Restaurants are readying their outdoor dining areas for cooler temps so you can dine out in comfort through the fall…and beyond. Take a peek at this collection of 60+ spots that are cozying up their patios with igloos, heaters, blankets and piping hot cocktails and get ready for an autumn filled with al fresco eats.
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 needed so it’s still probably your best bet to give the restaurant a ring to make sure they can accommodate you.
The patio at Alcove is ready for fall diners. They've added heaters and a whole menu of hot beverages (including, hot cider, mulled wine and hot cocoa all of which can be made boozy — if they aren't already!) They've got merch so you can bundle up with blankets, winter hats and sweatshirts. And if you're in the mood for an urban campfire they've got outdoor firepits for fondue-ing and s'mores-making.
Alden & Harlow
40 Brattle Street Cambridge, MA 02138 617-864-2100
Make the most of fall's fine days (even if they're few and far between) wining and dining and the expanded shared outdoor dining spaces at Alden & Harlow and The Longfellow Bar. Bring a jacket so you can eat out safely and comfortably with your friends and family.
Branch Line
321 Arsenal Street Watertown, MA 02472 617-420-1900
Branch Line brings the fun outdoors with an expansive covered patio for al fresco dining - whatever the weather - in Watertown. The bar and restaurant has plenty of space to facilitate social distancing, and heaters for when there's a chill in the air.
Natick's Buttercup has a lovely patio, now with heaters, where you can savor creative dishes from husband and wife team Gabriel Sanchez and Dora Tavel-Sanchez Luz. Their hand-crafted fare, full of locally-sourced ingredients, is a perfect reason (in any season!) to skip the trip into the city.
Cafe du Pays
233 Cardinal Medeiros Avenue Cambridge, MA 02141 (617) 314-7297
The patio at Cafe du Pays/Vincent's Corner Grocery Store will be open through the fall for people to enjoy takeout like poutine, bourbon and hot cider. Channeling their Québécois influence tho, they're going to cruise right into autumn with no heaters...just lots of flannel, brown spirits, and their Northeastern stubbornness to keep them warm.
Jamaica Plainers looking for al fresco Mexican fare need look no further than Centre Street. Casa Verde's sidewalk patio is all kitted out for fall with heaters and a tent so you can tuck in to all your favorites — tacos, nachos, margaritas, craft beers and more — even as the temps drop.
The patio at The Dial in Central Square is enclosed on all four sides to create a lovely private courtyard, equipped for all your outdoor dining needs—socially-distanced tables, oversized heat lamps (in case there's a chill in the air) and a beautiful outdoor bar made out of a repurposed shipping container painted by a local artist.
You can dine like an Italian even when the weather cools. The Eataly peeps are bringing all the coastal Italian vibes - and the food! - right into the heart of the Back Bay with Il Patio di Eataly, their colorful and breezy outdoor dining area. Grab your best amici and enjoy a mini excursion without going any further than Boylston Street.
Harvest
44 Brattle Street Cambridge, MA 02138 617-868-2255
The patio at Harvest offers fireplace dining and has a retractable awning so that outdoor dining, weather permitting, can be extended way into the late fall and early winter months. The tables are socially distanced and Habanero ceramic tile heaters are located directly overhead providing plenty of heat on those chilly nights.
Overlooking the plaza at the Charles Hotel, the spacious, pooch-friendly patio at Henrietta’s Table features heaters throwing off enough warmth to keep you cozy. Removed from the goings-on in Harvard Sq. it's a quiet and relaxing spot to enjoy farm fresh honest-to-goodness home cooking.
Hojoko
1271 Boylston Street Boston, MA 02115 617-670-0507
Hojoko extends outdoor dining season by adding heaters and a tent to their patio, so you can have all the fun and fanciful food and drink you'd expect from this award-winning team - even if there's a chill in the air.
il Casale Lexington
1727 Massachusetts Avenue Lexington, MA 02420 781-538-5846
Relax over all your Italian favorites out in the fresh air on the expanded streetside patio at Il Casale Lexington. They've got heaters, blankets (available for purchase) and hot drinks like vin brule (Italian mulled wine) and cider (spiked or booze-free) to keep you comfy and warm during the cooler weather.