You know that you’ve stumbled across a hidden gem when even some of the people who go there don’t know what city it’s in. And Tavern at the End of the World is indeed such a place, with more than a few people saying it is one of their favorite bars in Somerville, when in reality, it isn’t in Somerville. Nope, this quirky little watering hole is one of the relatively few dining and drinking spots in Boston’s Charlestown, and is pretty much the only restaurant/bar option in this tiny piece of the neighborhood that is mostly cut off from the rest of the community.
Tavern at the End of the World is located a short distance from the Sullivan Square T stop along with the square itself, which is one of the best places in the city for witnessing true gridlock on a Friday afternoon. There really isn’t much around the area in which it resides other than homes, apartments, warehouses, and railroad tracks, and the exterior of the bar makes it look like a place that locals and only locals go to, which is true to an extent, but it’s not nearly as rough inside as it might appear to be from the street. The front room at Tavern at the End of the World is dominated by an inviting bar, with a real mix of people found in this space: hipsters, blue-collar folk, artists, couples, retirees, etc. The back room is mainly a dining area and tends to be a bit less hectic than the bar, but it also has a section where comedians, bands, and singers perform, depending on the night.
Tavern at the End of the World tends to have a bit of a split personality, sometimes feeling like an Irish pub, other times feeling like a local townie bar, and still other times feeling like a quirky cafe, and the varied menu reflects this to an extent. For those looking for Irish pub fare, the place offers excellent takes on curry fries, toasties (the ham and cheese toastie is what countless pubs serve in Ireland), fish and chips, shepherd’s pie, Guinness stew, and chicken curry, while those looking for either New American or classic American fare might opt for such items as truffle fries, goat cheese with honey, salmon burgers, rib eye steaks, grilled pizza, or roast chicken. One of the highlights on the menu is actually a dessert item; the Irish Mars Bar dessert toastie is an absolute diet-killer, with bananas, Belgian waffles, strawberries, and cream making for a tasty treat that will likely induce you into a nap, though hopefully not before you get home. The beer list at Tavern at the End of the World is very impressive, with some of the best local and national craft beers that you’ll find, including options from Long Trail, Dogfish, Berkshire Brewing, Left Hand, Abita, Mayflower, Six Point, Maine, and so many others.
Back when Tavern on the Water was around, some people actually thought that bar (which was at Pier 6 in Charlestown) and Tavern at the End of the World were one and the same, so this and the fact that some don’t believe that the latter is in Charlestown made for quite a bit of confusion. But Tavern at the End of the World does actually exist, and it is a great little spot for a bite to eat, a drink, and some entertainment.
TAVERN AT THE END OF THE WORLD. 108 CAMBRIDGE ST., CHARLESTOWN. TAVERNATTHEENDOFTHEWORLD.COM
Marc is the founder of @hiddenboston, a textbook editor, a hike leader for @AppMtnClub, and a food and travel writer and commenter for DigBoston, NBC/NECN, WBZ, WMFO and indie617.
