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A red and yellow striped tent stretches the length of the restaurant, with a giant red “Barking Crab” sign visible over top.
Hide out underneath the waterfront icon’s gigantic tented dining space.
The Barking Crab

10 Sheltered Patios for Outdoor Dining Around Boston When It Rains

Boston boasts a number of outdoor dining options for inclement weather

by Nathan Tavares and Erika Adams Updated
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Hide out underneath the waterfront icon’s gigantic tented dining space.
| The Barking Crab
by Nathan Tavares and Erika Adams Updated

Patio season is finally upon us. But as any Bostonian knows, the weather here can be a little, uh, unpredictable. No one wants to hang out on a patio while an unexpected rainstorm rolls in and soaks their fish and chips. This list zeroes in on patios with rain cover to protect that otherwise pleasant open-air dining experience from the elements. Here are 10 Boston-area restaurants with sheltered patios.

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Harvest

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Head to Cambridge landmark Harvest for cozy outdoor dining complete with a warm fireplace and a partial roof covering to keep dry.

44 Brattle St, Cambridge, MA 02138
(617) 868-2255
(617) 868-2255
An outdoor wooden structure with tables and chairs and a fireplace visible.
Harvest’s outdoor patio.
Harvest

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Bar Enza

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Tony Susi recently took the reins at this restaurant in Cambridge’s Charles Hotel. Here, you can dig into a plate of squid ink past in an outdoor, heated patio well-protected from the elements.

1 Bennett St, Cambridge, MA 02138
(617) 661-5050
(617) 661-5050
A wooden outdoor patio with shrubbery out front.
Bar Enza’s covered patio.
Bar Enza

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Trattoria Il Panino

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Customers can enjoy lunches and dinners of gnocchi and stuffed zucchini blossoms on the covered patio at Trattoria Il Panino in the North End, even on days featuring the most miserable weather. The heat lamps only bolster the cozy — as does the house special: chicken parmesan topped with creamy, melty mozzarella.

280 Hanover St, Boston, MA 02113
(617) 720-1336
(617) 720-1336
Diners eat on a tent-covered patio in Boston’s North End.
The covered patio at Trattoria Il Panino.
Trattoria Il Panino

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Mare Oyster Bar

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At this seafood-centric North End spot, diners can look out at the Rose Kennedy Greenway while they snack on lobster rolls and raw bar delights. The patio has a retractable roof and tables and lounge seating spaced around heat lamps and cozy fire pits. It’s an al fresco diner’s dream.

223 Hanover St, 3 Mechanic St, Boston, MA 02113
(617) 723-6273
(617) 723-6273
A patio in Boston’s North End set up with umbrellas and fireplaces, and backdropped by the skyscrapers of the Financial District.
The patio at Mare Oyster Bar in Boston’s North End.
Mare Oyster Bar

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Branch Line

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This Watertown restaurant boasts a gigantic outdoor patio that is covered and ready for diners rain or shine. Don’t miss the popular rotisserie chicken, and be sure to get the chicken drippings on the side for a small extra fee.

321 Arsenal St, Watertown, MA 02472
(617) 420-1900
(617) 420-1900

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The Barking Crab

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Long before the gleaming towers and steakhouses rolled into the Seaport, the Barking Crab was dishing out buttery lobster rolls and no-frills fried whole-belly Ipswich clams. Hit up the spot’s tented dining space for seafood, ice cold beers, and other snacks from the sea, which is all served up with some of the best views in the city.

88 Sleeper St, Boston, MA 02210
(617) 426-2722
(617) 426-2722

Also featured in:

Gather

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While not entirely protected from the elements, a fair number of the tables that hug the outside wall at Gather are protected by its geometric overhanging roof. The overhang is especially adept at protecting buttermilk pancakes from raindrops.

75 Northern Ave, Boston, MA 02210
(617) 982-7220
(617) 982-7220

Also featured in:

Porto

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Order oysters, saucy pastas, and a table full of seafood all while staying warm and dry inside this Back Bay restaurant’s large outdoor patio.

Ring Rd, Boston, MA 02199
(617) 536-1234
(617) 536-1234
A covered outdoor patio attached to the side of a grey building with “Porto” signage on the side.
Porto’s outdoor patio.
Porto

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Chickadee

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Along with easy parking, Chickadee offers a covered, 30-seat patio at its industrial-chic spot within the Innovation and Design Building. Pop into the Mediterranean-inspired eatery for dinner every night of the week — or savor quick snacks like branzino crudo and smoked trout dip washed down with craft cocktails — even during downpours.

21 Drydock Ave, Boston, MA 02210
(617) 531-5591
(617) 531-5591

Also featured in:

Dorchester Brewing Company

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While a large section of Dorchester Brewing Company’s rooftop features a patio with umbrellas, when the rain hits, head through the doors into the adjoining “Hopservatory.” Within the enclosed greenhouse-like space, order up some pulled pork sandwiches, ribs, and loaded fries from the in-house barbecue restaurant M&M BBQ. The glass walls and roof means that even the rain won’t spoil those city views.

1250 Massachusetts Ave, Boston, MA 02125
(617) 514-0900
(617) 514-0900

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Harvest

44 Brattle St, Cambridge, MA 02138

Head to Cambridge landmark Harvest for cozy outdoor dining complete with a warm fireplace and a partial roof covering to keep dry.

44 Brattle St, Cambridge, MA 02138
(617) 868-2255
(617) 868-2255
An outdoor wooden structure with tables and chairs and a fireplace visible.
Harvest’s outdoor patio.
Harvest

Bar Enza

1 Bennett St, Cambridge, MA 02138

Tony Susi recently took the reins at this restaurant in Cambridge’s Charles Hotel. Here, you can dig into a plate of squid ink past in an outdoor, heated patio well-protected from the elements.

1 Bennett St, Cambridge, MA 02138
(617) 661-5050
(617) 661-5050
A wooden outdoor patio with shrubbery out front.
Bar Enza’s covered patio.
Bar Enza

Trattoria Il Panino

280 Hanover St, Boston, MA 02113

Customers can enjoy lunches and dinners of gnocchi and stuffed zucchini blossoms on the covered patio at Trattoria Il Panino in the North End, even on days featuring the most miserable weather. The heat lamps only bolster the cozy — as does the house special: chicken parmesan topped with creamy, melty mozzarella.

280 Hanover St, Boston, MA 02113
(617) 720-1336
(617) 720-1336
Diners eat on a tent-covered patio in Boston’s North End.
The covered patio at Trattoria Il Panino.
Trattoria Il Panino

Mare Oyster Bar

223 Hanover St, 3 Mechanic St, Boston, MA 02113

At this seafood-centric North End spot, diners can look out at the Rose Kennedy Greenway while they snack on lobster rolls and raw bar delights. The patio has a retractable roof and tables and lounge seating spaced around heat lamps and cozy fire pits. It’s an al fresco diner’s dream.

223 Hanover St, 3 Mechanic St, Boston, MA 02113
(617) 723-6273
(617) 723-6273
A patio in Boston’s North End set up with umbrellas and fireplaces, and backdropped by the skyscrapers of the Financial District.
The patio at Mare Oyster Bar in Boston’s North End.
Mare Oyster Bar

Branch Line

321 Arsenal St, Watertown, MA 02472

This Watertown restaurant boasts a gigantic outdoor patio that is covered and ready for diners rain or shine. Don’t miss the popular rotisserie chicken, and be sure to get the chicken drippings on the side for a small extra fee.

321 Arsenal St, Watertown, MA 02472
(617) 420-1900
(617) 420-1900

The Barking Crab

88 Sleeper St, Boston, MA 02210

Long before the gleaming towers and steakhouses rolled into the Seaport, the Barking Crab was dishing out buttery lobster rolls and no-frills fried whole-belly Ipswich clams. Hit up the spot’s tented dining space for seafood, ice cold beers, and other snacks from the sea, which is all served up with some of the best views in the city.

88 Sleeper St, Boston, MA 02210
(617) 426-2722
(617) 426-2722

Gather

75 Northern Ave, Boston, MA 02210

While not entirely protected from the elements, a fair number of the tables that hug the outside wall at Gather are protected by its geometric overhanging roof. The overhang is especially adept at protecting buttermilk pancakes from raindrops.

75 Northern Ave, Boston, MA 02210
(617) 982-7220
(617) 982-7220

Porto

Ring Rd, Boston, MA 02199

Order oysters, saucy pastas, and a table full of seafood all while staying warm and dry inside this Back Bay restaurant’s large outdoor patio.

Ring Rd, Boston, MA 02199
(617) 536-1234
(617) 536-1234
A covered outdoor patio attached to the side of a grey building with “Porto” signage on the side.
Porto’s outdoor patio.
Porto

Chickadee

21 Drydock Ave, Boston, MA 02210

Along with easy parking, Chickadee offers a covered, 30-seat patio at its industrial-chic spot within the Innovation and Design Building. Pop into the Mediterranean-inspired eatery for dinner every night of the week — or savor quick snacks like branzino crudo and smoked trout dip washed down with craft cocktails — even during downpours.

21 Drydock Ave, Boston, MA 02210
(617) 531-5591
(617) 531-5591

Dorchester Brewing Company

1250 Massachusetts Ave, Boston, MA 02125

While a large section of Dorchester Brewing Company’s rooftop features a patio with umbrellas, when the rain hits, head through the doors into the adjoining “Hopservatory.” Within the enclosed greenhouse-like space, order up some pulled pork sandwiches, ribs, and loaded fries from the in-house barbecue restaurant M&M BBQ. The glass walls and roof means that even the rain won’t spoil those city views.

1250 Massachusetts Ave, Boston, MA 02125
(617) 514-0900
(617) 514-0900

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