This Mandarin Oriental Boston Review is from a recent stay in a Mandarin Back Bay Room. Visiting Boston? See all our Boston reviews and posts.
TravelSort Clients may book the Mandarin Oriental Boston with Mandarin Oriental Fan Club benefits:
- Daily full breakfast for up to two in room guests
- Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
- Welcome amenity
- $100 USD Equivalent Food & Beverage or Spa Services credit, to be utilized during stay (not combinable, no cash value if not redeemed in full)
- Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
- Complimentary High Speed Internet for duration of stay
The Mandarin Oriental Boston opened in late 2008, and is the most modern Boston luxury hotel. It's at 776 Boylston Street has a convenient location in Boston's Back Bay neighborhood, just down the block from the Copley T stop, and a short walk to the Boston Public Garden and Boston Common, Commonwealth Avenue, Newbury Street shopping, and Back Bay dining. And if by chance you've forgotten your iPhone charger, an Apple store is just across the street.
The entrance to the hotel is understated:
But tasteful, cozy elegance pervades the intimate lobby, particularly with the stunning red floral design and the fireplace. There was even a Taittinger Champagne Lounge at the time of our visit:
I had originally planned to leave our luggage since we arrived in the morning, well before regular check-in time, but after being warmly welcomed by reception, we were invited up to our room, which was already prepared.
Mandarin Back Bay Room
Mandarin Oriental Boston's rooms range from the entry category Lifestyle King Room (400-480 square feet) to Mandarin Executive Rooms (560-660 square feet). Suites range from the Premier Suite (1040-1060 square feet, with a master bedroom and separate living area, dining table and powder room) to the opulent Dynasty Suite (2600 square feet, with a master bedroom and bath with walk-in closet, fireplace in the open plan living and dining room, study, powder room and pantry).
Our Mandarin Back Bay Room was on the 8th floor, with a view of the Back Bay:
Mandarin Back Bay Rooms vary a bit in size, from 540-610 square feet, but ours easily accommodate an extra bed for our son, which housekeeping set up during turndown service. Our King bed with goose down bedding was very comfortable and we slept well.
At turndown service, we were also delighted to find milk and cookies for my son, and holiday sweets with Voss bottled water for us, along with handwritten notes:
The bathroom was easily my favorite of all Boston hotel rooms I've stayed in so far. True, it had a single sink, but the glass enclosed rain shower had great water pressure and ample space, even for my 6'5″ husband. A surprising number of Boston luxury hotels still have bathtub shower combinations, so if you prefer a separate shower and bath, as we do, the Mandarin Oriental Boston is ideal.
Bath products are Mandarin Tea by Shanghai Tang, with a gender neutral citrusy scent.
If you're in Boston on business (or, as I do, have a kid who always seems to need tape for various paper projects) the office supplies next to the desk will come in handy–everything from scissors, a stapler, ruler, tape, binder clips, etc. were stocked.
Coffee drinkers are catered for with an Illy espresso machine and cups:
Spa and Fitness Center
While we didn't have time for a treatment, the Mandarin Oriental Boston Spa is the only Forbes Five-star spa in the state, featuring 9 treatment rooms of which two are couples' suites. There are separate men's and women's steam rooms, vitality pools, experience showers, ice fountains and relaxation lounges.
The Fitness Center has Technogym equipment, and there's also a studio where group yoga and pilates classes are offered; private yoga, pilates, and yogalates can also be arranged.
Breakfast at Bar Boulud
Bar Boulud features French bistro cuisine and is open 6:30-10:30am for breakfast, 12-2:30pm for lunch, and 5:30-10pm for dinner.
There were several tempting choices on the breakfast menu:
I chose the Organic Vermont Egg Omelet with cheese, spinach and Gloucester Lobster. Unlike some lobster dishes that skimp on the lobster, this was full of plump, sweet lobster morsels and fantastic–highly recommended. And together with the mesclun salad and roasted tomato, I convinced myself it was a pretty healthy way to start the day.
The fruit smoothie was good, but not as exceptional as the omelet, although that didn't stop my son from stealing sips of it, even though ostensibly he'd already had his breakfast earlier, with my husband.
The Verdict
We all really enjoyed our stay at the Mandarin Oriental Boston, which in my view has the nicest hard product of all Boston luxury hotels, at least if you prefer modern, stylish, yet comfortable rooms. Service at reception and from housekeeping and turndown service was excellent. Our server at Bar Boulud was a little brusque, but I put this down to having to work the day after Christmas, and the food itself was delicious, as you'd expect from a Daniel Boulud restaurant.
If you've stayed at the Mandarin Oriental Boston, what was your experience?
Related Posts
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Review: Fairmont Copley Plaza Boston
Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong Review
Mandarin Oriental Singapore Hotel Review
Disclosure: I was a guest and enjoyed a complimentary stay and breakfast at the Mandarin Oriental Boston, however the views expressed in this post are my own.
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