In Boston, dining outdoors is as much about savoring the season as it is about the view. The crisp air heightens every flavor, whether it’s briny oysters with a glass of Champagne, handmade pastas with bold Italian reds, or innovative small plates paired with inventive cocktails. Explore these top rooftops and patios in Boston offering culinary experiences as memorable as their backdrops.
Photo Credit: Raffles Boston
Rooftops
Long Bar & Terrace at Raffles Boston
Located on the 17th-floor “Sky Lobby” of Raffles Boston, Long Bar & Terrace is a vibrant all-day lounge and rooftop bar with unparalleled Back Bay and South End views. Cozy green velvet banquettes inside spill out to an equally swanky outdoor terrace. By day, guests can enjoy lunch or afternoon tea and by night, they can share elevated bites, including the crave-worthy lobster roll, whipped ricotta, or smoked bluefish pâté paired with bespoke cocktails including their famed ‘Boston Sling’ cocktail, a local riff on Raffles’ famed ‘Singapore Sling’ made with gin, pomegranate liqueur, Drambuie, amaro, cranberry compote, and apple shrub.
40 Trinity Place, Boston, MA 02116
Photo Credit: Bubble BathBubble Bath at citizenM Back Bay
Playful and chic, Bubble Bath is a brand-new rooftop Champagne bar by chef Tiffani Faison, set on the 15th floor of the citizenM hotel. Stepping out of the elevator feels like entering a Champagne bottle with dusty-rose banquettes and gold accents set against panoramic views of the Back Bay and Charles River. Champagne is the star of the show here with an emphasis on grower Champagnes. For snacks and sips, delight in a minature Lobster bun with sherry aioli, yellowfin crudo “Nicoise,” and foie gras mousse with cherry jam to pair with inventive cocktails such as the ‘Bloom’ with tequila blanco, peach liqueur, Pamplemousse, rosemary cordial, and chilli threads, and/or the ‘Miel’ beverage infused with Cognac, Empirical Symphony, honey, bubbles, and honey peanut brittle. With floor-to-ceiling windows and an outdoor patio, Bubble Bath lets you soak in gorgeous skyline views as you toast with some of the city’s finest bubbles.
408 Newbury St Boston, MA 02115
Photo Credit: The Newbury Boston
Contessa at The Newbury Boston
Perched atop The Newbury Boston, Contessa transports guests to a Milanese villa in the sky with its glass-enclosed rooftop dining room offering sweeping views of Back Bay. The space has retractable windows that open up for an airy, sunlit experience. To drink, Contessa leans into Italian aperitivo culture, offering plenty of spritzes, Negronis, and regional Italian wines. Pair these drinks with shareable starters, including For a decadent pairing, savor the dry-aged Bistecca Fiorentina with an herbaceous Tuscan red, or try their fresh pasta, such as the Spicy Lobster Capellini or Rigatoni Pomodoro.
3 Newbury Street, Boston, MA 02116
Photo Credit: Rooftop@Revere
Rooftop@Revere
Escape to Boston’s largest rooftop lounge, 16 stories above the Revere Hotel in the Theater District. Rooftop@Revere offers a 15,000-square-foot deck with a pool, private cabanas, and panoramic views spanning from the Back Bay skyline to Boston Common. By day, it’s an oasis for yoga sessions at sunrise and sunbathing; by night, it transforms into an elevated cocktail lounge with DJ music on weekends. The menu features fun New England-inspired fare like buttery lobster rolls, build-your-own ahi tuna poke bowls, and an assortment of artisanal flatbreads. For cocktails, opt for the ‘Back Bay Burn’ with jalapeño-infused LALO tequila, Cointreau, caramelized pineapple, lime, and Tajin and/or the ‘Brickwork Bourbon’ with pineapple-infused High West bourbon, mint syrup, lemon, and soda water. For sharing, order a pitcher of the ‘Fenway Fling’ made with Belvedere Organics lemon basil vodka, Aperol, strawberry, lemon, and prosecco—perfect to order before a Red Sox game at Fenway Park.
200 Stuart Street, Boston, MA 02116
Photo Credit: Carli Lynch
Beacon Hill Hotel Rooftop Terrace
Beacon Hill Hotel’s charming and intimate rooftop terrace feels like a secret garden escape in the middle of the city. Lush planters and string lights line this petite patio, ideal for a romantic date or a peaceful drink. The rooftop bar serves a curated list of French wines, Champagnes, and creative cocktails, including the ‘Public Garden’ cocktail with lavender, vodka, and topped with orange. A favorite pairing here is a dozen fresh oysters or their burrata flight with prosciutto, cherries, cantaloupe, peaches, and pistachio pesto alongside a glass of bubbly, while you sit back and enjoy the evening breeze as gas lamps flicker on Charles Street below.
25 Charles Street, Boston, MA 02114
Photo Credit: Saltie Girl
Patios
Back Bay
Saltie Girl
Escape to the coveted patio seating at Boston seafood institution Saltie Girl located on bustling Newbury Street. This sidewalk patio is petite and first-come-first-served. Saltie Girl is famous for its warm lobster roll, one of the city’s most decadent, overflowing with butter-dressed lobster meat on a brioche bun. The restaurant also specializes in premium tinned seafood from around the world, where you can order a curated board of tinned sardines, tuna belly, or razor clams served with crusty bread, housemade butter, and garnishes. These delicacies pair beautifully with a crisp glass of Sancerre or one of Saltie Girl’s creative coastal cocktails, including their Frozé made with Saltie Girl rosé, vodka, and white peach. Plus! Try their housemade chips for a salty pairing.
279 Dartmouth Street, Boston, MA 02116
Deuxave
For an elegant al fresco dinner, Deuxave’s sidewalk patio on tree-lined Commonwealth Avenue is a top choice. This French-American fine dining restaurant offers a serene patio amid the historic Back Bay brownstones. The menu combines New England ingredients with classic French technique. Choose between the five-course seasonal tasting menu or the à la carte options. We recommend starting your meal with Prestige Osetra Caviar, Lobster Gnocchi Fricassée with Citrus Tarragon Glace, and the decadent 9-hour French Onion soup, then savor the Spiced Rohan Duck Breast with blackberry purée and a fresh gooseberry salad. For dessert, indulge in the Calvados Crème Brûlée with sautéed apples, nutmeg, and cardamom Chantilly, candied hazelnuts, and a green apple sorbet. Each dish has a suggested wine pairing, and Deuxave’s wine list is extensive and impressive with top Burgundies, California Cabs, and everything in between. If you prefer cocktails, opt for the ‘Duck Fashioned’ with Duck Fat Washed Bourbon, Oloroso, charred peach Demerara, and bitters.
371 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
OAK Long Bar + Kitchen at Fairmont Copley Plaza
Nestled alongside Copley Square, the patio at OAK Long Bar + Kitchen at the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel delivers prime people-watching. This patio is outfitted with cushioned seating, modern fire pits, and heaters for cooler nights, making it a year-round draw. The menu is upscale American brasserie fare with brunch highlights such as the ‘The Boston Croque’ with Maine lobster, gruyère mornay, and deep-fried poached eggs; Butterscotch Pancakes with grilled peaches, candied bacon, and walnut brittle and chantilly; and Bread Pudding French Toast with vanilla apple butter, Maker’s Mark maple, dulce de leche, and spiced feuilletine. For dinner, the must-order dishes include the hearth-baked bread with honey butter, Blue Hill Mussels with plum tomato sauce, ‘nduja, sweet chilies, and potato straws, George Bank Bouillabaisse with scallops, lobster, and halibut over a green crab broth, and the Bay of Fundy Salmon with peas, morels, and champagne butter. All dishes pair well with OAK signature cocktails, including the ‘OAK Martini’ with gin or vodka garnished with blue cheese-stuffed olives and the ‘Merry-Go-Round’ with farmer’s gin, house-made pomegranate syrup, curacao, lemon, foaming bitters, and topped with soda. Plus! Try OAK’s monthly market cocktail made with fresh seasonal ingredients.
138 St. James Avenue, Boston, MA 02116
Photo Credit: Fairmont Copley Plaza
Bistro du Midi
Overlooking the Public Garden, Bistro du Midi offers an elegant sidewalk terrace that feels like a slice of Provence in the heart of Boston. Woven bistro chairs, gaslamps, and lush greenery create a quintessential Parisian-style setting, perfect for a leisurely lunch or a romantic dinner at sunset. Chef Robert Sisca’s menu highlights modern Provençal flavors with an emphasis on local seafood and French technique. At lunch or brunch, guests can indulge in refined dishes like Island Creek Kaluga Caviar or the restaurant’s own Bistro du Midi Kaluga Caviar. For a lighter bite, the Moules Frites with saffron aioli delivers coastal comfort, while brunch specialties like the Caviar Omelette and delicate Crêpes Suzette bring French elegance to the table. In the evening, dinner begins with starters such as Sweet Corn Soup with truffle accents or the decadent Foie Gras Terrine with banana, walnut, and cherry. Signature mains include the house specialty Bouillabaisse du Midi, brimming with lobster, scallop, shrimp, calamari, mussels, and clams in fragrant saffron broth, or the indulgent Greater Omaha Filet Mignon finished with black summer truffle bordelaise. The Wine Spectator-awarded list at Bistro du Midi emphasizes French producers, from Provence rosés to grand Bordeaux. Cocktails carry a French accent, too. Try the ‘Negronique,’ a gin-based spin on the Negroni with Aperol and Maurin quina and/or the ‘Champs de Lavande’ with lavender-infused vodka and cassis.
272 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116
Abe & Louie’s
Abe & Louie’s is a Boston steakhouse institution, and its sidewalk patio on Boylston Street offers prime seating in Back Bay. This is the spot for a power lunch or celebratory dinner where you can enjoy starters, including the oysters Rockefeller baked with spinach, Pernod, and hollandaise, the million-dollar baked potato topped with Ossetra Caviar and crème fraîche, and French Onion soup au Gratin. For mains, order the mouthwatering Filet Mignon or Tomahawk for two and pair with decadent sides, including brown butter creamed spinach, au gratin potatoes, tableside twice-baked potatoes, and an award-winning California Cab and Bordeaux. For a sweet finish, order the butterscotch bread pudding paired with an espresso martini to cap off a decadent evening.
793 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116
Atlantic Fish Co.
Atlantic Fish Company offers a more maritime take on Back Bay dining. This longtime seafood restaurant has an elegant patio along Boylston Street, steps from the Prudential Center. Begin with a cup of their award-winning New England clam chowder or the silky lobster bisque, both house specialties often lauded as some of the best in the city. For an entrée, you can’t go wrong with the grilled swordfish steak, the pan-seared sea scallops, or the classic lobster roll (served either warm with butter or chilled with mayo). To drink, Atlantic Fish offers tropical rum cocktails, plenty of white wines, and even a refreshing white sangria that pairs beautifully with the briny dishes. If you’re in the mood for a cocktail, the Maine Mojito made with blueberry-infused rum is a fun local twist. For dessert, enjoy their Boston Cream Pie paired with the Grasshopper made with vodka. mint, cream and chocolate.
761 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116
Photo Credit: Ciao Roma
North End
Ciao Roma
Tucked away on a cobblestone nook of North Square in the North End, Ciao Roma offers one of the most charming al fresco dining experiences in Boston. This hidden patio surrounded by historic brick buildings feels like an Italian piazza full of Old World character. Standout dishes include the Chicken Parmigiana with vodka sauce, served with mezzi rigatoni and bubbling mozzarella, the hearty Pappardelle Bolognese with veal, beef, and pancetta ragù, and the pillowy Gnocchi al Pesto Cremoso, finished with pistachio pesto and Parmigiano. Ciao Roma offers a thoughtfully curated all-Italian wine list along with a full bar, where the standout is their Espresso Martini, often regarded as one of the city’s best.
5 North Square, Boston, MA 02113
Photo Credit: Capri
South End
Capri
Capri, the newest addition to Boston’s South End, comes from the team behind Prima and Capo. Savor crave-worthy small plates, including warm honey buns dusted with sea salt and paired with lush house ricotta alongside a crisp, crunchy Caesar with endive and topped with Pecorino crumbs. Pastas are handmade. Favorites include the Garganelli alla Pollo layered with rosemary-scented chicken sausage, roasted red peppers, and Calabrian chili cream, and the Tortellini di Mais with corn, Calabrian butter, and garlic honey. Capri also leans into its mastery of steaks and chops, offering a dry-aged Florentine porterhouse with potato al forno and a Brandt tomahawk ribeye accented by black truffle and brown butter crumb. For beverages, Italian wines take center stage alongside the standout cocktail program. Highlights include the ‘Sophia’ made with Ghost Tequila, palo santo, yellow chartreuse, lemon, and passionfruit, and the ‘Enzoni’ infused with gin, green grapes, Campari, lemon, and egg white. For spritzes, opt for the ‘Just Peachy’ with Aperol, peach, lemon, basil, and prosecco.
500 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA 02118
Photo Credit: Marcelino’s Seaport
Seaport
Marcelino’s
One of the newer additions to Boston’s patio scene, Marcelino’s is a sophisticated cocktail lounge and Levantine kitchen in the Seaport. Tucked next to the Moakley Courthouse with waterfront views, the venue features a sprawling patio (complete with cover and its own outdoor bar) that offers a front-row seat to Boston Harbor. By day, the patio feels like a chic Mediterranean café; by night, it transforms into a sultry lounge with DJs, live jazz, and belly dancers. The menu draws inspiration from the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East with highlights including The G.o.a.t. Labneh, topped with harissa-spiced tomatoes, wildflower honey, charred leeks, and poppy seeds, and the Carob-Kissed Carpaccio featuring thin slices of Wagyu sirloin finished with lemon mustard EVOO, capers, and a drizzle of carob molasses. Skewers remain a signature here, like the Aleppo Lamb Kebab served with smoky muhammara, and the Tahini Chicken Schnitzel, golden and crisp with a drizzle of creamy tahini and house pickles. Indulge in desserts such as the Rose Cheesecake topped with pistachio and rose loukoumi, or Halva Tahini Brownies, served warm with vanilla ice cream and a chocolate date molasses espresso sauce. B
Photo Credit: Marcelino’s
For innovative cocktails, try the ‘Palo Santo/Honey,’ a gin-based sip with acid-adjusted honey wine and palo santo smoke, or the ‘Baklava,’ a butter fatwashed whiskey cocktail infused with house baklava spices and orange blossom. For something spirit-free, the Qamar Bloom blends non-alcoholic aperitifs with apricot nectar, citrus, and soda.
7 Northern Avenue, Boston, MA 02210
Photo Credit: Matria
Matria
Matria brings the refined flavors of northern Italy to Boston’s waterfront with its Piedmontese modern steakhouse. Begin with starters such as the tuna crudo with blood orange, crisp radish, and a spicy citrus reduction, and wasabi peas, then indulge in Matria’s housemade pasta, including the standout dish, the White Bolognese Rigatoni with rabbit, guanciale, parmesan, and oregano or the Agnolotti del Plin with veal and short rib. For steak lovers, Matria’s bistecca is unrivaled. The 26-ounce Porterhouse delivers bold flavor, while the dramatic Tomahawk for Two served with sauces and sides is perfect for sharing. These prized cuts, sourced from Piedmont beef known as Italian Wagyu, are renowned for their marbling, tenderness, and depth of flavor. For dessert, don’t miss trying the Summer Strawberry Mousse with white chocolate, macerated strawberries, strawberry sorbet, and lime zest. For sips, opt for ‘The Love in the City’ spritz with Italicus rosolio, Aperol, cantaloupe syrup, and sparkling rosé followed by wines from Tuscany or Piedmont. After dinner, try part-drink/part-dessert ‘The Ship Sales On’ with espresso vodka, vanilla syrup, and Frangelico topped with espresso foam.
510 Atlantic Ave, Boston, MA 02210
Rose Garden Terrace at The Fed at The Langham, Boston
Hidden behind The Langham, Boston’s stately façade is the Rose Garden Terrace, an open-air extension of the hotel’s bar, The Fed. This seasonal patio is a true urban oasis overlooking Norman B. Leventhal Park in the heart of downtown. Pink roses, climbing ivy, and twinkling lights create a whimsical atmosphere that contrasts beautifully with the surrounding skyscrapers. It’s an ideal spot for after-work apertifs or weekend people-watching on bustling Franklin Street. The menu offers elevated pub fare and shareable plates from The Fed’s kitchen, such as pork belly bites with blueberry molasses glaze, chargrilled chicken wings with orange Szechuan sauce, and tuna tartare with black-garlic kung pao sauce. The cocktail list leans botanical and spritz-focused, befitting the garden vibe. Try the ‘Irish Euro’ cocktail with lavender and peppercorn-infused Glendalough Wild Botanical Irish gin with Earl Grey-infused dry vermouth, and Italicus or try a wine from their vault.
250 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110
Photo Credit: Prima
Charlestown
Prima
Set beside City Square Park in Charlestown, Prima is an energetic Italian steakhouse with a delightful patio that has quickly become a neighborhood hot spot. Prima’s menu is all about ‘reimagined classics’ with hearty Italian-American favorites, including the Veal Milanese, a generous bone-in veal chop pounded thin, breaded, and pan-fried until golden, served with arugula and a squeeze of lemon. Delight in the housemade pastas, including the rich pappardelle bolognese or seasonal lobster ravioli. Savor one of their prime steaks like the bistecca alla Fiorentina for two accompanied by a bold Super Tuscan red. Save room for their dreamy tiramisu, which many locals say is the best in the city. Make sure to order a classic Negroni outdoors while you feel like you’re at a lively trattoria in Rome.
30 Austin Street, Charlestown, MA 02129