3* Harborside Inn

Moxy is a good fit if you like your hotel lively, informal and right in the middle of things. It sits on Tremont Street in the Theatre District, close to Boston Common and only a short walk from Jacques’ Cabaret and the South End. Rooms are compact — deliberately so — with a clean modern design and big windows in many categories. The idea is that you spend more time downstairs, where Bar Moxy combines reception, breakfast area, cocktail bar and social space in one energetic room. There’s also a 24-hour grab-and-go market and a well-equipped fitness centre, but no traditional room service or full-service restaurant. The location is particularly useful for evenings out because both the Theatre District and several LGBTQ+ venues are reachable on foot. GayMapper tip: best for sociable travellers who don’t need a huge bedroom and would rather have a fun lobby, central location and plenty happening around them.

Sleeping in jail is considerably more appealing when the jail looks like this. The Liberty, a Luxury Collection Hotel, occupies the beautifully restored former Charles Street Jail, where the dramatic 90-foot rotunda and original ironwork have been incorporated into one of Boston’s most distinctive luxury hotels. The 298 rooms are thoroughly modern, but the public spaces make playful use of the building’s history. CLINK. occupies former cell areas, Alibi sits in what was once the jail’s drunk tank, while Scampo adds Italian-inspired dining. The enormous lobby also becomes something of a nightlife destination itself, with DJs, live jazz, fashion events and regular evening programming. The hotel sits at the foot of Beacon Hill beside the Charles River Esplanade and Charles/MGH subway station. GayMapper tip: choose The Liberty if you want a hotel with genuine wow factor — the building and social atmosphere make it feel much more memorable than a conventional five-star.

Harborside Inn is a characterful alternative to Boston’s big downtown chains. The hotel occupies a converted 19th-century mercantile building on State Street, with exposed brick, granite walls, high ceilings and oversized windows giving many of the rooms a genuine sense of history. Its location is excellent for sightseeing. Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market, the waterfront, North End and Freedom Trail are all close, and Aquarium subway station is practically outside. Rooms are fairly straightforward but comfortable, with large TVs, fridges and free Wi-Fi. Some Atrium rooms face the hotel’s internal lightwell, while Cabin rooms on the lower floor have no windows — worth knowing when choosing the cheapest rate. The former lounge is currently not serving food or drinks, so plan on eating out. GayMapper tip: a very handy choice if sightseeing location and price matter more than hotel facilities — just check which room type you’re booking if natural light is important to you.

Hyatt Regency is one of the easiest places to base yourself for a first trip to Boston. It sits in the Theatre District, a few minutes from Boston Common and Downtown Crossing, with the historic centre, waterfront and South End all straightforward to reach on foot or by subway. Rooms are contemporary and comfortably sized, while the sixth-floor leisure area includes something increasingly unusual in central Boston — a heated indoor swimming pool. There’s also a sauna and 24-hour fitness centre with Peloton bikes. Avenue One serves New England-inspired food throughout the day, with the Lobby Bar handling drinks later on. This is very much a practical full-service city hotel rather than somewhere you book for boutique atmosphere, but the central location makes exploring Boston unusually simple. GayMapper tip: a particularly useful choice in colder months when having an indoor pool and plenty of the city within walking distance starts to feel like quite a luxury.

Hotel Commonwealth is the standout option if Fenway rather than Downtown is where you want to be. It sits directly in Kenmore Square, with Fenway Park almost in the back garden and the House of Blues, MGM Music Hall and Boston University all close by. The 245 rooms are noticeably spacious by Boston standards, with contemporary interiors and plenty of higher categories offering views towards Fenway Park or the famous Citgo sign. Food and drink have changed considerably in recent years. Blue Ribbon Sushi now sits at the hotel entrance, while Row 34 brings excellent New England seafood to the other side of the lobby. There’s also a 24-hour fitness centre and in-room dining. Kenmore subway station is right beside the hotel, so Downtown and the South End remain easy to reach even though you’re staying farther west. GayMapper tip: particularly good for baseball fans, concert trips or anyone who prefers the energy of Fenway and Kenmore Square to the historic downtown core.

Boston can be brutally expensive, which makes HI Boston particularly useful. This large, modern hostel sits on Stuart Street in the Theatre District, just a few minutes from Boston Common and within easy walking distance of Jacques’ Cabaret and the South End. Dorms come in several sizes and now have privacy curtains, individual power points and lockers, while private rooms are available if you want the hostel atmosphere without sharing your sleeping space. There’s a large communal kitchen, game room, work areas and plenty of organised activities and walking tours, making it much easier to meet people than at a conventional hotel. The location also means you can cover a surprising amount of central Boston on foot, with Chinatown, Downtown Crossing and Back Bay all nearby. GayMapper tip: easily one of the most sensible options for solo travellers who want to keep Boston accommodation costs under control without staying miles out of town.