The Inn at Hastings Park

The Inn at Hastings Park

Fifteen miles from Boston, in Lexington, the Inn at Hastings Park keeps just 22 rooms across a cluster of historic buildings a short walk from the Hancock-Clarke House, the Old Belfry and Munroe Tavern, the town's Revolutionary War landmarks. It is the only Relais & Châteaux address in the Boston area, a distinction that shows up less in polish than in intent: the kitchen runs a proper culinary program, from the Town Meeting Bistro to a Sunday champagne brunch to dinners staged in its own Culinary Garden, overseen by an owner who trained as a chef at Le Cordon Bleu and holds a Harvard MBA. Rooms range from a compact Deluxe Single to a 543-square-foot Premier King with its own fireplace, all fitted with air conditioning, blackout blinds and bathrobes, so travelers choosing between a simple night and a proper suite find real options rather than one template. A spa, a fitness room, a library and picnic grounds fill the daytime hours; a conference hall and meeting rooms handle the working ones; a playroom keeps children occupied while parents linger over afternoon tea. Staff speak English, Spanish, German and French, bicycles and parking are free, and pets are not permitted. This suits someone who wants New England history delivered on foot rather than by tour bus, paired with a kitchen worth planning a trip around. It will read as too quiet for anyone chasing downtown Boston energy over a historic small town. What lingers after checkout is not the room but the meal. The only Relais & Châteaux address near Boston, this 22-room Lexington inn sits steps from Revolutionary War landmarks and runs a kitchen serious enough for Sunday champagne brunch. Rooms range from a compact single to a 543-square-foot suite with fireplace. Downtown Boston nightlife it is not.