The 10 best hotels in Boston
This list covers ten places to stay inside the City of Boston, from a hostel with dorm beds near Boston Common to a harborfront hotel with a water taxi dock. The picks are spread across the Waterfront, the Financial District, Downtown, Beacon Hill, Back Bay, the South End, the Theater District and Fenway, for visitors who want to walk or take the T instead of driving in from the suburbs.
The list favors independent and locally run hotels, buildings with a documented past, and a spread of price levels. Nightly rates change with the season and demand, so none are quoted here. Published fees are: overnight valet parking runs from $45 to $85 at the hotels that post a price, and several charge a pet fee.
How we chose
The list is alphabetical, not ranked. Each hotel was confirmed open and taking reservations in November 2026 through the hotel’s own website. Selection rested on longevity, local ownership, coverage in local press, named and dated awards, and a mix of neighborhoods and budgets. Hotels with a single Boston location and a story of their own were preferred over standard chain properties.
Hours and prices below come from each business and change without notice. Call ahead if you are making a special trip.
Boston Harbor Hotel
Guests reach Boston Harbor Hotel through the stone archway at Rowes Wharf, on the edge of the harbor between the Financial District and the water. Rooms are sold as harbor view or city view, and some suites have private balconies. Rowes Wharf Sea Grille is the main restaurant, and the hotel runs an afternoon tea called Harbor Tea. The health club has an indoor pool that is open all year. One practical point for anyone flying in: Boston Water Taxi runs between Logan Airport and the hotel dock, and the concierge can book the ride.
Hours: Check-in is at 3 p.m. Check-out is at noon.
Address: 70 Rowes Wharf, Boston, MA 02110
Why they made the list
- The hotel lists Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five Diamond ratings on the home page.
- Self-parking in the Rowes Wharf garage is $55 a day and valet is $70 a day for overnight guests, according to the hotel.
- The Boston Wine & Food Festival at the hotel is scheduled for January 22 to March 6, 2027.
- Pets are allowed for a $100 daily fee per pet, and the 15th floor is kept pet-free.
See the full directory listing
Harborside Inn
A warehouse built in 1846 for the shipping trade holds the 200 rooms of Harborside Inn, on State Street near Atlantic Avenue. Faneuil Hall and the Freedom Trail are a short walk away, which makes the inn a practical base for a first visit. The amenities are plain: free high-speed Wi-Fi, a cocktail lounge and a Starbucks on the ground floor. The inn says there are no hidden fees or incidental charges on the bill. There is no parking on site, so drivers should read the directions and parking page before arriving. Pets are not allowed.
Hours: Check-in is at 3 p.m. Check-out is at noon.
Address: 185 State Street, Boston, MA 02109
Why they made the list
- The building dates to 1846 and was a mercantile warehouse before the conversion to a hotel, by the inn’s own account.
- Harborside Inn has 200 guest rooms, a mid-size count for this part of downtown.
- Wi-Fi is included in the room rate.
HI Boston
Budget travelers get a bed at HI Boston, a hostel on Stuart Street run by HI USA, the American member of Hostelling International. Dorms come in four-bed, six-bed and eight-bed sizes, and each bunk has a privacy curtain, a reading light and a personal power outlet. Travelers who want a door that locks can book a private room with a queen bed and a bathroom. The hostel has a game room and a work space, and staff run free walking tours, bike tours and welcome parties. Boston Common is 0.2 miles away. Pets are not allowed.
Hours: Check-in is at 4 p.m. Check-out is at 11 a.m.
Address: 19 Stuart Street, Boston, MA 02116
Why they made the list
- Hostelworld’s 2025 Hoscar awards named HI Boston the best extra large hostel in North and Central America.
- The private queen room sleeps up to two guests and has an ensuite bathroom.
- The Boston Public Garden is 0.5 miles from the front door and Beacon Hill is 0.6 miles, by the hostel’s measure.
See the full directory listing
The Lenox
Family ownership sets The Lenox apart from the chain towers around Copley Square. The hotel opened at the turn of the 20th century at Exeter and Boylston streets and describes the original plan as Boston’s answer to the Waldorf-Astoria. There are 215 rooms and suites, and three places to eat and drink: Willow Ivy, The Irving and Sweeney’s. Anyone booking for this winter should know that the guest rooms are under renovation into early 2027; the restaurants stay open during the work. The Green Line stop at Copley is about half a block away.
Hours: Check-in is at 3 p.m. Check-out is at noon.
Address: 61 Exeter Street at Boylston, Boston, MA 02116
Why they made the list
- The hotel counts 126 years of history and remains independent and family-owned.
- The lobby coffee comes from Share Coffee Roasters, and a shop called Mercantile sells goods from local partners.
- Small dogs of 20 pounds or less are allowed, with a one-time $125 cleaning fee.
- Overnight valet parking is $45, according to the hotel’s FAQ page.
See the full directory listing
The Liberty Hotel Boston
The Charles Street Jail, completed in 1851, is now The Liberty Hotel, a Luxury Collection property at the foot of Beacon Hill. Only 18 of the 298 rooms and suites are inside the old jail building; the other 280 are in a 16-story tower next door, so guests who want to sleep in the original structure should ask for one of those rooms when booking. The jail theme carries into the restaurant and bar names: Clink, Alibi, Scampo, The Yard and the Liberty Bar in the lobby. The hotel schedules live music each week. Guests must be 21 to check in.
Hours: Check-in is at 4 p.m. Check-out is at 11 a.m.
Address: 215 Charles Street, Boston, MA 02114
Why they made the list
- The building held prisoners as the Charles Street Jail before a renovation that Marriott dates to 2007.
- Pets up to 40 pounds are welcome, two per room, for a $100 fee per stay.
- The Charles River Esplanade and Boston Common are both within walking distance.
See the full directory listing
The Newbury Boston
At the corner of Newbury and Arlington streets, facing the Public Garden, The Newbury Boston occupies a building that has taken hotel guests for nearly a century. The hotel describes the property as restored and reimagined. Contessa, the rooftop restaurant from Major Food Group, takes reservations from the public, and The Street Bar is on the ground floor. Hotel guests also get The Library, a private lounge. The room to ask about is one of the four suite types with a wood-burning fireplace. Dogs are accepted with no weight limit, two per room.
Hours: Check-in starts at 3 p.m. Check-out is at noon.
Address: One Newbury Street, Boston, MA 02116
Why they made the list
- The hotel lists a AAA Five Diamond rating, a Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star rating for 2026 and two Michelin Keys for 2026.
- The Newbury is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World.
- Parking is valet only at $85 overnight, and the dog fee is $150 per stay.
- The 10th floor is kept pet-free for guests with allergies.
See the full directory listing
Omni Parker House
Harvey D. Parker opened the Parker House on School Street in 1855, and the hotel has been tied to Boston food history ever since. Omni credits the kitchen with creating Boston cream pie in 1856 and with introducing Parker House rolls in the 1870s; both are still on the menu at Parker’s Restaurant, the dining room off the lobby. Omni also says Malcolm X and Emeril Lagasse worked in the kitchen or on the wait staff, and counts Charles Dickens and Mark Twain among past guests. The location is downtown at the foot of Beacon Hill, close to Boston Common and Freedom Trail stops such as the Old State House.
Hours: Check current hours before you go.
Address: 60 School Street, Boston, MA 02108
Why they made the list
- The hotel has operated at the same School Street corner since 1855, by Omni’s account.
- Room categories are Traditional, Deluxe, Signature and Suites.
- The building has 23,000 square feet of event space and a fitness center.
See the full directory listing
The Revolution Hotel
Travelers who can live with a bathroom down the hall will find lower-priced rooms at The Revolution Hotel, which opened in December 2018 in a former YWCA in the South End, according to Boston.com. Rooms are sold in two groups, bath in room and bath down the hall, plus a set of lofts and suites. Boston.com reported 163 rooms at opening, with bunk-bed triples and quads meant for groups. Downstairs are Cosmica, a Cal-Mex restaurant, Kohi Coffee Co. and Spy Bar Lounge. Read the room description closely before booking so the bathroom arrangement is not a surprise.
Hours: Check current hours before you go.
Address: 40 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA 02116
Why they made the list
- A 65-foot spray-paint mural by the artist Tristan Eaton covers a wall of the lobby.
- Guests can borrow bikes through the front desk.
- Dogs are welcome for a $25 fee.
- The fitness center has Peloton bikes, and each guest floor has a water station.
See the full directory listing
The Verb Hotel
Fenway Park is steps from The Verb Hotel, a two-story motor lodge that opened in 1959 as the Fenway Motor Hotel and later became a Howard Johnson’s. The 103 rooms are decorated with music memorabilia, much of it drawn from the archives of the Boston Phoenix, and each has a record player; guests can borrow albums from the hotel’s vinyl library. Behind the main building is Backstage, a group of ten stationary custom trailers that can be booked overnight. The outdoor pool is heated and open all year from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. There is no elevator, and accessible rooms are on the first floor.
Hours: Check-in is at 3 p.m. Check-out is at 11 a.m.
Address: 1271 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02215
Why they made the list
- The Boston Preservation Alliance gave the renovation a preservation award, which the Alliance dates to 2016.
- Hojoko, the hotel’s restaurant partner, sends room service from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- Parking is valet only at $73 a night, and the hotel says a space is not guaranteed.
- Irving Salsberg and Ralph Leblanc designed the original building, according to the hotel.
XV Beacon
Sixty-one rooms make XV Beacon the smallest hotel on this list. The address is a turn-of-the-century Beaux Arts building on Beacon Street, and the lobby keeps a marble staircase, mahogany paneling and the original caged-glass elevator. Mooo, a fine dining restaurant, is in the same building. The hotel’s courtesy car gives free drop-offs within downtown Boston, but there is one vehicle a day, so reserve a time in advance. A ride to Logan Airport in the same car is a flat $60. The concierge desk is staffed 24 hours.
Hours: Check-in is at 3 p.m. Check-out is at noon.
Address: 15 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02108
Why they made the list
- XV Beacon is a member of Historic Hotels of America and Preferred Hotels & Resorts.
- Dogs of any size are accepted with advance notice for an $85 fee, and the hotel says half goes to a local animal organization.
- Overnight valet parking is $73 with unlimited in-and-out privileges.
- In-room dining includes a pet menu and a menu served around the clock.
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