By Michael McCarthy By Michael McCarthy | July 1, 2021 | Culture, Migration,
One of the most celebrated hotel locations in the city gets rebranded and revitalized as The Newbury Boston.
The Street Bar is a 1920s-era throw backwith leather bar stools and dark wood accents. ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE NEWBURY BOSTON
Talk about high stakes. That’s undoubtedly what legendary designer Jeffrey Beers, founder and president of the hospitality and residential firm Jeffrey Beers International (jeffreybeers.com), thought when reimagining the space that would become the newly christened The Newbury Boston. The Back Bay property, located at Arlington and Newbury streets, originally opened in 1927 as one of America’s first Ritz- Carlton hotels (it was most recently the Taj). Beers was brought onboard as part of the restoration team. His job: transform the hotel’s public spaces without losing the architectural gravitas.
The light-filled Mansion Suite overlooks the Public Garden.
“The beloved property has a rich history, and it evokes strong emotion and memories for Bostonians,” says Beers, who has received plaudits for work at the Four Seasons Vail and the Fontainebleau in Miami, among other luxe spots. “It was important for us to capture the nostalgia of a bygone era while also reviving the hotel with contemporary and bold design choices. We were incredibly inspired as well as respectful to the original detailing, and we looked to Boston’s current culture and aesthetic to inspire our modern choices.”
The library
Early previews receive a standing O. The lobby and public spaces feature elegant chandeliers and Nero Dorato marble floors. “I’m partial to the hotel’s very well curated art collection and the dialogue that exists between each piece, its location and the surrounding design,” says Beers. A library lounge—reserved for the hotel’s guests—will likely become a see-and-be-seen space in Boston; it features a fireplace (rediscovered during renovation), oak flooring and jewel-toned chairs and sofas. It’s dreamy and prime for discovery, with titles that celebrate Boston’s history, fiction, poetry, fashion and travel.
The Street Bar, serving classic cocktails and sophisticated fare, is a 1920s-era throwback with leather bar stools, dark wood accents and a blazing fireplace. The Newbury Salon, overlooking Newbury Street, will be operated by hospitality powerhouse Major Food Group (responsible for notable restaurants in New York, Las Vegas and Hong Kong). Look for tea sandwiches and scones served on elegant Bernardaud service featuring playful images from the beloved Robert McCloskey tale Make Way for Ducklings. A rooftop restaurant known as Contessa, designed by Ken Fulk and operated by Major Food Group, debuts later in June.
Another important player on the creative team is New York City-based Champalimaud Design, responsible for how the guest rooms came together. Elisabeth Rogoff, principal with the firm, says guests will feel a respite from the city—a sense of quiet reinforced by the garden views. “We envisioned a quiet and tailored aesthetic, accomplished by using a monolithic color palette to frame the park as art,” she says. “We chose a neutral color palette, as our hope was that the seamless color transition would allow the eyes to focus on the beautiful exterior and incredible views of the park. We chose soft silvers, blues and neutrals spotlighted with white oak, leathers and fine fabrics.”
The Corner House Suite
For those who want to indulge, the 1,925-square-foot Mansion Suite ($11,025 per night) is stunning. It features a living room overlooking the Public Garden, dining room, custom millwork, wood-burning fireplace (with a fireplace butler), oversize wet bar, integrated media system and a personal attache to handle any request. “We wanted to reinforce the idea of an urban oasis reminiscent of what a quintessential Back Bay townhouse aspires to be,” says Rogoff. “The suite is elegant, refined and sophisticated to reflect the mood of the neighborhood in which it sits, yet still pays homage to the building’s history.”
Carlos Buenos, the property’s managing director, says it’s been gratifying to watch myriad spaces come to life each week as design and construction progressed. “While we expected the reaction to these reimagined spaces to be a positive one, the level of excitement has been surprising and really gratifying to see,” he says. Studio Suite from $674 per night; Classic Park View One-Bedroom Suite from $1,484 per night, 1 Newbury St.,888.202.2916, thenewburyboston.com
Photography by: Courtesy of the Newbury Boston