Marking a new era for the Raffles Hotels & Resorts brand that was founded in Singapore in 1887, Raffles Boston has officially opened its doors to guests (Sept. 15). The 35-storey Massachusetts property represents the first mixed-use development in North America for the iconic 136-year-old brand.
Located in the heart of Back Bay, Raffles Boston features 147 lavish guestrooms and a wide variety of distinct gathering spaces for guests, residents, and locals.
Upon entering Raffles Boston, guests ascend to the hotel’s 17th floor, where a three-story Sky Lobby awaits, and a Grand Stair, iconic of the Raffles brand, spirals through the atrium. More than a place to check-in for a hotel stay, the soaring space connects guests for socializing, and offers three distinct food and beverage venues.
Dining experiences include Amar by Chef George Mendes, the signature restaurant serving modern Portuguese cuisine with influences from Boston’s seafaring culture; the Long Bar & Terrace, a Paolo Ferrari-designed lounge pairing cocktails with sweeping views of the South End; and a Speakeasy offering specially crafted cocktails and small bites.
Also on the 17th floor is the Raffles Writer’s Lounge, a signature Raffles space made famous for the many writers and poets who have frequented it within the flagship Raffles Singapore and a number of other Raffles hotels around the world.
On the 4th floor, guests will find sanctuary in an exclusive state-of-the-art gym, 20-metre indoor pool with expansive city views and the prestigious Guerlain Spa at Raffles Boston, featuring treatments in partnership with the renowned Parisian beauty and wellness brand.
Residing next to The University Club and adjacent to Boston’s Back Bay train station, Raffles Boston sits within a block of Copley Square, Trinity Church, and luxury shopping at Copley Place. Other notable Boston attractions nearby include the shops and galleries of Newbury Street and the Prudential Center, Fenway Park, the Museum of Fine Arts, Symphony Hall, the Charles River Esplanade, and dozens of restaurants, bars and cafés.
“We are delighted to extend the legendary Raffles brand into the Americas with Raffles Boston,” said Omer Acar, CEO of Raffles & Orient Express. “Raffles properties act as vessels for generations of world travellers to explore destinations through the highest level of hospitality and gracious service. Boston represents a historic and sophisticated cultural hub in the United States, and we could not imagine a more well-suited city to play host to the Raffles experience for years to come.”
Part of Accor, Raffles can also be found in Singapore, Paris, Istanbul, Dubai, Doha, Maldives, Udaipur, Phnom Penh, and Bali, with flagship openings upcoming in London, Boston, Macau and Bahrain in 2023.