The Liberty, a Marriott Luxury Collection Hotel, Boston

The lounge, restaurants, magic show, staff, and general ambiance were all five stars. The room was another story. We could hear every little sound from the hallway and neighboring rooms. The alarm clock and baby next door might as well have been in our room, and the bed and pillows were very uncomfortable. I’d come back for a day to enjoy the lounge or restaurants, but I won’t stay overnight again.

We had an amazing suite upgrade with a spectacular city view, and the room was perfectly appointed. The hotel had Christmas decorations up, and our stay with our toddler boys was truly magnificent. It was surprisingly family-friendly. The staff even gave the boys keys to “open” the jail cells, which they thought was awesome. We were there for Veterans Day because my husband is a veteran. I lived in Boston for ten years before moving out of state, and used to visit the Liberty for dinner, drinks, or a cocktail in the lobby. It’s still a unique place, with its old jail history on display, lovely rooms and restaurants, and a gorgeous part of town. The MGH T stop is just steps away, making it easy to get around. The location is off one of Boston’s prettiest streets, and the staff are kind. Highly recommend!

We slept well, thanks to comfortable beds and a room that blocked most city noise. The lobby displays explaining the building’s past as a jail and its conversion into a hotel were interesting. Still, the Liberty Hotel wasn’t worth its five-star price for us, and I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re hoping for a special stay. My mom and I came for Thanksgiving to visit a family member at MGH. The hospital location was ideal, and since it was a holiday I wanted to treat us. At check-in, an indifferent receptionist on autopilot offered prosecco. When we asked about food, he pointed us to the restaurant across the lobby. But its host couldn’t seat us and said we could get the same menu in the bar. The front desk and restaurant seemed not to communicate, even though they were only a few yards apart. We found a tiny round table a couple was leaving, then waited ten minutes at the uncleared table without a server acknowledging us. We noticed another restaurant downstairs and went to ask. They could seat us right away. The host said it wasn’t hotel-owned when I asked, which made it odd that neither the receptionist nor the lobby restaurant had mentioned it. Maybe there’s some beef between the hotel and that restaurant, but it was poor service not to point guests to a convenient option when the hotel restaurant was full. The dinner there was heavenly, though expensive. Back in our room late and exhausted, we noticed it was run-down. There was only one bathrobe for two guests, though the room could have slept four. The well-stocked bar sat on a scratched, peeling fridge. Two keys had fallen off a shadow-box art piece, the soap dish was chipped, there were finger streaks on the bathroom door, and one otherwise white bed had a dirt streak at the foot. I wish I’d asked for another room, but we were nearly in our PJs, worn out, and just wanted sleep before returning to the hospital. At checkout, we honestly said the stay wasn’t what we expected, but the receptionist didn’t ask what could have been better. The location was extremely convenient and we did sleep well, but the stay fell short of the treat I’d intended.

The fashion show was a really cool highlight, and staying in a beautifully restored former jail made the visit unforgettable. The building’s character and history are next level. I travel constantly for work and have Marriott Titanium Elite status, so I’ve stayed in a lot of hotels. Very few stand out like this one. Jonah, the Director of Operations, was amazing. He and the whole team went above and beyond, always smiling and clearly passionate about their work. The staff made the experience, and the service was rare. Thanks to Jonah and everyone for making my work trip outstanding. Whenever I’m in Boston, this will be the only place I stay!