There Are a Lot (!!) of Greater Boston Beer Gardens to Visit This Summer

Aeronaut Allston

Besides its Somerville brewery, Aeronaut has also run a seasonal beer garden at Zone 3—a group of Western Ave. buildings in Allston that Harvard is helping to activate with retail, art, and events—for nearly a decade. This (2025) is sadly its last year, and it’s a short one, so be sure to swing by on the remaining Fridays and Saturdays through June 28 for live music, local food trucks, and artsy vibes (there are some cool murals; look around as you sip).

224 Western Ave., Allston, Boston, instagram.com/aeronautallston.

The Anchor

This setup at the Charlestown Navy Yard earned a 2021 Best of Boston award—yes, in part, because it’s a great place to kick back with beers from some of the best craft breweries in the Boston area, from Bent Water in Lynn to Somerville’s Winter Hill Brewing Company. But it also does double-duty as a wine garden and hosts frequent events, including exercise classes, live music, artisan fairs, and more. That means there’s always a new excuse to visit the Anchor.

1 Shipyard Park, Charlestown, Boston, 617-286-2404, theanchorboston.com.

Castle Island Brewing’s Norwood beer garden. / Photo by Derek Hannan

Castle Island Brewing Company

Whether you’re in the city or farther south, Castle Island’s got options: The Norwood-based brewery has a newer taproom in South Boston, just a couple miles away from the waterfront park for which it is named. At the suburban location, enjoy a parking-lot beer garden with picnic tables and onsite food service by the Bardo’s food trailer. Pair Bardo’s award-winning South Shore-style bar pizza with, say, Castle Island Candlepin, a sessionable American Pale Ale perfect for a summer afternoon. Or head to Southie to lounge on a spacious patio—and, good news, Bardo’s is there, too. Bring your kids (until 8 p.m.); bring your dogs; bring your appetite.

31 Astor Ave., Norwood, 781-951-2029; 10 Old Colony Ave., South Boston, 781-951-2029; castleislandbeer.com.

Find pints, pizza, and pups at the Cisco Brewers Seaport beer garden. / Courtesy photo

Cisco Brewers Seaport and Fenway

Nantucket’s favorite brewery is docked in the Seaport for its eighth season, filling the summer and early fall (until October) with plenty of beer and food trucks that pair well with the drinks—seafood tacos, anyone? It’s open seven days a week, with daily live music to boot, and there’s a tented area if you need a break from the elements. Meanwhile, new for 2025, there’s a Fenway location, too, including a seasonal beer garden with live music, as well as a year-round indoor space with full-service, seafood-focused dining.

100 Seaport Blvd., Seaport District, Boston, bostonseaport.xyz; 1301 Boylston St., Fenway, Boston, instagram.com/ciscobrewersfenway.

Distraction & Democracy Beer Garden

We’ll get the bad news out of the way first: As of press time, this one’s “temporarily closed for maintenance” but should reopen shortly. And in the meantime, why not visit Distraction Brewing in Roslindale and Democracy Brewing downtown (and soon, East Boston!) to enjoy the breweries’ own patios? But once this beer garden reopens, you can find brews from both spots and a few other local faves in the heart of the city—seriously, it’s right in City Hall Plaza—not to mention frozen maltinis (brewed cocktails) from Distraction.

1 City Hall Ave. (between Government Center and State MBTA stations), Downtown Boston, distractionbrewingco.com, democracybrewing.com.

New England Aquarium’s Dockside Beer Garden. / Courtesy photo

Dockside Beer Garden

See some fishies; drink some booze. The New England Aquarium’s Central Wharf beer garden is back, open daily with harbor views and a selection of local beers (Harpoon, Sam Adams, Cisco) as well as wine, spiked seltzers, and cocktails. In partnership with a branch of the massive food service corporation Sodexo, Dockside is serving up a comfort food menu that includes a vegetarian “lobster” roll, beer-battered fish tacos, corn dogs with beer cheese dip, and more.

1 Central Wharf (in front of the New England Aquarium), Downtown Boston, neaq.org.

Photo courtesy of Dorchester Brewing Company

Dorchester Brewing Company

This Mass. Ave. rooftop beer garden boasts an exterior deck with open-air tables and Insta-worthy views of the Boston skyline. Along with house beers and wines, plus fresh brews from guest brands like Lone Pine Brewing Co., the place also has access to the full menu from in-house restaurant M&M BBQ—so dig in to chef-owner Geo Lambert’s famous ribs or a soft pretzel with smoked cheese sauce. The brewery also has outdoor seating on the ground level. Need a break from the sun? Head inside to peruse the quirky Museum of Bad Art.

1250 Massachusetts Ave., Dorchester, Boston, 617-514-0900, dorchesterbrewing.com.

Fresh Pond Beer Garden

This massive family-friendly, dog-friendly beer garden—capacity? 500!—offers an oasis amid the bustle of the busiest part of Cambridge’s Fresh Pond, adjacent to Fresh Pond Mall. With live music, food trucks, and lawn games, there’s plenty to do, not to mention plenty to drink from a selection of local brews and nonlocal classics. (There’s cider, seltzer, and cocktails, too.)

168 Alewife Brook Pkwy., Cambridge, freshpondbeergarden.com.

The Great American Beer Hall / Photo by Matthew J Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

The Great American Beer Hall

Medford got an enormous beer hall last year, and this hopeful precursor to Mystic Avenue getting a lot more interesting includes a big, sunny beer garden, as well as a second-story rooftop. The beer hall gets busy, but with numerous bars lining the space, you’ll never have to wait in line too long to make a selection from the substantial beverage menu, which includes seltzers, wines, and cocktails, too. Pizzas, grinders, and creative comfort food fly out of the kitchen (which, dubbed “The Lantern,” has its own branding), not to mention kid-friendly treats like an indulgent waffle sundae.

142 Mystic Ave., Medford, gabhall.com.

Harpoon’s beer garden at Emerson’s UnCommon Corner stage. / Courtesy photo

Harpoon Brewery

Beyond its Seaport digs, Harpoon offers an “Outdoors @ Harpoon” space when weather permits, typically running from April to October. (There’s also a whole pickleball thing to check out, if you’re a sporty type.) If chilling on Boston Common and listening to free live music is more your vibe, Harpoon’s back for its second year at Emerson’s UnCommon Corner stage, serving up brews through late October to accompany a packed music calendar (open Tuesday through Sunday). Dunkin’ Spiked Iced Tea and Coffee are on the menu if you want to mix and match your buzzes, plus margaritas, nonalcoholic drinks, and more. Plus, El Jefe’s on hand with Mexican street food. All ages welcome.

306 Northern Ave., Seaport District, Boston, 617-456-2322, harpoonbrewery.com/boston-brewery; Boston Common (Boylston Street at Tremont Street, near the Boylston Street MBTA station), Downtown Boston, uncommoncorner.org.

Jack’s Abby’s beer garden. / Photo by Jordan Griffin

Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers

Get some sun on those guns while hoisting pints of lager at this lager-obsessed Framingham brewery’s Bavarian-style beer garden. Order lunch or dinner from the beer hall kitchen, including exceptional wood-fired pizzas and other hearty fare (sausage platters!). Seating is first come, first served, but you can add yourself to the digital waitlist before heading over. Open Tuesday through Sunday.

100 Clinton St., Framingham, 774-777-5085, jacksabby.com.

Part of Mighty Squirrel’s spacious patio at Watertown’s Arsenal Yards. / Courtesy photo

Mighty Squirrel Brewing Co.

Waltham-based Mighty Squirrel’s been having a mighty exciting couple of years, expanding to Fenway in 2024 and putting down roots in Watertown in 2025 (where it had been operating a seasonal beer garden for a few years). Waltham boasts pretty swanky outdoor spaces, as does Watertown, located in the Arsenal Yards development; look at all this turf. The globally inspired Watertown food menu is particularly fun, from birria poutine to tuna poke bowls.

411 Waverley Oaks Rd., Suite 100, Waltham; 102 Arsenal Yards Blvd., Watertown; mightysquirrel.com.

Night Shift Brewing’s Lovejoy Wharf patio. / Photo courtesy of Night Shift Brewing

Night Shift Brewing

Night Shift has patio space at both of its locations—Everett and Lovejoy Wharf in Boston’s West End—as well as a delightful trio of seasonal beer gardens throughout the area. (“Doggos [are] strongly encouraged” at the beer gardens, which you can find on the Greenway, in Allston, and at the Esplanade.) The Lovejoy Wharf location especially floats our boat thanks to its Best of Boston Detroit-style pizza and TD Garden proximity, meaning there’s a healthy calendar of good reasons to get a pre-game or post-concert beer within view of the venue. (Also in view? The architecturally stunning Zakim Bridge and the West End waterfront.)

1 Lovejoy Wharf, Suite 101, West End, Boston, 617-456-7687, and other locations; nightshiftbrewing.com.

Notch Brewing

Inspired by the drinking cultures to which brewmaster Chris Lohring pays homage with his flavorful session beers, Notch’s original biergarten on the Salem River is the real deal—the perfect place to settle in with easy-drinking brews (say, the Tenner Czech lager) and Eurocentric snacks like pickled veggies and soft pretzels. If you can’t get to the North Shore, check out Notch’s newer indoor-outdoor outpost at the Charles River Speedway in Brighton, an open-air market that also boasts a sake bar, a cocktail bar, some damn good pizza, retail, and more. (For summer 2025, don’t miss Speedway outdoor movie nights, courtesy of the Coolidge Corner Theatre. Good Burger, good beer.)

525 Western Ave., Brighton, Boston, 617-548-294; 283R Derby St., Salem, 978-238-9060; notchbrewing.com.

Park-9 at the Station

A lot of beer gardens are dog-friendly, but this one takes it to a whole other level with 4,000 square feet of off-leash space and, uh, a beer made for dogs. Perhaps you’ve heard of Everett’s dog bar, Park-9—it’s popping up in Fenway for a second summer. For the humans, it features bars serving beer, wine, cocktails, and more, plus a beer trailer from Castle Island Brewing, which, in addition to its own branded brews, is serving favorites from Cambridge Brewing Co. (The latter closed its longtime brewpub at the end of 2024, but Castle Island acquired the brand and recipes and keeps the legacy going.) Open Wednesday through Sunday, and you can order food from the nearby Time Out Market Boston, which’ll be delivered right to the check-in booth at the Station.

Park Drive at Boylston Street and Brookline Avenue, Fenway, Boston, park9dogbar.com.

Pizzas and a beer flight at Roundhead Brewing’s home base in Hyde Park. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal

Roundhead Brewing Company

Hyde Park’s Best of Boston brewery is taking its creative brews on the road for summer 2025, hosting pop-up beer gardens in Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, East Boston, and beyond for various timespans and with different guest food vendors. Find all the details here and plan your summer drinking accordingly, because you’re going to want to try, for instance, a dragon fruit-infused Berliner Weisse or a crisp Peruvian lager, perhaps paired with Shanti’s Indian food in Roslindale or arepas from Arepa La Mazorca in Southie.

Multiple locations, roundheadbrewing.com.

Sam Adams’ downtown location. /Courtesy photo

Samuel Adams Boston Tap Room

This Quincy Market-adjacent destination debuted at the end of January 2020 (oof), but it fortunately weathered the pandemic and continues to draw tourists and local office-workers alike. Soak up the sun and history—including a great view of Faneuil Hall—on the second-floor patio, while drinking Sam Adams classics and a slew of exclusive brews made onsite by head innovation brewer Megan Parisi. (We’re eyeing Earl Grey, a copper pale ale incorporating the namesake tea, cacao nibs, and lavender.) A short food menu hits the taproom essentials, like steak-and-cheese eggrolls, chicken tenders, mozzarella sticks, and wings.

60 State St., Downtown Boston, 617-466-6418, samadamsbostontaproom.com.

The Canton location of Trillium offers lush lawn and patio space for outdoor imbibing. / Photo courtesy of Trillium Brewing Company

Trillium Brewing Company

All three brick-and-mortar locations of this local craft-beer brand offer beer garden seating. Spend summer in the city on the Fort Point restaurant’s urbane rooftop (and then duck inside to Headroom Hi-Fi, a listening lounge), or in the open-air space of Trillium Fenway outside of Time Out Market Boston. Or, travel south of the city to check out the sprawling setup at the main brewery in Canton, which spans a patio and a grassy lawn. Besides all those permanent plots, there’s also a seasonal Trillium beer garden on the Rose Kennedy Greenway, an early entry in the Boston area’s booming beer garden scene. Rotating food trucks park by the family-friendly, dog-friendly spot.