Mandarin Oriental

Adding a large dose of glamour and Eastern heritage to Boston’s hospitality scene, the Mandarin Oriental is so much more than just an uber-luxurious property. With an eye for detail—the blond wood furniture has a beautiful finish, artwork (including masterpieces by acclaimed artists like Frank Stella and David Hockney) on loan from the Peabody Essex Museum adorns the walls, and the rooms and baths are among the most spacious in the city—and service that’s out of this world, this is probably the most welcoming residence in the city. The guest rooms are decorated in a contemporary Asian design aesthetic, the bathrooms all feature soaking tubs and rain showers, the beds are covered in 400-thread-count linen, and all the equipment is state-of-the-art. Add to that a 16,000 sq ft spa, a glamorous bar, designer boutiques and two excellent restaurants—the Mandarin oriental surpasses expectations and lives up to its stellar reputation.