215 Charles St
Boston, MA 02114
This one-of-a-kind property, which dates to 1851, was once the Charles Street Jail, and stepping into the multistory lobby feels like going back in time. But while the building, reimagined as a hotel in 2007, is steeped in history, the rooms are sleek and modern, appointed with upholstered leather with button tufting, and featuring sweeping views of the Charles River. On-premise eats and drinks include Italian fare at Lydia Shire’s Scampo (the lamb chops and lobster pizza are musts), modern American cuisine at Clink (get it?), and Alibi Bar & Lounge, which is housed in the former drunk tank and has become a popular late-night spot to sip cocktails with prison-inspired names, like the dragon-fruit-forward and vodka-based Azkaban and the Shawshank, anchored in rye whiskey and pear purée.
Courtesy of The Boston Harbor Hotel
70 Rowes Wharf
Boston, MA 02110
A luminous marble-filled lobby and sweeping views of the harbor greet guests entering this stately hotel, which is so quiet and serene it makes guests instinctually unclench. Right off the lobby, the sweet coffee shop Dandelion beckons with lattes, pastries, and to-go salads. Meanwhile, Rowes Wharf Sea Grill offers waterfront dining, and a beer garden in collaboration with Trillium delivers excellent beer with even more excellent views. The hotel is an easy walk to Boston’s North End, where Italian restaurants and specialty shops line the streets. Visit Bricco Salumeria for a loaded Italian sub, The Daily Catch for the freshest pasta and seafood in the city, and Mamma Maria for high-end Italian.
The Ritz is a true hideaway, hidden smack dab in the middle of Boston’s theater district. The quiet and expansive lobby pours you into the sleek Art Deco Avery Bar, where you’ll want to kick off your stay with a well-balanced cocktail like the tequila-forward Morning Dove. Book a room on the club level, which gives you access to a lounge that serves complimentary curated bites throughout the day, plus a concierge who can book you a table almost anywhere in town. The property is steps from the lush Boston Common, chef Jamie Bissonnette’s lauded home-style Korean restaurant Somaek, and Yvonne’s for supper-club-meets-speakeasy energy.
