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).

At first sight, the stuffed buffalo and and wood-panelling adorning the Cactus Club might have you think you've found a Final Club for the southwestern cowboy crowd. Don't be fooled, though—boasting awards for the best margaritas and best fajitas in Boston as well as the best pick-up spot, The Cactus Club lets everyone in, from the afterwork to the college crowd, making for a lively bunch even on weekdays and especially during Sox games, when all appetizers and margaritas are half-priced. Try the Tequila Sunrise chicken ($12) in a limey, tangy sauce with a kick courtesy of its namesake booze, or stick to old favorites like enchiladas, burritos, and fajitas. The Cactus Club is primarily known as a watering hole—try the Horny Margarita ($7) or share a Big Bowl ($15) with a friend. Reservations accepted Su-Th; on F-Sa only accepted before 4pm. This section contains information from Harvard Student Agencies' Unofficial Guide to Life at Harvard. Bring your drinking shoes--- Cactus Club makes some of the best/strongest/largest margaritas this side of the east coast. Try the various flavors and tequillas made by the lovely/flirty bar staff. Small tables in the bar area make this after-work place great for mingling & meeting others with ease. Bottom Line: the margaritas will make you forget about Boston's cold winters and make you think you've gone tropical. It's like a pringle, you can't have just one! They also have a HUGE buffalo over their bar that believe it or not, smoke comes out of his nose!!! You should go if you haven't been here yet.

A Mediterranean Cafe serving up Italian-American cuisine. The menu features a Kobe beef burger (a reasonable $12), traditional pizzas, lobster ravioli, autumn risotto, and a variety of entrees. The atmosphere is modern, sleek, and uppity with silver/white walls and sleek metal accents. The seats are a modernized cork- so that's what they do with the discarded wine corks!. The double sided mirror hides the enormous flat screen when it's not running the latest game. This is a great new restaurant sure to have crowds gather. If you don't like the food, stick to the great bar drinks (Champagne, favorite fruit, favorite new cocktail- $10). A new favorite all around in the Back Bay...

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.

On the corner of Boylston and Gloucester Whiskey's is the all-American sports bar. The bartenders are all tall, thin, and scantily dresssed in short shorts and tight tops. The menu features your typical bar food, along with 25 cent wings on the weekdays. The bar is full both weekday and weekends with post-college kids. The TVs feature music videos and when applicable- sports games. Enjoy 10-cent wings at the bar, Sundays through Thursdays from 4pm to 11pm. Yep, 10 wings for $1. Selected appetizers cost $2.50 on weekdays from 4pm to 6pm. Ladies enjoy free appetizers on Sunday nights from 7pm to 11pm.

If Gandhi ate steak, there's no doubt he would indulge, non-violently, at the Capital Grille. This Newbury St. steakhouse is undeniably one Boston's best. The wood-paneled walls, french windows, and hand-painted portraits create an atmosphere reminiscent of old Harvard—pretentious and proud of it. And while the food is much nicer on your stomach than it is on your wallet, each juicy, tender bite is worth every cent. Steaks may be the restaurant's main draw, but a large fish selection including salmon, lobster, and swordfish is just as delicious, especially when paired with an award-winnning wine. And if you're somehow still not satisfied, a fully-stocked, sinfully delicious dessert menu, with delectable concoctions such as white chocolate mousse or the classic creme brulee, will put you in your place. Reservations recommended. Entrees $27-40. This section contains information from Harvard Student Agencies' Unofficial Guide to Life at Harvard.

A hidden gem amidst bustling Newbury Street comes a bookstore that calls itself “Boston's alternative". This diner-style restaurant draws rave reviews from students and families alike. You can cozy up in any corner and peruse the variety of books, magazines, and interesting knickknacks, or munch on Trident's munchies like classic salads ($8-14), sandwiches ($9-11), coffee, smoothies ($4). They have a great selection of loose teas ($2.50-$3.50) and serve breakfast all day (omelettes $7+). The staff will take a book off the rack for you and let you take it into the cafe. This quiet spot to sit back, chill out, and enjoy, is the perfect break from the craziness of Newbury. They also have a public restroom: on the right, halfway down the store.

This is definitely a place where burly, and surly, men come to drink! Always crowded with Bostonians, Charles makes a mean burger (for a small $10) and a brunch menu that will impress your mother-in-law (some items have a spirited drink included). In the summer, there are long waits for the patio selection, but the inside atmosphere can't be beat. Dark wood work incapsulates the insides, and a small hint of "saloon" with the famous snottiness of Newbury- this place is wunderbar!

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.