The Boston Eagle, in the South End

The South End's own delightfully raffish, uncomfortably cozy, yet undeniably festive Boston Eagle (520 Tremont St., 617-542-4494) could be called the "gay Cheers" of Boston. The smallish space serving cheap (and strong) drinks and with a pool table can get mightly cruisy toward the end of an evening, when both locals and tourists on the make congregate to see who's around. Like other Eagle bars, this one had something of a leather following back in the day, but now it draws a varied, mostly male crowd of all ages. It's just down Tremont a short way from Emilio's Subs, a good bet for a late snack.