The Langham, Boston | Boston, MA

Luxury, Impeccable Service And A Sense of Place At The Langham, Boston

by Susan Edel | September 15, 2022

As you approach The Langham, Boston, you cannot help but be impressed by the stately character of the Renaissance Revival-style architecture, regal awning-covered windows, and the theater-style marquee entrance welcoming your arrival. It feels grand and distinguished, and if only for a moment, you feel like a dignitary.

The Property

The property, located in the Financial District of Boston, does have a distinguished history. The building opened its doors in 1922 as the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, known simply as The Boston Fed. The Boston Fed occupied the space until 1977, when it relocated its headquarters. In 1978, the building was designated as a Boston Landmark and converted into a hotel in 1981. The Langham Hospitality Group took ownership of the property and, in 2004, re-opened it as The Langham, Boston.

The hotel temporarily closed its doors in 2019 to undergo a $200 million, two-year renovation. It re-opened its doors on June 30, 2021, to reveal an entirely transformed level of luxurious elegance while incorporating many subtle design nods to the building’s revered past.

The intention behind the extensive renovation was not only to elevate the interior design aspect but also to preserve and honor the historical heartbeat of the building. Architect Dyer Brown, the design firm of Richmond International, and Shawmut Construction took painstaking measures to restore and highlight the building’s architectural elements, pay homage to its banking history, and honor the city of Boston’s spirit.

The Lobby

As you enter the lobby, it has an intimate and sophisticated feel. The design is a modern-classic style with a soothing color scheme of cream and jade hues, a vague reference to the color of money. Other banking-design details woven into the space include incorporating cabinets designed to look like banking drawers behind the concierge desk, vintage-style green banker’s lamps, and custom area rugs inspired by the pattern found on a U.S. dollar bill. Local and commissioned artwork showcase the building’s banking roots and the city’s rich culture.

Another special touch you will find throughout The Langham, Boston, and all Langham Hotels is their signature pink accent. I noticed these pink touches in the floral arrangements throughout the main floor, on my in-room service tray, and with ribbons tied on amenities. The tradition is a respectful gesture to Langham’s heritage dating back to 1865 when The Langham, London opened its doors as Europe’s first Grand Hotel.

“Well-known worldwide for its signature shade of pink, The Langham Hotels has always integrated the colour throughout its initiatives and experiences, from their popular afternoon tea sets to their specially themed suites. A symbol of celebrations, health, love and positivity, Langham pink has been a centrepiece of the luxury hotel brand. The phrase “in the pink” means to be at the peak of health and it perfectly encapsulates the brand’s values, which are especially apt for a time like this.”

Guest Rooms

The Langham, Boston has 312 guest rooms, which include 17 suite categories located throughout the hotel’s nine floors. The room categories range from Superior {entry level} at 275 sq. ft. to the Chairman Suite at 1,586 sq. ft. The average room categories {Deluxe/Premium Deluxe} range from 315 sq. ft. to 350 sq. ft. More spacious suites are available, which include the Executive Club Rooms/Suites, the two-story Loft Suites that have an additional powder room on the first floor, along with One and Two Bedroom options, respectively ranging between 500 – 1,100 sq. ft. {see here for a complete description of the rooms}. Most rooms offer a city view, while some provide a serene view of Norman B. Leventhal Park. When you reserve an Executive Club or Suite category, you will have access to The Langham Club {see description under Dining} where you will enjoy all-day service. Guests in any other room category may purchase club access for an additional daily fee.

The guestrooms feel light and fresh, designed with a pleasant New England aesthetic. There’s a simple sophistication in the style that embraces comfort yet feels steeped in tradition. Blue, white, and cream tones are prevalent throughout the space in the bedding, drapes, and furniture. I enjoyed the playful patterns and the purposeful use of plaid fabrics on chairs and pillows to mimic suit fabrics from a bygone banking era.

The wardrobe closets with glass doors and custom-built drawers provide an upscale residential feel. The armoires and side tables are reminiscent of vintage travel trunks, complete with brass knobs and leather handles, adding a rich texture and implied nostalgia to the rooms. Carefully curated artwork is hung collage-style on the walls representing the building’s banking heritage and the best of what Boston offers, from baseball to its historic waterfront. Brass accents in light fixtures, mirrors, side tables, and knobs add a dash of glitz.

The elegant all-marble bathrooms feel luxurious. Many bathrooms have walk-in showers with glass doors, and others have a tub. A favorite feature of mine was the rain shower head. Amenities included in the room are plush robes and slippers, a Nespresso machine, and minibar items that can be ordered from a QR code menu. Complimentary coffee is provided in the lobby on Saturday and Sunday.

I stayed in deluxe room number 611, located on the 6th floor, with a lovely view of Norman B. Leventhal Park. The room was pleasant, and the bed was quite comfortable. I found housekeeping extremely responsive and accommodating to my every request over my 5-day stay. I also enjoyed the turn-down service each evening when housekeeping refreshed the linens, placed slippers by the bed, and left a chocolate treat.

Dining

The Langham, Boston offers several convenient options for your dining needs:

GRANA

The Grana restaurant {meaning cash in Italian slang} occupies the former Federal Reserve Bank’s grand hall. Once covered in wall-to-wall carpeting, the renovation revealed the original travertine flooring’s bank seal with only minor repairs needed. The two-story grand hall now exudes a sophisticated elegance with dripping crystal chandeliers and velvet banquettes serenaded by soft piped-in music. A commissioned seven-foot-tall, hanging wire sculpture of a Lady Liberty coin head hangs suspended above the staircase with a velvet-draped background. During my visit, I enjoyed my morning coffee in this splendid room and felt like I had experienced my own Holly Golightly moment. It felt very lavish.

The Grana serves Italian family-style meals and is open daily for breakfast, lunch, and brunch is served on the weekends.

THE FED

The Fed is the hotel’s British-inspired cocktail bar located off the main lobby, with an outdoor terrace accessible street side. With its approachable luxury, this pub-style bar draws in a lively crowd, including hotel guests and locals alike. Along with an enticing range of craft cocktails, a house-label gin and beer, and a menu offering elevated pub fare, this is the perfect location to gather with family and friends for a good time.

The Fed turned out to be one of my favorite hangouts in the evening hours after a busy day of running around the city. Each evening, our crew of family and friends would huddle into a cozy corner, sync into the oversized chairs and velvet settees, and order our favorite libations. After many laughs, toasts, and shared moments, we got the hint when the mood lighting changed to bright lights, and it was our subtle sign that it was time to head out. We would bid our goodnights to the bartenders and staff and say, “see you tomorrow night.”

THE CLUB

I always find a hotel Club Lounge a great perk. There’s something that feels so indulgent about accessing the lounge anytime you desire a drink, snack, or to enjoy a quiet space.

The Langham Club, located on the 8th floor, offers a Continental breakfast with a full spread of fresh fruits, yogurt, hot items, and an omelet station in the morning. In the afternoon, enjoy snacks, small bites, and petit fours; in the evening, partake in the hors d’oeuvre selections. An all-day bar stocked with coffee, soft drinks, wine, and more {the Club even allows their guests to pour their own alcohol} is available at your convenience. The Club also has dedicated Club attendants to assist with all your needs and complimentary pressing of 3 garments upon arrival.

When you reserve any Executive Club Room or Suite, you will enjoy the perk of all-day service at The Langham Club. In addition, any guest can add Club access for an additional daily fee.

24 HOUR IN-ROOM SERVICE

Room service is available 24 hours a day. Order an in-room meal with a white-tablecloth service set up in the privacy of your room. I enjoyed breakfast in my room one morning and was pleasantly surprised when the food arrived within a minute of the estimated delivery time. Is it just me, or does everyone think it’s so decadent to have breakfast in bed when staying at a luxury hotel?

Wellness

For those who like to stay fit while on the road, The Langham, Boston offers a 24-hour wellness/fitness center on the hotel’s third and fourth floors. Experience the stretching area and Echelon Reflect Touch Smart Fitness Mirror, which provides more than 2,000 studio-quality fitness classes. Enjoy the cardio and strength studio featuring Peleton exercise bikes, state-of-the-art strength equipment, a heated indoor pool, a whirlpool, and a sauna.

The hotel does not have a dedicated spa offering beauty/body treatments; however, inquire with the Concierge about the possibility of in-room treatments.

The Art

Artwork is very prominent throughout the public spaces and guestrooms of the hotel. The extensive art collection selected in collaboration with the Copley Society of Art features works by local and regional artists. Selected artworks feature a QR code that links to a video, providing information on that particular piece. The artwork and commissioned pieces throughout The Langham, Boston abstractly help to convey the narrative of the historical building and the city in which it resides.

The Langham, Boston’s {new} art collection was curated by Richmond International with many of the pieces paying homage to the building’s banking history in the 1900’s and its rich Boston heritage. The art collection includes 60 commissioned pieces of 268 total works, 126 of which have a local connection. Many pieces from the hotel’s collection were sourced from The Copley Society, the oldest artistic non-profit in the United States.

Excerpt from www.LanghamHotels.com

Activities

With a convenient downtown location, The Langham, Boston is within walking distance of some of Boston’s finest shopping, restaurants, and attractions.

History lovers will delight in planning their day around The Freedom Trail, a 2.5-mile red-brick trail through Boston’s historic neighborhoods that date back to the American Revolution.

The foodies will want to head straight to the North End for authentic Italian cuisine and delicious pastries. Bring your appetite and wear your stretchy pants for this one.

Fashionistas will want to head to Newbury Street, where they’ll find high-end shops, local boutiques, and various restaurants.

The kiddos and adults alike will enjoy all the Boston waterfront offers, from the New England Aquarium, to observation decks, boat rides, and more. We enjoyed a Boston Duck Tour, which was informative with a humorous edge, and I enjoyed the fact that the vehicle transformed from a land vehicle to a boat, allowing us to see Boston both by land and sea.

Should you prefer to take transportation to the attractions, I suggest a pass on the Hop on/Hop Off Trolley, which will take you to all the major attractions and allow unlimited re-boarding throughout the day. Uber is also an excellent way to get around. I never waited more than 5-minutes for my driver to pick me up from The Langham, Boston.

As a guest of the hotel, be sure to partake in the daily complimentary Heritage Tour of the property, including an overview of the impressive art collection and the building’s history as the former Federal Reserve Bank of Boston in 1922.

Summary

I found The Langham, Boston to be an intimate hotel combining modern sophistication with timeless glamour and steeped in history. The attentive staff impressed me from my first encounter with the sales department to the front desk, servers, and housekeeping. The staff was professional, friendly, and accommodating.

I appreciated Langham’s thoughtful commitment to their design efforts of incorporating a sense of place with the New England ambiance and spirit of the city and honoring the building’s deep-rooted history with subtle references cleverly integrated throughout the design. Overall, the hotel feels elegant and refined, yet comfortable and unpretentious, which made for a lovely stay.

I found Langham’s location in the financial district a perfect centrally located spot for easy access to everything, and yet, just on the outskirts of the busier tourist area. I felt that it was the best of both worlds.

I enjoyed the quintessential Boston experience with The Langham, Boston, from their convenient central location, beautifully appointed guestrooms and facilities to their gracious hospitality. Sharing this experience with my family made it that much sweeter. Thanks for the memories, The Langham, Boston.