Here's a look at the best new and renovated venues in Boston such as corporate event venues, party rooms, conference centers, restaurants with private rooms, unique venues, and more. These event and meeting spaces can accommodate groups large or small for winter entertaining including holiday parties, business dinners, cocktail parties, conferences, and private and corporate events.
Located beneath the W Hotel and Residences in Boston’s theater district, Tunnel is an intimate space with major personality. The 200-person nightclub has 3,600 floating LED light fixtures with 65,000 preset lighting effects that can be programmed to create customized patterns. An artificial intelligence system synchronizes to the beat of the music. The 4,000-square-foot space opened in mid-October.
If your taste runs a bit more Kerouac than Colicchio, new Harvard Square bohemian brasserie Beat Hotel features live jazz, blues, and world music, along with eclectic fare from Ethiopian rolls to chipotle-spiced baby back ribs. The 8,500-square-foot space—which includes two bars, a performance stage, and work by local artists—offers partial and full buyouts for as many as 500 people.
Commonwealth chef and owner Steve “Nookie” Postal, who gained fame on the Bravo reality show Around the World in 80 Plates, is the former Fenway Park chef with a passion for farm-to-table food. His new Kendall Square restaurant and market is a family-friendly outpost for quality food (chicken nuggets aren’t on the menu). Commonwealth’s 6,500-square-foot space can facilitate groups at a 10-person chef’s table, in a 22-person private dining room, and on a spacious roof deck.
Blind Tiger, a South End speakeasy slated to open in December following a renovation, will serve handcrafted cocktails in a woodsy, red leather atmosphere that includes a bar and spacious lounge area with plush couches and glitzy chandeliers. A menu of small plates will be paired with classic spirits at the secretive lair, which takes over the space formerly occupied by Noche. The 3,500-square-foot space will be available for full and partial buyouts of crowds of as many as 173.
With more than 9,500 square feet of meeting space, the newly refurbished Doubletree Suites by Hilton Boston offers several options for groups. The all-suite hotel features two ballrooms, multiple breakout rooms, and prefunction space, as well as the notable Scullers Jazz Club. A rooftop terrace for 100 guests overlooks the cities of Boston and Cambridge. The location—right off the Mass Pike and Storrow Drive and a 15-minute drive to Logan Airport—makes the hotel particularly accessible to travelers.
Former Boston Redevelopment Authority executive Harry Collings realized his dream of owning a restaurant with Back Bay Harry’s. The restaurant on the Back Bay/South End border offers twists on classic favorites, like Meatloaf Wellington and buttermilk fried chicken, prepared by popular local chef Jason Santos. In addition to the general dining room, a private space holds 40 guests, while a bar area accommodates groups of 60.
The Inn at Hastings Park combines historic charm with luxury accommodations. The boutique property, located 15 miles outside of Boston in Lexington, is steps from spots frequented by Paul Revere and Sam Adams. The inn, which is planning for an early December opening, will feature three historic renovated buildings. The main building, originally constructed in 1888, will house a 2,300-square-foot, 54-seat bar and restaurant, Artistry on the Green. The restaurant will be available for buyouts, as will the entire 22-room inn (it will sleep 64).
From the team behind the popular Arlington restaurant Tryst comes Cook, a 2,600-square-foot American bistro in Newton. The 80-seat restaurant with an open kitchen offers lunch, brunch, or dinner buyouts, along with prix-fixe menus and a bar area for cocktail parties. Entrées include wood-fired pizzas and grilled cheese sandwiches, while the snack menu offers treats such as caramel-bacon popcorn and house-made pretzels.
Salon parties are a popular alternative to bar nights. At Drybar Boston Back Bay, a 2,050-square-foot salon specializing in blowouts, guests can choose from a menu of hairstyles. The 12-chair salon can be rented on an hourly basis for corporate events and can arrange for catering. In addition to the Back Bay location, a second Boston-area Drybar will open in Chestnut Hill in November.
Brio Tuscan Grille’s first Massachusetts location, set to open November 7 in Chestnut Hill, is inspired by the famed Northern Italian city. Decor at the restaurant will include hardwood Cypress flooring and arched colonnades. The 6,372-square-foot space will seat 235, including at a 28-seat bar and in a private dining room for 40. The menu features pasta and classic American-Italian dishes but can serve specialized diets with gluten-free options and lighter fare.
