-- Boston's Hidden Restaurants --

Spirit Bar and Restaurant

2046 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02140
(617) 868-1555 Find location!

Photo of Spirit, Cambridge, MA It is unfair to pigeonhole Spirit as just an Irish pub, as it is often seen as many other things; sports bar, slightly upscale fern bar, neighborhood joint, comfort food restaurant, and so on. But what started out as a mix of all these has become a true Irish pub today, complete with Irish entrees, pints of stout and ale, traditional music occasionally piping through the speakers, a dart board in the back, and lots of dark woods and earthy colors that give Spirit the feel of a Dublin eating and drinking establishment.

Because there is so little parking in the immediate area, and also because it is located about midway between Davis and Porter Squares, Spirit does not usually get the traffic that some of the more popular pubs in the Boston area get. Often on a given weeknight (unless the Red Sox are playing a big game), it is easy to get a table at Spirit, and there are usually several open spots along the bar to sit and enjoy a drink. And, of course, you can get all the favorites at the bar, including shots of Jameson, pints of Guinness and Smithwicks, and a number of other adult beverages from the fully stocked bar.

The food at Spirit is surprisingly good; most entrees are a step above the food you might get at the typical Irish pub. The shepherd's pie is particularly excellent here, with hearty chunks of meat mixed with mashed potatoes and vegetables. Other standouts include the curry chicken (a hugely popular dish in Ireland, believe it or not), the burgers, and the Buffalo-style chicken wings, which may be about the best wings in all of Cambridge.

Spirit might not be the type of place you travel miles to get to, but it is a solid Irish pub that is a favorite among North Cambridge and Arlington locals. And because Spirit isn't well known, if you hit it right, you may just get a prime seat either by the large windows facing Mass. Ave. (they open up in the summer) and/or in front of the enormous TV that always has a game on. As far as Boston-area Irish pubs go, this one definitely gets a big thumbs-up.