20 restaurant patios worth dining on in Boston
When the temperatures rise in Boston, restaurant patios across the city beckon guests to come eat, drink, and enjoy the views. Plenty of options exist across the city, from sunken patios to atriums to sun-soaked spots overlooking Boston Harbor. Here are 20 of them.
Anthem Kitchen + Bar
Order steak or lobster mac and cheese on the patio of this Fanueil Hall spot, which features tables with umbrellas, plants, hanging lights, and plenty of people watching. (South Market Building, Faneuil Hall)
Banyan Bar & Refuge
Share a scallop rangoon dip or taste the Korean barbecue short ribs on the South End patio of this modern Asian gastropub (that doesn’t accept reservations). (553 Tremont St., South End)
B&G Oysters in Boston.
B&G Oysters
The “sunken” patio at B&G Oysters, from James Beard Award-winning restaurateur Barbara Lynch, is the perfect South End spot at which to gather with friends, said Mika Klos-Shakaid, a hostess and reservationist for B&G. “Our patio is actually located downstairs from our restaurant, so it’s not at street level,” Klos-Shakaid said. “It makes it feel different. It’s a more private experience.” Guests can enjoy oysters and oil-poached salmon beneath the lights while listening to music and sipping wine or beer. (550 Tremont St., South End)
Cask ‘n Flagon
Overlook historic Fenway Park from the patio of this Boston mainstay, which opened in 1969 and serves pizza, burgers, and sandwiches. “There’s nothing quite like being there during the summer when Red Sox season is in full swing,” said Cask ‘n Flagon owner Dana Fan Fleet in an email. (62 Brookline Ave., Fenway)
The patio at City Tap House in Boston.
City Tap House
Head to the patio of Fort Point American pub City Tap House to order a shaved roast pork sandwich or brick oven-cooked pizza and a craft beer next to a crackling fire pit. “With all the incredible growth in the Seaport and Fort Point district, we’re excited to have our own little beer garden sanctuary amongst the cranes and towering new developments,” said Andy Farrell, brand director at City Tap House, in an email. (10 Boston Wharf Road, Fort Point)
Doretta Taverna & Raw Bar
Eat oysters or lamb tartare on the 80-seat patio of Doretta Taverna & Raw Bar Greek restaurant in the Back Bay, from James Beard Award-winning chef Michael Schlow. Here are the restaurant’s lunch and dinner menus. (79 Park Plaza, Back Bay)
KO at the Shipyard
This Australian-inspired eatery serves a 5-inch meat pie and spicy shrimp on the barbie on its tent-covered outside deck in East Boston. (256 Marginal St., #16, East Boston)
The patio at KO at the Shipyard in Boston.
Legal Harborside
At Legal Harborside, part of Legal Sea Foods, you can enjoy your shellfish while overlooking the Boston Harbor from the ground floor, second floor, or roof deck. (270 Northern Ave., Seaport District)
Lion’s Tail
Share a plate of crispy fried green plantains or grilled Spanish octopus on the patio of Lion’s Tail, a South End restaurant co-owned by Ken Casey of the Dropkick Murphys. (354 Harrison Ave., South End)
Mare
Lounge on a couch near a fire pit on the patio at Mare, a North End seafood restaurant and oyster bar. Guests can take in the Financial District skyline while eating oysters on the half shell and and grilled stuffed calamari. (3 Mechanic St., North End)
The patio at Nebo.
Nebo Cucina & Enoteca
Sip on an Italian wine from Nebo Cucina & Enoteca’s extensive list, as well as house-made bread and rustic Italian dishes, while enjoying the restaurant patio’s views of the waterfront and Rose Kennedy Greenway. (520 Atlantic Ave., Waterfront)
Ned Devine’s
Order your lobster roll or fish and chips with a side of history when you sit on the patio of Ned Devine’s, in the heart of Faneuil Hall. This casual Irish pub’s outdoor patio features a full bar, TVs, and heaters to keep patrons warm on chilly days. “It’s right in the middle of Faneuil Hall, so it’s right in the middle of all the shopping and action,” said Cassidy Rota, Ned Devine’s social media and content marketing manager. (1 Faneuil Hall Marketplace)
Porto
Guests can order drinks from the patio bar at Porto, a Back Bay Mediterranean seafood spot owned by James Beard Award-winning Chef Jody Adams, Eric Papachristos, and Sean Griffing. Find the restaurant’s menu, which includes a seafood stew bowl and a duck sandwich, here. (Ring Road, Back Bay)
The atrium at Publico in Boston.
Publico Street Bistro & Garden
Eat tacos or steamed mussels in a 2,000 square-foot atrium garden at Publico Street Bistro & Garden, located on the ground floor of the new 11 on the Dot residential building in South Boston. The space features an outdoor bar, ivy-covered trellis, heated floors, lounge areas, fire pits, and flat-screen TVs. (11 Dorchester St., South Boston)
Scampo
Eat lamb or lobster pizza beneath an oversized umbrella at this Italian restaurant at The Liberty Hotel in Beacon Hill, created by James Beard Award-winning chef Lydia Shire. “The patio at Scampo is almost a private little flowered jewel box,” Shire said in an email. “[It is] somewhat hidden from the street, surrounded by Gridley J.F. Bryant’s imposing massive gray walls of the bygone Charles Street Jail built in 1851 and on the other side, the modern wing of The Liberty Hotel.” (215 Charles St., Beacon Hill)
SRV
South End restaurant SRV, which stands for Serene Republic of Venice, is a Venetian-style Bacaro and wine bar with a courtyard patio that seats 40. Order from the exclusively Italian wine list and munch cicchetti (small bites) or made-to-order risotto beneath its twinkly-lit patio out back. (569 Columbus Ave., South End)
Stephanie’s on Newbury
Get your New England clam chowder, lobster pot pie, or a Cobb salad with a side of people watching on the patio of Stephanie’s on Newbury, located on Boston’s fashionable Newbury Street. (190 Newbury St., Back Bay)
People eat lunch at Stephanie’s on Newbury Street.
Tapestry
The covered patio of Tapestry in the Fenway neighborhood features a newly installed mural from local artist Emma Rickert. Take it in while taking down oysters, a burger, or a Neapolitan pizza. (69 Kilmarnock St., Fenway)
Tico
Avocado lovers can order a guacamole tasting comprised of traditional, mango-habanero, and pistachio black truffle flavors on the patio of this South American-inspired Back Bay restaurant by James Beard Award-winner Michael Schlow. The patio has a fireplace and bar, and serves items like tacos and pulled pork sandwiches for lunch and tapas and ceviche for dinner. (222 Berkeley St., Back Bay)
The Salty Pig
Customize your own charcuterie board and enjoy views of the Back Bay from the patio of The Salty Pig, a pork-focused bistro. Check out the restaurant’s lunch and dinner menus. (130 Dartmouth St., Back Bay/South End)
Correction: An older version of this article incorrectly stated the beverage options available at B&G Oysters, which serves wine and beer. We regret the error.
