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Todd Plummer, Contributor
Forbes Vetted
The best hotels in Boston celebrate the city’s past and present while offering convenience to must-see sites. Travelers from around the world touch down in this nearly 400-year-old city every year to explore its museums, experience historic spots like the Freedom Trail and Fenway Park and to visit students in the city’s many colleges.
For travelers seeking a luxurious stay, we recommend Raffles Boston in the city’s Back Bay neighborhood. Boutique hotel devotees will adore the cozy rooms and personalized service at The Whitney Hotel Boston in Beacon Hill, while families will enjoy the spacious rooms and kid-friendly amenities at the Four Seasons Boston. Below, more of the best hotels in Boston for 2024.
Editor’s Picks:
- Best High-End Hotel In Boston: Raffles Boston
- Best Boutique Hotel In Boston: The Whitney Hotel Boston
- Best Hotel Near Boston’s Waterfront: Boston Harbor Hotel
- Best Hotel In Boston Near Shopping: The Newbury Boston
- Best Historic Hotel In Boston: The Liberty, A Luxury Collection Hotel
- Best Hotel For Families In Boston: Four Seasons Boston
- Best Hotel For Couples In Boston: XV Beacon
- Best Value Hotel In Boston: The Verb Hotel
Best High-End Hotel In Boston: Raffles Boston
Raffles Presidential Suite at Raffles Boston.
Courtesy of Raffles Boston
Raffles Boston
Who Will Love It: Sophisticated travelers looking to stay at the ritziest place in town
All-Star Amenities: Butler service; Guerlain Spa; 65-foot lap pool; five dining venues
What Not To Miss: A drink with a view at the Long Bar & Terrace on the 17th floor
Location: Back Bay
Address: 40 Trinity Place, Boston, MA 02116, United States
Adding a new level of luxury to the city’s hotel scene, Raffles Boston is the first North American outpost of the storied Raffles Hotels & Resorts brand. Since its opening in 2023, the property has made a splash with its 147 opulent guest rooms, dining venues overseen by acclaimed chefs and exceptional service. Upon arrival, guests are whisked up to the 17th floor, where the gorgeous three-story Sky Lobby sets the tone for an elevated stay. The views continue from the Long Bar & Terrace, where stylish locals and travelers sip Boston Slings. Those looking for more opulence can book one of the 30 spacious suites (the fanciest being the Raffles Presidential Suite, with a fireplace and baby grand piano). All the room categories come with butler service, so you can kick back at the Guerlain spa while the staff takes care of your dinner reservations.
Best Boutique Hotel In Boston: The Whitney Hotel Boston
There are house bikes, complimentary mini fridges and top notch concierge services that can point you in the right direction when it comes to things to do.
James Baigrie
The Whitney Hotel Boston
Who Will Love It: Boutique hotel fans looking for a cozy base in a charming neighborhood; those traveling with pets
All-Star Amenities: House bicycles; fitness studio with Hydrow rowing machines; complimentary snacks in the common areas
What Not To Miss: “Neighborhood Passkey,” discounts and perks at a number of nearby shops and restaurants
Location: Beacon Hill
Address: 170 Charles St, Boston, MA 02114, United States
The Whitney, an intimate Beacon Hill boutique hotel, prides itself on perfecting the art of hospitality. Here, complimentary newspapers and shoeshines are de rigeur. There are also house bikes, complimentary mini-fridges and top-notch concierge services that can point you in the right direction when it comes to things to do, such as exploring the Charles River Esplanade nearby. For those traveling with pets, the property puts furry friends front and center. Call ahead and your room will be outfitted with a plush Lion + Wolf dog bed, a swanky drip module pet feeder by EJ Tanu, as well as complimentary treats from premium pet food brand My Zone Blue. With just 65 rooms, it’s one of the coziest and most comfortable hotels in Boston.
Best Hotel Near Boston’s Waterfront: Boston Harbor Hotel
The hotel fully embraces the waterfront location—many rooms overlook the harbor, and charter excursions to the Boston Harbor Islands depart from the dock behind the hotel.
Courtesy of Boston Harbor Hotel
Boston Harbor Hotel
Who Will Love It: Parents; business travelers; boat lovers
All-Star Amenities: Fitness center complete with 60-foot lap pool; twice-daily housekeeping; Diptyque bath products
What Not To Miss: Outdoor live music series; movie nights during the warmer months
Location: Waterfront
Address: 70 Rowes Wharf, Boston, MA 02110, United States
Boston Harbor Hotel leaves a big impression beginning its soaring 60-foot arch framing Rowe’s Wharf over the gentle waves of Boston Harbor. The hotel fully embraces the waterfront location—many of the spacious, well-appointed rooms overlook the harbor, and scheduled and charter excursions to the Boston Harbor Islands depart from the dock behind the hotel. The hotel is close to land-based attractions, too, such as the Boston Children’s Museum, Faneuil Hall, the Old North Church and Paul Revere’s House. The hotel hosts the Boston Wine and Food Festival, the longest-running wine festival in the country, which attracts some of the world’s top vintners and chefs for three months each year.
Best Hotel In Boston Near Shopping: The Newbury Boston
Some of the world’s best names in style are found within a stone’s throw of the property, including a Tiffany and Co. on the ground floor of the hotel.
Nikolas Koenig
The Newbury Boston
Who Will Love It: Fashion and design lovers who want to be within easy reach of the city’s best boutiques
All-Star Amenities: Wood-burning fireplaces; exclusive library for guests; large residence-like guest rooms and suites
What Not To Miss: Dinner at Ken Fulk-designed Contessa; after-dinner drinks at the Street Bar
Location: Beacon Hill
Address: 1 Newbury St, Boston, MA 02116, United States
Boston’s most iconic shopping district, Newbury Street, is right outside your front door when you stay at the Newbury Boston. Some of the world’s best names in style are found within a stone’s throw of the property, including Chanel, Valentino and even a Tiffany and Co. on the ground floor of the hotel. Inside, acclaimed interior designer Alexandra Champalimaud (whose work includes properties like Troutbeck in Hudson Valley and Raffles Singapore) outfitted the rooms in serene grays and whites, original works from illustrator Veronica Lawlor are found in every room and full-size customs Byredo amenities outfit the bathrooms.
Best Historic Hotel In Boston: The Liberty, A Luxury Collection Hotel
The main attraction is the hotel’s soaring lobby—a 90-foot central atrium with a glass roof and 30-foot glass windows.
Courtesy of The Liberty, A Luxury Collection Hotel
The Liberty, A Luxury Collection Hotel
Who Will Love It: Those who love a hotel with a fascinating backstory
All-Star Amenities: Running concierge; energy efficient guest rooms; fitness center
What Not To Miss: Dinner at Scampo; drinks in a converted jail cell at Clink
Location: Beacon Hill
Address: 215 Charles St, Boston, MA 02114, United States
In a city where most buildings have a rich history, The Liberty still stands out: It served as the infamous Charles Street Jail from 1851 until 1990, before undergoing extensive refurbishment and opening as a luxury hotel in 2007. Today, the rooms are much more comfortable with cheeky touches like a safe that doubles as a nightstand, a do-not-disturb sign that says “Solitary,” and throw pillows printed with tally marks. The main attraction is the hotel’s soaring lobby—a 90-foot central atrium with a glass roof and 30-foot windows (it’s a sight to behold when decorated for the holidays). It’s no wonder that stylish Bostonians can always be found having an evening drink at the Liberty.
Best Hotel For Families In Boston: Four Seasons Hotel Boston
Guest room at Four Seasons Boston.
Courtesy of Four Seasons Boston
Four Seasons Hotel Boston
Who Will Love It: Families who appreciate excellent service and kid-friendly amenities
All-Star Amenities: “Mystery Closet” filled with toys; indoor swimming pool; robes and slippers for all sizes
What Not To Miss: The complimentary snack “Vaults” on each floor
Location: Downtown near Boston Common
Address: 200 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116, United States
One of the best hotels in Boston for families, the city’s original Four Seasons is celebrated for its spacious rooms, central location and excellent amenities. The 272-key property has a fantastic indoor pool and plenty of amenities for younger guests, including robes in junior sizes. Kids can pick out a complimentary toy from the “Mystery Closet” at check-in. Plus, there are “Vaults” on each floor with free grab-and-go snacks that guests of all ages will appreciate. Set among the Victorian brownstones near the Back Bay neighborhood, the property is steps from several family-friendly attractions including the leafy Public Garden and Boston Common across the street.
Best Hotel For Couples In Boston: XV Beacon
With a plum location near bars, restaurants and shops on Beacon Hill, XV Beacon makes it a cinch to experience the best of Boston.
Courtesy of XV Beacon
XV Beacon
Who Will Love It: Discreet travelers looking for privacy
All-Star Amenities: Cashmere throws; pillow-top mattresses; Frette linens
What Not To Miss: A peek inside the wine cellar at the restaurant, Mooo
Location: Beacon Hill
Address: 15 Beacon St, Boston, MA 02108, United States
With a plum location near bars, restaurants and shops on Beacon Hill, XV Beacon makes it a cinch to experience the best of Boston, but the hotel has a way of beckoning guests to stay in. Housed in a landmark Beaux Arts building, the 63 guest rooms have working fireplaces, flat-mount televisions with surround sound stereo systems, rainforest showers and soaking tubs. The cashmere throws and pillow-top mattresses will help you have one of the best nights of sleep of your life. The hotel often offers romantic packages that include extras like a bottle of Champagne, rose petal turndown service and chocolate-covered strawberries. Check in with your significant other, or yourself, order room service and remember why we love hotels in the first place.
Best Hotel In Cambridge: The Charles
The rooms have an updated take on Americana, with handsome plaid carpeting, timeless Shaker furniture and comfy leather wingback chairs.
Susan Seubert
The Charles
Who Will Love It: Culture lovers and intelligentsia
All-Star Amenities: Gorgeous Shaker furniture; wingback leather chairs; C.O. Bigelow bath products
What Not To Miss: Rubbing shoulders with the academic elite at Henrietta’s Table
Location: Cambridge
Address: 1 Bennett St, Cambridge, MA 02138, United States
Across the river from Boston lies Cambridge, the city’s intellectual, off-beat, eclectic counterpart where neighborhood after neighborhood brims with exciting restaurants, shopping and entertainment. Due to its proximity to both Harvard University and M.I.T.—and its reputation for comfort and privacy—visiting academics, politicians and titans in their fields choose to rest their heads at the Charles. The rooms have an updated take on Americana, with handsome plaid carpeting, timeless Shaker furniture and comfy leather wingback chairs. The hotel’s restaurant, Henrietta’s Table, is where Cambridge intellectuals come to discuss deep topics and dine on organic, locally sourced farm-to-table fare.
Best Value Hotel In Boston: The Verb Hotel
Guest room at The Verb Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts.
Christine Gatti
The Verb Hotel
Who Will Love It: Music lovers and vintage enthusiasts
All-Star Amenities: Record turntables and a vinyl library; heated outdoor swimming pool; valet parking; breakfast with live music
What Not To Miss: Dinner at the rock ‘n’ roll-themed izakaya, Hojoko
Location: Fenway Neighborhood
Address: 1271 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02215, United States
With its rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia, thoughtful amenities (including in-room vinyl record players) and a year-round heated outdoor pool, The Verb Hotel offers more than just a comfortable and affordable place to lay your head. The music-themed boutique hotel is only a five-minute walk from the MGM Music Hall at Fenway and Citizens House of Blues, making it a perfect base for concertgoers. Despite being close to so many stages, the 93 cozy guest rooms here are blissfully quiet. Guests will appreciate the plush bathrobes, comfortable beds and views over Fenway or the pool. Travelers looking for an even more unique experience can opt to stay in one of the retro Backstage trailers, which are custom-designed with king or queen beds, stylish leather and metal interiors, heated floors, rainfall showers, and top-notch audio equipment (plus access to the hotel’s 1,700-plus vinyl library). Groove out to live music at breakfast on Saturday and Sunday or order room service from the on-site izakaya for the full rockstar treatment.
Best Hotel Near Boston Seaport: The Envoy Hotel, Autograph Collection
The refreshing design is Mid-Century modern meets New England.
Courtesy of The Envoy Hotel, Autograph Collection
The Envoy Hotel, Autograph Collection
Who Will Love It: Those who prefer a more contemporary take on Boston
All-Star Amenities: The wellness concierge; rooftop bar
What Not To Miss: Latin-inspired cuisine at Para Maria
Location: Seaport District
Address: 70 Sleeper St, Boston, MA 02210, United States
It’s not often that a historic city like Boston simply gets a new neighborhood, but that’s what has happened across the canal from downtown. What was once an industrial wasteland is now a sleek, sexy area known as the Seaport District, which is filled with glass skyscrapers, hot restaurants, workout studios and great shopping. The contemporary Envoy Hotel is the beating heart of the area. The refreshing design is midcentury modern meets New England. Make sure to stop by rooftop bar, which in the summer months has a fun after-work scene and in the winter offers heated igloos so you can dine, drink and take in those Seaport views all year round.
Best Hotel In Boston For Business Travelers: Mandarin Oriental, Boston
The guest rooms feel more like luxurious residences with kitchenettes and seating areas.
Courtesy of The Mandarin Oriental Boston
Mandarin Oriental, Boston
Who Will Love It: Business travelers and wellness seekers
All-Star Amenities: Forbes Five-Star spa; personal training; pilates and yoga classes; house car
What Not To Miss: The resident robot concierge Mobi, who provides a contactless check-in experience
Location: Back Bay
Address: 776 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02199, United States
Boston’s Mandarin Oriental completed a substantial renovation of all its rooms in 2020 and designers worked to create spaces that feel less corporate and institutional and more cozy and personal. The guest rooms feel more like luxurious residences with kitchenettes, large closets and expansive seating areas. Signature Mandarin Oriental touches are still in place such as enormous marble bathrooms with soaking tubs, and the serene 16,000-square-foot spa with a candle-lit relaxation area where treatments include a Himalayan salt stone massage and oxygen facials. The hotel is home to a Gordon Ramsay restaurant where you can enjoy a delicious breakfast and dine on English classics like beef Wellington and sticky toffee pudding.
Best Hotel Near Fenway Park In Boston: Four Seasons Hotel One Dalton Street
The rooms here are swoon worthy with floor-to-ceiling windows, comfortable beds, marble bathrooms with oversize showers and clever design touches.
Quentin Bacon
Four Seasons Hotel One Dalton Street
Who Will Love It: Deep-pocketed baseball fans; lovers of modern luxury
All-Star Amenities: 24-hour room service; a stunning indoor pool; house car to shuttle you around town; twice-daily room service
What Not To Miss: Dinner at the hotel’s Zuma restaurant; a treatment on the wellness floor
Location: Fenway Neighborhood
Address: 1 Dalton St, Boston, MA 02115, United States
High design and luxury amenities are the specialties at Four Seasons Hotel One Dalton, the triangle-shaped skyscraper at the intersection of Boston’s Back Bay, South End and Fenway neighborhoods. (Baseball fans should note, it’s just a few blocks from Fenway Park.) The rooms here are swoon-worthy with floor-to-ceiling windows, comfortable beds, marble bathrooms with oversized showers and clever design touches like bedside tablets for ordering room service. The service offers everything a luxury seeker would need, including 24-hour in-room dining, premium Wi-Fi, a 24-hour concierge, and, of course, overnight shoeshine service. The hotel’s spa, salon, fitness center and curved indoor pool can be found on the seventh-level Wellness Floor.
Best Hotel Near Boston’s North End: Courtyard Boston Downtown/North Station
From this Courtyard location, you can meander through the boutiques, restaurants and bakeries, including the famous Mike’s Pastry.
Courtesy of Courtyard Boston Downtown/North Station
Courtyard Boston Downtown/North Station
Who Will Love It: History buffs, fans of Italian cuisine and culture
All-Star Amenities: Flat screen TV with streaming services (including Netflix); dry cleaning service; on-site convenience store
What Not To Miss: A visit to the Paul Revere house; a treat from Mike’s Pastry
Location: Downtown near the North End
Address: 107 Beverly St, Boston, MA 02114, United States
For a taste of Italy without going to Italy, Boston’s North End captures the culture brought over by immigrants in the late 1800s. From this Courtyard location, you can meander through the boutiques, restaurants and bakeries, including the famous Mike’s Pastry, which is a short eight-minute stroll away. Depending on the time of year, you might also find festivals celebrating Italian heritage. This side of the city also has its own special place in American history, as you’ll find landmarks like the Old North Church and the Paul Revere House, as well as part of the Freedom Trail, in this quaint neighborhood. From this side of the city, you’re also near TD Garden, Faneuil Hall, Boston Aquarium and Boston Common, all of which you can walk to if you’re up for a bit of a trek.
Where Should You Stay When You Visit Boston?
There are many areas tourists love to stay in Boston, but one of the most popular areas to stay is downtown Boston, due to its proximity to the Boston Harbor. Other popular areas to stay include Back Bay and Beacon Hill, which are home to many local boutiques and restaurants. The Seaport District is an up and coming lively area with many new hotels and dining options. There are several areas in Boston that are extremely walkable, allowing easy access to other parts of the city on foot. The most popular area to stay in if you plan to walk everywhere is the downtown area near Copley Center, which offers easy access to many of the popular spots in Boston including Beacon Hill, Back Bay and the Boston Harbor.
What Is The Best Month To Visit Boston?
The temperate spring weather and vibrant fall foliage make the months of April and May or September and October ideal for a stay in this walkable city. You’ll see a rush of vacationers come summer as well, but it’s also a great time to enjoy lunch at a sidewalk cafe or cocktail on a rooftop bar. Around Christmastime, you can get into the holiday spirit with snowy scenery and decorated city streets, and in the following off-season months (January and February) you may be able to take advantage of lower pricing on plane tickets and hotel stays. That said, if you book your vacation during the snowy season, you run the risk of travel plans getting delayed or cancelled due to inclement weather.
What Are The Best Luxury Hotels in Boston?
There are an abundance of luxury hotels in Boston, many of which are steeped in rich history and offer a combination of glitz and glamour. The most luxurious hotels in Boston include Raffles Boston, Four Seasons Hotel One Dalton Street, The Whitney Hotel Boston, and The Mandarin Oriental, Boston, a great option for business travelers.
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
- The Forbes Vetted travel team has researched, written and published dozens of hotel guides featuring cities across the globe.
- The travel section is overseen by Vetted’s senior travel editor, Astrid Taran, a 7-year industry veteran who’s visited over 35 countries.
- The writer of each of our hotel roundups is handpicked based on their area of expertise, whether they are area locals or avid travelers who have visited the destination frequently—and all have bylines in other reputable travel publications. The original author of this story, Todd Plummer, is a seasoned travel writer and a native of Boston who knows the city inside and out.
- This story is regularly checked to ensure that all prices and information are as current as possible. It was last updated in August 2024 by Forbes Vetted contributor Julia Eskins, who assessed superlatives and added in the recently opened Raffles Boston as well as the Four Seasons Boston and The Verb Boston.
About Todd Plummer, Your Boston Guide
I have written about gorillas in Rwanda and heli-skiing in British Columbia, but I am continually surprised and impressed by my native Boston. Since before the Revolutionary War, it has been a cosmopolitan, world-class city that continues to reinvent itself. Boston has noticeably upped the luxury hotel bar, with properties ranging from independently owned boutique hotels to international luxury brands; the food scene is as diverse and exciting as you’ll find anywhere. I have personally visited every hotel on this list—as well as some of the best hotels around the world. I can say there’s a lot to love a