The Charles Hotel
New England academic luxury. Think rustic Shaker furniture, plaid carpets, board-and-batten paneled walls, and custom checkered quilts — cozy rather than cold, intellectual rather than flashy.
Regattabar shows are ticketed and sell out — book at RegattabarJazz.com before you arrive, not after check-in
Why It Matters
AAA Four Diamond award recipient for 19 consecutive years since 2000. Home to the legendary Regattabar jazz club — the leading jazz venue in New England — and farm-to-table flagship Henrietta's Table, as well as Bar Enza under first female James Beard Award winner Lydia Shire as Culinary Director. A member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts.
The Charles Hotel sits right at the edge of Harvard Square in Cambridge, its red-brick exterior so thoroughly Ivy League it could pass for another university building. Inside, though, it leans into New England warmth rather than academic austerity: Shaker furniture, plaid carpeting, custom quilts, and 303 well-appointed rooms and 46 suites. It's the go-to for Harvard visitors, Nobel laureates, and anyone who wants a smart, characterful base that happens to sit 5 minutes from both a Red Line subway stop and the actual Harvard campus.
Where You'll Stay
6 room types available
Deluxe Double Room
Same 273 sq ft footprint as the Deluxe King but configured with two double beds — the family or group travel option. Frette linens, goose-down comforter, and the same Shaker furniture, plaid carpeting, and paneled walls. Carrara marble bathroom included.
Two Double
Deluxe King Room
The entry-level room but far from understated. At 273 sq ft it's snug by luxury standards, but the Shaker-detailed furniture, plaid carpeting, board-and-batten paneled walls, and Carrara marble bathroom make it feel more studied home than standard hotel. Winged leather chair with matching ottoman, king bed in Frette linens and goose-down comforter, oversized desk for work.
KingJunior Suite
At 448 sq ft this is the entry suite, and it lives like a small apartment. Open floor plan with a kitchenette (fridge, microwave, and Nespresso), separate seating area with a large desk, and a Carrara marble bathroom with rain shower, bathtub, and an in-mirror TV. Shaker furniture and plaid carpeting throughout, king bed in Frette linens.
KingOne Bedroom Suite (Larger)
A proper suite at 625 sq ft: separate living and dining space with a pull-out sofa, an additional half bath, the full complement of Shaker furniture and board-and-batten paneled walls, and a king bed in Italian Frette linens. Plaid carpeting ties the New England aesthetic together.
KingOne Bedroom Suite (Smaller)
475 sq ft with a separate living space featuring a pull-out sofa — good for those who need a distinct work-from-suite setup or occasional third guest. Custom checkered quilts, Shaker furniture, board-and-batten paneled walls, and a king bed in Frette linens.
KingPresidential Suite
The 1,195 sq ft top offering. Two fireplaces, original artwork, a private office, a four-poster king bed with a private dressing room, and views of Cambridge and the Boston skyline. The marble master bathroom has a mirror TV and oversized shower. Known to have housed a baby grand piano — the walls are reportedly thick enough to practice until dawn.
King (four-poster)The Property
Eat & Drink
5 venues on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
The hotel has partnered with Bedside Reading to offer guests a curated digital library of books — novels and non-fiction — accessible via download during their stay. Guests can keep the digital version after checkout.
The hotel's concierge can connect guests with a Harvard alum for a private guided tour of the university campus. A genuine insider look at one of the world's most storied institutions.
Henrietta's Table Pastry Chef Danny crafts fresh on-site donuts for guests as part of this Harvard Square Donut Tour stop. The tour also covers the history and culinary scene of Harvard Square.
New England's top jazz club sits inside the hotel. Ticketed shows most evenings featuring national and international jazz acts. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlook Harvard Square. Voted Best of Boston by Boston Magazine 13 times since opening in 1985.
A seasonal outdoor ice skating rink operates right outside the hotel during winter months, open to both guests and the public.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
17,997 sq ft of event space across 18 meeting rooms. Capacity up to 300 guests for weddings and events. Indoor and outdoor options including a courtyard and ballroom.
24-hour business center with meeting facilities, audio-visual consultants, and conference equipment.
Complimentary wired and wireless internet access in all rooms and public areas.
Room service available with late-night menu served from 11pm–6:30am.
Dry cleaning and laundry services available.
Pet-friendly hotel with a dedicated pet package available (dog bed, bandana, leash, pickup bags, interactive smart toys).
24-hour concierge service. Can arrange Harvard campus alumni tours, restaurant reservations, car rentals, and more.
Optional turndown service with shortbread and chamomile tea — a signature Charles Hotel touch.
Every room is equipped with the Drybar Buttercup Blow-Dryer for salon-quality styling.
Marble bathrooms feature televisions embedded in the mirrors — a nice touch for suite guests and select rooms.
Standard rooms receive a Nespresso Essenza Mini with Ristretto pods (regular and decaf) plus J'enwey Tea Co. Egyptian Chamomile and Charles Black Tea. Suites are upgraded to a Nespresso Vertuo with Melozio pods.
All rooms feature Grown Alchemist products in refillable bottles — shampoo, conditioner, body cleanser, body cream, and cleansing bar. A step up from the previous C.O. Bigelow products.
On-site gift shop and newsstand.
Self-parking and valet parking both available on-site for a fee. Parking garage is directly below the hotel.
Electric vehicle charging stations available on-site.
State-of-the-art equipment — redesigned and complimentary for all guests. Full cardio and weights offering.
Available to guests via the affiliated Wellbridge Athletic Club adjacent to the hotel. Features an indoor heated lap pool, whirlpool, steam room, and fitness equipment. The pool is a lap pool — not a full leisure pool — and has a scheduled timetable. Access is complimentary for hotel guests; pool is not physically inside the hotel.
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Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
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