Fairmont Copley Plaza

Rooms and decor

Picture a cream Beaux-Arts stone pile that has held its corner of Copley Square for more than a hundred years - that is the first charm of the Fairmont Copley Plaza, a Boston landmark open since 1912 and designed by Henry Hardenbergh, the same architect who created The Plaza in New York and the Willard in Washington. Step into the lobby and you cannot help tipping your head back, because the gold-painted ceiling and the crystal chandeliers hanging beneath it are lovely enough that many locals call this one of the most beautiful lobbies in the city. Polished marble floors, classical stone columns and detailed plasterwork in every corner tell the story of a richer era. The 383 rooms and 17 suites are done in warm, classic tones - high ceilings in the old style, heavy drapes, dark wood furniture - and feel closer to a grand old mansion than a standard hotel room. Rooms facing Copley Square or Trinity Church across the way get an especially pretty view of the old city. If you love classic luxury with a sense of history, you will likely fall for it from the first step inside.

Food and amenities

The heart of eating and drinking here is OAK Long Bar + Kitchen, a handsome, classic bar and dining room that opens onto the street, with a soaring ceiling, a long oak bar and warm lamps that have made this a popular meeting spot for Bostonians for years. It serves contemporary American food and classic cocktails that reviews praise for atmosphere and service - good for an evening drink after a full day out, or an easy meal in elegant surroundings. Another draw guests remember is the historic ballrooms, the Oval Room and the Grand Ballroom, richly decorated and the setting for countless major city events - walking past them feels like stepping back in time. For exercise there is a 24-hour fitness room, and the hotel has one charming signature touch: Catie Copley, the resident Labrador who greets guests and has become such a favourite that many people remember her by name. The overall feel blends classic luxury with a friendly, welcoming warmth.

Location and getting there

The location is genuinely the best card here. The hotel stands right on Copley Square in the heart of Back Bay, one of the prettiest and most historic squares in Boston. Directly across the square is Trinity Church, an icon of Romanesque architecture, and the handsome Boston Public Library. A little further on, Newbury Street is a 3-5 minute walk, lined with boutiques, brand-name shops, cafes and restaurants in pretty brownstones. If you prefer indoor shopping, you can cut straight through to Copley Place and the Prudential Center under cover the whole way - very handy when it rains or snows. Better still, the MBTA Copley Green Line stop is right in front of the hotel, so you step out and ride into other parts of the city at once, no taxi needed, and Logan International Airport is a short drive away. In short, if you want to be in the heart of a neighborhood where you can walk to shops, food and fine architecture and catch the subway from the front door, this location scores a perfect ten.

Things to know before booking

To help you decide, the first thing to know is that this is a building over a century old. The classic charm is the selling point, but it comes with rooms that vary widely in size and layout - some are fairly small or laid out less neatly than a new-build, and a few reviews note getting a room that looked older than the price paid. Ask about the room type and condition clearly when you book, or request a renovated room. The second thing that disappoints some guests is that there is no swimming pool, only a 24-hour fitness room. If you were planning a cool-down soak after sightseeing or want a full resort-style spa, this may not fit. The third point is that as a downtown landmark it carries extra costs worth checking first - valet parking in particular adds a noticeable sum on top of the room rate, and Copley Square gets busy with tourists and traffic during the day. That said, most rooms hold sound reasonably well; ask for a high floor or an inside-facing room for more quiet. Come for the charm, the location and the story of the building, and treat the not-brand-new rooms as part of the spell of an old grand hotel.

Our take

After reading through plenty of real guest reviews, the Fairmont Copley Plaza sells one thing better than almost anywhere else: the charm of a legendary 1912 landmark, a gold-painted lobby ceiling, and a Copley Square address that walks to everything in Back Bay with the subway at the front door. If the trip in your head is staying in a classic building with a story, looking up at that gold ceiling as you walk in, stepping out to Trinity Church and Newbury Street for a full day, then coming back for a cocktail at OAK Long Bar, this place will stay with you - and the starting rates still run easier than several newer luxury hotels in town. But if you put a premium on brand-new modern rooms, generous space, or a full pool and spa, the old building and the missing pool may give you pause. Overall we give it 8.7/10 - best for couples, luxury lovers, and anyone drawn to classic Boston in the heart of Back Bay who values history, architecture and location over new finishes.