The Newbury Boston’s debut follows a complete reimagining and restoration of the 94-year-old property by Highgate.
The property originally opened in 1927 as one of the first Ritz Carlton hotels in the United States. Leveraging three world-renowned designers, Highgate transformed the building into a 286-room hotel, complete with signature dining experiences, 16,000 square feet of event space, and a reimagined entrance plaza on Newbury Street. The Newbury’s offerings include the new rooftop restaurant, Contessa, with views of Boston as its backdrop; a revived local destination, the Street Bar; and an exclusive guest lounge, the Library.
Designed by interior design firm Champalimaud Design, each of the guestrooms and suites incorporate a calming color palette and tactile materials that are contemporary, yet reflective of the tailored Bostonian aesthetic. Layering upon stylistic elements of handcrafted wood, herringbone accents, and marble touches that further add a sense of lavish materiality and craftsmanship, rooms are appointed with hand-selected, richly textured furnishings and original artwork. The Newbury offers 90 luxury suites, including 42 with wood burning fireplaces and two Presidential Suites.
In designing the hotel’s public spaces, architect Jeffrey Beers (founder and president of the interior architecture and design firm Jeffrey Beers International) sought to invoke the spirit of the building’s timeless legacy by incorporating many historic details, including the original cobalt blue chandeliers from the Main Dining Room, into the redesign.
Major Food Group is at the helm of Contessa, the hotel’s 4,000 square-foot glass enclosed rooftop restaurant. Interior designer and long-time Boston resident Ken Fulk imbued his “effortlessly over-the-top” approach and signature layered interiors to complement the sweeping views, featuring multiple glass windows that slide open in warmer months creating an indoor-outdoor oasis.
Photo: Durston Saylor
