Best hotels in Boston, including the Four Seasons and the Fairmont

Boston is a city with many proud nicknames: Hub of the Universe, the City on a Hill, the Athens of America, Titletown and the Cradle of Liberty, just to name a few.

But this proud New England city, also one of America’s oldest, is a great place to spend a few days exploring U.S. history, nature and culture — and feast on a few lobster rolls, of course. The mix of wide boulevards like Commonwealth Avenue in historic Back Bay and the winding, gaslit streets of Beacon Hill give Boston more of a European vibe than other cities in the U.S.

It’s not all about looking back when you come to Boston: This is a city known for its innovation in technology and health care, which brings thousands of new students each year to the region’s countless colleges and universities.

Ready to explore everything Boston has to offer? The city has an extensive mix of luxury, historic and trendy hotels — many of which underwent extensive renovations in recent years. We’ve selected some of our favorites below.

When Boston’s original Ritz-Carlton closed and — gasp — moved across the Boston Public Garden and Boston Common to new digs, the city was in an uproar. Changes like that (and the extra few blocks of walking) aren’t always well received in one of the oldest cities in the U.S. But it appears the crown of old-school Boston luxury hospitality now rests firmly on the Four Seasons Hotel Boston. The latest proof: The Prince and Princess of Wales stayed here in late 2022 while in town for several nights.

Regular renovations over the last few years (including a recent update that shut the hotel down for much of early 2023) keep this hotel in pristine condition and at a level where guests are ready to book their next stay before they’ve even checked out. Elegant, warm guest rooms and suites are comfortable places to stay — made even better if you score one that overlooks the greenery of the Public Garden across the street. Staff members are incredibly hospitable and can arrange everything from a spa treatment in your room to the hardest-to-score reservations for dinner.

Decades of Boston power lunches have taken place in dining areas at the Four Seasons. Most recently, the hotel debuted Coterie, a lobby lounge overlooking the Public Garden and perfect for a power cocktail to seal a deal or a nightcap to end your fabulous day. For those looking to unwind, be sure to take in a swim at the indoor pool on the eighth floor that overlooks the Public Garden. We particularly love doing our laps in the fall to revel in the gorgeous autumn foliage alongside our aquatic cardio.

Rates start at $766 per night, plus taxes and fees.

There’s no better cross-section of “old” and “new” Boston than with the city’s two Four Seasons hotels. If the Four Seasons Hotel Boston is the pinnacle of power dealmaking among lawyers and finance types, consider the Four Seasons Hotel One Dalton Street, Boston as the place where the flashier see-and-be-seen scene resides. But don’t take that as a signal that this is the more gauche of the city’s two Four Seasons properties.

It may not be like one of the neighborhood’s iconic brownstone residential buildings, but the soaring Four Seasons tower manages to nestle right into Back Bay. Trifecta, a tucked-away cocktail lounge on the ground floor, manages to be a neighborhood meeting spot and a glamorous place to celebrate any life accomplishment with Champagne. Zuma on the second floor is part of the international chain of high-end Japanese restaurants and serves up izakaya classics while also being one of the most sought-after reservations in town.

Guest rooms and suites are spacious and comfortable, with luxe Four Seasons bedding to make dreams all the sweeter. We recommend splurging on a Back Bay Corner Suite that overlooks the dome of the mother church of the adjoining Christian Science Plaza (the soaking tub with a prime view of the city is an added bonus for luxuriating). Round out your fabulous getaway with time on the Wellness Floor, which features the hotel spa, a curved lap pool (the hotel sits on a guitar pick-shaped lot) and a luxury fitness studio.

Rates start at $775 per night, plus taxes and fees.

A historic city like Boston is fortunate enough to have a few legendary historic hotels, but the Fairmont Copley Plaza might be the best at serving history and luxury simultaneously. The imperious stone building that is the Fairmont Copley Plaza lords over one of Boston’s most-visited squares, but the vibe within is a mix of friendly and decadent. It’s hard not to get jovial vibes from a luxury hotel that has an official canine ambassador like the Fairmont Copley’s: Cori Copley, a black lab who greets guests in front of the hotel before they walk through the Versailles-like hall of mirrors known as Peacock Alley, a palatial corridor connecting the front door to check-in.

Guest rooms err on the side of cozy and chic, but suites with views overlooking Copley Square are worth the splurge — and the hotel’s eight Signature Suites are a nod to the Fairmont’s initial opening in 1912, with curated art and furniture.

Downstairs, the hotel’s OAK Long Bar + Kitchen is a longtime power dining spot that is perfect for a quick drink before dinner or a more leisurely celebratory affair, with pizzas cooked inn the open hearth in the center of the bar. If Cori Copley’s presence wasn’t enough of a clue, the Fairmont Copley Plaza is extraordinarily dog-friendly, with packages like the Fairmont Furiend offering perks like a brush-and-go at a nearby dog salon and treats for the room.

Rates start at $390 per night, plus taxes and fees.

Boston’s best hotel face-lift award easily goes to The Newbury Boston, which is the result of a two-year transformation of what was the city’s original Ritz-Carlton (and more recently the Taj, Boston) dating back to 1927. The hotel, which opened under its modern look in 2021, offers some of the best rooms and one of the best locations in the city — at the intersection of the Newbury Street retail thoroughfare and the Boston Public Garden.

The hotel’s residential-influenced revamp means even guest rooms are supposed to feel more like staying in a chic Back Bay pied-a-terre than just any hotel room. Even the smallest guest rooms come with a seating area and luxe bedding, while many suites come with wood-burning fireplaces. The Mansion, one of the hotel’s two presidential suites, comes with a dining room, butler’s pantry and park views, while its slightly smaller sibling, The Corner House, comes with a freestanding soaking tub.

The Street Bar is the perfect place to sip a martini with a twist by the fireplace and make friends with the table next door (or overhear their tantalizing conversations). On the hotel roof, Contessa serves up decadent Italian fare to dig into (we love the squash carpaccio and veal Milanese) while watching the sunset over the Boston skyline.

Rates start at $629 per night, plus taxes and fees.

There’s no better place to stay during the Boston Marathon than the Mandarin Oriental, Boston, which has its front door mere feet from the finish line. The luxe hotel is part of Boston’s glitzy Prudential Center shopping area and attracts a mix of high-end international travelers and posh locals who flock to the Mandarin for a power breakfast at Ramsay’s Kitchen by Gordon Ramsay — the British chef’s first Boston outpost that is open all day.

A 2020 renovation refreshed guest rooms and suites with longer stays in mind, so expect kitchenettes, artistic wallpaper, brighter decor and views of Back Bay. Business travelers may always turn to the Mandarin, but now so do locals looking for the perfect way to splurge on a staycation.

Be sure to check out the spa, widely viewed as the best in the city and worth taking an afternoon to indulge in a treatment, like an 80-minute Himalayan salt stone massage or an 80-minute Dream Catcher treatment, which aims to fuel better rest both during the treatment and beyond.

Rates start at $695 per night, plus taxes and fees.

While many hotels in Boston can vie for the claim of being Boston’s best, the Boston Harbor Hotel has the undisputed best views in the city. Overlooking (as you may have already guessed) Boston Harbor, the hotel is a downtown landmark, with its center archway adorning Rowes Wharf. The hotel’s Rowes Wharf Bar is the quintessential spot to sip a whiskey on the rocks from a leather chair in a dimly lit, handsomely furnished setting, while the Rowes Wharf Sea Grille serves up waterfront New England staples all day long, from lobster omelets for breakfast to baked Atlantic halibut for dinner.

The Boston Harbor Hotel’s rooms come with rainfall showers in expansive marble bathrooms as well as Frette linens and views of either the harbor or downtown Boston. While the hotel is near some of the city’s biggest attractions, like the Freedom Trail and the Boston Tea Party Museum, the spacious guest rooms and suites are fit for a leisurely day in with room service.

Be sure to make time for some wellness time downstairs, as the hotel’s Rowes Wharf Health Club includes an indoor pool, steam rooms and a sauna.

Rates start at $652 per night, plus taxes and fees.

Boston Brahmins — a historic term used to describe the city’s upper class — to this day tend to concentrate on Beacon Hill, home to the Massachusetts State House and plenty of pricey real estate. Live like a Brahmin (even if only for a night or two) in the swank XV Beacon Hotel. The hotel oozes old Boston elegance with mahogany paneling, a marble staircase off the lobby, and cozy, dimly lit elevators that whisk guests up to their rooms — there’e even the hotel pitch that “some claim George Washington slept here.”

Even if George didn’t, your four-legged friend is certainly welcome at this dog-friendly hotel. All guest rooms and suites come with gas fireplaces, Frette linens and a pillow library to make your rest all the more … uh … restful. XV Beacon goes for more of a “Welcome home” kind of ambiance, so expect fresh flowers, cashmere throws and luxe marble bathrooms as part of your stay.

There’s a complimentary Lexus to get around town, and guests also have access to the hotel’s stunning rooftop overlooking the Charles River and Beacon Hill. Be sure to snag a reservation at Mooo…, the hotel’s signature steakhouse that is also a city favorite. Enjoy a wagyu A5 sirloin with a martini, or just start your day here with a short stack of pancakes before hitting the town.

Rates start at $476 per night, plus taxes and fees.

Luxury graces the Financial District at The Langham, Boston, which reopened in 2021 after a two-year, $200 million renovation. The hotel resides in what was the original building for the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and is an imperious downtown landmark with its granite exterior. But make no mistake: Step inside, and this is hospitable luxury at its finest.

The bright lobby beckons guests and visitors to socialize amid the checking in and out, but save the real fun for drinks at The Fed, the hotel’s British-inspired cocktail bar with pub bites like cheese toasties (as well as New England staples like lobster rolls) to go with a cocktail. Make sure to nab a reservation at Grana, the hotel’s opulent Italian dining space open for breakfast, lunch and weekend brunch that is housed in what was the Fed’s grand hall. Who doesn’t like soaring ceilings and massive chandeliers to go alongside Grana’s signature “Big Meatball”?

Guest rooms and suites are bright, cozy retreats with a mix of white, blue and bronze leading the color palette. Aim for a park view overlooking Post Office Square, and consider splurging on a suite for (in the case of the Chairman Suite) upgraded amenities like walk-in closets, fireplaces and a piano.

While it might be in the heart of the city, The Langham is a restful getaway with wellness offerings like a fitness center, heated indoor pool and whirlpool.

Rates start at $455 per night, plus taxes and fees.

You might say the Hotel Commonwealth is the chameleon of Boston hotels, as it’s a luxury getaway that appeals to Red Sox fans attending games at nearby Fenway Park, concertgoers heading to a show at one of the many live music venues on nearby Lansdowne Street, and parents dropping in to see their children at one of the many nearby colleges and universities. Located in Kenmore Square (and directly above a station on the city’s “T” subway network), the Hotel Commonwealth is spacious with modern amenities and a great location — along with access to Fenway Park, it’s directly on the Boston Marathon route.

Rooms are large, bright and come with pillow-top mattresses for the ultimate sleep in the city. Splurge on the Fenway Park Suite, which was decorated in partnership with the Red Sox. The suite features a view of Fenway Park and includes a private balcony with original seats from the park.

Downstairs, the hotel has plenty of dining options — we’re a big fan of Pescador, a global coastal cuisine-inspired restaurant that features an 18-seat ceviche bar. We keep going back for the corn “ribs” and oysters asadas.

Rates start at $263 per night, plus taxes and fees.

It’s okay to be bad (or channel your bad self) for one night, so check in to The Liberty, a Luxury Collection Hotel, which was formerly Boston’s Charles Street Jail. Today, the property is better known for its luxe accommodations and a litany of places to get a good meal or drink.

The hotel’s 90-foot rotunda lobby is the nucleus to much of the Liberty’s social aspects: Fashion shows take place along the balconies while guests imbibe cocktails at the Liberty Bar or down an escalator at the aptly named Alibi, a trendy cocktail bar set behind bars and decorated with celebrity mug shots (cheers, Paris and LiLo!). Scampo, an Italian restaurant from famed local celeb chef Lydia Shire, is another magnet of attention for the hotel — be sure to ask the concierge for a reservation, and we highly recommend the Colorado lamb with Turkish spices.

Guest rooms and suites are decorated with the building’s past in mind without going over the top on “Jailhouse Rock.” Beds are cozy, the bathrooms feature Molton Brown products and the higher floors have some of the best views of Boston and the Charles River.

Rates start at $320 per night, plus taxes and fees.

You probably don’t expect Las Vegas glitz just north of downtown Boston, but Wynn Resorts opened just that in 2019 with Encore Boston Harbor. The building’s bronze, curved exterior is reminiscent of its sister properties in Sin City, but this is very much a Boston take on an ultra-luxury casino resort — a take that also includes a $28 million Jeff Koons Popeye sculpture off the very floral lobby.

Guest rooms are so large they might be considered suites at any other hotel in Boston, but not here: Suites are decadent offerings with soaking tubs, luxurious bedding and expansive living areas. Some even come with private fitness areas with equipment delivered on demand. After all, some people are more about Pelotons while others might prefer an elliptical machine.

The Spa at Encore Boston Harbor is almost as much of a must-visit as the casino floor, as the sprawling facility is the ultimate way to find Zen. Stroll past the lanterns and urns and into a treatment center that offers all the mainstay spa offerings as well as signature services like a Good Luck ritual that combines a full-body massage with a lime and ginger scrub.

While the slot machines and poker tables might appeal to some, Encore’s restaurants are also a major hit with visitors and locals alike. Red 8’s Cantonese fare like Peking duck is highly popular, while Rare Steakhouse is more for wagyu-centered date nights. Of course, things can be more laid-back at Night Shift Brewing Kitchen & Tap, an Encore outpost of the brewery that got its start only five minutes up the road from the casino.

Rates start at $335 per night, plus taxes and fees.

Cozy, historic luxury is the name of the game at the Eliot Hotel, at the corner of Boston’s Commonwealth and Massachusetts avenues. Guests can feel like they’re walking into a fabulous Back Bay townhouse, as the hotel nestles into a tree-lined stretch of the neighborhood that also includes the Harvard Club on the same block.

Bostonians flock to the Eliot for Uni, chef Ken Oringer’s acclaimed izakaya at street level, but guests keep coming back for the hospitable service and luxury vibes that aren’t over the top. Many of the hotel’s rooms are suites and feature Italian marble bathrooms and canopy beds, and are quiet despite being at the intersection of two of Boston’s busiest streets.

Valets offer service (and quick unloading of your arriving car) with a smile, and that hospitality courses through the entire property — whether you’re looking for a hard-to-get reservation or advice on the best boutiques around the corner on Newbury Street.

Rates start at $311 per night, plus taxes and fees.

While the “new” Ritz-Carlton, Boston is a bit of a lightning rod in terms of local flavor (Bostonians like their classics, and many still point to The Newbury as the “original” Ritz), it’s hard to turn away from the modern luxury that awaits guests here. The hotel, in the heart of Boston’s Theater District, wows from check-in with its intimate seating areas and Avery Bar, a showstopper of a lobby bar with a crackling fireplace and leather couches that deliver a modern “Mad Men” vibe.

Upstairs, recently renovated guest rooms and suites feature spacious bathrooms with soaking tubs and rainfall showers, luxe bedding and either city or park views (we prefer the park views of Boston Common).

Those with club lounge privileges (including Marriott Bonvoy members with Platinum status and higher) get extra amenities like a dedicated concierge, special culinary and cocktail offerings and access to the lounge on the Ritz-Carlton’s top floor. Those with club lounge access can also access an on-site Equinox Sports Club for free.

Rates start at $701 per night, plus taxes and fees.

Rock ‘n’ roll lovers will flock to The Verb Hotel, a retrofitted Howard Johnson that got a high-end face-lift that pays homage to the Fenway neighborhood’s musical heritage. Oh, and it just so happens to be directly behind Fenway Park, so be mindful of those fly balls.

While the Howard Johnson housed musical acts performing at nightclubs around the corner on Landsdowne Street, The Verb today attracts a mix of music lovers (there’s an extensive vinyl library for guests to check out records to play in their rooms) and Red Sox fans looking to be as close to the Fenway action as possible. Locals love Hojoko, the hotel’s Japanese tavern that dishes out mouthwatering treats like karaage fried chicken and shrimp toast.

The Verb might feel like a step back into the 1970s with all the musical paraphernalia lying around and the recording studio vibes of the main lobby. But this is very much a contemporary hotel with modern features and midcentury modern furniture. Pool-view rooms can feel like a Boston version of The Standard’s original hotel in West Hollywood (especially in the summer months when the heated year-round pool gets particularly busy).

But the best splurge is Backstage at the Verb Hotel, a lineup of modern trailers added in 2022 that feature king-size beds, daily breakfast, live music on the weekends and in-trailer complimentary snacks. This is no used Airstream, either: The furnishings, bathrooms and decor of the Backstage trailers feel more in line with a trendy boutique hotel than something that rolled onto its foundation.

Rates start at $359 per night, plus taxes and fees.