The College Club of Boston

This brownstone, which dates back to 1864, has a long and distinguished history as the oldest women’s college club in the U.S. Many famous people have visited, including author Mark Twain and poet Oliver Wendell Holmes. True to its roots, this quiet, 11-room hotel is filled with period antiques and original woodwork. A navy rug emblazoned with the club’s logo greets arriving guests. The glass-and-wood front desk is chock full of fine silver and club mementos. Walls along the winding staircase are lined with photos of distinguished women who have been members over the years. The cozy breakfast room provides one of the few spaces for guests to mingle; it has original brick walls, several small tables, and comfortable sofas and armchairs. Magazines and stocked bookshelves here tempt guests to linger over a second cup of free coffee. 

The College Club is centrally located in Back Bay, an upscale commercial and residential area with centuries-old churches and expensive brownstone homes. The hotel is on a quiet street that’s a two-minute walk to Boston Public Garden, and a five-minute walk to Boston Common and the Arlington Street stop of the Green Line on the T (Boston’s subway system). Some of the city’s best shopping can be found at Newbury Street’s quaint boutiques that are only a couple of minutes away on foot. Many restaurants are also a brief walk away. The Hynes Convention Center is a 15-minute walk away, while shopping at the Prudential Center is a 13-minute walk. Fenway Park and Harvard Square in Cambridge can be reached via public transportation in about 20 and 25 minutes, respectively. Logan International Airport is a 15- to 25-minute drive or about 40 minutes via public transportation. 

Guest rooms are individually decorated in a tasteful style and named after various women’s colleges (Smith, Vassar, etc.). While the traditional decor is similar in all rooms, they vary significantly in size and layout. Some of the Singles are rather small but still comfortable, and some of the Doubles are quite large. Generally, guests can expect to see white bedspreads, door/window frames, and crown molding along the high ceilings. Walls are painted in soft earth tones, and hardwood floors are typically  covered by area rugs. Period antiques or quality reproductions, including writing desks, make up many of the furnishings. Vintage artwork or photos are used as decorative elements. 

Five of the 11 rooms here are Singles, furnished with twin beds that sleep only one person. Singles have shared bathrooms (each bathroom is shared between two Single Rooms), but past guests report no problems with access. The Doubles have their own private bathrooms, as well as decorative (non-working) fireplaces. They also can be configured to have either king or two twins beds. 

All the rooms are generally clean, but a few past guests have reported the need for a more thorough dusting here or there. Both private and shared bathrooms offer plenty of space and modern touches like walk-in showers, some with clear glass doors and rainfall showerheads. Floors and walls framing the showers are typically quality white tile or white marble. The rooms are furnished with books, CDs, and CD players. Phones with voice mail are also standard, and robes are available upon request. Rooms are generally quiet, but the old floors are known to creak, and some guests find the window-unit air conditioners noisy. 

This small boutique hotel’s amenities resemble those of a big city bed-and-breakfast. The free continental breakfast includes boiled eggs, yogurt, and pastries, while good coffee and tea are available 24/7. Breakfast is served in the cozy dining room that has magazines, cable TV, and a computer with internet access and a printer. Freshly baked cookies are available in the afternoon. Free Wi-Fi is accessible throughout the four-story building. Some of the hotel’s lovely public spaces are made available for events for groups from 20 to 90 people. No smoking is allowed, and there is no parking on-site. The hotel suggests parking in the Boston Common Garage that’s about two blocks away.