The Charles Hotel in Harvard Square

Property is nice. A little bit dated although I stayed in the wing that appeared a bit newer.

Parts of the carpeting is old and some staining. The bed was too soft and the mattress pad made it even worse.

Just about everything

The price for overnight parking $65.00 is obscene

location

n/a

La comida es buena, clasicamente americana y un poco cara

No varían el menú

Clean Plenty of spaces to sit and work Room was excellent

The pillows

I found great synergy between hotel design and staff behavior, resulting in an experiential immersion in the environment.

Wonderful professionally run upper level hotel on the edge of Harvard Square. Two good restaurants and a bar, plus the Regattabar with top touring jazz acts if they are in town when you are. It was great for my mom who uses a walker because of the professional service and having multiple in house restaurant options. Good ADA support, although the bathtub in the ADA room should have had a shorter step over.

You cannot beat the hotel and the friendliness of the staff. From the upgrade to the late departure, everything was done with a smile. Thank you for a memorable stay.

Excellent location, very comfortable. It has a boutique feel. Loved the game area, snacks, bottle of water. Very helpful staff. walking distance to metro and buses.

Breakfast at restaurant is subpar and overpriced. Do yourself a favor and walk over to any cafe or restaurant nearby.

I stayed at The Charles Hotel for three weeks while attending a Harvard program, and unfortunately this was one of the most disappointing hotel experiences I’ve had. The front desk staff were unfriendly from day one. Something as basic as getting a bottle of water became an unnecessary struggle every single time. I have traveled extensively around the world, and I have never stayed at a hotel where guests are not provided with complimentary bottled water in their rooms and instead have to go downstairs to ask for it. Room service was equally disappointing. Orders took an incredibly long time, were often incorrect, and on several occasions never arrived. The biggest issue, however, was housekeeping. I have never experienced such poor cleaning standards. Items left on the floor would still be there after the room had supposedly been cleaned. The housekeeping department—and especially its supervision—clearly needs major improvement. Given the hotel’s reputation and price, I expected excellent service. Instead, I encountered poor customer service, inconsistent housekeeping, and a lack of attention to basic hospitality. I would not stay here again and sincerely hope the hotel addresses these issues.

I chose The Charles Hotel because of its reputation and expected a high standard of hospitality. Instead, my three-week stay was filled with disappointment. The front desk made even the simplest request—getting a bottle of water—feel like asking for a favor. It’s surprising that a hotel of this level doesn’t provide complimentary bottled water in guest rooms, and even more surprising that staff seem reluctant to hand one out. Room service was unreliable, with long waits, incorrect orders, and deliveries that sometimes never arrived. The most frustrating part of my stay was housekeeping. The rooms were cleaned very poorly. If something was left on the floor, it often remained there after housekeeping had supposedly cleaned the room. I travel frequently, and this was by far one of the weakest housekeeping services I’ve experienced. The department clearly needs stronger supervision. This hotel has an excellent location, but the service simply does not match its reputation or price. I would not choose to stay here again unless there are significant improvements.

Location - amenities - products in room- comfort of bed - friendly accomodating staff and food

Nothing

This hotel really has it all. Before booking, I spent a lot of time reading reviews and comparing nearly every top hotel someone would realistically consider when having a meeting in Cambridge. On my previous trip I stayed at the Ritz-Carlton, so I had a good point of reference. After this stay, I would choose The Charles Hotel again without hesitation. The showers were excellent, with plenty of hot water and outstanding water pressure. The front desk staff was consistently warm, welcoming, and genuinely helpful. If you book through American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts, they make you feel like a true VIP. Room upgrade (I was a last-minute booking and School is not in session right now for major events) and a welcome bag with gourmet goodies. You can use the breakfast credit in your room or at the restaurant plus an additional hundred dollars to use. One of the unexpected highlights was the complimentary pantry. Compared with club lounges or elite status benefits at many other hotel brands, this was actually more useful. It was stocked throughout the day with sodas, sparkling water, granola bars, Cheez-Its, Oreos, and a variety of other snacks. My room also included a Nespresso machine, which was a pleasant surprise. Ironically, the Ritz-Carlton room I stayed in didn’t even have in-room coffee. The blackout shades worked perfectly, something I can’t say about my experience at the Ritz-Carlton. The bed was incredibly comfortable—actually more comfortable than the Ritz. Both hotels use feather beds and have a softer mattress, which I personally prefer. I was extremely happy with my decision to stay here and would highly recommend the hotel. I felt like a valued guest. I also think some of the negative comments about the room decor miss the mark. Yes, there is a weathered leather sofa in some rooms that appears intentionally aged rather than brand new, but it’s paired with attractive newer furnishings that complement the hotel’s historic character. The overall feel is fresh, well-maintained, and thoughtfully designed rather than dated. Finally, we arrived after 1 o’clock in the morning and there were two people who were fresh and bright at the front desk. However, no one there at the front door, which would possibly have some people say this isn’t a five star however when we checked into the Ritz Carlton , there were two people there they still didn’t properly unload our bags from the car and left our bags on the curb to run to go get a cart so we had to drag our bags out of the street. This is an amazing location and we could not be more happy with our choice. We would stay here again and again. room service breakfast was fantastic. Nothing was forgotten. Pancakes were perfect. Eggs were perfect. Hashbrowns were a little odd because they were almost mashed just with a bottom light crust . Rye bread was phenomenal artisan bread as opposed to every other hotel including the Ritz having bagged bread.

A perfect, charming hotel with a great location. The bed linens were incredibly soft, and the food served at Henrietta’s Table was very good. We loved the free snack pantry in the lobby, especially the bottles of water. Will absolutely stay again!

Great facility, staff and overall experience for a mother daughter trip to Boston. Loved the location and ease of walkability during the summer. The snack panty and arrival gift bag were a nice touch too.

De ligging is fantastisch. Bijna alles op loopafstand en ook dichtbij de metrohalte naar Boston

De prijs. Die waren dat weekend waanzinnig hoog, vermoedelijk omdat er WK voetbalwedstrijden in de buurt waren . Maar nogmaals de prijzen waren over de top; rond de €1000 voor een kamer voor een nacht. We konden helaas niet uitwijken naar een ander weekend.

Lovely property. good location.

Staff was not consistently friendly or helpful.

The bed was covered with a winter comforter that was much too hot, and there was no lighter bed cover.

The Charles Hotel provided a very comfortable stay for my daughter and I while she attended an athletic camp at Harvard. We were able to walk back and forth to the sports complex and never needed our car for anything! Harvard Square was very entertaining and walkable and the convenience of the nearby T station allowed us to go into Boston really easily on two occasions. Hotel staff was helpful when we needed any advice, and our waiter for breakfast at Henrietta’s Kitchen was friendly and personable. The breakfast was amazing as well! I will return to the Charles Hotel in the future if I am in the area for sure! P.S. My teenager was extremely impressed by the “free snacks” that were available! She got to raid the pantry after exercising all day!

Очень уютный отель, все чисто и опрятно. Удобное расположение самого отеля.

I stayed at The Charles Hotel in Cambridge for one night with a family member after several days of college campus visits. We booked through American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts, and the experience exceeded our expectations. The location is outstanding—just steps from Harvard Yard and in the heart of Cambridge. In fact, we never felt the need to venture into downtown Boston, as the neighborhood itself was vibrant, charming, and full of excellent dining options (we however decided to enjoy dinner at Henrietta’s Table, at the hotel). Our room was elegant, with a very comfortable bed and an excellent shower. What impressed us most was the contrast between the lively atmosphere of central Cambridge in the evening and the tranquility of the hotel, which felt like a peaceful retreat despite being only a few blocks away from the bustle. The guest service team was efficient, professional, and genuinely friendly throughout our stay. Overall, this was a wonderful experience, and I would highly recommend The Charles Hotel to anyone visiting Cambridge or the Boston area.

Convenient location and the room we stayed at was excellent

No information about the facilities in the room. Like if they have a pool or where to get ice or water. I know that the reception told me where to refill water but I only remember in the gym. I thought they have in every floor

Emplacement et personnel incroyable notamment au restaurant Henrietta

Il faudrait des lits queen size pour les chambres familiales car les tailles actuelles sont vraiment justes alors que la literie est de qualité

Suite reserved says for 3ppl but need to call to be sure have one with 2 Qs vs 1 K. Staff was very nice and extra helpful in making sure we were happy with our stay. Overall the hotel is fantastic and the location perfect. Chancellor suite is worth the extra $$.

hotel location is perfect, the renovations to this hotel make it very worth while to stay at, the rooms are plenty big and very comfortable,

The room was great once we had an initial problem sorted out. the location can't be beat. Sitting outside at Henriett's table was lovely.

I had requested a suite with a street or park view. I know the facility can't actually guarantee that in advance, but what we got was the opposite - a view of the solar panels on an adjoining rooftop. We asked for a change, so the receptionist gave us a room "overlooking the courtyard', however, it did not overlook the courtyard it overlooked the street. In the end the street view was fine, but I think the front desk maybe should be more aware of the location of the rooms.

Great hotel and friendly staff

Nice view

None

A brief one night stay in Cambridge. Excellent location within a short walk from the red line. Plenty of restaurants and shops near by. Rooms are clean and comfortable. Highly recommended.

Friendly and helpful staff, great location, comfortable room, excellent breakfast. Water bottles (re-usable) a nice touch.

The scale did not work, and shower was difficult to operate. View from suite not nice, which was a shame.

De locatie is perfect. Midden in Cambridge en op loopafstand van Harvard etc

Het is best prijzig en ook wat onpersoonlijk

no more minibars :( the hotel is starting to feel more like a hampton inn than a 4 or 5 star hotel furnishings and decor are past their prime

Don't stay anywhere else in Boston. The Charles Hotel is beautiful, pristine, and well-situated; the gym is terrific; the food and overall service, fantastic.

This hotel can't seem to decide if it's a part of a big chain or an independent hotel. It tries to be both and succeeds at neither. The service is quite good in a generic way. Same with the room. It's like a mid to high-end Marriott. Endless hallways of contract carpet that didn't seem particularly clean. Great sheets. Weird layout where I couldn't see the TV from bed. Nice bathroom in a generic Calcutta marble kinda way. For the price, there was just no point of view or quality there. It has a reputation as the best in Cambridge. I just didn't feel like it was worth double the cost of surrounding properties.

You cannot beat the location. I also really appreciate the delicious coffee in the rooms, the snack area with complementary snacks and drinks, the high-level of service and the super comfortable beds. The housekeeping staff is amazing. Management goes out of their way to make your stay great. The only reason I did not give 5 stars is because my room was a little bit outdated and there was not a sofa in the bedroom even though I paid for a suite. Instead I had a dining table which I never used. Carly at the front desk was incredibly helpful. She was able to lend me a computer monitor so that I could work more comfortably in my room. I was so grateful.

The hotel needs to fix its hot water problem. It has been going on for a long time and at $700 a night they should really see to fixing it asap.

The location is very close to Harvard Kennedy School, with very comfortable rooms, extremely clean bathrooms, and a beautiful view. The daily rate is expensive, but it is worth it for the comfort and the quality of the service.

Impressive, beginning to end! From arrival with a surprise and most welcome upgrade to a beautiful room--to delicious breakfast on departure morning, the Charles was phenomenal. The decor of my room was beautiful and interesting, which is not something I've ever thought about a hotel room before! Staff were uniformly friendly and professional. Looking forward to a return visit.

Everything was great. Atmosphere, Location, Cleanliness and service. A good place when you're doing a course close by.

Go to place in Cambridge. Been coming here for over 30 years and they have done a great job staying relevant and the best that Cambridge has to offer

The location is great for exploring Cambridge and Harvard. I stayed here a number of years back but it has become a bit dated. The rooms are a bit dated and the bed was not that comfortable. There is no mini bar or water- you have to ask for water at the front desk. They do have a pantry in the lobby for snacks and soda. Henriettas was great for lunch, and Bar Enza was a wonderful dinner experience.

The room was very spacoius, comfortable bed, great views. Easy to walk around Cambridge and elsewhere.

Hotel muito bem localizado e extremamente confortavel. Area comum e academia são diferenciadas.

Checkin fez algumas confusoes com a reserva e valores estavam extremamente altos por conta de eventos na cidade. Pelos valores cobrados, surpreende nao oferecem café da manha.

It's the total package...great food for breakfast and dinner at Henrietta's Table, beautiful and comfortable room, and evening jazz entertainment at the RegattaBar

It was a great experience at the Charles Hotel. Great location, great decor, comfortable beds. I would highly recommend.

The Charles is a Harvard Square classic and was the crown jewel of the Square when it opened. These days, it's a little worn and outdated. The location and staff are great, The rooms are OK. If the rate was $300-ish, it would be fine. But it's currently $500+, which just felt to me like it was significantly overpriced for the experience.

Accommodating, efficient

All good

Location, reliable service

Nice front desk team. Good breakfast. Rooms are very small. Inconvenient power slots tied to lamp being on. Thus you cannot use them for overnight charging or for your CPAP machine. Bring an extension cord! Also no ability to control temperature in our room. Ac/ventilation goes on and off throughout the night. Nothing you can do. Great location!

Broken control in shower

Was there for two nights and got a very nice suite. Room was comfortable, quiet and clean and everything worked. Great desk space for work. Common areas were clean and comfortable. there is also a unknown Italian pastry/deli attached to the hotel. great breakfast and lunch sandwich.

The Charles is really a great classic hotel - a solid choice. Perfect location in Harvard Square, excellent quality in all respects, refined décor, pleasant and helpful staff. It's great having 2 good restaurants in the hotel.

Beautiful hotel right in the heart of Cambridge. Excellent service and gorgeous room. Enjoyed the cocktails and food at Noir. Walkable to everything.

Fantastic location, rooms, amenities and services. The perfect stay in Cambridge. The hotel is steps from Harvard Square with lots of options for dining or to get to other parts of town (e.g T) although they do have a fantastic ride service (free) should you need it as I did when I was late for my conference and it was raining. The rooms are perfectly appointed and the hotel offers a variety of options to relax over drinks or dinner after a long day. And for those of us who drive into Boston the garage, right under the hotel, is a big plus.

Excellent location, wonderful rooms. The best weight room I've ever seen at a hotel.

This was our second time staying at this hotel, and once again we had a wonderful experience. The hotel is quiet, peaceful, very clean, and in a fantastic location. Breakfast at Henrietta’s is highly recommended. Our room was spacious, clean, and very comfortable. The only small downside was the bathrobe: although it feels very soft, it’s made of a synthetic fabric that isn’t very pleasant and doesn’t dry well. The staff were extremely kind and helpful. We would definitely stay here again.