The South Boston Waterfront District is dubbed “Boston’s Hottest Neighborhood” and for a good reason: it boasts a variety of excellent hotel options, trendy restaurants and shops (with new ones popping up at an impressive rate), arts and culture, stunning waterfront views, and convenient transportation.
In this week’s blog we’re exploring some of the most exciting recent changes to this bustling part of the city that have taken place since our last recap.
RESTAURANTS & RETAIL
In the past year, the South Boston Waterfront District, also known as the Boston Seaport, welcomed a great variety of casual and fine dining spots. One notable addition is Woods Hill Pier 4, a true farm-to-table establishment that opened its doors at 300 Pier Four Blvd in November. Its menu is inspired by the ancestral diet and is focused on supporting organic, small-batch, ethical producers and farmers.
Last December, Flight Club, a new bar offering a unique social darts experience, plus food and drinks, joined the neighborhood.
Throughout the year, the neighborhood also got several new fast casual dining spots like GreCo, Dig Inn, Taiyaki NYC, and Paris Creperie.
On the retail front, BCEC’s neighborhood now has a 5,348 square-foot Sephora store with over 200 brands and 13,000 products available.
BUSINESS NEWS
In May 2019, Amazon broke ground on a Seaport office expected to open in 2021. The space will house 2,000 employees focused on machine learning, speech science, and robotics.
In August, biomedical firm, Foundation Medicine signed a lease for 580,000 square feet of office and lab space just steps away from the BCEC at 400 Summer Street.
A few months later in November, Vertex Pharmaceuticals announced a major expansion in the Seaport. The company is looking to grow their presence by taking over 256,000 square feet of space in Innovation Square.
OMNI UPDATE & HOTEL NEWS
Just last week, Omni Hotels named Mike Jorgensen managing director at Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport (expected to open in 2021). Jorgensen brings more than 35 years of experience in the hospitality industry and an unmatched understanding of the Boston Seaport. Prior to joining the Omni family, he has occupied roles at large-scale hospitality brands such as Hyatt, Four Seasons, Starwood, and Marriott.
A month ago, in January, DiamondRock Hospitality Co. selected Aimbridge Hospitality to manage The Westin Boston Waterfront – the hotel connected to the BCEC. The hotel is expecting 2020 to be a record year in terms of group room nights sold with more than 130,000 group room nights already under contract for the year, a 27 percent increase over last year.
INFRASTRUCTURE
Last May, the City of Boston announced the completion of new parking-protected bike lanes along Seaport Boulevard and a plethora of new seasonal programming and urban amenities for bike enthusiasts.
In October 2019, the Seaport unveiled a 98x18 feet mural by one of the most notable American artists and Massachusetts native, Frank Stella. Damascus Gate (Stretch Variation I) is mounted above the Warby Parker store on Seaport Boulevard and is possibly the most high-profile public installation in the neighborhood and Frank Stella’s first in the city.
In January 2020, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh announced the installation of three ride-hailing drop-off zones on 50 Northern Avenue, 100 Northern Avenue, and 56 Seaport Boulevard in the Seaport with the goal of improving safety and reducing traffic congestion linked to double parking by ride-hailing drivers.
UPCOMING
One of the fastest growing breweries in the U.S., Lord Hobo, is preparing a huge expansion in the South Boston Waterfront with a 9,000-squre-foot gastropub, taproom, and lounge area, plus an extra 10,000-square-foot outdoor patio and coffee concept at the new Two Drydock office building (expected to finish construction in early 2020).
There are also new restaurant openings in the works including the New York-based fast-casual chain, Broken Coconut, and a larger second location of one of Nantucket’s best restaurants, The Nautilus. Both are expected to open this spring.
Sustainable retailer Everlane is also looking to expand to the Seaport this spring. Their mission is to provide consumers with well-designed, quality clothing and accessories at an honest price point—while simultaneously encouraging them to stay informed and educated on product origins.
Explore the South Boston Waterfront and Back Bay (home of the Hynes Convention Center), and learn more about Boston’s make-up by visiting our guide to all the neighborhoods of Boston. In addition, our Interactive Map will help you find the hotels, restaurants, and private event venues that are best suited for your group.