Photo credit: Bostonian Boston

Staying in downtown Boston offers an easy launching pad for exploring the city. The central part of the city is home to marquee sights such as Faneuil Hall, the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum and Copley Square. From downtown, you‘re also close to neighborhoods such as Beacon Hill and the North End. These hotels put you right in the center of the action and offer their own pieces of Boston history and culture. Here are the best hotels in downtown Boston.

Omni Parker House (60 School St.; 617-227-8600) Downtown

This stately Omni hotel dates back to 1855 and is famous for its storied clientele (like Emerson, Longfellow, and Hawthorne) and a few culinary delights: the beloved Parker House Rolls and Boston Cream Pie. Today, the hotel is “still looking gorgeous,” according to Boston Magazine, thanks to “old-world luxury” such as the “Art-Deco entrance to the rich fabrics of the 551 rooms.” One Google reviewer says that “you can’t go wrong with this location, but the room was just okay. The walls and doors are thin,” while another said that “I highly recommend getting one of the executive rooms for the extra space.”    >> Book this hotel for less

Hilton Boston Downtown Faneuil Hall (89 Broad St.; 617-556-0006) Downtown

This Hilton location, set in a 1920s skyscraper, is a winner for its combination of user-friendliness and historic ambience. One Google reviewer calls it a “world-class—perfect location, incredible service, beautiful comfy rooms; and to top it off, a great local coffee shop connected.” A Tripadvisor user adds, “The location was in walking distance to the water taxi to Logan, Faneuil Hall, and the North End.”    >> Book this hotel for less

The Bostonian Boston (26 North St.; 617- 523-3600) Financial District

This AAA Four Diamond hotel, part of the Millennium brand, is less than a 10-minute walk to Faneuil Hall, the Haymarket subway station, and the New England Aquarium. A Tripadvisor user says that it’s a “great hotel for sightseeing,” and that otherwise the “hotel is older but rooms are large, bathroom is roomy, and some rooms have small balconies.” Some Google reviewers complain about the slow elevators, but one says the hotel “is very close to many restaurants and shopping, so you always feel like you’re a part of the city action.”    >> Book this hotel for less

The Godfrey Hotel Boston (505 Washington St.; 617-804-2000) Downtown Crossing

Boston Magazine writes that this 242-room hotel in a pre-war building “is where you might picture a millennial reincarnation of Jay Gatsby knocking back a cocktail. The apartment-like rooms are impeccably tailored with menswear-inspired upholstered headboards, sleek furnishings, Bose Bluetooth sound systems, and phone-to-TV streaming.” The aesthetic details plus the service make up for other missing features, writes one Google reviewer. “There’s no pool or spa, but the service you will receive here is exceptional. Every single employee working at this hotel is an absolute gem.”    >> Book this hotel for less

XV Beacon (15 Beacon St; 617-670-1500) Downtown

Condé Nast Traveler describes this 63-room boutique hotel near Beacon Hill as “truly transportive, a tucked-away haven of serenity and relaxation. With only seven guest rooms per floor, the hotel has a distinctly residential feel.” Rooms also have their own fireplaces, dark woods and rich colors. A Tripadvisor user calls it “classic luxury …the room was well-appointed and very quiet. We used the house car, and it was extremely convenient, and the hotel bar has superb wines by the glass. I liked the old world charm and location.” Tip: Say the hotel’s name as “Fifteen Beacon.”    >> Book this hotel for less

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