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Thu / Feb 25
Party Earth Review Tucked away in the basement of the Cambridge Common restaurant is The Lizard Lounge, one of Boston’s best live music venues that attracts a diverse clientele of students, beatniks, and alternative types. A staircase lined... ... read full review
1667 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
Red Line: Harvard Square
617-547-0759
Daily 7:30pm–2am, though may vary by show
Cambridge / Somerville, Boston –
Tucked away in the basement of the Cambridge Common restaurant is The Lizard Lounge, one of Boston’s best live music venues that attracts a diverse clientele of students, beatniks, and alternative types.
A staircase lined with press clippings and posters leads patrons into what looks more like a comfortable rec room rather than hallowed musical ground.
Crushed velvet curtains and plush red rugs are illuminated by a dim red glow and keep the place homey, a vibe augmented by the fact that there is no stage – instead, musicians perform at eye level with only a Persian rug separating them from the audience. Such an intimate setting can lead to an appreciative hush for solo performers or, at more raucous shows, to lively interaction between bands and audience.
Most nights see a young, hip crowd of musicians and Harvard students mixing with older Cambridge beatniks and local music lovers, all come together to enjoy music ranging from rock to folk, blues, and jazz.
Round wooden tables on either side of the room offer a place for couples and groups to gather, while lone arrivals tend to congregate near the bar in the back corner, where bartenders work quickly to serve up cocktails with names like Croc and Roll.
Offering a little bit of everything, Lizard Lounge is a well-rounded venue where patrons can kick back with cold beers, good friends, and great music.
Harvard students, beatniks, hippies, alternative types, and music lovers, 20s to 40s.
Live music Mondays through Saturdays includes rock, folk, blues, and jazz. Poetry Slam on Sundays.
Bar food, burgers, wings, and sandwiches. Dinner menu available till midnight.
Cover charge $0–$15. Appetizers $5–$9, entrées $5–$10. Beer $4–$6.50, cocktails $6–$13.
Anything goes, from button-downs and slacks to vintage t-shirts and tight jeans.
Friday and Saturday nights when the most well-known bands usually play.
For something more substantial than wings, Cambridge Common is a restaurant located directly above the Lizard Lounge.
Lizard Lounge User Reviews