THE CANTAB LOUNGE

The Cantab Lounge is a dive bar and live music venue in Central Square at 738 Massachusetts Avenue, operating since 1938. The room features a small stage, low ceilings, and the unpretentious atmosphere of a neighborhood bar that happens to host serious music.

Expect blues, bluegrass, rock, and R&B in a rowdy, no-frills setting. Bluegrass Tuesdays have run since 1993, and the Boston Poetry Slam held weekly residency starting in 1992. The crowd is a mix of regulars, students, and music fans drawn by the raw energy.

The Cantab has operated since 1938, making it one of Cambridge's longest-running bars. Little Joe Cook & The Thrillers held a legendary 27-year residency from 1980 to 2007, playing five nights a week. The venue closed during COVID, was purchased by Tim Dibble in 2021, and reopened with renovations in November 2021.