Pros

  • Historic building with neoclassical touches and original features
  • Central Back Bay location close to business and shopping
  • Modern rooms with premium cable channels
  • Tiled bathrooms with hairdryers and quality toiletries
  • Discounted rates at next-door car park
  • Free Wi-Fi throughout
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Cons

  • Few on-site features
  • Rooms prone to internal noise
  • Some rooms overlook unattractive courtyard
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Bottom Line

The 65-room, mid-range Hotel 140 is one of the most affordable hotels in Boston's central Back Bay neighborhood. It is set in a handsome 1920s building, and a 2016 renovation has modernized once austere decor, while maintaining plenty of the original period feel. Rooms all come with free Wi-Fi and premium cable, though they can be prone to noise. There's not much on-site besides the rooms, though the hotel does share the building with a decent Italian eatery. The only hotel in the area that's much cheaper is the Boston Common Hotel and Conference Center next door, but it's a budget hotel and much more dated. The Boston Park Plaza and Sheraton Boston Hotel have similar rates and far more features, but the massive size of those properties won't appeal to everyone. 

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Hotel & Amenities Photos

Oyster Hotel Review

Hotel 140

Scene

Affordable mid-range hotel in a historic 1920s building

Built in 1929 with a redbrick and neoclassical facade, this historic property was the first YWCA hostel in the United States -- their administrative offices still reside in the building. The hotel's lobby was renovated in 2016 and has a chic and calming atmosphere; it is decorated in neutral tones with modernized period features and a large open gallery revealing the floor above. A pair of elevators -- as well as the original curved balustrade stairway -- connect guests to one of 13 floors.  The next floor up from reception and overlooking the lobby has more of an institutional feel with wooden benches and mesh vents, pointing to the building's previous life. Beyond these areas, there's no public space and parts of the building are private residences and businesses unrelated to the hotel. The competitive rates and central location attract mostly business travelers or vacationing couples watching their budget.

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Location

Central Back Bay setting 10-minute walk from lively South End

The hotel is very centrally located in the middle of the city in Back Bay, an upscale commercial and residential area where skyscrapers tower above centuries-old churches and expensive brownstone homes. It's a popular area for business travelers -- the Hynes Convention Center is here -- but it also has some of the city's best shopping, from quaint Newbury Street boutiques to the massive Prudential Center mall. Major attractions like the Public Garden, Boston Common, and the start of the Freedom Trail are about a 10-minute walk; other tourist hot spots, like the North End and Faneuil Hall, are 20 to 30 minutes away via public transport. The area is filled with mid-range and upscale restaurants, many of them chains; the South End, a more lively bohemian area with trendy bars and eateries, is a 10-minute walk away. Logan International Airport is about 30 minutes drive.

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Rooms

Simple, modern rooms with free Wi-Fi and premium cable

More modern after renovations in 2016, the 65 rooms are mostly small and simply decorated with monochrome carpets, velour bedspreads, and dark-wood furnishings. Straightforward amenities include free Wi-Fi, mini-fridges, and flat-screen TVs with some premium cable. While Standard Rooms vary only in bed size (full, queen-, or king-size), the Kennedy Suite has a lounge and two bedrooms (one with a king-size bed and the other with three doubles). Tiled bathrooms are small but functional with step-in showers, hairdryers, and decent toiletries. Report suggest some rooms are prone to noise -- either from other rooms, late-night revelers passing along corridors, street traffic, or AC units. Some room also overlook an unattractive inner courtyard.

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Features

Minimal hotel amenities -- just an adjoining Italian eatery

While the hotel does not have its own restaurant, Viga -- an Italian eatery serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner -- is located on the first floor of the building and serves good quality, inexpensive food. For meetings and events, the hotel has a four rooms of varying sizes, all with free Wi-Fi. The hotel does not have its own parking facilities but with a validated ticket, parking next door is available at a reduced rate.

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Things You Should Know About Hotel 140

Also Known As

  • 140 Hotel Boston

Room Types

  • Copley Suite
  • Deluxe Room
  • Extended Stay SRO
  • Kennedy Suite
  • Newbury Suite
  • Standard Room
  • Superior King
  • Superior Queen

Address

140 Clarendon Street, Back Bay, Boston, Massachusetts 02116-5169, United States

Phone

(617) 585-5600

Website

Oyster Hotel Review

Hotel 140

Scene

Affordable mid-range hotel in a historic 1920s building

Built in 1929 with a redbrick and neoclassical facade, this historic property was the first YWCA hostel in the United States -- their administrative offices still reside in the building. The hotel's lobby was renovated in 2016 and has a chic and calming atmosphere; it is decorated in neutral tones with modernized period features and a large open gallery revealing the floor above. A pair of elevators -- as well as the original curved balustrade stairway -- connect guests to one of 13 floors.  The next floor up from reception and overlooking the lobby has more of an institutional feel with wooden benches and mesh vents, pointing to the building's previous life. Beyond these areas, there's no public space and parts of the building are private residences and businesses unrelated to the hotel. The competitive rates and central location attract mostly business travelers or vacationing couples watching their budget.

See More Scene

Location

Central Back Bay setting 10-minute walk from lively South End

The hotel is very centrally located in the middle of the city in Back Bay, an upscale commercial and residential area where skyscrapers tower above centuries-old churches and expensive brownstone homes. It's a popular area for business travelers -- the Hynes Convention Center is here -- but it also has some of the city's best shopping, from quaint Newbury Street boutiques to the massive Prudential Center mall. Major attractions like the Public Garden, Boston Common, and the start of the Freedom Trail are about a 10-minute walk; other tourist hot spots, like the North End and Faneuil Hall, are 20 to 30 minutes away via public transport. The area is filled with mid-range and upscale restaurants, many of them chains; the South End, a more lively bohemian area with trendy bars and eateries, is a 10-minute walk away. Logan International Airport is about 30 minutes drive.

See More Location

Rooms

Simple, modern rooms with free Wi-Fi and premium cable

More modern after renovations in 2016, the 65 rooms are mostly small and simply decorated with monochrome carpets, velour bedspreads, and dark-wood furnishings. Straightforward amenities include free Wi-Fi, mini-fridges, and flat-screen TVs with some premium cable. While Standard Rooms vary only in bed size (full, queen-, or king-size), the Kennedy Suite has a lounge and two bedrooms (one with a king-size bed and the other with three doubles). Tiled bathrooms are small but functional with step-in showers, hairdryers, and decent toiletries. Report suggest some rooms are prone to noise -- either from other rooms, late-night revelers passing along corridors, street traffic, or AC units. Some room also overlook an unattractive inner courtyard.

See More Rooms

Features

Minimal hotel amenities -- just an adjoining Italian eatery

While the hotel does not have its own restaurant, Viga -- an Italian eatery serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner -- is located on the first floor of the building and serves good quality, inexpensive food. For meetings and events, the hotel has a four rooms of varying sizes, all with free Wi-Fi. The hotel does not have its own parking facilities but with a validated ticket, parking next door is available at a reduced rate.

See More Features

Hotel & Amenities Photos

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Air Conditioner

  • Airport Transportation

  • Business Center

  • Cable

  • Concierge

  • Cribs

  • Dry Cleaning

  • Fitness Center

  • Full Kitchen

  • Internet

  • Kids Allowed

  • Laundry

  • Meeting / Conference Rooms

  • Room Service

  • Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.