It’s Haute Outside: Boston’s Top 5 Outdoor Patios
With temperatures in the mid-eighties every day, Boston’s weather is dependably dreamy, at last! For those who spent their winter months hibernating so as to avoid the soul-destroying conditions, it’s officially safe to step outside. But what good is gorgeous weather without cocktails and calamari? In order soak up every precious ray of sunlight, we suggest completely forgoing indoor dining. Newbury Street is the obvious destination for feasting alfresco, as it practically overflows with charming outdoor patios, but when you’ve exhausted favorites like Sonsie and Stephanie’s, try these hidden hotspots:
- 1. The Yard (215 Charles Street, Beacon Hill)
Most of us are all too familiar with the Liberty Hotel’s dazzling, ultra-posh lobby bar and its perpetual swarm of Boston’s crème de la crème. Yard, the bar’s outdoor patio, is a lesser-known gem. Open only for summer months (M-Th 4pm-9pm, Fr-Sa 4pm-10pm, closed Sunday), this urban oasis has low, lounge-like seating and a secluded, peaceful ambiance. Not only can you enjoy oysters, shrimp ceviche, and a cocktail or twelve in the evenings, The Yard also offers complimentary yoga at 10am on Saturdays, and features outdoor screenings of popular films at 7:30pm on Mondays.
- 2. Casa Romero (30 Gloucester Street, Back Bay)
Tracking down this place is no easy feat; its entrance is simply a door in a dark alley. But this door leads you directly into the heart of Mexico. The buried restaurant’s adorably tiny, sunken patio glimmers with the flickering rhythms of candle flames and white lights, making it the most romantic space in all the city. Wash down authentic Mexican food (the mole dishes are particularly fabulous) with a few icy margaritas, and you’ll never want to step out the door and back into Boston.
- 3. Trattoria Il Panino (11 Parmenter Street, North End)
Tucked into a tiny North End side street, this surprisingly spacious patio is one of the area’s few dining destinations wherein patrons aren’t crammed in like sardines. The intimate outdoor garden is utterly enchanting, and the earthy Mediterranean cuisine from Italy’s Amalfi Coast is even better. Be it a pro or con for you, the garden also allows guests to enjoy cigarettes and cigars at the table.
- 4. The Daily Catch (2 Northern Avenue, South Boston)
This Oceanside restaurant offers a total escape from the hustle and bustle of urban life, despite its breathtaking views of the city skyline. Just feet from the cool water of the Boston Harbor, the patio’s ambiance is reminiscent of a Nantucket vacation, and the Sicilian style seafood and pasta is almost as sensational as the atmosphere. Do not be daunted by the bizarre façade of the “Tinta di Calamari,” a homemade pasta drenched in pitch black squid ink; all who try it immediately join its cult-like following.
- 5. The Beehive (541 Tremont Street, South End)
Rated one of the “Top 100 Jazz Clubs in the World” by Downbeat Magazine and hailed as a must-see venue by Travel & Leisure, Zagat, and the New York Times, the Beehive is an always-buzzing, funky underground Boho eatery and bar featuring nightly live music that includes a mix of Jazz, Blues, R&B, Reggae, Latin, Country, Cabaret, and Burlesque. The distinctive 80-seat patio, called “the BEEch” has an urban picnic theme; gourmet food is served in packages and jars tucked into picnic baskets to share.
