Luxury Hotels Atlas / Places / United States / Cambridge / The Royal Sonesta Boston
The Royal Sonesta Boston
Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States · Sonesta · Near Luxury
The Royal Sonesta is a live architecture lesson on the Charles: a zigzag 1963 motor hotel that Boston critic Robert Campbell likened to an "upended waffle," beside a 1988 Postmodern tower designed by John T. Olson to feel more house-like. Inside, a serious contemporary collection brings Frank Stella, Sol LeWitt, Andy Warhol, and Jonathan Borofsky into the corridors. Boston's skyline fills the windows, but the building itself rewards a closer look.
- 400 rooms
- Opened 1963
- Neighborhood: East Cambridge
About The Royal Sonesta Boston
- Hotel Corporation of America founder A. M. "Sonny" Sonnabend developed the original Charter House Motor Hotel; his company adopted the Sonesta name in 1970.
- John T. Olson used red brick, repeated gables, and green tile on the 1988 addition to echo Boston rowhouses and the patina of old copper.
- The 400-room hotel has an indoor atrium pool and seasonal sundeck overlooking the Charles River.
History
The hotel opened in 1963 as the Charter House Motor Hotel, developed by A. M. "Sonny" Sonnabend's Hotel Corporation of America. The company became Sonesta International Hotels Corporation in 1970. A Postmodern tower by John T. Olson doubled the hotel and was completed in 1988, deliberately contrasting with the zigzag Modernist original.
The setting
The hotel stands at 40 Edwin Land Boulevard on the Cambridge bank of the Charles River, beside the riverfront paths and across the water from Boston's West End.
Amenities
- Spacious guest rooms
- On-site restaurants
- Parking options
- Recommended audio/visual provider KVL
- Custom wedding menus
- Preferred group rate for wedding guests and bridal party
- Ceremonies and farewell brunches can be hosted
Open The Royal Sonesta Boston in the atlas for live weekend rates, photos, and the full folio.
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