Top 10 Boston hotels: from chic urban resorts and sophisticated boutiques to modern skyscrapers and historic hideaways
Boston has many things to visit this city for. It is known for its sports culture and great baseball arenas. There are great places for great shopping, charming places to grab a coffee during the day, and amazing restaurants to check out for the famous clam chowder. Everything you need for a great vacation in Boston is available, it's just a matter of choosing good hotels for your trip.
Every part of Boston has its own rhythm: Downtown is known for its landmarks, brownstone houses and fashionable boutiques, the Seaport District offers popular restaurants, and Cambridge attracts the eye with its quaint beauty. Hotels in Boston 's neighborhoods are just as diverse. You'll find trendy designer boutiques, hideaways from famous brands, and historic hotels. This list compiles the best Boston hotels for your trip.
1. Boston Harbor Hotel
The chic, Forbes 5-star urban resort at Rose Wharf will delight its guests with easy access to Boston Harbor and a variety of waterfront stores. They can also use this prime location to take a boat cruise, which the hotel's concierge is happy to help organize. Its rooms showcase reimagined comfort and elegance with thoughtful design. They feature comfortable beds with luxurious Frette linens, marble bathrooms with rain showers and Diptyque signature bath products, Smart TVs and tablets, and as needed, baby supplies, cribs, robes for younger guests and toys. Every resident at the Harbor Hotel can look forward to an unforgettable vacation. Its crown jewel is the National Sea Grille Restaurant, where guests can enjoy seafood specialties, award-winning cocktails and beautiful views. In addition to the things to do and places to see in Boston, plenty of interesting events and activities you can attend without leaving the hotel. There are weekly outdoor movie screenings during the warmer months, campfires and delicious cocoa in the winter, and the Boston Wine Festival from January through March.
2 The Envoy Hotel
Built from the ground up, the ultra-sleek Envoy is an example of a remarkably forward-thinking location: it fits perfectly into the surrounding Seaport District with its revitalized waterfront. The hotel features 136 luxurious rooms with ceiling-to-floor windows, and this glass facade glistens brightly over the panorama of Boston Harbor. This is the first Autograph Collection hotel in Boston, and it showcases all of the chain's strengths: thoughtful design, including artwork made from recycled materials, top-notch restaurants and modern, useful technology. The nautical-themed rooms are in keeping with the lively seaport location. They are elegant, yet not lacking in bold color accents and creative personality. With panoramic windows, rooms are flooded with sunlight and guests can contemplate unobstructed views of the harbor and cityscape. The hotel's in-house restaurant, Outlook Bar and Kitchen, offers modern American cuisine with a Caribbean accent and is popular with locals who drop in for lunch, cocktails and live music. But the "jewel" of the hotel is its elegant Lookout Rooftop Bar, one of the best rooftops in the city. It serves craft drinks and cocktails, has cozy covered seating and outdoor tables with a brilliant panorama, and in the wintertime the roof is filled with transparent igloos.
3. The Ritz-Carlton, Boston
Another member of The Ritz-Carlton's global chain of exquisite hotels, The Ritz-Carlton, Boston downtown offers modern urban luxury and a stunning panorama of Boston Common. It is one of the most exciting neighborhoods for a truly urban vacation with amazing history, chic shopping opportunities, great restaurants and entertainment such as the Boston Ballet. Behind the grand marble lobby, divided into cozy seating areas with reception and concierge desks, is the luxurious Avery Bar, where you can enjoy artful cocktails at the bar and sit in the lounge with an elevated fireplace with hors d'oeuvres or a light dinner. The neutral cream palette of the 193 rooms and suites emphasizes the elegant style and relaxing atmosphere. Rooms feature concise furnishings, marble bathrooms with signature toiletries and modern appliances for a comfortable stay, while suites are complemented by wide windows and beautiful fireplaces. In addition to the Avery Bar, a great alternative to the surrounding on-site restaurants is the all-day dining Artisan Bistro, with a concise menu and casual atmosphere. It's also a great place to start the day with a delicious breakfast and morning cup of coffee while watching the bustling Avery Street.
4. Four Seasons Hotel One Dalton Street, Boston
Four Seasons Boston's representative of the Four Seasons chain, one of its two luxury hotels is located in one of its many famous skyscrapers, which means its guests can enjoy fantastic views from their bedroom or while sitting down for a cocktail at the bar. It embodies the chain's core strengths of excellent service and luxurious amenities, and emphasizes them with its location in the heart of the famous Back Bay area. Magnificent rooms and suites with ceiling-to-floor windows epitomize a new kind of urban chic. They are well-appointed, stylish and have a tranquil atmosphere for guests to relax and unwind from the hustle and bustle of the streets. The spacious suites have extra space with separate bedrooms and are great for families and business travelers alike. An entire floor of the hotel is dedicated to the wellness center, so you may not want to go outside at all. There's an incredible spa, fitness center, and a 64-foot swimming pool with lounge chair seating. An experienced concierge team will help you discover Boston's incredible activities and tailor your stay to your idea of the perfect vacation, complete with an introduction to the city's art scene, oyster farm tours, photo tours of Boston's most Instagrammable spots, bike rides, and more.
5. Mandarin Oriental Boston
Like the rest of the Mandarin Oriental hotel chain, their Boston branch in the Back Bay Center is consistently fantastic and luxurious. This is an opportunity for visitors to the city to create a distinctive guest experience, enjoying classic New England elegance combined with sophisticated oriental touches. This downtown Back Bay location near the Prudential Center provides guests with an ideal year-round shopping base: in inclement weather, they don't even need to go outside; they can use a separate guest entrance to the luxury shopping center. The hotel experience begins with a magnificent marble lobby decorated with artwork, a gas fireplace and seating areas where you can relax surrounded by floral arrangements and soothing music. Honored with five Forbes stars, the hotel features 148 spacious guest rooms and suites with spa-style marble bathrooms and views of the city skyline and historic Back Bay. The hotel features Boston's oldest five-star Five-Star spa with a state-of-the-art Kinesis wall, a wellness pool and spa cafe, and a state-of-the-art 24-hour fitness center. A visit to Ramsay's Kitchen, featuring gourmet cuisine by world-renowned Michelin-starred chef Gordon Ramsay, will leave you with a unique experience.
6. Liberty Hotel
Looking at one of the most beautiful hotels in Boston, it's hard to imagine that for over a century, this stately Boston granite-style building was nothing more than the Charles Street Jail, which housed the likes of Sacco, Vanzetti, and Malcolm X. Today, only a few interior accents remind you of this side of the historic building. Its 198 rooms and suites with elegant leather furnishings and a concise color scheme exude historic industrial character, while panoramic windows showcase views of the picturesque landscaped courtyard and river. Guests can spend their free time moving between the 4 restaurants and bars, from Scampo with legendary local chef Lydia Shire at the helm of the kitchen to the chic outdoor bar The Yard. But one of the most favorite hangout locations for guests and locals alike is Alibi Bar, whose design is inspired by the building's former purpose. Seating is separated by metal barriers, the brick walls are painted with portraits of celebrities and their "alibis," and you can walk out of the building to the patio, which used to be a walkway, for a cocktail. During the summer months, guests can fill their schedules with yoga and various on-site events for guests and locals, such as fashion shows, cooking classes, etc., at the hotel.
7. Four Seasons Hotel Boston
Another part of a global chain of chic hotels located next to the Victorian brownstone houses of Boston's Back Bay neighborhood. A stay at this hotel provides the perfect starting point for exploring "America's Walking City" and its attractions just a couple steps away. Start on the Freedom Trail, stop for a shopping spree at the famous boutiques on Newbury Street, and then return to relax in your exquisite room overlooking Beacon Hill, the historic public garden and the gilded dome of the State House. This five-star hotel, created on the site of the former Playboy Club, is also known for its upper echelon celebrity guests. Stop in for breakfast specialties at Aujourd'hui to start the day admiring the beautiful views of the public garden, and after wandering around the city, try the famous burgers at The Bristol. Guests also have access to The Vault's 24-hour snack corner on each floor. If you don't want to leave the hotel, go for a swim in the heated pool with a view on the 8th floor or grab a coffee next to it, take time to get fit with a class in the fitness center, then relax in the sauna and hot tub or book in-room massage services.
8. The Newbury Boston
A prime location overlooking the Public Garden boasts one of Boston's famous classic hotels. Opened in the turbulent '20s, it has been given a new lease on life after a thorough renovation in July 2021, carefully preserving its historic grandeur. For its guests, the Back Bay will become a playground for entertainment, and the Public Garden will become an idyllic front yard. Once inside, it's easy to confuse the hotel with an art gallery, thanks to Veronica Lawpor's Boston illustrations and eclectic art in the cozy library lobby. The interiors of the fantastic restaurants and beautiful rooms and suites also deserve praise. The collection of guest accommodations are decorated in neutral hues, with original artwork, custom designer furniture, marble elements and handcrafted wood. For dinner, guests can stop by the exquisite rooftop restaurant Contessa, inspired by the stunning views of the Back Bay from the contemporary glass terrace. And finish the evening with select wines and spirits at the historic 1920s-inspired street bar or intriguing escape The Library for hotel guests only.
9. Fairmont Copley Plaza
Classic luxury is the definition for this Beaux-Arts landmark, erected in 1912. One of its undoubted advantages is its location on the bustling Colley Square in Back Bay, rich in superb architectural examples. It is one of the finest hotels in Boston, located near the upscale stores of Newbury Street, which you can visit if you do decide to tear yourself away from the hotel. The luxury is striking from the lobby: coffered ceilings, Italian marble, intricate moldings, gleaming chandeliers and gilded accents greet you from the doorstep with an amazing sight. Whether you're in Boston for a business meeting, a family vacation or a romantic weekend getaway, this masterpiece of the hospitality industry will make you feel right at home: despite its splendor, it manages to create a warm and inviting atmosphere and even a sense of intimacy that is rare for a hotel of this size. Its rooms combine traditional and contemporary style with neutral tones and splashes of color, dark wood furnishings, chic beds and beautiful views of Copley Square. Stop by the excellent restaurant and bar at Boston's OAK Long Bar + Kitchen, also popular with locals, and appreciate their cocktails from a list of the best in the city.
10. Hotel Commonwealth
Another of the top 10 hotels in Boston is located in the youthful, vibrant Kenmore Square neighborhood and offers scenic views of Fenway Park. Its historic facade contrasts with the famous giant Citgo sign on the square, which has become synonymous with the baseball field. Inside, the confrontation between modern and historic continues in the interior, which combines brightly colored furniture and geometric rugs with scalloped-edge drapes. Rooms are spacious and sunny, many overlooking the park. Furnishings exude classic sophistication, from chic linens and stylish bathrooms to smart technology and modern amenities. The collection of dining and drinking establishments is one of the most impressive among Boston hotels. The suruTonTan Udon Noodle Brasserie restaurant near the lobby offers handmade udon, the recently opened Pescador offers "coastal grilling" of the freshest seafood, and the vibrant Blue Ribbon Sushi restaurant and sushi bar offers outstanding Japanese traditional cuisine. Visitors and neighborhood regulars also flock to the renowned Blue Ribbon Beer Bar, serving visitors since 1992.
