The Burren, a great rocky expanse in Ireland's County Clare, is one of the world's truly unique places. Its ancient, awe inspiring stone structures hold secrets from the past that may never be unraveled. Closer to home, The Burren, Irish Pub and Restaurant in Somerville's Davis Square, is now one of Boston's truly unique places. It captures the mythical nature of its namesake with a rich old world feel that takes hold and slowly pulls you toward another time. Open since January 1996, the Burren's history reaches back farther than that. It is actually the realization of a dream shared by two young Irish musicians, Tommy McCarthy and Louise Costello. Tommy and Louise began playing together nearly 10 years earlier. Today people can gather to enjoy a drink, the warmth of good friends and the excitement of live traditional Irish music, in the Burren, a dream come true.

Irish dive bar with cheap booze and stellar jukebox. Brews run around $3.25 at Sligo Pub and their selection is pretty darn good. Once you make it past the smell of stale beer and the cryptic graffiti in the bathroom, you'll feel right at home at this hidden Davis Square haunt.

Craving an authentic Mexican burrito with traditional flavors and healthy ingredients? Anna’s Taqueria at Davis Square is a refreshing respite in an area full of overpriced Mexican joints. The décor is no frills compared to nearby Qdoba and the new kid on the block, Chipotle. However, you’ll go loco over Anna’s top-notch meats and poultry. And, with meals averaging $6 and under, you can’t beat the price.

In an area with almost no fast-food restaurants, this is an atypical McDonald’s in the sense that the food is fresher and the service is better than expected. The location hosts a bevy of Davis Square old-timers who meet up daily for coffee and to swap stories and neighborhood gossip. It’s a great place to get plugged into what Somerville was like before the onslaught of yuppies and Tufts students.

Namaskar offers fine Indian cuisine with a Pakistani spin. The food is authentic and the restaurant’s curry chicken is some of the best in the area. Compared to Diva, their prices are on the cheap but their décor lacks some of the flair offered by their Indian neighbor. One caveat: Namaskar's $7 lunch buffet boasts fewer options and it’s probably best to order straight from their dinner menu.

Every neighborhood needs a dollar store. Period. This Family Dollar in Davis Square is on the higher end of the bargain-basement spectrum. The shop has a lot of nice goodies—ranging from cheaply priced Styrofoam cups to laundry detergent to a nifty alarm clock. With stores like Wal-Mart and Target out of reach to those without a car, this Dollar Store is the next best thing for houshold-related goods.

For foodies longing for foreign sweets and flavors, Farmer’s Bounty is just that … an eclectic bounty of American, Indian, Irish and British treats crammed into this centrally based Elm Street location. The produce, however, is a bit overpriced and not nearly as plentiful as the fresh products you can find at the nearby Shaw’s. With that said, Farmer’s Bounty is great for those in the Davis Square area looking for a quick fix—like some Indian curry to spice of that chicken or fresh mint to accent a dessert--this grocery is for you.

Compared to the first-rate second-hand store Boomerangs in Jamaica Plain, there’s a lot of junk at the Goodwill Industries shop in Somerville’s Davis Square. However, less is not always more. If you have the time to sift through the heaps of donated clothes, books and home goods, you’ll eventually stumble on a diamond in a rough. Happy hunting!

Forget Blockbuster. Founded in 1987, Hollywood Express is one of the few remaining independent video stores remaining in Davis Square. Their selection of classic, indie and foreign flicks is stellar. However, in an age ruled by online giants like Netflix and Blockbuster, the niche this store once served is slowly migrating to the Internet. It's sad but indie video stores are slowly becoming obsolete. Meanwhile, enjoy the perks. Hollywood Express regulars love their 2-for-1 rental deals every Tues-Wed.

Folks from the North End and even as far as Jamaica Plain travel to McKinnon’s Meat Market for its high-quality, low-cost meats. This family-run market with a great selection of produce is an omnivore’s wet dream—serving up killer steaks, San Danielle proscuitto and the cheapest chicken in town. Also, if you’re looking for some butcher’s scraps—-like a hambone to season your black-eyed peas—-McKinnon’s is the place to go.