Scampo

Scampo is the Italian-inspired restaurant on the first floor of the Liberty Hotel, the former Charles Street Jail at the foot of Beacon Hill. James Beard Award winner Lydia Shire runs the kitchen, and her cooking ranges past Italy into Mediterranean and Middle Eastern flavors, with produce from the farmer’s market close by. Signatures include breads baked in a tandoori oven, a mozzarella bar, handmade pastas and dishes from a wood-fired oven that have drawn national attention.

The name means “escape” in Italian, and the restaurant has occupied this space since 2008. Shire sketches each dish before it is cooked, mapping the plate, the layers and where every element lands, and pages from her notebook are part of the restaurant’s story. The room, created with designers Rafael Alvarez and Brannen Brock, is bold and red, with copper lamps and a glowing orange bar. Menus change with the seasons, alongside an evolving cocktail program.

What to Know

• The wine list leans on small Italian and American producers, with bottles chosen to be ready to drink.
• A secluded outdoor patio seats about 60 guests during the warmer months.
• A private dining room overlooks the open kitchen, and events for up to 30 guests can be held inside the jail’s original stone walls.
• Private events are planned and booked through Boston’s Best Events.
• Boston Magazine has named Scampo one of the city’s essential restaurants.