Why Raffles Boston Is the Perfect Luxury Boston Staycation
Boston has some great luxury hotels, but Raffles feels different in the best way. It has that polished, elevated feel you’d expect from the brand, but it still feels warm, relaxed, and very livable instead of overly formal. The location in Back Bay is ideal, and the hotel itself feels like a true escape from the city once you walk inside. I honestly think it’s the best luxury staycation spot in Boston right now.
Raffles Boston is located in Back Bay, which is one of my favorite areas of the city for visitors and locals alike. You’re within walking distance of Newbury Street, Copley, great restaurants, shopping, and the Public Garden, but the hotel itself feels quiet and tucked away once you’re inside. It has a much calmer and more intimate feel compared to some of the larger luxury hotels in Boston.
The overall design of the hotel is stunning. Everything feels very thoughtful and high-end without trying too hard. The rooms are modern but still feel warm and comfortable, and they have more of a residential feel versus a traditional city hotel room. One thing that really stood out to me was how relaxing the rooms felt—this is absolutely the type of hotel where you actually want to slow down and spend time enjoying the property instead of just sleeping there between plans.
One detail that really elevates the experience is that every room includes butler service, which ended up being incredibly helpful throughout our stay. Everything is handled very seamlessly through text, which made it feel easy and approachable rather than overly formal. At one point, we needed a refrigerator brought to the room, and it arrived almost immediately. Little touches throughout the stay also made a big impression—during turndown service, they placed two bottles of Saratoga Spring Water with glasses beside the bed, which just added to that polished luxury feel Raffles does so well.
For me, this feels like the perfect Boston staycation hotel. You can spend the afternoon at the spa or pool, get dressed up for drinks at Long Bar, walk to dinner nearby in Back Bay, and fully lean into the experience without ever needing to over-plan your weekend. The indoor pool and wellness area especially surprised me—it feels very luxe and calming and almost makes you forget you’re in the middle of Boston.
Service throughout the hotel felt polished but still approachable, which I appreciated. Nothing felt overly stuffy or formal. I’d especially recommend Raffles for couples' weekends, celebrations, girls’ weekends, luxury staycations, or travelers who usually gravitate toward newer luxury properties with a more modern feel. If you love hotels as part of the experience—not just a place to sleep—I think you'd really love this property.
Need to know
Request a higher floor if views are important to you—the city views at night are beautiful.
Long Bar gets lively at night, especially on weekends, and is worth making time for even if you aren’t staying overnight.
Fall and holiday season would be especially beautiful times to stay here with everything happening around Back Bay.