Contessa - Boston

4.7

80 Reviews

$31 to $50

Italian

Make a reservation

2 people

Dec 27, 2024

7:00 PM

Booked 75 times today

Experiences are available.

Good for special occasions
Great for brunch
Fancy

Perched atop The Newbury Hotel like a crown jewel, Contessa is a grand destination. Guests are welcomed from morning till night to a sunlit, rooftop restaurant with Art Deco references and mid-century modern detailing, offering sweeping views of Back Bay and the Boston Public Garden. The menu offers a wide variety of delicious options, from feasts of antipasti, carpaccios and pizzas, to pastas and large steaks. A vast wine list, classic cocktails and a selection of dolci punctuate a beautiful meal.

Private dining

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View details

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Italian
Hours of operation
Breakfast Mon–Fri 7:30 am–10:30 am Lunch Mon–Fri 11:30 am–2:30 pm
Phone number
(617) 741-3404
Website
https://contessaristorante.com/
Dress code
Business Casual
Private party facilities
For a party of 9+, please email events@contessaboston.com.
Private party contact
Contessa Boston Events Team: (617) 536-5700

Location
1 Newbury St, Boston, MA 02116
Neighborhood
Back Bay
Cross street
Located in The Newbury Hotel at Arlington St. and Berkeley St.
Parking details
None
Public transit
The main entrance to the restaurant is located at 3 Newbury Street. If you enter through the hotel, you will need to walk through the restaurant to check in at the host stand.
Additional
Non-Smoking, View, Wheelchair Access

Experiences

New Years Eve at Contessa Boston
$295.00 per person
Prepaid
Dec 31, 2024 only
Ring in the New Year at our jewel box in the sky this New Year’s Eve, with the best views in Boston. Gather over an elegant Italian feast with old-world glamour. From Burrata with Caviar to satisfying pastas and Wagyu Ribeye, celebrate with your loved ones at Contessa. Cancellations may be made up to 1 week in advance at 5pm. Cancellations after that date will forfeit the deposit. Guests are encouraged to dress for the occasion. Any guest who does not appear sufficiently well-presented may be refused entry. No shorts, open-toed shoes, or tank tops. Athletic wear and baseball caps are kindly prohibited. If you have any questions, please email holidays@majorfood.com for more information.

What 80 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7

4.7 based on recent ratings

4.7Food
4.7Service
4.8Ambience
4.3Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Greater Boston
Best Ambiance
Greater Boston
Great for brunch
Boston
Best Ambiance
Boston
Great for brunch

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Contessa in Boston offers stunning city views, "delicious food," and a "fantastic ambiance." Highlights include the squash carpaccio and sweet corn ravioli. While many praise the "excellent service," some note occasional delays in seating. The elegant decor and vibrant atmosphere make it a "must-visit" for special occasions.

80 Reviews

L
Lori
Greater Boston
17 reviews
3.0
17 reviews
Dined on December 19, 2024
1. Overall 3
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 3
It was our first time at Contessa for lunch. It was beautiful- but they seated us at a table where the sun was in my face and so hot, it was quite uncomfortable. I also had a feeling that the staff knew it, and I was wondering why they didn’t seat us some place more comfortable. If you go during the day, ask to sit on the other side of the restaurant. Our server was excellent and we loved the tuna crisp and the artichokes. Truly nice appetizers! We shared the pesto. It was a bit heavy. It had a beautiful strong basil taste, but left us feeling full- And we shared one plate among the three of us. Overall, it was a nice experience, but I would probably just do drinks and appetizers if I return.
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D
Dante
VIP
San Francisco
10 reviews
5.0
10 reviews
Dined on December 19, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
incredible experience! attentive service & excellent food!
Is this helpful?
K
Kenia
Greater Boston
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on December 16, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Excellent!! Service, food , place. .. love it
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M
Meghan
Greater Boston
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on December 15, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
Food was great. Views were great. Service was great.
Is this helpful?
B
Brian
VIP
Greater Boston
16 reviews
5.0
16 reviews
Dined on December 14, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Might be the nicest spot in the city.Take a girl here, you can’t beat it.
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H
Heather
Greater Boston
5 reviews
4.0
5 reviews
Dined on December 13, 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Beautiful restaurant but food is over priced for what it is
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A
Alan
VIP
Greater Boston
35 reviews
4.0
35 reviews
Dined on December 12, 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
First course was exceptional - squash carpaccio. Second course was ok - veal milanese. Service was outstanding. Tables are VERY close together - zero privacy from neighbors. Decor is vibrant, warm, and rich with natural light. The tight spacing, noise level, and variable food quality eclipse the good parts of Contessa.
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B
Bridget
Greater Boston
5 reviews
4.0
5 reviews
Dined on December 7, 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 5
It is beautiful inside. The sommelier was very kind and helpful. Our server was a bit aggressive and made us feel hurried rather than allowing us to linger over a cocktail and have a little time between courses. Food was delicious.
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M
Michael
Greater Boston
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on December 4, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
An excellent place to celebrate a special occasion
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P
Polina
Greater Boston
8 reviews
1.0
8 reviews
Dined on November 29, 2024
1. Overall 1
2. Food 1
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 4
The food was just ok. Honestly not very good. I had a salad added chicken to it. The chicken was awful. Dry and flavorless!
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FAQs

Contessa - Boston is rated 4.7 stars by 80 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Dec 27, 2024

7:00 PM

Booked 75 times today

Experiences are available.

1 Newbury St, Boston, MA 02116

Dining areas

Additional information

Cross street
Located in The Newbury Hotel at Arlington St. and Berkeley St.
Neighborhood
Back Bay
Hours of operation
Breakfast Mon–Fri 7:30 am–10:30 am Lunch Mon–Fri 11:30 am–2:30 pm
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Italian
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Business Casual
Parking details
None
Public transit
The main entrance to the restaurant is located at 3 Newbury Street. If you enter through the hotel, you will need to walk through the restaurant to check in at the host stand.
Additional
Non-Smoking, View, Wheelchair Access

Website
https://contessaristorante.com/
Phone number
(617) 741-3404
Private party facilities
For a party of 9+, please email events@contessaboston.com.
Private party contact
Contessa Boston Events Team: (617) 536-5700

Contessa - Boston

Make a reservation

Private dining

Dining areas

Additional information

Experiences

New Years Eve at Contessa Boston

Menu

What 80 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

How is Contessa - Boston restaurant rated?

Is Contessa - Boston currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Dining areas

Additional information