All summer long, the Boston Harbor Hotel sets a stage beneath the grand Rowes Wharf archway and gives the waterfront free live music on weeknight evenings — a tradition the hotel has kept going for more than a quarter century. Jazz, soul, blues, and pop acts rotate through as the harbor glows behind them and Harborwalk strollers drift in to listen.

You don’t need a reservation or a dime to enjoy it: post up along the Harborwalk, or make a night of it with dinner on the Sea Grille patio or a pour from the walk-up beer garden. It draws an easy mix of after-work crowds, hotel guests, and locals who know one of downtown’s best views comes with a soundtrack.