The term “boutique hotel” gets used to describe nearly every pricey lodging option, but don’t be fooled. A true boutique hotel is small (150 rooms or less), needs to have an attentive staff, and, most of all, it has to have that essential quality that makes for a night you’ll never forget: character. These seven hotels in Boston, Cambridge, and Somerville excel at every level — and then some.
Boston Globe Best of the Best winners for 2024 were selected by Globe newsroom staff and correspondents, and limited to Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, and Brookline. We want to hear from you: Did your favorites make the list?