Boston’s Best Outdoor Dining – 52 Top Patios, Decks & More
From lush hidden gardens in the South End to raucous roof decks in Harvard Square, here are the sexiest, liveliest, prettiest, chillest places to dine al fresco this season.
Coppersmith
This Southie spot boasts not only the 75-seat “Porch” out front, but also a vintage Airstream-turned-rooftop bar, the Airdeck. The top-level space has large-format cocktails and craft beer, plus chef Jason Heard’s party-friendly barbecue plates, buffalo shrimp, sweet potato tots, and more.
40 W. 3rd St., South Boston, 617-658-3452, coppersmithboston.com.
Cultivar patio photo provided
Cultivar
Overlooking the old State House, this gorgeous seating area is also a lovely place to be seen. Relax by the fire pits with a Lady Geneva—a gin drink with apricot brandy, hibiscus, lemon, and bubbly—and know that the greens, herbs, and edible flowers on your plate were grown right inside the shipping container garden near your seat.
Ames Hotel, One Court St., Boston, 617-979-8203, cultivarboston.com.
Photo Provided
Dante
If you like to pair Italian wines with sweeping Charles River and Boston skyline views, head to this spot within the Royal Sonesta Hotel. The quiet, idyllic setting is perfect with chef Dante de Magistris’s selection of antipasti and a cold glass of Falanghina.
40 Edwin H. Land Blvd., Cambridge, 617-497-4200, restaurantdante.com.
Photos by Jennifer Trebino Provided
Deep Ellum
Max Toste and Aaron Sanders overcame the lack of outdoor space typically afforded to Allston restaurants with a petite oasis behind their first venture. Dark-stained wooden walls and trees provide just enough shade over brunch burritos, sausage plates, poutine, and refined comfort food specials. A similarly inspired setup can also be found outside Lone Star Taco Bar in Cambridge, which is great, because Deep Ellum taught us that European imports, local brews, and craft cocktails are best enjoyed al fresco.
477 Cambridge St., Allston, 617-787-2337, deepellum-boston.com.
Photo Provided
Deuxave
Deuxave’s sleek and ample patio, located at the crossroads of Commonwealth and Massachusetts Avenue, exudes the same unpretentious luxury as executive chef Chris Coombs’s contemporary French cuisine.
371 Commonwealth Ave., Back Bay, Boston, 617-517-5915, deuxave.com.
Devlin’s
This Brighton neighborhood favorite has a large, outdoor dining area ideal for meeting friends to share snacks like Greek-style tater tots, street corn guacamole, and New England Charcuterie pizza. The outdoor bar has a robust draft list, and TVs to appease al fresco sports fans.
322 Washington St., Brighton, 617-779-8822, edevlins.com.
Earls rooftop / Melissa Ostrow Photography
Earls Kitchen + Bar
This twinkling roof deck seats more than 200 people across various dining and lounge-style settings. It has a gigantic tree and an ivy-lined wall, and the retractable roof allows for three-season enjoyment.
The Shops at the Prudential Center, 800 Boylston St., Boston, 857-957-0949, earlsrestaurants.com.
Photo Provided
Eastern Standard
In the heart of Kenmore Square, Eastern Standard remains the crown jewel of al fresco dining in Boston. You can’t go wrong with a plate of oysters and a Whiskey Smash, but don’t overlook Eastern Standard’s reserve beer list.
500 Commonwealth Ave., Kenmore Square, Boston, 617-532-9100, easternstandardboston.com.
Photos Provided
The Hawthorne
This award-winning and elegant bar also has one of the coziest outdoor lounges around, with lush sofas, low coffee tables, and of course, beverage director Jackson Cannon’s array of expertly shaken and stirred cocktails. Try the Les Sablons (not to be confused with the team’s Harvard Square restaurant), with Absolut Elyx, Fino sherry, lemon, and Benedictine.
500A Commonwealth Ave., Kenmore Square, Boston, 617-532-9150, thehawthornebar.com.
Harvest
Located off a cobblestone path in the heart of Harvard Square, Harvest’s enclosed outdoor dining area is one Cambridge’s best date spots, particularly on chilly nights when they light up the stone fireplace.
44 Brattle St., Harvard Square, Cambridge, 617-868-2255, harvestcambridge.com.
Photo by Kristin Teig provided
Hojoko
One major benefit of setting up shop in Fenway’s former Howard Johnson Inn is the proximity to the hotel pool. Tim and Nancy Cushman’s rollicking Japanese pub extends to 50 seats around the Verb Hotel’s retro-chic pool, at high-top tables and lounge chairs underneath retractable awnings. Out front, there are 50 additional seats on the front porch.
1271 Boylston St., Fenway, Boston, 617-670-0507, hojokoboston.com.
