At long last, spring is finally making its way to the city, and with it comes the return of outdoor dining! It’s true, temperatures are taking their sweet time to go up, but the slightly warmer and sunny weather of these past few weeks means that the City of Boston’s popular Outdoor Dining Program is about to start back up again this on Friday, April 1st, except in the North End, which will start a little later in spring due to the high concentration of restaurants.
Like last year’s Outdoor Dining Pilot Program, 2022’s program lets restaurants apply for a temporary outdoor dining license space, allowing them to convert sidewalks and parking spaces into outdoor dining areas. Over 400 restaurants have participated in the program thus far, and it’s proven to be a popular dining option year round!
“For the past two years we’ve seen how outdoor dining activates public spaces, helps small businesses, and creates connected communities for everyone,” Wu said in a statement earlier this month. “I’m excited to bring outdoor dining back this spring to support our small businesses and continue to make public spaces more accessible and enjoyable for residents, business owners, and visitors across our neighborhoods.”
Applications for outdoor dining will be accepted on a rolling basis, so don’t worry if your favorite spot doesn’t roll out the patio furniture immediately.
Boston’s outdoor dining program is expected to last until late fall or early winter, weather permitting, as it has in years past. All restaurants interested in participating must apply for a license on the city’s website.