By Madison Duddy By Madison Duddy | February 21, 2024 | Food & Drink, Feature,
Helmed by Michelin-Starred chef George Mendes, Raffles Boston’s (rafflesboston.com) culinary program boasts three new temptations.
Try the Boston Sling, Raffles Boston’s signature cocktail, at Long Bar & Terrace, Amar, or Blind Duck.
AMAR
Perched 17 stories above Back Bay awaits Amar, where modern Portuguese cuisine and moody interiors draw Bostonians inside. Adjacent to the Sky Lobby’s grand staircase, find floor-to-ceiling city views, soft lighting, neutral-toned leather banquettes, floral wallcoverings and a dazzling crystal chandelier. The intimate Stonehill Taylor-designed space welcomes 60 guests to indulge in seafood-forward a la carte and chef’s tasting menus. Treat your tastebuds to bites like Maine lobster with fermented and grilled fennel, Azorean pineapple and vadouvan curry. Each dish is bursting with local flavors from New England and Portugal-based purveyors while pairing perfectly with a curated selection of sake, wines and signature cocktails. Peeling your eyes away from the glittering skyline and decedent dessert menu will be a formidable challenge.
Summer evenings on Long Bar & Terrace’s patio are closer than you think.
LONG BAR & TERRACE
Nothing compares to a quality hotel bar, where the melody of clinks, laughter and cocktail shakers fills the space. Add sweeping city views, velvet green banquettes and dark accents, and you’ve found yourself at Long Bar & Terrace. The venue serves everything from afternoon tea to Raffles’ signature Singapore Sling, paired with delectable plates. While sipping the Boston Sling with their exclusive Blind Duck gin, nibble on Osetra caviar, conservas, spicy anchovy toast, local swordfish and more. Bites and sips are best enjoyed in the low-lit ambiance—that is, until the outdoor terrace reopens this spring.
Enjoy cocktails at La Padrona’s second level bar.
LA PADRONA
Anticipation is the ultimate pleasure—especially when this spring opening promises an Italian escape after another monotonous winter. Transporting guests to a custom-designed Italian villa is A Street Hospitality’s La Padrona, helmed by James Beard Award-winning chef Jody Adams and executive chef Amarilys Colon. The space features nods to Gae Aulenti and Golden-Era Italian cinema glamour through stunning lighting and bespoke furniture with lush fabrics and upholstery. Whether you plant yourself at the ground-floor bar and lounge or ascend the grand staircase to their second-floor restaurant, a warm and eclectic experience awaits. Regional classics rooted in fresh ingredients from Italy and New England will dot the menu: Think housemade pasta, local seafood, humanely-raised meats, farm herbs and vegetables, salumi and artisan cheeses. Spring can’t come soon enough.
Photography by: CONOR DOHERTY; JACK DARYL PHOTOGRAPHY; COURTESY OF BRAND