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    Contessa - Boston

    3.9 (728 reviews)
    Open 6:30 am - 11:00 AM, 11:30 AM - 2:30 pm, 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM

    Contessa - Boston Photos

    CONTESSA - BOSTON ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Trendy
    Romantic
    Classy

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    Dirty Martini & The Royale
    Baran K.

    Now, I cannot speak about the food at Contessa just yet because I have not tried, but my roommate and I headed up for a drink to kill time while waiting for a spot at the Street Bar and I was blown away by the vibes and my martini. It is truly such a beautiful restaurant. I normally am the type of person who makes a lot at home, particularly drinks, because I like to make it how I make it, and I must say this martini was the closest to the one I make. I loved it and I can't wait to go back.

    Lemon tarte
    Braelyn Joy T.

    Great views, you can see the prudential from this place. The decoration was elegant, and they have a coat check on the bottom floor if you need. The food tasted good and fresh. The fusili pesto had a solid taste, and the pesto tasted very fresh. The squash carpaccio was amazing and a solid appetizer that I would definitely get again. The ricotta was a pleasant surprise. It was a small portion, but it had a really good taste and texture, and it was pretty sweet. The lemon tart tasted great and honestly you can't ask for better. The Nutella cake was a solid cake with a straight-up chocolate taste. The ribeye was solid, and I liked the roasted garlic that it came with. The rosemary potatoes had a nice taste, seasoning, and texture. The broccoli was not bad either. It was a little tightly packed, but there were still a lot of seats. We were able to make a reservation only 1-2 days ahead for a Thursday night for 7 people, which was surprisingly easy. Overall, a really nice spot with good food, good views, and a great atmosphere.

    Inside
    Sophie T.

    My friend and I came here for drinks during the day and it's such a vibe! It's definitely the move to sit at the bar and sip on a refreshing drink with an insane backdrop of Boston behind. Look at all that natural light?! The entire place was so bright and lit up during the day which added such a nice ambiance to everything. The Sgroppino is the perfect drink on a hot day (it's kind've like you're sipping on an Italian ice). Will be back!

    Mack S.

    This is amazing Boston restaurant. Make sure you see Kevin. He's fantastic Captain you can't go wrong with the food. You're gonna absolutely love this place strongly, strong, and strongly recommend

    Darci W.

    This was my favorite meal of my entire week in Boston. I just felt so peaceful & pampered the whole time. The views were incredible. The food was amazing. The service was impeccable. The complimentary bread basket with balsamic-drizzled Parmesan and the biggest olives I've ever seen was such a nice surprise. Even better was the dessert! I never order dessert, but this was so good -- probably the best vanilla ice cream I've had in my life. And yeah, the espresso martini -- definitely the best I've had in my life. The shaved chocolate on top was absolute perfection. This is my new favorite absolute-must-visit spot in Boston.

    Feta 2.0, trip of dips, and burratta
    Samira C.

    I highly recommended the apps, but the entrees I'd skip on personally. Highly recommend the burratta, trio of dips, and the feta 2.0 is so delicious best thing on the menu! Would come again for drinks and starters.

    Avocado bruschetta with almonds - absolutely delicious.
    Bmb B.

    Juan - excellent service, the absolute best I've had since living and dining in Boston. Thanks for a fantastic day time brunch. Christian, also excellent assisting Juan with our table. See you soon.

    Bathroom
    Shantae Y.

    I went to Contessa in October 2025, and first and foremost I immediately fell in love with the decor. The views from the restaurant are unmatched and the overall aesthetic is very upscale. Now to get to the food! Everything was absolutely delicious. I was with a group of people so we did tapas style with the appetizers and had a few different options. For dinner I had the bolognese and it was absolutely delicious. I also had the espresso martini to drink and it literally inspired me to search for the best espresso martini every time I dine out now, it was so good and the chocolate garnish was the best touch. The service like the entire dining experience was phenomenal. They were attentive and helpful with recommendations. I would go back in a heart beat, great for date night, night out with friends, or corporate dinner.

    Florentine Benedict
    Kai M.

    I came here on a beautiful snowy day with my BF, his parents, and my parents. This is kind of like a rooftop bar, but enclosed, so the view is gorgeous. The ambience, furniture, and decor are so fun--it's a great place to go for an upscale brunch. We made a reservation for 6, and it did take us about 10-15 minutes to be seated. Once we were seated, service continued to be somewhat slow. It took a few more minutes for us to order our coffee and then for the coffee to arrive. It seemed like the servers were switching around tables, which may have contributed to the slowness. The food was really tasty! I ordered the Florentine Benedict, which I actually loved and felt like worked so well. My BF's French toast was HUGE so we all ended up eating some of it. It felt like the portions were a bit lacking -- most of us had only one thing on the plate, without any home fries or decorative fruit or anything. I kind of would expect more from a restaurant that holds itself out to be more high-end and charges so much for its dishes. Like not even a piece of parsley to make the plate less empty? Overall, I really did like this place and would love to come back. It's right by the Common and Newbury Street, so I feel like it's a great place to get dressed up, get brunch/dinner, and then stroll around a bit.

    Carbonara Scramble
    Kathy T.

    We came on a snowy Sunday morning so the rooftop view was stunning. Felt like being in Paris even though the food had an Italian flair. My Florentine Benedict was delicious although not generous. We agreed the French toast was the hit of the meal. What kept it from being 5 stars: 1. Service was slow- took forever to get coffee and even longer to get refills. And then even longer for more cream. And the coffee wasn't that good 2. Even though food was tasty, prices are so high that feels like portions should have been a little more generous (or a lot more generous), or should have had more oomph. I guess you come because of the view and ambience.

    Linds B.

    I've dined at Contessa twice when they were fairly new and once recently (March 2026). Contessa is always reliable in terms of gorgeous ambiance and cleanliness as well as beautifully prepared dishes. The service from our waiter this trip was wonderful. When I dined years ago, they were a bit more diligent and anticipatory with swapping out silverware and plates between dishes & cleaning the table, which doesn't seem to be a priority anymore as it was not happening at any of the tables around us either. Nonetheless, the service was still absolutely helpful, kind, and attentive. Cocktails are always delicious and the pastas fresh and light. The lobster salad was a highlight with the most fresh green herb dressing and perfectly cooked lobster. Each time I've dined here, I've found the portions to be on the smaller size for the price, always wishing I had a few more bites!

    Persia E.

    Since I moved to Boston, everyone has been telling me to come here and it didn't disappoint. I went with a larger party, and our waiter was so kind and charming. He also looked like Bad Bunny, which was definitely a plus. An early dinner around 5 was perfect because it wasn't too crowded, and most people were there just for cocktails, which added to the lively atmosphere. Going with a bigger group, I went with five, was also a great idea because we ordered a bunch of pastas and mains and split everything, so we got a really nice assortment. I would definitely recommend it. Also, the beautiful upholstery, wallpaper, and décor make it the perfect night-out destination.

    Avocado Bruschetta without almonds, Italian Sausage Patty & a side salad
    Angela N.

    Stopped here for breakfast/brunch on a Monday and love the decor. Located on the rooftop of the Newbury hotel - we sat with views of Back Bay and the Boston Public garden. Note - you cannot access the outdoor portion. I made a 10:30 reservation because 11:00 was not available - only to find out the kitchen closes and flips for lunch so we had to quickly put our orders in. Like rushed as we sat down. Food was good - I had the avocado toast and a side of Italian sausage (which I recommend). If ever in town, again I would come back to try lunch and dinner.

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    Contessa - Boston Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Contessa - Boston

    Are there gluten friendly or celiac-friendly options?

    Are there vegan options?

    Yes, we checked the menu before going and also told the server when we got there who helped find options

    How kid friendly is this place?

    Contessa has one section with a full bar area and the atmosphere is pretty high end. I wouldn't call it "kid friendly" and definitely not in the evening hours. If I had an infant in a car seat, I may consider it but definitely wouldn't think it… Read more

    What is the dress code?

    I'd say casual dressy. It's a mostly fashionable crowd with many of the men wearing jackets. I wore a sport jacket with an open collar and was very comfortable. Err on the side of dressy and you'll fit right in. It's a great spot!

    Are there vegetarian pastas?

    They claim to and sometimes they do but they aren't consistent, or honest!

    Where can you park when going to Contessa?

    Newbury Street parking has a lot of movement. I'd look for parking on Newbury and general area... Boylston and cross streets. I've always found a space, and it seems easier now than before covid. Great spot, enjoy!

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    Saltie Girl

    4.2(2.7k reviews)
    0.3 miBack Bay
    $$$

    This place was recommended by the concierge at our hotel. We even asked a few other people in town…read more They all said this place was good. So we had to try it. We walked from trolly stop 7. Nice easy walk. We arrived and the place was packed. No reservation. We came to the street entrance, which we thought was the main entrance. The person there took us to a seat at the oyster bar downstairs. The vibe was awesome. A mostly young crowd. Looked like a great place for after work meet up. Our waitress took our order. Clean chowda, Oysters, Lobsta Frites, and a Lobsta Roll (my first). Everything was better than expected. I even got a little education on the oysters from the shuckers. BTW, the red sauce in the dropper bottle is Hella Hot, but really good. The place was rocking and then we found out that there was an upstairs also. This place was very nice for a date and for some out of downers like us. I recommend it.

    Wanted to love this place, but the food arrived cold and the service was dismissive…read more We ordered the clam chowder, a burger, and the warm lobster roll (they offer both warm and cold versions). When we mentioned that the lobster roll was cold, the server looked at me like I was dumb, pointed at the lobster roll, and said, "That is warm babe." The response came across so rude and unprofessional. There were also issues with our order being forgotten. We had to place the lobster roll order a second time because it wasn't entered the first time around. During that second order, the server asked whether we wanted fries or chips with the lobster roll, and we chose fries. We later found out we were charged an additional $4 for the fries, which was never mentioned.

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    Moon Bar - Tuna escabeche

    Moon Bar

    4.8(40 reviews)
    0.2 miBack Bay

    I am over the MOON with Moon Bar!…read more If I could live here I would! :) Another excellent experience here and it just happened to be restaurant week. We also spent an hour at the King Tut exhibit across the street! This restaurant/bar always seems packed. And, with reservations for 645pm (highly recommend) the bar was quite busy. The buzz from this high-end cocktail bar is exactly what you want on a Friday evening; From girlfriends sipping their wine to couples laughing and swirling their cocktails, Moon Bar is for the classy and sexy. Abby our server is excellent! A mixologist who knows all the cocktails and can recommend based on your preference. I tried one of their new cocktails with bourbon and did not care for it. Abby made me my mezcal drink that I have ordered before...its the 305 cowboy, an extremely popular drink. A must try for sure! Note: Some bartenders make you feel guilty for saying something about a drink you ordered and did not like. But, here at Moon Bar, Abby was so gracious to make me something that I will enjoy. Hats off to her:) Food: Since it was restaurant week we just shared everything. For starters we ordered the Tuna Tartare that was excellent. Then, we had Piri-Piri Chicken Thighs that were also good but quite spicy. For dessert, we shared the Caribbean Tiramisu, which was great. It was a tough choice between this and the Guava Cheesecake. We were so full that we ended up bringing home leftovers. Oh, I also forgot to mention we always order their Curry Fries - a must try when coming here Trust Me. My husband doesn't love curry but he loves these fries and you will too. #friesaretodiefor Moon Bar, thanks for being amazing in every way. Thanks for your splendid service, crafty cocktails, delicious wine (try the Pinot Noir from Germany), and your amazing food ---Love those Curry Fries! "Alexa, make reservations for 2 at Moon Bar for tonight." Cheers~

    What an amazing time we had a moon bar! The ambience was perfect for a girls night out and great…read morewall art. All the drinks we got were delicious which I feel like is rare for a bar. The great palm and golden colada were my favorite. They were both sweet with a tangy aftertaste. The roasted cauliflower was very flavorful. It was heavy on the sauce which was great and loved the crunch of the cashews. The tandoori chicken was my favorite. It was very juicy and tender chicken marinated well. The curly fires had a great masala seasoning. The yogurt based was my favorite to dip into. The staff were excellent with frequent check in and quick service. Overall, I highly recommend this place.

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    The Street Bar - The Street Bar | The Newbury Boston

    The Street Bar

    3.6(71 reviews)
    0.0 miBack Bay

    Excellent views and ambience. Friendly professional staff, and very nice menu. Great drinks…read more Conversations with other patrons is very knowledgeable and enjoyable. Everything is done "top notch ". Whether you are a traveler or a local, it can be either a special night out, or a regular place to frequent. Extra munchies are an added plus. Everything is slightly higher priced, but sometimes, you get what you pay for. I have been coming here for decades...since the old Ritz Carlton days, and still appreciate the revolution of this lovely spot.

    We visited on January 11th, a few weeks prior to my wedding. This was a day I had planned for…read moremonths with my daughter and future stepdaughter, an important and meaningful occasion, and the experience fell significantly below expectations. In advance, I stopped into the hotel to confirm that a gluten-free guest could be accommodated and was assured this would be handled. In reality, the accommodation was inadequate and, at times, unacceptable. While the rest of us were served scones, my stepdaughter was given cut fruit in their place, and told that was all they had to accommodate.The dessert course consisted of what appeared to be basic gluten-free cookies, misrepresented as something more gourmet - egg nog cookies??? This lack of preparation was both disappointing, upsetting and avoidable. The broader experience was equally concerning. We were subjected to an unsolicited and uncomfortable "lesson" on tea service, which detracted from what should have been a relaxed and celebratory occasion. While trying to enjoy the time with the girls, being a lifelong tea drinker and someone who has been to many times at your establishment and its various incarnations, this is something I have never experienced. The food quality was poor (scones were clearly reheated and stuck to the cloth napkin they were wrapped in), and there were notable service lapses, including being served water in a visibly shattered glass. Additionally, when hot water was added to refresh the tea, my stepdaughter's pot curdled and had to be replaced. It was especially disappointing, as I mentioned that I had stopped in and spoken with the concierge, and was assured, as they had called the kitchen while I stood there that they readily accommodated gluten-free. There are numerous places in the city that could have done this, and if you had just told me that you could not do so, I would have booked us elsewhere. I chose not to raise the multiple issues in the moment so as not to disrupt what was meant to be a special day for the girls and me. However, the total cost exceeded $500, and the experience did not come close to justifying that price point! Do not recommend.

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    Contessa - Boston - italian - Updated June 2026

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