Best Boutique Hotels in Back Bay, Boston

Gryphon House is a three-and-a-half pearl bed-and-breakfast near Kenmore Square, in the heart of Boston’s Back Bay. It has eight spacious guest rooms, some of which overlook the Charles River. It’s a quaint little place with old-fashioned charm, and a free continental breakfast. Be aware that there are four floors, and no elevator. Several major attractions are within a 10-minute walk from the property, including Fenway Park, the Skywalk Observatory, and Newbury Street. Travelers who like the neighborhood might want to also consider the nearby Hotel Commonwealth, which offers more services and amenities, though it's far larger and less intimate.

Just steps from from charming Newbury Street, this classy and historic boutique hotel housed in an elegant Neo-Georgian corner building offers mostly huge suites with (smallish) marble bathroom and an excellent Japanese restaurant overseen by a James Beard Award-winning chef. Guests here enjoy other nice extras as well, like free welcome chocolate cookies and nightly turndowns. Though the Eliot offers free passes to an around-the-corner Boston Sports Club -- a nicer gym option than competitor Fifteen Beacon's -- it can't beat Fifteen Beacon's long list of luxury amenities, including in-room gas fireplaces and free Lexus hotel car service. But you can stay at the Eliot for considerably less -- and the tradeoff may be worth it.

This 285-room Back Bay hotel offers spacious standard rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows, a fitness center with South End views, and an affordable French brasserie. Score a cheap rate, and it's worth it -- despite the lack of 24-hour room service and the daily Wi-Fi charge. The Colonnade used to boast the only hotel rooftop pool in Boston, but the Revere Hotel Boston Common now also has this rare feature.

Situated in a charming red-brick brownstone, the Inn at St. Botolph is a mid-range, 16-room boutique hotel with chic, apartment-style suites featuring fully equipped kitchens. The building is located on a quiet, quintessential Boston street, yet it's astoundingly close to local attractions in the Back Bay area and just a two-minute walk to Prudential Center. There are few extra property features, but the hotel does have a small lounge that serves a limited free breakfast, a tiny fitness area, a washer and dryer, and free Wi-Fi. The biggest complaint about the property is thin walls, which can make it easy to hear neighbors. For guests looking for rooms with kitchens, this property is hard to beat, but for those who just want a boutiquey, neighborhood feel, the cheaper Newbury Guest House is a good choice.

With large, stylish rooms, a happening bar, and a Bliss spa, the sleek, 235-room outpost of the trendy brand offers a striking, modern alternative to Boston's historic hotels and traditional chains. Too bad it lacks a full restaurant and the unique charms of smaller boutique properties.

The lower-middle-range College Club of Boston offers a memorable way to stay in Boston’s popular Back Bay. Many attractions are within walking distance, including Boston Common and the Hynes Convention Center. The quiet and classy boutique hotel occupies a brownstone dating back to 1864, which houses the nation’s oldest women’s college club. Interiors are filled with period antiques, including the 11 individually decorated guest rooms. Five of them are single rooms, which have shared bathrooms. Amenities are a bit sparse, with no in-room TVs or coffeemakers. The continental breakfast and Wi-Fi are free, but there’s no on-site parking. Rates are affordable given the pricey Back Bay location, but the property often sells out. The budget Milner Hotel in the nearby Theater District usually has lower rates, though rooms are not as nice.

This historic 143-room hotel in Back Bay features cutely decorated (if tiny) rooms, a fun martini bar, free Wi-Fi, and free wine and coffee in the cozy lobby. The fitness center is small and the restaurant doesn't serve lunch unless requested for a private function. Low prices make it a solid value choice, however, especially for the central Copley Square location.

The 65-room, mid-range Hotel 140 is one of the most affordable hotels in Boston's central Back Bay neighborhood. It is set in a handsome 1920s building, and a 2016 renovation has modernized once austere decor, while maintaining plenty of the original period feel. Rooms all come with free Wi-Fi and premium cable, though they can be prone to noise. There's not much on-site besides the rooms, though the hotel does share the building with a decent Italian eatery. The only hotel in the area that's much cheaper is the Boston Common Hotel and Conference Center next door, but it's a budget hotel and much more dated. The Boston Park Plaza and Sheraton Boston Hotel have similar rates and far more features, but the massive size of those properties won't appeal to everyone.