The Best Hotels in Back Bay, Boston, for Every Traveler

If you’re a lover of city breaks with a plan to lay down some dollars, this reliable yet stylish Westin outpost makes for a great choice. It’s right next to the luxury fashion houses of the Copley Place shopping mall, where you’ll also find restaurants and cafes. Back at the hotel, you can zhoosh up at the Gretta Cole Spa and hair salon before hitting Bar 10, a sophisticated drinks venue with views over the Boston Public Library and Copley Square.

Built at the turn of the 20th century, the Lenox retains many original features, including an ornate marble lobby with a glowing fireplace. Smart bellhops deliver guests to their rooms past hand-painted walls and via a grand staircase. Complimentary local light snacks are available daily but the main dining event is at City Table, with dishes flavored by honey and herbs from the rooftop apiary and garden.

Central to the Eliot Hotel is Uni, an acclaimed izakaya –a casual Japanese bar – helmed by celebrity chef Ken Oringer. For some that’s more than enough reason to visit, but the Old World guest rooms with Italian marble bathrooms and welcome amenities might be a clincher if you’re undecided. Pleasing freebies include an overnight shoe shining service and access to the Boston Sports Club.

The limestone building of the Loews Boston Hotel was once home to a police headquarters and is found where Back Bay meets South End, a neighbourhood known for its many parks and Victorian style houses. Now you can enter the building through the art deco double doors to find 225 rooms spread over 10 floors. Stop for coffee at Apothecary Lounge, which has a nine-screen TV wall, or drink and dine at Precinct Kitchen + Bar – don’t miss the signature New England clam bake.

Also close to South End is Hotel 140, a neoclassical construction found on the National Register of Historic Places. The building is shared with the Lyric Stage, a small theater run by the oldest professional company in Boston, and the informal Viga Italian Eatery. The simple decor and seventh-floor communal kitchen remind you that this was once a Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA), now transformed into an elegant boutique hotel. Self-catering suites are available for longer stays.

Mid-century architecture blends with bold contemporary artworks at the Revolution Hotel. A shared workspace with free coffee, beer and wine makes this a great option for digital nomads and those in Boston for business. It’s another original YWCA, reimagined to include huge lobby murals and decor paying homage to the musical heritage of the city. Book a private ensuite room, or sleep in a bunk and share a bathroom for a more affordable stay.

You can swim in the rooftop pool or recline in a cabana as a DJ spins the decks at the Colonnade Hotel. The views of the city are great and the atmosphere lively but thanks to large soundproofed windows, you’re sure of a good night’s sleep when it’s time to retire. Dogs and cats are welcome to join you – they’ll receive free use of beds, bowls and a choice of foods. Human guests receive a small rubber duck to take home – a quirky Colonnade tradition.

If you’re after a quieter locale, you can book a self-catering apartment in this converted house. You have your own facilities, so there’s no on-site restaurant, although you can buy drinks and snacks in the public lounge. Continental breakfast, including bagels, fresh fruit and hot drinks, comes with your stay, and you can get discounts at some local restaurants.

Boston’s answer to the Plaza in New York City has hosted many a celebrity, including Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton on their second honeymoon. Recalling the glamorous beaux-arts era, there is plenty of high society glitz – chandeliers, marble columns and the famed P for Plaza motif create an opulent atmosphere. The Oak Long Bar + Kitchen serves down-to-earth burgers, alongside lobster pizzas and chowder, washed down with craft cocktails or fine wines.

Formerly the Taj Boston, this hotel is found on the premier shopping destination of Newbury Street. The building, which dates from 1927, is suitably elegant for this boutique lined boulevard. Rooms come with furnishings from interior designer Alexandra Champalimaud, original artwork by illustrator Veronica Lawlor, Nespresso Vertuo espresso makers and Frette linens. There’s also a stylish cocktail bar, afternoon tea salon and rooftop restaurant serving Italian American dishes.

With fresh European-style bedding, lightweight robes and fluffy towels, you might want to ditch your clothes at the door to your room. Staypineapple Boston even has a name for that feeling: the Naked Experience, encouraging guests to disrobe and enjoy the comforts of all that lovely fabric against the skin. This fun retreat is perfect for dog lovers – book the Pineapple Pup Package, and receive a water bowl, treats, doggie bags and a bed for your four-legged friend. For you, there’s an in-room Keurig coffee machine and a vibrant restaurant and bar.

Sophisticated leisure is the order of the day at Charlesmark Hotel, housed in a what was a private home built in 1886. When you’re not sitting in the indoor-outdoor lounge and martini bar, take a parasol-shaded seat on the European-style street patio to watch the flow of Boston down Boylston Street, one of the city’s main arteries which is close to the Boston Marathon finish line.