Boston boasts history around every corner, with the Freedom Trail taking visitors through Beantown’s heritage attractions like Boston Common and the Old State House. From international brands synonymous with sumptuous, to only-in-Boston boutique experiences, the city’s luxury hotels boast more than marble bathtubs and skyline views – it’s about the carefully considered details and personalized touches. Here are our top picks for an indulgent stay in Boston.
A night in the clink is heaven at the Liberty, a luxurious reincarnation of the infamous Charles Street Jail. The clever refurb preserves the 1851 rotunda, now the lobby. Original details such as exposed brick, wrought-iron bars, and catwalks merge with the design. An open cell block defines the dining area of restaurant-bar Clink, and the former “drunk tank” is now the Alibi Bar and Cocktail Lounge. Order a Solitary Confinement: Jameson and Kahlua swirled with Irish Cream.
You’ll feel like a proper Bostonian at the Four Seasons, planted on the cusp of hip-historic Beacon Hill and the Back Bay. Rooms are splashed with elegant champagne tones. Enjoy the views of the gold-plated dome rising over the State Capitol from your window-side seating area. After a stroll by the swan boats in Boston Public Garden, switch off at the hotel spa. Alternately, get the Four Seasons’ certified spa therapists to visit your room for a private couples massage.
A Four Seasons for the next generation, this 61-story skyscraper takes luxury to new heights. A 64-foot (20m) lap pool wraps around the floor-to-ceiling, curved glass windows of the Wellness Floor, presenting exhilarating views of the Back Bay. Swim to strains of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, piped in through underwater speakers. At night, order from 70 varieties of sake at the street-level Zuma Japanese, one of an exclusive international chain of izakaya pubs.
It’s not the Asian-contemporary decor, Frette linens, or in-house French bistro that earns the Mandarin Oriental the most rave reviews – it’s the spa, which consistently gobbles up awards. The ritual begins with a hot towel and fragrant cup of tea before moving on to the quartz-crystal steam room and the heated Vitality Pool – all this before your treatment even begins. Choose between favorites like the Himalayan Salt Stone Massage or the Millennial Posture Treatment.
The Boston Harbor Hotel announces itself with a 60-foot (18m) stone arch leading from the Rose Kennedy Greenway to the South Boston waterfront. If arriving by sea, you can dock your vessel at one of the hotel’s 34 boat slips. This hotel prides itself on remaining “currently classic” – leather armchairs, plaid throw pillows, and calming nautical colors create a haven of livable luxury. Want to see the town? Ferries and cruises depart from Rowe’s Wharf outside.
With well-stocked bookshelves and velvet armchairs gathered around the marble-framed fireplace, the Whitney feels less like a hotel and more like the home of a cultured friend. Pedal around the photogenic alleyways of Beacon Hill on bicycles provided by the hotel. Your room key unlocks discounts at neighborhood institutions like Beacon Hill Chocolates and Bella Santé Spa. When you return, you’ll find linens turned down and a macaron on your pillowcase.
The red awnings and uniformed doormen of Fairmont Copley Plaza stand out, even among Copley Square’s many landmarks. The lobby evokes a Renaissance palace, or at least a Hollywood version – Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton spent their second honeymoon here. Gilded sofas vie with Italian marble pillars, but guest rooms are less ostentatious. Still, expect old-school glam, with gilded mirrors and burnished mahogany dressers.
This 95-room boutique hotel on Commonwealth Avenue blends a 19th-century aesthetic with modern creature comforts – Carrara marble walk-in showers, floor-length ikat drapes, and opportunities at every turn to recharge your devices. The Eliot is also home to restaurant Uni, serving sashimi, nigiri, and makimono alongside such fusion creations as Wagyu French onion soup and Chiang Mai duck carnitas with green papaya slaw.
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