Where to find Boston’s best outdoor dining

Bar Mezzana’s floor-to-ceiling windows bring the outside in all year round. But the seat count at this South End favorite doubles from spring to fall courtesy of a sprawling patio and charming courtyard. The coastal Italian vibes and creative negroni lineup make brunch particularly popular. Tear into housemade breads, crudos, and pastas while soaking in the views of the bustling neighborhood.

Porto’s outdoor seating is some of Boston’s best thanks to its size and design. String lights, throw rugs, couches, and picturesque seasonal craft cocktails make the patio a prime spot to take in Back Bay’s skyscrapers. James Beard Award-winning chef Jody Adams focuses on Mediterranean fare with dishes such as a decadent seafood tower, grilled lamb chops with salsa verde, and grilled octopus with garlic aioli.

Repurposed shipping containers are decked with murals and lounge-like vibes at dBar, a New American spot that morphs into a restaurant and nightclub after dark. Three-walled coverage along with plenty of air circulation makes the Dorchester spot ideal for sipping colorful cocktails on sunny days and warm nights. Favorites on the seasonal, bar-focused menu include the Giannone brick chicken and the braised beef barbacoa enchiladas.

Simple string lights, the shade of a tree canopy, and minimalist furniture allow James Beard Award-winning chef Barbara Lynch’s flavors to shine at this urban oasis. Seafood takes top billing here, and there’s a robust raw bar on both the lunch and dinner menus. Menu favorites include clams caught daily in nearby Ipswich, then fried to perfection. Lobster lovers can get their fix in the form of a traditional cold roll or a BLT with lemon aioli.

The path to Casa Romero is downright Oz-like: An alley leads diners to a clandestine but vibrant world filled with colorful chair cushions and greenery galore. This casual Mexican gem is the oldest of its kind in Boston and has served up top-notch tacos, enchiladas, tequila drinks, and more in its fenced-in outdoor hideaway since 1972.

As the flagship of popular area chain Legal Sea Foods, this location is an iconic three-floor waterfront Seaport destination. Snag one of the first-floor patio tables to take in front-row views of the harbor and a classic seafood menu with crab cakes, scallops, plus the restaurant’s lauded lobster roll. Head to the third-floor rooftop lounge—complete with retractable glass roof—for light bites, sushi, and cocktails.

This lush Harvard Square garden terrace is the epitome of elegant all-weather dining, complete with an outdoor fireplace. Open for lunch, brunch, and dinner, Harvest serves creative takes on New England and American classics such as lobster rolls, seared Atlantic salmon, and one of the city’s juiciest burgers courtesy of local specialty butcher Savenor’s.

A hidden back patio fuels the date-night vibes at this intimate Italian restaurant. Al fresco meals in the North End could be harder to come by this year as the city reduces the number of outdoor dining spots in this part of town. Which makes a reservation on Forcella’s brick-lined patio, complete with bistro lights and lots of shade, extra sought after. Secure an outside table well in advance to savor dishes such as braised rabbit gnocchi and rigatoni with roasted eggplant.

Real estate in Back Bay is notoriously small, making Eva’s 90-seat patio an especially precious one. Heaters extend alfresco season, which kicks off annually just in time for the Boston Marathon in April. There are plenty of carbs for runners (or their friends), such as lobster ravioli or shrimp fra diavalo pizza featuring pickled peppers, Aleppo pepper, and chile oil. Try the lamb burger with pickled red onion and cucumber labneh for a taste of owner George Aboujaoude’s Lebanese heritage.

Consider Forage’s location a metaphor—it can take a bit of hunting to find the hushed Porter Square space, much like the mushrooms that appear on chef Eric Cooper’s farm-to-table menu. Forage’s paved back patio seats are equipped with heaters and blankets, should the temperatures dip. Though the menu changes frequently, recent hits have included fried cabbage with roasted caps, sweet potato, and onion hash and mushroom toast with sour cherry mustard and wild watercress.

People were once hard-pressed to find a non-pub option for a business lunch or date in West End. But it’s no longer a struggle thanks to Alcove, where a sprawling outdoor patio offers stunning wharf views and a Zakim Bridge panorama. Chef Nikki Hobson’s seafood-forward menu is a reason to pull up a chair and stay awhile, with favorites such as deviled crab dip with everything bagel chips, salmon crudo with avocado mousse, and grilled cheese with fontina and whole-grain mustard.