Jamaica Plain is not a bar district gathered around one central square. It is a large neighborhood southwest of downtown Boston, with residential streets, commercial corridors, and major green spaces such as Jamaica Pond and the Arnold Arboretum. Boston Planning describes its streetcar-suburb roots and notes that public transit connects its different sections; Centre Street has served as a local retail spine for generations. For a night built around Irish beer, food, and music, it helps to choose which part of JP to visit because the pubs are spread among Forest Hills, Centre Street, and South Street.
In Forest Hills, opposite the Orange Line's southern terminal, Eugene O'Neill's Pub is the easiest stop to pair with public transit. It reopened at its former address in 2022 and now combines dinner with weekend brunch and Tuesday trivia. Its published menu helps set a budget: fish and chips is listed at $23, shepherd's pie at $20, and Irish chicken curry at $21; the Full Irish brunch is listed at $21 and includes rashers, sausages, black and white pudding, eggs, sides, and Barry's tea. The current site does not identify Guinness on its draft list, so availability should not be assumed.
Centre Street offers a different experience at Brendan Behan Pub, a traditional bar with no kitchen. It schedules live Irish sessions on Saturdays and announces food pop-ups, including burritos on certain days; those are variable events rather than an everyday menu. Official pages differ slightly on the session's start time, so check the current listing. Google Maps comments describe a comfortable place to share a beer and mention Guinness, music, and the patio. For a full dinner, do not rely on a pop-up; plan to eat elsewhere along Centre Street.
On South Street, The Jeanie Johnston Pub & Grill combines a casual restaurant and bar. Its website does list Guinness among draft beers, along with Irish whiskey, late-night food, and takeout. The menu publishes starters and main dishes at moderate prices; the weekly schedule includes trivia, open mic, live music, and karaoke. Reviews on the exact branch describe a neighborhood clientele and highlight pub food, service, and entertainment on different visits. The official site links its Facebook page, where it directs readers for event updates.
Geography shapes the choice: Eugene O'Neill's is beside the Forest Hills transit hub; Brendan Behan is on Centre Street; Jeanie Johnston is on South Street. They are not adjoining stops for one easy walk between all three. Eugene has a directly verified Orange Line connection; for the other addresses, enter the exact destination in the MBTA trip planner and check the return journey, particularly late at night. Jamaica Plain is a diverse residential and commercial neighborhood with parks, local businesses, and cultural life rather than one uniform tourist zone. These three options let visitors compare a full meal, a music session without a kitchen, and a grill with Guinness and regular events. Menus and hours can change, so check the official sites before setting out.
Check current details and choose according to your budget, time and way of travelling.
Options to compare
These options relate to the question. Read each profile and check current details before deciding.
Eugene O'Neill's occupies a Washington Street corner in Forest Hills, near the southern end of Jamaica Plain. Its recent history explains its dual role as a neighborhood business and a transit-side meeting place: it opened in 2012, closed in 2017, and returned to the same premises in 2022. Forest Hi
Forest Hills pub and restaurant with a dinner menu, weekend Irish brunch, Tuesday trivia, and cocktails; its menu lists pub dishes from $13 and starters from $10.
On Centre Street, the Brendan Behan Pub is defined partly by what it does not try to be: it has no kitchen and no televisions turning the bar into a sports dining room. Its website describes it as one of Boston's remaining traditional Irish pubs, centered on craft beer, wine by the glass, cocktails,
Traditional pub without a kitchen, serving craft beers, wine, and cocktails; it schedules Saturday Irish music sessions and announced food pop-ups. Reservations are available for groups of up to 20.
The Jeanie Johnston stands on South Street and takes its name from a ship associated with Irish emigration during the Great Famine. The pub's history page explains that maritime reference and recounts the vessel's journeys carrying emigrants from Ireland to North America. The restaurant uses that st
Pub and grill with Guinness and other draft beers, more than 35 bottled or canned beers and ciders, a food menu, takeout, late-night service, trivia, open mic, live music, and karaoke.
Sources & references
Sources for the information and reporting discussed in this guide.
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Official website of Eugene O'Neill's Pub ↗
Primary source
Eugene O'Neill's Pub (official website) · Accessed October 22, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Eugene O'Neill's Pub ↗
Primary source
Eugene O'Neill's Pub (official website) · Accessed October 22, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Eugene O'Neill's Pub ↗
Primary source
Eugene O'Neill's Pub (official website) · Accessed October 22, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Jamaica Plain pub reopens after five years ↗
Primary source
Eater Boston · Accessed October 22, 2026
Local reporting records its 2022 reopening at 3700 Washington Street and locates it across from Forest Hills MBTA station.
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Official website of Brendan Behan Pub ↗
Primary source
Brendan Behan Pub (official website) · Accessed October 22, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Brendan Behan Pub ↗
Primary source
Brendan Behan Pub (official website) · Accessed October 22, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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A Jamaica Plain pub for conversation ↗
Primary source
Axios Boston · Accessed October 22, 2026
Local reporting identifies the Behan as a cozy Centre Street neighborhood pub with a broad beer list and a low-key atmosphere.
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Official website of The Jeanie Johnston Pub & Grill ↗
Primary source
The Jeanie Johnston Pub & Grill (official website) · Accessed October 22, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of The Jeanie Johnston Pub & Grill ↗
Primary source
The Jeanie Johnston Pub & Grill (official website) · Accessed October 22, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of The Jeanie Johnston Pub & Grill ↗
Primary source
The Jeanie Johnston Pub & Grill (official website) · Accessed October 22, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of The Jeanie Johnston Pub & Grill ↗
Primary source
The Jeanie Johnston Pub & Grill (official website) · Accessed October 22, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Jamaica Plain at a glance ↗
Primary source
Boston Planning & Development Agency · Accessed October 22, 2026
Describes Jamaica Plain's streetcar-suburb history, residential and commercial character, Jamaica Pond, Arnold Arboretum, main streets and access by rail and bus.
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Jamaica Plain neighborhood ↗
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City of Boston · Accessed October 22, 2026
City neighborhood information used for district context and local community character.
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MBTA Trip Planner ↗
Primary source
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority · Accessed October 22, 2026
Official route planner for checking current rail, bus and return connections to each separate pub address.
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Eugene O'Neill's reopens near Forest Hills ↗
Primary source
Eater Boston · Accessed October 22, 2026
Local reporting confirms the 2022 reopening at 3700 Washington Street and the pub's location opposite the Forest Hills station.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Brendan Behan Pub (official website) · Accessed October 22, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official pub logo: brendan-behan-jamaica-plain ↗
Primary source
Official business website · Accessed October 22, 2026
Official logo or namesake graphic converted to WebP and saved in logoscia-/us/irish-pubs-boston-20261022.
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Official photograph: brendan-behan-jamaica-plain.webp ↗
Primary source
Official business website · Accessed October 22, 2026
Official photo converted to optimized WebP and saved in fotoscia-/us/irish-pubs-boston-20261022.
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Official pub logo: jeanie-johnston-jamaica-plain ↗
Primary source
Official business website · Accessed October 22, 2026
Official logo or namesake graphic converted to WebP and saved in logoscia-/us/irish-pubs-boston-20261022.
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Official photograph: jeanie-johnston-front.webp ↗
Primary source
Official business website · Accessed October 22, 2026
Official photo converted to optimized WebP and saved in fotoscia-/us/irish-pubs-boston-20261022.
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Exact-branch Google Maps listing and reviews ↗
Secondary source
Google Maps · Accessed October 22, 2026
Exact listing at 3700 Washington St. Rating and review count captured 2026-10-22. Visible comments describe the pub as pleasant for a pint or meal and mention approachable food, friendly staff and trivia; individual experiences vary.
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Exact-branch Google Maps listing and reviews ↗
Secondary source
Google Maps · Accessed October 22, 2026
Exact listing at 378 Centre St. Rating and review count captured 2026-10-22. Visible reviews describe a comfortable place to meet friends for a beer; listing topics and reviews mention Guinness, the patio and live music.
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Exact-branch Google Maps listing and reviews ↗
Secondary source
Google Maps · Accessed October 22, 2026
Exact listing at 144 South St. Rating and review count captured 2026-10-22. Visible comments praise the neighborhood setting, approachable pub food and service; listing topics include bartenders, karaoke and trivia.