These 10 new hotels and renovations will make you want to book a trip to Boston

Photo courtesy of iStock / Sean Pavone

Right now, the best reason to visit Beantown may be to check in to one of the abundance of new and recently-renovated hotels that are grabbing all the attention. Here are 10 worth considering.

Photo courtesy of Christian Horan

Four Seasons One Dalton

Boston is now one of the few cities offering more than one Four Seasons property since the opening of the Four Seasons One Dalton. Set in a sleek high rise that is reportedly the tallest residential building in New England, this stylish property with 215 rooms and suites feels more edgy than its nearby sister property.

The hotel features a wellness floor (think lap pool, spa, fitness center) and an art collection valued at over $1 million. At the Trifecta lobby lounge, the stellar cocktail menu, designed by Assistant Director of Food and Beverage Julia Casale, was inspired by characters and cultural institutions from Boston’s rich history.

Photo courtesy of Wendy O'Dea

The Langham Boston

Summer 2021 was the magic moment when the 312-room Langham Boston finally reopened after an extended two-year renovation that included redesigned guest rooms, a new lobby area, pool, hot tub and fitness center, as well as an expanded 258-piece art collection. New works of art include 60 commissioned pieces by local artists and, thankfully, the preserved historical murals by N.C. Wyeth that have been on the property since 1922 when the building opened as the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

The hotel’s newly-opened Italian restaurant, Grana, promises a dramatic dining experience with a one-of-a-kind sense of place. Breakfast and lunch are served where the bank’s money was once counted and Lady Liberty – featured on a seven-foot tall sculpture of a coin head – keeps watch over the space with soaring ceilings and majestic chandeliers.

Photo courtesy of Mandarin Oriental Boston

Mandarin Oriental Boston

Apparently, the Back Bay is the place to be these days because just steps from the new Four Seasons One Dalton is the tony Mandarin Oriental, which recently reopened after a $15 million makeover – complete with contactless check-in assistance from a robot, for those who request it. Reenvisioned by the award-winning design firm Champalimaud Design, 148 rooms and suites combine early New England design with the brand’s refined East Asian-style interiors.

Included in the overhaul: 65-inch televisions in guest rooms (the largest guest rooms in Boston, by the way) and new fully-equipped kitchenettes in each of their decadent suites. The stunning event spaces were designed as ornate jewel boxes, and those lucky enough to stay in the stunning Presidential Suite won’t want to leave. The hotel’s all-day restaurant, Ramsay’s Kitchen (as in Gordon Ramsay), is expected to open in the coming months.

Photo courtesy of Wendy O'Dea

The Newbury Boston

After a two-year closure, The Newbury is perhaps the most-talked-about Boston hotel opening in recent years. Located in a 1927 neoclassical building (previously home to the Ritz Carlton and Taj Boston), the colorful lobby leads to The Street Bar, a hot spot for locals and visitors alike. Just off the lobby and bar, behind closed doors, guests can grab refreshments, work remotely or check out the book collection in the stylish private lounge, aptly named The Library.

The hotel's 286 rooms and suites were the work of Champalimaud Design, with the public areas designed by Jeffrey Beers International. The buzz at The Newbury is modern, fresh and upscale with a twist of trendy. Currently, the hotel’s biggest draw for those who want to see and be seen is the sexy and eclectic new rooftop Italian restaurant, Contessa (designed by Ken Fulk), managed by Major Food Group. The panoramic views of Boston and Public Garden are unrivaled.

Photo courtesy of Wendy O'Dea

Boston Harbor Hotel

Located within walking distance to the seaport, North End and most historical hotspots, the Boston Harbor Hotel reemerged after a major overhaul and renovation in recent years. The property’s John Adams Presidential Suite is a standout, boasting 4,800 square feet of living space, 1,000 of it being a terrace with panoramic views and outdoor heating.

Blurring the lines between accommodations and retail, the hotel partnered with Boston’s home design store Modern Relik, opening Home at Rowes Wharf in the hotel lobby. City and harbor views from the guest rooms and suites don’t disappoint, and the map collection in the lobby lounge is a hidden treasure you won’t want to miss. 

Photo courtesy of Architectural Team/Binyan Studios

Raffles Boston Back Bay Hotel & Residences

Raffles – a well-established luxury brand in many parts of the world – will be making an impressive U.S. debut when it opens in Boston’s Back Bay in 2022. With 147 guest rooms and 146 residences, the 35-story high rise overlooking Copley Square will also include a multi-story sky lobby, state-of-the-art spa and a number of dining options, including a sky bar and speakeasy.

Photo courtesy of Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport

Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport

In early September 2021, the Omni welcomed this new property that features two towers with over 1,000 guest rooms that offer views of the city and harbor. Creative types will love the homage to the arts, complete with a live music and performance space and a digital art installation in the reception area. The property includes seven dining venues and a spa where you can opt for a made-to-order cocktail during your treatment. Cheers to that!

Photo courtesy of Jeff Goldman Photography

Marriott Boston Copley Place

Located in the heart of Boston’s historic Back Bay, within walking distance to Copley Place and the Prudential Center, the Boston Marriott Copley Place recently completed a renovation of their Atrium Lounge and conference and event spaces. Primarily serving as a conference hotel with over 1,000 guest rooms, the recently-established M Club lounge provides a more personalized VIP experience, including private meeting spaces, complimentary food and beverages and a lounge area.

Photo courtesy of James Baigrie

The Whitney

If you want to know what it might feel like to be among Boston’s elite residing on posh Beacon Hill, book a stay at The Whitney. A 65-room boutique hotel overlooking the Charles River, the property – once owned by industrialist Henry Melville Whitney – won an award from the Boston Preservation Alliance for maintaining much of the structure’s original architectural details.

The brick townhouse features a well-regarded Mediterranean-inspired restaurant, Peregrine, and a book collection that highlights some of Beacon Hill’s most-acclaimed residents, such as Louisa May Alcott.

Photo courtesy of Barbara Kraft

Encore Boston

If you check in – and stay in – at the Encore Boston, you may wonder whether you’ve been transported to Las Vegas. With several dining outlets, 671 guest rooms and suites and a 210,000-square foot gaming area, the Encore notes that it was the most expensive resort development in the country when it opened prior to the pandemic. It also features a modern, contemporary and pop art collection worth millions.