HOTEL: THE LENOX, Boston

THE HOTEL located in the city’s central and hip Back Bay district, this 11-storey hotel, with its red brick frontage, has been peering down on Boyleston Street, one of the city’s main arteries, since 1900. Boston common and the designer shops and galleries of newbury Street are a short walk away.

THE CHECK- IN I was warmly welcomed by a swarm of bellhops. They had my bag out of the taxi and into the hotel before I had even settled the fare. The reception is to the right of a large lobby area made striking by its chandeliers, Turkish carpets and a caramel-coloured tiled floor. It is both historic looking – a working mailbox from the early 1900s is set into the wall opposite reception and runs the length of several floors – and super-stylish.

THE SUITE one of 214 luxurious rooms, my seventh-floor Junior Suite (with 450ft2 of space) was modern and chic. features included two Queen beds, bedside crystal lamps, a 55-inch TV, a couch, Bluetooth hi-fi system, a centrepiece crystal chandelier and an cast iron fireplace. on request, hotel staff will set your logs ablaze. The marble bathroom, with an oversized shower area, had Beekman amenities.

THE FACILITIES There are three dining options: city Table, a popular spot for breakfast and dinner; Solas, a lively pub serving a range of ales and pub grub that attracts the pre-game crowds when there’s a baseball game on at nearby fenway park; and the lounge-style city Bar, which has a table menu and a list of classic cocktails. The hotel is geared up to the corporate visitor. city Bar has couches, nooks and crannies for those private chats while five, various-sized, conference and meeting rooms are available to hire. Day rates for these range from $250 to $500. a boardroom (called a ‘Groom room’ when the hotel hosts a wedding) hosts 12 people. There’s also a small business centre.

THE VERDICT This ideally situated and ultra-comfortable hotel has classy staff who go out of their way to preserve the hotel’s reputation for courteous service. It is also reasonably priced throughout – for example, $13 for a cocktail in one of Boston’s top hotels is almost a steal.

THE DETAILS 61 exeter Street at Boylston, Boston, Massachusetts 02116, usa. Tel: 001 617 536 5300. Junior Suites start from around $300 a night for a midweek stay. See: lenoxhotel.com. Steve Hartridge