The Burren Team Will Jazz Up Fenway with the Bebop
The Burren in Davis Square, Somerville. / Photo by Greta Jochem for “15 Best Irish Pubs in Boston“
UPDATE, June 15, 4 p.m.: The Bebop is now open, Eater Boston reports. Tommy McCarthy and Louise Costello—musicians who also own the Burren—now have another bar and restaurant with music seven days a week. The Bebop serves weekday lunch and nightly dinner, with dishes like spicy shredded chicken nachos, burgers, lamb stew, and more; as well as weekend brunch.
PREVIOUSLY:
The operators of one of the Boston area’s most unique live music venues, the Burren, are opening a jazz club and restaurant on Boylston Street. The Bebop is taking over the former Pad Thai Cafe, near Berklee College of Music. Owner and partner Tommy McCarthy says the new spot could open by the end of the year.
Boston Restaurant Talk first reported news of the Bebop, as it will be called, thanks to a neighbor who attended a meeting about the proposal.
Twenty years ago, McCarthy and Louise Costello, both musicians from Ireland (and also husband and wife), opened the Burren in Davis Square. In addition to classic fare like burgers, Shepherd’s pie, bangers and mash, French fries with curry sauce, and more, the Burren is a go-to for traditional and contemporary Celtic music. In its Back Room events space, it has presented other genres, including a redux of Johnny D’s weekend jazz brunch with Tom Pendergast after the legendary club shuttered earlier this year.
“We plan to continue our tradition of hosting music seven days at the Bebop and providing lunch, dinner and brunch on weekends,” McCarthy says. There are plans to operate as a “French-style cafe” on weekday mornings, with coffee, tea, crepes, and other pastries.
“The location is brilliant,” he says. “We are so looking forward to creating a vibe of great music and atmosphere at the Bebop that has become a strong tradition at the Burren for the past 20 years.”
The Bebop, coming soon to 1116 Boylston St., Boston, 857-250-4641, thebebopboston.com, the Burren, 247 Elm St., Somerville, 617-776-6896, burren.com.
