How many bars and pubs are there in Boston's busiest areas?
We counted 149 bars and pubs within 1 km of the centres of 10 Boston areas. North End is the most crowded at 13.1 per km²; Jamaica Plain is the least, at 1.0.
Mapped
149
in 10 areas
Busiest area
13.1/km²
North End
Average rating
4.2★
places with 10+ reviews
Last scanned
13 October
2026
Bars and pubs by area, most crowded first
Measured within 1 km of the centre: LOW under 5, MODERATE 5–15, HIGH 15–40, INTENSE over 40 places per km².
| Area | Within 1 km | Per km² | Avg rating | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North End4.1★ average | 4113.1/km² | 13.1 | 4.1★ | MODERATE |
| Beacon Hill4.3★ average | 288.9/km² | 8.9 | 4.3★ | MODERATE |
| Seaport4.1★ average | 237.3/km² | 7.3 | 4.1★ | MODERATE |
| Fenway4.1★ average | 144.5/km² | 4.5 | 4.1★ | LOW |
| South End4.1★ average | 123.8/km² | 3.8 | 4.1★ | LOW |
| Back Bay4.4★ average | 103.2/km² | 3.2 | 4.4★ | LOW |
| Charlestown4.4★ average | 61.9/km² | 1.9 | 4.4★ | LOW |
| Allston4.2★ average | 61.9/km² | 1.9 | 4.2★ | LOW |
| Harvard Square4.3★ average | 61.9/km² | 1.9 | 4.3★ | LOW |
| Jamaica Plain4.5★ average | 31.0/km² | 1.0 | 4.5★ | LOW |
Where is it least crowded?
3 bars and pubs within 1 km (1.0 per km²), averaging 4.5★.
6 bars and pubs within 1 km (1.9 per km²), averaging 4.3★.
- AllstonLOW
6 bars and pubs within 1 km (1.9 per km²), averaging 4.2★.
Fewer bars and pubs is not the same as more demand. Look at foot traffic and rents before you read a quiet area as an opening.
How they are rated
All 149 bars and pubs in the 10 areas, by rating. Places with fewer than 10 reviews are counted apart.
- 4.5 and up22 (15%)
- 4.0 to 4.490 (60%)
- 3.5 to 3.919 (13%)
- Below 3.56 (4%)
- Under 10 reviews12 (8%)
Chains seen most
No brand has two outlets inside any one area circle: these areas are mostly independents.
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Questions
Is Boston saturated with bars and pubs?
It depends on the street. Within 1 km of the 10 area centres we mapped, density runs from 1.0 per km² in Jamaica Plain to 13.1 per km² in North End. 0 of the 10 areas count as high or intense competition (over 15 per km²). Check the exact address you have in mind before you commit.
Which Boston area has the most bars and pubs?
North End, with 41 within 1 km of its centre (13.1 per km²). Next come Beacon Hill (28) and Seaport (23).
What is the average rating of bars and pubs in Boston?
4.2 out of 5, across the 137 bars and pubs with at least 10 reviews in the areas we mapped. The highest area average is Jamaica Plain (4.5), the lowest Fenway (4.1).
How was this counted?
We scanned a 1 km circle around the centre of each area on 13 October 2026 and counted every bar on the map inside it. Places missing from the map or opened since are not counted, so treat the numbers as a floor. Circles of neighbouring areas can overlap, so a place near two centres is counted in both, and the figures are not a total for the whole of Boston.