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The Boston Back Bay’s stunning old-Europe architecture and charm brings travelers from all over Europe, and those who are equally drawn to the Continent’s most delicious cuisines will find its best examples on Newbury Street – an eight-block stretch of premiere fashion brands, unexpected boutiques, art galleries, restaurants, and sidewalk cafes.
From our location in the heart of Newbury Street, food lovers won’t even have to turn a corner for a taste of Paris. Or Spain or Italy, for that matter.
Starting right here at Newbury Guest House, you can experience fine French cuisine in an intimate bistro setting at La Voile.
Founded in 1947 and then known as “La Voile au Vent” (The Sail in the Wind), La Voile was one of the oldest and most respected restaurants in Cannes. The authentic French brasserie brings its South-of-France-influenced menu and wine pairings to Boston, along with its zinc bar, wooden wine fridge, vintage chandeliers, sailing pictures, original entrance door, and even its staff. You’ll find traditional escargot bourguignons and foie gras as well as distinctly French seafood preparations like Les St. Jaques (pan seared sea scallops and Maine lobster with roasted chestnuts, celery purée, oysters and mushrooms) and Les Moules Frites (fried mussels with saffron or marinière sauce). If you like your poulet à la français, you’ll want a house special: La Volaille is a half free-range Crystal Valley chicken roasted with chickpeas, artichokes, garlic and lemon.
For wine lovers, our Bar À vin 1855 offers a list of more than 250 different French varieties from Bordeaux and across France. In addition to traditional French classics, Bar À Vin 1885’s sommeliers have assembled an impressive collection of wines from boutique small-batch vineyards and host regular tastings, classes, and special wine events. Bar À Vin 1885 also features traditional French cuisine in the form of delicious shareable small plates in a relaxing, casual atmosphere that itself pays tribute to wine – even the furniture is carved from wine barrels by a local carpenter. La Voile and Bar à Vin 1885 are at Newbury Guest House, 261 Newbury St.
Serafina specializes in modern Italian cooking with a focus on high-quality ingredients and dishes prepared by hand. They deliver deliciously on pasta with some of the best penne alla vodka and gnocchi around, but those in the know go for their mouthwatering selection of authentic Italian pizzas made to order in Serafina’s imported brick oven. More than a dozen choices range from traditional (marinara and margherita) to Serafina exclusives and gourmet specialties like La Speziata (tomatillo sauce, mozzarella, Parmesan, broccolini); Al Funghi (mixed mushrooms with mozzarella); Tartufo Nero (robiola, fontina, black truffle, truffle cheese, truffle oil); and Gamberi e Pesto (shrimp, fontina, and basil pesto). 237 Newbury St.
Other Italian options include Piattini Wine Café (226 Newbury St.) for Italian wine and small plates. Real Italophiles can start their day with complimentary premium Lavazza espresso right in our lobby and end it on a sweet note (after walking off dinner with some window shopping) with classic and specialty desserts at Amorino Gelato. 249 Newbury St.
Puro Ceviche serves crudo, ceviche, paella and other Latin-inspired dishes in a modern space of whitewashed brick and graffiti. You’ll taste the restaurant’s exacting standards for quality and freshness in their creative seafood, which works Spanish magic with sea bass, tuna Nikkei, aguachile shrimp, and octopus. Puro Ceviche’s small plates rival that of any tapas bar in Spain; order a selection and be sure to include cachapa (sweet corn pancakes with queso fresco and aioli); mejillos con coco (mussels with lemon, cilantro, and coconut milk) and costillas de cerdo (braised pork ribs with guava barbecue sauce and red chimichurri). 264 Newbury St.
Looking for restaurants with farther-flung culinary inspiration? Still no need to leave the street: Try Thai Basil (132 Newbury St.) for relaxed Thai classics; Wen's Yunnan Noodle (247 Newbury St.) for authentic rice noodles and ramen; or Red White Boston (294 Newbury St.) for unfussy Japanese with a great menu of vegetarian options.
Newbury Street restaurants offer both a taste of the world’s finest cuisines and wonderful ways to sample delicious international takes on Boston’s famed fresh seafood. The friendly staff at Newbury Guest House Boston is more than happy to help you navigate all the options on our street with reservations and recommendations, the first of which is: come hungry.