A quintessential New England destination, Boston is packed with elegance and attractions. Visitors can look forward to historical sites that are a tribute to the American Revolution; classic food gems, like Quincy Market, juxtaposed with buzzy new eateries; and many green spaces, such as Boston Common, the oldest city park in the United States.
In terms of luxury hotels, Boston has always been rife with impressive lodging options, but it seems that this city, steeped in so much history, has leaned into properties that have been more traditional than trendy—until now.
Photo: Courtesy of XV Beacon Hotel
Take, for example, the lavish XV Beacon boutique hotel in the Tony Beacon Hill neighborhood. It’s near Boston Common and a short walk to top Italian eateries in the North End. The pre-Revolutionary War structure—with original elevators and marble staircase dating back to 1903, a wine cellar that has stonework from 1722, and an ancient Roman mosaic from AD 500, plus a gilded Beaux Arts cast-iron-and-limestone façade constructed circa 1900—is registered as a historic building. It housed developers of the first US subway system, and then the Boston School Committee, until 1999, when it was transformed into the chic hotel it is today.
Bostonians and out-of-towners alike appreciate the high-style design features, top-notch services, and luxe amenities of this sexy, intimate 63-room hotel that melds the historic with the contemporary and luxury with coziness. Each of the well-appointed guest rooms exudes a homey vibe with a personal gas fireplace, lush linens, and a pillow menu to satisfy each guest’s individual relaxation needs. Ranked by US News as the 2024 number one best hotel in Boston, the number one hotel in Massachusetts, and the ninth best hotel in America, XV Beacon also features the swanky steak house Mooo….
Newer to the Boston hotels and hospitality scene, the much-hyped, five-star Raffles Boston opened in the Back Bay near Copley Square in September 2023. Noted for its refined design touches, luxe amenities, superb service, and upscale gastronomy, this hotel from the highly lauded Raffles brand is housed in a 35-story tower structure. Besides its 147 guest rooms and suites, plus residences that cater to discerning world travelers, Raffles features a luxury spa, a pool, and world-class restaurants and bars. These include Amar, with Michelin-starred chef George Mendes’s creative modern Portuguese cuisine; La Padrona, with authentic Italian fare prepared by James Beard Award–winning chef-owner Jody Adams; Long Bar and Terrace, which offers sweeping city views from the crack of dawn until midnight; and the elegant speakeasy Blind Duck that’s hidden behind a fire exit on the 17th floor.
Set in a historic building in Boston’s Back Bay, just a stone’s throw from Boston’s Public Garden (the first public botanical garden in the US), The Newbury Boston underwent an extensive two-year renovation that completely revamped what was formerly the Ritz-Carlton. When reopening in 2021 as The Newbury Boston, the hotel made a splash in the neighborhood with brand new public spaces by architect Jeffrey Beers, additional guest rooms and suites, and a restoration of the historic ballrooms. Interior design firm Champalimaud Design conceived the neutral color palette in the guest rooms, while Ken Fulk, an AD100 designer and Boston resident, created the va-va-voom interiors.
With 286 rooms, the hotel’s modern, clean design keeps some of the building’s original details, such as the cobalt blue chandeliers from the main dining room. With a lobby boasting a collection of contemporary artworks, The Newbury also offers a library and a large gym for guests. The rooftop restaurant, Contessa, courtesy of Major Food Group, serves Italian cuisine.
Photo: Courtesy of Four Seasons Hotel One Dalton Street
Four Seasons Hotel One Dalton Street, Boston, also in Back Bay, is the second Four Seasons in the city and aims to cater to travelers who want a contemporary ambiance combined with luxury. The sleek setting includes a muted grey palette, hints of metallic, and an impressive collection of artwork by international artists. The hotel also has a wellness floor with a spa, gym, and indoor swimming pool, and an outpost of the buzzy Japanese eatery Zuma.
One of only 18 hotels nationwide to earn two Michelin keys for outstanding luxury service, The Whitney Hotel offers guests understated elegance with an almost residential feel. Located in a brick townhouse in Beacon Hill, the 65-room property was renovated and expanded from a former hotel into this sophisticated, statement-making boutique hotel that marries elements of classic architectural details with modern design touches. The restaurant, Peregrine, serves Sicilian-inspired dishes, and the plant-laden courtyard garden is the ideal spot to enjoy a drink any time of the year (there’s a firepit to keep guests warm on those cold winter nights). The Whitney Wags program welcomes dogs with their own beds and treats.
Photo: Boston Globe/Getty Images
Within walking distance to historic Faneuil Hall, the Freedom Trail, the Seaport District, and the Long Wharf, The Langham Boston also experienced a recent renovation that cost $200 million and took two years to complete. Reopening in late June 2021 as the fourth US Langham hotel—with others across the map in New York, Chicago, and LA—this downtown Boston hotel, located in the former Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, features a new lobby with jewel tones and guest rooms with New England–inspired decor. The two-story Loft Suites with brass-embossed windows are the rooms to get, but big spenders will likely go for the Chairman’s Suite, which has a baby grand piano and a dining room that seats eight. A perk for all guests is the daily free heritage tours, where they can learn about the building’s history.
In a convenient location in Back Bay, connected to the Prudential Center and near Copley Square, the Mandarin Oriental, Boston, also got a reboot that debuted in 2021. As with The Newbury, Champalimaud Design was in charge of the interiors that incorporate elements of both chinoiserie and early New England design. The redone guest rooms feature contemporary plaid carpets, leathers, and Chinese-inspired accent wallpaper—and the 16,000-square-foot spa, with its range of Eastern and Western inspired treatments, is a standout.
Our last Boston hotels pick is the Boston Harbor Hotel, where all of the 232 guest rooms feature harbor or city views. The showpiece is the John Adams Presidential Suite, spanning 4,800 square feet and featuring a large terrace overlooking the waterfront. The property’s seafood restaurant, Rowes Wharf Sea Grille, serves mouth-watering lobster rolls. And the hotel boutique, Home at Rowes Wharf, sells fashionable decor, gifts, and textiles.
From big brands to boutique names, Boston’s reinvigorated hotel lineup has an option for every kind of traveler to peruse for your next check in.
