9 best fine dining restaurants in Boston

What is it? Clear out your bank account and then clear your weekend, because o ya’s singular dining experience is one to be savored. It’s luxurious from start to finish, as the grand omakase menu incorporates a breathtaking assortment of artfully composed plates prepared by James Beard Award-winning chef/co-owner Tim Cushman.

Why we love it: This place is a 2026 James Beard Award Semifinalist, and there’s no doubt why. Settle in for the nightly omakase, a chef’s choice menu of 20 courses, from nigiri to cooked dishes. Co-owner and sake sommelier Nancy Cushman pairs each dish with selections from a world-class sake list. o ya is one of the most expensive restaurants in town, but scores of critics agree it’s entirely worth it. Is it expensive? Does it take a long time? Is it worth it? The collective answer to all: Oh ya.

Address: 9 E St, Boston, MA 02111

Opening hours: Tues.-Sat. 5-8:30pm

What it is: With waterfront views as the backdrop, this pasture-to-plate eatery is fine dining at its best (hello, caviar service).

Why we love it: Chef Charlie Foster impresses with dry aged duck breast, grass fed hanger steak, and seasonal line-caught striped bass, while produce comes fresh from his New Hampshire farm. Homemade pasta dishes like Squish Ink Casarecce might stuff your belly, but the friendly atmosphere is anything but stuffy. Want something less formal – try the new Block at Woods Hill, a casual farm-to-table small-plates restaurant and curated food market.

Address: 300 Pier 4 Blvd. Boston, MA 02210

Opening hours: Mon.-Thurs. 5-9pm; Fri. 5-9:30pm; Sat. 4:30-9:30pm; Sun. 4:30- 8:30pm; Brunch Sat. and Sun. 11am-2:30pm

What it is: Veer slightly off Winter Street in Downtown Crossing and head toward what looks like a salon—but you’re here for a meal, not a styling appointment. A night at Yvonne's is a treat no matter where you're sitting in the whimsical supper club in Downtown Crossing that was once home to Boston's beloved Locke-Ober.

Why we love it: This is a posh, modish supper club that has preserved pieces of the past—like the refined 19th-century mahogany bar—while introducing creative cocktails and “social plates” meant for sharing. Soak in the dark, moody and sophisticated ambience of dim lighting and rich upholstered furniture. There’s even a second hidden door inside Yvonne’s book-laden library that leads to a secret underground club for private events only.

Address: 2 Winter Pl, Boston, MA 02108

Opening hours: Mon–Thu, Sun 5pm–1am; Fri, Sat 4pm–2am

What it is: With stone floors, high ceilings, enormous windows, and an atmosphere suggestive of Provence, Mistral is both sophisticated and elegantly casual. Consider this a landmark restaurant for fine dining in Boston, for sure.

Why we love it: It’s a sunny fine dining experience marked by an exquisite French-Mediterranean menu and fine wines. Service remains superb, making it a distinctive fine dining experience. A bonus: complimentary car service is provided upon request within a two-mile radius of the restaurant.

Address: 223 Columbus Avenue Boston, MA 02116

Opening hours: Mon.-Thurs. 5:30-8:30pm; Fri. and Sat. 5:30-9:30pm; Sun. 5:30-8pm

What it is: Situated inside the Four Seasons One Dalton, this spot attracts diners for its global reputation, with locations from the Maldives to Mykonos. The Boston outpost of the globe-spanning Japanese izakaya serves sophisticated plays on sushi, robata skewers and tempura. 

Why we love it: The interiors are super sleek, and the modern-Japanese menu serves in izakaya style out of three kitchens: the main, the sushi counter and the robata grill. Some menu items rely on local specialties, including the ise ebi no oven yaki (1.5lb of roasted Boston lobster with shiso ponzu butter), while there are also brand classics like their special maki and nigiri variations. Enjoy pristine nigiri and top-shelf sake in classy environs.

Address: Four Seasons Hotel One Dalton St. Boston, MA 02115

Opening hours: Check here for hours.

What it is: Mamma Maria is a unique restaurant in Boston because it doesn’t feel like it belongs in Boston at all. When you walk in, you get a tingling sensation that you have mistakenly entered someone’s luxuriously historic home.

Why we love it: Mamma Maria is one of Boston’s truly fine dining establishments and you will realize why they are a notch above the rest as soon as you take your first bite of fresh pasta. Their menu changes daily, but keep an eye out for the Bison Gnocchi, Venison Three Ways, and Rabbit Pasta.

Address: 3 North Square, Boston, MA 02113

Opening hours: Mon.-Thurs. 5-9:15pm; Fri.-Sun. 4:30-9:30 pm

What it is: Famous city-wide as a steakhouse and fine dining option, Grill 23 has hosted countless business dinners and special occasion gatherings. High ceilings, marble columns, white tablecloths, and white jacket-clad waiters all contribute to the classy atmosphere.

Why we love it: The wine program has won national awards, as have the perfectly-prepped steaks. They proudly serve Brandt Beef, a family-owned California ranch known for exceptional quality and depth of flavor, as their primary steak purveyor for more than 20 years. The list of additions  to your cut are a mile long: Truffle Butter, Béarnaise, Au Poivre, Grill 23 Steak Sauce, Horseradish Crema, Hudson Valley Foie Gras‍, Lobster Tail, Grilled Shrimp and Oscar Style with asparagus, lump crab, béarnaise.

Address: 161 Berkeley St, Boston, MA 02116

Opening hours: Mon.-Thurs. 5-10pm; Fri. and Sat. 510:30pm; Sun. 5-9pm

What it is: Chefs Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette added an Italian-inspired restaurant to their fantastic local line-up (Coppa, Toro, Little Donkey), and we’re so glad they did.

Why we love it: The seafood inspired menu utilizes fresh ingredients, including in-season produce from the Copley Square Farmers Market. The spacious Back Bay restaurant serves coastal delights including a half dozen crudos, grilled Scituate lobster and an excellent selection of spritzes.

Address: 278 Newbury St. Boston, MA 02116

Opening hours: Mon.-Thurs. 5–10pm; Fri. 5-10:30pm; Sat. noon-3pm, 5-10:30pm; Sun. noon-8pm

What it is: For a study in sushi-as-fine-dining, head to this pricey South End sushi den, where celebratory couples and business groups come in for over-the-top meals. This swanky spot is high-concept and high-priced, but worth it for the luxe interpretations of Japanese specialties. 

Why we love it: Creative sushi rolls feature ingredients such as truffle, caviar, microgreens and delicate sauces. Entrées includes teriyaki ribeye, lamb chop, seafood risotto and Chilean sea bass, and noodles are ordered solo or bathed in hearty soups. Put your faith in the chef for the six or nine-course tasting menu, with optional additions of truffle and Japanese A5 Wagyu steak. There’s also more than 50 sakes and cocktails, including the smoking “Yuzu Spirit,” made with ginza suzume soju and liquid nitrogen.

Address: 203 Adams St, Boston, MA 02122

Opening hours: Mon.-Thurs. 11am-9pm; Fri. and Sat. 11am-10pm; Sun. 11:30am-9pm