Instead of giving each other gifts for Christmas, my husband and I have been gifting each other experiences. This year, I bought him a night stay a the Liberty Hotel in Boston. This former jailhouse has been on our bucket list for years. I usually give James a “certificate” for a night stay, but this time I just went ahead and booked it for the night after Christmas.
Here are all the reasons why you need to stay at the Liberty Hotel in Boston, a Marriott Brand Luxury Collection Hotel.
The Liberty Hotel is located on the Charles River in Beacon Hill, so it was very easy to access. With valet parking, we ditched the car in a moment and were being offered a glass of champagne at check-in. We had the kindest person check us in, who graciously upgraded our room to a city view since it was available.
Just stepping into the lobby of the Liberty, it is immediately apparent that you have just entered the hippest hotel in Boston. It is hard to imagine that it housed some of Boston’s most notorious criminals for 120 years. But don’t worry, they had a Feng Shui expert clear all of the bad energy out of the place.
Since we visited during the holidays, there were several upside down Christmas trees hanging from the central atrium which is an impressive 90 feet high.
It is impressive how much of the original building has been preserved and painstakingly restored. Catwalks line the outskirts of the lobby. The former exercise yard, is now a landscaped courtyard (although, in sticking with the theme, it is still called The Yard).
Our room was fabulous. It was a large size, especially for Boston standards.
The bathroom alone was the size of a normal city hotel room.
I love the jailhouse theme throughout, but those views just can’t be beat.
We dropped our bags and headed out to explore the area. Charles Street is easily the most charming neighborhood in Boston. The cobblestone streets, brick houses and lantern-style lights lining the road make you feel as if Paul Revere could ride by any moment shouting about Red Coats.
We wandered down the length of Charles Street enjoying all of the little boutique shops all laced with pine garlands for the holidays.
At the end of Charles Street, we popped into the Cheer’s Bar (aka Bull and Finch Pub) for a drink and then walked up Beacon Street towards the State House. Anyone can walk around the State House for free after going through a security check. We said hi to the Cod hanging over the House of Representatives and peeked inside the Senate. It is such an impressive building and really worth a wander.
From there, we meandered down to Faneuil Hall. All in all it was about a 20 minute walk. There was a free light show called Blink that happens every half hour starting at 4:30 and going until 10 pm (Dec 3- Jan 1). The best place to stand is near the large Christmas tree. The lights are set to music and it is fun and festive to watch.
We walked back to the hotel for a pre-dinner drink at The Alibi. We loved the decor in the bar, which is photos of celebrity mug shots with their alibi printed at the bottom. Here you can see evidence of the wrought-iron work of the former jail cells. After a drink, we walked up to The Clink for dinner.
Dinner at The Clink was really nice. Most memorable was the sangria, which we had been told by friends to try. This country girl is not used to paying $19 per glass, but we were splurging and it was worth it. The sangria was mixed with red and white wine and had loads of fresh fruit in it. The Clink also had preserved jail cells which they somehow made to look very elegant.
I also wanted to mention that there is another restaurant within The Liberty called Scampo which serves Italian. They do have pizza there in case you are traveling with kids.
Back up at the room, we switched our door sigh to “Solitary” which is their version of “do not disturb.” This Mama slept for 12 hours straight, because #Christmas.
We woke up hungry and walked back down the same route, but this time when we came to the end of Charles Street, we crossed over to the Boston Garden. We said good morning to the the ducklings, and head to Newbury Street where we had breakfast at Stephanie’s (you thought I was going to say Tiffany’s, didn’t you?).
Stephanie’s on Newbury is the prefect place to have brunch. It is large, open and airy, serving up all of the comfort foods you desire. Picture a really elegant version of an American diner. I had their much-talked about skillet breakfast and had to be rolled home after.
Newbury Street is all about name-brand shopping. It is mostly high-end shops that are out of my budget, but it is still a very nice place to wander with a coffee in hand.
Alas, our 24 hour escape from parenthood had come to an end and we had to check out. We were able to settle up our bill right from the tv in our room and skip waiting at the lobby desk. Just a heads up- there is a $25 destination fee and valet parking was $65. There is a T-Station right outside the hotel (red line), so ditch the car if at all possible.
In my head, I wondered if going away the day after Christmas was a terrible idea, or totally genius. My house looked like Target threw up all over it and I was surrounded by endless housework. In the end, it was the perfect time to escape. Their Grammy is an 81 year old kid who still loves to do LEGOs and the kids were so happy playing with their new toys that they didn’t even notice that we were gone. We didn’t have to experience that sad “day after Christmas” feeling and more than anything, I needed to rest after the chaos of the holiday.
Pet Friendly Policy
The Liberty Hotel is very pet friendly, but it will cost $100 for up to two pets. Dogs and cats are welcome, but can not be left in the room unattended. The hotel will supply a bed, bowls and treats at check-in. What is most exciting, is The Liberty’s “Yappier Hour” which is a dog friendly cocktail hour in The Yard. These events are held seasonally.
Amenities
The Liberty offers many high-end amenities like a 24- hour business center. There is also a 24-hour fitness center and seasonally available yoga classes. Maps are provided for runners and bicycles are also available when the weather allows.
Address
215 Charles Street
Boston, MA 02114
(617) 224-4000
I love how this Marriott Brand Luxury Collection Hotel refurbished this jailhouse while keeping all of the historic charm in tact. You can arrange a historical tour of the hotel during your stay. Just see the concierge if interested.
Trust me, you need to stay at The Liberty Hotel in Boston. If the Liberty was still a prison, I would want a life sentence.
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