In Boston, a Jail Becomes a Luxury Hotel

One of the more amazing transformations to occur recently in Boston happened earlier this summer when the Charles Street Jail, built in 1851, became the Liberty Hotel, a 300-room luxury property with 10 suites, three restaurants, lounges, and a fitness center. Architects Cambridge Seven Associates went to great lengths to preserve the original granite jail structure, and many original features of the jail remain intact, including the historic catwalks. Rooms come with four-fixture baths, flat-panel, high-definition TVs, and touch-screen phones. The Liberty encompasses three venues for dining and drinks, including a chic "jail" bar, a casual second floor restaurant highlighting specialties of the region, and a fine-dining restaurant serving world-class cuisine. The hotel is centrally located at the foot of Beacon Hill. 215 Charles Street.

---Elina Furman