Bar
Wally’s Café Jazz Club
A family-run jazz club on Massachusetts Avenue, opened in 1947, with early-evening jam sessions where Berklee students play alongside veterans and live sets every night.
Cheers Beacon Hill
The Beacon Street pub, opened in 1969 as the Bull & Finch, whose exterior appeared in the opening sequence of the TV comedy Cheers.
At a glance
- Type
- Pub
- Area
- Beacon Hill, Boston, United States
- Price
- $$ · Mid-range
- Official site
- cheersboston.com
Good to know
- Full menu
- Gift shop
- Upstairs restaurant
Why we recommend it
Cheers Beacon Hill opened in 1969 as the Bull & Finch Pub, founded by Thomas Kershaw and a partner. Its exterior became famous as the establishing shot in the opening sequence of the NBC comedy Cheers, which ran from 1982 to 1993, and it appeared in all eleven seasons. In 2002 the bar was renamed Cheers Beacon Hill under an agreement with the studio behind the show.
For most visitors the appeal is the connection with the series. The pub describes itself as the Boston pub that inspired it all, and fans come to photograph the entrance on Beacon Street, have a drink and browse the merchandise. The menu covers American classics, cocktails, beer and wine, so it works for lunch or an early dinner as well as a drink. The bar has expanded upstairs into the Hampshire House, which also has a restaurant.
A second, replica Cheers bar at Faneuil Hall closed in 2020, so the Beacon Hill pub is now the place to go. The block outside has been renamed Eddie Doyle Square in honour of a long-serving bartender. As a general tip, mornings and mid-afternoons are the easiest times to visit without a wait, while summer weekends and the hours around lunch can be crowded with fans. Check current opening hours on the pub's website before you go.
Cheers suits fans of the show, families with older children who know the series, and first-time visitors who want a light-hearted stop between sights. It is less suited to anyone looking for a quiet local pub. Prices are typical for a tourist-focused bar in a central location. If you want merchandise but do not have time to visit, the pub runs an online shop.
If you are coming mainly for photographs, the entrance is best captured earlier in the day before queues form, and it is polite to step aside for diners going in and out.
The pub stands on Beacon Street across from the Public Garden, so a visit fits neatly into a walk around the Garden, Boston Common and Beacon Hill. Charles Street, with The Paramount and other places to eat, is close by, and the Massachusetts State House and the start of the Freedom Trail on Boston Common are within walking distance.
Cheers Beacon Hill FAQs
When did Cheers Beacon Hill open?
In 1969, as the Bull & Finch Pub.
Was the TV show filmed here?
The pub's exterior was used in the opening sequence of Cheers, which ran from 1982 to 1993.
When was it renamed?
It was renamed Cheers Beacon Hill in 2002.
Is there food?
Yes. The menu covers American classics, cocktails, beer and wine.
Is the Faneuil Hall Cheers still open?
No. The replica bar at Faneuil Hall closed in 2020.
Is there a gift shop?
Yes, with merchandise also sold through an online shop.
Where is it?
At 84 Beacon Street, across from the Public Garden.
How do you contact the pub?
Call 617-227-9605 or email [email protected].