The Mandarin Oriental, Boston: Best of the City at Your Feet

The reasons to visit Boston are numerous: American Revolution history, countless colleges and universities, fantastic culture and arts, and inventive restaurants. But as in any city, having an inviting base from which to explore makes all the difference.

Amid the lively and upscale Back Bay neighborhood, the award-winning Mandarin Oriental, Boston sits near many of Boston’s highlights: shops and cafes on posh Newbury Street; the Public Garden with its famous swan boats; Fenway Park baseball stadium (go Red Sox!); and the stunning Museum of Fine Arts. My family and I even popped into the Boston Public Library, just down the street, for a quick look at the murals and courtyard.

Although popular with business travelers, the Mandarin Oriental, Boston is also ideal for family stays. Kids feel extra special thanks to lobster-shaped stuffed toys upon arrival and sweet treats such as locally made Emack & Bolio ice cream. As for college-bound teens, the property’s central location makes it easy to tour many of the city’s universities. Still, it’s the warm hospitality and outstanding service —a hallmark of Mandarin Oriental hotels worldwide — that keep bringing guests back. 

Mandarin Oriental, Boston Review and Highlights

The hotel’s limestone facade gives way to stylish interiors with nods to Asian design, given the brand’s Eastern heritage. To call rooms sprawling would be an understatement — they are enormous by city standards, with marble baths that could easily be a living space of their own. A comprehensive spa, a fitness center and a Gordon Ramsay-helmed restaurant round out the offerings. 

Accommodations

Fresh from a $15 million renovation, the hotel’s 148 contemporary rooms are outfitted with plush beds, velvet sofas and writing desks. And with each room at 410 square feet or more, there is no tripping over suitcases or backpacks. The oversize baths feature double sinks (very helpful when two kiddos want to brush their teeth at once!) and soaking tubs. For families, having this extra space truly goes a long way.

Connecting rooms are also available for flexible configurations, while sprawling suites include pint-sized kitchenettes, making it easy to prep a small snack or a quick breakfast while half-asleep at 6 am.  

Dining

Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the intimate and art-filled Ramsay’s Kitchen by Gordon Ramsay is the signature onsite restaurant. The fare ranges from classics such as buttermilk pancakes and avocado toast in the morning to beef Wellington and lobster spaghetti by night. If you’re in town for a kid-free getaway, treat yourselves to seats at the Chef’s Table, where you can watch the kitchen staff at work from the comfort of a private dining room while you enjoy a sipper from the creative cocktail menu. 

Spa

With a crystal steam room, a sauna, vitality pools, a fitness center and a movement studio, the 16,000-square-foot spa is arguably a local destination in its own right. Treatments include deep tissue massages, salt scrubs, anti-aging facials and sound therapy. My rejuvenating Forest Therapy treatment combined a guided meditation, a mud mask for the feet and a scalp massage to relieve stress and tension. Although sneaking away to the spa isn’t always easy while traveling with kids, if there’s one feature to consider taking advantage of, it’s this one.

City Sightseeing

From history to art to sports, Boston has something for all ages and interests. Littles will enjoy the New England Aquarium and the Children’s Museum, while teens might like getting a bit of history along the Freedom Trail or spotting humpbacks, finbacks and minkes on a harbor cruise. Beyond the city limits, the nearby towns of Lexington and Concord are also worth a day trip to see Revolutionary War battle sites and tour author Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House, where she penned the beloved classic Little Women. 

Local Dining

There’s no shortage of delicious eateries in the Back Bay neighborhood and surroundings. A few of our recommendations include Saltie Girl for seafood; Tatte Bakery for sandwiches, pastries and coffee; and, in the North End, Carmelina’s for Sicilian-style pastas.  

Relevant Links:

Browse all accommodations and activities in Boston on Ciao Bambino

Boston college tour and vacation itinerary

A tradition of bespoke luxury at Wheatleigh in New England

8 fabulous fall family getaways in the Northeast

The most memorable East Coast road trips with kids

Photos courtesy of the Mandarin Oriental, Boston, except where noted.

Editor’s note: This post was accurate when published. We advise checking independently for the latest information and updates. Ciao Bambino does not accept responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in, or for any actions taken based on, the information presented.