The 15 Best Hotels in Boston

Caroline Morse Teel is the Managing Editor for SmarterTravel Media. Follow her adventures around the world on Instagram @TravelWithCaroline.

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Historic Boston draws travelers looking to experience New England culture, tour the city’s famous universities, and sample the area’s famous seafood. The city is home to a huge number of hotels, offering everything from a luxury waterfront hotel with gorgeous harbor views to a trendy renovated former prison. We’ve narrowed down the choices to the 15 best hotels in Boston for every type of traveler.

Mandarin Oriental Boston

Awarded both the prestigious Forbes Five-Stars and AAA Five-Diamonds ratings, the Mandarin Oriental is the epitome of luxury. The hotel’s Boylston Street location will put you firmly in the heart of Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood—and it’s directly connected to the Prudential Center, so you can shop and dine without having to set foot outside.

Rooms at the Mandarin Oriental are surprisingly spacious for an urban hotel, starting at 410 square feet, and outfitted in a chic Art Deco style.

Make sure to schedule a treatment at the hotel’s famous 16,000 square-foot spa for the ultimate in pampering before you go.

The Liberty Hotel

Ever spent the night in prison? You can say you have after sleeping at The Liberty Hotel. Of course, accommodations in this former historic prison turned luxury hotel are a million times more comfortable than a jail cell (but you’ll still find playful nods to its past in the decor throughout).

The hotel’s aptly named restaurants and bars (Clink, Alibi, and The Yard) attract a vibrant mix of locals and tourists practically every night of the week. The Catwalk (located on the jail’s original Catwalk) is a guest-only bar that offers an unbeatable perch for people-watching.

The Newbury Boston

Opened in 1927 as one of the first Ritz-Carlton hotels in the US, this historic property was transformed in 2018 to reopen as the revamped and rebranded The Newbury Boston. Nestled on the edge of the Boston Public Garden, many rooms here offer stunning park views. In the winter, book a Classic Fireplace Suite which features a romantic wood-burning fireplace.

Make a reservation at the hotel’s Contessa restaurant when you book your stay—seatings for this highly-acclaimed Italian eatery fill up a month in advance.

The Colonnade Hotel Boston

Hotels with pools are scarce in Boston (which makes sense, as swimming season is a few short months here.) However, if you’re visiting in the summer, you’ll want to book The Colonnade Hotel as its crown jewel is the property’s gorgeous outdoor rooftop pool. The pool is surrounded by private cabanas and offers a summer experience that’s impossible to find anywhere else in the city.

When you’re done sunning and swimming, the hotel’s central Back Bay location is primed for exploring.

W Boston

Catching a show in Boston? The W Hotel is the best hotel in the Theater District. The hotel recently underwent a $10 million renovation, and the property looks brand-new. Rooms at the hotel were “inspired by notorious Boston disruptors, from Aerosmith to Edgar Allan Poe,” says the W.

Boston Marriott Long Wharf

The Boston Marriott Long Wharf holds an iconic spot directly on Boston Harbor. Take advantage of the location by booking one of the luxury waterfront suites that feature a balcony with stunning harbor views.

Can’t swing a suite? Treat yourself to a meal at the hotel’s Waterline restaurant, which offers equally amazing scenery.

Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport

With 1,054 guest rooms and suites, the Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport is one of the biggest in Boston. The Omni Seaport is another rare Boston hotel with an outdoor pool—this one is located on the fifth-floor rooftop and offers gorgeous views of the city skyline. The open-air Lifted Pool Bar & Grill serves up cocktails and a food menu from 11 am – 9 pm daily.

The Omni Seaport puts a priority on wellness. Maintain your workout routine in the 3,000 square foot gym that’s stocked with Peloton Bikes, TRX stations, and more. Or, focus on self-care with a trip to the full-service Breve Spa.

Cambria Hotel Boston

The Cambria Hotel is a popular destination for locals in the warm weather who flock to the hotel’s rooftop for a buzzy nightlife scene, creative cocktails, and epic city views. Book a room here to be close to both the rooftop action and the lively South Boston neighborhood next door.

The Cambria is located right across the street from a T station, so you’ll be able to easily hop on the red line to explore the city.

Four Seasons Hotel One Dalton Street

One Dalton Street, a 61-story skyscraper that opened in 2019, was the tallest building to be built in Boston since the John Hancock Tower went up in 1976. The tower houses the Four Seasons Hotel and the brand’s luxury residential apartments.

Rooms are as luxurious as you would expect from the Four Seasons, starting at 397 square feet. The suites really shine here, featuring large soaking tubs set in front of floor-to-ceiling windows and private outdoor decks overlooking Boston.

Boston Park Plaza

Stay in a piece of Boston’s history (but with modern amenities) at the Boston Park Plaza. The property opened in 1927 as The Statler Hotel and hosted dignitaries and celebrities including Winston Churchill and Judy Garland. When the Park Plaza opened, rooms cost as little as $3.50 a night—today, you can find rooms for as low as $114 per night in the off-season.

The Boston Park Plaza underwent a $100 million renovation in 2016 that updated and modernized the property while still retaining the historic touches it’s so famous for.

Battery Wharf Hotel Boston Waterfront

Set on the Boston Harbor just outside the city’s famous North End neighborhood, the Battery Wharf Hotel boasts one of the best locations in Boston. A stay here will put you near the North End’s Italian restaurants, touristy Faneuil Hall, and the TD Garden.

Many rooms offer waterfront views, and all rooms have windows that can open so you can enjoy the fresh sea breeze—a rarity for hotels.

The Ritz Carlton Boston

Just steps from the Boston Common, newly renovated rooms at The Ritz-Carlton offer park or city views along with large marble soaking tubs, Bose radios, and Frette linens. An in-house Bath Butler can draw a selection of relaxing baths upon demand for total relaxation.

Continue the relaxation with The Ritz-Carlton’s spa (run in conjunction with Equinox Sports Club) which offers a range of facials, massages, and treatments.

The Verb Hotel

If you’re catching a game or concert at Fenway Park, you can’t stay any closer than The Verb Hotel, which overlooks the storied ballpark. Originally a motor inn, The Verb has been completely redone into a stylish musically-themed boutique hotel.

Music-lovers will find more than 1,700 vinyl records in the lobby library, Audio-Technica Record Turntables in the rooms, and rock n’ roll art throughout.

Party like a rockstar and then sleep in late the next day—rooms at The Verb feature blackout blinds and the lobby is stocked with nitro-brewed coffee 24/7.

Moxy Boston Downtown

Looking for a kid-free Boston vacation? The Moxy Boston Downtown bills itself as “Boston’s first adult playground,” and guests are greeted with a complimentary signature cocktail upon check-in. You’ll have to be 21 or over to stay at this party-focused hotel that’s for adults only.

The Row Hotel

Formerly a Ford Motor Assembly Plant and now a thoroughly modern hotel, The Row Hotel offers affordable rates just outside of Boston. Located in Somerville’s Assembly Square neighborhood, a new outdoor shopping mall set on the banks of the Mystic River, the hotel is within easy walking distance to a huge number of shops and eateries. If you want to venture into Boston, the nearby T stop makes it easy.

With its location near Legoland and an indoor pool, The Row Hotel is a great pick for family trips to Boston.

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