The Best Hotels in Boston

XV Beacon Hotel
Hotel · Downtown
"Located on the site of the former Bromfield Mansion, XV Beacon embraces both old and new luxury. The original building was constructed in the late 1800s by renowned Boston architect William Gibbons Preston and the hotel renovation took care to preserve as many architectural elements as possible, including the original cage elevator. Rooms are classically decorated and include fireplaces and beautifully appointed sitting areas. The amenities at XV Beacon are unparalleled: 24-hour pressing and laundry services, complimentary shoe shine, iPad rentals, air purifiers, and long-term luggage storage, to name just a few. There’s a reason high-profile guests such as Cameron Diaz have stayed in the past. In 2009 the property underwent a minor makeover, with upgraded rooms and new offerings like the pet pampering program, as well as the hotel’s yearly model update of their Lexus courtesy cars, with complimentary service available throughout downtown Boston, and airport drop-off for a $40 fee."

Kimpton Nine Zero Hotel
Hotel · Downtown
"Kimpton Nine Zero Hotel Positioned right on the historic Freedom Trail in downtown Boston , this discreet 19-story hotel caters to guests who appreciate both classic architecture and of-the-moment amenities. The building initially became a hotel in 2002; in 2006 the Kimpton chain took over the property and added its personalized boutique touch. Though the lobby is all dark woods and polished marble floors, the rooms are chic and urbane, with high-back seating, and skyline views. The hotel’s Cloud Nine Suite and Inspired Suites offer guests space to spread out with separate living and dining areas, as well as enviable high-tech extras, including the Cloud Nine Suite’s state-of-the-art iris scanning security system. Kimpton properties also take pride in their pet-friendliness: complimentary dog beds await all four-legged visitors, and pet sitting, grooming, walking, and even massage services can be booked through the concierge. Guests congregate in the lobby each evening for complimentary wine, and the general manager hosts morning runs twice a week. The central location also means visitors can easily immerse themselves in the city’s shopping, dining, and nightlife scenes."

The Colonnade Hotel
Hotel · Back Bay
"Over the past 40-plus years, this venerated Back Bay hotel has hosted all manner of visiting stars, from Ronald Reagan to Frank Sinatra. The present owner, Ronald Druker, is a third-generation hotelier; his father, Bertram Druker, originally built the Colonnade in 1971, and the familial attention to detail shows in the personal feel of the space and the friendliness of the staff. A $20 million renovation in 2009 morphed the hotel into an edgier space; today the 285-room hotel offers gorgeously contemporary rooms (think modern art), floor-to-ceiling windows with unparalleled skyline views, and an overall high-end condo feel. In 2014, the hotel also renovated its rooftop pool—the only one in the city—to add a 12-seat bar, bamboo flooring, and luxury private cabanas. In the warmer months, guests and locals alike can take morning rooftop yoga classes."

The Langham, Boston
Hotel · Downtown
"It’s not every day you get to stay in a national landmark and enjoy pastries baked inside a former bank vault. The massive brick building that houses the Langham first opened in 1922 as the original Federal Reserve Bank of Boston . In 1981 the building was converted into a hotel (Le Meridien), then became a Langham property in 2004. But bank elements remain today, including gold coin door mouldings and two original paintings by famed American artist N.C. Wyeth. Throughout its hotel lifetime, the space has hosted many an A-lister, including Julia Roberts, Madonna, Jack Nicholson, and David Cameron. The rooms blend luxurious and residential-feeling, with sumptuous bedding and stunning skyline views from the higher floors.In the mezzanine-level Governors Room, guests can browse antique maps on loan from the Boston Public Library, some dating back to the 1500s. In 2012, the hotel underwent a $6 million renovation to its lobby, which now boasts an open floor plan, dramatic entrance, and retro-feel tea and cocktail lounge called The Reserve. In 2014, the hotel also wrapped up a renovation of seven of its 12 function rooms, making the space more amenable to weddings and business gatherings."

Revere Hotel Boston Common
Hotel · Bay Village
"In 2012, a forgettable Radisson was reborn as the indie-luxe Revere Hotel, today one of the hippest hotels Boston has to offer. The 356-room space underwent a dramatic transformation that was completed in March of 2017, with the decor now dramatically modern. It’s the only hotel in Boston where every room has a private balcony, and with guestrooms starting on the ninth floor, everyone is guaranteed a legitimate skyline view. Personal touches abound as well, from the hotel’s pillow library to cool towels on hand for guests post-morning runs or on a hot day. The hotel is centrally located to downtown and the Back Bay, catering to most visitors’ shopping and dining desires, while theater enthusiasts will appreciate the close proximity to the city’s most iconic venues. Come summer, the seasonal Rooftop at Revere offers luxe cabanas, outdoor fitness classes, and one of the most popular social scenes in the city."

The Liberty, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Boston
Hotel · West End
"While the Liberty Hotel may have deep roots in Boston lore, it’s not for the reasons you think. For more than 100 years the hotel existed as the Charles Street Jail, an in-city penitentiary that housed (in)famous inmates like James Michael Curley , Malcolm X , and Sacco and Vanzetti . Its inspired transformation came in 2007, but the owners maintained some of the jail’s vestiges, from the exercise yard to several jail cells, while turning the building into a 298-room luxury hotel. Richly appointed rooms offer sweeping views of the city skyline and the Charles River. The hotel houses five distinct restaurant and bar venues, all of which attract large swaths of locals, especially on the weekends. Located at the foot of Beacon Hill, the hotel is steps away from the boutique and antique stores along Charles Street and also sits next to the picturesque Charles River Esplanade."

The Verb Hotel
Hotel · Fenway
"The Verb The hippest kid on the block has risen from the most unlikely of origins: the Fenway Motor Hotel, a run-down mid-century relic that once housed all manner of misbehaving musicians. Today the hotel feels more like an of-the-moment Los Angeles enclave, with mid-century furnishings, floor-to-ceiling Mondrian stained-glass windows, and upscale bathrooms. Local music and pop-culture memorabilia decorate the rooms and foyers, from framed Boston Phoenix covers (the city’s now-defunct alt-weekly) to vintage speakers and '70s-era phones. In keeping with the rock-and-roll theme, both the lobby and the outdoor pool area regularly host live music. Lansdowne Street, home to legendary clubs like House of Blues,is just steps away, and of course no visit to Boston is complete without a stop at next-door Fenway Park (tours of the ballpark are available daily and year-round)."

Beacon Hill Hotel & Bistro
Hotel · Beacon Hill
"Housed in side-by-side 19th-century townhouses amid the gas streetlights and cobblestoned streets of Boston 's Beacon Hill, the high-end Beacon Hill Hotel retains a distinctly European feel. The original owners and neighborhood residents Peter and Cecilia Rait bought the properties with the intent of opening a hotel and bistro. Nowadays, the property is managed by Saunders Hotel Group, but the who’s-who clientele hasn’t changed. Since the hotel opened in 2000, the intimate property has hosted innumerable A-listers seeking a lower profile,including Todd English. Each of the 13 rooms has plantation shutters, pedestal sinks, flat-panel TVs with DirecTV, and windows that actually open for fresh air. The second-floor common area invites guests to meet and mingle. Plus, the hotel has a private, residential-feeling roof terrace overlooking Charles Street, perfect for morning coffee or afternoon reading."

Ames Boston Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton
Hotel · Downtown
"Want to sleep in Boston ’s very first skyscraper? Originally constructed in 1893, the 15-story Ames Building was, for many years, the tallest building in the city. Renowned architect David Rockwell helped reconceive the building as the high-end Ames Hotel in 2009, preserving much of the original detailing. Many celebrities have since stayed in the luxury hotel, that's now part of the Hilton Curio Collection, a collection of unique hotels steeped in history. The rooms at the Ames feel more like opulent city apartments, with modernist furniture and eclectic details like feather chandeliers and gold-sequined pillows. The property’s historic roots are reflected in the 13-foot ceilings and Romanesque, floor-to-ceiling arched windows. Other classic elements include decorative marble fireplaces and oak wood floors. Centrally located in downtown Boston, the Ames provides easy foot access to many of the city’s best-known attractions."

Battery Wharf Hotel Boston Waterfront
Hotel · North End
"Boston 's Battery Wharf joined the Leading Hotels of the World collection in 2015. The wharf itself dates back to the 1600s, when it served as a gun battery positioned to defend the Colonists against water attacks; history buffs can learn more at the hotel’s own Maritime Museum. Today the waterfront hotel offers 150 classically styled rooms, with European linens and high-tech amenities; many also feature incomparable views of the Boston Harbor. Arestaurant serving classic New England fare with a twistand a harbor-facing terrace featuring fire pits in the winter and traditional lobster bakes come summer mean you never have to leave the hotel, but some of the city’s most bustling shopping and dining districts are just a stroll away."

Taj Boston
Permanently Closed
"What was once a classic Ritz-Carlton in the vein of an Eloise book is now an amenity-laden luxury hotel with most of the building’s original beaux arts details intact (the Instagram-worthy lobby alone is worth a visit). Originally opened in 1927, the 17-story retreat hosted the likes of Winston Churchill and Joan Crawford (said to be an especially high-maintenance guest). In 2002, the hotel underwent a massive renovation on the occasion of its 75th anniversary; in 2006, Taj Hotels bought the building and formally unveiled Taj Boston in 2007. Rooms are awash in comfort: down-filled comforters, a pillow menu, seasonal fireplace butlers, and bath butlers. In keeping with the hotel’s blend of Old and New World traditions, the customer service is gracious but not stuffy. The best part of the hotel, though is what lays outside it: Taj Boston's central location means guests can walk to all the city’s sites."

Fairmont Copley Plaza
Hotel · Back Bay
"Fairmont Copley Plaza From the first “woof” of welcome from the resident Canine Ambassador, guests feel a part of this storied hotel’s century-plus history. Located in the Back Bay, not far from Beacon Hill, Newberry Street, and the Freedom Trail, the landmarked Fairmont Copley Plaza houses 383 comfortable guest rooms, each featuring modern-elegant decor as well as signature pillow top mattresses, 46-inch TVs, and coffee makers. Snag a room on the Fairmont Gold concierge floor for extras like private check-in, complimentary Wi-Fi, and use of a snack-stocked lounge. Sweeping views of the city can be enjoyed from the 3,000-square-foot rooftop gym (which is lined with floor-to-ceiling windows) and the sophisticated event spaces (which, decorated with chandeliers and ornate furnishings, are a top pick of Boston brides). The hotel’s convenient location makes it easy to sample the city’s great eats, but you’ll do well if you stay in, too, thanks to the handcrafted cocktails and farm-to-table dishes served at the on-site OAK Long Bar + Kitchen."
