Real Estate

Listed: A palatial loft above what was once Locke-Ober

“It was where titans of industry used to meet to make deals.”

Remark Vision

July 23, 2024

When it comes to historic restaurants in Boston, Locke-Ober takes the cake. And if you’re looking to hang your hat where JFK Jr. once slurped lobster stew, a palatial loft at 1-3 Winter Place is on the market for $2.799 million.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the building housed Locke-Ober from 1875 until 2012.

“It was where titans of industry used to meet to make deals,” says Eve Dougherty of The Ace Team at Compass, who has the listing.

Old friends have lunch at Locke-Ober on Christmas Eve in 1980. *Ted Dully / The Boston Globe*

Tucked inside a side nook in Downtown Crossing, an elevator delivers you directly into a private vestibule leading into Unit 3, which features one of the original doors from Locke-Ober. The three-bed, two-and-a-half-bath loft on the third floor of the Greek Revival rowhouse, which was built in 1832, measures a whopping 3,357 square feet.

“You’re instantly struck with the expansiveness of this property,” says Dougherty.

The main living space features beamed ceilings, hardwood floors, and oversized windows. The living space flows naturally into the attached kitchen, which features a square center island, as well as an L-shaped countertop. Top-of-the-line appliances from brands like Sub-Zero and Wolf complement endless cabinet space. Described by Dougherty as “huge,” the area is big enough for the current owners to throw a ball to their dog to chase.

Under an archway, move into the sprawling dining area, which measures over 1,000 square feet. Under the same beamed ceilings are three additional large windows. The space provides endless opportunities to create comfortable nooks in a variety of configurations.

As you head to the second half of the property, you’ll find a half-bathroom, as well as a furnace room and a laundry room. A small bedroom, which could also function as a study, measures 170 square feet. It features built-in bookshelves and exposed brick, and has easy access to the bathroom from the hallway.

There are two larger bedrooms, both of which are en suite. The first measures 302 square feet and features a walk-in closet and an elegant bathroom with dual sinks, a shower, and a full tub. The second, which measures almost 350 square feet, has a grander attached bathroom that features a deep soaking tub, step-in shower, and dual sinks. That bedroom also features a closet measuring nearly 40 square feet.

“It’s great because the bedrooms are one end of the apartment, and the living spaces are the other,” says Dougherty.

Board the elevator to head on up to the roof deck, which Dougherty estimates measures about 500 square feet and has a wet bar. The home also comes with two garage parking spaces.