Irving House at Harvard

As a one-time student boarding house in the 1890s, the Irving House at Harvard maintains much of its original charm. The 44-room inn feels every bit like a traditional bed and breakfast with a basic, down-home, country-inspired decor that’s cozy if a bit kitschy. Plaid tablecloths, exposed brick, eclectic artwork, and floral print curtains all provide a quirky atmosphere. The vibe is low-key, laid back, and the staff seem to know every guest by name — all of which lends a warm, inviting feel that’s similar to staying at a friend’s house.

With a prime location just two blocks from Harvard Square, the Irving House primarily targets Cambridge area students, parents, and visiting professors. Cambridge College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences are all within 10 minutes by taxi or 15 minutes by subway. The inn is less than 10 minutes on foot to dozens of restaurants, cafes, bars, and marketplaces.

Guests are also only an eight-minute walk to the Harvard Square Red Line subway stop, providing quick, easy access to downtown Boston. The Red Line connects directly to the city’s Silver Line service with connections to Boston’s Logan International Airport.

In keeping with the traditional inn feel, no two rooms at Irving House are identical. Many of the six room categories focus on efficiency above all else. The smallest (2 Single Shared Bath) rooms are reminiscent of cruise ship accommodations, offering only two single beds, limited closet and shelving space, and a small writing desk. The only noteworthy amenities include a flat-screen TV, phone, reading lamps, and a small selection of free books. The shared bathrooms for these quarters are clean, modest in size, and located a short walk down the hall.

Upgraded rooms are available with substantially more space, offering a larger floorplan than is typical of most Cambridge area hotels. Many of these rooms feature a single queen bed, private bath, larger writing area, and spacious seating area. The private baths are basic, but clean, bright, and updated with modern sinks, countertops, and showers.

The decor in all rooms is similar to that of the hotel’s common areas. Victorian-inspired furniture is mixed with an eclectic blend of pastel, floral curtains and linens, random knickknacks that sometimes match, and wall-mounted amateur photography.

With houses built extremely close to one another in the surrounding area, the view from most rooms is limited to alleys and fire escapes.

The lobby offers a small space designed as a traditional living room. A corner desk functions as the hotel’s primary business workstation where guests are free to print boarding passes or other small documents (additional printing is available for a nominal fee). Several small seating areas in the space provide board games, newspapers, books, and magazines.

While most rooms at the hotel are basic and efficient, the number of free amenities is better than average, particularly for a Boston area hotel. Free Wi-Fi is available in the rooms and lobby. Off street parking is also included in the nightly rate. However the spaces are quite narrow — just large enough to accommodate a medium-size SUV.

There are no on-site restaurants, however free breakfast is provided daily in the basement dining area. The kitchen strives for local, organic food with a rotating menu that includes mini quiches, popovers, coffee, juice, fruits, cereal, and yogurt.

After breakfast service ends, the room remains open late into the evening with a selection of drinks and snacks that changes daily. These typically include coffee, fruit, cake, fresh cookies, and scones. Guests are also welcome to leave their own food in the supplied refrigerator and to make use of the microwave, toaster, and ice machine.

The conference room is an unusual feature for a traditional inn. With exposed brick and piping and well-worn wooden furniture typical of a cafe, the decor is casual and rustic with a decidedly non-business feel. The room is an extension of the basement breakfast area and seats a dozen total guests at several two-person tables against the walls and a larger four-person table in the center. A small tube television and computer workstation are also provided.

The Irving House also offers several minor, nice-to-have amenities that distinguish it from other area hotels. Guests are free to take a postcard from the front desk and send it to anywhere in the world free of charge. There are bookshelves throughout the hotel, from which guests can take and keep copies of any books they like. A coin-operated laundry room in the basement is also available for a nominal fee.