Bacon and ricotta flatbread

Escapes from the city on summer weekends are always welcome, but don't worry if you lack a getaway strategy. With the crowds gone, breathing room at places like Noir in the Charles Hotel is easier to come by. The main warm-weather attraction here is watching Harvard Square go by as you sip cocktails on the patio, matched with snacks from the appealing bar menu, overseen by Charles Hotel chef Peter Davis and Noir manager Sean Griffing.

Davis is known for his seasonal and local cuisine at Henrietta's, where the abundance of brunch is overwhelming. But the pared-down Noir menu seems designed to match the cocktails and the atmosphere. Bacon and ricotta flatbread ($10), one of Noir's most popular items, is shingled with loads of smoky bacon and offset with sweet-rich ricotta and caramelized onions. It's an almost perfect bar snack. With a few skewers of grilled shrimp, and a couple of dirty martinis, you're set to plan a getaway for next time. Noir at the Charles Hotel, One Bennett St., Cambridge, 617-661-8010.-- LEIGH BELANGER