Raffles Boston

I'm awarding this hotel 5 stars in recognition of the beauty of the property, its outstanding dining venues, and the many things it already does exceptionally well. Located in a prime Back Bay location that's perfect for exploring Boston, the hotel has quickly become the city's "it" luxury property. While I believe it still has some work to do refining its service to meet the extraordinarily high standards associated with the Raffles name, I'm confident that will come with time as the frenzy surrounding this relatively new hotel settles down and the staff gains additional experience. The rooms are beautifully appointed and exactly what you would expect from a hotel in this category. The bedding is excellent, the views from the higher floors are terrific, and I especially appreciated the Saratoga water provided in the rooms... a personal favorite. The hotel's restaurant venues have become destinations in their own right and are understandably very popular. During my stay I enjoyed both Long Bar and Blind Duck (see my separate reviews). Unfortunately, I missed our family's dinner at La Padrona on this trip, they loved it. Given Chef Jody Adams' involvement, that's hardly surprising... she has an impressive track record... still think my many great meals at her Rialto restaurant. Raffles Boston is already an impressive addition to the city's luxury hotel scene. As the service continues to evolve and mature, I believe it has the potential to become one of Boston's truly great hotels.

It is a pity that you smell food in your room in the evening through the airco. It’s not nice to sleep in this smell

The service was remarkably poor. At check-in, nobody explained the property, amenities, or even the room itself. A request regarding spa services was dropped entirely - even after confirming my phone number to ensure I would be contacted. Room service orders arrived incomplete. Our room wasn’t serviced despite the service light being on while we were away for hours during the middle of the day. The much-publicized butler service was consistently behind the curve and showed no ability to anticipate guest needs. Everything felt reactive, disorganized, and indifferent. The apologies were either written by AI or scripted. The room itself was nice! Nothing about this stay justified the premium price point and I’ll now avoid any branch of this brand internationally.

I love hotels that pay attention to the details, especially the smallest details about their guests. I can honestly say that the staff at this hotel, at every level, pay attention to the details, all the details. They truly go out of their way to make your stay enjoyable. This is just a small example. I noticed something different about Raffles on my arrival. The check-in is on the 17th floor. We took the elevator to 17 and were greeted AT THE ELEVATOR by a staff member who welcomed us using our names. I appreciated that. This staff member showed us to his desk where we were then seated. We were asked if we wanted coffee, tea or something else to drink while we checked in. So, we said "yes" - AND they brought tea and coffee to the desk for us. Although we were new to the hotel, this made us feel quite welcome and comfortable. We were then introduced to our "butler," who became our personal contact at the hotel for anything we might need or want. Our butler texted us every morning to see if he could help us in any way. We stayed in text communication with him throughout our stay. What a difference between Raffles and the many others I have stayed at in Boston and elsewhere in the world. Congratulations, Raffles! This is how a hotel should be run. I’ll be back to Raffles again, hopefully quite often.

Raffles Boston is incredible. They have successfully created a blissful experience from the moment you arrive, to the moment you leave. The combination of incredible hospitality, beautiful interiors, well-thought-out amenities, and great food; this hotel does not disappoint. There is truly not one area for improvement. Additionally, the front desk (especially Rey) and the housekeeping team are amazing at this hotel. Every time we left our room, we returned to a completely refreshed or turned-down room with ample water and towels. Rey at the front desk is truly a star. He is the exact representation that Raffles wants. Rey is kind, helpful, caring, and extremely pleasant. There is no doubt that Rey's efforts helped push this experience over the top. Thank you Rey!