At Your Service

Unique amenities vie for attention at Boston-area residencies

Everywhere you look, luxury residential buildings are popping up around Boston. In today’s market, though, high-end kitchen fixtures and an on-site concierge just aren’t enough. Instead, the new crop of high-end homes are offering truly unique amenities—from rock climbing walls to customized social calendars—to set themselves apart from the competition.

Move into one of the 442 luxury residences at this 60-story tower, and you’ll be living the high life—literally. The signature (and most unique) amenity at Millennium, a glistening skyscraper in the middle of Downtown Boston, is dubbed “La Vie.” It’s a curated social calendar just for residents—one that offers access to a host of special events that connect neighbors with each other and the city. The “La Vie” series is divided into different programs: “Out & About” gets residents access to arts, sport and cultural experiences throughout Boston; “Happenings Here,” on the other hand, highlights on-property activities, from dance classes to murder mystery games. There are “Fireside Chats” with prominent local figures and opinion leaders, an “Xpert Series” featuring star trainer-led fitness demos, and other goings-on all month long. A lot of upscale residences out there offer cool pools and screening rooms. But a jam-packed itinerary of fun events to attend, whenever the spirit moves you? That’s a lively idea. Ahem—that said, Millennium Tower is no slouch when it comes to the screening room (that’s where weekly “La Vie” movie nights are held) and pool situation. The 75-foot lap pool is also steps away from a sprawling fitness center and spa, a fireplace-equipped lounge for owners, and a billiards-equipped parlor. Overall, it’s more than 23,000-square feet of amenity space, which includes an outdoor terrace for taking in views of Boston’s buzzing downtown. Indeed, the neighborhood has transformed in recent years. Besides the live theaters with their glowing marquees, downtown has become quite a dining destination. And in fact, one of the most important restaurants is right downstairs: Pabu, a sexy-feeling Japanese restaurant from internationally renowned chef Michael Mina, is housed within Millennium Tower. While you can run downstairs for its stellar, contemporary cuisine anytime, residents can also take advantage of “Mina by Michael Mina.” The partnership with Mina means residents can receive special meals— inspired by Mina’s many restaurants—right in their own homes. There are also monthly entrees offered as “two-pot” meals with “how-to” cooking videos, wine club benefits, and more. C’est la vie, indeed. millenniumtowerboston.com

FOUR SEASONS ONE DALTON

It’s nice to be number one. Just ask anyone who lives at this new Back Bay tower, which now ranks as the tallest residential skyscraper in Boston (and the third-highest overall). The 61-story building houses 160 private residences alongside its luxury hotel units—and owners get access to some truly top-tier amenities. For those, you’ll want to take the elevator to a few floors in particular. The 7th floor is home to the spa and wellness center, anchored by a 64-foot lap pool that runs along a wide wall of floor-to-ceiling windows. There are also treatment rooms for massages and facials, a salon for hair and nail services, and plenty of fitness equipment (plus studios for yoga and Pilates). Head up to the 24th floor to find the “Entertainment Gallery,” a sprawling space that includes a 14-seat private theater for hi-def screenings, as well as a wet bar, indoor golf simulator, and family activity center that comes complete with a kitchenette. There’s room for productivity too, thanks to the dedicated private office space, pet washing station, and commercial-grade laundry room. Ascend all the way to floor 50, and you’ll discover the club lounge, where residents can unwind in the dining room, parlor, fully appointed bar, catering kitchen or terrace. Need even more outdoor space? There’s a newly commissioned 5,000-square-foot park designed by award-winning landscape architect Michael Van Valkenburgh. (Bonus: getting between all these floors will be a breeze, thanks to a half-dozen special, high-speed elevators that travel at 1,400 feet per minute.) On top of all this, residents enjoy the cachet of living at one of the most distinguished new addresses in Boston—one anchored by a superhyped restaurant: Zuma, a swanky Japanese spot where the high-end sushi, sake, and yakitori skewers are served with a side of DJ-driven beats. It’s a sexy scene, and residents get priority reservations. Priority. What else would you expect when you’re at number one? fourseasons.com/onedalton

Boston’s Seaport District has completely transformed in a matter of years. Where once there were parking lots and (metaphorically speaking) tumbleweeds, there is now a mini-metropolis of sparkling glass towers and sidewalks bustling with activity—not to mention, some of the buzziest bars and restaurants in the city. It’s no surprise, then, that the Seaport is where St. Regis decided to plant its first Boston property. And what a pearl it is! The waterfront building, designed by worldrenowned Elkus Manfredi Architects to recall a billowing sail, features 114 residences with stunning harbor views—and, of course, amenities that justify those multimilliondollar price points. According to a rep for the property, the goal is to provide residents the same kind of five-star hotel services they expect from the luxury St. Regis brand—but at home. So there are places to relax—like the in-house spa, heated stone pool with a dramatic waterfall edge, mosaic stone-tiled steam room, and multiple lounges and parlors. But the amenities also lend well to entertaining: residents have access to a special wine vault, a temperature-regulated environment for storing individual bottles; a chef-style catering kitchen; a “sport simulator” room to play virtual golf, bowling and more; and the cozy “Cognac Room” for socializing over sips and a game of cards. Having out-of-town guests? No problem. Though this is the St. Regis brand’s second condo-only property, there are two guest suites available for residents to rent—so you don’t have to put up your in-laws in your own space. The biggest amenity, though, has got to be the comprehensive butler service. Seven days a week, residents will receive assistance from staff who are prepared to help, at no charge, with a huge array of duties—from wrapping gifts to retrieving dry cleaning, from shoe shining to delivering groceries. Residents can also spring for help with even more “a la carte” tasks, like car washing, childcare, and furniture assembly. It may not be a hotel, but when it opens in 2021, this snazzy Seaport entry is where everyone will want to check in. We’ve got no reservations saying that. srresidencesboston.com

Something new and different has moved into one of Boston’s most iconic addresses. The waterfront plot where Anthony’s Pier 4 restaurant once stood is now home to a nine-story building with 106 residences. Anthony’s, which served surf-and-turf there for decades, was once one of the highest grossing restaurants in the country—and a Bostonian favorite for special occasions. But now, inside the wave-like, undulating walls of the Pier 4 building, every day is a special occasion. It starts with the views: surrounded by water on three sides, Pier 4 is the only residence in the Seaport District to offer every unit an ocean view and private outdoor space. The developers also added access to a one-acre public park—and after you take Fido for a stroll along the Harbor Walk, you can wash those paws off at Pier 4’s pet washing station. As for your own exercise—it starts in the expansive luxury fitness center. Besides the standard state-of-the-art equipment, there’s a golf simulator for practicing your swing without ever stepping outside. There’s a resident club that’ll be helpful for entertaining, as well as the Topsider Lounge for kicking back cocktails. What’s more, Pier 4’s ground-floor commercial space happens to house two of Boston’s buzziest restaurants: Woods Hill Pier 4, which serves all organic, farm-to-table ingredients, and— coming soon—Nautilus Pier 4, an Asian cuisine-inflected sibling to a Nantucket seafood restaurant. And appropriately enough for a building that occupies the site of an esteemed restaurant, hospitality is paramount to the Pier 4 experience. It’s the first Boston property to partner with FirstService Residential, a concierge company with a personal touch that rivals the kind you’d find at country clubs. The on-site concierge, Jeremy DiFlaminies, has experience in coordinating international relocation, booking private jets with only a few hours’ notice, and providing top-notch service to celebrity families. (Which all means that if you’re still missing Anthony’s, we’re sure he can hook you up with a lobster dinner.) With views and perks like these, it’s no wonder Pier 4 is still where everyone wants to moor. pier4bostonluxury.com

Sometimes it helps to see things from a different angle. While Boston’s luxury condo scene is building, it’s worth looking right across the Charles River to the smaller city of Somerville—home to hip bars, cool restaurants, and an artsy nightlife scene. Somerville is experiencing plenty of development too, especially around Union Square, where the Green Line Extension Project is expected to add a Boston-bound subway stop by the end of 2021. So if you’re seeking a neighborhood on the rise, look no further. Already, the area is home to Metro9, which sits just between Union Square and similarly cool Inman Square. With its concrete walls and exposed columns, the eight-story, 1916-built structure has an industrial-chic style—which makes sense, since it used to be a cold storage facility for millions of dollars’ worth of lobster. (Yes, really.) Now you’ll want to get your claws on one of the 100 homes inside. It’s a cool space (no cold-storage pun intended), from the glass-enclosed fireplace in the lobby to the roof-deck, where residents can get skyline views of Boston, catch a game on the outdoor TV, or grill up dinner. Inside, there are spaces designated for co-working, an entertaining kitchen, a dog-grooming station, a billiards-equipped club room and more. Metro9 is also outfitted in ways that recognize the lifestyles and sensibilities that might characterize the older Millennial crowd. For instance, it’s a LEED Gold-certified building, an accreditation linked to environmental friendliness, and the property offers an indoor bike parking and repair room. (If you want to pump some pedals without actually going anywhere, hop on one of the state-ofthe-art Peloton bicycles in the fitness center.) But perhaps most creative—literally—is the on-site art room, a studio-like space that can be reserved for drawing, painting, playing piano and other endeavors. Residents use it to mount artwork for gallery-like exhibitions, and there is even an “artist’s wall” in the lobby, where residents are encouraged to showcase a piece for a month at a time. See? It’s all about perspective. metro9condos.com

RAFFLES BOSTON BACK BAY HOTEL & RESIDENCES

If you need any more proof that Boston is going through a new Gilded Age, consider the arrival of Raffles. The ultra-luxury brand has only about a dozen properties around the world, mostly in Asia. So it’s exciting that Boston will be the first North American city to get an outpost when Raffles opens in Back Bay in early 2022. The 33-story tower will dedicate its upper levels to 146 super-high-end residences (the lower levels will be occupied by hotel units). They spare no expense when it comes to style and glamour, and neither do the common areas, which boast spectacular botanical displays. Of course, you may want to wander up to the twostory sky lounge with a rooftop garden terrace too. The views of the city are sure to stun. Besides the signature Raffles Butler service, which ensures residents get high-level personal attention, there are plenty of fancified spaces to explore: for instance, the Raffles Spa with a 20-meter indoor pool, resident lounge, fitness club and about half a dozen on-site restaurants and bars. Where to eat, with all those options? For an intimate evening, you may want to visit the property’s tasting kitchen, where the hotel’s executive chef will host themed feasts and other food-focused events for residents only. Planning a date night? There’s also a mysterious so-called speakeasy in the building, but that’s all we’ll say. You’ll have to track down the location yourself. (Hey, that’s half the fun!) For more contemplative ventures, Raffles will also have a writers lounge, a quiet space off the sky lobby that is lined with books, art and artifacts. It’s a place to read, write, relax, and you know, solve the world’s problems over a digestif. When idle time is its own form of activity, you know you’re officially living in the lap of luxury. rafflesresidencesboston.com

THE QUINN

The South End sure has changed. Back in the day, it was considered Boston’s “gayborhood”—and while the LGBTQ community is definitely thriving here, there are also a lot more baby strollers rolling down the sidewalks on Sundays. Also, it used to be grittier, with rents local artists could afford. Now there are enough well-heeled professionals to sustain places like the Quinn, a 14-story building filled with 101 gorgeously appointed condos, some priced at more than $5 million. It opens later this year. Some things do stay the same, though: namely, South Enders still love their dogs. (If there’s one thing gayborhoods have always had, it’s lots of fur-babies.) So maybe it makes sense that the Quinn is the first Boston location for Dog City, a company that offers doggy day care, an indoor play space for pooches, drop-off services, veterinary appointments and more. It may be a dog’s life—but these dogs live pretty well. Don’t worry: two-legged residents have it made, too. We wouldn’t recommend chasing balls in the hallway, but there is a fantastic fitness facility with courts for squash and basketball, as well as a rock-climbing wall to get your lats looking good before it’s summeringin-Provincetown season. Until then, of course, you can make do with the waterfall-accented indoor pool—the first inside a South End residential building— or hang out on the landscaped 12th-floor terrace, which is speckled with cabanas, lounge chairs, stone courtyards and fire pits. There’s even a barbecue area. “Kiss the Cook” apron, not included. When the weather’s a little less fine, you can move indoors to the fourth floor, where the sweep of amenities includes a sports lounge with billiard and shuffleboard, a library, a game room, a dining room for hosting parties, work areas for home-office needs, and more. Yeah, neighborhoods change. So do all communities. But amid the pack of new luxury residences, at least this dogfriendly option is an alpha entry. thequinn.com