With Beacon Hill beginning to consider what from the pandemic should stay, Boston Mayor Kim Janey said Tuesday that outdoor dining was not only a “lifeline” for restaurants in the city, but something that diners thoroughly enjoyed.

“At a bare minimum, we want to be able to continue that outdoor dining experience,” Janey said, during an interview on GBH’s “Boston Public Radio” show.

Janey said tables on sidewalks and street shoulders and the “open streets” concept that has periodically shut down some streets to traffic for pedestrians to move around gave parts of the city more of a “festival feeling” that residents want more of, not less.

“When Newbury Street, for example, is open streets for the day, it just feels really good to be out, to be able to shop freely, to be able to enjoy and these are the things we want to be able to hold on to,” she said.

As for allowing restaurants to continue to serve to-go beers and cocktails, Janey said it’s “on the table” and something the city’s licensing board would have to consider. The legislature must also give its permission, and the House and Senate are reviewing laws, like those passed during the pandemic to help restaurants, and considering which ones should be extended after the public health emergency ends on June 15.

“She’s smiling bigtime, I should say. I think that’s her answer,” host Jim Braude said.