Boston is a city brimming with history and charm, and Beacon Hill in particular is a neighborhood that exudes a sense of intellectualism and old money. XV Beacon, one of the few boutique hotels in this famous zip code, is the preferred stay for business travelers, families, and history buff visitors looking for a classy urban oasis.
The hotel is situated just next door to the Massachusetts State House, adjacent to the Boston Common public park, where guests can take a sunny stroll, go for a jog, or cross the street to the Boston Public Gardens say hi to the Make Way For Ducklings statue or take a ride in a swan boat. At the hotel, guests can escape the city through massive heavy wooden doors opened by uniformed doormen. They enter a stately wood-paneled lobby that’s brightened up by a gleaming tiled floor and an unexpected zebra-print area rug. The hotel design is grand but not ostentatious or gaudy, with carefully selected objects placed on the built-in bookshelves and a marble bust displayed on the front desk that’s just the sort of decor you expect from in an old-school Bostonian haunt.
The XV Beacon staff are incredibly accommodating and fully equipped to handle requests, no matter how unexpected. This pet-friendly hotel takes the full-service approach seriously, with handy amenities like complimentary overnight shoe shining, luxurious cashmere bedding, and a free Lexus car service to any location in downtown Boston.
Mooo.…, the hotel’s singular on-site restaurant, is a well-regarded steakhouse in its own right. Part of Boston’s Columbus Hospitality Group, XV Beacon is one of three Mooo…. (yes, that’s four dots) locations in the Boston area. It’s open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with Sunday brunch. Menu options range from light breakfast fare like a fluffy spinach and egg white omelet to chilled East Coast seafood platters to elevated steakhouse classics like Japanese A5 Wagyu and Maine Lobster. From vegetarians to carnivores to pescatarians, there’s something on the Mooo…. Menu for every kind of eater and drinker.
The intimate hotel has 63 rooms, just seven per floor, and each is spacious and smartly decorated. With fine details like prominent crown moldings, heavy drapery, and a built-in mini-bar with a speaker system, each room is designed for entertaining friends around the fire, taking Zoom meetings from the comfortable desk, or getting a sound night’s sleep undisturbed by light or sound from the city.
XV Beacon uses its urban real estate well without feeling the least bit cramped. Each room is well proportioned with elegant touches like plush love seats, chic glass coffee tables, and stunnigng ivory paneling around the mantel. On the top floor, a well-equipped fitness center has the latest equipment to stay fit on vacation, including Woodway treadmills, Peloton bikes, and a sufficient weight rack.
Whether you’re visiting the city to explore the Freedom Trail and track down Boston’s best chowda’, you’re stopping in for a day of business meetings in the nearby Financial District, or you’re looking for a elevated staycation where you’ll be catered to at every turn, the XV Beacon is a worthwhile destination that’s pure class, comfort, and urban sophistication.
Top Takeaways
Location: Beacon Hill, Boston
Address: 15 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02108
Rating: Four-Star
The vibe: A sophisticated boutique city-center hotel with an old-school aesthetic that’s modernized with top-of-the-line amenities, dining worth seeking out on its own, and first-class service.
Food + Drink: The on-site restaurant Mooo…. caters to every palate at any time of day, thanks to 24-hour room service plus full-service breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a bar. The menu is varied and largely focuses on your standard high-end East Coast steakhouse fare with a few tasty surprises, including delicately wrapped wagyu beef dumplings, rich and savory roasted bone marrow (a must-try), and a stunning layered beef wellington complete with foie gras and umami-soaked mushroom duxelles.
Our Favorite Part of the Hotel: The thoughtful design of each guest room, right down to the gas fireplaces and plush Frette robes, will make it hard to leave your room to explore the city. The premium mattresses, choose-your-own-adventure pillow options, and on-demand room service make XV Beacon rooms unforgettable.
Amenities: Fitness Center; Gas fireplaces in every room; Complimentary downtown Boston car service; Pillow menu; 24-hour laundry and pressing; Free Wi-Fi; Room Service; Restaurant; Bar; Dog-friendly; Complimentary shoe-shine; Meeting rooms
What’s nearby? Beacon Hill; Back Bay; Boston Public Gardens; Boston Common; Newbury Street (shopping area); Faneuil Hall Marketplace; Theater District
Any personal neighborhood recs? As a Boston native, I have to recommend a trip to the nearby North End, where you’ll have your pick of dozens of old-school, and some more modern, Italian spots. For a casual lunch, grab a slice from Regina Pizzeria. For something more elevated (and espresso martini-fueled), make a reservation at Bricco for some of the city’s best pasta. You certainly don’t want to miss Boston’s seafood scene, so try Saltie Girl for fully loaded lobster rolls and light and refreshing crudo. To top it off, grab a cone at JP Licks, a local ice cream chain that always hits the spot, even in the dead of a Boston winter.
Rooms: 63
Pricing: Rates start at $500 per night.
Closest Airport: Logan Airport
