We review Studio Allston Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts and find a cornucopia of creativity
The bright side of the city.
Boston has always been a key city for the US. But despite its historic antecedents—this was a strategic centre in the American Revolution—this northern city now tends to be overshadowed by flashier urban centres like New York, Miami, and Los Angeles. Scratch its surface, though, and you’ll find the city’s independence-loving, pioneering spirit still very much intact. Case in point? Studio Allston Hotel, an eclectic boutique property just down the road from Harvard University’s athletics complex.
While this stay was complimentary, all thoughts and opinions are our own.
Studio Allston Hotel review
A community of creatives
Situated near Brighton, Studio Allston—and the surrounding suburb—takes its name from American painter and poet Washington Allston, the artist who pioneered the American Romanticism movement. Appropriately, then, the hotel is a champion for Boston’s creative community. To bring its colourful style to life, the hotel partnered with over 22 national and local artists and dreamed up a plethora of immersive art experiences. Guests checking in are treated to a full gallery experience as much as a cosy stay.
Even before you enter the building, the commitment to all things arty and creative is obvious. Guests pulling up to the driveway and lobby entrance are greeted by a van given a bright, geometric overhaul by David Teng Olsen, a new media artist and Professor of Art at Wellesley College.
Even more visual delights await in the lobby, which has been designed as a communal space for guests to work or hang out in. Next to the check-in desk and communal table, guests are drawn into the zany complexity of Samuel Marcus Kontny’s trio of prints that put a digital spin on classical Greek sculptures, while the lifts are connivingly camouflaged within a vividly hued geometric installation by acrylics and aerosols artist Jason Woodside.
With so much to look at, stepping into Studio Allston Hotel can be overwhelming—but if you take a breath, you’ll find that this artistic immersion offers plenty of scope to imagine and ruminate.
It’s not all just about the visual art, too. The hotel supports a host of creative endeavours within the community, including live performances. We’d booked tickets for a Sofar Sounds session—the concept is that you buy a ticket to see two or three surprise local bands, and you receive the concert location two hours beforehand—and, as luck would have it, the session was being held at the hotel. We headed down to the atmospheric, chandelier-filled event space in the basement and spent several hours listening to a trio of three talented Bostonian musicians.
That creative spirit extends to some of the shops and restaurants around Allston, too. Just down the road from the hotel, you’ll find the local outpost of Pavement Coffeehouse where you’ll find what is arguably Boston’s best coffee and bagels. Further down, The Speedway is a little commune of craft boutiques, and innovative drinking and dining—it’s worth stopping in at the travel-inspired Birds of Paradise for a cocktail.
Artistic hideaways
Like the neighbourhood itself, each room at Studio Allston is a little bit unique and features commissioned art. But if you’re looking for a real showstopper, you’ll want to book one of the exclusive Artist Suites. These carefully curated spaces have been designed in collaboration with a renowned local artist according to a certain theme—think space, fashion, and gaming.
The Reel Countdown Movie Suite is, as the name suggests, inspired by the world of film. Created by French-American artist Cyrille Conan, the suite puts a captivatingly bold, graphic spin on cinema.
The living room immediately captures the attention and sets the scene with Conan’s colourful, full-sized murals, which have been made to look like graffiti art. And, in keeping with the suite’s theme, there’s a massive flatscreen and plenty of cosy, modular sofas—perfect for a movie night—and, in the corners flanking the floor-to-ceiling windows, two floor-standing tripod-legged spotlights.
Equally quirky—though aesthetically pleasing—the bedroom features a slightly more muted wall mural above the king-sized bed, a small work table, and a plush, herringbone-patterned chaise longue for whiling away the hours in creative contemplation.
To allow Conan’s artwork and the carefully chosen furnishings to take centrestage, the rest of the suite is rendered in muted tones that create an unobtrusive background—think dark grey carpets, light grey drapes, and whitewashed ceilings and walls.
While it has just about everything a guest would require, the suite’s bathroom is the only thing that falls short of its artistic ambition. It’s fully functional, of course, and the amenities are locally produced organic products. But its utilitarian simplicity and grey-white colour tones don’t have quite the drama and flair of the suite itself.
Fuelling creativity
Of course, to really fire on all cylinders, creativity needs a little more than visual inspiration. And so, Studio Allston makes sure that its guests are well looked after with numerous other offerings.
There’s a simple yet more than adequate breakfast buffet stocked with pastries, yoghurt, coffee, and even a make-your-own waffles station—there are protein bars handy for those looking for something a little more nutritious. Simply pick up whatever takes your fancy and grab a table at the indoor restaurant, bar counter, or expansive patio.
And, there’s even a little basement gym tucked behind the aforementioned event space. Fair warning: it’s basic, with just a treadmill, an elliptical machine, a reclining bike, and a weights rack—and, of course, a gym-inspired mural. It’s enough for a quick run and basic weights session, though, and if you need more, the hotel offers free access to the fully-equipped New Balance Fitness Club nearby.
Final thoughts
Boston has fancy, big-name hotels in spades. But for those seeking to get under the city’s creative skin, a stay at Studio Allston is just the ticket. It might not have the high thread-count sheets and opulent finishings of a high-end luxury property, but with plenty of visual appeal courtesy of local artists and a staff of friendly, artsy individuals, you might even be getting a more authentic Boston experience.
Find out more about Studio Allston Hotel or Book through Booking.com
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