1. W Boston This town’s most anticipated new hotel in years finally opened in October. On the corner of Stuart and Tremont Streets in the theater district, the W has 235 rooms and suites; Market by Jean-Georges, a new restaurant from chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten; a Bliss Spa; and 5,000 square feet of meeting space, in which the largest room seats 150 banquet-style.
2. Ames Hotel Morgans Hotel Group converted the historic 1889 Ames Building downtown into this 114-room boutique hotel, which includes lofts, suites, and one-bedroom apartments. Open since November, the property includes a 50-seat boardroom as well as Woodward, a gastropub from Mistral chef Seth Greenberg.
3. Le Méridien Cambridge Adjacent to the M.I.T. campus, this 210-room hotel, formerly known as Hotel @ M.I.T., completed a $7 million renovation in May. Meeting space includes a 200-capacity ballroom, an 8,000-square-foot rooftop garden that holds 300, and a boardroom for 12.
4. The Inn @ St. Botolph Designed for high-end business travelers, this 16-suite hotel in the Back Bay debuted in November 2008. Studios and one- and two-bedroom suites feature bay windows, gas fireplaces, full kitchenettes, and 42-inch TVs. The hotel has no designated event space, but larger suites include meeting tables and audiovisual capabilities.
5. The Mandarin Oriental landed in the Back Bay in October 2008, bringing with it 148 guest rooms and 4,200 square feet of meeting space. The lobby level Asana restaurant offers up floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Boylston Street, while chef Nicolas Boutin churns out French cuisine with Asian influences. Also on-site: the adjacent M Bar and Lounge and the 16,000-square-foot Spa at Mandarin Oriental.
