18 best restaurants for outdoor dining in Boston

Woods Hill Pier 4 brings farm-to-table dining to the Seaport, where the iconic Anthony’s Pier 4 restaurant once sat. As the name implies, this restaurant's patio is right on the pier, giving guests a front row seat to harbor and sparkling city views during their meals. Breathe in the fresh salt air as you tuck into Woods Hill’s organic menu – splurge on the caviar service if you’re feeling flush – and enjoy a glass of rosé or signature cocktails like the Lavender Bees Knees. 

We’re not shy to call the patio and open air first floor of Bistro du Midi, a classic Boston dining experience. The sunny room seems to exuberantly spill out onto the Public Garden, providing prime people and urban nature-watching to hungry patrons noshing on the Bistro’s well curated charcuterie board, raw bar and moules frites.

Searching for a quick fix of bubbles and bivalves? There may be no better option than this fabulous South End eatery, which carries more than a dozen different east and west coast oysters daily. The sunken backyard patio, hidden from the sidewalk, has long been a South End favorite for outdoor eating.

Oleana’s backyard, garden hideaway might just be the most beloved—and in-demand—outdoor dining spot around. Grab a table on this gorgeous patio (preferably under the shade of the fig tree) and pretend you're on vacation with a spread of meze from Ana Sortun's Eastern Mediterranean menu. We’re not saying the fattoush and warm buttered hummus taste better there, but it’s not a bad way to be.

A Cambridge favorite for close to five decades, it’s hard to beat the food, service and, of course, welcoming patio at Harvest. With an outdoor fireplace and twinkling lights, the seriously comfortable patio is a year-round go-to and is open for lunch, dinner and weekend brunch.

Head down a North End alleyway, walk into this sleek eatery and take a seat on one of the most secluded (and, dare we say, sexy?) patios in town. With a retracting roof, you’ll get views of the sky and the historic neighborhood, paired with an excellent wine list and Italian-inspired seafood.

The closest thing you can get to Paris sidewalk dining in Boston, this cozy bistro with classic sidewalk dining offers old world classics in the South End. Take a seat on the convivial patio, tip a glass of Château Minuty rosé with some salmon tartare and if you squint a little on a sunny day, you’ll almost convince yourself you’re  in Paris.

This East Boston spot appropriately reels in a crowd during the summertime—mainly because of its expansive waterside patio with stunning views. Because the coastal restaurant is situated in Eastie, its sprawling outdoor seating gives diners a rare look at Boston’s downtown in its near entirety. So pull up a bistro chair, nurse one of the bar’s house painkillers and feel that Harbor breeze against your face. South of the city? There’s a Reelhouse in Quincy’s Marina Bay, with pretty great views as well.

Aptly named, this modern neighborhood restaurant gives folks an outdoor sanctuary tucked away in the shadows of TD Garden. While the impressive wine list and ever-changing menu of craft cocktails are enough to attract just about anyone, the view is the real clincher here. From its outdoor space, guests can gaze upon the calm waters of Boston Harbor, the Zakim Bridge or the herds of sports fans heading to a Celtics’ or Bruins’ game

What's better than cramming the city's most celebrated chefs into a single kitchen? Giving them room to think, so they can contribute from afar to a single menu composed of gourmet sandwiches instead. Besides signature faves from Barbara Lynch, Ming Tsai, Michael Schlow and others, there's always something new to sample; local bartenders get equally creative on the cocktail list. What never changes is the kinetic energy both inside the snug, multicolored café and out on the mega-popular patio. Also we hear the spicy margs are excellent. 

The seasonal menu at this Seaport hotspot—named after our state bird—might be Mediterranean-influenced, but it features ingredients from local farms, markets and producers. The covered patio provides the perfect opportunity for people-watching, whether on a weekday when all Design Center employees scurrying to and fro, or on weekends, with events happening all around. 

This Venetian-style osteria and wine bar lets diners graze on modern interpretations of Venetian cicchetti and slurp down spectacular pastas. While the food is enough of an attraction, its patio adds to the allure during the warmer months. Make it a date and invite someone special to this alfresco courtyard behind the main dining room, which is enclosed by the South End's ivy-covered brick walls.

If you’re looking for a good meal and a great time, Bowery Bar in the Lower Mills delivers. Their expansive patio, strung with twinkling lights and dotted with plants and umbrellas, serves up quite a buzzy scene on the weekends, as well as crowd-pleasing favorites like spinach dip, wings, nachos and an excellent hot chicken sandwich.

There's nothing quite like dining on fresh seafood under the stars and, at Jeremy Sewall's Row 34, you can do just that. This Fort Point patio is the perfect place to go big and order a full bottle of wine, so your party can sip its way through the menu of prime ocean offerings.

Branch Line is located in a historic brick building in Watertown’s Arsenal complex and boasts one of the best outdoor dining spaces around. The heated, covered patio features a pergula and ample greenery, so you can actually feel like you escaped the city for a hot second. Added bonus: a bocce court that allows you to feed your competitive spirit in between courses.

Never mind sitting elbow-to-elbow with your neighbor at this notoriously tiny enoteca. For the quintessential South End dining experience, grab one of the bistro tables outside on the sidewalk and watch the world stroll on by as you eat a board of delicious cured meats.

Set right along the Fort Point Channel, this red-shingled seafood shack and open-air tent serves as party central during the summer months for locals and tourists alike. Gather at the spot's picnic tables, beneath lamps made of lobster traps strung with Christmas lights, for steamers, fried Ipswich clams or a full New England seafood bake. Just remember to stay hydrated and really push those Dels Shandies.

A seafood lover’s paradise, this no-frills joint is perched directly above the harbor on a weathered pier. Sail Loft's kitchen is famous for its overflowing cups of clam chowder and lobster rolls that have so much meat that they're basically burst at the seams. Everything tastes better from one of the sunny outdoor tables, ideal for kicking back and basking in that killer water view.