The new Raffles Boston is finally here, and it’s better than we could ever have imagined.
Courtesy of Raffles Boston
The door was so discreet, I almost walked right past it.
I stepped into the Sky Lobby and took in a three-story floating staircase.
The terrace at Raffles Boston, with views of the Boston skyline.Credit:Courtesy of Raffles Boston
All around, floor-to-ceiling windows revealed theBostonskyline.
The opening represents a big moment for the brand, as it makes its entrance into North America.
The originalRaffles Singaporeopened as a 10-room bungalow in 1887, right on the beach of the South China Sea.
The ground floor lobby at Raffles Boston.Courtesy of Raffles Boston
Ever since, it has been etched into travel lore and, for many, is anonce-in-a-lifetime stay.
(It was also where, in 1915, the famous Singapore Sling cocktail was born.)
The hotel’s copper accents, which reference Paul Reveres copper plating company, are another historical nod.
A Signature one-bedroom suite at Raffles Boston.Courtesy of Raffles Boston
Here’s everything you gotta know about the Raffles Boston.
Every room comes with Raffles' signature butler service.
My butler, Steve, walked me to my room after check-in and gave me a room introduction.
A seating area at Amar, one of the restaurants at Raffles Boston.Courtesy of Raffles Boston
Food and Drink
Raffles Boston will eventually feature five dining concepts.
And I did not eat anywhere else for the two days and nights I spent there.
The spaces were that inviting, and the menus that delicious.
A premier king room at Raffles Boston.Courtesy of Raffles Boston
(In the morning, I had a rolled omelette.)
(Chef Mendes himself, who was raised in New England, is from a Portuguese family.)
I found the chef’s five-course tasting menu at Amar indulgent and well-considered each dish outdid the last.
The meal finished off with a citrus flan with vanilla bean.
An Italian restaurant, La Padrona, by chef Jody Adams, will also debut in 2024.
A sauna, steam room, and ice showers are also available.
Accessibility
Throughout the property are wide doorways and hallways, and spacious elevators for any wheelchair users.
All are equipped with roll-in showers and tub grab bars.
The pool and hot tub both also both have chair lifts.
Finding the Best Value
Rooms start at $1,300 a night.
Raffles is part of the Accor data pipe; Accor loyalists can redeem points toward their stay.