Best Boston Hotels

From cozy dens to high-end suites, the Hub has a first-rate room to suit your every whim.

Ames Hotel
The much-anticipated new spot from the hotel group behind Miami’s star-studded Delano, the Ames introduces high design (think velvet chaises and polished chrome four-poster beds) into an 1889 building in the heart of downtown. The hotel’s buzzed-about resto-bar, the Woodward, features late-night dining till 2 a.m. and cocktails with names like Second Marriage and Scarlet Letter. One Court St., Boston, 617-979-8100, ameshotel.com.

Beacon Hill Inn & Bistro
The Beacon Hill Inn perfectly blends modern convenience with historic significance. Located on the neighborhood’s main drag, a gas lamp–lit Charles Street, this small inn features an attentive staff and homey bistro that serves exceptional French cuisine—not to mention a great weekend brunch. 25 Charles St., Boston, 617-723-7575, beaconhillhotel.com.

Boston Harbor Hotel

This luxury hotel takes pride in its magnificent harbor views. Terraces allow guests to wander outside to see the Tall Ships, whalers, and yachts pulling in and out of the marina below. Another sort of hydrotherapy is found within the Spa at Rowes Wharf, offering an array of body treatments and facials. 70 Rowes Wharf, Boston, 617-439-7000, bhh.com.

The Charles Hotel
With in-house jazz and martini bars, a presidential suite, a multimillion-dollar art collection, and two award-winning restaurants, this Harvard Square hotel attracts an impressive clientele—politicians, dignitaries, and celebrities, oh my! The preppy staff is discreet and efficient, while the lavish minibars and Origins bath products are downright decadent. One Bennett St., Cambridge, 617-864-1200, charleshotel.com.

Colonnade Hotel
Boston’s historic Back Bay offers the finest cultural venues, boutiques—and the Colonnade Hotel. The hotel’s interior design tends toward midcentury modernity, with services that are equally savvy. Be sure to pack your floaties for the rooftop pool—it’s the only one in the city! 120 Huntington Ave., Boston, 617-424-7000, colonnadehotel.com.

The Eliot Hotel
The Peter Niemetz–designed Eliot offers top-notch service in a tasteful setting. Guest rooms boast restored antiques, toile fabrics, plush linens, and a staff with a knack for remembering repeat guests. This Back Bay cornerstone is also the longtime stomping ground of celebrity chef Ken Oringer, who heads the acclaimed Clio and Uni restaurants on the ground floor. 370 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, 617-267-1607, eliothotel.com.

Fairmont Copley Plaza
The elegant Fairmont is located at the city’s retail epicenter—it’s close to Newbury Street, Copley Place, and the Prudential Center. When all that shopping leaves you famished and exhausted, retire to the hotel’s famed Oak Room and order a martini with your steak. 138 St. James Ave., Boston, 617-267-5300, fairmont.com/copleyplaza.

Four Seasons
The unflappable service and prime location overlooking the Public Garden inspire fierce loyalty for this local institution. A makeover in 2006 replaced timeworn furniture and outdated décor with flat-screen TVs and marble-topped dressers. 200 Boylston St., Boston, 617-338-4400, fourseasons.com/boston.

The Liberty Hotel
When the Liberty opened in the old Charles Street jail, following a $150 million building renovation, it was met with the requisite jokes about white-collar inmates and doing time in the Clink (one of the hotel restaurants). The 298-room Liberty offers a 24/7 fitness center and concierge services as well as posh rooms with exposed-brick walls and Molton Brown toiletries. The 90-foot-high lobby alone is worth the visit. 215 Charles St., Boston, 617-224-4000, libertyhotel.com.