In the 1970s, an empty lot sat at the corner of JFK Street and Memorial Drive overlooking the Charles River in Cambridge's Harvard Square.
The sweeping water views and prime location the land offered attracted none other than the estate of President John F. Kennedy, which selected the site for his Presidential Library. As the time for building the institution drew near, however, loyal residents of Harvard Square questioned the potential commercialism that such a development would bring to their beloved neighborhood.
Richard Friedman, the president and CEO of the commercial real estate firm Carpenter & Company, understood the challenge posed by their opposition when he acquired the plot several years later, envisioning it as the home of an upscale hotel where visitors and locals alike could gather for good food and world class service. But he ultimately succeeded in working with the community and the Kennedy family to come up with a plan that benefited all the parties involved.
Right next door to Harvard's Kennedy School of Government and just steps away from the university's storied quads-the thinking capital of the world-The Charles Hotel, a truly unique, independent luxury hotel, opened for business in 1985.
Over the past 30 years, The Charles Hotel has welcomed celebrities, scholars, moguls, artists, philanthropists, politicians, opinion-makers and world leaders. From Barbra Streisand to former President Bill Clinton and Senator Hillary Clinton, from Supreme Court Justices to Ben Affleck to even His Holiness the Dalai Lama, they have all felt at home at The Charles Hotel, an experience the hotel works hard to create for all its guests.
The Charles Hotel exists because of our guests. We value your opinion and use it as a way to grow and improve our services. Below are real reviews submitted by some of our past guests. Please visit your favorite travel site to share your own experience. We look forward to hearing from you!
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.
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.
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.
A home away from home! Everything is perfect here, from the moment you enter until you leave. my favorite place to stay in the Boston area!
This property is first-class all the way. The lobby is very chic, yet inviting, and smells amazing. The staff are very well trained, professional, and friendly. Honestly, you feel it from the moment you arrive. The valet was extremely helpful with both my luggage and car. The front desk staff is five-star, and my room was immaculate and impeccably decorated. I'm so glad I chose this hotel and will definitely return when I am back in Cambridge.
My first time at the Charles was great! The hotel is in the perfect proximity to restaurants and stores in Harvard Square. The staff was exceedingly excellent and professional. My room was clean, comfortable, and inviting. I definitely recommend this hotel to anyone coming to Cambridge.
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!
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!