In 1630, a small group of English colonists formed the city of Boston. Since then, the city has grown, yet respects its historical connection. The backbone of the city, also known as the beating heart of Boston, is in the Back Bay, where a mix of retail, residential, and businesses are sited on blocks peppered with fabulous historic brownstone homes. Through all four seasons, there’s something for everyone who wants to explore Boston’s neighborhoods.

The Newbury Boston

Wintertime on the corner of Arlington and Newbury streets, where trees alongside the Boston Public Garden are adorned with festive lights, only adds to the ambiance inside The Newbury Boston, where there are 42 wood-burning fireplace suites. (Featured photo of The Newbury fireplace suite by Nikolas Koenig)

Before you step foot inside the lobby, you’ve already begun the luxury experience. First, there’s a heated entryway, where the friendliest doormen will greet you and guide you inside the building with its neoclassical façade. Once inside, eye candy is everywhere you turn. One door leads to Tiffany’s on the Newbury Street entrance, another -- on the Arlington Street entrance is where The Street Bar is located. This is a space with a speakeasy-feel and the warmth of a crackling fireplace -- perfect to meet friends for a drink and appetizers. Keep on looking around to view the palatial staircase off the lobby, which leads to a second floor event space. And just beyond the Street Bar is the door to The Library -- the place to grab a cup of coffee or cocktail and one of several books curated by the Boston Public Library and Trident Booksellers.

At check-in, be sure to look beyond the counter at the artwork on the wall, titled “Dejeuner,” by Elise Ansel, an artist who translates Old Master paintings into abstract, contemporary pictorial languages. The theme of this painting of a ‘luncheon on the grass’ is a nod to the Public Garden.

Perhaps the most talked about floor at The Newbury Boston is of the rooftop restaurant, Contessa, where reservations here can be challenging so it’s best to plan ahead. Here, you’ll want to order the squash carpaccio as it is the most consistent recommendation from one guest to another. This shareable salad option is edible artwork on a plate – paper thin slices of butternut squash sprinkled with pumpkin seeds and topped with tiny dollops of agrodolce and in the middle, a bed of arugula. This medley of flavors sets the scene for a delicious dinner with a view of colorful lit trees below and buildings of the Back Bay that confirm you’ve arrived in the best part of Boston.

There are 42 wood-burning fireplace suites at The Newbury Boston. Following dinner at Contessa, it is truly a pleasure to take the elevator down a few flights, call the fireplace butler and choose your favorite wood from a curated hearth-side menu, and cozy up with a nightcap. Yes, you can enjoy a cocktail in your room, such as a house bottled New England Old Fashioned featuring Maker’s Mark infused with local apples, Vermont maple syrup and Angostura bitters. If it’s snowing out, the view is even cozier from the large living area with surrounding windows. You’ll be challenged to close the blinds and drapes. Worth noting is that while cherry wood may seem enticing as a choice wood to select from the curation of wood, Maplewood offers the favored scent, and oak burns the best. Order a mix of wood and be prepared to call the fireplace butler for stoking.

If you have time, do it all over again and enjoy the warmth of a roaring fireplace with breakfast in your room. Or lunch, or dinner... you choose. But a soup version of Contessa’s squash carpaccio ordered in-room while the flames of the fireplace add to the ambiance, it is comfort unplugged. Seriously, you won’t want to leave your room once you settle in and stare at the flames and the whimsical illustration above the fireplace, illustrated by artist Veronica Lawlor. There’s a lot to view from the inside, but when your fireplace is lit and there’s a wintry mix outside, no need to do anything more than relax.

Hotel Commonwealth, Boston

Within its urban revival design, a fireplace loft suite of a different kind is inside the official hotel of the Boston Red Sox… at Hotel Commonwealth. In summertime, this hotel is a great place to stay during baseball season, with Fenway Park in its own backyard and the option to book the Fenway suite. But in wintertime, this is a premier place to warm up. A stay here speaks to a true Beantown experience.

With the flip of a switch, the gas fireplace sets the scene in the loft suite, where there’s also a pool table and large steel dining table overlooking the view of Kenmore Square below, which adds to the cool city vibe. The Hotel Commonwealth is the place to curl up and enjoy one of several books as part of the Bedside Reading program. Hotel Commonwealth offers a variety of up to 12 downloadable complimentary digital eBooks, audiobooks, podcasts, and meditations as gifts to hotel guests – provided to them before they arrive, while on property and for their return home.

Genres (fiction, non-fiction, business, wellness, children’s and classics) from major/indie publishers/authors are included. A 24/7 podcast library from Bedside Reading's Authors that Thrive collection, is also available. Glose.com is the digital platform partner.

Guests are encouraged to enjoy some winter downtime by reading from a fully loaded Glose app or from any books available in your room -- or grab a few books at the check-in desk --- they are yours for the reading during a stay.

If you’re hungry, there are plenty of neighborhood restaurants on Kenmore Row, but if you don’t want to step foot outside, you can head out to Pescador, a coastal grill where you can take a seat at the bar, which is hopping – even on a Wednesday evening. Be sure to order a plate of oysters asadas (yes, fire-grilled) and a plate of calamari to wash down with a margarita (this bar is known for its vast assortment of tequilas). Once you’ve finished, just step out the door into the entrance of Hotel Commonwealth to head back to your fireplace loft, flick the switch to start up the cozy fireplace, play a game of pool, and maybe even enjoy some take-out dessert before you settle on one of the couches with pillows propped for the ideal reading position. Or you can choose to close the loft sliders to the bedroom and fall asleep while reading a good book, thanks to Bedside Reading.

Note: Both of these featured fireplace suite hotels are conveniently located next to public transportation – steps to the green line entryway (Arlington stop for The Newbury and Kenmore for Hotel Commonwealth).

Charlene Peters is a travel writer and author of “Travel Makes Me Hungry.”