-bourbon barbecue, caribbean jerk, or garlic and parmesan—and they hand-form each Angus-beef burger patty. Fried fish 'n' chips evoke the menu of a transatlantic pub, and nachos with homemade salsa and guacamole recall flavors from south of the international date line.

At around 10:30 p.m. every night, Mojitos Lounge’s brick walls, plush chairs, and Brazilian-oak floors transform from a cocktail bar to a swanky dance club with just a change in lighting. Sharply dressed patrons gather for the lounge’s high-energy, Latin-inspired entertainment, including signature mojito cocktails, live DJs, and the occasional staged reading of Julius Caesar’s personal diary. To further patrons’ appreciation of Latin culture, Mojitos Lounge also hosts salsa-dancing lessons on Friday and Saturday nights, where students can pick up a sizzling repertoire of new moves to enliven the dance floor or make elevator rides with the boss less awkward.