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Kendall Hotel
Categories: Event Planning & Services Hotels Hotels & Travel Hotels Restaurants Hotels, Restaurants [Edit]
350 Main StCambridge, MA 02142
Neighborhood: Kendall Square/MIT
(617) 577-1300
- Nearest Transit:
-
Main St @ Kendall Station - Red Line (64, 68, 85, CT2)
Kendall/mit Station - Inbound (Red Line)
Kendall/mit Station - Outbound (Red Line)
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dinner, Breakfast
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
33 reviews for Kendall Hotel
Review Highlights
"...feeling with their boutique hotel / bed & breakfast model."
(in 4 reviews)
"Kendall Square on the (whichever) Red Line."
(in 3 reviews)
"This is definitely my "go-to" hotel in Boston."
(in 8 reviews)
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33 reviews in English
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Review from Baer B.
Berkeley, CA
8/30/2011
This hotel has style. It is not only a place to stay overnight but a great place to meet, socialize, and make friends. All of the interior is designed to transport you back in time and I felt that this was also reflected in the way the hotel guests appeared: relaxed, friendly, uncomplicated, open.
A self-serve breakfast is included and is a great way to get in contact with other guests. Throughout the day, a bowl of apples is available right at the check-in counter. Service at the counter is extremely pleasant.
On the roof of the building is a small but lovely furnished meeting room with a computer and printer. This room is transformed into an open bar every day from 5 to 6 pm where guests mingle and enjoy free wine.
It is located right across from Google at the edge of the MIT campus and at a subway station. -
Review from Ken A.
Campbell, CA
12/31/2011
My daughter recommended three hotels just because they were near Kendall Square. We wanted one with a kitchen, so the choice became Residence Inn (Marriott chain) or the family owned Kendall Hotel. It looked like Residence was cheaper, but that's only because their quote didn't include the fees, taxes, etc. We chose Kendall as a "decent choice".
BOY were we surprised! Great place, cozy rooms, perfect for us and our two kids (they were okay with one extra for a night or two for my other daughter). Breakfast was buffet American style (scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, french toast or pancakes, toast, cereal, pastries, coffee and a few other things ... I forget). I really liked the staff; human with a sense of humor (I tried to haggle a week's worth of our stay's cost by $1.20... we got a giggle out of it... Almost got a chocolate bar! We did get a t-shirt).
I could get used to this as home. My daughters agreed....
We never did get to the "rooftop" (it's enclosed) wine tasting they have for most evenings.
The restaurant they have downstairs was wonderful, but careful of the price tag. It's expensive though very good. For variety, there is a "Legal Seafood" restaurant right across the street which has a larger menu but is MUCH more expensive.
It's right across from the "T" and within walking distance from places like the Science Museum.
Free Internet. Fast
There is parking for a fee per day. It sucks for a large car like the Tahoe we rented. -
Review from Rob K.
Chicago, IL
7/20/2011
I booked this place on http://priceline.com and was a little bit skeptical. We chose it because it had a 9 out of 10 rating on PL, it was relatively inexpensive, and was right by the T.
1st of all the hotel staff is really accomodating, the rooms are nice, big, and clean (mine had a fridge, microwave, pull out couch, desk, and king bed). The decor is great, there is free internet, and FREE BREAKFAST (not continental).
It's on MIT's campus, 2 train stops to Harvard or Downtown, and is the most reasonably priced place to stay in Boston for the money/quality.
On the way out, I swapped books with the hotel staff. -
Review from Jeffrey K.
Somerville, MA
1/4/2011
Kendall Square on the (whichever) Red Line!
Before I was hired by MIT, I'd often have to come up for a week's stay. This place came recommended to me by the people with whom I now work. It has a very nice, bed-and-breakfast, feel to it, but they have 4 stories worth of rooms.
The beds are huge and comfortable. They've got free wi-fi. Their built-in (albeit very small) restaurant serves a decent breakfast in the morning, and a solid meal for dinner. They give you free schwag as a part of your stay. Perfect location right next to the T, and a reasonable walk to MIT ampus. Room prices are damn good for being in the middle of Cambridge/MIT.
I dunno, I'm not too picky when it comes to staying in a hotel, but I'd definitely recommend this place. Like a good bed-and-breakfast should, it makes you feel like you're staying in a room at someone's home instead of the typical sterile hotel environment.Listed in: The Boston T Adventures
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Review from Ted L.
Brattleboro, VT
12/17/2010
We stayed in the smallest, cheapest room they had on offer. This turned out to be a small suite, with a sitting room and flatscreen TV, and a bed in a separate room with its own flatscreen TV. There was very little extra space in the bedroom, but enough space to do yoga in the sitting room. We were on the second floor, with a view out to Main Street.
The bed was not as firm as I would have preferred, but was adequate. The pillows were a little too big, but not so loafy as to be unmanageable. I would not rate the bedding as perfect, but it was clean, and I had a good night's sleep. There is some city noise here, although it wasn't bad.
The room had no annoying smell (the entire hotel is nonsmoking). Soaps and shampoo were of good quality. The shower head was due for a vinegar bath (it was a bit clogged), but pressure was fine, and I had a nice shower anyway.
The bathroom is decorated with subway tile, hexagonal floor tile, a faux-Victorian sink, chrome fixtures, and so on. It seemed nice to me--they didn't go overboard with it. Decor in general was pleasant. Clearly they're going for a faux prewar look, but they don't beat you over the head with it.
Breakfast was pretty good. They only had super-sweet, super-artificial yogurt, so I couldn't do my usual breakfast with muesli and fruit, but the scones were good, the eggs were good, and the bread was pretty good (really good if you like sourdough, but it's not my thing).
People in other reviews have complained about the price of this hotel, but I found it to be cheaper than other options of similar quality in Cambridge. It was cheaper than the Hampton Inn out by the airport, in a much better location, and much more pleasant. If you really like over-perfumed corporate hotels with $30 breakfast buffets that aren't included in the room rate, I guess this isn't the right hotel for you.
The location is fantastic--steps from the Kendall Square T stop, close to Tech Square, close to all the Kendall Square corporate offices. There's a good slow-food espresso shop--Voltage Coffee--a short walk from the hotel. It's also walking distance from the Mary Chung's end of Mass. Ave, so there are a lot of good restaurants in walking distance if you consider that a reasonable walk (not everyone will). -
Review from DarthTate R.
Berkeley, CA
9/14/2011
I'll throw in another vote of confidence for their customer service. I had an abrupt change of itinerary very close to my intended stay dates, and they were able to accommodate a switch without issue. I'll definitely look them up when I'm in town again.
-
Review from Rosie F.
Brookline, MA
12/27/2008
This review is for the restaurant. The hotel its self seems cutesy and nice enough.
I wish i could say the same for the food. We had slow rude service, lots of confusions over the appetizer we actually ordered and as if that wasn't enough, the food was bland and oily and it made both me and my sister sick.
if your going to stay here, go out to eat. -
Review from Dennie C.
Yonkers, NY
9/1/2008
I stayed at this hotel over the labor day weekend for four days and I found it overall decent but overall quite forgetable. I wouldn't really recommend the Kendall to someone unless they needed the convenience of being in the heart of Cambridge and wanted something smaller and more quaint than the Marriot. However, quaint comes at a price as you'll find the service and staff leaves something to be desired.
The housekeeping was a joke (even with a tip) that after the 2nd cleaning I didn't bother letting them come in as they didn't do much to the room. The free breakfast consisted of exactly the same thing every day (tasteless scrambled eggs, okay flapjacks and suprisingly crisp bacon) which gets old very quickly. Also, if you're driving here there are about 15 parking spaces total in their underground garage and they're all tiny... even if you pay for parking, which for some reason you have to in Boston hotels, it's still first come first serve here. They do give you free Internet access in your room though and Wifi in their lobbies so that was kind of cool if you've brought your laptop.
Another negative is that there is very little in the area and if you want something better to eat than Legal Sea Foods and Quiznos then you're going to have to walk or take a train. However, Boston is a very walkable and easy to travel city so this isn't that big a negative. -
Review from Christopher M.
Somerville, MA
4/19/2008
3.7 stars
I got to stay here for free when I was moving out of Boston. I didn't have a bed, and was totally exhausted. At that point, motel 6 would have been a welcome sight, but luckily my friend and ex-roommate put me up here.
Now, it wasn't all rainbows and roses. . .although that was kind of the problem. the decor of my room was very "grandma wants a cape cod" feel. Not really my vibe, but I could see it working for a certain slice of society.
Secondly, the room didn't have a channel listing for the TV and the staff seemed a little. . .how do I say this. . . undertrained. I wanted to watch something on comedy central as I passed out, so I called the front desk and was told:
"We don't get that station"
"Uh, it says here full cable"
"that is correct sir"
"well, comedy central is in pretty much every basic cable lineup" "please hold" *comes back* "It's channel 37 sir"
"Thanks!"
I mean really, they've got everything else crammed into my room, including a king sized bed, could they not fit a single sheet of paper into a binder?
All in all it was a pleasant experience, and I'd stay there again. . . I'd just wait to walk in at a minute after midnight, so I could rock the bed as much as possible. -
Review from Rob F.
Walled Lake, MI
6/12/2009 2 photos
This is my kind of place. Not corporate in the least, but more like staying at a bed and breakfast than a traditional hotel. The lobby struck me immediately upon walking in....mismatched and beautiful furniture and decoration. It felt more like an old pub than a hotel lobby, in a good way.
The rooms are small but that's because the building is old. Everything is clean and cozy. If you're in the area and like 'cozy' instead of 'corporate'. This is your place. -
Review from Leslie P.
Newington, NH
5/3/2010
I was prepared to love the Kendall after their extremely prompt response to an email inquiry, but found myself on the fence. They offered me the same rate as the Hyatt Regency's best price, and were closer to my conference, but I found a few touches left by the wayside.
The hotel is quaint, and a bit small - built in an old firehouse. If you go for charming and New England and don't mind things being a bit basic, then you'll be quite happy. The room was clean and had no "hotel smell" that seems to come with every over fragranced room these days. For this allergy sufferer, no Febreeze, candle, perfume or oil diffuser scent was fantastic. They also did not use down pillows or bedding, which also made me (and my allergies) very happy. The free WiFi also made me happy, but it didn't work reliably during my stay. Thank goodness for my Verizon wifi card.
The staff was basically polite, but not attentive, and seemed quite anxious to finish with each customer quickly and get back to whatever they had going on before the guest walked up. I was surprised to see that a hotel with a restaurant in it didn't offer room service of any kind, nor did they offer a small coffee set up in the room. Those little in-room coffee pots and/or room service are something I look for. Not all of us should go forth and be amongst people at the hotel continental breakfast line *before* we've had coffee, trust me.
I was also surprised that the hotel restaurant The Black Sheep closed so early in a town like Boston, but in retrospect, there wasn't anything truly close by to inspire them to keep it open beyond their own guests. As for parking, I was truly grateful my car is so compact, otherwise I'm not sure it would have fit into their driveway, much less any of their spaces. I ended up leaving it and walking everywhere I went while in town.
Overall, this is a perfectly passable hotel, with pleasant staff and a nice location if you want to be in the business part of Cambridge or in the lap of MIT's campus. That said, I'll probably go for the chains next time, since I can expect more hotel amenities (like room service, for example) at the same or similar pricing while there. -
Review from Alyssa N.
New York, NY
5/12/2008 1 photo
My mom stayed here and really enjoyed it. Said she'd gladly return to a an urban hotel with relatively reasonable prices. We both thought that the staff were really nice and professional, but had not had the humanity drained out of them at too many forced corporate seminars on customer service.
Really good (and free for guests) Continental breakfast. (Guests are welcome to indulge for a small fee.) -
Review from Rachel Z.
Washington, DC
6/8/2010
This is for the hotel-- I only ate breakfast in the restaurant, I didn't order anything off their menu, so I really don't think I can judge.
I stayed here one weekend and really, really enjoyed the hotel. It's next to MIT and the Kendall stop on the red line, but I was able to walk everywhere. The room I had was very nice: super comfy beds, a desk and sitting area for reading, nice bathroom. I was also down the hallway from the solarium (?) which was nice since checking email on a phone is not always where it's at. The breakfast was a little harried on the weekend, but I ate, and well at that! I loved that it was a boutique hotel that still had the kind of amenities I'd expect from a larger place. Super helpful desk staff as well. I would absolutely stay at the Kendall again. -
Review from CK H.
Woodinville, WA
4/23/2009
I chose this hotel because of its location to MIT, and the T station so that I don't need to drive in Boston. I found the location is excellent as it was advertised.
The hotel's front portion is based on the historical Engine 7 house. Most of the rooms are in the newly (2002) constructed 7-floor building.
Our room was in the back portion of the building. Outside the windows is a busy loading dock belongs to the MIT. The activities goes on day and night thus produces noise almost continuously during our 4 days' stay. Besides, there was a skate board party by some young people on the dock one night from about 1AM and lasted for at least a couple of hours. My wife had a very difficult time to sleep. I spoke with the front desk about the issues. But the lady told me that she does not know how to take care of the problem. Although she offered us to change room for the next night, there was no assurance not to have different noise in the new room. Thus we declined her offer. She never did apologize for the problem.
Generally the male staff at front desk are pretty nice and helpful, the female staff and the restaurant workers are not. The ladies who attend the breakfast bar look unhappy most of the time. Breakfast buffet was oversold. There are some hot items, but they are exactly the same items for all 4 days during our stay. We were pretty tired of eating pancake, bacon and scramble eggs every morning. Otherwise there are have very few selection of items. We never did fine scone or sausage as they advertized.
Our room was nicely decorated. Bed and pillows are reasonably comfortable. But there is no fridge or coffee maker in the room. The lobby does not offer coffee, tea or water. When I asked for some hot water to make tea, I was sent to the restaurant where they will sell a cup of tea for money. I thought this is ridiculous for a hotel who charges $250 a night for the room.
Air condition did not work during our stay for the entire hotel. Anything comes from the vent is warm air. When the room gets too warm, the only way to cool down is to open the windows. Then, of course, it brings all the noise inside too. We found ourselves in between a rock and a hard place - either bare with the heat or the noise.
Business center is a multi-purpose room. There is no way that we can use the computer when they have meetings in the room. It is also being used as banquet room for restaurant guests during dinner time. When there is finally no other activities in the room, I found the printer has a leaking cartridge which produces bad quality prints. I tried to print my boarding pass before I left, but I could not get a good quality print to work.
Overall, we were very disappointed on this hotel despite of other good reviews. -
Review from Jess L.
8/17/2009
The staff here are courteous and definitely want to please their clients. For example, with a small dispute over the bill, they not only gave us the cheaper rate, but they also offered to give 1/2 off on parking.
This hotel is best described as half b&b feel, half "hotel" feel. The chachkas everywhere - relating to a firehouse, of course - were cute but a little kitchy. However, they make you remember that you're not in the Marriott around the corner, and we liked the more homey feel overall.
Breakfast buffet is quaint but totally satisfying. Eat outside if you get a table; you'll barely realize you're right on Main Street.
Oh - and don't pay for parking. You can definitely find street parking in the 'hood. -
Review from Elizabeth K.
Somerville, MA
8/23/2010
Do not use this place for your wedding block! They are adorable and they charm you, but then they get your several thousand dollars worth of business and treat you and your family like dirt. The night we stayed prior to our wedding was fabulous, but they ruined our wedding night and embarrassed us tremendously in front of our friends and family.
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Review from Justine N.
New York, NY
8/25/2008
Found a good deal on http://Hotels.com for this place ($180/night) and the Yelp reviews were pretty positive for the most part, so I tried it out for a couple of nights when I was in the area for business. To echo some of the other Yelpers' sentiments, this is a really cozy, quaint hotel. The hotel is also steps away from the Kendall T stop on the red line and it's easy to get to/from the airport from this stop.
Other than that, I didn't find anything at the Kendall Hotel to be extraordinary. A few Yelpers praised it for the customer service, but it didn't seem exceptional to me. In fact, when I first go there and was checking in at the front desk (around 9 pm when it was hardly busy), the front desk clerk answered the phone just as I had stepped up to the counter and proceeded to chat it up with someone (who I'm guessing also worked there ) to tell him/her about her not-so-busy day. I stood there waiting for at least 5 minutes listening to a clearly non-important conversation.
The hotel also doesn't offer room service (and the kitchen at their in-house restaurant closes at 9:45 pm). I don't usually order room service, but I got in late and hadn't had dinner yet and it was on my company's tab anyway. There's a Legal Seafoods bar/restaurant across the street, which seemed to be the only dining option, at that time of night, within walking distance.
I had to catch a cab to the office one morning and unfortunately they don't have a taxi stand outside. You either have to ask the front desk to call a cab for you, or walk around the block to the Marriott's taxi stand. -
Review from Clodel G.
San Francisco, CA
8/21/2009
I had to spend a week in Cambridge for training and this was one of the few hotels within blocks of the location. I had a choice between this and the two Marriots. Of course I chose this because it looked like it had the most personality.
I'm sure glad I did. I just ended my 5 night stay there. They have a nice homey feeling with their boutique hotel / bed & breakfast model. The lobby was full of persanilty and felt comfortable hanging out there.
I kept on meaning to ask for down pillows instead of the flat poly fill ones. Their restaurant downstairs was really good too. -
Review from Shireen T.
San Francisco, CA
7/29/2009
Very charming stay. We stayed in a quaint room with a very comfortable bed, complete with old wedding photos adorning the walls. I would say more of a B&B feel than a hotel.
Great location - close to the T and the riverside, perfect for a postprandial stroll.
Dinner - ate dinner at the restaurant. Pretty good food and phenomenal service. Only suggestion is to not sit on the side of the building if you choose to sit outside. The hotel's dumpster is behind a large fenced-in eating area, but you could see rats running to and from the dumpster, behind the fence. Not so pleasant. -
Review from Carol W.
11/1/2010 1 Check-in Here
This is a very nice hotel. The staff are friendly and the in-house restaurant is more like bed and breakfast fare and tasty. I would stay here again, but I do think it is pricey.
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Review from B K.
Cambridge, MA
8/15/2011
Extremely clean hotel with a strong sense of Boston. The staff is friendly and attentive and the interior decorating is superb. The beds are high quality, as are the linens. This is definitely my "go-to" hotel in Boston. A short walk across the Pepper Pot Bridge takes you to the prettiest neighborhood in Boston - Back Bay with great architecture, gardens, shopping and restaurants. I loved this place.
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Review from Thomas E.
Berkeley, CA
1/21/2008
If you're looking for a quaint, cozy, and charming place to stay near MIT and Kendall Square, you're done looking. I put my family up here in December, and they had a wonderfully pleasant experience. The sixth floor double queen-bed room was immaculately clean and the little firestation trinkets really gave it a warm feel.
The continental buffet breakfast, included in the charge for the night, was delicious. The fresh squeezed orange juice was a fine compliment to the bacon and eggs. The staff was also bent over backwards to accommodate all of our requests, and stowed our luggage while we did some afternoon shopping.
And while some people have noted that the Kendall can be pricey, look for their weekend bargains! Except around MIT commencement, the Kendall Hotel is generally cheaper than the Marriott next door. -
Review from Delilah W.
Somerville, MA
11/6/2008
Unfortunately I am staying here because my apartment's water heater went asplodey, so I'm trying to make the most of it. It's a very quaint historic hotel with kitschy firehouse decor reminiscent of the building's long ago use. It's reasonably priced for a Boston hotel (under $200 a night via http://hotels.com) and clean and fairly cozy, no frills really but located very conveniently by the Kendall Square T, with free wi-fi and minimal cable TV. The inexpensive rooms are small with not much natural light, but all in all it's a tidy and well run hotel that I would shelf relatives at and whatnot if the need arose.
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Review from Emily C.
Baltimore, MD
3/7/2009
Whenever my parents came to visit me while I was in school, they would stay at this hotel. On occasion, I'd spend the night with them in the hotel. I really like hotel itself. It used to be an old fire station. I believe it's listed in the Historic Hotels of America: (http://www.historichot...). Each room is decorated in a different color scheme, but they are all so inviting and make you feel like you're in a cute BnB out in the country somewhere, and not right in the middle of Kendall Square. They offer complimentary hot breakfast for each guest as well, which I thought was really really good. For a city hotel, it's not that expensive, and I think if you go to their website and book early enough, you can get specials for as low as $99/night.
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Review from Kristina H.
New Haven, CT
7/27/2007
This place was really nice. The stuffed dalmatian on my bed was a cute addition. I loved the free breakfast, terrific strawberry scones, eggs, bacon, everything. The place is very clean and comfortable and the staff was very helpful. They have high quality toiletries. I have found the lotion they carry only at a few hotels, but I always hoard it. It smells terrific.
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Review from Monica T.
Palo Alto, CA
10/13/2006
I loved the staff and thought the hotel was really cute. The price is reasonable for the area. If you want an all amenities cookie cutter hotel there's a Marriott across the street, but if you want a nice "homey"hotel this is the place. The price included a nice warm breakfast every morning.
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Review from Sandra C.
Boston, MA
7/20/2005
This is a so-called "boutique" hotel. Which means that the whole place is cluttered with junk, you stay in a tiny tiny room, and you pay exorbitant prices for it. Not worth it!
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Review from Dana L.
10/18/2005
Nice hotel. Maybe a bit expensive, but so are most of the hotels in Boston. The service is good, and the decor is neat.
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Review from Jessica R.
Somerville, MA
8/30/2005 2 photos
My dad and grandparents shared a room here and seemed to like it. It was cheaper than the Marriott and their other options at the time.
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Review from Beth K.
West Chester, PA
2/28/2010
Yummy lunch - huge portions - perfect place to eat outside and watch people pass by.
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Review from Ann S.
State College, PA
7/11/2009
We enjoyed our stay. The staff was friendly, and although we seemed to always talk to the same young lady (I don't remember her name any more), the rest of the staff always seemed to be friendly and helpful (except for one guy who tried his best never to make eye contact with anyone).
We had to check out early due to a death in the family, and the staff gave us no problem. We received a very nicely discounted week-long rate, so I was expecting difficulty when we needed to check out early, but was pleasantly surprised when they said no problem.
The room was spacious, but it did appear to be unfinished, only because the baseboard trim is missing, which causes the corners to get dinged.
My one complaint is that our door was not square in the door jam. The door shut and locked, but it had a decent gap, to the point where the front desk called us at 10 pm one night to tell us that our door wasn't shut - but it was. We had to get up at 5 every day, so that was not appreciated. -
Review from Katharine S.
Framingham, MA
2/2/2009
So after deciding to take a night out in Cambridge, my boyfriend and I found ourselves staying here and I read other Yelp reviews and was starting to dread the idea. However, I was pleasantly surprised.
The hotel screwed up our room because of http://expedia.com and http://hotels.com and compensated us with free dinner at their Black Sheep Restaurant, which included a soup or salad per person, any entree, one dessert per person and then non-alcoholic beverages. Although the selection on the menu wasn't plentiful and they didn't have the lobster risotto I wanted, what we both ended up ordering was surprisingly good. Desserts were both awesome and the room itself was really cute. We were staying in a suite and after looking at the floor plan concluded that it was significantly larger than the other rooms, which isn't saying much. Everything was really clean and put together and the breakfast that's included is pretty good for a 'continental' breakfast-type. French toast, scrambled eggs, bacon, fresh fruit, muffins and coffee and tea....all serve yourself. AND the french toast was good....bacon wasn't so great but not bad.
All in all I would go back again but not in a heart beat, there are, I'm sure, far better restaurants and hotels in the city. And for parking, just tell them you're staying there and they give you a parking pass. -
Review from Daniel E.
San Carlos, CA
5/6/2010
I think that as hotels in Cambridge go, this really is the best place to stay. The staff is friendly. It's small enough to be easy, homey and friendly. Everything about the place is as frictionless as possible. They have covered parking right below the hotel, they're right next to the subway stop, and they have a taxi stand across the street. It doesn't have most of drawbacks of small hotels. (You have to walk to the gym, but that's not so bad except in winter.)
