Enable JavaScript to run this app.
Skip to main content
OpenTable logo
  1. Home
  2. Where to celebrate
  3. 8 stellar special-occasion restaurants in Boston
editorial list heading

8 stellar special-occasion restaurants in Boston

A photo of Red logo
by Carley Thornell-Wade
Updated December 15, 2023

As a city that’s played host to countless graduations, engagements, and everything in between, Boston is serious about its special occasions. Its flourishing restaurant scene includes celebration-worthy spots that serve over-the-top seafood platters, spectacular omakase lineups, and nonna-approved pasta platters.

Whether you’re marking an intimate relationship milestone or throwing a banger of a birthday, this historic city’s got a celebration spot for you. Read on for a guide to eight Boston restaurants, fully equipped for any festivity.

A photo of Grana at The Langham, Boston restaurant
4.7
4.7 (523)
$50 and over
Italian
Financial District
About the restaurant

Scoring a weekend brunch reservation at Grana is about as easy as finding a seat on a Green Line train at rush hour—but it’s well worth the wait, so plan ahead for your daytime celebration. The three-course extravaganza is as pretty as its surroundings: Grana is an Italian beauty in the grand hall of the former Federal Reserve Bank. Kick off with colorful small bites and vibrant cocktails like a chai espresso martini and lobster cannoli before making way for sweet and savory mains including banana bread French toast and a carbonara Benedict. Exquisite desserts from pastry chef Kerry Levesque are the ultimate icing on the cake.


Top review
m
Dined 1 day ago
Fabulous brunch today. I couldn’t say enough nice things about Grana. We were late for our reservation but the manager was able to still accommodate us. Super personal wonderful service. The only issue was there is a very large engagement party that refused to stop taking pictures of themselves in the mirrors for about 20 minutes and they were about 2 feet from our table. Super tone deaf & Extremely rude! Not the restaurants fault, but more of a commentary on what our society has become. :( But our server Jean, was amazing supportive and kind. Food was beyond fantastic as well as the drinks. Hands-down one of my favorite restaurants in Boston. If you’re wondering, just go! And don’t miss the garlic bread !!!
A photo of The Maharaja restaurant
4.8
4.8 (600)
$30 and under
Indian
Cambridge
About the restaurant

A lot has changed in Harvard Square over the years. But thankfully, not The Maharaja. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlook bustling Cambridge, and it’s tradition for many families in the area to hit the weekend buffet to celebrate a special occasion—commencement, anyone? Whether you’re looking to please a vegan or impress a spice-lover, Maharaja’s north India-based menu, filled with tandoori specialities and a power-packed biryani selection, is a regal feast that will please any king or queen.


Top review
Bobby
Dined 2 days ago
Lovely restaurant and great service with staff very friendly and welcoming. The food was excellent and very good value for money. I would recommend this restaurant.
A photo of Harvest restaurant
4.5
4.5 (5171)
$31 to $50
Contemporary American
Cambridge
About the restaurant

Bostonians know that Harvest is the place to toast wedding proposals, baby announcements, or a new job to celebrate. It’s been around since 1975, and the firepower of who’s been behind the stove—including Lydia Shire and Frank McClelland, among others—reads like a who’s who of Boston’s most talented chefs. These days, executive chef Nick Deutmeyer serves elegant American dishes worthy of a splurge, like lobster succotash spaghetti and pan-fried tilefish. In winter, a roaring fireplace warms up the dining room, while the covered patio protects diners from Boston’s unpredictable elements, ensuring you can celebrate year-round at this inviting city mainstay.


Top review
Andrew
Dined 1 day ago
Excellent dinner! The good: Loved the clams and ceviche which were conventionally delicious and with little unique aspects in the recipe that made them memorable. Tea-broth scallops likewise were delicious with some unique flavors. Outdoor seating with heat lamps was super nice. Waiter was a charming pro. The bad: Duck breast was very good but not great (skin was soggy and no pink in my medium rare order). Desert was tasty but not memorable. Nothing very bad, will definitely go back
A photo of MIDA - South End restaurant
4.7
4.7 (2703)
$30 and under
Italian
South End
About the restaurant

Nothing says celebration dinner quite like a hearty Italian meal, and you’ll find a knockout one at MIDA by James Beard-nominated chef Douglass Williams. His rustic-chic gem sits under one of Boston’s signature brownstones and is known for some of the city’s best pasta, including gnocchi either cacio e pepe-style or with tomato pesto, fresh basil, and Calabrian chile. For an intimate and more low-key celebration, go on Mangia Mondays when the restaurant offers an $80-for-two menu that includes five pastas, bread, and salad.


Top review
Matthew
Dined 4 days ago
This place was better than advertised. Food was great, good wine list, kind and generous staff. Would visit again.
A photo of Bar Vlaha restaurant
4.9
4.9 (677)
$30 and under
Greek
Brookline
About the restaurant

Bar Vlaha’s catalog of shareable Greek dishes runs deep, making it ideal for easygoing group gatherings. Spit-roasted meats like lamb and fish from chef Brendan Pelley’s open-flame kitchen are ideal for sharing, as are savory pies filled with wild-foraged mushroom, seasonal greens, or feta cheese. The venue is known for its taverna-style bar, but head to the main dining room—which takes design cues from living rooms in traditional Greek villages—if you’re here with a larger party. Bar Vlaha’s extensive wine list features all Greek varietals, including lesser-known pinks and oranges, and most are available both by the glass and by the bottle for those extra-festive nights.


Top review
Janine
Dined 4 days ago
Warm, welcoming, wonderful food. Plenty of options for pescatarian guest.
A photo of Little Whale restaurant
4.7
4.7 (744)
$50 and over
Seafood
Back Bay
About the restaurant

Clambakes are practically a rite of passage in New England, and Little Whale is the site of an especially celebratory one. The restaurant is best known for top-notch local littlenecks and Maine lobster, but chef-owner Michael Serpa also serves steamed seafood family-style for parties of eight to 12 (which must be ordered a week in advance). Besides a whole lobster, each diner gets generous servings of chowder, corn, potatoes, clams, and linguiça (a spicy Portuguese sausage). To really live it up, add on the raw bar supplement.


Top review
Marievip
Dined 6 days ago
Several large loud tables made it hard to hear when we first walked in. But the food was delicious as usual.
A photo of Smith & Wollensky Boston – Atlantic Wharf restaurant
4.7
4.7 (3932)
$50 and over
Steakhouse
Seaport
About the restaurant

Decadent dishes, Instagram cred, and a breathtaking backdrop—this NYC-born steakhouse pulls out all the stops for special-occasion meals. Book a table by one of its floor-to-ceiling windows for unbeatable Fort Point Channel views. For a little tableside magic, order the coffee- and cocoa-rubbed New York strip steak, presented under a glass lid and piped with smoke. Smith & Wollensky’s world-class mains pair well with killer sides like crunchy hasselback potatoes topped with crispy prosciutto and gremolata. And no birthday celebration here is complete without a slice of the steakhouse’s legendary coconut creme cake.


Top review
ChrisF
Dined 3 days ago
Celebrated a birthday at Smith & Wollensky. It was fantastic!!!
A photo of Silver Dove Afternoon Tea restaurant
4.8
4.8 (465)
$31 to $50
Afternoon Tea
Faneuil Hall
About the restaurant

Boston and tea go way back, so it’s only fitting that the city has an iconic pinkies-up celebration spot. Canapes, macarons, and pots of Darjeeling and sencha are paired with a plush Art Deco-inspired setting at Silver Dove. Tea is the main event here, but there are also toast-worthy cocktails from co-owners (and Drink alums) Patrick Brewster and Lee Morgan. Consider capping off teatime with the Parakeet (jalapeño tequila, passionfruit, lime, and basil) or a Broken Record (mezcal, pastis, lime, and mint) to dial up the party vibes on your afternoon. Reserve one of Silver Dove’s sought-after emerald banquettes well ahead of holidays like Mother’s Day, when it’s especially popular.


Top review
OpenTable Diner
Dined 1 day ago
Creative, delicious high tea with nice seasonal flavors. We also liked that everything was gluten-free. Staff was pleasant and attentive. Although there wasn’t a tablecloth, which I missed, the place settings were elegant and included customized teapots with clever brewing inserts. Overall, we’re eager to return.
OpenTable
  • About Us
  • Blog
  • Careers
  • Press
More
Businesses
  • Restaurant reservation software
  • Industry insights
  • Hospitality resources
  • Marketing resources
  • Operation resources
  • How to open a restaurant
  • For restaurants
  • For restaurant groups
Join us on
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
  • Cookie Preferences
Copyright © 2024 OpenTable, Inc. 1 Montgomery St Ste 500, San Francisco CA 94104 - All rights reserved.
OpenTable is part of Booking Holdings, the world leader in online travel and related services.
Booking Logo
Priceline Logo
KAYAK Logo
Agoda Logo
OpenTable Logo