Ames Boston Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton

The Ames has a rich history in Boston. The building opened in 1889 and is considered the city's first skyscraper; it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. The building was converted into the 114-room boutique hotel we know today by Morgans Hotel Group in 2009, following a $40-million renovation. The hotel re-opened under Hilton's Curio collection in September 2016 following a multi-million dollar renovation that preserved several of the lobby's historical features, including the mosaic arched ceiling and marble staircase, while adding a new check-in stations and new seating. A new "Library" area provides communal workspace and a daily continental breakfast.

But while the hotel is aesthetically pleasing, it does lack on-site features. Its 24-hour fitness center is well-equipped, but small, and its meeting rooms are expectedly attractive. But there is no pool or spa. Still, it's a great choice for business travelers and stylish 20-somethings.

Ames is situated in the heart of downtown Boston, just outside Beacon Hill, a historic, wealthy, residential neighborhood known for its Federal-style rowhouses, brick sidewalks, narrow streets, and more than 40 antique shops. The blocks surrounding the hotel are lined with bars, Irish pubs, and restaurants that characterize much of Boston's food scene -- steakhouses and seafood joints.

• 10-minute walk from the Boston Common, the country's oldest park and the start of Boston's 2.5-mile Freedom Trail, which passes through 16 historic landmarks
• One block from the Park Street Station on the T (Boston's subway), running both the green and red lines
• Less than a five-minute walk from Faneuil Hall, a historic marketplace and modern-day mall
• Five blocks from TD Garden, home of the Boston Celtics
• 10-minute walk, or eight-minute subway ride, to the North End (Paul Revere's house, Little Italy)
• 13-minute T ride to Harvard Square and Harvard University
• 10-minute walk (half a mile) to the New England Aquarium
• 11-minute drive (two miles) or a 20-minute ride on the Green Line, to Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox
• 10-minute cab ride to Boston's Logan International Airport, or 20-minute subway ride

Rooms are sleek and sophisticated, and mirror the black and white motif that runs through the rest of the property. The spaces blend the hotel's 19th-century architecture with David Rockwell's modern design aesthetic very well.

• Flat-screen HDTVs and iPod docks in every room
• Comfortable beds with down bedding
• Gorgeous bathrooms with rain showerheads and Mailn + Goetz toiletries
• Well-stocked minibars
• Free newspapers
• In-room spa services, for a fee
• Free Wi-Fi

Besides a small (but well-equipped) fitness center, the property provides little in the way of features. Cultivar, a New American restaurant from chef Mary Dumont, opened in 2017 to generally favorable reviews. The restaurant, open for lunch and dinner, serves sustainable dishes using ingredients from the on-site hydroponic garden. A continental breakfast buffet is served daily in "The Library" and includes hot items like eggs and sausage. Room service is also available. The hotel has excellent meeting space as well as business services like copying and printing, and accepts pets for fee.