Encore Boston Harbor is a luxury resort and casino on the Mystic River, five miles from downtown Boston. The resort includes a harbor walk, retail, a spa, convention and meeting space, and a casino. Rockwell Group was tapped to design Seamark, a new waterfront dining experience.

The design concept for Seamark was inspired by a journey aboard a classic yacht sailing along the New England coast, exploring the riches of the oceans and the history of the area. Along the journey, the experience is both tactile—ribbed wood, textured glass, and soft linens—as well as visual, with ocean blue tones, stepped forms, and warm teak paneling. Each section of the restaurant is infused with unexpected historic details and references that tell a different story, from the oversized mast-inspired lights in the dining room, to the stacked treasury cabinets at the bar, to the vintage map at the private dining room/speakeasy.

A blue tiled facade with a lighthouse lens canopy highlights the restaurant entry. Guests are welcomed onto a blue and white striped mosaic “rug” with bronze inlay and surrounded by a whimsical display of sculptural local fish, setting the playful tone and relaxed feel for the dining experience. A series of floating teak panels allows view into the restaurant and bar lounge space from the entry.

At the bar, glowing mirrored cabinets warmly light the long stone and bronze clad bar. Surrounded by the shimmer of mirror and textured glass, a mixed collection of lounge and dining groupings create the intimate lounge space. Lacquered teak, antiqued bronze, and braided rope finishes are layered on a palette of off-white linen and navy blue upholstery with leather straps and bronze details, alluding to nautical interiors.

Large, mast-inspired pendant lights anchor the main dining space under a textured grasscloth and metal inlay teak plank ceiling. Along with a teak plank floor and glossy teak millwork, these elements create a warm atmosphere. A trio of stepped, arched portals with buoy-inspired lights separate the main dining from a smaller, more intimate dining experience in the back that connects to the outdoor space. Smoked oak mosaic flooring and teal green banquettes transition the palette to a garden feel.

The signature blue and white palette is reiterated at the outdoor patio with dining tables nestled within the hidden garden space. Concealed in the restaurant behind a custom mural-paneled wall is Old Wives’ Tale, a speakeasy / private dining room. The hidden room is an opulent treasury inspired by the infamous Captain Samuel Bellamy, one of the wealthiest pirates in recorded history who shipwrecked off the coast of Cape Cod. The intimate room is enveloped under a custom vintage map mural and rich velvet upholstery. A Campaign-style drinks bar and cabinet and mahogany shelving filled with artifacts that reference lost treasures of the ocean complete the immersive room environment.