Eataly Boston Is Launching a Flower-Draped Outdoor Patio

Eataly Boston is about to debut a floral-covered outdoor bar to celebrate aperitivo hour in Boston this summer. / Photo courtesy of Eataly Boston

Thanks to a few years of hosting monthly, pop-up “block parties,” the piazza outside Eataly Boston has proven to be a lively spot to celebrate summer with a spritz in hand—and now, outdoor aperitivo hour is here to stay: Eataly Boston debuts a seasonal patio on Friday, June 28, an outdoor oasis at the glassy Italian food emporium open every day into the fall.

The Boylston Street plaza outside the main Eataly entrance is getting a lush makeover, with trellises of winding vines and flowers, colorful tiled tabletops, and shady umbrellas. It has a gazebo bar, also covered with greenery; and twinkling strings of lights.

Spritzes will flow from the outdoor bar, along with other summery cocktails, frosé, a selection of Italian wines, and ice-cold Peroni. Since one cannot live on Instagram backgrounds and Aperol alone, though, of course the outdoor bar also has its own food menu. Eataly’s pizza-making partner, Rossopomodoro, is setting up outside to serve up Neapolitan-style pies al fresco; and there are also snacks, like puré di fave secche (a lemony, fava bean “hummus” served with a white pizza), house-made chips, olives, and salumi and cheese boards.

Beginning this weekend, the patio outside Eataly Boston will be open every day, weather-permitting. But it doesn’t preclude Eataly’s popular block party series, which returned for the season last week. The monthly, Thursday night block parties—happening again July 18, August 15, and September 12—expand on the outdoor food offerings with pastas, grilled bites, freshly filled cannoli, gelato, and more, and also feature live music, vendor pop-ups, and outdoor games. It’s free to attend, with food and drink tickets available for purchase ahead of time and on-site. Bonus: Some of the proceeds from block party ticket sales benefit anti-hunger agency No Kid Hungry.

Eataly’s outdoor patio is the latest place to spend aperitivo hour this summer. Chef Karen Akunowicz’s Fox & the Knife—which is opening its own outdoor patio in Southie—spritzes it up every day beginning at 4 p.m. Pammy’s, the Italian-in-spirit gem outside of Central Square from chef Christopher Willis and his wife, Pam, just brought back its aperitivo hour every Monday-Saturday in the lounge, beginning at 4:30 p.m., with specials like fried scamorza, house pâté, dry-aged charcuterie, and more. No one needs an excuse to start the evening with a refreshing, bubbly, low-alcohol spritz—but we’ll take one, thanks. Cin cin!

Il Patio di Eataly, 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. beginning June 28, 800 Boylston St., Back Bay, Boston, eataly.com.