8 Best Hotels in Boston, Massachusetts

Since 1912, this decadent, unabashedly romantic hotel has welcomed guests in style, immediately impressing as they enter under the huge black awning, flanked by golden lion statues, into the lobby decked out in Italian marble, stunning coffered ceilings, and gorgeous crystal chandeliers. Rooms are equally elegant, with soothing colors and upscale amenities. The OAK Long Bar + Kitchen is the place to sip an after-work martini or enjoy dinner and great people-watching. Those who really love pampering should book the Fairmont Gold floor, an ultradeluxe club level offering a dedicated staff, free breakfast and tea-time snacks, and a library. A rooftop fitness area spans 3,000 square feet and is open 24/7. Shoppers will be happy with the hotel’s close proximity to Newbury Street, the Prudential Center, and Copley Place. If you're missing your dog, the hotel’s Canine Ambassador, Cori Copley, the in-house Labrador retriever, is available for a walk around the neighborhood.

Formerly the Kimpton Nine Zero, this boutique hotel is sleek, sleek, sleek—all smooth lines, neutral tones, wood, and leather, and then bam! sudden bursts of vibrant color and pop art. It's great for families and those looking for a romantic getaway in the city. Travelers with pets: no problem, there's tons of amenities. But, if it's all about location for you, this spot offers easy walking access to Beacon Hill, Downtown, Boston Common, and Government Center.  The hotel also focuses on fitness, with yoga mats in every room, complimentary bikes for you and scooters for kids, and 24-hour fitness center. Request corner rooms (ending in 05) or Skyline View Rooms for the best city and river views.

Luxury and service without pretense make this hip spot a solid choice. Spacious rooms, which overlook Kenmore Square or Fenway Park, have marble baths, large windows, separate work areas, and flat-screen TVs. Contemporary schemes enhance the urban luxe lodgings, and king- or queen-size beds are piled with down pillows and Italian linens. The wildly accommodating staff is an added bonus.

It used to be that The Charles was the place to stay in Cambridge, and while other luxury hotels have since arrived to give it a little healthy competition, this Harvard Square staple is standing strong. Lower floors are replete with Le Corbusier furniture, sketches by JFK himself, and local artists' work. Gracious service and top-notch room amenities like waffle robes, shaker detailed furniture, goose-down comforters, and LCD mirror-TVs keep the hotel in high demand. Relax in the lobby library, chock-full of titles, some autographed by authors who are also frequent guests. Sign up for an art tour of the property or pick up a self-guided map of Cambridge. For a partial river or skyline view, ask for something above the seventh floor. Check out adjacent Henrietta's Table, a mainstay for local, seasonal food; or onsite Bar Enza, home of the 100-layer lasagna. The on-site 4,000-square-foot Corbu Spa & Salon features French-inspired herbal treatments.  For the best rate, call the hotel directly.

One of the city's best small hotels, located on posh Commonwealth Avenue, expertly merges the old blue-blood Boston aesthetic with modern flair (like contemporary rugs mingling with crystal chandeliers); everyone from well-heeled Sox fans to traveling CEOs to tony college parents have noticed. The smallish rooms are smart, not stuffy, and feel a bit French country and a bit Soho chic. The majority of rooms are one-bedroom suites; all have marble-topped bar areas and flat-panel TVs. In most rooms, there are Italian marble walk-in showers. Rooms ending in 02 have views of Comm. Avenue; those ending in 04 and 08 are larger corner rooms. Downstairs, chef Ken Oringer's Uni is a spacious, lively izakaya, garnering rave reviews for its contemporary Asian cuisine.

Few places in town can rival the soaring lobby—ringed by several layers of revamped metal catwalks—of the chic Liberty, formerly Boston's Charles Street Jail. The rooms, either in the original granite building or an adjacent 16-story modern tower, feature comfortable beds, deep brown leather lounge chairs, and views of the Charles River. As far as hotel amenities, expect bikes you can borrow in nice weather, free workouts, music, and fashion events, and a half-dozen on-site restaurants and bars.

This luxury boutique hotel fits right in with its Beacon Hill surroundings, views of which you can enjoy while you relax in-room in a plush Frette bathrobe with a cup of Nespresso coffee. Complimentary amenities come in abundance—including Wi-Fi, shoe shine, bicycle use, loaded mini fridge, and top-of-the-line fitness center—which is nice, given the hotel has some of the highest nightly rates in Boston. You won't have a bad time here. 

The 1903 Beau-Arts exterior of this intimate, luxury boutique hotel is a study in sophistication and elegance. Inside, dark chocolate mahogany sets the tone with bold splashes of red, brightened with recessed lighting and abstract art. Rooms—which, by the way, most are spacious—are done up in soothing, neutral shades, and each has a gas fireplace, cashmere throws for comfort, Frette linens and bathrobes, and heated towel racks in the bathroom. The 24-hour fitness center features state-of-the-art cardio machines. Property concierges have won prestigious Clefs d'Or honors. If your stay coincides Boston's July 4 celebration, make your way to the hotel's roof deck (open from May through October) for unparalleled fireworks viewing.