20 Best Hotels in Boston, Massachusetts

Traveling businesspeople and families like the modern look and efficiency of this 26-story high-rise hotel in Kendall Square, mere steps from the subway and MIT. The guest rooms and suites are decorated in soothing neutrals with pops of color, and the Revive beds feature crisp white duvets and fluffier pillows. Book a room on one of the two concierge floors and score entrance into the exclusive M Club Lounge for complimentary breakfast, hors d'oeuvres, and a full bar.

One of very few lodgings in South Boston outside of the Seaport District, this hotel attracts a younger, trendy traveler with simple but well-appointed guest rooms, contemporary art, and snazzy dining and drinking options on-site. The star is the stellar seasonal rooftop lounge. Rooms feature neutral tones and quotation wall art (from New England literature, of course) and complimentary Wi-Fi. Don't be fooled by the hotel's location "way out" in Southie; it's actually a 10-minute walk across the Fort Point Channel to the South End, and another 10 minutes beyond to Back Bay shopping and sights.

Boston's citizenM hotel is one of only a few of its kind in the United States; the brand keeps the jet-setting traveler in mind, but not necessarily one who is overly wealthy, just one who appreciates the finer things in life. The vibe is bold, contemporary, and colorful, and the rooms are small, but well designed to maximize space and accommodate the comfy, extra-king-sized bed. Life, work, and play mixes in communal spaces—including an outdoor terrace with stunning views—where one can surf news stories or take a meeting. A shared kitchen, bar and snack outpost is open all day, every day.

The chic, newly renovated Copley Square Hotel offers cushy mattresses, mini fridges, high speed Wi-Fi, and eco-friendly toiletries—not too shabby for a place that opened in 1891 and has provided respite to a century of celebrities like Babe Ruth, Ella Fitzgerald, and Billie Holiday. The mod rooms are so clean and streamlined that you just might overlook the fact that many are teeny. Nevertheless, the old-meets-new vibe is fun, and the neighborhood couldn't be livelier. To maximize your Zs, get a room in the back of the hotel, preferably high up, where traffic noise—and the rowdy partying—isn't so audible.

Guest rooms at this Marriott property are clean and comfortable, and the views are pretty good, too, from 14 stories up. A small restaurant on-site offers breakfast and dinner. 

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.

Check in to Harvard Square Hotel for a modern aesthetic within a sophisticated Harvard University–owned space, just steps from the Square's plethora of shops, eateries, and bars. Rooms are simple but colorful and clean, having been recently renovated with contemporary decor and top-notch features including mini-refrigerators, flat-screen TVs, Internet access, sleek bathrooms, and pillow-top beds.

Quiet rooms, competitive prices, and the only hotel actually connected to the airport make this Hilton a good choice for in-and-out visitors to Boston. Guest rooms feature an air-meets-sea aesthetic, soundproof windows, and desks with ergonomic chairs. Fitness center has free weights, cardio equipment, and 40-foot lap pool. The Hilton operates a complimentary shuttle bus every 15 minutes to all airport terminals, car-rental agencies, the water taxi, and subway.

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.

Fresh off a renovation, Hotel Indigo takes up a small plot in the West End with just under 100 hotel rooms. It recalls the neighborhood's working class residential history with exposed brick inside (like the West End's brick tenement housing that's been turned into bars and shops) as well as antique industrial furniture and manufacturing illustrations on the walls. Guest rooms include Smeg mini fridges, desks, and free internet service. There's also a business center and 24-hour fitness center.

Across the street from Faneuil Hall, this coveted spot from the trusted brand is literally steps away from dozens upon dozens of Boston landmarks, parks, and restaurants. The decor is simple yet effective, a potential nod to the city's preppy fashion sense (think plaid walls and halls alongside houndstooth winged chairs). Grab a corner room for the ultimate city views: two walls of windows overlook the hustle and bustle below. Enjoy a 24-hour fitness center, room service, and high-end amenities like 55-inch flat-screen TVs with Chromecast streaming capabilities, Drybar Buttercup blow-dryers, and BeeKind bath products.

As you enter the private courtyard set back from bustling Kendall Square, say "hello" to Celeste, a 25-foot-tall armillary sculpture that serves as a centerpiece surrounded by plush couches that fill up in the evenings for live music and cocktails. The hotel's extensive guestroom redesign was recently completed, taking inspiration from the academic and literary history of the neighborhood. The relaxing, paired down room decor directs more attention to staring out of the floor-to-ceiling windows for vast views of the Boston skyline, the courtyard, or the Charles River. Get out and enjoy all you see with use of the hotel's bikes and kid-sized Micro Kickboard scooters. The amenity fee also allows fun add-ons, such as GoPros and Polaroids, nightly movies in the courtyard, summertime kayaks, wintertime snowshoes, and more. And don't forget to stop by the nightly wine tastings held in the lobby, a trademark for a Kimpton hotel.

The former headquarters of the Boston Police Department houses the sleek Loews Boston Hotel, which boasts a cool glass-and-marble lobby and a stylish restaurant, Precinct Kitchen + Bar, and manages to combine the building's history with 21st-century amenities. Rooms feature heated towel racks, Frete down comforters, free bottled water, and free in-room Wi-Fi. You'll receive a complimentary VIP tour of Boston Harbor Distillery during your stay (the perfect time to take advantage of the hotel's babysitting services).

There's more than a century and a half of rich and varied history within these walls, where JFK proposed to Jackie and Charles Dickens gave his first reading of A Christmas Carol. It's America's longest, continuously operating hotel, so you can steep yourself in Boston history while enjoying today’s modern conveniences. As with many historic city lodgings, guest rooms are a tad small, but they're nicely turned out with cherrywood furniture, red-and-gold Roman shades, ivory wall coverings, and cushy mattress covers. It's also rumored that the hotel's former owner haunts the place—you be the judge. The Parker House’s iconic, original Boston cream pie (it was invented in the hotel) is available 24 hours a day.

Set near Boston's working fish piers, the Renaissance plays to a watery theme—in the modern lobby, blue-and-green glass orbs complement a suspended glass lighting fixture, and the spiral staircase was created to look like a nautilus shell. The building is flooded with light, and most guest rooms have water views. Fitness center features a lap pool, not designed for lingering. If that feels a bit no-nonsense, that's just fine with the spot's business clientele, who love the proximity to the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. The mood changes on weekends, when package deals lure weekenders and family travelers.

Adjacent to the World Trade Center and not far from the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, the Seaport Hotel is awash with badge-wearing, convention-going suits. Guest rooms (hypoallergenic available) are outfitted in soothing, warm tones, and feature dreamy bathrooms complete with marble floors, rain showers, and Gilchrist and Soames BeeKind toiletries. Business travelers will appreciate the complimentary Wi-Fi. Fitness center offers strength and cardio equipment and a heated pool.

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.

A rock and roll reimagining of a classic midcentury hotel, the stylish Verb is filled to the brim with carefully curated music memorabilia. Rooms, which are furnished with midcentury modern decor, have either pool or ballpark views, which will please any Red Sox fan. James Beard Award–winning chefs Tim and Nancy Cushman's Japanese pub, Hojoko, is a fun food and cocktail scene. Of note: a daily $25 fee will be added to your bill, which includes breakfast and other perks.

The Westin is connected to the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center and provides comfortable accommodations and exceptional service. While the property does seem to be dominated by convention goers, it's also a refreshing oasis for leisure travelers from the moment they arrive in the sunlight-filled atrium lobby. Most guest rooms have water or skyline views. The WestinWORKOUT Fitness Studio and heated indoor pool are a plus.

If the idea of sleeping in an upscale mall appeals to you, the Westin is a great bet; it boasts its own pod of retail shops and restaurants and is also connected by a covered skywalk to Copley Place (more high-end shopping) and the Hynes Convention Center. The top-floor rooms of this contemporary 36-story hotel have some of the best views in Boston—of the Charles River, Copley Square, Back Bay, the South End, Boston Harbor, and Boston skylines (especially gorgeous when a-twinkle at night). When a run outside isn't in the books, the nicely appointed fitness studio complete with TRX training and Peloton take over. Guest rooms are spacious and feature wildly comfortable beds and plush linens.