Think coffeeshop spiked with alcohol. Overlooking the Mass Pike sits this quirky alternative pit stop, with a truly diverse clientele, an alt-rock soundtrack, and a skater-punk-themed decor. A busy lunch crowd lines up for hummus platters ($6.50), sandwiches and wraps ($6.20-7), and salads ($5.75-6.75). At night, the Other Side feels much more like a bar, as friends relax over pitchers of domestic and imported beer ($16-20) and chips and salsa. Despite the traffic, the patio makes a surprisingly good place to enjoy one of the special lattes ($4.25), smoothies ($4.50), or desserts; a cozy second-story loft adds another seating option. Half sandwich or salad with soup combo $6.75. The Other Side Cafe, or 'Osc' as it is known by some of the spindly hipsters who frequent it, is also known for its chili. The outdoor seating is a lot less posh than other Newbury cafes, but has a funkier people-watching--the crowd that frequents Other Side can be a lot more fun to watch and talk to! They offer brunch on the weekends, and breakfast food all day during the week. Other great offerings include movie nights and trivia. This section contains information from Harvard Student Agencies' Unofficial Guide to Life at Harvard.

They call this restaurant "the place where chefs dine." Housed in the Eliot Hotel at the top of the Commonwealth Avenue mall, this Japanese-French restaurant really knows no bounds when it comes to imaginative food. From French and American classic cuisine, to a Asian twist with Oringer's affinity for the exotic (as seen in his sashimi bar, Uni) Clio is not to be missed. This quaint space makes the top lists of restaurants year after year, and Oringer is added to the list of the best chefs in the country as well. Clio offers private dining as well.

Crazy Dough's has two locations - here and in Harvard Square. In 2007, they won the International Pizza Expo's #1 Pizza in America award. Try the Reuben or Nacho pizza slices. This place has 2 plasma TV's set to the game, a small outdoor seating area, and $1 Pabst Blue Ribbon drafts. You can hang out and watch the game with your friends and a $4 PBR pitcher. Other beer runs from $1.50 to $6.

best dive bar in Boston .....38 years in the city/3 generations

Named after famous boozer-poet Charles Bukowski, this laid-back bar literally has 99 bottles of beers on the wall ($3-8). Catering to non-conformists of all ages, the Bukowski Tavern invites students, musicians, and locals to sample all 99 types of beer and join the prestigious mug club—all members receive their own personal mug inscribed with the name of their favorite dead author. With imports from around the globe and a menu with fabulous descriptions of every brew's flavor and history, this is the perfect complement to your incomplete Harvard education. Enjoy off-the-wall beers with the relaxed, neighborhood crowd. Bukowski's also offers a good lunch and dinner menu (entrees $3.75-7.25) and a great weekday burger special ($1.69). Just make sure to bring cash, as they do not accept Credit Cards. This section contains information from Harvard Student Agencies' Unofficial Guide to Life at Harvard. Cash-strapped students, take note: weekdays from noon to 8pm, plain burgers and hot dogs are $1.69 each (add a buck for cheese or fries).

Bowling, billiards, and a stocked bar. What else could you ask for out of a location? This Back Bay location, Kings, has it all. Stop in to enjoy disco bowling or your turn at being a pool shark. King's can be rented out for your company office party, or perfect for the pair of 2 that wants to duel over the pins. Pardon the pun, but if you are looking to "score" a good time, this is the place for you. Hours = M 5pm-2am, Tu-Su 11:30am-2am

McGreevy's, a sportsbar and Irish restaurant and pub situated on the top of Boylston Street in the Back Bay and a stone's throw from Fenway, is reopened for the first time since it closed for Prohibition in the 1920's. Originally opened in 1894 by Michael 'Nuf Ced' McGreevy who was the bartender and leader of the Royal Rooters, the famed fanatical fans of the Boston Americans (who later would be renamed the Boston Red Sox), it was a sports bar that hosted the likes of Ty Cobb, local Boston politicos and celebrities. Open again by the Dropkick Murphy's Ken Casey, this reinstituted institution wants to bring a piece of history back to the city, and good times all around.

Just across the river from MIT and around the corner from Newbury, this neighborhood bar doesn't really take on the character of either of its “neighborhoods.” Though there's a leprechaun on the menu and Guinness on tap, Crossroads is more about American football on the big screen and fries with your burger ($6.50). Lots of specials encourage patrons to stay and eat and drink through the game. Free appetizers during football games, free wings Tu and Th 9-11pm, and pizza on W with every pitcher. Stop by during football games to munch on the free appetizers put out every quarter. Over 50 types of bottled beer and another 17 on tap (bottles $3.65-4.40, draft pints $3.50-4.60, draft pitchers $10.50-$13.75). No cover. This section contains information from Harvard Student Agencies' Unofficial Guide to Life at Harvard. 'Roads, as its called, is a true find. A real Boston Irish pub where you can relax, enjoy a drink, watch some sports or play darts. It's big with the locals and the college crowd. Cozy, friendly atmosphere with good but inexpensive food.

Woody's offers terrific wood-fire oven pizzas, when you walk in you smell that slightly smoky smell from the oven. They also have salads and sandwiches for the non-pizza eating among us. A full bar occupies one side of the space. It's a great place to come to watch the game and eat and drink well while doing it. Because it's slightly out of the way, Woody's is great for lunch because you can always get a seat. That's not true on a weekend for dinner! Woody's does not accept reservations or separate checks. They do have a 2 credit card maximum on each table.