The Westin Boston Waterfront

This 793-room, 16-story mammoth hotel sits directly adjacent to the Boston Exhibition and Convention Center, but also boasts its own 70,000 square feet of ballrooms and meeting space. As such, most of the guests are business travelers or conventioneers; the massive lobby serves large parties entering and exiting en masse and hosts a lively bar scene. In fact, there are three drinking options at the hotel: the lobby bar, the City Bar, and MJ O'Connor's, all within about thirty feet of each other. On a Saturday night, the hotel was hosting two galas, while several weeklong conventions were taking place at the convention center. City Bar was overflowing, and the lobby was packed with merry revelers -- that is to say, drunken guests.

As thorough as the hotel might be in offering beverage options (there's also a Starbucks in the lobby), it's lacking in food choices. The sole restaurant, the unfortunately named Sauciety, only serves breakfast and lunch; for dinner, you're left with either the 24-hour room service or MJ O'Connor's, which is connected to the lobby and allows charges to the rooms, as do other restaurants off the lobby such as the Irish Pub, City Bar, and Martini Lounge. Compare this to the cheaper Renaissance Waterfront Hotel and Seaport Hotel across the freeway -- both sit on the scenic waterfront and are near an array of restaurants like Morton's Steakhouse and No Name Restaurant.

The hotel, however, does have plans to add a premium steakhouse from Eddy Merlot by October 2013. tag:revisit 9/15/2013 In addition, the Westin plans to build a comedy club -- Laugh Boston -- off of the lobby. It is slated to open in April 2013. tag:revisit 4/1/2013

Overall, this hotel may not blow you away, but if you have business at the convention center, it's a convenient and appropriate choice. Sure, you can spend significantly less and be closer to the water with more eateries nearby at both the Seaport and the Renaissance Waterfront (a newer property with a restaurant helmed by a name chef). But the Westin has better rooms, bedding, overall business services, and convention center proximity -- plus you get those coveted Starwood points.

The Westin Boston Waterfront is directly next to the Boston Exhibition and Convention Center, and a 10-minute walk to the galleries and restaurants of the Fort Point arts district. Downtown Boston is easily accessible by cab -- just a two- to five-minute, roughly $8, cab ride.

• Directly adjacent to the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center
• 10-minute walk to the Seaport stop on the T, Boston's subway system
• Five blocks from the Institute of Contemporary Art
• Five to 10-minute drive to Faneuil Hall, a historic marketplace and modern-day mall
• Just under two miles from Boston Common, the country's oldest park and start of Boston's Freedom Trail (2.5-mile path that passes through 16 historical landmarks)
• About 40 minutes on the T to Fenway Park, home of the Red Sox
• 40-minute T ride from Harvard Square and Harvard University
• Free 10-minute shuttle to Logan International Airport; Water taxis stop at the World Trade Center dock across the street

The Westin Waterfront allows pets up to 75 pounds with no fee.

• Guests must register pets and sign a waiver upon check-in that makes them responsible for any damage.
• Pets can't be left unattended in rooms.
• Westin Heavenly dog beds available

At 330 square feet, the chic, modest Wi-Fi-enabled rooms are average size for Boston hotels, but they feel pleasantly spacious due to high ceilings, short furniture, sparse artwork, an oak-colored, uncluttered headboard and a desk that's spacious enough for several people to work side-by-side.

• 32-inch flat-screen TV
• Coffeemaker
• Westin Heavenly Bed with 300-thread-count linens
• Free Wi-Fi

The Westin offers a solid variety of features, including a good gym, pool, and business center. There is also a comedy club in the works and a solid array or restaurants.

• Spacious gym, featuring new equpiment and layout since Oyster's visit.
• There is no spa on site, but in-room massages can be arranged.
• The pool and hot tub have a great skylight and are kept very clean, but the pool isn't deep or very long.
• The business center is solid and open seven days a week with computers, printers, airport baggage check-ins, shipping and receiving services, and scooter rental.
• A comedy club -- Laugh Boston -- is slated to open April 2013 off the lobby. tag:revisit 4/1/2013