With the holiday season coming up, these new and recently renovated venues are suitable go-to options for company festivities. The spaces, which include bars, lounges, nightclubs, restaurants, private rooms, and raw spaces, in Boston can accommodate groups small and large for corporate holiday parties of every type.
Lincoln Tavern and Restaurant
Lincoln Tavern and Restaurant, a classic American eatery located near the Convention Center in South Boston, opened in October. The restaurant, with its own brick-oven pizza bar and high tin ceilings, is available for buyout. It seats 230 or holds 300 for cocktails, and a semi-private dining room seats 70 or holds 100 for cocktails. Popular menu items include wood-grilled salmon and braised short ribs; pasta is hand-rolled and made in-house. Special event menus can be coordinated. The space is outfitted with two projection screens available for laptop hookup, and an event coordinator can arrange entertainment, shuttle companies, and flowers.
Photo: Mike Diskin
The Sinclair
The Sinclair, an American kitchen and live-music venue, will open in Cambridge’s Harvard Square this month. The space is available for buyout. A downstairs bar seats 35, while an upstairs dining room seats 50. The entire venue holds 300 seated or 525 for cocktails, and semi-private banquettes in the upstairs dining room seat 15. Noted Boston chef Michael Schlow oversees the menu, which focuses on shareable American plates. The space is equipped to host musical entertainment and has state-of-the art sound and lighting equipment. DJs and live bands can be coordinated with on-site staff.
Rendering: Courtesy of All Heart PR
Puritan & Company
Puritan & Company in Cambridge’s Inman Square will open in mid-November for holiday events. The restaurant will be available for buyout and seats 100 or 130 for cocktails.; a communal table, which holds 18, will also be available. Sample menu items highlight a modern twist on classic New England fare: clam chowder, local meats and cheeses, and oysters. The restaurant is outfitted with TV hookups, a portable projector and screen, and audiovisual amenities. Staffers will coordinate music and decorations tailored to each event.
Photo: Courtesy of Puritan
Fogo de Chao
Brazilian churrascaria Fogo de Chao will open its first Boston location in the Back Bay this month on the first floor of the Westin Hotel, featuring views of the Boston Public Library and Trinity Plaza. The restaurant has six private dining rooms that seat groups ranging from eight to 130. Each private dining space has full audiovisual capabilities including projection screens, Wi-Fi access, a separate phone line, and state-of-the-art sound systems. A 3,000-bottle wine cellar encased by glass anchors the dining room, and three-panel stained-glass windows are visible from some of the private dining areas. The menu showcases 16 different cuts of slow-roasted meats and a 40-item salad and sides bar.
Photo: Kiko Ricote
iYo
iYo, a coffee bar that serves make-your-own Belgian waffles and frozen yogurt, opened in August in Somerville’s Davis Square. The back of the restaurant has a private room outfitted with a large chalkboard and three large tables. The private space is available for buyout and seats 14. The main café area, with high ceilings and exposed brick, has a frozen yogurt and Belgian waffle toppings bar. Parfaits and baked goods are also available.
Photo: Bryan Poisson
Hops ‘n Scotch
Hops ‘n Scotch, a beer and whiskey bar in Brookline’s Coolidge Corner, opened in August. The space is available for buyout. A private second floor, complete with a minibar, can hold 100 for cocktails or 75 seated; the entire restaurant seats 125. Popular menu items include Scotch eggs, catfish po’boys, fried chicken livers, and grits. The restaurant is outfitted with four televisions, and iPods can hook up to either floor. The restaurant also has a recorded music license and can coordinate DJs for events.
Photo: Courtesy of Hop 'n Scotch
M3
M3, a Southern restaurant based on the American South’s “meat and three” sides concept, opened in Somerville’s Davis Square in June. The intimate space is available for buyout and seats 39. An open kitchen overlooks the dining room, and a chalkboard lines one wall. Signature menu items include fried chicken, chicken and waffles, and shrimp and grits. The restaurant will decorate to suit each event.
Photo: Dave Baldwin
The Urban Grape
The Urban Grape opened in Boston’s South End in September. The wine shop, which has a focus on organic, biodynamic, and local wines, is available for buyout. Private tasting receptions for 100 are a specialty. Semi-private tastings, led around a butcher block table, accommodate 20. Food is not served, although guests are invited to bring in food of their choice to pair with wine. The space is Wi-Fi-equipped.
Photo: Courtesy of the Urban Grape
Tip Tap Room
Chef Brian Poe opened the Tip Tap Room in Beacon Hill in June. The space, which has a 100-seat dining room and garage-style doors, is named for its specialty: tips. Instead of just offering steak tips, the menu offers turkey, tofu, and lamb; more exotic varieties include elk, emu, and yak. The beverage program focuses on craft bourbons and local beers, while specialty cocktails include watermelon margaritas and a cucumber-lavender gimlet. The dining room seats 100, while a semi-private booth in back can hold 10.
Photo: Courtesy of the Tip Tap Room
Granary Tavern
The Glynn Hospitality Group opened the Granary Tavern in September. Located in the Financial District, the 250-seat restaurant is housed in a historic, Charles Bullfinch-designed building originally constructed in 1816. With an open kitchen and two bars, the space has two floors; the downstairs area can host receptions for 80. The menu serves comfort foods including chicken and waffles, seafood chowder, and blueberry pie prepared with locally sourced ingredients.
Photo: Courtesy of Granary Tavern
