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Contessa - Boston

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

Make a reservation

2 people
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
7:00 p.m.
Booked 85 times today

About this restaurant

  • Lively
  • Fancy
  • Great for scenic views
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
  • Neighbourhood
    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 125 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
  • 4.6Food
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.8Ambience
  • 4.2Value

Noise • Moderate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Contessa in Boston offers a "wonderful time" with "incredible experience" and "amazing views" from its rooftop setting. Guests rave about the "excellent food" and "attentive service," highlighting dishes like "butternut squash carpaccio" and "spicy lobster capellini." Perfect for special occasions, its ambiance and "vibrant, warm decor" make dining memorable.
125 Reviews

  1. OpenTable Diner

    Inverness2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

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

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  2. 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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  3. 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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  4. 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

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  5. 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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  6. 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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  7. 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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  8. Ryan

    Greater Boston9 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on February 23, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Came here for our anniversary dinner and had a wonderful time. Always love to come here for special occasions.

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  9. Francis

    Greater Boston3 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on February 20, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    What made our experience at Contessa extraordinary was our waiter (Javier)!!!! He was not only helpful with the menu but was very attentive to our needs with welcoming responses.This kind of attention is not the norm in today’s restaurant environment. It would be wise to have Javier train all of the staff at Contessa!!! Thanks Javier for a wonderful experience. We will be back. Frank Rich

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  10. Shanicia VIP

    Washington DC7 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on February 17, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    I was disappointed that only the brunch menu was available and the server was rushing us to place our order and it took a long time for us to get our food.

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FAQs

Contessa - Boston is rated 4.7 stars by 125 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

Booked 85 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.
  • Neighbourhood
    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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