Reborn and rebuilt following a devastating fire, this pub recaptures the flavor of the old establishment while offering new opportunities for merry-making. The spacious area offers communal tables where you can gather and partake of local brews, or you can try to score a sidewalk table for the best views of 21st Avenue. A good jukebox plays rocking tunes, and pool tables invite folks to shoot a few rounds. You'll often find the place packed with fun-loving patrons, who socialize and drink while munching on pub fare like burgers and sandwiches.

PEARL DISTRICT. The ivy-covered brick warehouse that houses BridgePort provides initial indication that this is a cool, upscale brew pub. Inside the voluminous space, patrons gather around large wooden tables, quaffing microbrews and talking about the day. The selection of ales on tap is particularly good, and you can accompany them with the brewery's pizzas, which are made fresh on the premises in a wood-fired oven. BridgePort is a great destination for inexpensive eats after you've done the First Thursday gallery walk around the district, too.

Although the Dublin doesn't serve hard liquor, you'll never miss it with the pub's amazing array of draught beers (not to mention its wines). This Irish-themed establishment has more than 80 varieties available, and microbrews from local and international breweries are well-represented. Each night, musicians play live, and you're likely to hear Irish tunes along with classic rock and more. Food includes traditional pub standards like burgers, sandwiches, and fish and chips. If you want to do more than sample the beverages and listen to the music, you'll also find darts, pool and foosball to keep you occupied.

Dim and atmospheric in the Old World tradition, this much-loved pub provides authentic English food and ale in a casual setting. Its selection of beers is global, and the place even serves microbrews that commemorate the pub's 20th and 25th anniversaries. Single malt scotches are desirable too. Pub food options include pasties, steak and kidney pie, Scotch eggs, and a ploughman's lunch. Less adventurous diners find that burgers and sandwiches do the trick. If you're up for a bit of friendly competition, dartboards await. Otherwise, drinking and telling tall tales conveniently pass the time. Cigars are available; smoking is prominent.

Lively, cozy and much-loved, Kells offers an Irish experience tempered just a bit by its northwestern locale. The busy bar is a good place to meet people, while the stone fireplace invites relaxing on cool, damp days. A wealth of brews, including Guinness, will satiate your thirst, and the selection of single-malt scotches and Irish whiskies is enormous. A separate cigar room ensures that you get an extra note of sensory stimulation. Each night, performers regale patrons with Irish music, adding festivity to the whole experience. The menu, should you become hungry, includes classic fare, along with regional items like steak and oyster pie, forest mushroom carbonara and rack of lamb.