emcash

Wanted to share a short trip report. We recently stayed at the new Mandarin in Boston . The hotel is really gorgeous- modern and sleek, yet still warm, in the typical MO way. Service, as expected, was impeccable. We were upgraded to a Mandarin room-- high floor, not on the street, so it was very quiet. The room was large, very well appointed, beautiful large bathroom. My only negative of the room was that they didnt topsheet the beds. It seems to be a trend these days and i hate it!

the spa at the MO is also very nice-- very zen. Just a note-- when you are booking, it appears that if you want a massage, you need to get an 80 minute at $240, They don't advertise 50 minute massages. we needed to change our time and it ended up i could only get a 50 minute , which is really all i wanted. So, if you want a 50 minute but don't see it, ask!

We had a fabulous lunch with friends at Abe & Loui's (across the street). Delicious with great service. That night we dined at L'Espalier for dinner. I have to say, I was disappointed. L'espalier has long since been considered one of boston's best and we always wanted to try it. I had never been to the old location, which i heard was charming, but the new location was very nice. Service was wonderful, but teh food was not wonderful IMO. It was very fussy, very overdone and no true focus on flavor. It was as if it was trying so hard to be fine dining, that it missed the flavor mark. Not sure if that makes sense. We each had the tasting menu and really didn't love any of teh 6 courses, execpt the first which was a tasty, tiny lobster dish.

The next morning, i had breakfast in Asana- it was delicious and filling and not a bad deal for the price. It wasn't cheap, but you got ALOT for your money, and it offerred the most delicious cup of coffee.

My husband has declared the MO our new Boston hotel for all future trips.

yk

Thanks for your report, emcash. Which direction did your room face (what's the view)?

I had the fortune of eating at the old L'Espalier before the move (just a lunch), and the ambiance is just something the new one cannot replicate. Sorry to hear the food wasn't up to par...

I was supposed to have lunch at Asana last week (Restaurant Week) and it's got good reviews. Unfortunately I got sick with a violent cough so I had to cancel it.

I think the location of the hotel is pretty great. Another restaurant at the hotel, Sel de la Terre, is not bad, and cheaper than L'Espalier/Asana.

emcash

I didn't know, but Sel de la Terre is L'espalier's sister restuarant. DH and I are definitely going to try it.

we were not on the bolyston side-- I think we faced the courtyard and the pru-- does that make sense? Honestly, i only looked out when opening or closing the draperies!

gyppielou

gosh, that is so sad! after a fantastic spa, you should have had an amazing meal and floated to your room in complete bliss....

thanks for reporting the good and the bad. How was the massage? When did an *80 minute massage become such a luxury item? Was it exceptional?

I still maintain that the best massages of my life are the acupressure that I get in NYC Chinatown for about $60 for 90 minutes - go figure!

emcash

Its funny, DH wanted a deep tissue and I wanted a swedish and they gave me a therapist who almost made me cry at one point and gave him a therapist who wasn't strong enough! still, the massage was very nice and the spa experience was very relaxing. It was a special occasion,so we splurged. The manadarin takes spa seriously- they take your shoes right when you walk in, offer you tea, set you all up. I used the last tissue in 1 box in the ladies room and it was replaced within 5 minutes. I mean nothing is overlooked.

The resorts/fine spas/ 5 star hotels are all overpriced for massages IMO. I think my 50 minute on was $140. maybe the 80 min. was $220. still, you can get a good one around here for $80.

yk

Thanks emcash. You must be facing NEward, the opposite from Boylston Street. I guess there's not much of a view. The Boylston street side should have a view of Charles River and Cambridge, but noise can be an issue.

emcash

which reminds me of the only drawback of my massage- the room was on boylston, so i heard traffic, and the incessant barking of a dog. (someone must have tied the dog to a post for at least a half an hour, and it wasn't happy!) the spa is on the 4th floor. Our room was on the 7th. I'm glad we were on the non- Boylston side for sleeping.