The Resy Guide to Boston’s Most Notable Outdoor Patios

Bar Enza opened inside the Charles Hotel this September, making the summer of 2022 its maiden patio season. What to expect? Well, the same thoughtful take on traditional red sauce fare you’d find inside, though there is something special about experiencing its 100-layer lasagna or eggplant Parmigiana rollatini alfresco.

Barra strives to give diners the feeling of eating and drinking at a contemporary bar in Mexico City. While its intimate backyard patio is nestled between a few Somerville triple-deckers, you still may feel transported to the Mexican capital by virtue of its grasshopper-garnished mezcal margaritas, octopus tostadas, and slow-cooked cochinita pibil.

Unlike the previous two seasons, Shore Leave’s indoor space will be open during every day of operation. But their courtyard patio hasn’t gone anywhere — the 50-seat tropical oasis is running concurrently, with a handful of food specials of its own including spam musubi with a soy-honey glaze, Thai street corn with Panang curry butter, and soy-braised spareribs. Pair any to a spicy mai tai made with Mexican rum or a Mangolorian with amontillado sherry, Tequila, mezcal, and mango.

Among the differences between Nantucket import Nautilus and its Grey Lady original is size. The Seaport version is considerably bigger indoors, and has more space on its 50-seat patio. One of those seats could be yours for a laid-back evening that starts with chilled octopus salad and grilled hamachi collar, and ends somewhere around blue crab fried rice and Thai sausage lettuce wraps.

Castle Island Brewing, which opened a taproom at the site of its namesake last September, is debuting the city’s newest beer garden for the summer of 2022. There, you can partake in a strawberry-lemon fruit sour or a site-exclusive corn lager while deliberating over a South Shore bar-style linguica pizza from Bardo’s.

Because beer gardens shouldn’t be limited to Oktoberfest, we humbly submit the example of Union Square’s Bronwyn. The longtime German restaurant and beer hall operates a small-but-mighty outdoor dining pavilion, ideal for sampling many pints of Weinstephaner and a plate of potato and cheese pierogies with dill crème fraiche or vinegar-braised sauerbraten with red cabbage and bacon.

From April to September, Bar Mezzana transforms into Boston’s unofficial aperitivi headquarters. Much of the credit belongs to the bar staff, who, in addition to making a mean Aperol Spritz, concoct house versions like the Mezzana Spritz with peach, Campari, and moscato. But we can’t deny the important role played by the patio. Imagine: you, a Resy, a companion or two, and much yellowtail crudo and bucatini all’amatriciana under the Tuscan (alright, Boston) sun.

If there’s a silver lining to take from the disruptions of the past two years, it’s that Saltie Girl has permanently expanded into the space of its former sister restaurant, Met Back Bay, and now has full command of its patio. People-watch your way through a Newbury Street Saturday afternoon as you debate the merits of fried lobster and waffles with spicy maple syrup versus trout almondine with fried maitake mushrooms and lemon brown butter.

Sure, it’s right there in the name, but it’s worth repeating: the yacht-y Eastie seafood restaurant has a front-row seat to the Boston skyline, and the views are never better than on its expansive patio. Enjoy the sights across the harbor, but don’t forget to take in the equally awe-inspiring vista of a Royale shellfish tower stacked with a dozen oysters, shrimp cocktail, clam ceviche, king crab, and a whole lot more.

Located at the other end of the harbor is Woods Hill Pier 4, whose patio presides over views of the Financial District, Charlestown, and East Boston. Take it all in after your server takes an order for citrus-cured Faroe Island salmon, followed by housemade potato gnocchi and cod a la plancha with green garlic and wild mustard.