New England is known for many things. A really good professional football team, bottomless bowls of clam chowder and breathtaking fall colors probably come to mind right now. But there’s more to fall foliage than just what’s in the trees. Restaurants around Boston and throughout the region wrap a little bit of New England into their menus every fall, and some of the best views you’ll have of vibrant foliage happen from your dining table.
Whether you’re in Boston or taking a day trip outside of the city, stop by these restaurants for lovely leaf-filled landscapes:
There’s no better place in Boston to watch the leaves change than at the Four Seasons Hotel Boston’s The Bristol Lounge. Ask for a table by the window overlooking Boylston Street at the Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star property and you’ll have the best seats in the house for Boston Public Garden and Boston Common, two areas where the leaves have already begun to pop with shades of red, green and gold. The dark woods and cherry leather seats in the lounge add to the fall flavor. And for a truly authentic New England experience, order the Bristol’s Nantucket chowder, made with blue crab and basil.
For something a little more intimate, head to Four-Star restaurant No. 9 Park on Beacon Hill. The restaurant sits directly at the crest of the Common, offering spectacular looks onto its grounds at night. The best tables in the house are the two against the window in front of the restaurant, so make your reservation and request early. If you’re just stopping by, you can grab a seat in the bar for a similar view. The prune-stuffed gnocchi is a signature item here, but on a cold autumn night, nothing beats a glass of the No. 9 Cabernet with a carefully crafted cheese plate.
Just over an hour’s drive from Boston is this iconic seaside town where you’ll find the Four-Star White Barn Inn and Five-Star White Barn Inn Restaurant. Set along a tree-lined street, The White Barn Inn Restaurant is a great place to get away for the weekend and enjoy some fall foliage. The romantic restaurant is known for its ability to draw intimacy from any angle. And on top of the marvelous location, chef Jonathan Cartwright is a magician with lobster and clams. His four-course prix-fixe menu changes weekly, always offering a special Maine seafood dish — if you find the lobster and corn chowder with lobster popovers on the menu, don’t think twice — so you can truly enjoy the elements of New England while also basking in the brilliant views.
One of Boston’s best-kept secrets is this waterfront respite in the fall. Most people venture to the Cape during the summer months to take over the beaches and breathe in the clam bakes, but in autumn, the place turns into a quintessential New England retreat. Those really in the know head to Chatham and have a seat at Four-Star Chatham Bars Inn Resort and Spa’s STARS. While the Four-Star restaurant’s main dining room overlooks the ocean, the two bar areas offer prime picture-taking opportunities of the Inn’s lush grounds and changing fall colors.
The Four-Star Dining Room at Blantyre is where fall and foliage converge into a simple slice of luxury. The Five-Star Blantyre resort in Lenox, Mass., spans 117 acres, all draped in colorful trees and landscaped gardens. Come for the lunch or tea but stay for the breathtaking Berkshire Mountains vistas. Our tip: If you have a little extra time to spend on the property, curl up with a warm blanket on Blantyre’s back porch, order the homemade chicken noodle soup or a cup of cocoa from the hotel’s signature hot chocolate menu and enjoy the seemingly endless waves of gold and green on the trees.
Photos Courtesy of US Hotels Inc, No. 9 Park and Chatham Bars Inn
