Where to Stay - Boston 2009 - page 75

4 Beacon Hill/North Station/North End
Less expensive lodgings in this neighborhood are mostly B&Bs. Save time by check-
ing with the agencies listed on p. 69.
VERY EXPENSIVE
The boutique hotel at Battery Wharf, off Commercial Street at Battery Street, was in
search of a new operator at press time. Visit www.batterywharf.com for information
about the property, part of a luxe-plus condo-hotel-retail development projected to
open in late 2008. The only hotel in the North End, it has 150 units, abundant water
views, lavish facilities (including an 18,000-sq.-ft. spa), a three-star Michelin chef in
the kitchen, and prices to match.
Fifteen Beacon Nonstop pampering, high-tech appointments, and outra-
geously luxurious rooms make this the name to drop with the expense-be-hanged set.
The meticulously maintained 10-story boutique hotel has attracted demanding trav-
elers, especially businesspeople, since it opened in 2000. Management bends over
backward to keep the loyal clientele returning, with lavish perks like business cards
listing the personal phone and fax numbers guests have during their stay. The guest
rooms, individually decorated in an austere but plush style that's more SoHo than
Beacon Hill, contain queen-size canopy beds with Frette linens, surround-sound
stereo systems, gas fireplaces, and 4-inch TVs in the bathroom. “Studio” units have a
sitting area. The pricey steakhouse in the lobby is one of the best places in the city to
see (or be) movers and shakers, especially at breakfast.
15 Beacon St., Boston, MA 02108. & 877/XV-BEACON or 617/670-1500. Fax [phone]. www.xvbeacon.com.
60 units, some with shower only. From $395 double; from $1,200 suite. Valet parking $38. T: Red or Green Line to
Park St., or Green or Blue Line to Government Center. Pets under 20 lb. accepted; refundable deposit required. Ameni-
ties: Restaurant (steakhouse); bar; fitness room; access to nearby health club ($15); concierge; courtesy car; 24-hr.
room service; in-room massage; babysitting; laundry service; same-day dry cleaning; rooms for those w/limited mobil-
ity. In room: A/C, TV w/pay movies, fax/copier/printer, high-speed Internet access, minibar, hair dryer, iron, safe,
umbrella, robes.
The Liberty Hotel A $120-million reclamation of the 1851 Charles Street
Jail, the Liberty Hotel opened in 2007. A newly constructed 16-story tower comple-
ments the granite main building and holds most of the luxurious guest rooms, which
boast top-of-the-line furnishings, next-gen tech, and huge bathrooms with separate
tubs and showers. Catwalks encircle the 90-foot-high atrium in the original building,
which holds the light-flooded public areas (with bars on the windows) and 18 guest
rooms that—despite not having been “guest” accommodations before—are in high
demand. Throughout, the decor combines peaceful neutrals in the rooms with color-
ful colonial-inspired patterns in the public areas. Striking views of the river, Beacon
Hill, and (from higher floors) the Back Bay make rooms that face the Charles most
desirable; elsewhere, the T station or a hospital may take center stage. My favorite
units are corner rooms with a river view from the bathtub.
215 Charles St., Boston, MA 02114. & 617/224-4000. Fax [phone]. www.libertyhotel.com. 298 units. $295-
$550 double; $600-$1,000 suite. Children under 18 stay free in parent's room. Weekend and other packages avail-
able. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Valet or self-parking $40. T: Red Line to Charles/MGH. Small pets accepted. Amenities: 2
restaurants; bar (w/a few cell doors); 24-hr. fitness center; concierge; 24-hr. business center; 24-hr. room service; laun-
dry service; same-day dry cleaning; rooms for those w/limited mobility. In room: A/C, TV w/pay movies, wireless Inter-
net access, minibar, hair dryer, safe, robes.