Is InterContinental Boston worth the price? Honest pros and cons
Yes — InterContinental Boston can be worth the price if you want a upscale, waterfront downtown base with reliable service, on-site Northern Italian dining, and a full spa with a heated indoor lap pool. It’s less a bargain than a convenient, well-appointed option for business, meetings, or a city-focused leisure stay.
In this guide
- Location — waterfront, within walking reach of downtown
- Rooms and suites — many choices, reliable finishes
- Dining and bars — new Northern Italian option plus several bars
- Spa, pool and fitness — solid on-site wellness facilities
- Meetings, weddings and events — large, waterfront ballrooms
- Value: honest pros and cons
Location — waterfront, within walking reach of downtown
InterContinental Boston sits at 510 Atlantic Ave on the Fort Point Channel waterfront between the Financial District and the Seaport District, placing it next to the Harborwalk and Rose Kennedy Greenway.
Key visitor sites such as the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum and South Station are a short walk from the hotel, and the hotel promotes water-taxi service from the dock outside the property for harbor trips.
- Address: 510 Atlantic Ave, Boston, MA 02210
- Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum: adjacent (roughly 2–3 minutes on foot)
- South Station: about a 5-minute walk
| Nearby | Typical proximity on foot |
|---|---|
| Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum | About 2–3 minutes |
| Boston Children's Museum | Under 10 minutes |
| Faneuil Hall / Quincy Market | About 15 minutes |
Rooms and suites — many choices, reliable finishes
The hotel offers 424 rooms across a range of categories, from Classic Room options up through named suites (for example Suite (North Suite), Suite (Ambassador), Presidential Suite, and Suite (Penthouse South Suite)).
Room types include Classic Room (Upgraded), Classic Room (Greenway View), Room (Fort Point Channel View), Junior Suite, Club Room (InterContinental) and several 1-bedroom suites. Room amenities and layouts are consistent with a 5-star property, and higher-tier rooms and suites add separate living/dining spaces.
- Sample room names you can book: Classic Room (Upgraded); Classic Room (Greenway View); Junior Suite; Suite (Ambassador); Suite (North Suite); Presidential Suite, Multiple Beds; Club Room (InterContinental, Water View).
- Club Lounge access is available for an additional fee and includes breakfast and evening hors d'oeuvres.
- Some rooms provide floor-to-ceiling windows and water or Greenway views; accessible room options are offered.
| Category example | Bed options / note |
|---|---|
| Classic Room (Upgraded) | 1 King Bed or 2 Queen Beds |
| Classic Room (Greenway View) | 1 King Bed or 2 Queen Beds |
| Junior Suite | 1 King Bed; separate seating area |
Dining and bars — new Northern Italian option plus several bars
Matria is the hotel’s signature Northern Italian restaurant, serving breakfast, weekend brunch, and dinner with Fort Point Channel views and a seasonal outdoor terrace. The hotel also operates Bar Fellini, an Italian cocktail bar, and the Loyall Counting Room speakeasy-style bar.
Reservations are encouraged at the restaurants; the hotel lists Matria’s hours for breakfast and dinner, and Bar Fellini’s published hours extend into late evening on most days.
- Matria — breakfast, brunch, dinner; business-casual dress; waterside seating.
- Bar Fellini — 1960s-inspired cocktail bar; access to Loyall Counting Room via Bar Fellini reservation desk.
- Five-10 Waterfront and 510 waterfront options provide alternate menus and terrace seating.
| Venue | Typical service |
|---|---|
| Matria | Breakfast, Brunch, Dinner |
| Bar Fellini | Cocktails (late afternoon–evening) |
| Loyall Counting Room | Speakeasy cocktails (limited evening hours) |
Spa, pool and fitness — solid on-site wellness facilities
Spa InterContinental (roughly 6,600 sq ft) offers six treatment rooms, steam rooms, and a small relaxation space. Spa hours are daily from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM; book treatments through the spa’s reservation number for availability.
The property includes a 45-foot heated indoor lap pool within the spa/fitness area. The pool is complimentary for hotel guests; opening hours listed by the hotel run early morning through evening.
- Spa InterContinental: massage (including deep tissue and hot stone), facials and body treatments.
- Fitness center: 24-hour access with weight and cardio equipment.
- Pool: 45-foot heated indoor lap pool; hotel guests have complimentary access.
| Facility | Notes |
|---|---|
| Spa InterContinental | 6 treatment rooms; daily 10:00 AM–6:00 PM |
| Indoor pool | 45-foot heated lap pool; guest access included |
| Health club | Open 24 hours |
Meetings, weddings and events — large, waterfront ballrooms
InterContinental Boston has roughly 32,000 sq ft of meeting and event space across 11 function rooms, including two large ballrooms: the Rose Kennedy Ballroom and the Abigail Adams Ballroom. The Rose Kennedy Ballroom is the largest single space and has floor-to-ceiling windows with harbor views.
Venues range from small boardrooms and divisible meeting rooms to ballrooms suitable for large receptions, conventions, and weddings. Private-dining options are available through Matria’s Piedmont Room.
- Rose Kennedy Ballroom: largest ballroom with waterfront views; substantial banquet capacity.
- Abigail Adams Ballroom: mid-size ballroom for weddings and receptions.
- Multiple smaller rooms (Hutchinson, Wheeler, Sessions, Griffin, Robinson, Dartmouth) cover boardroom and breakout needs.
| Room | Typical capacity note |
|---|---|
| Rose Kennedy Ballroom | Reception up to about 1,000+ |
| Abigail Adams Ballroom | Mid-size wedding/reception option |
| Sessions Room | Small boardroom (about a dozen seats) |
Value: honest pros and cons
Pros: reliable luxury-standard service, true waterfront location with Harborwalk access, on-site spa and heated indoor lap pool included for guests, several dining/bar choices including Matria and a speakeasy-style cocktail bar, and extensive event space for conferences or weddings.
Cons: the hotel charges for valet parking (hotel listing shows a daily valet rate), club lounge access and some spa services add extra cost, and downtown waterfront locations in Boston typically carry premium room rates — the property is positioned more toward convenience and service than being a budget pick.
- Pros: waterfront location; complimentary guest access to the heated indoor lap pool; Spa InterContinental treatments and 24-hour fitness center; multiple on-site dining options; large flexible meeting space.
- Cons: valet parking fee applies; additional fees for Club Lounge access and spa treatments; higher nightly rates compared with suburban or budget options.
| Item | Included for guests? |
|---|---|
| Wi‑Fi | Complimentary |
| Indoor heated lap pool | Complimentary for guests |
| Valet parking | Fee (hotel-stated daily rate) |
