Read on for a curated list of some of the best decks, patios, rooftops and sidewalk spots where you can enjoy a good meal while maintaining your distance from fellow diners.
You can sort by neighborhood if you’re looking for something nearby or just scroll to see if your regular hang is on the list — we’ll be adding restaurants as they open for the season so stay tuned and definitely check back for updates.
Word to the wise: we’ll be adjusting the info below as needed so it’s still probably your best bet to give the restaurant a ring to make sure they can accommodate you.
Area Four
Looking out over the green at Technology Square, Area Four’s patio is a perfect perch for an outdoor meal. Snag one of the wrought iron tables for lunch or dinner and enjoy chef-owner Jeff Pond's menu of small plates, sandwiches and wood-fired pizzas (don't miss the garlic knots or the Brussels sprouts salad, which have been mainstays since way back).
25 Edwin H Land Boulevard
Cambridge, MA 02141
617-868-4444
Bambara
Bambara has two options for outdoor seating, dining and / or cocktailing - the first is Kimpton Marlowe Hotel's courtyard which is the perfect respite from the hustle and bustle of the city; the second is Bambara’s smaller, intimate patio which overlooks the Charles River basin. It’s the perfect spot to enjoy an al fresco meal just a stone’s throw from the banks of the Charles.
Batifol - Outdoor Dining
Head to Kendall Square and grab a bistro table at Batifol. Choose a spot under an umbrella or soak up some sunshine while indulging in their French cuisine and sipping on one of the wines from their expansive list.
Catalyst
Cambridge diners can get in on outdoor dining at Catalyst, where the beautifully landscaped patio is both covered and heated. Fans of al fresco eats can enjoy dinner or lunch overlooking the greenery of Technology Square well into the fall.
Evoo
Chef-owner Peter McCarthy’s farm-to-table menu tastes even better when enjoyed out-of-doors on Evoo’s patio, which they share with sister restaurant and next door neighbor, Za. Snag a spot in the shade during daylight hours or relax at one of the stylish wrought iron tables after the sun sets.
Mamaleh's
Step outside and pull up a seat at beloved Kendall Square delicatessen, Mamaleh's. You can relax and soak up the sun on their patio while enjoying deli classics like bagels, breads, meats, cured fish, pickles, pastries and more.
Pagu
Beloved Japanese tapas restaurant, Pagu, expands its service outdoors come summertime. Whether you're on a lunch break or winding down on a day off, the Cambridge bistro provides an excellent place to take in some fresh air and tasty fare.
Shy Bird Cambridge
Chicken and waffles al fresco? Yes, please. Shy Bird's Kendall Square location has a perfect outdoor set up that extends their convivial vibe out through their accordion windows onto a covered sidewalk patio where you can enjoy your meal outside – rain or shine.
1 Kendall Square #100
Cambridge, MA 02139
617-577-7427
The Smoke Shop - Cambridge
What’s better than BBQ outdoors? The Smoke Shop’s patio at One Kendall Square offers a spacious spot to dig in (with abandon) to chef Andy Husbands’ award-winning Southern dishes and snag a little sunshine at the same time.
State Park
State Park offers fans of al fresco dining two different options: the lower-level, where the divey vibe of the of the Southern-inspired eatery extends to a handful of picnic tables; or upstairs where the summer chillin’ overflows onto the bricked plaza at One Kendall Square.
