"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."