Cambridge is a better destination for outdoor dining than Boston, but both cities offer agreeable spots to lounge under the sun or stars.

Across the street from the Charles River near Kendall Square, the Sail Loft, 1 Memorial Dr. (tel. 617/225-2222), opens onto a leafy plaza that usually picks up a breeze from the water. Both restaurant patios at the Royal Sonesta Hotel, 5 Cambridge Pkwy. (tel. 617/491-3600), have great views. The hotel's Gallery Café is casual; its Davio's is a bit fancier. On one of Harvard Square's main drags, Shay's Pub & Wine Bar, 58 John F. Kennedy St. (tel. 617/864-9161), has a small, lively seating area. More peaceful are the patios at the Blue Room and Oleana.

On the other side of the river, try the airy terrace at Intrigue (tel. 617/856-7744), in the Boston Harbor Hotel, Rowes Wharf, which overlooks the harbor and the airport. Most bars and restaurants in Faneuil Hall Marketplace offer outdoor seating and great people-watching. In the Back Bay, Newbury Street is similarly diverting; a good vantage point is Stephanie's on Newbury, 190 Newbury St. (tel. 617/236-0990). A popular shopping stop and after-work hangout is the Parish Café and Bar, 361 Boylston St. (tel. 617/247-4777), where the sandwich menu is a "greatest hits" roster of top local chefs' creations. A laid-back alternative in this area is the hideaway garden at Casa Romero.