With its enviable Back Bay address, The Newbury Boston is a wonderful blend of an iconic landmark hotel with contemporary luxury style thanks to a beautiful and sensitive top to toe renovation. We fell head over heels for this area and were swept up in the most charming welcome and the gorgeous interior of this fabulous hotel.
Location
The Newbury Boston lies at the park end of Newbury Street, where it intersects with Arlington Street in the Back Bay area of Boston, Massachusetts. The district is known as much for its dining credentials, art galleries, and designer shops as it is for those divine brownstone buildings. Newbury Street itself is notorious as one of the most expensive streets in the world.
We found the location delighted. Not only are you right on the edge of the very heart of the city, but on your doorstep is The Boston Public Garden, so close it could be the hotel’s front garden! Many of the rooms enjoy Park Views too. We loved being able to stroll past the lake and head into the center of the city. The Beacon Hill district, which houses many of the historic brownstone streets that are so synonymous with Boston, is also only a 5-10 minute stroll (again across the park!), and we thoroughly enjoyed exploring its lanes and enjoying a coffee watching the world go by.
The hotel lies just over 5 miles from Boston Logan International Airport, and South Station is just under 3 miles away. All of Boston’s main attractions are easily accessible too; the New England Aquarium is a mile away, and the Museum of Fine Arts 2 miles.
Style & Character
The hotel is deeply sophisticated, with a timeless class and elegance. The furnishings are beautiful, the fabrics luxurious, and you never feel far from a restful park view. Entering the hotel from the street, you walk under a sea of lightbulbs that make you feel like a celebrity. You then climb a small but wide lit staircase cementing the feeling that you are inherently more glamourous than you should be after your flight!
The lobby is large, and the glamour continues with a fabulous statement floral light display over the main desk area. There is a dramatic sweeping staircase up to the second floor, which is THE spot to pose before a night out. The rest of the hotel is just as gorgeous as the lobby, we adored the restaurants and bars in particular, but then our room was just magnificent too, in beauty just as much as size! This is the sort of hotel that you just want to photograph and share but then really soak up the style and atmosphere too.
Rooms
There are 286 rooms, of which 90 are very large suites. All the rooms are spacious, and even the smaller rooms include separate seating areas, Nespresso machines, and marble bathrooms with walk-in rainforest showers. Airy, bright, and light-filled, the design is more contemporary and stylish than I’d been expecting for a historic hotel – and this was a good surprise! The colors are soothing and super relaxing; think greys, neutrals, and the palest blues, and you can really see the results of the very successful recent renovation. We loved the artwork, both in the rooms and throughout the hotel. You can go on the hotel website to find out information about each piece, explained by the curator. The furnishings in the guest rooms are contemporary but with a nod to art deco. They also continue the color palette, meaning they add to the relaxed mood rather than standing out. We just loved the overall effect.
I’d recommend a park view, but the other views are city views taking in Back Bay, so you really can’t go wrong with either. It’s just personal preference. If your budget allows a suite, select one with a wood-burning fireplace for the ultimate in cozy chic. They even come with a menu of different scented wood options, and your own fireplace butler will appear as required to tend to your fireplace! The Corner Suites are also excellent for really maximizing those views as they can be found on some of the higher floors to really make the most of the bi-aspect.
It is also a great hotel for an extended stay. Some of their rooms have a kitchenette with a fridge, microwave, and minibar.
Service & Facilities
The huge fitness center is open 24/7, there is valet parking available, and you can borrow bicycles to explore the city on two wheels. There are also in-house boutiques at the hotel, which include the jewelers Tiffany, but while this adds a certain exclusivity, this hotel is firmly embraced by locals and visitors alike and isn’t at all stuffy.
Although technically a bar, The Library also deserves to be thought of as a facility in its own right. It’s available just for hotel guests and flows into the public Street Bar. Deep orange velvet corner sofas sit alongside comfortable navy blue bucket chairs with bookcases lining the walls. It is fully stocked with a collection of reads selected by the Boston Public Library, it’s a magnificent place for readers, and even non-bookworms will reveal the soothing mood that being surrounded by books brings. The Library offers complimentary soft drinks and snacks throughout the day, with coffee and pastries available at breakfast. You can order from the Street Bar menu as well so you can enjoy a chilled beverage or your morning coffee in comfort.
Children are really welcomed at The Newbury; they have connecting rooms, a kid’s menu and offer kid bath robes as well as baby items such as a crib and diaper genie. But it’s about more than just amenities, the welcome given to children is really lovely.
The service at The Newbury was so warm and personal that we felt like it was more akin to a small boutique hotel than a large hotel. They all seem to have a calm and relaxed air; nothing is too much trouble, but the staff exude an air of being in control in a way that allows you to completely relax and enjoy your stay; you feel in safe hands here. From the very first greeting with the doorman to the wonderful front desk staff, all the people we met seemed proud of the hotel and genuinely pleased to be there. My daughter befriended one of the front desk managers to such an extent that she was sad to say goodbye, they enjoyed a mutual appreciation of each other’s outfits, and it was a really delightful little friendship! We noticed a post box by the lifts, not just any post box either, but a fabulous, antique post box. The doorman seemed as excited by us at its presence and confirmed that yes, it has always been there, and yes, it actually works, and you can even post a letter there! A fantastic titbit but so enthusiastically explained too.
Food & Drink
Head to the rooftop on the 17th floor to find the hotel’s restaurant, Contessa, and you’ll be in very good company; this is one of THE spots to be seen in Boston with a growing waitlist. It was buzzing throughout the day when we visited and is evidently just as much a brunch spot as an evening cocktail hangout and super stylish Italian restaurant. Contessa is as sophisticated and elegant as you would hope, but it’s also relaxed with the warm service that we felt throughout the hotel, very much continuing here too. The glass-topped roof is retractable, which would be amazing in summer! Even with the roof on, the panoramic views across the city are just awe-inspiring, especially by night. There’s a separate street entrance for those not staying at the hotel, which I imagine is another reason this place is clearly much-loved by locals.
We dined one evening at Contessa and were not disappointed. The ingredients were obviously fresh, the menu full of temptation, and the food just delicious. We chose one pizza dish and one pasta dish so we could sample both, and they were equally exquisite. Top tip, save some room. The dessert menu is definitely not to be ignored! We received impeccable personal service with excellent cocktail recommendations too.
Stay closer to the ground at the Street Bar, yes, located on street level! The Street Bar connects with guest hangout, The Library and is located by the street so for maximum people watching, take a window seat. The large bar has a speakeasy vibe, but with the luxurious navy seating throughout, the mood of luxury and comfort very much continues here. Open for breakfast, then serving an all-day dining menu, the cocktails are renowned, and this would make the ideal spot for a pre-dinner beverage before heading upstairs to Contessa!
Conclusion
We were smitten with The Newbury Boston and were sad to leave. We loved the décor, adored the restaurant and bar, and were simply wowed by the staff who welcomed us so wonderfully. The location was also ideal, and I’d definitely recommend a stay here on your next foray to Boston.
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