Raffles Boston

Character and identity

The first North American outpost of the 135-year-old Raffles brand sits in a sleek Back Bay tower, with a three-story lobby that begins on the 17th floor and design cues nodding to Paul Revere and the Emerald Necklace. Across 147 rooms and residences, the register is residential rather than hotel-like: marble bathrooms with full soaking tubs, butler service in every category, and a sky lobby that feels more pied-à-terre than check-in. Dining comes from George Mendes and Jody Adams, drinks from the 17th-floor Long Bar & Terrace and the speakeasy-style Blind Duck, and wellness from a three-room Guerlain spa with saunas, steam rooms and ice showers.

Who's it for

Bottom line

What sets this property apart is the residential intimacy stacked into a vertical Back Bay tower, with butler service across all 147 rooms and a dining and bar programme that genuinely competes with the city's best restaurants. Book it if you want a polished urban base for a couples' weekend, splurge on the Raffles Suite if you're entertaining, and time a stay around afternoon tea or a Blind Duck evening.