Raffles Boston

Terrible experience. Absolutely not a five-star-hotel. Rooms: very small, view over the carpark like a motorway motel, AC was an abomination in terms of noise and efficiency. The permanent smell of food in the room was so cheap. The towels are thin and flimsy, the bed linens same. The experience at breakfast was average. The breakfast room is way too small to accommodate all the guests so you have to book in advance or eat in a tiny table with your family members. The restaurant was okay but service was chaotic. They forgot our side dishes and the main came cold. Tragic. We had to evacuate at 2am because of a fire alert. Apparently, it’s a regular occurrence because the building has some engineering problems (the fire brigade told us that). As a result, the staff was super nonchalant about the evacuation and we were very stressed and some guests were genuinely scared. Yet no one reassured them. The following morning, there was no follow up, no apologies… It’s a new hotel and clearly the early reviews were pumped by guests who got massively upgraded…now that it is in full operation, it’s an abysmal hotel. We got fooled by the early reviews and we ended up paying extortionate price for such a substandard experience.

I really wanted to love it- and I have stayed many times at the Mandarin Boston- but this just isn't in that class unfortunately. When I drove up, I waited a good chunk of time for someone to valet my car, and it took some effort flagging that person down. At check-in, where we're excited, taking in the lobby- I waited a good, solid 10-15 minutes to get to the checkin person. No one acknowledged me, no one said "we'll be right with you", no concierge stepped up and said anything, just stood around- actually behind another couple who was equally baffled. That at the actual check-in, they initially told me they didn't have my reservation.. actually told me "sorry sir, but we just don't see it". Pretty terrifying. I had a photo of the reservation number in my phone, but just as I pulled that up, miraculously she found it.. no real apology or anything. So what happened, there's that many name's.." I"ll never know- but it wasn't pleasant. The room is indeed nice.. oddly shaped (not their fault), some weird furniture, but nice enough. There's panels on the wall with various on/offs for lights, shades, etc.. Well, these things are so bright- it'll light up your bedroom at night, there's several of them. We had to cover them all up with towels - couldn't sleep otherwise. Bed very nice, excellent pillows. Bathroom just OK for this price point- shower great, regular commode, nothing special. Service is pretty nice- had a butler for some reason- we only asked him 1 thing, to help us get a reservation for dinner at their restaurant: and he couldn't- I guess he got us in at a high tip table near the bar if that counts, which we could have probably done. Gym is above average. Service/housekeeping is solid above average- really did a fantastic job. Wanted a nice view and didn't get one. Breakfast was 5 stars, I'd give it 6 stars if I could. Amazing service, and really good food. We didn't wait even a second to be seated (I saw others had complained), but we did make a reservation. They really greet you warmly when you leave and enter- no question, they do go out of their way to make you feel special. They gave us gorgeous roses and gifts upon arrival- really amazing. So pros/cons: but for the cost/value, this was my experience.

Beautiful, fresh, stylish hotel offering good value at the time of our stay. I was pondering this or my usual Four Seasons and I was not disappointed.

I’ve stayed at Raffles Boston several times now, and the truth is unavoidable: this hotel is Raffles in branding only. Behind the marble and scripted greetings lies a cheap, hollow imitation of luxury — one that fails spectacularly at every level that defines the Raffles legacy. The Butler — A Concept on Life Support At nearly $1,200 a night, the butler service should be the crown jewel of the stay. Yet here, it’s a nonexistent concept. Across multiple visits, no one has ever explained what the butler actually does — no offer of tea or coffee, no unpacking or packing service, no proactive assistance at all. If you didn’t already know Raffles was supposed to include these things, you’d assume “butler” was just a fancy word for “front desk associate.” Compare that to Raffles Singapore, where butlers deliver fresh coffee or tea each morning, run your bath with essential oils, and anticipate your preferences before you even think to ask. Or Raffles London, where your butler personally welcomes you to your suite, offers garment pressing, and leaves daily treats tailored to your tastes. In Boston? You get a polite hello — and that’s where it ends. Cheaply Equipped Rooms For a hotel claiming ultra-luxury status, the lack of in-room amenities is shocking. Need a razor, dental kit, or comb? Call down, wait, and prepare to receive the cheapest possible off-brand items: a two-blade plastic razor, a single-use toothpaste tube, and a puck of soap that feels like sandpaper. There are no bath salts, no steamer or iron, and no complimentary pressing, despite the absence of an iron in the room. Even the towels are thin and scratchy, more budget-chain than luxury brand. The bedding, while comfortable, lacks the feather topper or sumptuous padding you’d expect at this level — meaning you’re sleeping on a nice mattress, not an indulgent one. Turndown service? Ice is delivered (thank you), but slippers, bath mats, and thoughtful touches are inconsistently placed or simply forgotten. No Amenities, No Inclusions — Nothing for the Price What truly exposes Raffles Boston’s lack of substance is how cheaply they operate relative to the competition. At the Four Seasons Boston Common, guests enjoy: • Complimentary coffee and espresso every morning in the lobby • A snack room on every guest floor with unlimited snacks, soft drinks, and candy • A daily cocktail hour featuring complimentary wine, beer, and small bites These are the kinds of inclusive gestures that make a $1,000+ hotel feel worth it. Raffles Boston offers none of this. No complimentary beverage, no afternoon treat, no sense of welcome beyond your room key and a half-hearted smile. If you didn’t already know about the mythical “butler service,” you’d be paying a fortune to stay in what might as well be a stripped-down business hotel. Undertrained Staff, Overpriced Product The staff, to their credit, are warm and well-meaning — but they are not trained or empowered to deliver five-star service. HVAC systems failed in two separate suites across my stays, resulting in a room move without apology or service recovery. That’s not “Raffles standard”; that’s poor leadership. And that’s where the real problem lies: the General Manager. The GM at Raffles Boston simply does not have the pedigree or the understanding of what a true luxury hotel experience entails. You can’t market Raffles-level glamour while operating at mid-tier Fairmont efficiency. Final Verdict Raffles Boston has beautiful bones but an empty soul. It’s an exercise in style over substance — a luxury shell with no generosity, no warmth, and no sense of occasion. Until this property replaces its leadership and redefines what “service” actually means, it will remain what it currently is: A cheaply run hotel hiding behind an expensive nameplate.

Visiting from Scotland and went into the Blind Duck speakeasy for a drink with my family. Lovely staff and a Lovely atmosphere including a great view! Did have to have ID and a photo of my passport which was slightly inconvenient (not the ID but the passport photo as wouldn’t normally keep one however I was lucky) Some great options for drinks, we ordered 2 Aperol Spritz, a Gin and Tonic and a Spicy Margarita. All of which were $20+ and not $20+ quality unfortunately. The Aperol Spritz were flat and so was the Gin and Tonic. The Spicy Marg was maybe just not to our taste as it was very peaty and tasted slightly like a cigarette- not quite in a good way… However like I said, staff were attentive and helpful and the popcorn/nuts was a nice touch!