10 best rooftop bars in Boston

Rooftop at The Envoy faces the harbor from Sleeper Street, with lounge seating, fire pits and cocktails above the Seaport. It is a good choice when the view is the main reason you are going. The hotel recommends reservations and accepts limited walk-ins. Outdoor arrangements change with the season, including winter enclosures, so look at the specific experience you are booking. Para Maria, the hotel’s restaurant, is a separate reservation.

Daedalus is the Harvard Square choice for a roof-deck dinner with a proper plate of food. The menu includes mushroom risotto, steak frites, shrimp linguine and a bacon-cheddar burger, alongside cocktails, wine and draught beer. Its Mount Auburn Street location puts you a short walk from Harvard Yard. The restaurant currently serves dinner Monday through Saturday and closes Sundays, so do not build a Sunday brunch plan around an old listing.

Contessa is the dressier option at the top of The Newbury, overlooking the Public Garden and Back Bay. The room was designed by Ken Fulk, and the menu follows Northern Italian cooking, with dishes such as ricotta gnudi and tortellini in brodo. The bar serves Negronis and Martinis, with an extensive Italian and French wine selection. Think of this as a rooftop restaurant where you can have a drink, rather than a casual open-air beer deck. Reserve if dinner is part of the plan.

Mia is the roof deck inside Umbria on Hanover Street, serving cocktails and appetizers intended for sharing. It gives a North End evening somewhere to continue after dinner, but it requires more planning than simply walking upstairs. Mia is reservation-only and 21-plus, with a dress code that excludes hats, sandals, shorts and athletic wear. Book Mia specifically, since a table at Umbria and a roof-deck reservation are different things.

The Overlook occupies the third floor of Legal Sea Foods Harborside, with a broad view across Boston Harbor. This is the rooftop to consider when you want seafood as well as drinks: the setting puts the water directly in front of you, rather than somewhere beyond a wall of buildings. Legal’s three floors have different uses, including a separate private-event level, so confirm that your booking is for The Overlook.

Rooftop@Revere has lounge furniture, an outdoor bar and private cabanas above the Theater District. Its view takes in Back Bay, making it an option for drinks before or after plans downtown. The venue strongly encourages reservations on busy evenings and weekends, and even hotel guests are subject to capacity. If you want a cabana, check that booking’s terms separately. A casual table for two and a reserved cabana are different commitments.

Cunard Tavern’s roof deck, The Layover, brings a walk-up bar and harbor views to East Boston. The menu leans toward tropical drinks, including rum cocktails, with beer, wine and food available as well. The roof deck has its own schedule, distinct from the dining room. Public service is seasonal, while private events can use the space year-round. Confirm rooftop availability before crossing over for it, especially outside the warmer months.

Dorchester Brewing Company has the Hopservatory, a four-season rooftop greenhouse that lets you keep the upstairs plan when the weather turns. The brewery serves its own beers alongside cider, wine, cocktails and nonalcoholic options, with food from M&M BBQ. You can also visit the Museum of Bad Art inside the building for free. Beer, barbecue and a gallery visit make a fairly complete afternoon without requiring a second address.

When booking, select the rooftop or ask the venue to confirm it. A general restaurant reservation does not necessarily buy you a seat upstairs. Check any minimum spend, cancellation terms and weather policy before paying a deposit. If the forecast sends you indoors, our Boston speakeasy guide has another set of places to settle in for a drink.