Residence Inn by Marriott | Hotels Near Fenway Park
Photo Credit : Courtesy of Residence Inn by Marriott
While many of the 20 million–plus annual visitors to Boston will be perfectly happy choosing from the wealth of accommodations across this compact, walkable city, baseball fans no doubt have their heart set on the hotels near Fenway Park. Even if you don’t score tickets to a game — heck, even if you don’t root for the Red Sox — there’s still something magical about hearing the roar of the crowd erupting from America’s oldest ballpark.
And when there’s no game on, lively Kenmore Square offers terrific dining options in the form of Island Creek Oyster Bar and Eastern Standard, both in the Hotel Commonwealth. On the other end of the budget scale are fast-food favorites UBurger and Tasty Burger and pub-grub purveyors Bleacher Bar and Game On — all near or within an easy walk of Fenway. Also within strolling distance: the world-class collections of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and the Boston Museum of Fine Art. (Or, if you go east instead of south, the world-class shopping destination of Newbury Street.) In sum, the Fenway area is a solid home base for a visit to Boston. So if you’re headed to Beantown, check out these great hotels near Fenway Park.
HOME-RUN HOTELS NEAR FENWAY PARK
Hotel Commonwealth | Hotels Near Fenway Park Photo Credit : Courtesy of the Hotel Commonwealth
Already the big kid on the block when it opened in 2003, occupying a space that was formerly home to a dozen small adjoining buildings, this independent luxury hotel solidified its Kenmore Square dominance with a 2015 expansion. However, it hasn’t lost a step in quality with the upsize, as shown by Boston magazine’s 2017 Best of Boston award for general excellence. Only a block from the ballpark, this French Second Empire–style building is home to 245 rooms and suites, including the 700-square-foot Fenway Park Suite (whose balcony offers a stunning view of the Red Sox’ home turf). And among the Hotel Commonwealth’s on-site dining options are two heavy hitters: the bustling brasserie Eastern Standard, a 2011 Yankee Editors’ Pick for “Best Group Dining,” and the Island Creek Oyster Bar, a 2013 Yankee Editors’ Pick for “Best Seafood.”
The Verb Hotel | Hotels Near Fenway Park Photo Credit : Courtesy of the Verb Hotel
Opened 2014, the Verb has outgrown its rookie status to become a key player in the Fenway Park neighborhood. Located right across Van Ness Street from the ballpark’s red brick facade, the former Fenway Motor Lodge distinguishes itself with a funky retro/futuristic feel and plenty of memorabilia from Boston’s rock-and-roll scene (among the consultants on the Verb’s “vibe” were veterans of the late, lamented alt-weekly The Boston Phoenix). In addition to modern amenities such as high-speed Wi-Fi and flat-screen high-definition TVs, all the 93 guest rooms in this completely revamped property have their own record players and a selection of records. Even cooler: a seasonal outdoor pool. Named a 2015 Yankee Editors’ Pick for “Best New Hotel.”
The Eliot Hotel | Hotels Near Fenway Park Photo Credit : Courtesy of the Eliot Hotel
We’re cheating a little to include this sleek Back Bay boutique hotel. But only a little. Brisk walkers can reach Fenway in under 10 minutes from their luxury digs at the Eliot, a neo-Georgian building across from the grand allée of the Commonwealth Avenue Mall. Most of the 95 room options are suites, and all are done up with elegant, worldly touches such as Italian marble and French toile. On the ground floor you’ll find Uni, a Japanese restaurant by James Beard Award winner Ken Oringer that was named a 2015 Yankee Editors’ Pick for “Best Sushi.” And if you need to work up an appetite (or work off an indulgent meal), the Eliot provides its guests with day passes to the nearby Boston Sports Club.
Residence Inn by Marriott | Hotels Near Fenway Park Photo Credit : Courtesy of Residence Inn by Marriott
To distinguish it from sister properties in Cambridge and the harbor area, this popular chain outpost is officially known as “Residence Inn by Marriott Boston Back Bay/Fenway.” But the zealously descriptive name isn’t the only thing that stands out here. The hotel offers a slew of suites — 175, all with sparklingly modern, well-equipped kitchens — making it the closest extended-stay option near Boston University, Northeastern University, and, of course, Fenway. Even if your suite doesn’t overlook the park, the hotel’s indoor/outdoor Terrace Bar and rooftop deck will let you get an eyeful of the ballpark, the iconic Citgo sign, and the downtown skyscrapers beyond.
Hotel Buckminster | Hotels Near Fenway Park Photo Credit : Courtesy of Hotel Buckminster
Built in 1897, the Hotel Buckminster was one of the first hotels in Boston. But hardcore baseball fans may know it better for its connection to the 1919 “Black Sox” scandal, in which a number of Chicago White Sox players conspired to throw the World Series against the Cincinnati Reds. It was in a room at the Buckminster that Boston gambler Joseph Sullivan and White Sox first baseman Arnold “Chick” Gandil met to hatch the plan. Though the Hotel Buckminster still retains some of its historic details — notably in the lobby’s ornate dome — its 132 guest rooms and suites are clean, simple, and modern. (And, given the neighborhood, competitively priced.)
Any hotels near Fenway Park we missed? Let us know!
Jenn Johnson is the managing editor of Yankee magazine. During her career she has worked at or freelanced for a number of New England publications, including Boston magazine, the Boston Herald, the Portsmouth Herald, and the late Boston Phoenix.
