J J Foleys Bar & Grill

(617) 695-2529

21 Kingston St
Boston, MA 02111 42.3536 -71.0592

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Neighborhoods: Central, Downtown

JJFOLEYSBARANDGRILL.COM

Last updated 8.26.11

Category:

Bars & Pubs, Neighborhood Bars, Bars & Clubs, Restaurants, Taverns, Dive Bars

Payment Methods:

American Express, Cash, Visa, MasterCard

Bar & Club Special Features:

After Work

Minimum Age:

21

Smoking Permitted:

No

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About J J Foleys Bar & Grill

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

The Scene – Tucked away on a side street near Downtown Crossing, this cheap, comfortable and decor-free watering hole is a local institution for thousands of area workers. During the week, a mixed crowd of Financial District personnel and Big Dig laborers settles in after quitting time, while the weekends draw 20-somethings and the occasional group of students. As for the service, anything beyond a brusque smile is a bonus. – – The Draw – With lots of seating and a reasonably priced, well-stocked bar, J.J.'s caters to the drinker in all of us. A limited bar menu…

Editor's Tips

Parking:
Street parking is catch as catch can. Neighborhood streets are deserted most nights; use caution when walking through Downtown Crossing after dark.
When to Go:
This is one of the best bars in town for a nightcap. In contrast to most bars, the bartenders here won't kick you out until 2:30am.
ambiance
66.66999816894531% positive
  1. “The atmosphere was terrible, the service was horrible, all the employees were rude and had bad tempers.”
  2. “Great staff, friendly atmosphere, not full of hair spray, cologne and lipstick.”
  3. “Foley's is a wonderful place for people looking for a good atmosphere and friendly service.”
drinks
87.5% positive
  1. “2.50 for a Pabst and a 2AM last call sold me immediately (both quite rare in the sleepy and snobby South End) but the friendly bar tenders kept me their for a few more rounds.”
  2. “love this bar!”
  3. “An awesome no bar with no pretense or posturing- just cheap beer, great food and decent people.”
  4. “It is a great place to grab a drink (or two) with friends.”
  5. “Cheap drinks, great music”
  6. “knock the place down a star because the beer selection was lacking a bit in my opinion and the bartenders/staff were somewhat friendly, but not very engaging.”
  7. “Good place to drink though I don't recommend the food primarily because the service is so slow.”
  8. “It's a good place for after work drinks and apps and is usu.”
food quality
75.0% positive
  1. “Good place to drink though I don't recommend the food primarily because the service is so slow.”
  2. “An awesome no bar with no pretense or posturing- just cheap beer, great food and decent people.”
  3. “The food is great, not completely my type of a place.”
  4. “My boyfriend normally puts steak sauce on everything, but the steak tips were so delicious that he actually held back on the A1.”
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. “knock the place down a star because the beer selection was lacking a bit in my opinion and the bartenders/staff were somewhat friendly, but not very engaging.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “The food is great, not completely my type of a place.”
  2. “It is a great place to grab a drink (or two) with friends.”
  3. “It's a really nice place to go after you have been clubbing and you don't want to go home.”
  4. “It's a good place for after work drinks and apps and is usu.”
  5. “Defending a great place”
service
82.34999656677246% positive
  1. “Good place to drink though I don't recommend the food primarily because the service is so slow.”
  2. “The Bartender was very friendly, and what I thought would be a gulp n' go lasted 3 hours.”
  3. “The atmosphere was terrible, the service was horrible, all the employees were rude and had bad tempers.”
  4. “All the bartenders are fantastic and I never feel as though I'm different even though I am not exactly white-collar office-working high-roller.”
  5. “The staff is barely friendly to a new face.”
  6. “As a busy psychopharmacologist, I demand excellent service and an expertly mixed cocktail.”
  7. “knock the place down a star because the beer selection was lacking a bit in my opinion and the bartenders/staff were somewhat friendly, but not very engaging.”
  8. “There were smelly, foul mouth, disgusting people from wall to wall.”
  9. “And the bartenders are great.”
  10. “Great staff, friendly atmosphere, not full of hair spray, cologne and lipstick.”
  11. “An awesome no bar with no pretense or posturing- just cheap beer, great food and decent people.”
  12. “bartenders and other staff are the most beautiful, friendly people you'd meet in the area.”
  13. “not only are the bartenders great people to hang with, Foley's boasts one of the best jukebox in Boston.”
  14. “2.50 for a Pabst and a 2AM last call sold me immediately (both quite rare in the sleepy and snobby South End) but the friendly bar tenders kept me their for a few more rounds.”
  15. “Always a friendly crowd.”
  16. “Foley's is a wonderful place for people looking for a good atmosphere and friendly service.”
  17. “Met some interesting people.”
value
100.0% positive
  1. “good time for a great price.”
  2. “An awesome no bar with no pretense or posturing- just cheap beer, great food and decent people.”
wait time
0.0% positive
  1. “Of course if I had a three hour lunch it wouldn't matter how slow the kitchen was.”
  2. “Good place to drink though I don't recommend the food primarily because the service is so slow.”
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

01/13/10

the best bar, period

by jujukoo , Citysearch Contributor at Citysearch

At first glance, there's nothing absolutely special at JJ Foley's. So why the heck do I go to this bar at least three to four times a week?

Basically, the whole experience is great. It's real, authentic, and family-owned. All the bartenders are fantastic and I never feel as though I'm different even though I am not exactly white-collar office-working high-roller. People are always talking about the South End location and raving about it and its trivia nights and awesomeness, but to be honest, the downtown location is as nitty-gritty genuine as you're gonna get.

This bar has my business for life. Folks, you are never going to find anything as authentic as this.

  • Pros: the experience
  • Cons: looking for something fancy for date night? not it
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

11/13/08

the only real bar in the area

by Kcphila at Citysearch

An awesome no bar with no pretense or posturing- just cheap beer, great food and decent people.

2.50 for a Pabst and a 2AM last call sold me immediately (both quite rare in the sleepy and snobby South End) but the friendly bar tenders kept me their for a few more rounds.

It's of a dying breed. Get it while it lasts.

  • Pros: cheap, real
  • Cons: bathroom gets full quickly, second bar is standing only
4 Star Rating: Recommended

09/03/08

Order the steak tips!

by Sinestress at Citysearch

The food I'd give 5 stars. The clam chowder was heavenly and the steak tips were... well, there are no words for how delicious they are. My boyfriend normally puts steak sauce on everything, but the steak tips were so delicious that he actually held back on the A1. Believe me, they have to be very special for that to happen. I had the meatloaf, which was really good as well.

I knock the place down a star because the beer selection was lacking a bit in my opinion and the bartenders/staff were somewhat friendly, but not very engaging. The overall crowd was a bit boring, but maybe it's because we were on the "restaurant" side, not the bar side.

  • Pros: food
  • Cons: people, beer variety
4 Star Rating: Recommended

03/01/07

Defending a great place

by jpbotcheller at Citysearch

The three people who posted before me, must have never been there to say what they said. The food is great, not completely my type of a place. I am more of someone who prefers a DJ to an old jukebox. The staff are good guys which explains why the place is always packed after work. If one of the owners get convicted, then of course boycott the place but in America we are still innocent until proven guilty. How do we know the plaintiff wasn't completely hammered and has no idea what actually happened.

  • Pros: Great prices, they stay open later than they have too.
  • Cons: Just another Irish pub-not much different from all the other bars in Boston
2 Star Rating: Below Average

12/06/06

Hmmmm... doesn't feel right at anytime.

by fishbins1 at Citysearch

I was overcharged more than what the menus stated. The staff is barely friendly to a new face. Perhaps a frequent customer gets better service, but I won't be going back.

  • Cons: Unfriendly staff.

The Details on J J Foleys Bar & Grill

Place Categories:

  • great place
  • great friendly people
  • slow service
  • love bar
  • irish prices
  • fantastic bartenders
  • great food
  • good atmosphere
  • love jukebox
  • great staff
  • very good chill
  • huge irish visitor
  • slow kitchen
  • great cologne
  • delicious steak tips
  • good jj foley
  • cold pint
  • rude employees
  • great music
  • great lipstick
  • friendly bar tenders
  • disgusting people
  • somewhat friendly bartendersstaff
  • friendly crowd
  • great juke box