Raffles Boston opened on September 15th, in the heart of Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood. The 147-key property represents the first mixed-use development in North America for the 136-year-old brand.
“We are delighted to extend the legendary Raffles brand into the Americas with Raffles Boston, and are incredibly grateful to the dynamic ownership teams from Cain International, Noannet Group and Saunders Hotel Group for their trust in, and commitment to, the Raffles brand.” said Omer Acar, CEO of Raffles & Orient Express. “Raffles properties act as vessels for generations of world travelers to explore destinations through the highest level of hospitality and gracious service. Boston represents a historic and sophisticated cultural hub in the United States, and we could not imagine a more well-suited city to play host to the Raffles experience for years to come.”
Highlights of the property include:
- A three-story Sky Lobby on the 17th floor
- A Grand Stair, iconic of the Raffles brand, spiraling through the atrium
- Four distinct food and beverage venues: Amar by Chef George Mendes, the signature restaurant serving modern Portuguese cuisine with influences from Boston’s seafaring culture; The Long Bar & Terrace, a Paolo Ferrari-designed lounge pairing cocktails with views of the city’s South End; a Speakeasy offering specially crafted cocktails and small bites; and the Raffles Writer’s Lounge, another of the brand’s iconic spaces.
- Wellness amenities on the 4th floor, including a state-of-the-art gym, 20-meter indoor pool with city views, and the Guerlain Spa at Raffles Boston, featuring treatments in partnership with the Parisian beauty and wellness brand.
Residing next to The University Club and adjacent to Boston’s Back Bay train station, Raffles Boston sits within a block of Copley Square, Trinity Church and luxury shopping at Copley Place. Other notable Boston attractions nearby include the world-renowned shops and galleries of Newbury Street and the Prudential Center, Fenway Park, the Museum of Fine Arts, Symphony Hall, the Charles River Esplanade, and dozens of restaurants, bars and cafes.
The building’s design team was comprised of The Architectural Team (TAT) Inc. (the building’s exterior); Stonehill Taylor (hotel rooms and several hotel amenity spaces); and the Rockwell Group (the fitness center, spa, and the Raffles’ Residences).
A predominantly local team leads Raffles Boston. The development team is a partnership of locals Jordan Warshaw of The Noannet Group and hotelier Gary Saunders of Saunders Hotel Group, alongside their global development and equity partner Cain International, Madison Realty Capital provided construction financing.