Nightlife: An Tua Nua

With its laid-back atmosphere and easy access to campus, An Tua Nua has become the stomping ground of choice for many BU students. Located near South Campus, the Irish pub offers good food, cheap drinks, many themed nights, and an inviting dance floor—in short, a great place to grab a pint and a bite.

An Tua Nua (translated from the Irish, it means “the new beginning”) is on Beacon Street just a few blocks from Kenmore Square. Inside the nearly 10-year-old establishment, you’ll find dim lighting, yellow walls, and large tables in the front, with an open dance floor in the back surrounded by booths, perfect for those who want to sit out a song. Most seats in the front offer an unobstructed view of the several large-screen TVs scattered about showing various sporting events. On a warm day, the big windows are open, letting in a cool breeze.

The pub’s festive themed nights mean there’s always something going on. Monday is billed as “Ceremony,” with DJs playing a mix of goth, punk, and industrial. Tuesday is game night, offering video games like Rock Band and board games such as Connect Four and Scrabble. Wednesday features salsa lessons followed by social dancing in one room and karaoke with Kev Mack Daddy in another area. Thursday through Saturday, DJs spin top-40 and ’90s hits. Salsa classes are $12 and there is a $7 fee for the social dancing.

For those who hail from the City of Brotherly Love, An Tua Nua is also the designated meeting place of the Philadelphia Eagles Fans of Boston club. Check the Facebook page for meet-up times and happy hour specials during football season.

The pub’s beer selection is above average, with Guinness, Smithwick’s, Magners, Long Trail, Harpoon, and Leinenkugel all on tap. Sadly, on a recent night, they were out of several of the listed beers, including Harpoon Oktoberfest. But their drink deals can’t be beat, like Thursday night’s Miller High Life drafts for $2.50. There is also wine and a full liquor bar.

The food, while not gourmet, is surprisingly solid and offers some hearty entrees, a perfect way to start a chilly night. Guinness beef stew ($7) is, as the name suggests, beef stew with a cup of Guinness added. The lamb burger ($11) is made Moroccan-style, served on pita with lemon aioli, cucumbers, arugula, and tomatoes and comes with sweet potato fries. The buffalo fried chicken sandwich ($9) and the baked mac and cheese ($10) are also yummy.

A foodie friend recommends the calamari, which, he says, “appeals to the lover of spicy, with thinly spiced fried peppers served alongside it.” Salad dressings are homemade. Appetizers are half price every night except Saturday and Sunday and include pita pizza, spinach and artichoke dip, hummus, and 50-cent wings. A children’s menu is available also.

One word of caution: there is a $5 cover on Fridays and Saturdays after 10 p.m., and the bar can get very crowded very quickly. On weekends the place appeals more to a younger set. It’s also a popular destination during at-home Red Sox games.

An Tua Nua hours: Monday to Wednesday, 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.; Thursday to Saturday, 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.; Sunday, noon to 2 a.m.
Drinks: beers start at $5; a glass of wine is $7.
The bar is 21 plus, but those under 21 may eat before it gets late.
835 Beacon St., Boston, Mass. 02215
617-262-2121
MBTA: Take the Green Line C trolley to St. Mary’s Street, or walk.

Amy Laskowski can be reached at amlaskow@bu.edu.

This is part of a weekly series featuring Boston nightspots of interest to the BU community. If you have any suggestions for places we should feature, leave them in the comments section below.

Read about more nightspots around the area.