This year saw the opening of many significant event and meeting venues in Boston. Here's a look at the best restaurants, party rooms, hotels, corporate event venues, conference centers, and private rooms to open in 2013. These new and renovated Boston venues can accommodate groups large or small for private and corporate events, business dinners, cocktail parties, conferences, weddings, and more.
Named after a hatchet-wielding temperance fanatic of the pre-Prohibition era, Carrie Nation Cocktail Club is a new Beacon Hill hangout that draws from the decadence of the early 1900s. Think dishes like rabbit fritters and an entire menu page dedicated to whiskey. A second-floor space called “the Speakeasy” comes with pool tables and plush seating. The space holds as many as 400 guests.
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.
The lounge atop the Revere Hotel, Rooftop at Revere is a 16,000-square-foot space seven stories above street level that opened in May. Five private cabanas line one side of the deck, and the space is dotted with whimsical sculptures. The chic spot has its own bar and offers snacks such as Nantucket Bay scallop ceviche and cocktails such as a Sangria Blanco. An adjacent private event space holds 125 for receptions.
If your taste runs a bit more Kerouac than Colicchio, 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.
The team behind Boston’s Improv Asylum and Nick’s Comedy Stop have joined to create Laugh Boston, a new stand-up comedy venue at the Westin Hotel Waterfront, adjacent to the Boston Convention and Expo Center. The 6,000-square-foot space seats 297 guests and offers a menu of light bites such as spring rolls and empanadas, as well as paninis and flat-bread pizzas. Opened September 21, Laugh Boston is within walking distance to some of the city’s best restaurants and hotels, as well as South Station and the financial district.
Showcase Live, a 16,000-square-foot event space at Foxborough’s Patriot Place, 30 miles south of Boston, began hosting private events in January. It holds 850 and is outfitted with a 52-foot-long bar and V.I.P. banquettes. Custom seating arrangements can be coordinated with an in-house event team. The space includes three digital projection screens and nine high-definition LCD TVs. A culinary team customizes seated meals, cocktail functions, or food stations. The venue is adjacent to Gillette Stadium, a concert venue and home of the New England Patriots.
Event Designer Marc Hall recently opened his own showroom connected to his design studio, and it’s already become a popular venue for small meetings and events. Marc Hall Objekt, a 1,200-square-foot space, can also be used for floral workshops and art exhibits. It has space for 100 people.
Showcase SuperLux movie theater opened this summer and is available for private group rental. With six screens that each seat as many as 100 people, the venue offers "at your seat" food and beverage service that guests can order from iPad menus. The theater has a full menu as well as a lobby bar and lounge. The 250-seat Davio’s Cucina next door also opened this summer.
Über-chef Michael Schlow is known for his groundbreaking restaurants such as Via Matta and Radius. Now, he’s taking a different perspective on traditional Mexican food with Barrio Cantina. Located in the Fenway Park neighborhood, Barrio accommodates private events for as many as 200 people. The menu boasts 80 tequilas, and Barrio offers full audiovisual capabilities with DJ hookups and Wi-Fi.
Devastated by the effects of the Boston Marathon bombings, Forum reopened on August 15. The two-story 11,000-square-foot restaurant was redesigned, combining a vibrant bar and lounge area with booth seating and communal high-top tables. The menu features classic New England fare like Maine lobster chowder with shrimp and crab galette and arugula and strawberry salads. A seasonal patio and alfresco lounge area offer Back Bay views for 352 guests.
