Beer Gardens Are Coming Back to the Greenway

Mark your calendars: Trillium Brewing and City Winery’s open-air experiences return to Boston in May.


Trillium Garden on the Greenway photo courtesy of Trillium Brewing Co.

Trillium Garden on the Greenway photo courtesy of Trillium Brewing Co.

For those who spent the winter missing the experience of sipping a cold drink accompanied by the sunshine and a warm outdoor breeze (also known as outdoor dining), the wait ends soon. Today, the Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy announced the opening of its well-loved, open-air beer and wine gardens (cue the applause).

City Winery on the Greenway will open on Saturday, May 1 on Dewey Square, right across from South Station. It’ll be serving up the same locally crafted whites, reds and rosés as its counterpart downtown.

While proudly boasting its status as Boston’s only outdoor wine garden, the winery is also partnering with Boston-based Harpoon Brewery to serve craft beer and hard cider. Because why limit yourself to one part of the menu?

Just down the road, Trillium Brewing Company will be reopening its Trillium Garden on the Greenway on Thursday, May 20. For its fifth season, the beloved beer garden will make its home at the corner of High Street and Atlantic Avenue, across from Rowes Wharf. With the brewery’s New England farmhouse-inspired beers on tap, guests are encouraged to make a reservation, as the tables fill up fast.

“I’m so excited to welcome our staff and guests back to Trillium Garden on The Greenway,” said Trillium’s founder and owner, Esther Tetreault in a press release. “We can’t wait to share our favorite beers in this beautiful downtown destination.”

Both the winery and beer garden will operate in accordance with Boston and state-wide COVID regulations. Tables will be spaced six feet apart, seating no more than six people at a time. Masks are required when not sitting or eating, and food is required to purchase a drink.

The good thing is, both spots are offering extensive, delicious food options.

City Winery will be offering a Mediterranean-inspired menu of fresh wraps, cheese boards, and snacks to complement the wine garden experience. Trillium will require guests to snack on food from one of the Greenway Conservancy’s on-site food trucks, which changes every day. But with places like Bon Mi, the Bacon Truck, Dining Car, and Pennypackers, it doesn’t seem like the “requirement” is going to be too tough to fulfill.

Keelin Caldwell, director of programs and community engagement at the Greenway Conservancy, said that Trillium and City Winery have worked hard to ensure guests can enjoy safe, socially distanced places for this season. “Our open-air beer and wine gardens help bring people together, and are the perfect reason to make a trip downtown to The Greenway this spring.”

So once the weather warms up, grab a few friends (but no more than six) and head down to the waterfront for your share of beer, wine and cider in the open air.

More information:

City Winery on The Greenway

WHERE: Dewey Square, Atlantic Ave., Boston

WHEN: Opening for the season on Saturday, May 1

HOURS: Wednesday and Thursday 4:00-9:00pm; Friday 4:00-10:00pm; Saturday 1:00-9:00pm: and Sunday 11:00am-7:00pm

WEBSITE: citywinery.com

Trillium Garden on The Greenway

WHERE: High St. and Atlantic Ave., Boston

WHEN: Opening for the season on Thursday, May 20

HOURS: Thursday 12:00-8:00pm; Friday and Saturday 2:00-10:00pm; and Sunday 12:00-6:00pm

WEBSITE: trilliumbrewing.com