Mandarin Oriental, Boston
"Set the scene for us: What's this place like? Located on Boylston Street in the center of Back Bay, the Mandarin Oriental offers an elegant, refined respite in the heart of it all. As soon as you step into the grand marble lobby, you feel transported from the city's hustle and bustle. Sounds pretty swanky. What’s the crowd like? This outpost offers all of the things you'd expect from a Mandarin Oriental: a killer urban location, grandiosity and fabulosity, elegant rooms and a luxurious spa. Now, onto the good stuff: Tell us about the digs. Thanks to a meticulous $15 million renovation completed in 2020, the rooms and suites received a welcome facelift. Gone are the corporate and impersonal interiors, and here to stay are delicious, residential-feeling finishes such as iridescent chinoiserie wallpapers, fresh carpeting, and all-new necessities like televisions and phones. Entryway closets in the hotel's suites were turned into mini kitchenettes. The hotel was previously a glamorous spot for business travelers and big spenders, and now it's the Back's Bay's most posh home away from home. How about Wi-Fi? Free and fast Wi-Fi The food: What's going on here? A ground-floor Ramsay’s Kitchen by Chef Gordon Ramsay provides a refined yet approachable take on American fare. And the staff—anyone you want to shout out? The service is excellent, from start to finish. The MO staff anticipates your every move, but it’s the hotels’ resident robot MOBI who steals the spotlight these days. He originated as a contactless check-in method during the pandemic days, but lately earns his tips by delivering surprise and delight–toothbrushes, handwritten notes, the occasional bedtime chocolate–straight to your room. Who stays here?The hotel is big with business travelers, and attracts a loyal following of spendy travlers. It famously had one guest stay for two years - yes, years. What about the neighborhood? Whether it's your first time to Boston or you're a local looking for a staycation, there simply isn't a better location. Zip down Boylston to the Public Gardens for a stroll, walk over to Newbury Street to shop till you drop, or hop over to the Esplanade to watch rowers go up and down the Charles. When you're here, everything is at your fingertips. Is there anything you'd change? Parking is on the pricey side, but then again, parking anywhere in Back Bay is on the pricy side. Any other standout features? Four non-sequitur things that are all worth mentioning: there's a really excellent gym, freshly renovated in February 2024, equipped with Technogym machines and TRX Suspension Training gear; the suites boast luxuriously deep soaking tubs; the hotel is directly connected to the Prudential Center, so even on Boston's most inclement days you can shop without stepping foot outside; and the hotel's meeting rooms are so gorgeous, you'll find yourself craving an in-person work meeting just for a chance to ogle these spaces. Bottom line: Worth it? It's an expensive spot, but it delivers on every Mandarin Oriental promise when it comes to location, quality, and service." - Todd Plummer
