In the heart of Boston’s business district and well-placed for exploring many of the city’s headline historic attractions, this imposing former bank serves classic elegance, toothsome dining and an intriguing art collection. Now a National Historic Landmark, The Langham, Boston extends beyond banking affairs, welcoming guests into a world of refined luxury.
The fact that both its Grana Italian cuisine restaurant and British-inspired cocktail pub The Fed Bar thrum with Bostonians says much to recommend the Langham. We pulled up leather wingback armchairs in the latter after checking in to sample the buzz, and treated ourselves to a round of Geri Halliwells – a signature confection of tequila, pomegranate and plum, flambéed at your table, no less. The ‘elevated pub fare’ menu looked tempting too, and a half-dozen succulent oysters soon followed.
Housed in the handsome, former US Federal Reserve Bank, a National Historic Landmark in the heart of the city’s financial district, The Langham, Boston drips 1920s opulence, recently revitalised by a two-year facelift that has ushered in a fresh, coastal New England colour palette in its 312 generous rooms and suites. Of these, our favourites are the loft-style duplex suites on the second floor, with original two-storey brass casement windows that overlook cute Post Office Square. All feature super-cushy beds, works by local artists on the walls, and minibars thoughtfully stocked with Massachusetts-made goodies. Accessible units are available at several different room grades.
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| While you’re Out There |
| As you’d expect of a city with such erudite academic credentials, grand art institutions – as well as quirkier, more progressive contenders – are not in short supply. But for us, one stands out for its idiosyncratic raison d’être, which still feels bracingly bold 130 years after its inception. The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is the extraordinary creation of the eponymous and fabulously wealthy art collector, patron, and philanthropist, built around a courtyard garden in the style of a 15th-century Venetian palazzo, and stuffed to the rafters with significant examples of European, Asian, and American paintings, sculptures, tapestries and decorative arts – in her words ‘for the education and enjoyment of the public forever’. Bizarre, bodacious and bewitching. |
Wellness facilities consist of a 12m lap pool in a third-floor ‘pavilion’ whose large skylights flood it with rays on sunny days. Next door is a 24/7, teched-up fitness centre whose nifty Echelon Reflect Touch Smart Fitness Mirror stands ready to lead you in more than 2,000 studio-quality workout classes.
The Langham’s jewel is Grana, once the bank’s grand atrium. Its soaring, double-height ceilings, original mosaic floor and ornate stonework are now teamed with huge chandeliers and teal velvet banquettes to create a decadently glamorous setting for classic breakfasts and Italian-inspired lunch. The restaurant’s striking artworks give a clue to the hotel’s deep commitment to art, which can be found throughout the property, and much of which was bought from the non-profit Copley Society of Art, which supported 350 local artists during the pandemic.
Photography courtesy of the Langham Hospitality Group
