Downtown Boston's newest hotel, the 113-room Ames Hotel, has garnered plenty of press coverage for the careful renovation of its historic Romanesque building and the sexy David Rockwell-designed rooms.
But the hotel's bilevel Woodward restaurant and bar has also become a late-night hot spot for locals drawn to the handcrafted cocktails, such as Model Behavior (St. Germain and Hendricks gin topped with Chandon Brut and cucumber foam), as well as bites designed to be shared, like duck confit flatbread with goat cheese and dried cranberries. Woodward offers several different options for group dinners and events.
Off the hotel lobby, Woodward blends classic tavern elements like rustic wooden tables and mosaic tiled floors with a sleek, modern look highlighted by black leather furniture. The "cabinet of curiosities" holding eight quirky sculptures lends a Victorian feel.
At the back of the ground-floor dining room, a glass staircase leads up to the more secluded second level, which features small tables, a bar, and floor-to-ceiling windows. At the top of the stairs, a glass-enclosed dining room seats 16, giving groups a sense of privacy while allowing them to look out on the entire restaurant. A second private dining room, the Gallery, seats 40.
Groups can also buy out the entire second floor, which seats 60 for dinner or holds 120 for a reception. Adjacent to the second-floor of Woodward, a fireside lounge can be reserved for 30. The ground level holds 100 for receptions, although it is only available on limited occasions since the hotel prefers to keep it available to guests.
