Here's a look at the best new Boston restaurants, corporate event venues, hotels, conference centers, and private and party rooms to open for events this winter. These new and renovated Boston venues can accommodate groups large or small for private and corporate events, conferences, meetings, weddings, business dinners, teambuilding activities, cocktail parties, and more.
The Gronk Bus, named for beloved New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, debuted for private event rental this fall. The 25-seat Ford 550 limo bus is emblazoned with the football star’s face and has other football-theme decor. The mobile venue has limo-style perimeter seating, a restroom, and a 26-inch flat-screen TV behind the driver’s wall.
Tucked into the Innovation District’s new Envoy Hotel, Outlook Kitchen and Bar is a 153-seat restaurant that serves sophisticated American cuisine. For private events, groups may book the 123-seat dining room, the 12-seat private dining room, or a semiprivate dining space for about 20 guests. The venue also has a 28-seat bar and a 48-seat patio. There’s also the chef’s table for two guests. It opened in September.
The new East Cambridge eatery Tahaza Hummus Kitchen puts a contemporary twist on Old World cuisine in the form of customizable hummus bowls, grain bowls, salads, and wraps. The 30-seat light-filled space, which opened in September, has free Wi-Fi and electrical outlets spread through its 1,800 square feet of space. In spring, an additional 30 seats will be open on the patio.
With nearly 10,000 square feet of meeting space, the new Aloft Boston Seaport hotel will open in February and is accepting bookings for meetings and events. The largest of its 10 event spaces, the Mann Ballroom, is a 4,900-square-foot room that holds 500 guests reception- or theatre-style or seats 320 banquet-style. Smaller rooms like Tactic 1, 2, and 3 each hold 35 guests. The 330-room hotel will offer on-site catering, free Wi-Fi, and proximity to the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center.
Element Boston Seaport, part of Starwood’s eco-friendly brand, is being built to meet the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED certification standards. The hotel, slated to open in January, will have about 850 square feet of meeting space split among two meeting rooms and amenities such as a large HD TV and a whiteboard wall, audiovisual technicians, and on-site catering staff. The rooms can be combined to fit 60 guests for receptions; the patio holds about 75 for receptions and comes with grills and a fire pit.
Set to take over the 100 Pier 4 space in November is the steak and seafood restaurant Ocean Prime from Cameron Mitchell Restaurants. The 10,500-square-foot restaurant will seat 272 diners and have three private dining rooms available for events: the 12-seat Cambridge Room, the 14-seat Seaport Room, and the larger Back Bay Room, which will accommodate 48.
Doretta Taverna and Raw Bar, the long-awaited Greek-inspired restaurant from chef Michael Schlow, took over the former Via Matta space at the end of September. With 150-seats, the 7,516-square-foot space is comfortable yet classy, with dishes including local oysters, chilled lobster, and crispy zucchini chips with spicy cucumber yogurt.
Downtown Boston sophistication heads to the suburbs at Blue on Highland, located in picturesque Needham. The 3,400-square-foot restaurant reopened with a renovated look and a revamped menu in August and is available for private bookings and events. The dining room seats 100, and the front bar holds 50 receptions. The menu features a variety of pasta dishes, hand-cut steaks, and artisanal sandwiches.
The 24th location of the popular chain Not Your Average Joe's opened in Waltham in August. The 6,500-square-foot restaurant, which seats 200 interior diners, can host semiprivate events for as many as 30 guests. An outdoor area with a fire pit can hold semiprivate events for as many as 20 guests.
The downtown Sports Grille reopened in August under new management and launched a new menu in October. Think burgers, flatbread pizzas, and flowing beer surrounded by 30 televisions and a roomful of sports fans. The 2,400-square-foot space, which seats 125 or holds about 150 for receptions, is available for full rental and benefits from its proximity to the TD Garden, particularly during Celtics and Bruins season.
