"Why did this hotel catch your attention? Located just steps from Beacon Hill, the Massachusetts State House, and the bustling financial district, XV Beacon (say "Fifteen Beacon" if you're talking about it) is a transportive paradise of serenity and relaxation. The vibe is sexy—lots of dark-stained woods, crimson accents, and contemporary furniture—but the ethos is entirely Boston. Clocks and artworks around the lobby have an almost antique feeling, perfectly encapsulating the old-meets-new vibe that draws so many people to the city. What's the backstory? Like the city itself, this building has had many lives. The foundation dates to pre-Revolutionary Boston, when it was the home of Edward Bromfield. Around the turn of the century, it entered a new chapter with the construction of a gilded Beaux Arts cast-iron-and-limestone facade. Since then, the property has been home to the developers of the United States's first subway system, as well as well as the Boston School Committee, which occupied the building from 1923 to 1999, at which point it transitioned into the hotel it is today, credited for beginning Bostonians know and love today. Tell us all about the accommodations. The fact that each room comes with a personal fireplace speaks to the level of luxury and coziness here. With only seven guest rooms per floor, XV Beacon has a distinctly residential feel, and guest rooms are spacious, but still intimate. Every detail feels special, from the Frette linens, to the one-of-a-kind commissioned artworks to the cashmere throws, to the pillow menu. And there's no better way to unwind after a day of meetings or hiking the Freedom Trail than with a soak in the white-marble Jacuzzi tub. Reach for your Frette towel from the heated towel rack, then take a rinse under the oversized rainforest shower head. Is there a charge for Wi-Fi? No charge; it's superb. Drinking and dining—what are we looking at? "Mooo...." (three o's, four periods) on the first floor takes the best parts of steakhouses (grass-fed beef, a killer dessert list, a solid brunch) and distills them into something that works for a boutique hotel of this scale. Not too keen on getting dressed up for dinner? Don't worry; the entire menu can be delivered directly to your room. And the service? With only 63 rooms, the hotel offers a degree of attention and service you generally don't find at Boston's larger hotels. Staff is used to making check-in and check-out seamless, and offering personal touches throughout the stay. What type of travelers will you find here? Hotel connoisseurs water at the mouth at the mention of XV Beacon, which, since opening in 1999, has been credited with kicking off Boston's boutique hotel boom. While it's not necessarily the hot new thing, the property is consistently exceptional, meaning that discerning travelers come back and back, time and time again. What about the neighborhood? XV Beacon occupies a convenient block near Boston Common, the State House, Beacon Hill, the city's best Italian restaurants in the North End, and most of Boston's major corporate offices in the Financial District. If it were to move one block in any direction, the balance of those neighborhoods would be lost; as in, the hotel is perfectly situated precisely where it is. Any other hotel features worth noting? The hotel has a fabulous fourth-century Roman mosaic in its wine cellar (which can be rented out for private dinners). A rooftop terrace with a hot tub provides rare views of the city from atop Beacon Hill. The hotel is dog friendly, even offering "water bowl turndown" at bedtime. There's also a house Lexus to drive you around town—not that any of Boston's attractions are that far. Bottom line: Why are we choosing XV Beacon? Every detail of the experience feels tailor-made to this hotel, right down to the custom fragrance that welcomes you the moment you step into the lobby." - Todd Plummer
