As Massachusetts continues to reemerge from the shutdown, restaurants are getting their al fresco areas up and running for dine-in patrons. 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 social 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 on-site dining so stay tuned and definitely check back for updates.
Word to the wise: we’ll be adjusting the info below as the situation continues to evolve and restaurants figure out what works for them (and you!) so it’s still probably your best bet to give the restaurant a ring to make sure they can accommodate you.
Steel & Rye
Steel & Rye’s industrial chic vibe (the space was once a garage, after all) extends out of doors onto their enclosed patio. Park yourself at one of the umbrella-ed picnic tables or wooden two-tops to watch the High Speed Trolley trundle by and to enjoy a little fresh air while you eat.
Stillwater
Chef-owner Sarah Wade welcomes diners on the Stillwater patio with a menu of mouthwatering, Southern-inflected comfort foods. Grab one of the tables on the spacious terrace to enjoy a delicious meal surrounded by greenery, then enjoy a postprandial (and socially-distant) stroll on the adjacent Rose Kennedy Greenway.
380 Main Street
Stoneham, MA 02180
781-435-1344
The Stones Common House
Whether you're going out for a family dinner, meeting for drinks or going out with friends from work, the Stones's fenced in patio gives off a neighborhood backyardy vibe that everyone is able to enjoy. The Stones's easy but delicious dinner options accompanied with their secluded outdoor patio is sure to help anyone and everyone unwind this summer.
Sulmona
Sulmona is brings its Northern Italian cuisine outside during the summery weather. Their outdoor patio is situated along the Kendall Square sidewalk, so guests can watch the hustle and bustle of Cambridge while enjoying chef Delio Susi's fabulous creations.
149 Alewife Brook Parkway
Cambridge, MA 02140
617-520-9500
Summer Shack Cambridge
The folks at Summer Shack have transformed the parking lot at their Alewife location into an intimate outdoor patio & bar so you can enjoy all your clamshack favorites even if you can't make it to your usual waterfront vacation destination. Revel in all the seafood-y flavors of the season right from the comfort of Cambridge.
Sycamore
This summer, chef-owner David Punch and co. extend their hospitality beyond the confines of their Newton Centre dining room and onto their new al fresco seating area. A collection of two-tops, the patio is an ideal spot on which to enjoy their seasonally-inspired menu, complemented by grower wines, local beer & craft cocktails.
Season to Taste
Season To Taste added a new cabana-style patio to its North Cambridge digs so you can enjoy gastropub fare from the team at Season to Taste Catering & Season To Go. The partitioned, plant-lined dining area makes socially-distant dining a breeze.
Terra at Eataly
Back Bay diners have a brand new rooftop dining option – Terra at Eataly has a 2000 square foot sky-high patio where you can enjoy your meal under twinkling lights surrounded by lush greenery with the Prudential Building towering above you.
Tony & Elaine's
You can tuck in to all your favorite Italian American eats out-of-doors on Tony & Elaine's North End patio. They've annexed a little brick-lined alleyway right off North Washington Street and transformed it into a quaint and cozy spot that's ideal for al fresco dining.
Toro
During the summer months, the flavors of Spain spill out onto Washington Street with the opening of Toro's sidewalk seating area as well as their new-for-2020 secluded and quiet and back patio. Find your spot and 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.
Tres Gatos
Nestled into a shady corner of JP’s Centre Street, Tres Gatos’ garden patio has a homespun feel. Recessed from the sidewalk and enclosed by a brown picket fence, the patio provides welcome distance from the hustle and traffic of the thoroughfare.
Tresca
In addition to their legendary Table 77 (a two-top perched on a balcony overlooking Hanover Street), Tresca has added a sidewalk patio for the season. Snag a spot on a balmy summer night to tuck in to all you Italian-American favorites from the center of North End.
