restaurants
Even if you’re not booking a stay, it’s still worth having dinner at one of these hotel restaurants.
coquette. Josh Jamison
It’s easy for Boston residents to overlook that this city is home to a number of trendy luxury hotels. While we think a stay is always a brilliant idea, many of this hotel’s amenities are available to those who have no sense in a full stay.
Over the past year, a plethora of delicious restaurants have popped up at some of Boston’s finest hotels, reminding us that hotel dining doesn’t have to be a boring last resort for guests. In fact, with international restaurateurs, award-winning chefs, and globally-inspired menus, these restaurants are coveted enough to attract hotel guests just for their reservations.
Here are eight of those restaurants, including the more recent additions and some proven restaurants that have helped balance the quality of Boston’s hotel dining with Boston’s premier dining scene.
1 Bennett St., Cambridge
Acclaimed New York chef Mark Ladner brings a fresh Italian charm to this veteran Cambridge hotel. The neo-trattoria has quickly made a name for itself across town thanks to its 100-layer lasagna, which nightly will find the most patient diners skeptical as they count the thin sheets of pasta slipped between sticky layers of fresh mozzarella crema are. spicy provolone and tomato marmellata. The rest of the menu combines locally sourced ingredients with clearly imported Italian goods, including an exceptional wine list covering Italy’s most famous and under-the-radar wine regions. Settle in for a leisurely banquet near the bar, or slip into a candlelit table in the back room — just don’t forget to leave room for dessert: Ladner’s homemade pistachio gelato will tease your taste buds to the streets of Transport Naples.
450 Summer Street, Boston
A menu that highlights the best of French flavors paired with Basque tapas, Coquette brings a certain je nais se quois to the ever-expanding neighborhood. Hand-painted murals line the walls in a whimsical purple display, making the restaurant as enticing as it is filling. Order a mix of barre crue (raw bars), snacks and small tapas for the best menu overview, but if you really want to immerse yourself, opt for a feast: the bottom quarter of the menu is devoted to large-scale dishes, such as baked stuffed lobster, Tuna au poivre and a choice of steaks up to 32 ounces. Don’t forget the drinks: Spanish-style gin and tonics, served in mugs (or “balloons” in local lingo) are the perfect way to start – and carry through very well – a meal.
Ramsay’s kitchen. – Gordon Ramsay North America
774 Boylston Street, Boston
This newcomer to Boylston Street had significant shoes to fill – replacing the former Bar Boulud – but if anyone did it, boss Gordon Ramsay could do it. The Michelin-starred chef needs no introduction and has curated an extensive menu of favorites from his restaurants around the world, including Beef Wellington, moules frites and his infamous burger. The reservation list is worth checking out, but snagging a seat at the bar is a personal favorite for camaraderie and a close-up on craft cocktail curation.
250 Franklin Street, Boston
The new restaurants in the former Federal Reserve building downtown were part of The Langham’s multi-million dollar renovation. Though lobby bar The Fed offers an elite enclave of a library of homemade bar snacks and upscale bar bites, Grana has a moment of its own. In what was once the vault of the Federal Reserve, chandeliers and old paintings welcome you with a certain novelty that only the discerning eye can discern in an elegant eatery that serves Italian fare, including a phenomenal brunch menu. When you’re ready for a lavish weekend, reserve a table for the Al Tavolo tasting menu from 11:30am to 2:30pm – because you can’t go wrong with a multi-course Italian brunch and spiked coffee to share.
1271 Boylston Street, Boston
This funky izakaya fits the equally trendy vibe of its hotel, with graffiti-covered walls and colorful tiki decor punctuated by a selection of mismatched trinkets, from fairy lights to paper lanterns. Get a group together and order a handful of goodies from the menu, including maki rolls and sashimi, but also staples like glazed Japanese eggplant, crispy chicken wings, and kimchi fried rice for a shared spread — versatile and unparalleled in the City. A little-known fact is that Hojoko serves one of the best burgers in Boston. Of course, in the midst of sushi and sake, this menu item is underrated, but you won’t regret it.
Countess. – Doug Friedman
3 Newbury St., Roof Terrace, Boston
When Major Food Group landed at the end of Newbury Street in June 2021, the hype was unprecedented. Luckily, the spicy lobster capellini alone fulfilled it. Immaculately adorned with jewel-toned marble and regal velvet seating, its vibe befits its tribe, as they say. The swanky wraparound rooftop restaurant remains the place to be for fresh pasta, pizza, and endless views of Boston Common, which glows especially at sunset. Start with the meatballs aldo and the daily imported burrata. From the bar list? Martinis are her thing.
120 Huntington Avenue, Boston
This New American style restaurant, which straddles the South End and Back Bay on Huntington Avenue, has reopened with a whole new concept thanks to Nick Calias, Director of Food and Beverage at The Colonnade. Calias knew his audience, so he set up the kitchen, liquor and space to be, at its core, a neighborhood hotspot. The menu is seasonal, but diners can expect accessible classics and nostalgic dishes in a nod to what was once Brasserie Jo. For fall, that means Milanese Chicken with Peppadew, Arugula and Pickled Lemon Vinaigrette, Toasted Mushroom Pizza, and Coconut Popcorn Shrimp.
215 Charles Street, Boston
Located in the former Charles Street Jail, this restaurant specializing in seasonal New England fare is a testament to Chef Daniel Kenney’s talent. Colorful dishes lend an imaginative flair to Kenney’s style of presentation, using ingredients as fresh as the season and includes a variety of North Atlantic seafood dishes. This is perhaps best demonstrated with the Off The Coast… menu offering, an ever-changing fresh catch from local fishermen, farmers and gatherers. East Coast Salmon is also a popular representation of our regional bounty and features on all menus from brunch to dinner. The brick walls that were once prison cells offer a striking juxtaposition that is part of the experience.
Correction: A previous version of this story referred to Nick Calias as Executive Chef at The Colonnade. He is Director of Food and Beverage. Boston.com regrets the error.
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