© The Newbury Boston / Photography: Nikolas Koenig

Following a two-year renovation, a storied Boston hotel has reopened, welcoming back a discerning travel demographic in great classic style with a contemporary edge. We’re talking The Newbury Boston, an iconic establishment which originally opened in 1927 as one of the first Ritz-Carlton properties stateside and has seen different guises since. Situated in the historic Back Bay neighbourhood and flanked by the lush greens of the Public Garden, the hotel has been revamped by no less than three acclaimed designers, and features 286 guest rooms and suites. The main entrance, designed by New York City-based architect Jeffrey Beers, has been relocated from Arlington Street to Newbury Street, and guests are welcomed into an elegant landscaped terrace plaza. Dramatic window awnings and a new lighting design enhance the hotel’s neoclassical façade and complement its distinctive historic details. The new entrance and public spaces aims to capture the spirit of the building’s heritage by incorporating many historic details, including the original cobalt blue chandeliers from the Main Dining Room, into the meticulous redesign.

And the splendour doesn’t stop there. Pairing elegance with a comfy, homey vibe is The Newbury Boston‘s hotel lobby, an art-filled domain with a multitude of distinct design touches, such as flooring of deep black copper gold-white veined Neo Dorato marble and a striking chandelier. The style sophistication extends to the adjacent library lounge, an intimate space where guests can sit back and mingle on lavishly upholstered lounge chairs and sofas. A grand staircase leads to the second floor which houses sumptuous event space. Historical architectural elements, including existing marble columns and an original banister, flank the majestic steps. A massive chrome chandelier, with custom glass lighting enclosures, acts as a striking modern addition to the classic stairwell. The guest rooms and suites, designed by Champalimaud Design, a practice also based in New York City, are similarly high on style but also ooze coziness, captured by a palette of blues, greys, and creams, and a variety of rich materials, such as handcrafted wood, herringbone, and marble.

Each room features original artwork by illustrator Veronica Lawlor, alongside bespoke amenities including Byredo‘s Willow bath products made expressly for the hotel, luxurious Frette linens and robes, and in-room Nespresso Vertuo espresso machines. Needless to say, The Newbury Boston also knows how to keep both guests and visitors entertained, and does so with a number of alluring facilities that are destinations in their own right. The Street Bar is the brand new incarnation of the hotel’s historic watering hole. Overlooking the Public Garden, it’s designed by Jeffrey Beers, boasting an intimate atmosphere classic leather barstools, a cozy fireplace, and dark wood accents, and serving cocktails, select wines, as well as locally inspired bar fare. Indulging refined palates is Contessa, a sumptuous glass rooftop restaurant. Operated by renowned hospitality company Major Food Group, it serves a menu of iconic Italian dishes and classic cocktails in a lavish setting by interior designer Ken Fulk that’s inspired by the legendary Palladio villas in Northern Italy.

The Newbury Boston
1 Newbury Street (Back Bay)
Boston, MA 02116
Telephone: +1 617 5365700

© The Newbury Boston / Photography: Nikolas Koenig, Read McKendree and Douglas Friedman