PLACES TO STAY
Luxury Hotels
Eliot Hotel
370 Commonwealth Ave, 02215 • 617 267 1607 • www.eliothotel.com • $$Back Bay grace and charm characterize this late 19th-century landmark hotel. Visiting musicians and baseball teams alike enjoy the spacious suites. Uni, the ground-floor restaurant, is one of Boston’s most acclaimed and provides room service for the Eliot’s guests.
Langham, Boston
250 Franklin St, 02110 • 617 451 1900 • www.langhamboston.com • $$The extremely posh Langham occupies a jewel of an Art Nouveau building, the former Federal Reserve bank in the heart of the Financial District. Spacious rooms feature modernized Second Empire decor with rich brocades.
Millennium Bostonian
Faneuil Hall Marketplace, 02109 • 617 523 3600 • www.millenniumhotels.com • $$Rooms run the gamut from tiny to palatial in this elegant and swanky oasis close to bustling Faneuil Hall Marketplace (for further details see Faneuil Hall Marketplace), but all feature lovely city views. There is an excellent on-site fitness center.
Taj Boston
15 Arlington St, 02116 • 617 536 5700 • www.tajhotels.com • $$The 1927 “original” Boston Ritz benefits from a great location on the edge of the Common and had a thorough restoration in 2002 to revive its old-fashioned glory. This grande dame epitomizes opulence, decorum, and “old Boston” style. The lobby bar is legendary.
Boston Harbor Hotel
70 Rowes Wharf, 02110 • 617 439 7000 • www.bhh.com • $$$To enjoy one of the most beautiful locations in the city to the full, request a room with a harbor view and private balcony. There’s no need to go anywhere else as you’ll find restaurants, a fitness center, and spa all on site.
Four Seasons
200 Boylston St, 02116 • 617 338 4400 • www.fourseasons.com • $$$Rock stars and visiting dignitaries often select the low-key luxury of this modern hotel on the edge of the Theater District. The lobby-level Bristol Lounge is a favorite spot for striking business deals, and the indoor pool is an added bonus.
Liberty Hotel
215 Charles St, 02114 • 617 224 4000 • www.libertyhotel.com • $$$Dramatic design has transformed the historic Charles Street Jail into an elegant boutique hotel with a soaring lobby. Basketball and hockey teams stay here, as TD Garden is nearby.
Mandarin Oriental
776 Boylston St, 02199 • 866 526 6567 or 617 535 8888 • www.mandarinoriental.com • $$$Situated in the heart of Back Bay, the Mandarin Oriental has some of the city’s largest luxury rooms. The rooms come fitted with designer linens, huge bathtubs, and state-of-the-art electronics. Many guests stay on site to enjoy the full-service spa.
Revere Hotel
200 Stuart Street, 02116 • 617 428 1800 • www.reverehotel.com • $$$This sleek, hip hotel is two blocks from Boston Common and close to the Theater District. Every elegant room has its own private balcony. There’s a rooftop pool and bar, and fine Mediterranean dining in the Rustic Kitchen (host to The Cooking Show).
Ritz-Carlton, Boston Common
10 Avery St, 02111 • 617 574 7100 • www.ritz-carlton.com • $$$This classy hotel is on the upper levels of the tallest building overlooking the Common. Rooms are the height of contemporary elegance and offer a wealth of high-tech and luxury amenities. Guests can use the fitness center for a nominal charge.
XV Beacon
15 Beacon St, 02108 • 617 670 1500 • www.xvbeacon.com • $$$The design-conscious decor and extraordinary attention to detail makes this chic but cozy boutique hotel in Beacon Hill a favorite with business executives. With just 60 rooms, all with high-tech extras, it is the most masculine of Boston’s modern hotels.
Deluxe Hotels
Ames Hotel
1 Court St, 02108 • 617 979 8100 • www.ameshotel.com • $$An elegant contemporary hotel, housed in a landmark building in the heart of downtown Boston, the Ames often has excellent weekend rates because it is mainly a business hotel. Suites retain their original fireplaces and windows with dramatic Romanesque arches. The contrasting minimalist room design tends toward the soothing rather than the stark.
Battery Wharf Hotel
3 Battery Wharf, 02109 • 617 994 9000 • www.batterywharfhotelboston.com • $$Situated at the edge of the North End, this luxurious hotel commands the mouth of Boston Harbor. Guests benefit from a well-equipped fitness center and a luxury spa.
The Charles Hotel
1 Bennett St, Cambridge, 02138 • 617 864 1200 • www.charleshotel.com • $$Extra touches, such as handmade quilts hanging on the walls, personalize the comfortable rooms at this modern hotel on the edge of Harvard Square. There’s an indoor pool, an outstanding jazz club, the Reggatabar, and a top Boston restaurant, Rialto.
The Colonnade
120 Huntington Ave, 02116 • 617 424 7000 • www.colonnadehotel.com • $$Often used by upscale tour groups, the Colonnade has some of the largest and most comfortable rooms in Back Bay, as well as the city’s only outdoor rooftop pool.
Hotel Marlowe
25 Edwin H. Land Blvd, Cambridge, 02141 • 617 868 8000 • www.hotelmarlowe.com • $$Located behind the Museum of Science, this sleek hotel creates a self-contained world of comfort with Internet access, evening wine receptions, and a fitness center. Check the website for last-minute deals.
Marriott Long Wharf
296 State St, 02109 • 617 227 0800 • www.marriottlongwharf.com • $$The hotel’s waterfront location means most of the bright, spacious rooms have superb harbor or city views. Waterline, the casual bar-restaurant, is the perfect spot for an evening cocktail.
Nine Zero
90 Tremont St, 02108 • 617 722 5800 • www.ninezerohotel.com • $$Nine Zero marries sleek and shiny steel, chrome, and glass with warm wood and designer furniture to achieve a contemporary look with a soft edge. Its location, on the Downtown Crossing corner of Boston Common, is very convenient.
Residence Inn Boston Back Bay/Fenway
125 Brookline Ave, 02215 • 617 236 8787 • www.residenceinnbackbay.com • $$The Residence Inn is an upscale, contemporary extended-stay hotel that overlooks Fenway Park. Its suites offer separate living and dining areas and a full kitchen, plus amenities that include luxury bedding and free Wi-Fi. Guests can also take advantage of the complimentary breakfast and lounge. It’s within walking distance of restaurants and shops.
Royal Sonesta
5 Cambridge Pkwy, Cambridge, 02142 • 617 806 4200 • www.sonesta.com • $$An outstanding art collection, excellent restaurant, and a striking riverside location make this a top choice for aesthetes. Bargain summer family packages often available.
Seaport Hotel
1 Seaport Lane, 02210 • 617 385 4000 • www.seaporthotel.com • $$Connected by a walkway to the World Trade Center, the Seaport was one of the first to pioneer the South Boston Waterfront. Rooms are large and comfortable, and the pool is a bonus, as are regular shuttles to Downtown.
The Verb Hotel
1271 Boylston St, 02215 • 617 566 4500 • www.theverbhotel.com • $$In the shadow of Fenway Park, this trendy, retro-themed hotel is in demand whenever there’s a big event around the corner. The stylish atmosphere attracts younger crowds looking to celebrate.
Hip/Historic Stays
Boston Park Plaza
64 Arlington St, 02116 • 617 426 2000 • www.bostonparkplaza.com • $The 1927 Park Plaza is Boston’s largest historic hotel. Restoration has thankfully put some glamour back. Popular with business travelers, convention-goers, and tour packagers, it is convenient for Back Bay and the Theater District.
Beacon Hill Hotel & Bistro
25 Charles St, 02114 • 617 723 7575 • www.beaconhillhotel.com • $$This town house hotel is mere steps from Boston Common. The rooms are mostly small but Euro-chic, and there’s a first-floor bistro that serves breakfast (included in rates). There’s also a roofdeck for guests.
The Boxer Boston
107 Merrimac St, 02114 • 617 778 2900 • www.theboxerboston.com • $$This stylish boutique hotel offers rooms and suites that show off a sleek, “industrial chic” design and are equipped with all the latest amenities. It’s centrally located between North End and Beacon Hill, making it ideal for exploring the city on foot.
Fairmont Copley Plaza
138 St James Ave, 02116 • 617 267 5300 • www.fairmont.com • $$This sister hotel of New York’s Plaza has been a Copley Square landmark since 1912. Public areas are opulent, rooms are small but comfy, and suites are truly grand.
Gryphon House
9 Bay State Rd, 02215 • 617 375 9003 • www.innboston.com • No DA • $$This 1895 brownstone town house boasts huge, elegant rooms with fireplaces, wet bars, and high-speed Internet. A quiet spot, it is convenient for Back Bay or the Fenway.
Hotel Commonwealth
500 Commonwealth Ave, 02215 • 617 933 5000 • www.hotelcommonwealth.com • $$Right by Kenmore Square, this suave 150-room hotel has all the high-tech essentials but with the architecture and decor of France’s Second Empire.
Hotel Veritas
1 Remington St, 02138 • 617 520 5000 • www.thehotelveritas.com • $$This luxury four-story boutique hotel near Harvard University is ideally situated for families visiting students. Combining luxury with convenience, rooms in this hotel are intimate and contemporary, while bathrooms have marble finishes. A cozy lounge in the lobby serves cocktails.
Loewes Boston Hotel
350 Stuart St, 02116 • 617 266 7200 • www.loeweshotels.com/Boston • $$This posh boutique hotel in the handsome limestone, former Boston police headquarters offers deluxe comfort and services in a convenient corner of South End.
W Hotel
100 Stuart St, 02116 • 617 261 8700 • www.starwoodhotels.com • $$Seemingly designed as much for the architectural press as for the traveler, this W appeals equally to design mavens, and to visitors who enjoy the location in the Theater District at the edge of Back Bay. A Bliss Spa is in the hotel.
Hotel InterContinental
510 Atlantic Ave, 02110 • 617 747 1000 • www.intercontinentalboston.com • $$$This chic waterfront hotel at the edge of Fort Point Channel combines sophisticated architecture with luxurious decor of rich furnishings and textiles. Sumptuous bathrooms include a soaking tub as well as a walk-in shower.
Lenox Hotel
61 Exeter St, 02116 • 617 536 6300 • www.lenoxhotel.com • $$$Known for exemplary service, luxurious modern comfort, historic elegance and eco-innovation, this Back Bay boutique hotel near Copley Square has served Boston visitors since 1900. Many of the spacious corner rooms have wood-burning fireplaces. Dine at the City Table, on New England seasonal fare, or at Sólás authentic Irish Pub.
Mid-Range Hotels
The Charlesmark
655 Boylston St, 02116 • 617 247 1212 • www.charlesmarkhotel.com • $Set in an 1892 Back Bay town house, the compact but ergonomic rooms of this boutique hotel feature custom-made furniture, light-toned woodwork, and smart Italian tilework. Breakfast is included in the astonishingly low (for the area) rates.
Harborside Inn
185 State St, 02109 • 617 723 7500 • 888 723 7565 • www.harborsideinnboston.com • $This modest boutique hotel is set in a historic (1858) spice warehouse. Rooms have wood floors, exposed brick walls, oriental rugs, and traditional furnishings.
Chandler Studios
54 Berkeley St, 02116 • 617 482 3450 • www.chandlerstudiosboston.com • $$This hip boutique hotel in a South End brownstone offers studios with ultra-modern furnishings, kitchenette and high-tech features. Check-in is via a keyless entry system. There’s daily maid service but staff are not on-site.
Courtyard Boston Cambridge
777 Memorial Dr, Cambridge, 02139 • 617 492 7777 • www.marriott.com • $$Large desks and great views are highlights of this older riverfront hotel. Amenities include a fitness center and a pool. The location isn’t ideal unless you have a car.
Courtyard Boston Downtown
275 Tremont St, 02116 • 617 426 1400 • www.marriott.com • $$At the edge of the Theater District, this 1920s tower hotel underwent restoration to give fresh glitter to its dramatic public spaces (think crystal chandeliers and marble columns). Rooms are small but modern with first-rate amenities.
Fairfield Inn & Suites Boston Cambridge
215 Monsignor O’Brien Hway, Cambridge, 02141 • 617 621 1999 • www.fairfieldbostoncambridge.com • $$This contemporary hotel is just across the Charles River from Downtown. Rooms features sleek design including an ergonomic workstation. There’s free Wi-Fi, free hot breakfast, and 24-hour fitness and business centers.
Inn at St Botolph
99 St Botolph St, 02116 • 617 236 8099 • www.innatstbotolph.com • $$Great for a romantic getaway, this red-brick townhouse boutique hotel near Symphony Hall boasts the finest in contemporary design. The sunny rooms have queen-size beds.
Kendall Hotel
350 Main St, Cambridge, 02142 • 617 577 1300 • www.kendallhotel.com • $$An artist-architect couple transformed this century-old Cambridge firehouse into a boutique hotel. The 77 rooms are decorated with firehouse memorabilia and antiques. Don’t miss the Rooftop Retreat.
Sheraton Commander
16 Garden St, Cambridge, 02138 • 617 547 4800 • www.sheratoncommander.com • $$Harvard Square’s original (1927) hotel has elegant, contemporary, decor. Some rooms are small, but public areas are pleasantly clubby, and the Cambridge Common location is enchanting.
Westin Boston Waterfront
425 Summer St, 02210 • 617 532 4600 • www.starwoodhotels.com • $$Connected to the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, this huge property serves business travelers well. Rooms offer great city views.
Bed-and-Breakfast
Beech Tree Inn
83 Longwood Ave, Brookline, 02446 • 617 277 1620 • www.thebeechtreeinn.com • No DA • $Most rooms in this friendly Victorian-style B&B have private baths. Guests also have use of a parlor.
Bertram Inn
92 Sewall Ave, Brookline, 02446 • 617 566 2234 • www.bertraminn.com • No DA • $In a quiet residential neighborhood, this B&B began life as a private, Tudor-Revival-style home. Its rooms and small suites are all tastefully decorated with styles varying between Arts & Crafts, late Victorian, and just downright eclectic.
A Friendly Inn at Harvard
1673 Cambridge St, 02138 • 617 547 7851 • www.afinow.com • $This large Queen Anne-style house is steps from Harvard Square and the museums. The great location, gracious hospitality, and all mod cons, including Internet access, make this a very popular hotel, particularly with visiting scholars and prospective students.
Irving House
24 Irving St, Cambridge, 02138 • 617 547 4600 • www.cambridgeinns.com • $An older rooming house turned B&B, Irving House is tucked away in a leafy neighborhood next to Harvard. Rooms vary from tiny to spacious and some share bathrooms.
Isaac Harding House
288 Harvard St, Cambridge 02139 • 617 876 2888 • www.harding-house.com • $Situated in a quiet Cambridge neighborhood, this 1860s Victorian home is now a popular B&B. The 14 guest rooms are spacious and bright. High-speed Internet is available in public rooms.
John Jeffries House
14 David G. Mugar Way, 02114 • 617 367 1866 • www.johnjeffrieshouse.com • $This former nurse’s quarters now serves as a pleasant inn. Public areas sport the Neo-Federal look and there is a garden. The guest rooms are bare but cheerful, and most have kitchenettes.
Newbury Guest House
261 Newbury St, 02116 • 617 670 6000 • www.newburyguesthouse.com • $Several Back Bay residences have been linked to create this homey 32-room guest house. Rooms vary in size, but tend to be cozy with eclectic furnishings. Good value for the location.
Oasis Guest House
22 Edgerly Rd, 02115 • 617 267 2262 • www.oasisgh.com • $Close to Berklee School of Music, the Hynes Convention Center, and Symphony Hall, Oasis has rooms in a town house on a quiet one-way street a little removed from the hubbub of Massachusetts Avenue. Guests can make use of a small, shared outdoor deck.
Aisling Bed & Breakfast
21 E Concord St, 02118 • 617 206 8049 • www.aisling-boston.com • $$Housed in a 19th-century redbrick row-house on a tree-lined street in Boston’s South End, this Victorian-style home features three comfortable en-suite guest rooms, central air conditioning and free Wi-Fi. A free hot and homemade breakfast is served in the dining room.
The Gilded Lily
4 Claremont Park, 02118 • 617 877 3676 • www.thegildedlily-boston.com • $$On a quiet residential street in the South End two blocks from the subway, this Victorian home has been restored, modernized and attractively decorated. The two guest rooms, on the third and fourth floor, share a kitchen and have private bathrooms and free Wi-Fi. There is no elevator.
Clarendon Square Bed & Breakfast
198 W Brookline St, 02118 • 617 536 2229 • www.clarendonsquare.com • $$$Comfortable, spacious, and sophisticated guest rooms and luxury suites are housed in a six-story South End Boston townhouse built in 1860. They offer designer fabrics, private bathrooms in limestone and marble, and the latest technology. Your luggage will be carried to and from your room for you as there is no elevator.
Budget Hotels, Inns, and Hostels
Boston Common Hotel
40 Trinity Pl, 02116 • 617 933 7700 • www.bostoncommonhotel.com • $One of the best-kept secrets of Back Bay, this once-private club has cozy but comfortable rooms at relatively bargain rates. Some single rooms are available. There are good discounts in low season.
Chandler Inn
26 Chandler St, 02116 • 617 482 3450 • www.chandlerinn.com • No DA • $A popular choice for business travelers on a budget, this hotel in the South End is a short walk from Back Bay “T.” Rooms are comfy with TVs and phones with voice mail.
College Club
44 Commonwealth Ave, 02116 • 617 536 9510 • www.thecollegeclubofboston.com • No DA • $This private club, which is devoted to the promotion of higher education, also has guest rooms available in its sophisticated Back Bay town house. Several smaller rooms share bathrooms: these are only suitable for solo travelers.
Constitution Inn
150 3rd Ave, Charlestown Navy Yard, Charlestown, 02129 • 617 241 8400 • www.constitutioninn.org • $This 147-room facility in Charlestown Navy Yard serves military personnel, but welcomes all. Rooms are clean and modern, and guests can use the fitness center with pool and sauna free of charge.
DoubleTree Club
Columbia Point, Dorchester • 240 Mt Vernon St, 02125 • 617 822 3600 • www.doubletree.hilton.com/Boston • $ 
This recently renovated hotel is located near the HarborWalk and the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum. There’s a free shuttle service to the airport and the DoubleTree Downtown hotel.
Hampton Inn
191 Monsignor O’Brien Hwy, Cambridge, 02141 • 617 494 5300 • www.hamptoninn.com • $ • $$This chain hotel features high-speed Internet in all rooms as well as free underground parking. Rooms are modest but include a good-sized desk area, making it popular with business travelers on a limited budget.
Hostelling International
19 Stuart St, 02116 • 617 536 9455 • www.bostonhostel.org • $Set downtown, a short walk from popular sights, this modern hostel offers single-sex dorms with bunk beds, or private en-suite rooms with TV. Continental breakfast is included, and a communal kitchen and laundry rooms are available.
Hotel 140
140 Clarendon St, 02116 • 617 585 5600 • www.hotel140.com • $Just around the corner from the Back Bay Amtrak station, this budget hotel has refurbished the rooms of the country’s first YMCA into neat examples of how best to use small spaces.
Hotel Tria
220 Alewife Brook Pkwy, Cambridge, 02138 • 617 491 8000 • www.hoteltria.com • $Situated near Alewife “T” station on the edge of Cambridge, the chic style and comfort of the Tria suggest luxury, but prices are within budget range.
Inn at Longwood Medical Center
342 Longwood Ave, 02115 • 617 731 4700 • www.innatlongwood.com • $This is an attractive, comfortable 144-room hotel in the Longwood Medical Area. Families of patients get the best rates but it is open to all travelers.
La Quinta Inn and Suites
23 Cummings St, Somerville, 02145 • 617 625 5300 • www.lq.com • $This motel is a four-minute walk from the MBTA Orange Line and offers an airport shuttle service. Spacious rooms and suites have tasteful decor and include cable TV, and high-speed Internet.
Holiday Inn Express
250 Monsignor O’Brien Hwy, Cambridge, 02141 • 617 577 7600 • www.hiecambridge.com • $$This roadside Holiday Inn is geared to short-term business stays – the rooms have good work areas. There’s limited free parking and it’s a short walk to Lechmere “T” stop.
Price Categories
For a standard, double room per night (with breakfast if included), taxes and extra charges.
$under $250$$$250 to $450$$$over $450
