Rendering of Contessa / Source: Eater Boston
When you look up Boston, you will find many different things: Fenway Park, the Boston Marathon, and even that bar from Cheers! What you won’t find a whole lot of are rooftop restaurants and bars. It isn’t because these establishments aren’t popular. There are just a lot of factors to consider when opening a rooftop bar or restaurant.
Two new additions to the rooftop cuisine and bar scene will be opening during the upcoming months. After several delays due to COVID-19, the Blue Owl in Cambridge’s Central Square will be opening to the public this summer. The Blue Owl features a globally inspired menu, an outdoor patio, and a rooftop bar that seats 40.
Contessa, the second restaurant/bar rooftop experience, is opening in June at the Newbury hotel, slated for opening May 18. Major Food Group, which operates several restaurants in New York, Las Vegas, Miami, Hong Kong, and Tel Aviv, is to thank for Contessa and all of Newbury’s food and drink options. Contessa will feature Italian cuisine to be enjoyed under a glass ceiling with retractable panels.
Contessa is coming to the Back Bay area at a crucial time in the rebuilding effort. The Back Bay restaurant scene was devastated by the pandemic, with many 2020 closures becoming permanent. For those that closed temporarily, they are beginning to reopen. A third of the state vaccinated, and outdoor dining is beginning to pick up, making it the opportune time for Contessa to open its doors.
Major Food Group has not released a specific menu for Contessa, only remarking that it will feature Italian cuisine. Italian seems to be a running theme in some of the more notable restaurants, like Carbone. Carbone is one restaurant that the group has expanded to multiple cities – New York City, Las Vegas, Hong Kong, and Miami. Contessa is a new experience that will be open for all-day dining and isn’t an aesthetic to be found anywhere else.
Now that Boston’s Back Bay area is beginning to spring to life again, with the newly refurbished Newbury hotel (with over 100 years of history) opening and Contessa on the rooftop, there is no better time to check out the real estate in the area.
If you are looking for a condo surrounded by cozy Boston charm, the Back Bay is ideal for you. Elevated has access to the premier listings in the area – from traditional red and brown brick exteriors to new construction condos. Call Elevated today to see what Boston’s Back Bay has to offer.