Bambola & The Girl Next Door

Arrowstreet reimagined the former Seaport Social restaurant as a pair of distinct yet intertwined dining destinations, Bambola and The Girl Next Door, transforming a familiar neighborhood space into an immersive, dual-concept hospitality experience. The design reinvents the existing footprint through a careful balance of theatricality and intimacy, creating two identities with a shared DNA but dramatically different personalities.

At the heart of the transformation is a newly choreographed arrival sequence that separates the two concepts while heightening anticipation. Guests entering Bambola are drawn through a glossy, red-tiled, curved passage that serves as an intentionally dramatic threshold, signaling a shift from the everyday into something more indulgent and clandestine. This sculptural entry acts as a secret portal, concealing Bambola from view and reinforcing its sense of mystery, seduction, and excess.

Beyond the threshold, Bambola unfolds as a glamorous Italian villa reimagined for Boston’s Seaport. Ornate wall paneling, Murano-inspired sconces and chandeliers, plush drapery, smoky mirrors, and custom banquettes establish a richly layered interior that balances old-world romance with modern attitude. Lighting and materiality were orchestrated to create a warm, low-glow atmosphere that is sensual, expressive, and unapologetically theatrical, while maintaining the comfort and familiarity of a classic Italian dining experience.

In contrast, The Girl Next Door occupies the more outward-facing side of the space, presenting a lighter, more casual expression of the overall concept. Designed as an approachable neighborhood destination, it offers an effortless counterpoint to Bambola’s heightened drama, inviting, confident, and relaxed. Together, the two spaces create a dynamic pairing, one bold and seductive, the other accessible and social, both embracing the joy of being seen.