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Contessa - Boston, Boston, MA

Contessa - Boston

4.7
4.7
128 Reviews
$31 to $50
Italian
1 Newbury St, Boston, MA 02116

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 67 times today

About this restaurant

  • Great for scenic views
  • Good for special occasions
  • Lively
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.

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

Private dining

Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 128 people are saying

Contessa - Boston reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

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
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.8Ambience
  • 4.2Value

Noise • Moderate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Contessa in Boston offers a "stunning ambiance" with breathtaking rooftop views and a vibrant interior design. Guests rave about the "amazing food," especially dishes like squash carpaccio and seafood pasta. While service can be inconsistent, standout servers like Pedro and Marvin ensure a memorable experience. Ideal for special occasions.

128 Reviews

  1. Kerry

    Greater Boston4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 17, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Amazing view. Loved the vibe. Our waiter was fantastic and extremely knowledgeable about the menu especially the gluten free options for me as I have celiac disease. The food was delicious. Everyone in our party had pasta for our main entree and it was excellent. We had the whipped ricotta to start and that was also very good, including the gluten free bread. All in all a fantastic experience. I highly recommend!

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  2. Crystal

    Greater Boston3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 16, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Awesome servers and great food/drink. Cocktails a bit pricy but understandable w the location and the care that has gone into everything! Beautiful space/view will come back soon

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  3. Christine

    Greater Boston1 review

    5.0

    Dined on April 11, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Listen! I have been wanting to go to this restaurant for over two years. I have talked about it a million times, watched so many videos about it, and I finally got to go for my birthday this year. When I say that this restaurant met every single one of expectations, that is no exaggeration. Not only was the food incredible, but the ambience and service could not be beat. I truly cannot wait to come back here.

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  4. OpenTable Diner

    Inverness2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 11, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great atmosphere, food and service !

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  5. Judy

    Greater Boston1 review

    5.0

    Dined on April 4, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This is my 3rd time at Contessa and it’s always superb. Our server was so attentive and pleasant, the food was excellent, and I never get tired of the view!

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  6. Siena VIP

    Greater Boston4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 4, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Best meal in Boston even for vegetarians!!! Squash carpaccio is to DIE for

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  7. Julie VIP

    Greater Boston5 reviews

    2.0

    Dined on April 2, 2025

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 4
    Hostesses greeted us with straight faces. We had a reservation but waited while they cleared a table on the farthest most remote area of restaurant even though it was not crowded. Waitress was MIA for most part. Only time she smiled at us is when she gave us the bill. Chicken Frances was not like others I’ve had - basically a boiled flavorless chicken leg wrapped in a heavy egg battered fried dough

    1 person found this helpful

  8. Julie

    Western NC3 reviews

    2.0

    Dined on March 23, 2025

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 4
    Eaten here many times, but this time everything was completely off. The service was not nearly what it has been in the past and for the value of the evening expense it most definitely should be well beyond par. The food was just ok. Extremely disappointing.

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  9. Jessie

    Greater Boston1 review

    2.0

    Dined on March 15, 2025

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 3
    I couldn’t modify my reservations, so I asked the concierge to cancel them. They informed me that the bar was full, so we couldn’t even access the bar area.

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  10. Ed

    Greater Boston39 reviews

    2.0

    Dined on February 25, 2025

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 4
    Our waiter rushed us. My girlfriend's scallops were overcooked, and my portion of branding felt small. Potatoes excellent. Your prices of wine by the bottle are ridiculously high and shaneful. Doubt I'll return.

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FAQs

Contessa - Boston is rated 4.7 stars by 128 OpenTable diners.

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

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Greater Boston
  4. Boston
  5. Back Bay

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 67 times today
Google Map for Contessa - Boston

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
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