Lamplighter built its name on hazy IPAs, and the Cambridge Crossing taproom is the easiest place to drink the full range. Two full bars and an in-house taco stand make it a destination rather than a quick pint stop.
The brewery started on Broadway in Cambridge and opened this second taproom at 110 N First Street in February 2022, steps from the Lechmere Green Line stop, as Boston.com reported at the time. The Cambridge Crossing space is split-level and built around barrel-aging, which means the tap list runs deeper and stranger here than at the original.
The house style is juicy, soft, modern New England IPA, and Untappd reviewers consistently rate the flagship hazy pours among the better examples in the state. The team rotates small batches fast, so the board is rarely the same two weeks running. That churn is the appeal for regulars and the reason to ask what is fresh rather than ordering by name.
Food is handled in-house by a taco stand, which keeps the room casual and the visits long. This is a taproom for beer people who want range and a kitchen that does not get in the way. For more options, see our top 10 craft beer bars in Boston and the wider Boston craft beer guide.
What to order
- 01
Flagship Hazy IPA
The reason the room exists. Soft, juicy, and the truest read on what Lamplighter does best. Start here.
$8 - 02
Barrel-Aged Release
The Cambridge Crossing site leans into barrel-aging, so the rotating barrel pour is the order you cannot get at most taprooms.
$10 - 03
Tasting Flight
Four pours is the smart move given how fast the board turns. The best way to find your beer before committing to a full pint.
$14 - 04
Tacos from the Stand
The in-house taco stand keeps the kitchen simple and the beer the focus. Order a couple to stretch the session.
$5 - 05
Crowler to Go
Fresh hazy IPA does not travel well, so a crowler filled at the bar is the right way to take the good stuff home.
$12
The crowd and the timing
Afternoons skew quiet and good for a flight, while Thursday through Saturday nights pull a younger Cambridge and Somerville crowd that fills both bars. The split-level layout absorbs the volume better than the original Broadway taproom, so even a busy Friday rarely feels packed.
Across roughly 200 Google reviews the Cambridge Crossing taproom holds a 4.4 average, with regulars praising the rotating tap list and the easy Green Line access. The common note is to check the board on arrival rather than chasing a specific beer, since the lineup moves quickly.
Regulars on Untappd and the r/boston beer threads point newcomers toward the rotating barrel program rather than the year-round flagships. The one-off releases are the reason to make the trip rather than buy a four-pack at a store. The taco stand earns its own praise as a rare taproom kitchen that does not feel like an afterthought. The common logistical note is parking, which is limited around Cambridge Crossing, so the Lechmere Green Line stop a short walk away is the smarter way in on a busy night.
Who it's for
- Hazy IPA drinkers who want the full range in one room
- A casual group session with tacos and a deep tap list
- Anyone arriving by the Lechmere Green Line who wants beer steps from the stop
Pair this bar with
Keep the local-beer crawl going at Night Shift Brewing in Boston, chase hazy pours at Trillium Fenway in Boston, or raise a pint at Democracy Brewing in Boston.