The Rathskeller (known as The Rat) was a live music venue in Boston that was open from 1974 to 1997. It was considered the "granddaddy" of Boston rock venues.
During its heyday, the Rat hosted such acts as the Cars, the Pixies, Metallica, Dead Kennedys, the Ramones, Talking Heads, R.E.M.,Dinosaur Jr., The Replacements, the Police, and Soundgarden. From 1980 to 1987, The Hoodoo BBQ, which Esquire called one of the "100 Best Restaurants in America"—was located at The Rat.
The Rathskeller closed in November 1997, and was torn down in October 2000 to make way for the Hotel Commonwealth, a 148-room luxury hotel of which Boston University is a limited partner.