Liberty Hotel Rating: 4.0 Pearls

North End and Beacon Hill, Boston, Massachusetts

The 90-foot atrium in the lobby

For nearly 150 years, the tall granite building at 215 Charles Street was known as the Charles Street Jail and housed some of Boston's most heinous criminals. In 2007, after a painstaking restoration that preserved elements of the prison design, it reopened as the Liberty Hotel. The result is stunning, with 298 rooms, a 90-foot-tall atrium, winding catwalks, and high, circular windows that flood the lobby with light.

The hotel has fun with the jail theme. Clink. is the name of the restaurant off the lobby; the walls of Alibi, the lounge downstairs, are hung with celebrity mug shots (Sinatra, Morrison, Nolte); instead of a typical "Do Not Disturb" sign, guests hang a "Solitary" key ring on their doorknobs. In places, the hotel has even kept the jail's iron bars and worked them into the decor. The lobby includes an exhibit that chronicles the building's history and details its restoration.

With it's architectural grace and intriguing backstory, the Liberty seems to aspire to greatness. It's certainly as memorable as any place I've ever stayed, but unfortunately the lackluster rooms and other guest features don't quite live up to the promise of the public spaces. That said, the Liberty is that rare Boston hotel where, during a weekend stay, you could choose not to venture off the property and still have all your needs and wants satisfied. The Liberty's bars and restaurants aren't merely stops for people staying at the hotel, but destinations in their own right, drawing a young and trendy crowd -- but perhaps not so much as the new W Boston downtown.

The front desk of the Liberty, a former jail

The Liberty's entrance and vestibule are patrolled by friendly, helpful bellmen, but overall the hotel's service was lacking. Checking in took much longer than it should have, as several front-desk employees tended to guests but did not call for reinforcements or offer apologies as time went on (about 10 minutes) and a line formed. When I eventually did check in, nobody offered to help carry my bags.

• 24-hour room service
• Concierge is generally on duty from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m., though in the summer hours extend from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• Free car service to Beacon Hill, Financial District, downtown, and Back Bay Monday through Friday from 7 to 9 a.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Service is first come, first served.
• Free overnight shoeshine
• Same-day laundry service
• Free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel

View on a Larger Map

About two blocks from the Charles River, the Liberty sits on the western edge of Beacon Hill, a gorgeous residential neighborhood full of brick Federal-style homes. A quiet area with hidden gardens and more than 40 antique shops, Beacon Hill is a bit less tourist-focused than much of Boston, even though the nearby Acorn Street claims to be the most photographed street in America, and 84 Beacon Street, formerly known as the Bull & Finch Pub, was the inspiration for the show Cheers.

The hotel, alas, is situated a bit outside the scenic part of the neighborhood. Massachusetts General Hospital dominates the area around the Liberty, and there are busy expressways nearby. Still, it's only a short walk to shopping and restaurants on Charles Street.

• About a block from the nearest stop on the T (Boston's subway system)
• 10-minute drive to Fenway Park, home of the Red Sox
• 10-minute drive to Harvard Square and Harvard University
• Five-minute drive to Faneuil Hall, a historic tourist marketplace with more than 100 shops and cafes
• Five-minute drive to Boston Common and the start of the Freedom Trail
• 15-minute drive to Logan International Airport, about a $30 cab fare

A Luxury Room

The jail theme, so prevalent throughout the hotel's public spaces, doesn't really make it into the rooms (except for the "Solitary" key ring you can hang on your doorknob instead of a "Do Not Disturb" sign). That's probably a good thing -- hotel themes have a way of becoming corny when they're overdone -- but unfortunately the result it just a little boring. The rooms are large and modern (standard rooms around 400 square feet), with a minimalist black, gray, and white color scheme. Still, I couldn't help thinking the Liberty could have had a little more fun with its rooms.

That said, comfortable beds, up-to-date technology, and great bathrooms add up to a cozy and contemporary experience. The furnishings are all high quality, and flourishes like dimmers for the lamps and a martini set on a mahogany tray contribute an air of romance. The minibar includes the usual items (candy, nuts, soda, liquor) but also extras like bloody mary and mojito mixes -- and an intimacy kit from a brand called Booty Parlor.

• 32-inch Philips flat-screen TV has the basic cable channels, HBO, several HD channels, and pay-per-view movies.
• Digital touch-screen room phone has a "virtual gift shop" where you can order Red Sox merchandise, health and beauty products, and Harvard souvenirs.
• Large bathrooms have unusually spacious showers, Molton Brown bath products, a scale, bathrobes, slippers, and a lighted makeup mirror.
• Free cribs and rollaway beds

The fitness center is small but well equipped.

Unlike many hotels, the Liberty's business center is more than just a shadowy nook. Its two computers, printer, and copier, with free Internet access, are situated in the hotel's two-story conference center with meeting rooms and a lounge.

• The small, first-floor fitness center features Life Fitness equipment: a stationary bike, two treadmills, two elliptical machines, a weight bench and free weights, chilled towels, and a water cooler.
• Free bicycles for guest use
• In summer, the lobby bar serves food and drinks on the hotel's enclosed courtyard, once the jail's exercise yard.
• Discounted rates for renting kayaks on the Charles River
• No pool or spa

"Intimacy kits" don't scream "bring the kids."

There's nothing about the Liberty that's particularly unfriendly toward families or children, but the hotel is better suited for romance than a family getaway -- though some kids will undoubtedly be fascinated by the jail theme and there is a kids' menu at the restaurant.

• Large rooms
• Free cribs and rollaway beds
• Clink. has a kids' menu

The hotel allows pets. There's a one-time fee of $100, but once you've paid it you don't have to pay again on future stays. The hotel provides free pet blankets, bowls, and treats.

A fastidious staff keeps the Liberty spotless.

Chef Lydia Shire's Italian food at Scampo

The Liberty has two restaurants and two bars. Clink., the restaurant just off the lobby, serves American fare. Boston magazine found that, "After plenty of unsteadiness, Clink has matured into an excellent upscale restaurant with a sure-footed chef." Scampo, under the direction of noted chef and Boston native Lydia Shire, serves contemporary Italian food. The restaurant's name, in a nod to the jail theme, means "escape" in Italian. There's a jail-themed cocktail bar, Alibi, and a lobby bar.

• American restaurant Clink. open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (entrees in the high $20s), plus brunch on Saturday and Sunday ($37).
• Italian restaurant Scampo open for lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. Entrees range from $15 to $42.
• Alibi cocktail bar open from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.
• The Liberty Bar, in the lobby, is open until 2 a.m.

The funky hallway outside the meeting rooms

• Wedding Size: Up to 200 guests

• Ceremony and Reception Locations: In the Liberty Ballroom or the Rotunda

• Wedding Packages: The standard wedding package with hors d'oeuvres, a basic open bar, and a plated runs about $180-$220 per person. Cake is not included. Kids', kosher, and vegetarian menus available upon request.

• Honeymoon Suite: Many newlyweds upgrade to a Charles River Suite.