More a luxury bed-and-breakfast than a hotel, this circa-1895 brownstone townhouse stands at the juncture of Back Bay and Fenway. It’s one of the more architecturally distinctive residential neighborhoods in Boston, and the Gryphon House stands up nicely to its neighbors. The rooms are huge—each about the size of a studio apartment and individually decorated in an array of Victorian styles. Each room has a working gas fireplace and wet bar as well as remote-controlled air conditioning. The Kenmore subway stop and Fenway Park are just a brief saunter away, and Boston University begins just a few doors down on Bay State Road.

Gryphon House Amenities:

• 8 rooms. Complimentary continental breakfast. Check-in 3 pm, check-out 11 am. High-speed Internet access, wireless Internet access.