Where is it? In the US city of Cambridge's hip Harvard Square, overlooking the Charles River and just a stone's throw from Boston. This recently renovated, independent hotel is surrounded by interesting restaurants, boutiques and bookshops.
Luxurious or basic? Though modern in architecture and amenities, the interior of The Charles exudes the warmth of old-fashioned New England. The lobby and public spaces are decorated with antique quilts and just inside the entrance is a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf with volumes guests are welcome to read. Rooms and suites juxtapose antiques and modern design. A rustic Shaker-inspired desk hides internet ports and each room has a discreet high-definition flat-screen TV. The granite five-fixture bathrooms boast a TV embedded in the mirror that vanishes when it is turned off.
Who should visit? Cambridge, home to Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is an intellectual hotbed and the guest list at The Charles has included former US secretaries of state Madeline Albright and Henry Kissinger and statesmen from the prime minister of India to the president of France. But The Charles also suits families. The hotel has an ice-skating rink and offers snacks, hot chocolate and a children's menu.
What's on the adult menu? There are two award-winning restaurants at The Charles. Henrietta's Table was hailed as 'the best farm-to-table restaurant in America' by Gourmet magazine. Chef Peter Davis is committed to local fresh food and sustainable agriculture. Davis prepares stacks of malted waffles for breakfast and old-fashioned Yankee pot roast with mashed potato and gravy for lunch and dinner. More sophisticated is Rialto, the creation of celebrity chef Jody Adams, whose monthly menu carries Italian regional cuisine.
What else is there to do? Boston is on the other side of the river and the Fogg Art Museum and Harvard Museum of Natural History are nearby. History buffs will enjoy the well-marked Freedom Trail through historic Boston. Foodies will want to make a stop at Boston's traditional Italian area for paper-thin pastry sfogliatelle. Back at The Charles, don't miss a night of entertainment at the hotel's Regattabar jazz club.
What's the bottom line? The Charles has 44 suites. Prices range from HK$3,100 to HK$35,000, for the presidential suite.