/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56737849/1465625213.7.jpg "A Breezy Guide to Waterfront Dining in Boston (1)")
Where to eat while enjoying the view
by Celina Colby and Eater Staff Updated
Share this story
- Share this on Facebook
- Share this on Twitter
- Share All sharing options
View as Map
by Celina Colby and Eater Staff Updated
Visions of America/Joseph Sohm/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Share this story
- Share this on Facebook
- Share this on Twitter
- Share All sharing options
Visions of America/Joseph Sohm/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
As a city built on the sea (and on a landfill), Boston has no shortage of waterfront dining options. And no, they’re not all serving lobster rolls and oysters — though one can certainly find a decent lobster roll or a dozen oysters if one wishes. There’s lots of good weather ahead, so take advantage of it and eat a waterfront meal with a view.
Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.
The original, or get out. Since it opened in 1951, Kelly’s has been a staple on Revere Beach. Get a “super beef four ways” (barbecue sauce, lettuce, mayo, and cheese) and look out upon the vast expanse of the Atlantic.
Also featured in:
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/57087257/Row34_Clams.8.jpg "A Breezy Guide to Waterfront Dining in Boston (3)")
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/55474629/Chris_Coe_Cannolis_001.0.0.0.jpeg "A Breezy Guide to Waterfront Dining in Boston (4)")
If you’ve ever wanted to eat a bowl of crab claws while staring at the masts of the world’s oldest commissioned naval ship, Pier 6 in Charlestown is your spot. The menu is seafood heavy, but there’s a burger and a hanger steak for all you land lovers.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70888475/Rainbow_Lodge_44.7.jpg "A Breezy Guide to Waterfront Dining in Boston (5)")
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70022413/12185099_1112316715452899_2044613427116553501_o.0.0.1505575397.21.jpg "A Breezy Guide to Waterfront Dining in Boston (6)")
Alcove’s menu reflects a love of New England cuisine and a commitment to local sourcing, all overlooking the Zakim Bridge and the Charles River. Feast on local seafood with monkfish Milanese, blue crab cakes, and regional oysters for daily lunch and dinner, and weekend brunch.
Also featured in:
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63392844/1403351640.7.jpg "A Breezy Guide to Waterfront Dining in Boston (7)")
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71741618/0006a__TEUTEN_3422_edit.0.jpg "A Breezy Guide to Waterfront Dining in Boston (8)")
Waterfront dining doesn’t have to mean seafood. Chow down on hot wings, burnt ends, and BBQ ribs at the East Boston location of the Smoke Shop which boasts a large waterfront patio overlooking Boston’s skyline.
Dine on flatbread pizzas, cicchetti, orsmall plates, and hearty Italian entrees at this newcomer located inside the Royal Sonesta hotel. Grab a drink and settle in on the patio overlooking the Charles River and Back Bay’s most notable buildings. Soon, they plan to add an alfresco raw bar to their summer lineup for oysters and rosé with Boston as a backdrop.
The Sail Loft provides dive bar vibes with excellent fried seafood and that famous dill-spiked New England clam chowder. Sit at the bar — or on the deck — and look at adjacent docked boats.
Sign up for the newsletter Eater Boston
Sign up for our newsletter.
James Hook & Co., which has been around since 1925, is definitely known for its lobster rolls, and it winds up on just about every “best lobster roll in Boston” list for good reason. It’s simple — lobster meat, mayo, buttered roll — but simple is best when it comes to lobster rolls. Let that claw meat sing. James Hook is in the heart of the city, but it feels as though it’s in some small town in mid-coastal Maine. Grab a bit of outdoor seating or stroll along the Harborwalk or Seaport Boulevard for water views.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62574537/67091921_10101325191083278_2258877477407424512_n.12.jpg "A Breezy Guide to Waterfront Dining in Boston (9)")
Turns out you don’t have to go to Ipswich for great fried clams (but still, try to go to Ipswich for fried clams sometime.) The Barking Crab is the perfect confluence of tourist trap and actually good restaurant. It’s situated on Fort Point Channel directly across from James Hook & Co. and right down the Harborwalk from Fan Pier Park. And as its name suggests, it’s got a pretty good selection of crab.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62574538/IMG_8476_EDIT.24.jpg "A Breezy Guide to Waterfront Dining in Boston (10)")
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70083511/BXP_VWB_VIEWS_041421_DEL_120921_V5_2060_FULLRES__1_.7.jpg "A Breezy Guide to Waterfront Dining in Boston (11)")
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61386079/Saltie_Girl_Clam_Chowder.14.jpg "A Breezy Guide to Waterfront Dining in Boston (12)")
Dine on fresh-from-the-farm dishes at this waterfront restaurant featuring grass-fed proteins, organic produce, and raw milk cheeses direct from the Farm at Woods Hill in Bath, New Hampshire. Lunch, dinner, and brunch menus highlight seasonal New England fare and the outdoor patio offers a wide view of the Boston Harbor.
This Boston iteration of a Nantucket island staple combines New England coastal cuisine and globally influenced street food for an eclectic menu of small plates, like blue crab fried rice, and table feasts, like a Peking-inspired whole roast duck. Complement the meal with a choice from the robust co*cktail and sake menus.
Legal Harborside is giant — 20,000 square feet — and the views of Boston Harbor from its third floor combination deck/bar are unmatched. You can’t go wrong with Legal’s classic New England clam chowder.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59681297/Long_Bar_Terrace_V1_courtesy_Long_Bar.16.jpg "A Breezy Guide to Waterfront Dining in Boston (14)")
Like Kelly’s, this is another classic that’s been open since 1951. Sullivan’s, on Castle Island, is a seasonal joint serving up everything from hot dogs to fish and chips. The view of the Boston Harbor Islands is nearly unmatched, and the food is seriously cheap. It’s a bit out of the way — drive all the way to the tip of Southie to get there — but it’s a worthy hike. And don’t worry; the long line moves quickly.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/60742339/mikes3.14.jpg "A Breezy Guide to Waterfront Dining in Boston (16)")
Venezia’s expansive Italian menu and views of the Boston skyline make it Dorchester’s marquee waterfront dining experience. Go for the Sicilian seafood salad and stay for the lobster cacio e pepe. It’s readily bookable for events, too, including weddings. Follow dinner with a trip to Boston Harbor Distillery or Boston Winery, each mere steps away from the restaurant.
(617) 436-3120
(617) 436-3120
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70083405/tmzclwtrfrntzPicture-12.0.0.0.jpg "A Breezy Guide to Waterfront Dining in Boston (18)")
The North Shore got a shoutout with Kelly’s, so it’s only fair the South Shore gets one too. Quincy’s Bay Pointe Waterfront Restaurant has extensive brunch, lunch, tapas, and dinner menus, and like at any seaside New England restaurant worth its weight in gold, diners can slurp back as many oysters as they like. The views of the city aren’t so bad, either.
© 2024 Vox Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
Link copied to the clipboard.
The original, or get out. Since it opened in 1951, Kelly’s has been a staple on Revere Beach. Get a “super beef four ways” (barbecue sauce, lettuce, mayo, and cheese) and look out upon the vast expanse of the Atlantic.
If you’ve ever wanted to eat a bowl of crab claws while staring at the masts of the world’s oldest commissioned naval ship, Pier 6 in Charlestown is your spot. The menu is seafood heavy, but there’s a burger and a hanger steak for all you land lovers.
Alcove’s menu reflects a love of New England cuisine and a commitment to local sourcing, all overlooking the Zakim Bridge and the Charles River. Feast on local seafood with monkfish Milanese, blue crab cakes, and regional oysters for daily lunch and dinner, and weekend brunch.
Waterfront dining doesn’t have to mean seafood. Chow down on hot wings, burnt ends, and BBQ ribs at the East Boston location of the Smoke Shop which boasts a large waterfront patio overlooking Boston’s skyline.
Dine on flatbread pizzas, cicchetti, orsmall plates, and hearty Italian entrees at this newcomer located inside the Royal Sonesta hotel. Grab a drink and settle in on the patio overlooking the Charles River and Back Bay’s most notable buildings. Soon, they plan to add an alfresco raw bar to their summer lineup for oysters and rosé with Boston as a backdrop.
The Sail Loft provides dive bar vibes with excellent fried seafood and that famous dill-spiked New England clam chowder. Sit at the bar — or on the deck — and look at adjacent docked boats.
James Hook & Co., which has been around since 1925, is definitely known for its lobster rolls, and it winds up on just about every “best lobster roll in Boston” list for good reason. It’s simple — lobster meat, mayo, buttered roll — but simple is best when it comes to lobster rolls. Let that claw meat sing. James Hook is in the heart of the city, but it feels as though it’s in some small town in mid-coastal Maine. Grab a bit of outdoor seating or stroll along the Harborwalk or Seaport Boulevard for water views.
Turns out you don’t have to go to Ipswich for great fried clams (but still, try to go to Ipswich for fried clams sometime.) The Barking Crab is the perfect confluence of tourist trap and actually good restaurant. It’s situated on Fort Point Channel directly across from James Hook & Co. and right down the Harborwalk from Fan Pier Park. And as its name suggests, it’s got a pretty good selection of crab.
Dine on fresh-from-the-farm dishes at this waterfront restaurant featuring grass-fed proteins, organic produce, and raw milk cheeses direct from the Farm at Woods Hill in Bath, New Hampshire. Lunch, dinner, and brunch menus highlight seasonal New England fare and the outdoor patio offers a wide view of the Boston Harbor.
This Boston iteration of a Nantucket island staple combines New England coastal cuisine and globally influenced street food for an eclectic menu of small plates, like blue crab fried rice, and table feasts, like a Peking-inspired whole roast duck. Complement the meal with a choice from the robust co*cktail and sake menus.
Legal Harborside is giant — 20,000 square feet — and the views of Boston Harbor from its third floor combination deck/bar are unmatched. You can’t go wrong with Legal’s classic New England clam chowder.
Like Kelly’s, this is another classic that’s been open since 1951. Sullivan’s, on Castle Island, is a seasonal joint serving up everything from hot dogs to fish and chips. The view of the Boston Harbor Islands is nearly unmatched, and the food is seriously cheap. It’s a bit out of the way — drive all the way to the tip of Southie to get there — but it’s a worthy hike. And don’t worry; the long line moves quickly.
Venezia’s expansive Italian menu and views of the Boston skyline make it Dorchester’s marquee waterfront dining experience. Go for the Sicilian seafood salad and stay for the lobster cacio e pepe. It’s readily bookable for events, too, including weddings. Follow dinner with a trip to Boston Harbor Distillery or Boston Winery, each mere steps away from the restaurant.
The North Shore got a shoutout with Kelly’s, so it’s only fair the South Shore gets one too. Quincy’s Bay Pointe Waterfront Restaurant has extensive brunch, lunch, tapas, and dinner menus, and like at any seaside New England restaurant worth its weight in gold, diners can slurp back as many oysters as they like. The views of the city aren’t so bad, either.
