From cobblestoned alleys to breathtaking harbor views, Boston’s best outdoor dining setups offer many scenic perks. The city once just had a handful of alfresco dining options, but times have changed in this cultural capital.
An iconic seafood restaurant serves gorgeous Atlantic Ocean views. In Cambridge, a farm-to-table spot heats up its outdoor tables with a giant stone fireplace—this is New England, after all. Candy-colored wall art and lush greenery add to the wow factor at a popular izakaya.
The food at these restaurants is as inviting as the backdrop, including, of course, a few places specializing in every local’s warm-weather favorite: the lobster roll. Read on for a guide to 12 Boston restaurants that ace outdoor dining.
dbar (Dorchester)
Repurposed shipping containers are decked with murals at dBar, a New American spot that morphs into a restaurant and nightclub after dark. Three-walled coverage plus plenty of air circulation makes it an ideal spot for sipping colorful cocktails on sunny days and warm nights. Favorites on the seasonal bar-focused menu include the Giannone brick chicken and beef brisket mac and cheese.
Porto (Back Bay)
Porto’s outdoor seating is some of Boston’s best thanks to its size and design. String lights, throw rugs, couches, and pretty craft cocktails make the patio a prime spot to take in Back Bay’s skyscrapers. James Beard Award-winning chef Jody Adams focuses on Mediterranean food with dishes like a decadent seafood tower, grilled lamb chops with salsa verde, and scallops a la plancha.
Legal Seafoods – Harborside (Seaport)
As the flagship of popular area chain Legal Sea Foods, this location is an iconic three-floor waterfront destination. Snag one of the first-floor patio tables to take in harbor views and a classic seafood menu featuring crab cakes, scallops, and the restaurant’s beloved lobster roll. Head to the third-floor lounge—complete with retractable glass roof—for light bites, sushi, and cocktails. For the best seaport views, head to the newly opened roof deck and watch the ships go in and out.
Casa Romero (Back Bay)
The path to Casa Romero is downright Oz-like: An alley leads diners to a hidden but vibrant world filled with colorful chair cushions and lots of greenery. This casual Mexican gem is the oldest of its kind in Boston and has served top-notch tacos, enchiladas, tequila drinks, and more in its fenced-in outdoor hideaway since 1972.
Harvest (Cambridge)
This lush Harvard Square garden terrace is the gold standard for elegant all-weather dining, complete with an outdoor fireplace, plus blankets and heated lamps for guests. Open for lunch, brunch, and dinner, Harvest serves creative riffs on New England and all-American classics like lobster rolls, seared Atlantic salmon, and one of the city’s juiciest burgers courtesy of local specialty butcher Savenor’s.
Bar Mezzana (South End)
Bar Mezzana’s floor-to-ceiling windows bring the outside in all year round. But the seat count at this South End favorite doubles from spring to fall courtesy of a large patio and charming courtyard. The coastal Italian menu and creative negroni lineup make brunch especially popular. Tear into housemade breads, crudos, and pastas while soaking in the views of the quaint neighborhood.
Hojoko (Fenway-Kenmore)
This beloved Japanese izakaya-style bar and restaurant (a short walk from Fenway Park) has two outdoor seating areas set against a backdrop of elaborate, colorful murals and lush green plants. It’s the type of versatile spot that’s a go-to for both intimate date nights and group hangs thanks to a crowd-pleasing menu of Japanese bar food like chicken karaage, ramen, and yakisoba. Round out your night with Hojoko’s creative cocktails or a bottle from the well-curated sake lineup.
Mare (North End)
If you’re looking for an outdoor spot that combines local seafood with exquisite Italian cooking, Mare is the ticket. It has one of the most popular outdoor patios that looks out to the Greenway, a stretch of park space that separates Boston’s seafront neighborhoods from the downtown areas. In the summertime as tourists rush to Boston, Mare becomes people-watching central. Expect classic Italian food with New England twists, and be sure to order a lobster roll, served with rosemary salted fries.
Forcella (North End)
A hidden back patio fuels the date-night vibes at this intimate Italian restaurant. Forcella’s brick-lined hideaway, complete with bistro lights and lots of shade, is one sought-after spot. Snag an outside table well in advance to dig into dishes like braised rabbit gnocchi and rigatoni with roasted eggplant.
Batifol (Cambridge)
Since opening in 2022, this Kendall Square brasserie has drawn crowds for a small but inviting patio dotted with French bistro-style chairs and umbrellas. Run by the same group that owns beloved Petit Robert Bistro in the South End, Batifol serves no-frills French classics like coq au vin and steamed mussels with fries. Make sure to snag your reservation early for the $1 oyster deal, which runs every day (until sold out).
Alcove (West End)
Bostonites were once hard-pressed to find a non-pub option for a business lunch or a date in the West End. But it’s no longer a struggle thanks to Alcove’s sprawling outdoor patio, complete with wharf views and a Zakim Bridge panorama. The restaurant’s seafood-forward menu is a reason to pull up a chair and stay awhile, with favorites like deviled crab dip with everything bagel chips, blue crab cakes, and monkfish Milanese.
Branch Line (Watertown)
This neighborhood star offers outdoor dining areas all-year-round. One of its patios is covered and heated, meaning you don’t have to worry about bringing a jacket. The other is tucked to the side and feels more intimate with some greenery for shade. Branch Line is known for a rotisserie and wood-fired grill that churns out juicy roasted chicken, plus a long list of craft beer from breweries all over the country, but the menu changes regularly, so you’ll have to keep going back.
Valerie Li Stack is a Somerville-based writer and editor who’s passionate about all things food, drink, travel, and culture. Her writing has appeared in publications such as Eater, Punch, USA Today, Food52, Boston Magazine, and more.
Carley Thornell-Wade is a Boston-based food, travel, and technology writer who’s been to more than 70 countries and delighted in tasting the regional delicacies of each.
