The Beehive -- Live Jazz

Located in Boston’s South End, on 541 Tremont Street as part of the Boston Center for the Arts complex, the Beehive is one of the newest spots in the city for live jazz, a quick drink, or dinner out.

Sandwiched between longtime icon Hamersley’s Bistro and newcomer Sibling Rivalry restaurants, the Center for the Arts is a old converted warehouse that is home to artists’ studios and small theaters. Now the backyard to several pricy condos and dotted with tony shops, this corner of the South End has seen many changes since the turn of the last century when it was the wholesale flower district and the area was dotted with flower markets and rooming houses.

In the past few years, the area has undergone a renaissance of sorts with the opening of the nearby Calderone Pavilion theater. Far outpacing the local theaters in terms of pricing and seating, the theater has also been a boost to nearby eateries, raising the bar on expectations for quality and, of course, price.

Darryl Settles (of Bob the Chef’s fame) leads the team that opened Beehive two years ago in an attempt to re-create the atmosphere of La Ruche, the bohemian Paris artists’ colony from the early 20th century. (La Ruche is French for beehive.) The atmosphere is definitely spot on. While the upstairs is a quieter bar area, the descent down the wide, carpeted stairs does take you back in time. Everything from the lighting to the color scheme is a rich golden hue. The brick walls are painted yellow and the lighting is provided by chandeliers or exposed antiqued bulbs. Original art for sale covers the walls. While the space is cavernous, the feel is intimate. There are plenty of nooks and crannies and wide open spaces, so that you can either hide out at a cozy table for two or gather for drinks at the bar.

The menu is Mediterranean inspired with a variety of treasures. The duck risotto is especially nice, and if you are looking for comfort food you can’t beat the grilled cheese with short ribs. The sandwich is crammed full with meat that cuts with a fork. Prices are moderate. Sandwiches and appetizers can be had for around $15, main dishes for $20-25. Perhaps the best part about the food, though, is that it is served late. (The kitchen closes at 1 a.m. and the bar at 2.)

And then, of course, there’s the jazz. Settles is tuned into the local music scene from his years at Bob the Chef’s. The Beehive’s stage is swarming with activity seven nights a week, and also weekend mornings as an accompaniment to brunch, all with no cover charge.

A left-handed compliment comes from, of all places, the guy mixing the drinks. On a recent visit, the bartender, sporting a pork pie hat and a baggy black T-shirt and jeans, had this to say: “You know, it’s not the best food in the world, it doesn't have the best wine list, but when people leave, they say ‘I like that place.’ No one ever leaves unhappy.”