Raffles Boston
August 4, 2026
It’s not Singapore, of course, but there really is a Raffles in Boston. Last time we were in town for David Byrne, we stopped in for a very crowded drink at the upstairs speakeasy.
Of course, we know all about the real Raffles…and the Singapore Sling. It’s pretty hilarious to see this transplanted to Boston. But why not?! Can you say “wicked Sling???”
We are in 1007. This, they tell us, is an upgrade from our requested suite. We’re all for that kind of thing. Thanks y’all.
Extra bathroom.
Not one iota of plastic, of course. And shower pressure that will blow your hair plugs right out of your scalp…assuming you have some.
So how goes it Raffles? It goes, as Sammy would say, pretty not bad. The space is excellent and the staff is top notch. But there are some things that could use some attention and maybe refactoring.
1007 could use some closet space. And engineering needs to fix the drapery. The real problem is inscrutable electronic controls. How do you set the AC to anything less than hurricane? Who knows? And lights? Just press buttons randomly until something happens. About the only other place with these kinds of UI electricity challenges is the College Hotel in Amsterdam.
Greeted with a personal note and a cocktail. Very nice touch. And the Butler thing is actually great. Our man Thomas was hugely helpful and made our visit noticeably better.
Bottom line? Excellent staff (and attention to staff development as well—which we witnessed while working in the libary) but some physical plant work required.
FWIW, the spa is apparently great. Go do that. Ask for Paula. (Side note: if you would like to buy some house perfume and then fly. LOL. Good luck with that. Hotel? Travel size for flyers is pretty much mandatory.)
Oh, and the Long Bar space? Lets upgrade that breakfast menu. Great bar, though. And excellent staff. (The menu could use a dose of the rest of the world…see the Chicago Peninsula.)
Blind Duck was empty and nice when we showed up at opening time. They served this sweet blue thing…
On rainy Monday, we spent some retail therapy time in Copley, the Pru, and then—when it cleared up—Newbury. Then we went to dinner at a very crowded and touristy Saltie Girl (recommended by the concierge/front desk). It’s overly Newbury. If you like being surrounded by people from out of town, this restaurant is for you!
Tuesday was La Padrona (where their computer texts you in Italian but does not like or even understand Italian answers). Delicious food—first time for pistachio lasagna. In the end, really quite poor space layout (our table was in a bizarre booth over in the margins) and staff that needs to be trained (they seem to forget who is paying). This is really more of a Boston issue than a La Padrona issue. Boston’s high end restaurant scene is no longer anywhere near the top edge in our experience. Time to get out of the little pond and see what the big fish are doing out there in the rest of the world, Boston.
Charlie’s is still a dive, but they raised their prices to make some margin. THey have grits!
The neighborhood (and exact apartment) of yore.
Five showerheads and some wicked new hairplugs for Raffles Boston (assuming you used to have those). We’ll be back.
Boston for Lunch
December 20, 2024
This has happened before: you get to the end of the year of travel and you remain just on the wrong side of the 100k finish line. Alas. The only solution is to fly to Boston for lunch. Of course things never work out as planned, with the chances of travel SNAFU during the return trip are 100%! LOL.
We did eventually get home, but were not credited with our (expensive) travel PQP and remained trapped on the wrong side of the finish line. Fortunately, a quick call to United fixed the whole thing and we’ve secured our 100k status for next year. (Surprise! United was great.)
The airports were a zoo.
Lunch with Spool was great.
The fifth anniversary present was procured.
But on the return to Logan, the EWR drip delay began. Ultimately we flew straight back to Dulles. Too much time was spent drinking bad negronis at the Red Carpet Club.
Maybe does not care.
IHG bores the shit out of us at NPS. They are so Marriott. I mean, any chain that can eat and destroy Kimpton and also proudly includes Holiday Inn Express has to be awful.
So here we are in Boston for a TAB meeting and the official hotel is this monster. Nopey nope nope. You can have it.
We were in 1128 which has concierge floor access. Our room was a hamster cage with a crazy window between the bathroom and the bed. Why? Who knows why. We had a great view of the massive A/C units that droned on all night.
The lounge on 12 had a decent snack and breakfast spread and excellent staff. It all served to remind us that our room was not made to hang out in.
There was a clock phone radio (?!) instead of a charging station. LOL.
But we were in Boston and that’s what counts.
We had a nice group dinner at Trade. Delicious but perfunctory.
We also had a group lunch at Nebo. Very good as well. But also very corporate Italian.
After the meetings, we spent some time at the ICA. See more here.
A very fancy dinner with Spoolia at Mooncusser was excellent but overpriced for its level of service. We were side swiped by intense conversation fueled by Rye.
And then, in a twist of very bad planning we flew back home to get to the Kennedy Center for the National Symphony Bowie show.
Four showerheads for the Intercontinental in Boston along with a sincere hope that we don’t have to stay there again.
Boston: The Verb and Its Wishful Thinking
August 27, 2023
Before the 30th Anniversary Music Party, there was Contessa. Great food with a superb city view and militant eastern european staff. Not sure I would make a habit of it. Dining with two of my favorite women tips the scales radically. But honestly, Contessa thinks too much of itself.  It is aptly named.
After the 30th Anniversary Music Party, the pool at The Verb Hotel (right next to Fenway) was bait. Honestly we felt a bit baited (and switched). The Verb is trying so hard to be hip and cool. But they are falling short due to a number of factors mostly involving an actual demographic of families with kids, a terrible breakfast situation, and a very small dingy pool. Oh well. It was a great plan.
We paid for a pool view room. Whatever. We were on the second floor a nice hike from everything past many hallways of refrigerated hamster cages.
This may be one of the only times and actual touring musician has ever stayed at The Verb. Too much veneer and not enough reality makes NPS a grumpy poster.
The Pool. Such a great idea, and so not what it needs to be. We did use it. And we had some great Mai Tais from next door.
At least the shower is not plastic.
The real record player was a nice touch and fun. Many of the records were in terrible shape though.
Mandolin.
It was great to be in Boston for the night. We had fun.
Sunday Jazz at the Mad Monkfish.
All in all, not a plan to repeat but one that was worth doing once. The Verb Hotel earns two showerheads and is summarily dismissed from the target list.
All is Well in Boston at Hotel Marlowe
February 21, 2018
Well, Cambridge actually. But close enough. NPS has not been here in many months (since October 2016), and apparently we missed it.
The Hotel Marlowe reminds us of everything we like about Kimpton:
- a great property with our kind of showers
- a gracious and welcoming staff (especially the great valets)
- a welcome cocktail
- a beautiful room(s)
- GMs who care
It’s all good. Sure is nice to be back.
Wow. NPS loves the Hotel Marlowe @Kimpton. Thanks @jcapalbo, it has been way too long. pic.twitter.com/WGOPOxLv65
— noplasticshower (@noplasticshower) February 20, 2018
Thanks to Joe Capalbo for alerting the troops, and to the troops for giving a damn. Lets spread this goodness to the rest of the IHG universe, shall we?
This time we’re in 825 (tantalizingly close to the Presidential suite). This exec class room is perfect, with plenty of room to exist, a comfortable bed, and a real shower.
825 sitting room
825
825 bedroom
We were welcomed with a note, water (almost sparkling, and promptly swapped out), a nice snack including fresh fruit, and a cocktail ready to mix put together by Patrick. Speaking of which, we visited with Patrick for a drink, and he is still at his professional best.
English cup
English Cup to start off the evening right pic.twitter.com/gO4Abmakzw
— noplasticshower (@noplasticshower) February 20, 2018
The shower in here has a new showerhead. NPS approves.
yes please
There is also a huge tub that once again remains completely unused. Alas.
big giant tub 825
On the first night in town, we took a cadre of business colleagues to Craigie on Main. This is one of our favorite Boston restaurants, and it is still super fantastic. Pork plate. Pork plate. Pork plate.
On the second night, after a cocktail with Joe, we headed to a new restaurant called Row 34. The staff at the Marlowe figured this all out somehow and called ahead to order an appetizer for me. It was delivered by the gracious Row 34 manager. Row 34 is very good indeed. Recommended.
The long reach of @kimpton Hotel Marlowe makes it to Row 34. Thanks you guys. pic.twitter.com/KSVYF3Voyc
— noplasticshower (@noplasticshower) February 22, 2018
The it was off to Drink for the usual shenanigans. Pretty sure the late night tequila shots were a bad idea. Ezra Star is now the manager of the bar. Sadly she was in Japan when we visited. Eric the barman, though fairly new, was an ample substitute for fun.
Good news, @Drinkboston is still a great bar pic.twitter.com/U848ovSH4X
— noplasticshower (@noplasticshower) February 22, 2018
Here is the Meal Worm, which is apparently verboten to make unless Ezra is in Japan
2 oz ancho reyes
.5 oz demerara
.5 oz lime
(4 dashes of tobasco+mezcal rinse)
rise highball. Shake. Strain. Serve neat.
Eric made a great cocktail @softestluna pic.twitter.com/YNOqBaRPkp
— noplasticshower (@noplasticshower) February 22, 2018
Five showerheads and wishing that somehow the future involved slightly more Boston and slightly less Germany. These things happen.
Hotel Marlowe in Boston: NPS Home Away from Home
October 7, 2016
Not only is the Hotel Marlowe (in Cambridge, MA really) a beautiful property, it is a well-oiled hospitality machine. GM Joe Capalbo always treats NPS as a friend and colleague. One of the highlights of any Boston visit is catching up with Joe.
Hotel Marlowe
NPS visits do seem to coincide with visits by the owners of the hotel. That keeps Joe pretty busy. It also tends to occupy the presidential suite, but that’s OK because room 621 is fantastic all on its own.
621 Executive Suite
621 Natural Light
Outstanding
Check out this cool decanter.
Barrel aged Boulevardier
The only minor detail left out was still water versus sparkling. But you know, all those blue bottles look the same! The oversight was easily remedied.
621 has a fine bathroom situation. Glass showers!
Dinner at Sportello was very nice. It’s always great to catch up with old friends. Afterwards, our plan was to sneak down to drink by the back stairs. Our plan failed when we were told we would have to stand around for 20 minutes before getting a seat. Things used to be much smoother between drink and sportello three years ago! Ezra was in London anyway.
Fortunately the manager at sportello detected our disappointment and ushered us right next door to Menton’s Gold Bar.
Grappa based cocktails from @MentonBoston pic.twitter.com/2eZr7GkgOH
— noplasticshower (@noplasticshower) October 6, 2016
Cap’n Cook
.75 oz chamomile syrup (2:1)
.25 oz luxardo lemoncello
.5 oz salers
1.5 oz grappa
1 dash Dr. Adam Elmegirab’s spanish bitters
1 gram olive oil powder
Stir down. Serve over large cube. Spoon powder on cube.
Spectre
1 oz grappa
.25 ransom old tom gin
1.5 oz barolo chinato
The barrel aged Boulevardier that Patrick made was so good that we had to go down to Bambara and get another!
The aged boulevardier was so good, NPS needed another @Kimpton Patrick says hi @LoveTequila pic.twitter.com/K969exDgT0
— noplasticshower (@noplasticshower) October 6, 2016
Dinner at Craigie on Main was spectacular as always. Whole roasted chicken, great wine, and superior cocktails makes Craigie a top destination.
Nice back bar @craigieonmain pic.twitter.com/IFL861YTox
— noplasticshower (@noplasticshower) October 6, 2016
A final nightcap or two at Journeyman backbar included house made milk punch and a Liberal made with real Amer Picon. Somebody has been to France!
Backbar @eatatjourneyman has Picon. So liberal. pic.twitter.com/FDTp6XpWl8
— noplasticshower (@noplasticshower) October 7, 2016
All told this was a five showerhead visit to Boston hands down. Lets do it again!
No fly July just barely ended this morning and I am still down South working on the screened in porch. Round about this time of year we usually head up to Boston and see our good friends at the Hotel Marlowe. Sadly, this year’s plans call for a different route, so we can’t say hello as usual and break our no fly July travel drought in the most perfect way possible.
The incredible staff at the Hotel Marlowe has pooled together a donation to support the Team Tartan Leukemia Cup boat two years running. (See this post from last year and this one from two years ago.) I figured since this year we are skipping Boston, we might be out of sight, out of mind. But no. Joe Capalbo and his staff made a very sizeable donation anyway.
Team Tartan sails the Leukemia Cup in Kilts!
Just wow. You guys are the best. Thank you for helping us fight blood cancer!
When we hit our goal (a formidable $42,000 this year), we sail in kilts. We’re well on our way to that again thanks to Hotel Marlowe and Kimpton Karma.
You’re welcome to donate too, dear reader. Every penny counts.
DONATE TO TEAM TARTAN 2016 LEUKEMIA CUP
Special thanks to Hotel Marlowe from Team Tartan
Hotel Marlowe and the Ungrateful Bast@%d
June 1, 2016
Spring Rose: Virginia
We left the Spring rose in Virginia for a short visit to Boston on Jet Blue and a quick overnight at our home away from home the Hotel Marlowe. All day meetings and dinner was interrupted by a quick cocktail with GM Joe Capalbo who runs a very tight ship. Joe was rewarded with slightly defrosted pork.
After a fantastic meal at the always great Cragie on Main we finally made it upstairs to 820, our very most favorite room on the property. Maybe we just like the word presidential??
Amenity in the presidential suite
But wait, what is this cocktail? The
Really?? LOL. Nobody suffers at the Marlowe. We can be ungrateful though!
This cocktail needs some adjustment into what we’ll call the Ungrateful Bast@%rd as follows:
1 oz cask strenth bourbon
1 oz Dolin’s dry vermouth
1 oz lemon
stir down. in an ice filled high ball, add Fever Tree ginger beer to the top.
Serve with a cheese plate.
No really, we’re actually very grateful!
820 has some new gear and some old gear. It is a gorgeous room.
Sleeping quarters
Sitting quarters
Bathing quarters
One of my favorite parts of visiting the Hotel Marlowe is the valet guys who I have come to know over the years. It is always nice to see them.
Marlowe circle art.
Is it green? Is it blue? who knows?
Fiver showerheads in perpetuity for the Hotel Marlowe (and some pork ribs xrayed by the TSA).
Innocence at Highball Lounge
September 24, 2015
Shaher Misif is a dangerous man. But he does feign innocence well.
Does this man look dangerous to you?
Highball Lounge has become quite the fantastic place to have a drink, or to get a tattoo.
Duckie
But it can be dangerous.
2 of 11: Hotel Marlowe in Boston Accidentally Suite
September 22, 2015
Hotel Marlowe: 810
It all started well. United failed to suck. But then Hertz made up for it.
Hotel Marlowe was a welcome respite from the travel nonsense. So nice to be known at a property. Hotel Marlowe is a great place to arrive!
I was assigned 810 (a very nice upgrade with the right kind of shower). But sadly the HVAC situation was untenable even though the welcome was superb. Some great cheese and an actual craft cocktail deconstructed do make you feel welcome.
Bacon and cheese. Plus a note from Joe.
The makings for a craft cocktail. The “Cloak and Dagger.”
Cloak and Dagger
1.5 cask strength bourbon
.75 campari
.75 lillet rouge
stir down. serve up (NOT on the rocks Patrick). Express orange peel (no need to flame) and drop in.
A "cloak and dagger" cocktail from Hotel Marlowe @kimpton. Boston Yankee hone goodness. pic.twitter.com/nOuZEE9V7w
— noplasticshower (@noplasticshower) September 21, 2015
Then there was the HVAC problem. Not sure what was broken, but something was. Huge noise. In fact the noise seems to be an 8th floor problem. So we were switched over to the presidential suite by the accommodating front desk staff people.
Hey now Joe, why was it that the presidential suite was open again? Trying not to spoil us too much with your immense power? Too late! Busted by information flow!
Anyway, here we are back in 820.
Work was actually done. Room to work is greatly appreciated.
Work. Was. Done.
820 view
In 820 you can hang up your pants
820 shower not plastic
All is well. Did we mention the work that was done?
Then there were the restaurants.
Coppersmith is a new Southy restaurant. It is still working out the kinks. If you’re in for some dive dining (nothing fine about it) give Coppersmith a shot. But don’t expect anything more than a huge warehouse setting, overly chipper 20 year olds, and a model that is still chunky. Clunk.
A much better bet is Craigie on Main which has become the NPS go to restaurant in Cambridge. Just fantastic. Do not miss it. With a superior bar too.
Also very good, but not in the same league as Cragie is Giulia, a nice little Italian high cuisine restaurant that is somehow all the rage. Very stylish main courses outshone the not all that great appetizers. The bar program is likewise decent.
Then there was the Highball Lounge.
Boston at night
Boston at night
RSS - Posts