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.
Alden & Harlow
The subterranean spot on Brattle Street is bringing their cult favorite Secret Burger outdoors with their large patio. The seasonal hang sports blue umbrellas so you can lounge in the shade while you sip a cocktail and people watch in Harvard Square.
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.
Bar Enza
Harvard Square neo-trattoria Bar Enza brings sophisticated and inventive Italian fare outdoors year-round on their covered patio. Nestled just inside the courtyard at the famed Charles Hotel, the plant-lined perch is cool in the summer and toasty in the winter so you can enjoy your meal al fresco whatever the weather.
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.
Dear Annie
Dear Annie is extending their communal seating outside for the summer months with a sweet sidewalk set-up. Grab a spot to enjoy a glass of natural wine from their expertly curated list alongside selections from their pescatarian fare.
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.
Forage
The team at Forage has transformed a portion of their parking lot into a stylish outdoor dining area so patrons can enjoy chef-owner Eric Cooper's menu (and co-owner Stan Hilbert's stellar wine selections) al fresco.
You can soak up some summer sunshine and some expertly prepared Italian fare on Geppetto's street-level terrace. The al fresco tables overlook looking out onto the green at Cambridge Crossing so you can enjoy the view, too.
Giulia
The outdoor dining area at Giulia is like an Italian oasis right on Mass Ave in the middle of Cambridge. Outfitted with heaters for coolers nights and lined with trees for those sunny summer evenings, it’s an idyllic spot from which to watch the world go by over plates of housemade pasta, craft cocktails and more.
59 John F. Kennedy Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
617-714-5954
Grafton Street
Nestled below street level in the heart of Harvard Square, Grafton Street Pub & Grill boasts two outdoor seating areas: a covered, brick-lined patio complete with heaters and high-top tables, as well as a sidewalk patio on JFK Street so you'll find the perfect al fresco dining spot purposes hot or cold, or rain or shine.
Gufo
Gufo brings everything to the table with their expansive outdoor area that includes covered and uncovered sections as well as a bocce court. You can make a reservation for a table on the covered area or take your chances (they save space for walk-ins) at their uncovered portion and pop over to East Cambridge for pasta, pizza and plates of tasty Italian fare.
2067 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02140
855-487-8296
Gustazo Cambridge
The Cambridge location of Gustazo, just outside Porter Square, has added a brand new patio on the back of the building. Find your way to this hidden, plant-lined oasis to enjoy authentic Cuban fare at safely spaced tables out in the open air.
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 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.
The Hourly
Just a few doors down from The Hourly Oyster House's main dining, seafood fans can tuck into their fish and shellfish-laden feasts out on the quaint brick patio. The Harvard Square's cozy outdoor space is lined with shimmering overhead lights, offering an inviting space for al fresco gatherings.
The Lexington
The dining room at The Lexington, one of Will Gilson's three concepts at Cambridge Crossing, features retractable doors that open up right onto a lovely rooftop terrace. Snag a spot once the weather warms to catch a breeze or soak up some sun over a menu of American comfort foods looking out on the Cambridge Common.
Little Donkey
The Central Square spot is serving its menu of globally-inspired fare on a sidewalk patio on Mass Ave. Make sure to book a reservation, so you can enjoy their small plates and tapas of oysters, caviar, noodles and more outside with a craft cocktail, bottle of your choice or a glass of sake.
The Longfellow Bar
If your outdoor dining routine has been lacking in waffle fries and wing flats, don't fret just get over to Harvard Square and plunk down on the patio at The Longfellow Bar where you can order your craveable faves from the curated a la carte menu.
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.
Moona
There’s even more to love – and more space in which to do it – at Moona. The Inman Square restaurant adds a handful of tables outside so you can enjoy their eastern Mediterranean eats right on Hampshire Street or under twinkling string lights on the plant-lined patio that runs alongside the restaurant.
Noir
Noir, the stylish cocktail lounge located on the ground floor of the Charles Hotel, lets its whole chic Parisian vibe extend out onto the adjacent terrace throughout the year. Diners can chill out with craft cocktails during the summer months or bundle up next to toasty heat lamps when the temps drop.
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.
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.
Pammy's
The Pammy's team has created an al fresco oasis between Harvard and Central Squares. Consult the forecast and get yourself over to Cambridge to snag one of the five tables on their beauteous, raised natural wood deck right out on Mass Ave.
Puritan & Co.
Chef-owner Will Gilson and his Inman Square team bring their a-game (and their sense of humor) out of doors for a season of al fresco dining. The patio at Puritan & Co. may be small but it is mighty - full of fresh air, copious amounts of food and drink, and plenty of farm-to-table/Cantabrigian charm.
Russell House Tavern
Even when the students are off for the summer – Harvard Square is humming. Lucky diners looking for a restful respite from the commotion can snag one of the tables on Russell House Tavern’s bricked patio – just off the well-traveled thoroughfare that is JFK Street – to enjoy a dinner at one of a handful of wrought iron tables.
Season to Taste
Season to Taste has set up a street-side patio at their new Mass Ave. location so you can enjoy gastropub fare al fresco. Fit with string lights and greenery, the patio is open every night on a first come first served basis, just ask to be seated outside once you arrive.
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.
Si Cara
If sipping on wine al fresco sounds like your type of night, then get yourself to Cambridge and claim your table at Si Cara. The Central Square pizzabar serves up tasty pies (along with a curated selection of natural wines) right on their Mass. Ave. patio.
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.
Sofra
Sofra actually means picnic in Turkish, so it's no surprise that the Cambridge bakery and cafe boasts a sunny little patio. No need to bring your picnic blanket though, just pop in for breakfast pastries or midday meze at one of the al fresco two-tops for a mini day-trip to the Middle East.
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.
Talulla
Talulla welcomes diners to join them outdoors throughout the year, extending their cozy dining room out-of-doors with al fresco sidewalk seating during the summer and heat lamps and charming greenhouses when the weather cools.
Urban Hearth
The folks at Urban Hearth have opened and expanded their seasonal patio with room for as many as 24 diners (weather permitting, of course) including counter space at their outdoor bar where casual walk-in guests can partake of a special bar snack menu. Reservations are recommended (but not required) and sunglasses are totally optional.
Viale
In addition to the al fresco dining area right out on the sidewalk in front of their Central Square spot, Greg Reeves and his team have added a new secret patio where you can have a socially-distant dinner down a hidden alley surrounded by graffiti and street art.
Waypoint
Chill out on the Waypoint patio this summer. Michael Scelfo’s seafood-focused Cambridge spot now has sidewalk tables right on Mass Ave so you can slurp up some oysters as you soak up some rays or relax in the shade with refreshing crudos and tartares.
