Ritz-Carlton Boston Common

Ritz-Carlton Boston Common Review

The Sports Club/LA, the Ritz's mega-fitness center, is the go-to gym for visiting celebs and poptarts, so you might feel a bit more fabulous—or a whole lot fatter—simply by hanging out here. While traditionalists often compare the modern hotel unfavorably to other Ritz-Carltons, it's only fair to judge it for what it is: a sleek, contemporary spot that speaks more to rock stars than royalty. Plus, thanks to the shuttering of the Newbury Street Ritz-Carlton (known to locals as the "old Ritz") and an $11 million remodeling, this location is getting all the attention. Warm wood walls and trim complement an extensive art collection in the lobby lounge, where furnishings are draped in velvet and silk, and lamps are made of hand-blown Venetian glass. Guest rooms are dressed in apricot, yellow, and blue, with hardwood armoires and separate marble showers and deep tubs. Some rooms have spectacular views of Boston Common. A short walk will get you to Downtown Crossing's shopping zone, the Theater District, and Newbury Street. Besides the gym, the hotel complex houses a movie theater, and, the Avery Bar and the Artisan Bistro.