flyer

Any feedback about the Clarendon Square Inn would be appreciated. I've heard all good things. It sounds like a fabulous place, my only concern is location. What is the neighborhood like? Is it truly walking distance to shops and Symphony Hall? Thanks, Flyer.

wyatt92

I had never heard of this place so I checked out the website. The location is good in that it's in the South End, which is gorgeous, there are many nice shops and restaurants in the neighborhood.

It looks like it might be a bit of a hike to Symphony Hall and it's not that close to a T stop.

flyer

Thanks!

escargot

Wow - you have to let us know how this is when you stay there, although like Wyatt92 I had never heard of it and I am on Clarendon St (how bad is that) - but the location is fine and as said, the South End area is a great neighborhood -

The only suggestion I would make is, and this is a personal preference, - I prefer to walk at night more towards the Dartmouth/Clarendon/ Tremont Streets to make your way to and from this spot.
There is more going on there, better lit, and I think best not to venture too far in the other direction down Tremont towards the Columbus/Mass Ave end of things if it is late and you are alone...but I am also female if that matters..

You can walk down to Tremont and over to Dartmouth and if you walk straight up Dartmouth (pass Clery's which is a great place for a bite - amazing burgers, pizza, fish n chips, beers, etc - don't know your age but in Clery's is a real mix of the 25-35 set and also the 50 yr olds like myself.

Past Clery's you will see the lights of Copley Plaza, and find T stops.

Great restaurants in the area: for breakfast we like Appleton St Cafe, Garden of Eden, Tremont 647 -
- The South End Buttery on Shawmut Ave is good for cupcakes - and great sandwiches....Metropolis Cafe, and neighborhood stores to buy snacks/etc for your room if you want -and also higher end restaurants like Icarus, hammersley's, Aquitaine, Butcher Shop,...so many !

Also Bob's Southern Bistro (which has great live jazz) - so many restaurants, if you have any particular food preferences or style/price post back and / or look on opentable.com, plug in south end, and you can click on lots of links and menus.

and you are near the Boston Ctr for the Arts -

you can walk to Symphony, it's a good walk but you could do it. But you might want to walk up Clarendon or dartmouth adn take the T or venture further to Boylston or Newbury and walk down them to it and see things along the way.

You aren't too far to walk to Copley Place, Pru Shops, Newbury, Boston Public gardens, Common, etc -

But my 'parameters' for walking esp at night are as I said not too far towards the Columbus/mass Ave end and not too far past the Shawmut/Washington st blocks if you aren't familiar with the area - it's changing but once you get past that Washington St area where Union cafe is and Red Fez, if you aren't familiar you might not be comfortable imo., but again, different people and different sexes at different ages feel differently about that.

Very friendly area though and I walk home alone at midnight- with all the restaurants (and with valet) around Clarendon/Dartmouth sts where they meet Tremont, there is plenty going on.

I don't know if you've been to Boston before, but this is more like staying in a neighborhood area than in the hotel areas in Copley/Back bay which I think is great b/c you are near them to walk to, but will get a great feel for a Boston neighborhood.

Lots of great galleries also within walking distance -

TKT

About a 30 minute walk to Symphony Hall. I feel safe in that area because I know it well. You sould feel fine goin to the many restaurants on Tremont around the Arlington Street and Dartmouth Street area. There are many good places on Washington Street, but just be careful at night if you are walking around, I would suggest taking a cab back to the Inn late at night. I would agree with the previous idea about going to Bob's you can eat there at 6 and then walk 3 blocks to Symphony Hall.

flyer

I usually stay in the Copley Square area. I must say the distances concern me a little. When I queried the Inn about the proximity to Symphony Hall they told me it was about 3-4 blocks, around 10 minutes. I was also told it was a quick walk from the Back Bay Station. Are cabs pretty easy to find given that it is so residential. That said, take a look at this link for their Clarendon Suite (the room I've booked) and you'll see why at $285.00 a night I grabbed it. http://www.clarendonsquare.com/suite.html

escargot

Are you an able walker? If so, I agree about a 10-15 min walk - you are not far from the T at all and you can walk from there to Symphony - you won't be walking back in the wee hours and if so, go straight across form the Symphony (go to Brasserie Jo for something afterwards) and then keep walking towards Copley area, take a right on Dartmouth and over to the Inn that way.

Going to the Symphony you can walk down Tremont to Mass Ave and then up to Symphony. The Inn can give you exact directions.

I walk from the Tremont end of Clarendon to Copley area all the time - and to the T - it's a short walk to me.

As far as taxis, on Tremont near Dartmouth/Clarendon end (not far from you) there are many restaurants with valet (Hammerlsey's, Aquitaine, same strip as Butcher Shop, Metropolis Cafe, Garden of Eden, etc) and the Atelier complex, Boston Center for Arts, to the corner of Berkeley,etc with cabs going by or you can call one or walk up to the T from Clarendon or Dartmouth.

You can take the T to Symphony too.

Yes you are in a more residential area than Copley Place, but with lots going on and not far from there at all. And plenty of cabs in Copley area outside the Fairmont Copley Plaza, Westin, etc if you don't want to walk further.

escargot

Don't know when you are coming. I am leaving for town in an hour, and won't be back online likely till Tuesday of next week, but lots of Boston people , as some who posted prior here, who can help you.
I think it's fine. have fun whenever you are coming.

cigalechanta

I love the South End, You can walk to Mass.Ave, Synphony Hall. I lived many years on Newbury Street and walked between the two daily. I'm now across the bridge by MIT.

cigalechanta

Here is a clearer map for you.

http://www.massachusetts-mapsite.com...ck_bay_vt.html

flyer

Thanks everybody. This is sounding better. If I am reading my map correctly, the Inn looks like it is about 3 blocks from the Back Bay Station. True?

escargot

You are close to T stations. You will have no problem getting around either walking or hopping onto the T when you want -
I walked this weekend from corner of Tremont and Clarendon (not far from where you will be) straight up Clarendon to Dartmouth and the T, over to Copley Plaza - and you are not far to walk up Clarendon or Dartmouth and cross over Boylston to Newbury and then to your right to the Boston Public Garden/Boston Common - it's a nice walk. It takes me about 15 minutes to walk, unhurried , from Tremont near Boston Center for the Arts to the Public Garden.

Here is a link to the mbta T map, you can see all the stops along the way to and from the Symphony and other places you may want to go. I am also sure the Inn will be very helpful in giving you good walking directions.
http://www.mbta.com/schedules_and_maps/subway/

you might also enjoy checking out the site
starthereboston.com

it has info on transportation, the neighborhoods, sites and restaurants.

Don't know what type of food you are looking for, but we ate for the first time this wknd at Avila on One Charles St - we made a meal out of the 'small plates' section - the sauteed asparagus/duck egg was amazing, as was the fried halloumi cheese nad baked olives - but of course, we didn't stop there and the souvlaki and gnocchi were fabulous - it is nice that you can have a half order of the pastas which was enough after all our other tastings !

have fun whenever you are coming -

flyer

Thanks again everyone. I'll be in Boston in late April so I hope it will be nice enough to enjoy the neighborhood.

sistahlou

Wow the place looks wonderful. I walk the hood all the time and never knew it was there. From the website it looks just perfect, and you can always grab a cab to Symphony for just a few bucks - not far at all, but if you are dressing for the evening, then just hale a cab!
And do report back on y our impressions of this wonderful looking property.

escargot

flyer: hopefully it will be beautiful that time of year - here is an interesting link for you on galleries, art, etc in the South End area if you like to see different galleries, artists workshops, etc.
http://www.sowaartwalk.com/artists.htm

Also the following for Boston Center for the Arts/Cyclorama
http://bcaonline.org/performances_cyclorama.htm

Aside from the usual events in Boston you can also find online when it gets closer (and even now), make sure when in the South End you go into one of the coffee shops or corner stores and pick up the small newspapers on what is going on that week -

flyer

How's the local bus service? Is there a bus I can take from the Inn to Symphony Hall?

TKT

There are buses that go right to Symphony Hall the 1 and the 39, but you will have to walk a few blocks to them and wait for them. If you don't know the area I would suggest a walk down Columbus Ave, you can stop at many of the restaurants on Columbus Ave. or cross over Mass. Ave to Bob Southern Bistro.
You can walk (about 5 minutes)to Symphony Hall from there.

I would suggest a cab to the corner of Dartmouth and Tremont after the show, where you will have a number of choices for a drink and you will be able to walk to the Inn from there.

For what you are doing the time saved and the safety of a cab is worth the cost.

flyer

I'm getting a sense that this neighborhood is not overly safe, particularly at night. I can still opt out and switch to The Elliot on Commonwealth if that would put me in a better location. I know I can walk to Symphony Hall from there. I've done it in the past.

TKT

I would stick with the Hotel you have,
it is not far from some areas that are not great to walk in if you don't know the area, but it is a fun place to be.
When most people write about an area they tend to be over-cautious because they would hate to have someone take their adivce and then have something happen. Enjoy the South End, but take a taxi back to your area at night just to be safe.

escargot

TKT said it perfectly ! The South End is a lovely neighborhood area and for the most part safe and friendly - however, there are parameters in any city and you hate to say to someone 'oh you are perfectly safe at all hours' - what does that mean and how can one say that to anyone about any place when at times there are incidents everywhere -
you can stay in the 'safest' place for example, in Boston, and is there a chance you would get your purse stolen or mugged - heck, they was a string of purses being stolen on Newbury Street this summer while people were dining in outside cafes, and most people would tell you Newbury St is so safe to walk at all hours, so that is why some people will say to a poster who is asking about safety, when in doubt, take a taxi closer to your location -

I think where you are staying is fine and the owners can help you with exact walking directions when you arrive, - but for example, we walk from Clarendon down to Bob's Southern Bistro and back at night, but personally I wouldn't walk much further past Bob's - for one, I don't personally know of much to see at that end and for another, not being familiar with it, I wouldn't tell someone it was perfectly safe to roam in that area late at night -
but walking from there or from Copley Place area, where there is Back Bay T station, cabs, etc, down Dartmouth/Clarendon to Tremont / South end area is something I do all the time - and, again personal, I don't like to walk in some areas around Harrison Ave late at night by myself , but others do.

So I think it is a nice location, a good price, and you would be fine, esp if you have been in city before, and have a map/Tmap and talk with the owners for specific directions.