Without a doubt, Liberty Hotel in Boston is one of the coolest hotels I have ever stayed.  In fact, it falls at number two in my rankings right below Cape Sienna Hotel and Villas in Phukett, Thailand.  Mrs. G actually drops it in at her number one spot.  Why were we so enchanted with this hotel?  After all, a hotel is just a place to bed down for the night, right?  Wrong!  Liberty Hotel is almost as much of a destination as is Boston.  It has luxury, it has style, it has first class amenities, it has history in a town renowned for its history.  It is the perfect hotel for a weekend in Boston.

Liberty Hotel, Boston

The hotel is built into the remains of the Charles Street Jail in Beacon Hill.  The jail was built in 1851 and was an operational prison until 1990.  Some of its many famous prisoners include James Michael Curley (former Boston politician), Malcolm X, Sacco and Vanzetti, and World War II prisoners from the German submarine Unterseeboot 234.  From the escalator ride into the jail’s central atrium, which is the main lobby of the hotel, you are swept into the history of the joint.  The restaurants and bars are all named appropriately to reflect the history – Clink, Alibi, The Yard, Catwalk, and Scampo.  Booths are actually built into old jail cells and prison bars are widely displayed throughout the restaurants.

Liberty Hotel Lobby in Boston

Clink Restaurant

The details don’t stop at the restaurants though.  The jail’s iron rails are still in place on the balconies and stairwells (behind plexiglass for safety reasons), the original brick is exposed throughout, and the corridor to the tower rooms has brightly illuminated barred doorways and windows.  But my favorite detail, however corny it sounds, is the privacy door hangers for the hotel rooms.  It is a giant metal key with a sign that says “solitary”.

Reminders of the Charles Street Jail

Now, on top of the meticulous detail that went into keeping the history of this famous building, toss in luxury with a layer of chic and you have the Liberty Hotel.  Don’t believe me?  Ask the celebrities that were staying at the hotel the same weekend we were – Larry David, Kate Hudson, Boyd Tinsley.  Yeah, we’re jet setters now.  I actually met Boyd on the elevator.  He hugged me.  It was was weird.

Locked Up at Liberty Hotel

Locals dig this place too.  After sightseeing all day and bar hopping from the original Cheers down the main drag of Beacon Hill to Sevens and a few places in between, we stumbled into the hotel around midnight on a Saturday.  The bars, restaurants, and main lobby were all hopping with locals.  It was a scene we couldn’t resist.  We caught the elevator up to Catwalk, a bar exclusive to hotel guests overlooking the melee below.  It was some serious people watching.  I felt like a baller sitting on the leather couches and sipping on a drink.

People Watching from Catwalk

Liberty Hotel is truly the ideal hotel for Boston with its history, ideal location on Beacon Hill, and luxury amenities.  It is a must when visiting Boston.  But if it doesn’t work out, at least drop by Alibi for a martini and checkout the celebrity mug shots adorning the walls.

At Alibi Bar and Lounge with Charlie Sheen and Frank Sinatra

What’s the coolest hotel you’ve stayed atl?