“I was surprised that all of a sudden it was happening, very much out of the blue,” said the owner of two of the first four participating restaurants.
By Brianna Borghi • Published June 12, 2026 • Updated on June 12, 2026 at 11:36 pm
Cambridge launched new outdoor drinking zones Friday, allowing people to carry alcoholic drinks outside in designated areas for the next seven weeks under a new Massachusetts law.
The city is preparing for an influx of visitors during the World Cup, but the rollout was slow on Day 1, as some restaurants and visitors were still learning how the program works.
Under the new state law, people can drink alcohol outdoors only within approved drinking zones. Cambridge has six zones, including parts of Massachusetts Avenue, Harvard Square, Central Square, Inman Square and Kendall Square.
Customers must buy drinks from participating restaurants. As of Friday, only four restaurants were participating: Grendel’s Den Restaurant and Bar and The Sea Hag in Harvard Square, The Phoenix Landing in Central Square and Row 34 in Kendall Square.
“I was surprised that all of a sudden it was happening, very much out of the blue,” said Kari Kuelzer, who owns Grendel’s Den and The Sea Hag.
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Kuelzer said she had been pushing for outdoor drinking ahead of the World Cup because it could help restaurants serve more visitors.
“It can boost sales, but also it can just make it more possible to use the space we have for all of these extra visitors in a way that makes it fun,” she said.
Participating restaurants must serve drinks in clear plastic containers labeled with the establishment’s name. Customers also must receive a wristband that is color-coded for each drinking district.
“The bartender will make you a drink just like we do in the restaurant and transfer it into a clear plastic cup that we write our name on,” Kuelzer said. “And then you can’t stay in the restaurant with it. You actually have to go.”
The rules went into effect at 11 a.m. Friday, but Kuelzer said some restaurants still need time to prepare.
“They haven’t had time to figure it out,” she said. “They’ll probably do it by next weekend or maybe tomorrow.”
Some visitors were surprised to learn they could legally drink outside in the designated zones.
“We’re actually not allowed to drink on the street,” said Luke Bain, a Scottish fan visiting Cambridge. “They don’t trust us, weirdly.”
Outdoor drinking will be allowed from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day through July 31.