Ginkgo House on Harvard

Ginkgo House on Harvard is a boutique inn a short walk from Harvard Square, set in a Victorian house built in 1867. Named for the pair of ginkgo trees out front, it offers rooms and suites with high ceilings and decor that blends historic and modern design. It suits visitors in Cambridge for Harvard or MIT, conferences, reunions or family visits who prefer a small independent inn to a chain hotel.

Cambridge grocer Isaac Harding built the two-family house for himself and his daughter. It became a lodging house in the early 20th century, and a 1997 renovation by earlier owners turned it into a bed and breakfast while keeping original details such as the pinewood stairways and crown moldings. Today a common room brings guests together, sometimes over dinners, and the staff aims to remember guests by name.

What to Know

• The inn is independent, with no franchise affiliation or loyalty points program.
• Harvard’s art, natural history and Peabody museums are within walking distance.
• Reservations are handled directly by the inn.
• It is a member of the Harvard Square Business Association.