Haute Top 5: Coolest Hotel Lobbies in Boston 2017

If you ever wondered what it might look like inside jail, the multi-story lobby of The Liberty Hotel is probably as close as you want to get. The luxury hotel near Beacon Hill pays homage to the former Charles Street Jail that was built here in 1851. Most of the historic structure was retained when the jail was transformed into a boutique hotel. You can still see some of the original catwalks, jail cells and tributes to some of Boston’s most famous inmates. Even the on-site restaurants continue to pay homage to its former self with names like Clink, Alibi, The Yard, and Catwalk.

There is nothing quite like the old world charm that the Fairmont Copley Plaza exudes. Ornate gold details, white marble flooring and soaring ceilings decorate the gorgeous lobby. Be sure to also keep an eye out for Catie and Carly Copley, the hotel's canine ambassadors that can be found roaming the hotel's grand lobby at this pet-friendly Back Bay property. Some of the most awaited events here are the seasonal bacchanals featuring multi-course dinners that transform the lobby into a lush garden party with one of the largest dining tables in the city.

Boutique luxury at its best, XV Beacon sits prominently in the luxe neighborhood of Beacon Hill. A step inside the gorgeous lobby and the first thing you will notice is the impressive art collection. From an ancient Roman mosaic to Jules Olitski’s “Green Dot” canvas, the art filled lobby has been recognized for its stunning works. Even the guest rooms feature specially commissioned pieces by Martha Lloyd, Joe Greene, Tony Evanko and Ben Freeman.

You might be hard pressed to find a hotel steeped with more history than the Omni Parker House where you only wish the walls could talk. Vintage American oak walls, decorative bronze accents, arched ceilings, crystal chandeliers and plush chairs adorn the clubby lobby of this historic gem located on the Freedom Trail. The longest continuously operating hotel in the country is where Boston cream pie was invented; John F. Kennedy proposed to Jackie O; and also where Emeril Lagasse, Malcolm X and Ho Chi Minh all once worked.

We would be remiss to have a list of the city’s best hotel lobbies that didn't include one steps from a waterfront view. When you pull up to the grand arched entrance of The Boston Harbor Hotel at Rowes Wharf, you will certainly know you have arrived somewhere special. The grand front doors open to a sun splashed spacious lobby filled with natural light, decorated with ornate chandeliers and marble flooring. It doesn't hurt that their backyard is home to the Summer in the City waterfront series featuring a blues barge, movies by the harbor and al fresco dining at the Rowes Wharf Sea Grille.