Found the Kendall Hotel while searching for a place to stay near the Sommerville theatre. I loved the story behind this rescued and revamped firehouse. Seeing it in person was truly a treat....loved all the little tributes to the history of this building. The decor was artistic, eclectic, and varied multiple antique pieces, lighting, and accents. The artwork was gorgeous. Breakfast was delish (and I am a true hard to please foodie!) loved the raspberry danish, croissants, waffles and I mean seriously who doesn't love bacon? The coffee bar had oatmilk (yay!!) this lactose intolerant gal truly appreciated that. The only improvements we would suggest is it was too hot in our room. It seems that the temperature is regulated across all rooms. The thermostat/adjustment showed cooler or hotter but when turned to cooler hot air still came out. Despite the ceiling fan it was a balmy 78 degrees in our room making it a challenge to sleep comfortably. Loved the onsite parking garage but navigating into it in an suv was frightening, tight squeeze. Overall the treatment/staff hospitality, history, accents, location, breakfast, daily wine/happy hour mix and mingle outweigh the negative aspects of this hotel. Really enjoyed our stay here. read more

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This was an incredible quaint hotel in downtown Boston! Wife and I went to a Red Sox game and stayed here! One of our favorites for sure!! read more

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My only disappointment was that the room didn't come with a free dalmatian dog. What kind of firehouse is that? (I'm kidding in case it's not obvious) The room was nice, clean, and comfortable, the lobby was charming, and the location right near the T and MIT was great. read more

What an amazing place! It is a restored firehouse turned into a hotel near MIT. Near the T, quiet neighborhood and great food options read more

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What an incredible boutique hotel. There are so many lovely touches and details that make this hotel stand out. The front desk has great recommendations and even a coupon for free oysters at Row 34 which also had a life changing butter lobster roll. There's a beautiful sitting area on the top floor. Everything was exceptionally clean. We were close to the T and walking distance to most of the sights we wanted to explore. 10/10 recommend!! read more

Kendall Hotel - Underground hotel parking. 52$ per night. You can easily access your car and come and go at any time. - Hotels Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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We've stayed here multiple times now and look forward to returning for another visit. The front desk is always helpful and kind, the rooms comfortable, nice breakfast buffet, and it's a great location. We were confused about why there are no fans in the bathrooms but that was the only drawback. read more

What a disaster! I had a hip replacement recently and my husband had two knee replacements. We arrived to a single broken elevator and were put on the sixth floor. A long-awaited trip to Boston was RUINED! Really, no elevator?? It's not 1880 any more... read more

This place is terrible. The good reviews are from before it changed management. The bar and restaurant are closed...a ghost town. when we were there the single elevator did not work. Guests were left to climb SEVEN STORIES. If you stay here it's your own fault when you have a disastrous time. Blame yourself for staying at such a terrible place. read more

I stayed here for an overnight a few weeks ago because I was attending a conference at MIT. The place is absolutely adorable. The decor is extremely unique and charming with a true feel for the history that Boston holds. It does not feel like a sterile, cookie-cutter hotel. Rather, it is home-y because of the size and style of the place. It is new and very clean, but it almost resembles your grandparents house. It feels comfortable and cozy like you've gone home to visit family for the weekend. The rich history of the founding of America is evident in all of the diverse treasures on display. Ziara at the front desk was absolutely fantastic. She greeted my coworkers and me with a gleaming smile and was incredibly pleasant and helpful in all of the questions that we asked including where to park and how to get around. We arrived late, so she mentioned that there is a complimentary glass of wine each night but that we had missed it, and then she offered us wine anyway. She is full of life and laughter and made us immediately feel welcome. HUGE shoutout to her! Each room was different from the others. Mine was a standard, and it had a very comfortable bed, dresser, desk setup. There was only one window, so not a lot of natural light, but it was comfortable and exactly what I needed. It had darkening shades too, so I was not awoken by light in the morning. My coworker ended up in an enormous suite that looked like a millionaire's home on MTV Cribs complete with jacuzzi tub, full kitchen, and fireplace. There are lots of different room options. I didn't try the restaurant, so I can't speak to that, but the included hot breakfast is a full buffet spread complete with eggs, breakfast meats, waffles, toast, yogurt & granola, fresh fruit, and more. The staff is incredibly friendly and helpful. Overall, the stay was great. I would definitely return. read more

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Beware! As others mentioned in the reviews below, this hotel will take your money through Expedia but cancel your reservation Without refund. Manager Brenda Anderson assured me she would refund my money when she would not let me check in because I did not physically have my credit card. My wallet was stolen prior to check-in. I had the police report number to share with the hotel. I prepaid my room in full and I still had proper identification including a passport and electronic credit cards to pay the deposit, and/or cash to pay the deposit. My bank assured me all the hotel needed to do was type in my credit card number. Brenda Anderson refused to accept cash or my electronic credit cards, but promised to refund my money through Expedia. Since then, she has refused to cooperate with Expedia to issue me a refund. Simply put, she kept my money over $500, despite promising to refund it and providing me no service whatsoever. This is the way this hotel treats their paying guests when they had been a crime victim. Don't expect them to be any help if you suffer an emergency there. This hotel stoled over $500 from me, which is a lot more than the street criminal who took my wallet. Manager Brenda Anderson is not an honest woman nor is this an honest business. You've been warned. read more

I made a reservation via Expedia exactly four months prior at the Kendall for four nights. Immediately after my reservation is confirmed (signified by the email saying "your reservation is confirmed" in the subject line) I receive another email from the Kendall regarding their COVID policies. Perfect. They know I'm coming. Today I receive a notice that my credit card is charged for the full amount of my stay by the Kendall. Two hours after that notice I receive a message from the Kendall via Expedia that there was a "disconnect" between their systems and Expedia and that my reservation was never confirmed, and there were (of course) no rooms left. There was no mention of a refund. Of course I call them immediately. No answer, but the automated message tells me to send a text. So I send a text. No reply for almost an hour, so I call back and finally get someone who says that yes...my reservation is cancelled and it's Expedia's fault. I call Expedia, and after they contact the Kendall, they get the Kendall to admit that they had dropped the ball and had them initiate a refund (which I still haven't seen). I call the Kendall back and nobody there can tell me what is going on. I could never get a straight answer. Of course, that leaves me with 36 hours to find a hotel room for 4 nights in Boston in June. Good luck with that without taking out a second mortgage. I ended up spending three hours finding another hotel room for almost double the price of what the Kendall advertised originally. So the bottom line here is Kendall is either engaged in bait-and-switch tactics, where they find that they can charge more for some rooms and cancel existing reservations to cash in, or they're negligent, or their staff is so poorly trained that your vacation can be vaporized in a blink of an eye with no explanation. There is no great answer here. Either way, it's no way to run a business. Do YOU want to risk vacation time with your family to these people? Don't do what I did. Book somewhere else, save yourself the aggravation. read more

WARNING: I had a terrifying experience with one of the staff. I was sleeping and woke to yells of "open up! Credit card!" I gave my card to the guy at my room door, thinking my husband had charged something. I texted my husband and he didn't see any reason for the charge so I went to the front desk. The guy there was immediately super aggressive with me (a 5'4" woman) and yelled at me and wouldn't tell me the reason for the charge. He was angry with me simply for asking. He also threatened to cancel my stay and put me and my 3-year-old son out into the street. I was terrified and called my husband. I asked the staff member to talk to my husband on the phone about the charge, and he said "no I'm not talking to your husband" and literally ran into the back office. I'm back in my room and hoping my husband gets here soon as I'm afraid. read more

Usually when I'm going away I do a ton of research on the place that I plan on staying at. This trip was more last minute and I needed a last minute hotel. I booked the Kendall. The hotel is right across from the T station - super convenient! I went to check in and the receptionist said, "oh! We were just discussing your room!" I got a little nervous (turns out I had nothing to worry about). She also mentioned when I complimented the decor, that it was a converted firehouse. As someone who loves history, this was very cool for me to discover. She also mentioned there is a free wine happy hour and cookies. Unfortunately, I never made it to that. The elevator does take a while, and it was easier and faster for me to take the stairs. I assume this is because it's an old building. My room was perfect! And very cute! My bed was SO comfortable! For the first time EVER, I had enough towels without having to ask for more. My robe was so comfy! I wanted to take it (I didn't). I loved everything about my room. Everything, except, the lack of outlets. With the exception of the bathroom, there were no extra outlets anywhere. I ended up reaching behind and unplugging a lamp to be able to charge my phone. I thought being next to the elevator was going to be too loud, but actually, I heard no one during the night. Slept so well! Breakfast was also delicious. A hot breakfast with everything. They also had two VERY large jars of candy, which the kids went after. Check out was seamless. Loved everything about my stay. Can't wait to come back! read more

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Accommodations are wonderful Staff is exceptional Location awesome Near t 15 mins to airport Easy check in/out read more

First time stay and found the perfect respite from a harsh, cold winters night. Greeted by a great afternoon desk manager who made sure I was aware of all the hotel offerings. Perfect room with a comfortable sitting area, perfectly comfortable bed, and nice hot shower. Free and hearty breakfast starts the day just right. Clean and comfortable made this traveler feel right at home! read more

Nice place to stay , very convenient location if you want exploring MIT. The hotel has very good breakfast read more

Nice rooms, heat only (no A/C - you don't find out until checked in). RUDE staff. That last part is what takes a four star down to one star rating. Oh well. read more

Stayed here last weekend with my BF for a weekend getaway. It was lovely. Brenda made our trip great with wonderful recommendations and little touches like wine and a gift that went the extra mile. Also felt very safe and comfortable staying here with Covid precautions in place. Would highly recommend to anyone. Location was extremely convenient and the decor was lovely and comfortable. read more

Locally owned boutique hotel that was a nice change from the city chains. Close to T but also reasonable parking for $25/night. Lots of great restaurants within walking distance. Staff is very helpful especially Kirby who helped me rearrange my stay. The free breakfast is better than I'd expected. Rooms are nicer than photos suggest. I wish I'd needed to use a hairdryer during our 95 degree stay. The first place I've seen a Dyson! read more

Such a cool hotel, really nicely decorated, comfortable, quiet and clean. Also a delicious free hot breakfast and pleasant indoor and outdoor seating, it was really nice to meet and chat with other people at the hotel. The location was also really convenient, walking distance to the subway but not so close that you're staring at it from your window. read more

Been traveling to Cambridge for business for many years. How is it that I never knew about this hotel? No, really. I'm asking. How is that possible? Really well done renovation of an old fire station. The front desk service was super friendly and very thorough. The room was larger than you'd expect in the city and the bed was crazy comfortable. Didn't really spend much time in the room, but when I woke up in the morning, it struck me that it felt like I'd spent the night in the guest room of a friend's house. A friend with good taste and some coin. So, maybe one of your friends not mine. Just kidding, friends. I was focused on trying out Cafe Luna nearby, so we skipped the buffet breakfast but it looked strong. We sat in the lobby and worked up until lunch time and were able to see the restaurant gets completely full for lunch. Must be pretty good. This is now my first choice, go-to hotel for trips to Cambridge. Hands down. No questions. Here. I'm staying here next time. And the time after that. read more

This place was perfect! The decor was adorable and all in theme of a firehouse. The room was adorable and surprisingly huge. I enjoyed my time hanging out in the lobby which was so inviting. The staff was wonderful and so friendly. And that bed! I slept better on that bed than mine at home. I will be back! You have to stay here!!!!!! It's a local gem. read more

An exceptional stay! Our room was very clean and well prepped for our arrival. Complimentary happy hour with wine, and the breakfast offering in the morning is top notch! Our family enjoyed relaxing in the lobby as well. Very welcoming staff who are helpful and knowledgeable about the surrounding area. Felt safe and secure. We will definitely book here again if we are in the area! read more

Kendall Hotel - Hotels Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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If you are travelling to Boston and planning to stay one night that would be the same night as Game 7 of the Red Sox - Astros series if there was going to be such a game and even though you're making the reservation like a day after the Sox clinched a playoff berth and goodness so much might happen if you are making these plans also plan to look at a lot of hotels that want a bazillion of your hard-earned dollars for the pleasure. But. It was just this phenomenon that forced me to widen the search parameters and look at what's over the waters in Cambridge so I should be thankful for the coincidence of the New England exploration with Boston baseball mania. Because but for that I likely never would have found the Kendall. And guess what. I can confidently say that when I return to these parts there is zero doubt that I'll be back here again. It was that good. Zero sadness. From the front desk when we arrived a little too early to check in letting us park downstairs then chill in the comfortable lobby sitting area charging devices on their provided octopus plugs the lady who greeted us was polite, gracious, funny, informational, perfect. To the room on the top floor w eaves and seriously the most comfortable bed I have EVER slept upon. To the really generous breakfast in the morning not lying a better spread than you get at the Claremont on Mother's Day and to the really sweet people staffing the smorgasbord so kind and warm and nice. To the proximity to downtown Boston and the North End which is good for some things and if you're into experiencing every single human on the planet go on a nice autumn Saturday night. About a half hour walk from the hotel to the action over there and it's a fine perambulation indeed across the river and stuff. My companions in this review space are as happy. If you're looking, look no further. Book your home away from home here. Trust. read more

Enjoyed my stay here. Comfortable room and a great location when visiting MIT. The hotel is built in an old firehouse and themed as-such, which is a nice touch. Parking here is not great and expensive -- $45 for a small space under the building accessed using a steep single-lane ramp. read more

Thoroughly enjoyed the detailed Victoriana. Staff were laid back but nice. Close proximity to MIT and Kendall square restaurants a plus. Would definitely stay here again. read more

+ Great location + Staff are very friendly + The breakfast is very good (the hash-brown was my favorite) + The room is very neat with comfy bed + Loved the decor - There was a little noise through the night. I was not sure if it was the heating system or not. read more

I stayed here for one brief evening for a work event at MIT. (I didn't pay for the hotel myself, so I'm not sure what it costs.) The hotel is super convenient to the MIT campus, and is charming and adorable: it's in an old firehouse, with all sorts of lovely decor and nice touches. You really feel like you're in a unique and boutique sort of space. They offer a really excellent free breakfast with vegetarian options (mmm those breakfast potatoes), and an evening happy hour which I wasn't able to take advantage of. Free bottles of water are provided in the room, along with a little bag with treats - a delicious peanut butter chocolate candy bar and some roasted peanuts. (Peanut allergy sufferers, beware!) The bed was comfortable, the walls thick enough to block out the sound of the neighbors, and the curtains blocked all of the light. There's also a designated Lyft/Uber pickup spot right outside the hotel. I'd definitely recommend this place if you're visiting MIT's campus (or if you're an MIT person booking hotels for visitors and you want to impress them!) read more

My mom stayed here and really enjoyed it. Said she'd gladly return to a an urban hotel with relatively reasonable prices. We both thought that the staff were really nice and professional, but had not had the humanity drained out of them at too many forced corporate seminars on customer service. Really good (and free for guests) Continental breakfast. (Guests are welcome to indulge for a small fee.) read more

Kendall Hotel - Hotels Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

The customer service for this establishment is herandous. I did go through one of their 3rd parties to book 2 rooms and canceled within less than 2 hours due to unexpected travel changes. After confirming with someone at the hotel my cancelation was accepted, I was still billed for the 2 rooms costing over 1600.00. After several attempts with people at the hotel, third party of their company and my bank, even though canceled VERY timely, I was billed over $1600.00. Ridiculous for never staying there and NEVER will. Terrible customer service and simply unexceptable. read more

The staff here are courteous and definitely want to please their clients. For example, with a small dispute over the bill, they not only gave us the cheaper rate, but they also offered to give 1/2 off on parking. This hotel is best described as half b&b feel, half "hotel" feel. The chachkas everywhere - relating to a firehouse, of course - were cute but a little kitchy. However, they make you remember that you're not in the Marriott around the corner, and we liked the more homey feel overall. Breakfast buffet is quaint but totally satisfying. Eat outside if you get a table; you'll barely realize you're right on Main Street. Oh - and don't pay for parking. You can definitely find street parking in the 'hood. read more

This is my kind of place. Not corporate in the least, but more like staying at a bed and breakfast than a traditional hotel. The lobby struck me immediately upon walking in....mismatched and beautiful furniture and decoration. It felt more like an old pub than a hotel lobby, in a good way. The rooms are small but that's because the building is old. Everything is clean and cozy. If you're in the area and like 'cozy' instead of 'corporate'. This is your place. read more

Kendall Hotel - The Lobby - Hotels Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Unprofessional harassment from male staff and Violation of the "Fair Housing Act" for service dogs. As a single traveling female, I was disturbed late at night when I was undressed and in my bathrobe getting ready for bed by the overnight male bellboy/front desk service person who suddenly banged on my door and without even allowing me to explain anything demanded I leave the hotel right away because I had a dog and he saw me on the security cameras (even though it was a registered service dog that I checked in at the front desk in full view of the other front desk service person earlier that day). He could have emailed, or waited until morning at more reasonable hour to disturb your guests; instead, he banged on my room door and shouted violently and threatened to open the door on me even though I told him I was undressed and minutes later after I scrambled to get dressed and opened the door, he had a deranged wild look on his face, wouldn't let me speak and sputtered in my face with frightening anger, telling me to get out. It was wholly traumatizing and when I spoke with the the hotel owner on the phone, she (a fellow female who had no empathy for the frightening experience of what I went through as a female) shockingly sided with her bell boy and refused to refund my stay (her justification was he "has been loyal" to the hotel during the hotels "tough times" - logic that sounded like what a gangster mafia/The Godfather type operations would use - i.e. why in the world would your employee's "loyalty" to you be what matters when the sole metric of performance for hotels is how your employees treat your **customers** and the quality of their stay??). With no empathy for how her inappropriate employees affected my stay, she cited some other unrelated tangent of how because I had asked for too many towels (I was using the towels for the bathroom floor because I had a foot injury and didn't want to step barefoot on the floor, and got this myself because there is no housekeeping staff available at night and no hotel has ever made a big fuss before about providing extra towels in my life) as the reason why I didn't deserve a refund and why she didn't believe me. She also questioned whether or not I had checked in with my dog even though the other male front desk staff (who was also inappropriate and used the words "big dick energy" seconds into our conversation to make a joke -- had a full conversation with me -- with time to make inappropriate jokes -- while my service dog was right in front of him at the check-in counter. I felt so shaken and terrified that night because the violent perpetrator would be the same person at the front desk for the rest of the night that I couldn't sleep at all that night, but it was too late into the night (it was midnight at that point) and so I spent the entire night on my phone and computer until 6am trying to book another place to leave the next morning.) The culture of this small boutique hotel is the problem -- it's run like a small family business that's focused on their own survival and "employee loyalty" rather than on customer service, which is what should matter given that it's a hotel! I've stayed before at this hotel with no incidents, but when anything does go wrong, this kind of operation is nearly impossible to deal with, and in my case, frightening to deal with. Larger chain hotels are definitely safer for single female travelers, and they would have been far more professional, with management oversight and refunded me in a heartbeat if anything had gone wrong or I was harassed by employees. The female owner HEARD 50% of the harassment on the phone live, and still she didn't do anything. Strangely, the owner also only wanted to speak on the phone and refused to give her email address for documentation purpose because she didn't want any documentation. Given the owner's refusal to provide an email address or communicate anything in writing, I have no choice but to write it here instead and will be filing a claim with my credit card company to try to get the terrifying $300+ stay refunded. read more

It is the perfect combination of bed and breakfast and hotel. With snacks delivered to your room and a beautifully decorated wine bar downstairs everyone feels special. We really enjoyed the front desk staff, as well, who was always hustling around making sure everyone was taken care of. read more

A gem of a place. It's a combination of the friendliness and personal service of a Bed & Breakfast, but with the attention to detail and quality of a large, fancy chain. Food and bar: outstanding. Staff: amazing! Location: one-minute walk to the T in Kendall Square (Red Line) Rooms: elegant I can't say enough positive things about this place. Brenda, Mark and Stephen: thanks for everything! read more

I love, love the Kendall Hotel. I've stayed there a few times and it's my favorite place to stay in Boston. Close to the MIT campus, close to the T, close to the Charles. Rooms are spacious for Boston--it's an older building, so how they did it, I don't know. Each room is different: different bedding, details, etc. The people at the front desk are always very kind--I had a lot of questions during one of my stays, and the man behind the front desk pulled out all kinds of maps and gave me an assortment of recommendations. The communal space downstairs was also lovely. My colleagues and I were able to get some things done together in that space without feeling like we were being loud or imposing. The good: great space, great people, feels less like a hotel than most. The bad: a bit pricey, but you get what you pay for. Oh, and the wifi in my room was spotty, so FYI. read more

I am so happy with everything at this hotel! They really can't be outdone when it comes to the little details: Dyson hairdryers, waters in the room, gift bags of snacks upon arrival, chocolate chip cookies at night, and a great daily buffet breakfast. The beds are to die for! So comfortable! This hotel is decorated with such personal, artistic touches and it is immaculate! Super convenient location too. We will be back for sure. read more

Chocolate chip cookies at check in, wine happy hour and OMG Swedish fish and chocolate covered pretzel doggie bags! This cool boutique hotel at the heart of Kendall Square was amazing. Conveniently located literally next to the Kendall T station. Nice little restaurant attached with some tasty options. read more

Really enjoyed my stay here! If you're looking for a break from corporate hotel chains and their generic interiors, Kendall has you covered. It's a boutique hotel with a ton of character and charm, perfectly situated for excursions into Cambridge. The lobby area features a small, pub-like restaurant, a stone fireplace, and lots of comfortable seating (cushy chairs and couches) that invites you to relax and stay awhile. My room was furnished more like a bedroom in a nice country home than a room in a hotel. The bed was very comfortable, the shower boasted powerful water flow, and the room featured all the standard niceties (flat-screen TV with lots of channels, free Wi-Fi, comfortable robes, fancy soaps & shampoos, etc.). The breakfast buffet included with the room was very good, and featured perfectly scrambled eggs, crispy, meaty bacon, home fries, make-your-own waffles, cereals, granola, oatmeal, fresh (very ripe) cantoloupe and honeydew, ham & cheddar cheese, hard boiled eggs, hand fruit & yogurt containers for take-away, and a selection of excellent pastries, plus good coffee, fresh OJ, and grapefruit juice. Overall quality was very high, and having this right in the hotel saves both time and money. Service from the front desk, housekeeping and the restaurant was professional and friendly, and the price compared favorably with other Cambridge hotels. Would absolutely return. read more

Taking a break from the typical hotel chains, I figured we should mix it up and try the Kendall Hotel during our long weekend in Boston. Great decision! Actually, this unique and beautiful hotel is right across the river in Cambridge, close to MIT. The location is great because it's only one block from the train station, which takes you briefly across the water and right into the city, where we spent most of our time anyway. Converted from an old, brick fire station, the hotel is actually closer to a B&B than a typical hotel, with cute, comfortable rooms throughout the various floors. They also have a small "restaurant" in the lobby area the doubles as a free breakfast area during the morning hours. The only two things that were sorta iffy...the garage under the hotel (extremely tight quarters that will seriously test your parking skills) and the A.C. on the last night, which wasn't working very well because the outdoor temps were all over the place since it was late Spring. Regardless, I'd easily book another stay with the Kendall if we head back to the Boston area. In fact, I might just do that right now. read more