
Contessa Boston
An opulent Italian rooftop restaurant offering breathtaking skyline views and a glamorous dining experience.

Highlights
Must-see attractions
Social
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Best Time
Blue hour photography, calmer galleries

Contessa Boston

Highlights
Must-see attractions
An opulent Italian rooftop restaurant offering breathtaking skyline views and a glamorous dining experience.
"Contessa nails it — the setting, the people, the drinks — all fire."
Book in Advance
Reservations are highly recommended and can be difficult to secure, so book well in advance.
Dress to Impress
The atmosphere leans towards formal; consider dressing up for a more aligned dining experience.

Quick Facts
Cuisine
Italian
Price
$$$
Phone
(617) 741-3404
Address
Rooftop, 3 Newbury St, Boston, MA 02116, USA
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Breathtaking Skyline Views
Indulge in panoramic views of the Boston skyline, especially stunning during sunset or illuminated at night. A perfect backdrop for any occasion.

Luxurious Italian Dining
Experience elevated Italian cuisine in an opulent rooftop setting with lavish decor, velvet banquettes, and a glamorous ambiance.

Signature Lobster Pasta
Savor the highly-praised Spicy Lobster Capellini, a rich and flavorful pasta dish that is a must-try for seafood lovers.
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Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Book in Advance
Reservations are highly recommended and can be difficult to secure, so book well in advance.
Dress to Impress
The atmosphere leans towards formal; consider dressing up for a more aligned dining experience.
Day vs. Night Views
Brunch offers bright natural light and garden views, while evenings provide dazzling cityscape vistas.
Table Selection
Request a corner or window table for a potentially quieter experience or the best city views.
Tips
from all over the internet
Book in Advance
Reservations are highly recommended and can be difficult to secure, so book well in advance.
Dress to Impress
The atmosphere leans towards formal; consider dressing up for a more aligned dining experience.
Day vs. Night Views
Brunch offers bright natural light and garden views, while evenings provide dazzling cityscape vistas.
Table Selection
Request a corner or window table for a potentially quieter experience or the best city views.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Contessa is praised for its stunning ambiance, opulent decor, and breathtaking city views, making it ideal for special occasions and a glamorous night out. While many rave about signature dishes like the Lobster Capellini and the overall dining experience, some diners find the portions small for the price and note that the food, while good, doesn't always meet the exceptionally high expectations set by the setting and price point. Service is generally considered excellent and attentive.
"I’ve been craving oysters since I left Contessa 😩
My girlfriends and I made a dinner reservation for Contessa in honor of our last night in Boston, and we had an amazing experience!! All of the workers that we encountered were so kind. Service was very quick but still very personable.
I ordered the coastal spritz for a beverage and the spicy lobster capellini for my entree. I really enjoyed everything! They gave you so much pasta I felt like it was a bottomless bowl 😭. At the end of our meal, our server surprised us with a complimentary dessert to congratulate us on our graduation 🥹🩷
I would recommend this place to anyone!
Cost: we spent ~$100/person"
Ashley Sinnorai
"Mostly amazing experience. Great rooftop spot and lively atmosphere. The food was mostly extremely good, especially the lobster capellini which was incredible. Also the ice cream was delicious. The oysters were very small and were strangely served with a very spicy sauce - we had to ask for the usual sauce which took a while. The salad was substantial but a bit boring. The salmon was very good. The service was extremely good, with the notable exception of a woman (not sure who) who showed up twice trying to impose on us some wine that was clearly bad. But otherwise they went out of their way to make us happy. There was an amazing lightning show that night. Well worth a visit but I think you need to research carefully what to order."
Richard S
"I had a very enjoyable brunch at Contessa yesterday. The food was delicious and prepared perfectly. Everything served looked delicious too. The croissant with custard was sooooooo good. My rigatoni pomodoro was delicious (although the portion was small). The smoked salmon, the pesto pasta, and meatball that others got at the table were also delicious.
The restaurant is beautiful and has great views from the top of the Newbury Hotel. The restaurant is totally inside.
Service was excellent and attentive but not intrusive.
The restaurant was very busy. We had to wait 20+ min to be seated past our reservation. It was also very hectic and loud. It was also very pricey- maybe $85/ person with only 2 drinks for the 4 of us.
Overall I’d go back for a special occasion and I had a lovely meal."
Edward Rosenthal
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
Contessa leans towards a more formal and elegant atmosphere, so guests are encouraged to dress up.
Reservations are highly sought after and can be challenging to secure. Booking well in advance is strongly recommended.
For bright natural light and views of the garden, consider brunch. For dazzling city lights, visit in the evening.
The Spicy Lobster Capellini is frequently highlighted as a must-try dish, alongside their fresh burrata and flavorful pastas.
Yes, the stunning views and luxurious ambiance make it a popular choice for celebrating special occasions.
Yes, Contessa offers a popular brunch menu on weekends, featuring dishes like Panettone French Toast.
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Worth it for the view alone, this jewel box of a restaurant towers above the Back Bay, right on the corner of Newbury and the Public Garden. At brunch, guests will fill the airy space so that they can sink their teeth into some Panettone French Toast and Carbonara Scramble, while taking in the view, which makes a daytime visit essential. For brunch-goers who favor lunch vibes over breakfast flavors, Contessa lists their famous Spicy Lobster Capellini on the menu, and if you’re ordering lunch, why not add the sparkling Spritz Contessa?
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Back BayHovering 17 floors above Boston’s famed Newbury Street, Contessa is unapologetically dramatic—the décor, the view, and its signature grand trattoria cuisine. Tourists and locals alike clamor for Contessa’s grandiose views of Back Bay and Boston Public Garden—verdant green in summer and shimmering with holiday lights come winter. This Boston favorite brings in fresh burrata each day, serves perfectly briny East coast oysters, and wows guests with fresh-made pastas like Sweet Pea Tortellini and Fettuccine Bolognese.
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There are parts of Major Food Group's Contessa that are a delightful throwback (white table cloths, mini table lamps, servers in white jackets, velvet bar seats), and there are parts that are extremely modern (like the fantastical Ken Fulk design). Arriving at this rooftop restaurant atop the Newbury Hotel is a sensory affair with a real sense of occasion. This is a fantastic place for a drink.
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This high-end Italian spot is owned and operated by Major Food Group, the same folks behind NYC's Carbone, and it's just as hard to score a coveted table here. The restaurant is perched atop The Newbury Hotel and is definitely one you'll want to break out your phone to document, with panoramic Boston skyline views; walls of windows that open in the warmer months; oversized pink fringed lamp shades; emerald, teal, and rose-hued velvet; pastel stone tile floors; and so much shiny brass. It's not just a pretty face, though — the lobster spaghetti is to die for and the spot slings one of the best complementary bread baskets in the city, brimming with focaccia, balsamic-soaked Parmesan, and briny olives.
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Landing a table at Contessa is one of the toughest gambits in town—but as our own restaurant critic discovered during his visits, it’s absolutely worth the effort. The first Boston restaurant from NYC-based Major Food Group, whose portfolio includes Michelin-starred restaurants around the world, Contessa is a glitzy rooftop destination at the Newbury Hotel. The big buzz and stunning views through walls of windows might get you in the door, but the fantastic and highly-finessed contemporary Italian cuisine—sumptuous pastas (spicy lobster capellini), fancified pizzas (topped with littleneck clams or black truffle, perhaps) and a signature Florentine-style steak for two—will keep you coming back.
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This modern Italian restaurant, perched high atop The Newbury Hotel, is chic and stylish in a 1960s Hollywood kind of way: lots of mauve and jewel tones; plenty of gold accents and glamor. Plus, there are those jaw-dropping Back Bay views (try for a window table). The food, crafted by the Manhattan-based Major Food Group, the powerhouse behind New York icons such as Carbone and The Grill, is as sophisticated as the setting: twirl your fork through a plate of spicy lobster capellini, a crown of crustacean in peppery tomato sauce, and think: I’ve made it.
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Opened in summer 2021, Contessa is a modern and glamorous Boston rooftop destination, perched on top of The Newbury Boston. Inspired by the old-world resorts of Europe and northern Italian estates, the luxurious rooftop is designed like a conservatory and it feels like a garden in the sky, surrounded by panoramic views over the Boston skyline. Offering grand Italian trattoria-style menu's from breakfast to late dinner, here you can indulge in plenty of tasty Italian dishes, as well as signature cocktails and a wine cellar that holds 749 unique wines.
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The rooftop restaurant at The Newbury Hotel would be a destination no matter what, on account of its prime Back Bay location and Public Garden views. But Contessa really soars: This gorgeous gal pays homage to the grand villas of Northern Italy complete with colorful tiles, verdant trees, and glinting brass details. The Boston debut for New York City’s Major Food Group, Contessa is an ultimate scene, with wall-to-wall windows surrounding some of Boston’s hardest seats to score, but it’s worth the effort for an unparalleled setting.
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With windows that look out onto the Public Garden, Boston Common, and Newbury Street, The Newbury Boston’s rooftop restaurant and bar, Contessa, has some of the most dazzling views in the city. Retractable panels transform the space into an open-air eatery, and a lush plant collection helps bring the outdoors inside. With Major Food Group at the helm, guests can dine on Northern Italian fare (think tortellini en brodo and dry-aged Florentine steak) and sink into velvet banquettes with a martini or classic Italian spritz.
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As the first restaurant in Boston from Major Food Group, we had major expectations for Contessa and they did not disappoint. Located in the heart of Back Bay, the crown jewel atop The Newbury Boston serves Northern Italian fare with breathtaking skyline views. The walls are retractable, so it's like sitting in an open-air trattoria when the weather allows and their spirited bar is exactly where you want to begin—and end—your night.
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Securing reservations at this glitzy rooftop oasis in The Newbury Boston may be a little tricky, but the payoff is worth the effort. Contessa offers up what is inarguably the best views of the Back Bay and an Art Deco-inspired design (rounded plush pink booths!) The retractable glass roof opens up in warm weather and the entire space turns sun-drenched at the right time of day, making it feel like you’re sitting in a garden.
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Contessa is a stunning rooftop restaurant in Boston’s Back Bay, designed to evoke Italian elegance with sweeping views of the city. Located atop The Newbury Boston, it captures the charm of Northern Italy with plush interiors and a vintage ambiance that recalls a European villa. Must-try dishes include the spicy lobster rigatoni and the bistecca fiorentina, a Tuscan-style steak cooked to perfection.
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Set atop The Newbury Boston, Contessa brings the elegance of Northern Italian dining to a stunning rooftop setting. With luxurious interiors designed as a glass-enclosed sky terrace, this rooftop destination evokes Old-World European charm. When dining at this jewel among rooftop restaurants in Boston, guests can savor refined Italian classics while overlooking the iconic Boston Public Garden.
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Stepping into Contessa Boston felt like entering a stylish Italian dream!. The elegant decor, with its stunning city views, created an enchanting backdrop perfect for a romantic night. I indulged in their exquisite pasta, which was perfectly al dente, paired with a delightful wine selection that made our evening sparkle.
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Boston is undoubtedly more than just marathons and Irish pubs. You can also find some really remarkable best rooftop bars in Boston if you look up!. From quaint waterfront terraces to more opulent rooftop lounges, there are options for all seasons, including rooftop pools in the summer and rooftop igloos in the winter.
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Contessa is one of the best Boston brunch with very nice environments. It is an Italian restaurant, on the 17th floor of Newburry Hotel. Enter and take the elevator directly up to the rooftop, overlooking Boston, below is the Boston Common and the view outside the window in Contessa is very good.
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CONTESSAMajor Food Group’s Contessa, on The Newbury Boston’s roof, exudes Northern Italy’s elegance. It’s among Boston’s hardest-to-get reservations. The dinner menu shines with antipasti like burrata, tonnato crudo, pasta and grilled Mediterranean branzino.
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3 Newbury Street, above the Newbury Boston hotel, Boston Telephone (617) 741-3404 Websitewww.contessaristorante.com Best of Award of Excellence. Contessa represents the efforts of one of the country’s leading restaurant teams. (Courtesy of Contessa)
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If you’re looking for a bit more upscale brunch with a view, try Contessa. Located on the rooftop of Newbury Street, you’ll enjoy a bloody mary overlooking the Boston skyline. Contessa has a vibey decor with a Northern Italian-inspired brunch menu.
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Nestled in The Newbury Boston Hotel, Contessa brings Northern Italian elegance to the city. With sweeping views of Back Bay and the Boston Public Garden, Contessa offers sun-soaked dining and under-the-stars ambiance for drinks and dinner.
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3 Newbury St Rooftop, Boston, MA 02116Phone: 617-741-3404 Visit Website. A post shared by Contessa Boston (@contessa_boston). Contessa has beautiful greenery views as it’s located right across the street from the Boston Public Garden.
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Contessa offers an Italian-inspired menu with incredible house made GF bread, GF pasta, and plenty of GF entrees, all prepared with care And, if you call ahead, they’ll be ready and waiting.
Tea for Two | The Newbury
Book an unforgettable stay and receive a reservation for two at Contessa, Boston’s most sought after dining experience, and $100 food & beverage credit to enjoy throughout the hotel.
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Contessa is an incredible restaurant with great food and a beautiful interior. The interior makes it one of the best Boston Instagram spots for sure!. View this post on Instagram
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Contessa indulges your senses with a nod to the city’s Italian-American heritage from our Ken Fulk designed, modern glass terrace that offers sweeping views of the Back Bay.
in Boston
About Contessa Contessa Info Address: 3 Newbury St Website: contessatrattoria.com Phone: (212) 254-3000 Email: Floor: Building: Other bars in boston
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from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit