The Liberty Hotel, Boston – my review

I’ve just stayed at this iconic, luxury hotel in Boston – and it has a dark and twisted past!

The Liberty Hotel in Beacon Hill is grand, gorgeous and set in an historical building while being trendy at the same time – and it used to be a jail. But I’d happily be locked up here again!

Here’s what I thought about it, and why I recommend you check it out too.

*My stay was at the invitation of The Liberty, but this review is all my own thoughts.

From lockup to luxury

The Liberty Hotel is housed in what was once the Charles Street Jail on the edge of the leafy Beacon Hill neighborhood.

Built in 1851, the imposing granite structure was designed by architect Gridley James Fox Bryant, who was Boston’s architectural rock star at the time. The building was revolutionary for its era; a collaboration between Bryant and prison reformer Reverend Louis Dwight, who believed inmates deserved humane conditions, natural light, and fresh air. A novel concept for the mid-1800s.

The jail featured a dramatic central rotunda soaring 90 feet high, flooded with light from massive arched windows and the balconies that run around its interior perimeter – these days with comfy lounge chairs for people-watching over the lobby below.

It housed about 220 cells and was considered one of the finest examples of the “Boston Granite Style”. It even served as an international model for prison architecture throughout the second half of the 19th century.

But the story gets darker. By the 1970s and ’80s, the Charles Street Jail had deteriorated into a place of harsh, inhumane conditions. In 1973 it was ordered to close due to concerns about inmate welfare, and finally shut its doors in 1990. 

Fast-forward to 2001 and new life was breathed into its sombre walls with a $150 million makeover. Historians and conservationists helped with the restoration of the exterior, the rebuild the dramatic cupola, keeping the history but updating the building for a luxury hotel. Seven years later the Liberty Hotel opened its doors.

Checking in

Located on a busy corner overlooking Charles River and opposite the Charles MGH train station it’s an imposing arrival, but happily the doormen are there to greet rather than handcuff.

From the entrance you take the escalator up to the first floor reception and your eyes are drawn upwards to the jaw-dropping atrium soaring more than four storeys above. 

The building’s past is on display in the original brickwork, massive windows – some still with bars, architectural details that whisper stories of the thousands who passed through here under very different circumstances. There is also an information corner for the truly curious.

But they’ve balanced all that heavy history with contemporary elegance, modern art, plush furnishings and lighting that makes the whole space feel warm and welcoming.

Our room was on the eleventh floor of the newer addition (they added a 16-story tower during renovation). It was really spacious with a marble bathroom that had a walk-in shower as well as a deep bathtub. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Charles River, and a big super-king bed.

The Bars

The hotel’s most famous drinking spot is Alibi, which occupies the former “drunk tank” on the ground floor. Original wrought iron prison bars guard the windows, and the speakeasy dark, intimate, vibe buzzes with energy.

The Liberty Lobby Bar on the first floor where reception is also located, is where the hotel really comes alive at night. We grabbed a couple of high-back chairs and a cocktail and listened to the live music trio filling the massive space.

Locals and visitors alike head here of an evening. The next night a local artist was there showcasing her paintings. 

For dinner, we headed to CLINK., the hotel’s signature restaurant. Set against original brick walls with cell bars and an open kitchen, it serves seasonal New England cuisine with locally sourced ingredients. 

In the warmer months they have an open-air bar outside called The Yard.

Exploring Beacon Hill

One of the Liberty Hotel’s biggest selling points is its location in leafy Beacon Hill, one of Boston’s most charming neighborhoods, where Charles Street is lined with quaint shops and boutiques. 

The cobblestone and brick streets, historic rowhouses with fall pumpkin displays on their doorsteps (when I visited) make you feel like you could live here!

Wander along Charles Street (Beacon Hill). Antique shops, indie boutiques, cafés and grocery stores line one of Boston’s most photogenic streets. Stop at Beacon Hill Books & Cafe. It’s tiny and there may be a wait!

Cheers! Yes of course we did. Pretty much as soon as we pulled our traveling selves together after flying in from Chicago, we changed shoes and walked the half-mile to the Cheers Bar.

Actually it was only the exterior that was used in the iconic TV sitcom with Ted Danson, Woody Harrelson et al. But they know a good thing when it’s offered and have the lisence to sell the merch. 

So down the stairs we went into the near-enough recreated Sam Malone’s bar, where middle-aged folk were tapping their feet to 80s music and eating Boston clam chowder, Reubens and burgers. Washed down with a Cheers branded pint, of course. 

Acorn Street + Louisburg Square. The postcard-perfect cobbles and elegant square are a short stroll from the hotel (go early for photos). 

Boston Common & Public Garden. Amble across the Common (stunning autumn colors and Frog Pond ice skating in winter) and say hello to the Make Way for Ducklings statues in the Public Garden. This is also where you’ll meet your guide to walk the Freedom Trail. Or just look down and find the brick path and do a self-tour.

TD Garden. We went to a Celtics game at the Garden. They won! The Bruins were playing here the next night, then it was out with the ice and back to basketball for the following night. If you love the hoopla of live sport, this is a great night out.

If you’re into Revolutionary War history, the Freedom Trail is easily accessible from the hotel. This 2.5-mile path connects 16 historical sites, including the Massachusetts State House, Paul Revere’s House, and the Old North Church.

We took this guided tour and walked it from the Public Garden through to North End, while learning so much of the story of America’s fight for independence, one landmark at a time.

My final verdict

I pronounce The Liberty a wonderful hotel, honoring its complicated past to create something luxurious and modern. 

Would I stay here again? Absolutely. The location is great for walking and sight-seinge, the rooms are stunning, the vibe is cool, and the Beacon Hill neighborhood is charming. Plus, where else can you say you checked into jail for the night?

Getting There: The hotel is steps from the Charles/MGH Red Line stop and about 10 minutes from Boston Logan Airport by car. If you’re walking from downtown, it’s an easy stroll through some of Boston’s most historic neighborhoods.

Best For: History buffs, architecture lovers, anyone who appreciates a hotel with personality and a story. Also ideal if you’re visiting someone at Massachusetts General Hospital, which is literally next door.

Then we took the train to New York City.

Here are some of my top New York posts in case you’re thinking about that too.