The Charles Hotel in Harvard Square

The Charles Hotel in Harvard Square descritpion

Set in the heart of Harvard Square, this luxurious Cambridge hotel combines classic New England style with award-winning dining, elegant guestrooms and 24-hour personalized concierge services.
The Charles Hotel in Harvard Square offers everything need for an unforgettable stay, including in-room flat-screen TVs and DVD players. Guests can also enjoy free access to a nearby state-of-the-art fitness center as well as the on-site library and wireless internet access.
While staying at the Charles, guests can take advantage of gourmet on-site dining options, such as the vibrant jazz club, the Regattabar. Classic New England cuisine is available at Henrietta's Table and contemporary Italian dishes are featured at Rialto.
Popular area attractions, including the famed Harvard University are only moments from the Charles in Harvard Square. A number of charming cafes, shops and restaurants are also easily accessible. Downtown Boston is a short drive away with on-site car rental services.
Harvard Square is a great choice for travelers interested in ambience, culture and sightseeing.

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Facilities of The Charles Hotel in Harvard Square

Pets ：Pets are allowed on request. Charges may apply.

Food & Drink ：Restaurant | Bar | Breakfast in the Room | Restaurant with Dining Menu

Internet ：Free!WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge. | Free!Wired internet is available in all areas and is free of charge.

Parking ：Public parking is available on site (reservation is not needed) and costs USD 38 per day. | Private parking is available on site (reservation is not needed) and costs USD 40 per day.

Reviews for The Charles Hotel in Harvard Square

Review 1：I realize the hotel is going through a remodeling phase, and when done the rooms will be stunning I am sure. But just the same, the rooms in their "well-loved" state are awesome. We were comfortable and happy. We attended the event at Reggatabar New Year's Eve and it was absolutely stellar. What a great club and what great entertainment!

Review 2：our room was a bit dated. That being said, it was super clean. The hotel is undergoing room renovations. Would love to go back and see updates.

Review 3：Super friendly front desk staff.

Review 4：It is very inconvenient to get ice in the room: ice machine on the floor would be much better than having to call someone to bring it to the room.

Review 5：Excellent location, wonderful restaurant comfortable room, great service by bellmen and housekeeping.

Review 6：Nothing really.

Review 7：Stayed for the Thanksgiving weekend. Location is great for Harvard/Harvard Square area. Lots of restaurants, shops and Harvard museums within walking distance.Staff were attentive and helpful. Wifi worked well. Room was clean and comfortable. Price was not exorbitant, but a bit on the high side; this is part of being in the area. Had a pool and fitness center, but we did not use them.

Review 8：ALthough probably it has nothing to do with the hotel it self, I must say that I was very disturbed by the 24 cancelllation policy of the Salon . At 4 pm I had booked for for some treatments for the following day. It was exactly 24 hours ahead of my appointment for the following day (at 5 pm). I had not noticed the cancellation policy label and nobody told me about it. One hour later, I went back to the salon to say whether it was possible to change the hour of the appointment as I had an unexpected committment- To make a long story short, their sharp reply was that it was not possibile and if I cancelled I was due to pay 50 dollars although I had booked only two hours earlier. I think that the Salon shoudl take the Hotel guests in the right consideration . In my case, they were unnecessary strict.

Review 9：Breakfast . Superb Gym.Super

Review 10：Expensive place. Nickeled and dimed for in-room ice delivery (the only way you can get ice) and a mandatory bellman cost at checkout due to not being allowed to use the cart myself. Lost 40 person-minutes besides.

Review 11：Nearness to the Harvard Coop bookstore and subway lines.

Review 12：Furniture and decor is fine but needs to be "refreshed" as it is a bit dated. Parking is expensive

Review 13：Great location, easy access to transit Into Boston and close to all the main attractions in Cambridge. Very comfortable, quiet room

Review 14：Kristen, the Manager over Rooms, remembered me by name, reserved the room that I always like and even slipped a note under my door welcoming me to the property. Location, class, great service. Great job! I will only stay here while in Cambridge.

Review 15：i booked the rooms and breakfasts on booking.com but the hotel couldn't find the breakfast orders under my name. so i ordered in-room breakfasts and paid separately. but after I checked out, the booking.com charged my original breakfast orders again which was ridiculous. i hope the hotel and the booking.com can check their systems to see if they integrate well and communicate well before charging me for the wrong items.

Review 16：location is good.

Review 17：Pricey, but I keep coming back.

Review 18：Clean, well furnished. Excellent quality throughout. Well maintained. I've been there at least 6 times, and keep going back.

Review 19：Extremely expensive - nearly $700 the first night. Why the exorbitant rate, I queried at Reception. Due to the fact that Occupancy was Full, she answered...rather unsatisfactorily. But good service comes at a price, I reminded myself.

Review 20：A traditional hotel, focused on customer comfort and service. We ordered breakfast in-room, and it would be wheeled in on a large table complete with white linen tablecloth and blue napkins. The genuinely warm staff member would proceed to run through a description of the very fine spread, as I remembered former customs of this sort, now nearly extinct. This realization created some significant ambivalence, I must say... On the other hand, in all other ways I felt there was an absence of excessive touches. Just solid, time-honored hospitality - so reassuring and professional, in the best sense - leaving a tired traveler feeling welcomed and grateful.

Review 21：Property is physically tired. Carpeting is worn, for example. Housekeeping was slow delivering ice when requested--hotel should have ice machines for guests. Seemed very expensive.

Review 22：Location. Henrietta's Kitchen. Hospitality in the bar.

Review 23：Very expensive, but I think it's a supply-demand thing. I was there over a Harvard reunion weekend.

Review 24：Very nice, clean, spacious room, polite and attentive staff, excellent location.

Review 25：Add $ for parking and several types of taxes to cost of hotel to get true cost of your stay.

Review 26：Wonderful hotel. Excellent staff. Clean. Excellent food. Large rooms.

Review 27：Awesome location, right in Harvard Square and close to the T. Great farmer's market right outside on Sunday morning. So glad we stayed here and took the T into Boston for a bit rather than doing it the other way around.

Review 28：Everything is there, just missing the kettle and coffee in the room. Other than this impeccable. Was in room 309, there is a little smell of chlorine from the pool, not disturbing that much.

Review 29：Excellent room, great bed, good A/C, great facilities in the hotel, wonderful location in Cambridge and close to the subway

Review 30：Close to Harvard Square, friendly Staff, nice atmosphere in the restaurants and in the lobby. A lot of locals from University coming to dine and enjoy time.

Review 31：In Cambridge everything revolves around The Charles: a drink at the luscious Noir, a swimming hour in the Wellbridge club, a steam lobster in Legal Seafoods, the Harvard libraries a little walk away. It's the perfect Operations Room. Loved it all around.

Review 32：would like an ice machine and vending machine; mini bar is too expensive and doesn't provide enough drink variety; don't want to have to request bucket of ice each time it runs out.

Review 33：Wonderful location and staff was very accomodating

Review 34：there was nothing neg to report we did have a need for a wheelchair thou so if I had any suggestion it would be to have a wheelchair available that could be taken out of the building

Review 35：Staff was so helpful

Review 36：We were charged for services not rendered, but when questioned, these problems were graciously deleted from our bill.

Review 37：The hotel was truly beautiful, luxurious, and scrupulously clean. The service was excellent.

Review 38：Excellent location if you want to be at Harvard Square. Also convenient for visiting MIT. The staff was professional and kind. The premises were clean. Definitely recommend.

Review 39：The pictures of the room as compared to what I stayed in was totally different. When I pointed this out their sulutions where either smaller or I'd have to pay for bigger. Although they did try appease by giving me breakfast for free even that I had to manage

Review 40：Room service food was horrible. Melon awful. Omlette huge but inedible. Toast soft and bready. Brought already opened tiny pots of strawberry jam. Coffee good. Not sure why this hotel was so expensive!

Review 41：Location right in the heart of Harvard Square area. Beds comfortable.

Review 42：The hotel is clean and very well appointed...It's within walking distance to all things Harvard Square and the staff is professional, attentive and courteous. Can't wait to take the rest of the family back there!

Review 43：We had ants in our room. When we alerted the front desk they were not alarmed, they never arrived as requested to see the situation and the solution they offered was to comp our valet parking. We paid over 700 per night for a room with ants crawling about. Disgusting!

Review 44：rooms need refurbishing. No kettle inside room. Breakfast at Henrietta's table could be better: staff is very busy and food is rather average.

Review 45：Location is amazing. Next to everything in Harvard. Friendly staff, very nice bathrooms, bustling atmosphere.

Review 46：Nothing.

Review 47：I was studying at Harvard, so I found the hotel most convenient and so supportive of all of my needs. I would definitiely use it again next time and recommend it to others. I also like being able to book on line and have my reservation confirmed so professionally.

Review 48：The bathroom was fairly small, but very nicely done.

Review 49：Loved the outdoor bar next to the hotel. Really nice staff, great room - the bed was very comfortable and great closet space.

Review 50：Didn't like the fact that you have to pay for parking. When Iarrived, they only had one breakfast voucher when I ordered 2. Spoke toManager on Duty and he OK'd the second voucher.

Review 51：Liked the view of the courtyard from room. Room was clean, bedvery comfy.

Review 52：Would have appreciated an in-room tea/coffee maker as standard

Review 53：Room - large, very comfortable, clean, well equipped with a lovely view over the courtyard garden. Loved the mirror TV in the bathroom! Room service - had dinner and breakfast in my room and both were served by very polite but friendly staff and tasted devine. Staff - friendly but professional manner & very helpful

Review 54：there is a certain calm, a certain quite confidence in the staff of this property that is in no way cocky and is instead friendly and, dare I say , homey that has always put The Charles above all others in my too-often-in-hotels opinion

Review 55：Too expensive. Was able to get just as good service and amenities at another hotel for a lot less money and we had valet service also and could accommodate our large vehicle. I was a little miffed I did not have a coffee pot in room. I like to make my own tea in the coffee pot and being from the south I do not like English tea. Give me Lipton or Luzianne any day.

Review 56：Loved the valet service. Liked that there was a breakfast restaurant there if I wanted breakfast. The location was great, because we were touring Harvard.

Review 57：*Extortionate prices for laundry service; more than a $100 for several days' clothes. *Lacklustre main restuarant particularly in the evening with spotty service and little atmosphere. *Terrible bar with staff absorbed in talking amongst themselves and a strange sports bar/cocktail bar aesthetic. *Expensive parking. *No visible concierge or personality to the lobby.

Review 58：*Excellent location, adjacent to river, Harvard Yard, and metro connections. *Spacious stylish room. *Superb in-house Italian restuarant.

Review 59：Breakfast is so expensive and crowded. Should be included in the price. And the hotel will need to purchase new mattresses sooner or later.

Review 60：Swimming pool.

Review 61：I requested a quiet room since we were there for an important meeting but the room we got was facing the street and there were two bars right under us and although we were on the 8th floor I could only sleep with ear plugs since the noise went on until 2 pm. This was very disappointing because the hotel should either have provided us with a quiet room or should have told us that they don´t have a quiet room availiable and in that case we could have booked a room in another hotel. I did mention it to the hotel staff at reception and also wrote it in their online questionaire but no reaction so far.

Review 62：The location was perfect for us, the room was very clean, nicely decorated and the beds were excellent. The bathroom was very clean and spacious and the shower/bathtub were very nice. The staff was friendly and helpful.

Review 63：REALLY irritating wifi requiring new acceptance of terms and conditions and re-log-in every few minutes. Also, not such good vlaue for money given how expensive the room was.

Review 64：Central location, comfy bed, nice sized room, good facilities and above-average gym.

Review 65：The mattress was quite uncomfortable. Very high taxes, (Convention taxes???) which added to the already high price.

Review 66：Great location, courteous staff, The room well lit and comfortable, good view of Cambridge, good wifi. Didn't have a chance to enjoy the restaurants in the Hotel, however there are plenty of options around the area as well. Great location.

Review 67：No microwave or coffee machine or space in mini bar

Review 68：Comfortable rooms, great health club, fab restaurants within the complex. Cozy yet sophisticated fare and ambiance

Review 69：kind of expensive for staying here when the bathroom looks like a regular hotel bathroom and the rooms are like any other hotel. Food was amazing but the portions were so small.

Review 70：By far one of the best places I have stayed. They have great food. Comfy beds. Beautiful rooms and bathrooms. Super clean. Parking downstairs even tho it's not free but makes parking so much easier. Close by to shopping and restaurants and bars and fast food places. Perfect location and place.

Review 71：still expensive. wifi slow

Review 72：relatively good value in a very expensive area. gym is good. didnt eat at the hotel. rooms ample, beds comfortable and service good tho we didnt need much.

Review 73：Parking prices $58 for 14 hours...wow!

Review 74：Loved everything about our visit! We were able to check in early, the spa was excellent and did a couples massage and loved the 2 wonderful ladies who took care of us. The gym and pool were also very clean and the staff was very helpful. The room was perfect, bed super comfy and the food was excellent.

Review 75：I would like a flatter pillow

Review 76：We have been staying at the Charles for the last 20 years whenever we come into town. It really has it all, great restaurants, great location, great service, sweet and comfortable room, nice amenities

Review 77：slightly chilly desk staff

Review 78：comfortable bed, good-sized room, wi-fi, much better art on the walls than in most hotels, very good in-house restaurant (henrietta's), amazingly fast rocket elevators (never any wait)

Review 79：nothing

Review 80：it was a great place to stay after going to the Sanders Theater for a show and then walking around Harvard Sq and then going to the Harvard Art museum the next day on Sat which is free 10-12 on every Sat morning. It all worked out tremendously...and have breakfast at Henrietta's right in the Charles in the morning...all perfect for us

Review 81：Spare, dated, unimaginative furnishings, television remote did not work properly, only 1 of 3 elevators worked, the gym hours were inconvenient, restaurant menu sparse

Review 82：Had to renew wifi registration each time we returned to the hotel. Usually, registrations are date set so automatically connect when we return to a hotel with our phones etc

Review 83：Location,beautiful quilts on display, enjoyable restaurant for breakfast

Review 84：The check-in process was crazy. I had at least 3 authorizations done on my credit cards. They were just so zealous about authorizations.

Review 85：Great quaint hotel in the heart of Harvard Square. Very comfy, while also being sophisticated and professional. Very New England.

Review 86：The bike was in bad shape and uncomfortable. They could easily do much better. I left something in the room which had to be mailed to me. They sent it Fedex and it cost me $20! I was willing to pay, but they could have picked a cheaper alternative. It would have been even nicer if they hadn't charged me for that.

Review 87：Room lovely with courtyard view. Henrietta's Table is delightful for breakfast. A real Cambridge gathering spot. I also got free use of a bike- nice addition, so I could ride along the Charles.

Review 88：Parked our car in the Charles Hotel Parking and had to pay over $100 for 3 days!! No one informed us about the parking fees.

Review 89：Beds were amazingly comfortable Big room Great Breakfast Great location Friendly staff

Review 90：Loved the location and quiet, comfortable room. Feels like a small luxury inn but with big city sophistication. Especially liked the bar at Rialto and Henrietta's Table for lunch or dinner.

Review 91：The room had everything but a coffee maker. :( The price is steep, but it is quality. Decor a little dated - seems an attempt at colonial but not authentic looking. But we loved our stay!

Review 92：Loved location, comfortable room, perfect temperature, quiet, loved the tv in the mirror! Friendly employees. Did I mention location?

Review 93：The hotel is in a good location for Harvard University and has tha advantage of a parking garage for your car. The room was clean and comfortable: a good business hotel. There are handy booths for internet access and printing on each floor.

Review 94：Rialto Restaurant not so good:staff very arrogant & food rather bland.

Review 95：Location is the best. Henrietta Restaurant was very good: excellent food, very friendly & efficient staff. Amazing team work.

Review 96：no ice on floor, had to rely on room service which was slow to respond if at all; poor signage to health club, no working swimming pool; rate

Review 97：location, lobby, restaurant, room (after asking for a different one than initially given)

Review 98：The very one thing it was an unpleasant surprise was the charge at $ 400 + for the last day well above the price I had booked for, for reasons related to high demand, as I was told

Review 99：I was promoted to a suite and that was an unexpected nice surprise. Excellent staff and breakfast. Food at the restaurants very good, although I would like it more "daring". Very good facilities and a sense of overall class. Definitely I would stay again

Review 100：The pool was out of service and the gym had many leaks in the ceiling but otherwise this was a great stay. I'd like to try the hotel again in a little while.

Review 101：Great locations and very friendly and professional staff. A really nice hotel.

Review 102：the pool was closed due to maintenance, which was a set back. there was a lot of dust underneath the furniture. And there was construction noise in the morning. I don't like at all that they would not provide any commodity in the room like a coffee machine or even complimentary water.

Review 103：I love that it is in the heart of Harvard square. The hotel is beautiful and the staff is helpful

Review 104：The hours of availability of the pool are very restricted and hard to coordinate with a day of sight-seeing.

Review 105：The room was very nice, comfortable, and the hotel quite accommodating. Our girls loved ordering room service and just hanging out.

Review 106：No coffee making facilities in the room. Had to pay over $8 for the in room bottle of water.

Review 107：Close to bookstores and restaurants. Quiet rooms overlooking a courtyard. Complimentary coffee near the restaurant. Helpful staff. Complimentary car for local area.

Review 108：My son and I arrived just before midnight, after a Red Sox game. We were greeted with a smile and promptly checked in. The room was spacious, with a comfortable bed and bedding. The mirror t.v. in the bathroom was a cool feature. The room was quiet. Overall, great experience. Next time, we'll try the restaurants and amenities. Unfortunately, we paid to sleep and run!

Review 109：Frankly I thought the Henrietta's Table breakfast was overrated. Even though one doesn't see anadama bread on every menu!

Review 110：Staff, design, room, location. Good $ for valet (I'm used to NYC, so........ !)

Review 111：The Charles Hotel made staying in Cambridge easy. One could walk everywhere. The staff were knowledgeable and very helpful. The hotel offered several dining options, but the city added many more to them. Everything was comfortable and well-appointed. I'd stay there again in a heartbeat.

Review 112：Everyone was extremely nice and helpful except for one doorman was seemed a bit surly when I showed up driving a small moving van to unload four suitcases. He didn't want me to stop for 2 minutes to unload the suitcases, and refused to help, so my girlfriend and I had to do it alone. Maybe because I showed up in a T-shirt and shorts after a long drive from Princeton, NJ, he must of thought I looked like riffraff and didn't seem inclined to be helpful at all. But he was the exception.

Review 113：I came with my partner and her elderly parents, so we decided to get the suite, which had a fold-out couch bed in the living room. It was a perfect arrangement, and the hotel even put in a microwave and an empty fridge, so we could bring back our own leftovers to reheat later. Very considerate.

Review 114：Henrietta's table was OK but service could have been better on both occasions The free wifi requires constant logging in, which was annoying.

Review 115：Good overall experience, Rialto their premier restaurant was excellent.

Review 116：Staff was unfriendly and totally impolite. The bed was in poor shape resulting in pain in the morning. This is unacceptable.

Review 117：The only great thing was the location.

Review 118：The Wifi sign on which had to be done multiple times was somewhat annoying. Not a big deal. I would have like an inroom coffee maker.

Review 119：Very comfortable room. The bed was especially comfortable.

Review 120：The Pillows were way to soft. The bed was also soft and sagged in the middle. Lighting for the bathroom mirror was way to dim. Difficult to see while shaving. Need more towel bars if expected to save the environment by hanging towels

Review 121：The location was good for my trip and executive education at Harvard

Review 122：They advertise that they have a pool- but it is rented out to another organization that gives community classes and pool access is extremely limited- especially for children.

Review 123：asked for postage stamps; told to walk to post office

Review 124：Gluten frèe dining options ar all 3 restaurants on-site. Location was on only short walk to Harvard Law School buildings.

Review 125：No coffee in the room. Or in the lobby. Really none of the little things that make you feel special. Everything had a price tag. Although it is a beautiful place I will go back to the Marriott next time.

Review 126：Location and decor

Review 127：Swimming pool and fitness room close too early, just before you feel like using them.The rooms LOOK clean, but they are not. The doorknobs are all sticky and the towels and the pricey bathrobes are all smelly. We had to wait more than two hours to get the room keys with our 4 year old grand daughter getting tired (i.e. 2 hours after the announced check in) No spectacular city view as advertised. People at the reception were not kind or helpful at all. Please keep away from this hotel and stay somewhere else if you are prepared to pay around USD 300.

Review 128：The attitude of the management.

Review 129：The hotel was good but the staffs were not helpful. I was on a course with harvard and there was a group discount however, Charles hotel refused to honour the discount and insisted that I paid $700 a night. I eventually gottthe same room for $325 on booking.com. I was only able to get 2nights on booking.com so I approached the management for a discount for the 3rd night since I was there for the same course that granted other a discount. They offered me a compulsory nights at $500 when I only needed 1 night. At this time, it was too late to get other hotels as they were all fully booked. I wwas forced to stay in an hostel for the last night and it wasn't pleasant.

Review 130：vanity mirror in bath difficult to work. no luggage rack. another chair would be convenient. we had difficulty with the wi-fi merely to use our I pads. Conceierge was not all that helpful

Review 131：rooms, beds, bath very comfortable: not plush, but comfortable

Review 132：-The quality of the reception is not friendly. You need to speak good English! - On my second day unattended housekeeping! only brief cleaning my room at night after my second request in the day! - Serious problem with debit my credit card: very different from the value reported by Bookink.com.

Review 133：location

The Fine Print

Upon check-in photo identification and credit card are required. All special requests are subject to availability upon check-in. Special requests cannot be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.