
Raffles Boston
Best for travelers who want a smaller, design-forward luxury hotel with a strong spa, intimate dining, and personalized butler service.
Prices in other currencies are estimates. You’re charged in USD.
Raffles Boston is a boutique-scale, 5-star luxury hotel in Back Bay with 147 rooms, a Guerlain Spa, and signature butler service — read this if you want a refined, intimate Boston base for dining, events, and wellness. InterContinental Boston is a large, 5-star waterfront hotel near the Financial District and Seaport with extensive meeting space and family-friendly public amenities — read this if you need a big downtown hotel with conference facilities and easy harbor access.
Updated · about 1.6 km apart

Best for travelers who want a smaller, design-forward luxury hotel with a strong spa, intimate dining, and personalized butler service.

Best for groups, conferences, and travelers who prefer a big-brand waterfront hotel with lots of meeting space and more on-site restaurant/pool options.
When Raffles Boston wins: choose Raffles for a smaller, more private-feeling luxury stay in Back Bay, a focused wellness floor (Guerlain Spa, 20-meter lap pool), rooftop cocktail venues, and strong destination dining such as La Padrona and The Blind Duck.
When InterContinental Boston wins: pick InterContinental if you need large event or conference facilities (about 28,272 sq ft/2,627 m² of conference space and 11 meeting rooms), more guestrooms (424), direct harbor-adjacent location, indoor pool and broad accessibility features.
Bottom line: Raffles is the choice for boutique five-star service, spa-led wellness, and a Back Bay address suited to couples, small groups, and food-focused travelers; InterContinental Boston suits travelers who prioritize scale, waterfront proximity, and onsite meeting or event capacity.
| Category | Raffles Boston | InterContinental Boston |
|---|---|---|
| Overall vibe | Boutique, design-forward, wellness and dining focus | Large, business- and event-oriented waterfront hotel |
| Location | Back Bay, steps from Copley Square and Newbury Street | Waterfront near Boston Harbor, Financial District, and Seaport |
| Size (rooms) | 147 guestrooms | 424 guestrooms |
| Event & meeting space | Several sky-level event rooms and ballrooms (total ~6,800 sq ft; multiple capacities up to ~220 seated in main ballroom; property lists up to 10 event spaces and combined capacities) | Extensive conference center and 11 meeting rooms (conference space ~28,272 sq ft / 2,627 m²) |
| Pools | 20-meter indoor lap pool plus oversized hot tub (wellness floor) | Indoor pool (wheelchair-accessible) and steam room; public pool details: one indoor pool listed |
| Restaurants & bars | Multiple signature venues (La Padrona, Long Bar & Terrace, The Blind Duck, Café Pastel) with Michelin-recommended La Padrona | Two on-site restaurants and one bar/lounge; Matria is a named American dining option |
| Spa & wellness | Guerlain Spa with private hydrotherapy baths, saunas, steam, dedicated wellness floor and signature 'Boston Energy' treatment | Full-service spa with treatments, steam room, and 24-hour fitness center |
| Known for | Butler service, rooftop speakeasy, strong culinary program and a dedicated wellness floor | Harbor-adjacent location, large meetings capacity, family-friendly public amenities |
| Accessibility & family policy | Welcomes children of all ages; family-friendly services (babysitting available) | Welcomes families; up to 2 children 12 and under stay free with adults sharing a room |
Raffles Boston sits in Back Bay, steps from Copley Square, Newbury Street, and Back Bay Station.
Choose Raffles for a central Back Bay address when you want to be in Boston’s shopping and cultural hub.
InterContinental Boston sits on Atlantic Avenue beside Boston Harbor, close to the Seaport and Financial District.
Pick InterContinental for direct harbor access and easy walks to harbor-front attractions and the Seaport area.
Raffles offers 147 guestrooms and suites, each including signature Raffles Butler Service.
Raffles is better if you want boutique-scale rooms and included butler service in every booking.
InterContinental has a larger inventory of 424 guestrooms across many room types and water/greenway view options.
InterContinental works when you need more room-choice flexibility or accessible room options at scale.
Raffles focuses on destination dining, including Michelin-recommended La Padrona and rooftop speakeasy The Blind Duck.
Raffles is a food-and-drink destination for curated, high-profile dining and cocktail experiences.
InterContinental has two restaurants and a bar/lounge and offers full breakfast service for a fee.
InterContinental is practical and consistent for business travelers and families who want on-site dining without leaving the hotel.
Raffles centers wellness on a dedicated floor with a 20-meter lap pool and extensive spa facilities.
If spa-led wellness and lap swimming are priorities, Raffles’ wellness floor is the stronger choice.
InterContinental offers an indoor pool, steam room, full-service spa, and a 24-hour fitness center.
InterContinental provides broad, publicly accessible wellness amenities suited to larger groups and families.
Raffles’ nightlife centers on its rooftop speakeasy and curated live events alongside spa and fitness services.
Raffles blends late-night cocktail culture with a strong spa program for adults and families alike.
InterContinental supports accessible nightlife and wellness with multilingual staff and family-friendly public spaces.
InterContinental is set up to serve large groups, conventions, and families with reliable public services and evening options.

Raffles — Guerlain Spa, dedicated wellness floor, 20-meter lap pool and signature Boston Energy treatment.

InterContinental — around 28,272 sq ft (2,627 m²) of conference space and 11 meeting rooms for large groups.

Raffles — Michelin-recommended La Padrona, rooftop speakeasy The Blind Duck, and Long Bar & Terrace.

InterContinental — steps from Boston Harbor, easy walking access to harbor attractions and water taxi options.
Raffles Boston is in Back Bay, steps from Copley Square and Newbury Street; InterContinental is downtown on the harbor, so Raffles is closer to Back Bay shopping.
For large conferences and many breakout rooms, InterContinental has far larger dedicated conference space and more meeting rooms; Raffles suits smaller, private meetings and elevated events.
Raffles centers its wellness offering on a dedicated floor with the Guerlain Spa and a 20-meter lap pool; InterContinental offers a full-service spa and an indoor pool but not the same boutique spa focus.
No — both properties welcome guests of all ages and list family-friendly services; neither is marketed as adults-only.
Explore how Raffles Boston stacks up against other hotels nearby:
vs. sites like Expedia, Hotels.com and other OTAs ·