If you're looking for outdoor dining in Haverhill, MA, The Tap Brewing Company's riverside deck is usually the first answer locals give. Overlooking the Merrimack River in the heart of downtown Haverhill, The Deck is a seasonal outdoor space where guests can order a full lunch or dinner alongside a pint of house-brewed beer while the river rolls by below. It's open during the warmer months, seating is first-come, first-served, and it sits just steps from Washington Street, one of the busiest strips in the city's historic downtown core.

For a city built along a working river, outdoor dining in Haverhill, MA naturally centers on the water, and The Tap Brewing Company has leaned into that setting since it opened its doors in 2003. The brewpub occupies a historic building on Washington Street, in a block once packed with shoe-manufacturing factories during Haverhill's industrial heyday, and The Deck extends that history outward, giving guests a place to eat, drink, and take in the river view without ever leaving downtown.

A Riverside Deck in a Historic Downtown

The Tap Brewing Company's main dining room keeps its industrial roots visible, exposed brick, dark wood, and tin ceilings that hint at the building's past. Step outside to The Deck and the setting changes completely: open air, river views, and a rotating breeze off the Merrimack that makes it one of the more distinctive outdoor dining spots in the Merrimack Valley. Because the space is seasonal, it typically opens once the weather turns warm and closes down again heading into the colder months. Seating is first-come, first-served for most parties, though guests planning to bring a larger group are encouraged to call ahead so the team can try to accommodate them.

What to Order on The Deck

The Tap's kitchen, led by chef Chris Kole, has built a reputation around hand-crafted burgers, in-house smoked wings, and a specials board that changes with the seasons, the same menu that recently earned Kole a second consecutive Best Chef win at Haverhill's Tasty Awards, alongside wins for Best Beer Selection and Most Creative Menu. Whether you're settling in for a full dinner or just grabbing a quick lunch between errands downtown, the same kitchen serving the main dining room serves The Deck too, so there's no scaled-down "patio menu" to worry about. Order what you'd order inside, and enjoy it with a river view instead of exposed brick walls.

Pairing a Meal With What's Pouring

Outdoor dining at a brewpub isn't complete without the beer, and The Tap brews every batch on-site in a 10-barrel brewhouse, typically keeping 11 to 12 house-brewed ales and lagers pouring at any given time. The lineup mixes year-round staples with rotating seasonal releases, so a visit to The Deck in July might look different from one in September. As a member of the Massachusetts Brewers Guild, The Tap is part of a broader in-state craft beer community, but the beer itself never travels far, it's brewed a few dozen feet from wherever you're sitting on the deck.

Part of Downtown Haverhill's Riverfront

The Deck's location isn't incidental. Downtown Haverhill's riverfront has become a focal point for the city in recent years, anchored by a boardwalk along the Merrimack and Riverfront Park, which hosts community events throughout the year, including an annual fall festival with live music and food vendors along the water. Guests dining on The Deck are sitting right in the middle of that riverfront activity, a few minutes' walk from the same stretch of river the city has built much of its downtown revitalization around. For visitors exploring Haverhill's Riverfront Cultural District, a stop at The Tap is an easy way to combine a walk along the water with a meal that doesn't require going far from the river itself.

Something Different Downstairs

Not every visit to The Tap has to happen on The Deck. Downstairs, past the brewhouse, The Playpen offers a second, smaller bar with pool tables and a jukebox, open Friday and Saturday nights only. It's a different pace from the open-air deck upstairs, useful context for anyone planning a visit around a specific kind of evening, whether that's a quiet dinner with a river view or a livelier night out after the sun goes down.

Planning Your Visit

The Tap Brewing Company is located at 100 Washington St in downtown Haverhill, MA, and is open for both lunch and dinner most days of the week, closed Mondays. Because outdoor seating depends on the weather and the season, calling ahead is a reasonable step for anyone specifically hoping to sit on The Deck, especially for larger groups or during peak dinner hours on a nice evening.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is The Deck at The Tap Brewing Company open year-round?
No. The Deck is a seasonal outdoor space that operates during the warmer months and closes during colder weather. The main dining room and bar remain open year-round regardless of season.

Do I need a reservation to sit on The Deck?
Seating on The Deck is generally first-come, first-served. Guests bringing a larger group are encouraged to call ahead so the team can do their best to accommodate the party.

What kind of food is served on The Deck?
The same menu served throughout the restaurant is available on The Deck, including hand-crafted burgers, in-house smoked wings, and a rotating specials board from chef Chris Kole's kitchen.

What can I see from The Deck?
The Deck overlooks the Merrimack River, giving guests a water view while they eat, right in the middle of downtown Haverhill.

Is there a beer list to go with outdoor dining?
Yes. The Tap brews its own ales and lagers on-site, typically keeping 11 to 12 beers pouring at once, including year-round options and rotating seasonal releases.