Boston is famous for its picturesque harbor, breathtaking oceanfront views, and cobblestoned alleyways. But it’s also known for a decked-out dining scene filled with historic restaurants preserving heritage and newcomers serving up innovative interiors.
Antique furniture and leather banquettes exude quiet luxury inside a Beacon Hill hideaway. At a fun-loving tiki bar, Balinese sculptures and basket lamps spell “tropical getaway.” A seafood mainstay takes cues from all things nautical, featuring curvy boat-like walls and striking ocean-inspired art.
These places pair impeccable ambiances with thoughtful, intentional menus. Read on for a guide to the 12 most beautiful restaurants in Boston.
1928 Beacon Hill (Beacon Hill)
This cozy spot is the brainchild of antiques dealer Kristin Jenkins. Her passion for all things vintage is on display via pieces like a mural from the French restaurant that used to be here in the 1940s, antique wall mounts, and all sorts of nautical tchotchkes. The menu takes its New England backdrop seriously with hits like lobster rolls and braised short ribs. But you’re most likely at this speakeasy-style escape for the classic cocktails, and, lucky for you, they’re flawless.
Terra at Eataly Boston (Back Bay)
This Prudential building restaurant, part of Boston’s Eataly marketplace, channels an Italian greenhouse with an open dining room, lush hanging plants, and rustic wooden furniture. Start your meal with a barrel-aged beer—Terra even has a designated room onsite for wooden barrels—before digging into earthy dishes like grilled quail, meat and vegetable skewers, and sumptuous housemade pastas.
Eastern Standard (Fenway-Kenmore)
Though its original version closed during the pandemic, the hotly anticipated reboot of this beloved brasserie more than delivers. Soaring ceilings, upholstered leather booths, and a marble bar area—which looks like the inside of an oyster shell—add to the wow factor. Eastern Standard is just as great for a splashy night out as it is for an intimate dinner, depending on where you sit. Expect pitch-perfect bistro classics like bone marrow with fresh housemade bread and a killer tuna niçoise salad.
Limani Grille (Seaport)
Greek and Cypriot staples headline the menu at this glamorous Seaport restaurant. Like its sibling location in Chestnut Hill, Limani’s latest edition evokes a sophisticated Mediterranean holiday with soaring ceilings, fluted velvet banquettes, and a mishmash of greenery. Giant floor-to-ceiling windows with bustling neighborhood views remind you that you’re stateside, but thanks to real-deal ingredients like Peloponnese olive oil and capers from Santorini, a meal here is downright transportive.
Pammy’s (Cambridge)
Pammy’s blends a Greco-Roman vibe with contemporary swagger. Co-owners Pam and Chris Willis sourced much of the decor themselves and the scene-stealer is a stone sculpture of Demeter—the Greek goddess of harvest—that the Willises found in the Hudson Valley. A gorgeous tiled hearth and 14-foot communal table, lined with flower vases, round out the homey scene, setting the stage for hearty Italian American dishes like celery-root gnocchi and mafaldine with tripe and garlic chile oil.
Buttermilk & Bourbon (Back Bay)
New Orleans inspired both the food—beignets, barbecue shrimp and grits—and atmosphere at this sexy Back Bay spot. With hanging mirrors and live vines, the transportive restaurant is the next best thing to a Southern getaway. There are multiple spaces for lingering, including a dining room with a decorative fireplace and red banquettes and a lounge area with a backlit 3D mural. In the warmer months, Buttermilk & Bourbon opens up its massive outdoor patio—one of the largest in the area.
Krasi (Back Bay)
Sleek and welcoming Krasi dazzles with Greek-chic interiors that include gray- and white-marbled plaster walls and reimagined portraits of Greek figures—don’t miss the surfer-dude spin on Poseidon. The meze lineup is just as fun, featuring dips made tableside, plus freshly baked breads flavored with thyme and honey. It all pairs exceptionally well with Krasi’s prolific all-Greek wine menu. If you’re craving a cocktail, head downstairs to the restaurant’s cave-like sibling, Hecate.
Wusong Road (Cambridge)
You’re in for a tropical escape when you step through Wusong Road’s Balinese temple-inspired entryway. The two-floor bar is decked with basket lamps, palm-patterned wallpaper, and a large dragon sculpture—owner Jason Doo took cues from his family’s Chinese American restaurant in nearby Malden. Which explains the bar’s selection of retro tiki mugs (Doo’s parents served drinks in similar glassware) and remixed Chinese classics like tater tots with scallion aioli and rum-glazed coconut spare ribs.
Prima (Charlestown)
Even though this old-school Italian steakhouse just opened its doors in 2023, it’s already amassed a loyal following from its Charlestown neighbors—and its sophisticated interiors have a lot to do with that. The dining room is designed with glossy woodwork, leather, and subway tiles, and booths are covered by white and maroon curtains for peak privacy. Come here for a serious feast: The steak program features the choicest cuts, like veal prime rib and tomahawk.
Mamma Maria (North End)
This North End charmer sits in a 19th-century row house on a small hill, overlooking one of Boston’s prettiest cobblestoned streets. It’s got all the trappings of a special-occasion superstar, from crisp white tablecloths and chandeliers to large windows that offer a panorama of the city skyline. The menu leans northern Italian but shifts with the seasons, and could include housemade ravioli with house-cured lamb sausage or wild black bass with morel mushrooms.
Atlantic Fish (Back Bay)
Atlantic Fish has served New England’s freshest catch since 1978. The nautical dining room evokes a ship’s interior with curvy wooden ceiling panels, porthole-like mirrors, and murals of the sea on the walls. Bonus points for the enclosed wrought-iron patio, which opens up during the summer months. All the fresh seafood here is sourced directly from the harbor each morning then grilled, pan-roasted, or seared to perfection.
LUCIE drink + dine (Back Bay)
This Colonnade Hotel restaurant bills itself as a local bar with a global kitchen, serving everything from mussels mariniere to lo mein noodles with baby bok choy and chile sauce. That cosmopolitan sentiment also applies to its airy and stylish digs: Oversized leather chairs wreath a 360-degree bar and pop-art portraits of celebs like Mick Jagger and Kate Moss are displayed alongside cartoons by Portuguese artist Rui Pinho. It all confirms this lobby-side spot is a destination in its own right.
Valerie Li Stack is a Somerville-based writer and editor who’s passionate about all things food, drink, travel, and culture. Her writing has appeared in publications such as America’s Test Kitchen, Eater, Punch, USA Today, and more.
