Boston is steeped in history – no pun intended – and many hotels lean into the nautical knickknacks and Revolutionary themes one might expect in a town that touts its substantial place in the early American story.
But one of the city’s most luxurious lodgings is a relative newcomer: the Mandarin Oriental Boston, a five-star hotel in the heart of Back Bay. Towering over bustling Boylston Street, the hotel combines classic New England charm and refined Asian touches into a stay that’s both a quick road trip from Fairfield County and a world away. Since its opening in 2008, The Mandarin Oriental has been collecting accolades, including being named to the Top 50 Hotels in the U.S. by U.S. News & World Report, 10 Best Hotels in Boston by Travel+Leisure, and “Best of Boston” by Boston Magazine.
The hotel offers a host of room choices, including the deluxe room with spa-inspired bathrooms, or suites, including the Royal Suite with floor-to-ceiling windows, chandeliers, chinoiserie, a gas fireplace, separate media room, and a marble bathroom with soaking tub and free-standing rain shower. The hotel is also home to a sumptuous spa and fitness center, as well as Ramsay’s Kitchen, a twist on classic Yankee fare from world-famous Michelin-starred Chef Gordon Ramsay.
The five-star Forbes award-winning spa and wellness center is a must for those looking for a little "me time." We recommend the lava stone therapy inspired by traditional Native American practices, as well as massage treatments augmented by Himalayan singing bowls. The “Dream Catcher” is an 80-minute lavender-infused experience with a full body and scalp massage.
Skin treatments are tailored to each guest’s needs, and the hotel’s trademarked Time Rituals allow their therapists to use their unique talents to create and customize treatments to your specific needs, adding scrubs, wraps, or a bespoke facial to a 50-minute massage.
Ramsay’s Kitchen's all-day menu offers Ramsay’s signature beef Wellington, tuna tartare and pan-seared scallops, as well as sticky toffee pudding or strawberry Eton Mess for dessert. The brunch menu features a tasty quiche with spinach, sun-dried tomatoes and goat cheese, brioche French toast and smoked salmon bagel, and the hotel’s refreshing cocktails include salted caramel espresso martinis and The Witch’s Elixir with rye, amaro, and spicy cinnamon.
As for what to do outside the hotel's walls? Boston has tons of can't-miss attractions. History buffs will love discovering the origins of America along The Freedom Trail, a unique series of museums, churches, meeting houses, a ship, a burying ground and historic markers that tell the story of the American Revolution where it actually took place. From Faneuil Hall to the Old North Church, the self-guided tour will bring history to life for your family.
After all that walking, stop into Quincy Market. Conceived in 1823 by newly elected Mayor Josiah Quincy, the public market opened three years later and offers literally hundreds of eateries and shops to satisfy every craving.
For theater, The Blue Man Group is iconic for a reason. They’re three guys. They’re bald. They’re blue. And they do silly, unexpected, and seriously creative things that have wowed fans for decades.
Seafood restaurants are packed into Boston like so many sardines in a tin. But they’re not all created equal. Three that often end up on best-of lists include: Eater-approved Moëca, where you can nibble on barbecued mussels on a skewer or revel in the buttermilk-fried monkfish; Saltie Girl, a Newbury Street favorite with classic oysters on the half shell, as well as lobster and waffles and the seafood tower splurge (don’t forget the salt-and-vinegar potato chips!); and Yankee Lobster Co. for classic fish and chips down in the Seaport District.
Looking for an outing for the whole family? Head for The Science Museum, among the world’s largest and New England’s most popular cultural institutions. Right at the bridge connecting Cambridge and Boston proper, the museum takes on everything from dinosaurs and fossils to the latest AI tech wonders. And don’t miss the New England Aquarium, home to thousands of deep sea denizens from African penguins and California sea lions to Myrtle the green sea turtle. In addition to talking to the animals, you and the family can learn about the aquarium’s research and conservation efforts to save the big blue planet we all call home.
After a day of sightseeing, there's no better feeling than coming back to a luxurious hotel, and if you've booked the Mandarin Oriental Boston, you've got one waiting for you— whether for a family getaway or a couple's retreat, it's a savvy choice.
www.mandarinoriental.com/boston
Boston has tons of can't-miss attractions history buffs will love.