Cambridge Brewing Company
aka cbc, 1 kendall square, phone: +1 617-494-1994. this place brews some of the best beer around cambridge. they have a wide variety of choice and it changes depending on the season. this place is very popular among mit community members and tech companies close by.
Lord Hobo
A wide selection of interesting independent draught pints in the $5-7 range and bottled beers, wine and upscale bar food entrees in the $10-$20 range. Opened recently, hence hip and clean.
Bukowski Tavern
1281 cambridge st. inman sq., phone: +1 617-497-7077. they have a menu of beers with pages and pages of choices from around the world.
People's Republik
876 massachusetts av. central sq., phone: +1 617-492-8632. decorated with communist propoganda posters, this bar is quintessential cambridge.
Miracle of Science
321 massachusetts ave. central sq., phone: +1 617-868-2866. popular with mit grads and professors and local tech company programmer types.
The Cantab Lounge
738 massachusetts ave. central sq.. a cambridge staple since the early days of the american folk music revival. small, old-school feel with live music 7 nights a week, focusing heavily on american roots music. the cantab hosts a folk music open mic on monday nights and jams other nights, as well as small- to medium-sized acts every night. a must for those interested in the boston folk music scene.
Plough and Stars
912 massachusetts ave. central sq. (http://www.ploughandstars.com/) another sorta marxist bar down from people's with excellent live music.