Restaurant

Contessa Boston

Name: Contessa Boston
Address: Rooftop, 3 Newbury St, Boston, US
Telephone: (617) 741-3404
Price range: $$$$

Italian•Back Bay•$$$$

Contessa Boston is one of the best italian restaurants in Boston for date night, especially if you want a strong option in Back Bay.

Editorial review•Nov 6, 2025

Contessa sits atop the Newbury Street corridor in Back Bay, and the rooftop position is the first thing anyone researching the place will notice — because it is also the last thing that leaves a diner's memory. The view over one of Boston's most photographed streets delivers the kind of visual backdrop that a date-night room genuinely needs: ambient, flattering, with enough of the city below to make the evening feel like an occasion rather than just dinner. The Italian concept slots into that setting with some intelligence. Rather than leaning into the red-sauce familiarity that the price point could justify, the menu is reported to favor the kind of restrained, ingredient-forward Italian cooking that asks the room to do less heavy lifting — which, given this room, is a reasonable trade. The kitchen's reputation rests on dishes that reportedly trust their primary components rather than complicating them. Diners consistently point to the broth-based pasta as a marker of kitchen confidence — the style of cooking where the quality of a single element either carries the course or exposes it, with little middle ground. The whole roasted fish follows a similar philosophy: simply prepared, with sourcing that reviewers suggest is taken seriously. Neither dish is the kind of thing that photographs dramatically, which is arguably the point. When a room provides this much atmosphere, a kitchen that chases visual spectacle on the plate tends to feel redundant. Practically: Contessa is a price-four proposition, so expectations should be calibrated accordingly. The critical distinction — noted consistently across coverage — is that the rooftop and the indoor room are not interchangeable experiences. Book the rooftop specifically, and do so in advance; the Newbury Street backdrop is the premise the whole evening is built around, and the indoor alternative does not replicate it.

Sophie Laurent, Food Editor

Methodology•Boston guides•Editorial team

date night

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Taste ID

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Rating (Google) 8.0

1,674 reviews

Boston

At a glance

The fastest read on whether this place fits tonight.

8.0

Rating

Based on 1674 reviews

Best for

date night

Price and pace

Splurge territory

Neighborhood

Back Bay · Rooftop, 3 Newbury St, Boston, MA 02116, USA

Price

Splurge territory

Google rating

8.0 from 1,674 reviews

Phone

(617) 741-3404

Inside the restaurant

Photos of Contessa Boston

3 photos

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Why go

What makes Contessa Boston worth the move

Contessa Boston is an easy yes in Back Bay when you want somewhere that feels considered rather than fussy. It also holds a 8.0 rating across 1,674 Google reviews.

What to know fast

Public rating

8.0 from 1,674 Google reviews

Best for

date night

Style

Italian in Back Bay

Spend

Splurge territory

Best for

date night

Know before you go

Google rating: 8.0 from 1,674 reviews

Price point: $$$$

Website linked on this page

Phone number available

TastyPals Reviews

What diners are saying

0 diner reviews · reviewed by Sophie Laurent for Contessa Boston

Google snapshot

8.0 from 1,674 reviews

TastyPals notes

Editorial review by Sophie Laurent

No diner notes for Contessa Boston yet.

Every note in this section is written by a diner who actually ate here, so we leave it empty until there's a genuine one to share.

For now, Contessa Boston holds a 8.0 rating across 1,674 Google reviews.

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Plan the visit

Quick details

Visit Website Menu Directions

Address: Rooftop, 3 Newbury St, Boston, MA 02116, USA
Phone: (617) 741-3404
Price: $$$$
TastyPals score: Coming soon
Google rating: 8.0 (1,674 reviews)
Cuisine: Italian
Neighborhood: Back Bay

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Frequently asked questions

What cuisine does Contessa Boston serve?

Contessa Boston is a Italian restaurant located in Back Bay, Boston. Contessa sits atop the Newbury Street corridor in Back Bay, and the rooftop position is the first thing anyone researching the place will notice — because it is also the last thing that leaves a diner's memory.

What is Contessa Boston best for?

Contessa Boston is best for date night. Contessa Boston is an easy yes in Back Bay when you want somewhere that feels considered rather than fussy. It also holds a 8.0 rating across 1,674 Google reviews.

How much does it cost to eat at Contessa Boston?

Contessa Boston is in the Splurge territory price range ($$$$). Google rating: 8.0 from 1,674 reviews

Is Contessa Boston worth visiting?

Contessa Boston holds a 8.0 Google rating from 1,674 reviews. Contessa Boston is an easy yes in Back Bay when you want somewhere that feels considered rather than fussy. It also holds a 8.0 rating across 1,674 Google reviews.

Where is Contessa Boston located?

Contessa Boston is located at Rooftop, 3 Newbury St, Boston, MA 02116, USA. Directions are available via Google Maps.

Is Contessa Boston good for a date night?

Yes — Contessa Boston is tagged for date night dining. Contessa Boston is an easy yes in Back Bay when you want somewhere that feels considered rather than fussy. It also holds a 8.0 rating across 1,674 Google reviews.

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