The staff are courteous, extremely helpful and the attention to detail puts this hotel above the rest. Very comfortable and great location - walking distance to restaurants, shops, Fenway, museums & galleries and easy access to Harvard.
Our stay at the Eliot for our honeymoon was perfect. The room was large and very clean. We had everything we needed, and the staff was extremely accommodating. The location was also the perfect starting point for all the activities we wanted to do whether it was shopping, getting great coffee, walking the riverside, catching a game at Fenway, or taking the train to Cambridge or Newton.
We stayed at the Eliot (one bedroom suite, two double beds) when we visited Boston for the 10-year anniversary celebration of the 2004 Red Sox "curse-breaking" world series win. My wife had scored my daughter and me tickets to the game.
To be honest, we chose the Eliot largely because of its walking proximity to Fenway (about ten minutes each way). But that's just an added perk. The Eliot is a jewel. From the moment the doorman ushered us in, we felt as if we'd stepped into a 5-star European boutique hotel.
The lobby is not one that impresses with size, but rather with its intimacy, charming ambience, and attention to detail.
Check-in was efficient, and we found ourselves in our corner suite within five minutes of arrival. The suite was larger than we expected: a kitchenette (with a Keurig brewer), a living room with views of both Commonwealth and Massachusetts Avenues, and plenty of seating (including a pull-out couch).
Waiting for us on the living room table were delicious chocolate-chocolate chip cookies wrapped in gift cellophane and tied with a bow.
The roomy bedroom, with two double beds, is separated by beautiful French doors, adorned in white sheers for privacy. Soundproofing was excellent; with the French doors closed, we did not hear the television in the living room.
The bathroom, accessible from the bedroom, was immaculate. It features a shower, but no tub (which suited us fine). This is the one room that is a touch on the tight side. The toilet and sink are right next to each other. My wife got a nasty bruise on her elbow when she accidentally hit the sink.
The Eliot does something very right--it provides an abundance of pillows. My wife was pleased. She often requests extra pillows at other hotels (even when we've stayed in suites). There was no need this time. "Every hotel should provide this many," she said with a happy sigh.
Because my wife did not attend the game, she ordered room service. The crispy Asian dumplings, which she insisted that my daughter and I try, were, we all agreed, the best we've ever had.
The beds were comfortable. We slept soundly (and contentedly--the Sox won that night).
We highly recommend the Eliot.
Our stay at the Eliot was booked at short notice for our first stay in Boston. What a find! We were upgraded on arrival and found our room on the eighth floor to be extremely spacious and comfortable desite not having a view. We had one excellent meal at the in house restaurant Clio. The menu was interesting and the food great, the waiter was knowledgeable about the menu and the wine. Pity there was not enough time to try their Uni Sashimi Bar too. We spent two days walking and visiting the sights close by and to top it all Newbury Street was around the corner for incredible retail therapy. Lovely city, lovely people. We'll definitely be back.
Great location for walking to subway and Newbury Street area. Hotel was clean, bathroom too small for 3 people. I was hoping for a newer hotel and restaurants were a little to spend. Could easily hear traffic at night which kept me awake too.
The Eliot is old school-- there's nothing about it that makes it feel like a business hotel or a big luxury brand (for us these were positives). Instead, it's small and charming. So, keep that in mind. If you want a big lobby, wide hallways, big rooms, and large bathrooms the Eliot probably won't work for you. We were in a double-- so no living room-- at the back of the hotel-- so no view. The decor is beautiful-- first class, and the room was ample but not large. The bathroom has nice fixtures and tile but is small. We found a TA rate that included the continental breakfast which is, like the hotel's decor-- first class. At $345 + tax + $36 for valet parking the Eliot is competitive vis a vis the other nice hotels nearby. We'll likely stay there again.
