Kimpton Marlowe Hotel Review
Kimpton Marlowe Hotel is located in Cambridge, Boston, right across the water with an epic view of the city. Cambridge is home to famous landmarks like Kendall Square, MIT, and the Museum of Science with close proximity to Harvard University, Faneuil Hall, TD Garden, Beacon Hill, and Logan International Airport. Cambridge is known as one of the most prestigious college towns in the United States with its famous Harvard Square, gorgeous architecture, greenery and unique activities.
This hotel specifically offers an ideal respite when visiting Boston between its eclectic atmosphere, lively aesthetics and the fact that it sets itself apart from other hotels. It’s an awesome option for those who want to stay a little outside the city but still be close enough to explore and experience a bit of a more intimate city experience.
My first impression upon entering the hotel was the stunning architecture, interesting decor, inviting lobby, fireplace, grand staircase and of course, the kind staff. I felt very welcomed and excited for my stay. Since the hotel is just outside the city, it’s a lot quieter than some of the hotels directly inside the city, giving you an ideal experience for those who are overwhelmed with bustling city-life.
Kimpton Marlowe Hotel Review
The Kimpton Hotels were founded by Bill Kimpton who started the first boutique hotel and restaurant in San Francisco where his legacy only began. There are now 68 hotels and restaurants around the world, offering a unique experience and ”a place one can stay that feels more like a beautiful, livable and stylish home rather than a big, impersonal hotel.” The Kimpton Hotels not only have a track record for creating special experiences, but also turning historic and richly-charactered buildings into unique hotels for guests to enjoy.
Located on the shores of East Cambridge, you’ll find the beautiful Kimpton Marlowe Hotel, built in 2003 and renovated in 2020, giving it a modern, chic and lively atmosphere. With gorgeous interiors, spacious rooms and plenty of amenities, Kimpton Marlowe Hotel makes it one of the most family-friendly in the Boston area with 237 rooms available.
Kimpton Marlowe Hotel Rooms
The newly renovated rooms and suites at Kimpton Marlowe Hotel “takes inspiration from the academic and literary history of the neighborhood surrounding the hotel, along with the scenic Charles River.” And it represents exactly that. The hotel now has the reputation of being one of the cleanest and freshest rooms in all of Boston, with so much to offer in every space.
Upon entering my hotel room, I felt immediately relaxed and humbled by the intuitive design with colors of blue, orange, gray and gold. The room was spacious with a king bed and leather bench at the end. Comfortable lounge area, floor to ceiling windows, modern bathroom, awesome views of Boston and flat screen TV. The room itself encompasses a distinct vibe and boasts the Boston culture quite well. In addition, I found myself enjoying a welcome amenity with wine and cheese. And a view of the city lights as the sun went down. Very relaxing indeed!
The guest rooms you have access to include the King Essential Courtyard View, King Essential with View, Queen Essential Courtyard View and the Queen Essential with View. As for the specialty suites, you have access to the King Suite and King 1 Bedroom Suite Living Area. If you’re looking for Accessible Accommodations, then you came to the right place because they have a King Communications Accessible, Queen Mobility Access with Roll in Shower and a King 1 Bedroom Suite Mobility Access Tub.
If you’re interested in booking a room at Kimpton Marlowe Hotel, be sure to do so through my VIP hotel booking link to get the best room and rates.
Kimpton Marlowe Hotel Main Amenities
One of the elements that stood out most to me about Kimpton Marlowe Hotel were the amount of amazing amenities offered + the focus on wellness. The main goal of Kimpton Hotels is to encourage physical and mental stimulation through a number of amenities, programs and offerings. They definitely accomplish this by their creative and thoughtful approach.
Below are some of the wonderful amenities you’ll have available to you during your stay (sourced directly from Kimpton Marlowe Hotel Website):
- Luxury Atelier Bloem bath amenities
- In-Room Spa Services
- Premium onsite fitness center, open to guests 24 hour daily
- Hosted wine reception in the lobby from 5 to 6 p.m.
- Complimentary morning coffee and tea service daily from 7:00 a.m to 9:30 a.m. in the lobby living room
- Overnight valet parking is $45/night. Daytime valet parking is $25/day. Parking after 5:00 p.m. is $15.
- Overnight self parking for $30/night.
- Acclaimed Bambara Kitchen + Bar, featuring flavorful regional cuisine
- A Brandillary located at the Cambridge Lobby Bar
- Fully accessible hotel for people with disabilities; ADA compliant
- Full concierge
- Pet-friendly accommodations
- Complimentary morning newspaper available in the lobby
- Famil- friendly hotel, with connecting rooms and special amenities
- Express checkout
- $10 daily food & beverage credit in Bambara
- Upgraded WiFi
- Access to Pressreader
- Polaroid cameras
- GoPro cameras
- Ability to stream content from 2000+ apps to the TV
- Nightly movie in Courtyard
- Printing/Faxing/Photocopies
- Unlimited local & long distance calls
- Summer enhancements: kayak and stand up paddleboard usage, picnic blankets,
- Winter Enhancements: sleds, snow shoes, snowman making kits, snowball makers, hand warmers, gloves
- Access to a Hydrow Rower
IHG Members get to enjoy the following:
- Complimentary high-speed WiFi throughout the hotel during every stay
- A $30 spa credit at participating hotels
- Elite welcome amenity at a $10 bar credit
Kimpton Marlowe Hotel Special Features
Fitness Center
Believe it or not, The Fitness Center is one of my personal favorite aspects of hotels. I always look forward to getting a good workout at least once during my vacations. And am always intrigued by clean and innovative places to exercise. The Fitness Center at Kimpton Marlowe Hotel offers state-of-the-art equipment including treadmills, bikes, elliptical machines, free weights, a TRX machine and punching bags. In addition, hotel guests also have access to virtual classes and training like Yoga By Candace Moore, who teaches classes in Rowing, V-ups, back lunges, burpees, box jumps, push ups and more. There’s something for everyone!
Wellness
Staying healthy while traveling is no easy task. As someone who values exercise, I find it very difficult to stay disciplined when on vacation. Kimpton Marlowe Hotel truly understands this struggle. And has implemented a fabulous wellness program all the way from kayaks and bikes to virtual fitness classes.
Hydrow x Kimpton
One of the coolest and most unique partnerships I’ve seen at a hotel includes that of the Hydrow rower. You now have the ability to get in a full body workout with a Live Outdoor Reality water rower where you get access to some of the best athletes and waterways around the world. Kimpton Marlowe Hotel has a dedicated, safe and socially-distant Hydrow suite available free of charge. So you can get in a sweat at any time during your stay. Rowing is both a cardio and strength training workout that engages 86% of the body’s muscles including the core, back, arms and legs. And offers low-impact, making it ideal for all ages and fitness levels. I definitely recommend trying these during your stay as they are definitely more high-end than you’d find at a typical gym!
Photo by Hydrow
Bikes & Scooters
If you like being outdoors and in nature when you’re traveling, then you’ll be excited to hear that the hotel offers complimentary custom PUBLIC Bikes to discover the local Cambridge and Somerville area. The Boston area happens to be a very bike-friendly city. So it’s definitely recommended to get around this way if the weather allows for it.
In addition, the hotel has partnered with Micro Kickboard Scooters so kids can get their own adventure too. Kids will have access to the Mini Scooter (best for ages 2-5). Or the Maxi Scooter (ages 6-12) accessible at various locations. The hotel front desk will be able to assist you and also suggest the best and safest places to ride in the neighborhood. Be sure to use the hashtag #ScootWithKimpton to be featured on @kimpton’s Instagram.
Kimpton Shorebreak, Photo by @stellaandblaise
Kimpton Marlowe Hotel’s Intention Factor Wellness Retreat
This exciting package offers guests the ability to continue their yoga and wellness practices even while on their travels. This is accomplished by a virtual retreat conducted by Candace Cabrera Tavino of YogaByCandace. Which you can enjoy in the luxury of your own hotel room. The Wellness Retreat includes an overnight stay, a curated YogaByCandice Mantra Box with 7-12 products in each themed box falling under the categories of health, wellness or fitness, a signed copy of Candice’s latest book, a yoga mat service, in-room virtual vinyasa lesson and HIIT session with Candice.
Photo by @yogabycandace
Kayaks & Paddle-boards
A unique and fun way to explore the area is on the water! You can enjoy complimentary kayaks or paddle boards. And take a cruise on The Charles River where you’ll see the Boston skyline and enjoy some fun in the sun.
Pet-Friendly
Many hotels are becoming more and more pet-friendly and Kimpton Marlowe Hotel is certainly following suit. What I love most about their pet program is that they offer pet-friendly amenities at no extra charge. And it doesn’t matter what size your dog is. This includes water bowls for the room, disposable pick-up bags. As well as a concierge list of nearby pet-friendly restaurants, groomers and pet boutiques. Concierge is also happy to book pet services such as grooming, pet-sitting and walking. You’ll also want to check out the Presidential Pooch Package if your dog is truly your best friend.
Free Wedding Honeymoon
This might be one of the most unique and intriguing offers I’ve seen from a hotel. If you book your wedding at Kimpton Marlowe Hotel, you’ll get a luxurious honeymoon for FREE. Weddings at the hotel come with 500,000 IHG rewards points which can be used towards various locations across 100 countries and 6,000 hotels across the world. I can’t think of anything better than a beautiful hotel venue and a free honeymoon.
The hotel can accommodate up to 250 guests for seated receptions.
If you’re interested in this offer, Contact Nicola Dresser at sayido@hotelmarlowe.com or call 617.395.2523.
Christmas Miracle Pop Up Bar
During the holiday season, Kimpton Marlowe offers a very special Christmas experience in their hotel lobby bar called The Christmas Miracle Pop Up Bar. As soon as you walk in, you’ll be amazed by the decor, colors, attention to detail and overall cozy and Christmasy atmosphere that everyone looks for this time of year.
In addition to the awesome atmosphere, the drinks are just as festive and boozy as you’d want them to be. With creative names like Christmapolitan, Santa’s Little Helper, Elfing Around, Holiday Spiked Chai, Grandma Got Ran Over by a T-Rex, Jingle Balls Nog, Snowball Old-Fashioned and so much more, you’ll be have plenty of options to celebrate the holidays with loved ones.
Bambara Kitchen & Bar
Bambara Kitchen + Bar is a welcoming, intimate and personable restaurant located onsite at the hotel serving up globally-inspired new American cuisine. The restaurant’s charm includes moody vibes, good hospitality, welcoming staff and flavorful dishes to enjoy. The Executive Chef, Adam Resnick, has an extensive culinary background and is “a proponent of layering flavors, textures and seasonal ingredients to create dishes that are approachable and not overly complicated to the palate.” And that is the perfect way to describe it. Each dish we tried was intentional, beautifully presented and most importantly, delicious. His creativity and expertise allows for seasonal dishes and a plethora of options when dining at the restaurant.
During our stay we went with the Pork Steam Buns, Oysters, Vermont Goat Cheese, Fried Calamari and a special meatball dish not yet on the menu! The food was amazing, the atmosphere was relaxing. And the staff was also super friendly and helpful. They also have a fabulous cocktail menu with plenty of options to choose from. But I highly recommend the Sparkling Brodie or Lavender Collins cocktail. The restaurant also caters to events whether you’re looking to celebrate a graduation, rehearsal dinner or company dinner, the space can accommodate.
This is a great restaurant to try whether you’re staying at the hotel or in the area because they offer nightly wine receptions from 5-6pm in the main lobby. And also have a comfortable lounge with a fireplace and a full bar attached. There’s plenty to do onsite and enjoy a nice evening out.
My Review Of The Kimpton Marlowe Hotel
Kimpton Marlowe Hotel is truly an exquisite and luxurious option for Cambridge. I believe the hotel is strategically placed to make it so easy to navigate both Cambridge and Boston. While absorbing the local nature and culture overall. It’s also directly attached to Cambridgeside Mall making it super convenient for shopping. There’s plenty to do in the area. And it’s also very easy to get to any part of Boston if you want to expand your exploration.
I stayed in one of the King Suite rooms with a king bed, comfortable lounge and gorgeous views of the city skyline. It came well-equipped with everything I needed. And was also the perfect location for an event I attended in Cambridge that evening. The bed was plush, the carpets were soft, the entire space was immaculate. And the luxury products were wonderful to try.
While the rooms are stunning, the lobby, architecture and amenities are where they truly shine. When a hotel goes above and beyond to not only make the atmosphere aesthetically pleasing, but to offer creative ways to enjoy a stay, that’s when you know it’s good. I love the wellness focus and abundance of offerings available at the hotel, making it the most ideal place to stay, especially if you love staying active on the go. I value fitness and wellness programs when I’m traveling because it makes my life easier and keeps me motivated.
Overall, Kimpton Marlowe is an excellent option for any individual, but especially families who are looking for a well-rounded city and nature experience.
The hotel is so accommodating and offers everything from kids, to pets to adults. If you decide to stay outside of Boston, this should definitely be where you do it!
If you’re interested in booking a room at Kimpton Marlowe Hotel be sure to do so through my VIP hotel booking link to get the best room and rates.
And if you’re interested in earning travel points and rewards toward free hotel stays sign up for the IHG Rewards Club Premier Credit Card here.
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