As a lifelong fan of Survivor, this year has been a particularly special one for me. The announcement that their 50th season would be a returnee one, followed by the promise that fans would be treated to a year-long celebration of the franchise, was enough to keep me excited for the highly anticipated premiere in 2026. Never did I expect part of this celebration to include an event held exclusively in my home state, but sometimes it feels like the Survivor Gods have favorites. I’m not saying I’m one of them, but I’m also not saying I’m not one of them either.
When it was announced in September that The Greatest Bar would be hosting a Survivor Ultimate Fan Cafe experience, I knew this was an opportunity I could not miss. I immediately signed up for the presale tickets, booked a reservation for three people, and planned to make the 90-minute drive to Boston for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Venue
For those unaware, The Greatest Bar is a famous venue located in Boston near TD Garden. The famed spot is no stranger to Survivor, having been the former workplace of Boston Rob Mariano and season 49 contestant Shannon Fairweather, whose family owns the bar. It has also been the site of numerous watch parties over the years.
Their website boasts being “the best spot for late-night pizza, drinks, and DJ entertainment” and has four distinctly themed floors. The Survivor Fan Cafe is located on the third and fourth floors, respectively known as the “Dirty Water Room” and “The Boston Room.” It may sound confusing at first, but there is plenty of signage by the entrance to direct you to the right place.
One warning I feel obligated to share: check-in is on the third floor, which is a smaller space and gets cramped pretty quickly. You may even find yourself sharing space with Bruins fans if a game is on. There is an elevator for those with mobility concerns, but space is limited before you are seated. My advice? Sign up for one of the earlier times if possible. We picked the first time slots available and were seated quickly. The space wouldn’t get overly crowded until the end of our meal.
Decor and Entertainment
I have to give it to The Greatest Bar; they were really able to transform the space into a Survivor fan’s dream. There was not one inch of the bar that wasn’t covered with fish nets, plastic vines, or Survivor memorabilia. All of the TVs ran a loop of different Survivor seasons, particularly those with the challenges available to play in the bar. I saw moments from South Pacific, Cambodia, Koah Rong, David vs. Goliath, 45, 47, and 48 while I was there (though I may have missed some moments as well).
If you thought the Survivor Fan Cafe would begin and end with food and drinks, think again. Aside from the decorations, attendees had the chance to try their hand at some favorite challenges, cast a vote at tribal council, and buy merchandise at the Survivor Sanctuary store. If you are experiencing some FOMO about missing the event, not to worry: all the merch is available online at the CBS store at the same price.
Fans were able to try their hand at a few Survivor challenges while they waited for their food and drinks. On the fourth floor, you and your friends or family could face off in Roller Ball or Bow Diddley. On the third floor, an even more intriguing option awaits those willing to test their skills in a challenge not yet seen on the show. This challenge will appear later on in Survivor 49 and is a first for the franchise. The goal of this puzzle is to maneuver a ball through a cage so that it can be released through an opening at the top. It’s a much more difficult task than it looks, but that’s half the fun in trying to figure it out. I’m assuming that this challenge will be played at some point during the merge, and it will be exciting to see how it shakes out for the cast.
My absolute favorite piece of decor was the Winner’s Wall, which is exactly what it sounds like. On the third floor, fans can find a dedication to all 48 current winners of Survivor, from Richard Hatch to Kyle Fraser. Fans can take time to snap some impressive photo ops and even take a selfie with their favorite winner’s pic. I made it my mission to take some pictures with the photos of Vecepia, Earl, and Sandra. It may be impossible to cover every player or moment of the show, but it was a nice way to have all of the seasons represented in some way. It was impossible to forget that you were at a Survivor experience.
Menu
As a repeat patron of The Greatest Bar, I wasn’t expecting much more than standard pub food with Survivor-themed names. There was indeed some of that in a section titled “The Sanctuary Menu,” but there was also a selection of Polynesian fusion dishes (titled “Local Tribal Flavors”), appetizers (the “Provisions”), and kids’ menu items (“Junior Castaways”). The pricing was about what I’d expect for a bar in Boston, but out-of-towners might be a bit surprised at the cost. My New Era Laksa Noodles were delicious, but if I decide to go again before it closes, I will definitely be trying the Taste of Home Chicken Sandwich.
We had a fun dessert experience I wasn’t expecting. There were a few options to choose from, but one in particular caught my eye. For just $10, attendees can order an auction-covered item for dessert, meaning your server literally comes out with a covered item just like you would find at the Survivor auction. I couldn’t resist the temptation and ordered it almost immediately. Thankfully, there were no fish eyes underneath my cloche, but a brownie sundae that hit the spot after a larger meal. Needless to say, I was happy with my auction bid.
The beverage menu also followed the theme, offering guests a collection of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Sadly, the Banana Etiquette drink I ordered tasted more like cold brew than banana. As an avid coffee lover, I didn’t mind it, but it wasn’t the taste I expected. I’d say proceed with caution if you decide to try it yourself. On the plus side, it kept me wide awake during my drive home, so perhaps the Survivor Gods were once again looking out for me in another way.
Service
Long story short, the staff was incredible. Everyone was engaging, kind, and helpful. I’m not sure if everyone who was working was a Survivor fan (is that something you can vet on a job application?), but they matched the patrons’ enthusiasm at every turn. They helped us take photo ops, held contests with the challenges, and made sure that each guest got their time to be immersed in the adventure. Everything was explained in detail, with no question or request too small to go unfulfilled. They were the real stars of the evening, elevating our adventure at every turn. If you are thinking about attending the cafe yourself, make sure to treat them graciously. They put a lot of work into making the event what it is.
Final Thoughts
I must say, the Survivor Fan Cafe was a great spot for any fan of the show, from the superfans to the most recent viewers. It delivered on celebrating the current state of the series while also honoring the show’s rich history. That being said, the best part of going to the cafe was that I was able to attend with two of my friends that I likely would never have met without Survivor.
Pre-pandemic, my involvement with Survivor could be adequately described as a disengaged superfan. I never missed an episode, made sure to keep an eye out for the new season announcements, had strong opinions on my favorite players… and that’s about it—no writing articles, no message boards or forums, and no podcasts. Only the occasional tweet or like on Facebook would’ve shown where my interests lie.
That all changed in 2020, and since then, I’ve been blessed to become a part of a community I barely knew existed half a decade ago. Though we come from different walks of life, we’ve bonded over our shared love of the cultural touchstone that is Survivor. I’ll forever be grateful for this part of my life.
The Survivor Fan Cafe is a celebration of 25 years of a global phenomenon, but at its heart, it’s a celebration of the community that was built as a result of it. You may come for the photo ops, but you will stay for the positive energy that radiates through the entire experience. This is a celebration of everything Survivor has built over a quarter of a century. I look forward to seeing what is next for us fans.
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Hi Gia,
Thank you so much for posting this. I will be there next week. If you will be returning, please stop by to say hello. My name is Terrance and I am one of the five super fans that won a trip to Fiji to get a behind the scene look at Season 60.