The Liberty, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Boston

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. In 2016, an $11 million dollar investment gave the hotel another push toward luxury. The result is stunning, with 298 elegant rooms, and striking common spaces that include a 90-foot-tall lobby with winding catwalks and high, circular windows that flood the space with light.

The hotel has fun with the jail theme throughout. 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.

With its architectural grace and intriguing backstory, the Liberty aspires to greatness, and its elegance, style and chic vibe have made it not only one of the most attractive hotels in the area but also a favorite among locals. 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.

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. Although quiet and pleasant, there isn’t much of interest in the immediate vicinity -- 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, and the Charles/MGH T station is right across the street. Although a little away from most major attractions, a handful of tourist sights can be reached on foot, including the Charles River Esplanade, the Museum of Science, and the Boston Common, all within a 15-minute walk of the Liberty. It’s a 10-minute drive to Fenway Park (home of the Red Sox), and Harvard Square, Harvard University, and Faneuil Hall are all about 15 minutes away. For a fee, the hotel provides transfer services to Logan International, which is a 15-minute drive away.

The jail theme, so prevalent throughout the public spaces, is somewhat more subdued in the hotel’s 298 rooms. Details such as framed skeleton keys, heavy vaults that have been given a new life as bedside tables, and accent pillows with tally marks honor the hotel’s history without making rooms look corny or overdone. The decor is classy and stylish, with handsome hardwood floors, dove-gray textured walls with herringbone designs, big Chesterfield couches or club chairs, and large navy headboards. Earth tones and the combination of wood and leather make rooms feel cozy and inviting.

Starting at around 400 square feet, rooms are spacious and comfortable, with large windows overlooking either the street, the river, or the courtyard. Amenities are on par with other luxury hotels, and include quality Luxury Collection beds topped with Frette linens, large flat-screen TVs, minibars, and safes. Free basic Wi-Fi is available throughout, but upgrades are available for a daily fee. Clean bathrooms have granite and marble accents, separate rain showers and soaking tubs, Molton Brown toiletries, and backlit mirrors. Daily turndown service is available in all rooms.

The Liberty has three restaurants and two bars. Clink is the hotel’s casual dining option, and serves modern American fare in a spacious dining room off the lobby. Located high above the lobby on the second-floor rotunda, Catwalk is a guest-only spot offering drinks and a dinner menu from Clink, and Scampo is popular among guests and locals alike for its excellent contemporary Italian cuisine. Alibi is a hip cocktail bar offering late-night snacks and good drinks, but the star of the show is the Liberty, the hotel’s happening lobby bar popular with local young professionals and guests alike. An outdoor seating area -- The Yard -- is also available for private events.

The fitness center is a little small, but offers a wide array of cardio and strength-training machines, as well as free weights and fresh fruit. Outdoor yoga classes with Equinox instructors are available seasonally, as are loaner bikes. The hotel also features a 24-hour business center with a few computers, a printer, and a copy machine, and over 6,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space. Valet parking is available for a fee.

The Liberty allows up to two pets under 50 pounds per room, and features a twice-weekly social event called the Yappier Hour in the courtyard, complete with cocktails and snacks. Dogs and cats do not have be to be caged when unattended, but there is a one-time cleaning fee.