If you enjoy a fine hotel with amazing views and plenty of amenities all around, The Royal Sonesta Boston Hotel is your kind of place.
My and wife and I recently touched down in Boston for a few days and had a lovely stay at the award-winning hotel, which is situated on the banks of the Charles River in Cambridge, directly across the river from downtown Boston. If you’re a fan of sunrise photos, this is a fabulous hotel to check out, as the sun brilliantly illuminates the river and downtown.
We had a spacious, and I do mean spacious room (801) with massive windows overlooking the river and a nice marina, with downtown Boston spread out in front of us. We had a mini-fridge that was very handy, a Keurig coffee maker and a lovely bathroom.
The hotel is a popular spot for people who want to stay in Cambridge, a vibrant community of its own and also home to both Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
A view of the Charles River and downtown Boston from the Royal Sonesta Hotel. Jim Byers Photo
TheRoyal Sonesta recently underwent a comprehensive transformation that gives it a welcoming and stylish feel. Guest rooms in the East Tower have been completely refreshed and feature cool art, and the pool area and fitness center also have been upgraded. They also introduced a new dining destination inspired by New England’s rich maritime heritage, Scull & Keel. We had our breakfast there each morning and enjoyed fine avocado toast, oatmeal and eggs. Lunch and dinner options include shrimp scampi flatbread, clam chowder (of course, skirt steak, salads and more. The seafood is locally sourced, and there’s a nice bar where you can sip a great cocktail or catch the Red Sox, Celtics, Boston Bruins or New England Patriots in action.
The hotel also houses the MonteVerdi restaurant for fine Italian dining (I love the sound of the Black Truffle Ravioli). There’s also a nice patio with fabulous river and city views. The hotel also has a Starbucks with plenty of seating, and remember when they all used to have that?
The Royal Sonesta has a large indoor pool with a soaring glass ceiling and an outdoor patio, as well as a nice, well-equipped fitness center.
The Royal Sonesta Boston Hotel is filled with fun, artsy touches.
The hotel has tons of meeting space and is suitable for groups of almost any size. It’s also very popular for weddings, receptions and rehearsal dinners.
Royal Sonesta Boston also has special packages, including Events at TD Garden packages with rooms and $1 parking, and Museum of Science (it’s just around the corner) packages.
Cambridge is a terrific part of the Boston area. The hotel has a long, linear park running in front of it, and there’s a nice shopping center right across the road called CambridgeSide, which has dozens of fine shops, including Lulu Lemon, Apple, Sephora, Aldo and many more.
Part of the lobby at The Royal Sonesta Boston Hotel. Jim Byers Photo
It’s a short walk to the trendy Kendall Square area of town, which is home to a splendid Chinese restaurant called Sumiao Hunan Kitchen.
We walked from the hotel one morning to downtown Boston, which took less than 15 minutes.
Bonus: The Royal Sonesta Boston is less than three miles from Boston Logan Airport.
