Contessa is the rooftop restaurant on the 17th floor of The Newbury Boston, the hotel at the corner of Newbury and Arlington Streets across from the Public Garden. It draws on the grand villas of Northern Italy, with an Italian-American nod, and the menu was created by Major Food Group, the team behind Carbone. Contessa serves breakfast, lunch, weekend brunch and dinner, with cocktails late into the night. This guide covers the menu, hours and how to get a table.
About Contessa
Contessa is one of Boston's best-known rooftop dining rooms. Glass walls and a retractable roof look out over the Public Garden and the Back Bay. The décor follows the Northern Italian villa theme. Weekend dinner and brunch book up quickly, so plan ahead.
Contessa Boston Menu
Contessa runs separate breakfast, lunch, brunch, dinner, cicchetti (small bites), dessert, wine and cocktail menus, plus seasonal holiday menus. The dinner menu moves from shared antipasti and carpaccio to pastas, pizzas and large-format steaks. These are its signatures:
Signature Dishes
- Piemontese Carpaccio
- Antipasti
- Tortellini en Brodo
- Ricotta Gnudi
- Signature Pizzas
- Bistecca Fiorentina
- Contessa Negroni
Contessa doesn't publish prices in a format we could verify. OpenTable puts a typical meal at about $31–$50 per person. Sharing a bistecca Fiorentina, adding wine or ordering several courses will push the bill well past that.
What to Order
Start with the Piemontese carpaccio and a few antipasti for the table. Then split a pasta. The tortellini en brodo and ricotta gnudi are the house signatures. A group can share the bistecca Fiorentina as the main event. Whatever you eat, have the Contessa Negroni, which is the restaurant's best-known drink.
Hours
- Breakfast: Monday–Friday, 6:30 – 11 AM
- Lunch: Monday–Friday, 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM (bar until 5 PM)
- Brunch: Saturday, Sunday and Monday holidays, 7 AM – 2:30 PM (bar until 5 PM)
- Dinner: Sunday–Wednesday 5 – 10 PM (cocktails until midnight); Thursday–Saturday 5 – 11 PM (cocktails until 1 AM)
Reservations and Location
Address: The Newbury Boston, 1 Newbury St, 17th Floor, Boston, MA 02116 (hotel entrance at 3 Newbury St)
Phone: (617) 536-5700 (hotel)
Reservations are made through Resy. New tables often go fast, so book as early as you can, and check for cancellations on the day. Breakfast and weekday lunch are the easiest times to get a table and still see the rooftop views. The Arlington stop on the Green Line is one block away.
Frequently Asked Questions About Contessa Boston
Where is Contessa in Boston?
Contessa is on the 17th floor of The Newbury Boston hotel, 1 Newbury St, at the corner of Arlington Street across from the Public Garden. The hotel phone is (617) 536-5700.
What is on the Contessa Boston menu?
Northern Italian dishes with an Italian-American touch, including antipasti, Piemontese carpaccio, signature pizzas, tortellini en brodo, ricotta gnudi and bistecca Fiorentina, plus the restaurant's well-known Negroni.
What are Contessa's hours?
Breakfast Mon–Fri 6:30–11 AM; lunch Mon–Fri 11:30 AM–2:30 PM; brunch Sat, Sun and Monday holidays 7 AM–2:30 PM; dinner Sun–Wed 5–10 PM and Thu–Sat 5–11 PM, with cocktails until midnight or 1 AM.
How do I make a reservation at Contessa?
Reservations are made through Resy. Book well ahead for weekend dinner and brunch.
How expensive is Contessa Boston?
OpenTable lists a typical price of $31–$50 per person, though large-format steaks and wine can push dinner well above that.
Hours were checked against The Newbury Boston's official Contessa page on October 26, 2026. Confirm with the restaurant before you visit.
