Boston's Best Outdoor Dining Options

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HEADLINE NEWS » Boston's Best Outdoor Dining Options

Boston's all too brief outdoor dining season is underway...whether you're looking for a sunny spot where you can watch the world go by, or a quiet little urban oasis in which to enjoy dinner, there's an al fresco area to suit your mood in the new BostonChefs.com Outdoor Dining Guide.

33 Restaurant & Lounge
Hidden in plain sight, 33 Restaurant & Lounge’s 40 seat patio on Stanhope Street offers diners a quiet place to enjoy al fresco dining just a stone’s throw from the action in the Back Bay and the South End. Elegant wrought iron furniture and delicate lanterns add to the outdoor ambiance.

606 Congress
Enjoy the salt air from a perch on the patio at 606 Congress at the Renaissance Boston Hotel in the Seaport District. Take your breakfast, lunch or dinner outside to soak up some sun or cool off with the summery sea breeze. Just don't let the coming and goings on the water distract you from the deliciousness on your plate.

Ashmont Grill
Warmed by powerful heat lamps and a central fire pit, Dorchester diners can sit outside from mid-spring well into October at Ashmont Grill. Chef-owner Chris Douglass, also of Icarus, serves up delicious, fresh-from-the-farm comfort food at neighborhood joint prices.

Bambara
It seems appropriate, given their environmentally friendly leanings, that Bambara at the Hotel Marlowe should carve out a little green space for itself. The petite, plant-lined patio is just a stone's throw from the banks of the Charles, and an awfully nice spot for a tired shopper or traveler to have a bite to eat and enjoy some fresh air.

The Beehive
The Beehive brings its own unique take on outdoor dining to the South End with their bricked, 80-seat, Tremont Street patio. An extension of their regular dining area, the al fresco alternative offers the same menu as the dining room, which can be paired with signature specialty cocktails from The Beehive's master mixologists.

Bistro 44
Bistro 44 at the Doubletree Bedford Glen Hotel invites guests to make the most of New England's all too short outdoor dining season on their beautifully landscaped stone patio, which boasts giant umbrellas to provide shelter from the afternoon sun and a fire pit for cooler evenings.

Blue Ginger
Whether you’re wining and dining a client or lunching with the ladies, you can enjoy chef Ming Tsai’s award-winning fare al fresco on Blue Ginger’s petite sidewalk patio. Right on Washington Street, Wellesley's main drag, the simple outdoor dining are is a lovely spot from which to enjoy Tsai's east-meets-west cuisine.

The Blue Room
The Blue Room’s subterranean patio brings the Mediterranean to Kendall Square. The wood grilled menu and well-appointed wine list, complemented by sunbaked bricks and lush greenery, make the transition from indoor to outdoor without a hitch.

BOKX 109 American Prime
BOKX 109 American Prime located in Newton’s Hotel Indigo boasts one of Greater Boston’s most stylish patios, with an outdoor bar, fire pits for cool evenings and a pool for hotafternoons. Technically there’s no dining on the patio unless you’ve rented one of the fabulous cabanas, which come equipped with individual flat screen plasma TVs, a waiter, and a special poolside menu for both cuisine and cocktails.

BOND
Take in the twinkling city skyline (as well as some delicious snacks and some signature cocktails designed for al fresco imbibing) from the heart of the Financial District on the BOND terrace. Seats on the terrace, which overlook the beautifully quaint Norman Leventhal Park, are available Thursday through Saturday on a first come, first served basis, weather permitting.

dante
The spacious outdoor dining area at dante affords some of the most spectacular views of the Charles River and of the Boston skyline. The fun, flirty atmosphere is the perfect perch for a riverside cocktail and a bite to eat.

dbar
Thanks to the high wooden fence, comfy patio furniture and plenty of greenery, the outdoor dining area at dbar has a cozy backyard feel – a backyard with an extensive menu of new American fare. Grab a table to enjoy summery treats from the restaurant’s rooftop garden.

Eastern Standard
Enjoy the hustle and bustle of Kenmore Sq. from Eastern Standard’s covered patio. High powered heat lamps keep it toasty warm as early as April and up through October so it’s always a great pre- or post-Fenway pit stop – whether you’re celebrating a victory or drowning your Red Sox sorrows.

Finale
On a sunny summer day, take your dessert outside and enjoy it on the patio at Finale’s Harvard Square location. Their shaded patio is perfect for people watching – try to pick out the next Nobel Prize winner or presidential hopeful from among the on-the-go undergrads and preoccupied professors.

The Fireplace
Once the warm weather hits, the premium seats at The Fireplace aren’t the ones next to the fire, but just outside the restaurant’s floor to ceiling windows. Secure one of the coveted umbrella topped tables to watch the world go through Washington Sq. while enjoying chef-owner Jim Solomon’s rustic New England fare.

Franklin Southie
If the original Franklin Café in the South End is lacking in any way, it might be in the patio department. With a little room to breathe in his spacious new South Boston digs, chef-owner Dave BuBois made sure there’s plenty of room for al fresco dining. Pop on over for dinner any night of the week, or brunch on the weekend to enjoy a little green patch in the midst of the urban jungle.

Grafton Street
If you like to pair your food with great people watching, the patio at Grafton Street will suit your purposes perfectly. Over carefully-crafted comfort food, you can watch the comings and goings along Harvard Square's busy section of Massachusetts Avenue.

Hamersley’s Bistro
On the corner of Tremont and Clarendon, the Hamersley’s Bistro patio brings the rustic French feel of the dining room right onto the bricked sidewalk. With large umbrellas providing plenty of shade, the patio is as hospitable for Sunday brunch as it is for dinner.

Harvest
Harvest’s tucked away patio is like an urban garden right in the center of Harvard Square. Lush green trees and full umbrellas offer plenty of shade for al fresco lunching and powerful heat lamps will chase away the chill of an unexpectedly cool summer evening.

Henrietta’s Table
Overlooking the plaza at the Charles Hotel, the spacious, pooch-friendly outdoor dining area at Henrietta’s Table is just removed enough from bustling Harvard Square to be a quiet, relaxing spot to enjoy farm fresh honest to goodness home cooking.

Kingfish Hall
During patio season, Faneuil Hall fills with tourists but it's a savvy Boston diner who snags a seat at one of Kingfish Hall's umbrella covered, mosaic-topped patio tables. Throughout the afternoon and evening, diners can enjoy selections from the extensive menu, teeming with seafood options.

La Voile
An import from the French Riviera to swanky Newbury Street (from the zinc bar right down to the staff), La Voile channels its homeland with its authentic menu as well as its informally elegant outdoor dining area. The bricked patio with wicker chairs and white table cloths is tres, tres chic.

Masa
Masa’s intimate sidewalk patio offers South End dwellers and visitors a perfect little perch for outdoor dining. Choose from among a handful of candlelit two tops and tuck into sophisticated southwestern-inspired fare from chef-owner Philip Aviles.

Miel
For an authentic Provencal experience, Miel offers one of the best al fresco dining spots in Boston with a patio that’s surrounded by lush greens - fragrant herbs like basil, rosemary and thyme as well as brilliant lavender. Secure a seat to enjoy a meal looking out over the promenade, the Intercontinental gardens and Fort Point Channel.

Navy Yard Bistro
Enjoy innovative and delicious fare looking out over the picturesque cobblestoned streets of the Charlestown Navy Yard. Choose your table from the cluster of wrought iron offerings on the Navy Yard Bistro's patio and dine by the warm glow of the old-fashioned street lanterns. Go for a post prandial stroll along the waterfront.

Oleana
Come warm weather, award-winning chef Ana Sortun serves her accolade-grabbing fare in one of Cambridge’s most beloved outdoor dining spaces. Oleana's lush, flower-filled patio is set back from busy Hampshire Street for a peaceful and relaxing al fresco experience.

Om Restaurant |Lounge
Find some inner peace – and a great meal – in the tranquil outdoor dining area at OM Restaurant | Lounge. Adorned with sandstone wall figures from Northern Thailand, and Nepali hand-carved woodwork, the 36-seat al fresco area is separated from the bustle of Winthrop Street by red, hand-carved doors, direct from Thailand.

Pesce Blue
To extend Pesce Blue's patio season, owner Cliffe Arrand has outfitted the umbrella-ed al fresco dining area with heat lamps that’ll keep diners toasty from May through October – even on Portsmouth’s cool summer nights. Planters brimming with flowers set the area away from the sidewalk creating a little oasis right in the heart of town.

Pigalle
Diners at Pigalle can enjoy James Beard Award-nominated chef Marc Orfaly's French fare out on the intimate picture perfect patio. Sheltered from the commotion of Charles Street South by brimming planters, the outdoor dining area is within easy walking distance of the bright lights of the Theater District.

Red Rock Bistro
Enjoy summer in the city – from a distance. The Red Rock Bistro offers the best of both worlds with spectacular views of Swampscott Harbor and the Boston skyline so you can feel like you’re on a summer retreat without having to travel too far from home. Choose from among their array of lobster rolls for the quintessential summer meal.

Rocca
Rocca, the latest South End venture from the Sapphire Group, ups the cool factor on Harrison Ave. with their urban outdoor dining oasis. Come summertime, guests can relax under bright yellow umbrellas and enjoy the Liguarian-inspired menu on the spacious off-street patio surrounded by robust flower, herb and plant gardens.

Rustic Kitchen Hingham
A well-loved destination for Derby Street shoppers and local South Shore residents all year round – Rustic Kitchen Hingham becomes a particular favorite once the weather warms up. That’s when they open their outdoor patio, where diners can enjoy a meal at one of several sidewalk tables or catch the baseball game over a bite at the awning covered bar.

Sel de la Terre - Boston
Enjoy chef-owner Geoff Gardner’s Provencal fare on Sel de la Terre’s intimate outdoor patio, just a stone’s throw from the waterfront. After dinner, stroll through nearby Christopher Columbus Park or head over to the New England Aquarium to see the seals frolicking.

Sel de la Terre - Natick
Talk about suburban sprawl – in their new digs at the swanky Natick Collection, Sel de la Terre gives diners who prefer to eat outdoors ample room to relax and enjoy the menu of Provencal fare. Put your feet up after a long day – or in the middle of one – the patio is open for lunch and dinner, weather permitting.

Sensing
Finding harborside seats for dinner just got a little easier with the opening of Sensing’s sophisticated yet casual outdoor seating area. Overlooking the harbor, the stone terrace is an ideal spot from which to enjoy cocktails (specially crafted with summer sipping in mind) or a bite from the vibrant seasonal menu which includes an array of lighter options.

Sibling Rivalry
Dueling chefs Bob and David Kinkead take their battle outside during the summer months. Sibling Rivalry’s tree-line brick patio on Tremont Street gets heavy use from well-heeled South Enders and Boston Center for the Arts-bound diners.

Spiced Pear
Salt air and ocean views take a meal at Newport’s Spiced Pear from great to extraordinary. Diners on the stone terrace can look out over the Atlantic and First Beach while they enjoy contemporary New England cuisine under the grand columns of the elegant outdoor dining area. Work up an appetite with a stroll along the Cliff Walk, then pop in for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Stix
STIX Restaurant & Lounge shares its al fresco dining area with sister restaurant and neighbor 33 Restaurant. The 40-seat patio, with its wrought iron tables and twinkling lanterns, has an elegant and intimate feel that'll make diners forget they're in the heart of the city - nestled in between the Back Bay and the South End.

Tastings Wine Bar & Bistro
Diners at Patriots Place have reason to rejoice even in the off season –Tastings Wine Bar & Bistro’s covered outdoor dining area is the perfect place to while away those summer evenings (when it’s too hot for football, anyway) or warm up over a bite to eat even after the weather has cooled in the fall. Guests can sip glasses of wine and order from the globally-inspired menu at elegantly appointed teak tables. Great views of Gillette Stadium will tide everyone over until pre-season starts.

Temple Bar
Located between Harvard and Porter Squares on Massachusetts Avenue, Temple Bar draws a lively crowd of young professionals and grad students. In the summer months all that youthful exuberance spills out onto the patio where a collection of tables offer a relaxing spot to enjoy the sophisticated bistro menu and specialty cocktails.

Toro
During the summer months, the flavors of Spain spill out onto Washington Street with the seasonal opening of Toro's sidewalk seating area. Sit back and relax with a glass of cava and an assortment of small plates from chef and restaurateur Ken Oringer who brings his own take on traditional tapas to the South End.

Trattoria Il Panino
Enjoy the flavors of the Amalfi Coast from the comfort of Trattoria Il Panino’s cozy giardino, where you can get the full North End experience away from the commotion of Hanover Street. The covered patio also has overhead heat lamps – so the outdoor dining season at Il Panino starts as early as April and lasts well into September.

Tremont 647
The pooch-friendly patio at Tremont 647 is the see and be seen spot for South Enders and their pups. Snag an umbrella-shaded table at this neighborhood favorite to enjoy chef owner Andy Husbands’ soulful and sophisticated comfort food.

UpStairs on the Square
UpStairs on the Square’s whimsical atmosphere spills out onto Winthrop Street. Pink tables topped with baby blue umbrellas give the area an Alice in Wonderland feel that’s perfectly in keeping with the inventive menu at this Harvard Square favorite.

Via Matta
Stylish Back Bay diners flock to Via Matta's Park Square patio where chef-owner Michael Schlow creates a menu of sumptuous Italian cuisine. Open until 1:00am, the umbrella-ed area is packed from the first pre-theater diner until the last late night hipster heads home.

Vox Populi
As soon as the weather is warm enough – from Marathon Monday, pretty much – the patio at Boylston Street’s Vox Populi is hopping. Weary Newbury Street shoppers in need of refueling, Back Bay dwellers and savvy tourists line up for street-side seats at the white tableclothed tables, vying for the best view of the cityscape from their comfy rattan chairs.