Skip to main content
  1. Hotel reviews homepage
  2. USA hotel reviews
  3. Massachusetts hotel reviews
  4. Cambridge hotel reviews
  5. Reviews of The Charles Hotel in Harvard Square

Reviews of The Charles Hotel in Harvard Square 4 stars

1 Bennett Street, Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA 02138, United States

#5 of 21 hotels in Cambridge

Guests' Choice

Review score

Based on 272 hotel reviews

8.8

Score breakdown

  • Cleanliness

    9.0

  • Comfort

    9.2

  • Location

    9.7

  • Facilities

    8.9

  • Staff

    8.8

  • Value for money

    7.3

100% verified reviews

Real guests. Real stays. Real opinions.

Read more- opens a dialog box
Write a review

Showing 1 – 25

  • Reviewed: 25 August 2025

    10
    Exceptional
    • Family with young children
    • Double or Twin Room - Disability Access
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    None

    Everything was really perfect!

    Stayed in August 2025

  • Reviewed: 20 August 2025

    10
    Exceptional
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Junior Suite
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Lovely hotel - kind, welcoming staff, beautiful room on 10th floor, good fitness center. Enjoyed Henrietta‘s table for breakfast.

    Stayed in August 2025

  • Reviewed: 2 August 2025

    10
    Exceptional
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Deluxe King Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Too expensive.

    Clean, large room, in a great location.

    Stayed in June 2025

  • Reviewed: 1 August 2025

    10
    Exceptional
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • King Room - Disability Access
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    The restaurant isn’t very good

    The gym and common areas

    Stayed in July 2025

  • Reviewed: 26 July 2025

    10
    Like it
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Suite
    • Stayed 9 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    It took a lot of time to wait for dishes(knifes) to bring them to room!

    Very sad that on booking it doesnt give breakfast options.! But in hotel they give options. So it is better to book it directly

    Stayed in June 2025

  • Reviewed: 21 July 2025

    8.0
    Pleasant and friendly environment
    • Business trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Deluxe Double or Twin Room
    • Stayed 5 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    The bathtub shower was dangerous to use with no hand rails to hold on to getting in and out ..

    Good food at the hotel .. nice room.,, location good.,nice atmosphere outside

    Stayed in July 2025

  • Reviewed: 15 July 2025

    9.0
    Very pleasant
    • Leisure trip
    • Group
    • Deluxe Double or Twin Room
    • Stayed 1 night

    Staff communication could definitely be improved. We were initially told that parking was included, then someone else mentioned there was a fee for valet parking, and later we were informed that parking had a fee every time we entered. It was all very confusing—and to be honest, I’m still not sure what the actual parking policy was.

    Excellent location! The ambiance has a classic, Harvard-style charm. Breakfast was fantastic—truly a highlight! The rooms were clean and spacious, and the amenities smelled amazing.

    Stayed in July 2025

  • Reviewed: 14 July 2025

    10
    Great location for Harvard parents
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Deluxe King Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    The garage / parking cards were a bit confusing

    Love the location - very convenient!

    Stayed in July 2025

  • Reviewed: 13 July 2025

    10
    Exceptional
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Deluxe King Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Price

    Location and helpful staff.

    Stayed in June 2025

  • Reviewed: 8 July 2025

    8.0
    Nice hitel, great location, uncomfortable furniture
    • Business trip
    • Family with young children
    • Junior Suite
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Furniture. Wooden chairs without even a cushion?? Uncomfortable seating. I get it that it reflects historic settings, but thatbwas way too uncomfortable for even a 2 hr online meeting. The furniture needs to be replaced with something comfortable.

    Location and hotel/room design

    Stayed in June 2025

  • Reviewed: 13 May 2025

    8.0
    Very good
    • Business trip
    • Family with young children
    • Deluxe King Room
    • Stayed 4 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    The staff were courteous and receptive to my last minute changes and requests.

    Stayed in May 2025

  • Reviewed: 12 May 2025

    10
    Perfect location comfortable professional
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Deluxe King Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Love the bedding

    Staff is efficient, helpful and friendly Location

    Stayed in May 2025

  • Reviewed: 7 May 2025

    10
    Great stay! It is worth it!
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Deluxe King Room
    • Stayed 4 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Nothing.

    Location most and facilities.

    Stayed in April 2025

  • Reviewed: 22 April 2025

    10
    The hotel was very comfortable, and the service was excellent.
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Junior Suite
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    The TV could not play Netflix or other streaming services.

    Just about everything was excellent.

    Stayed in April 2025

  • Reviewed: 20 April 2025

    9.0
    Best option to be near Harvard
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Deluxe King Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    The food at the restaurants was just o.k.

    The location, near restaurants and good cafés, and close to the river.

    Stayed in April 2025

  • Reviewed: 9 April 2025

    9.0
    Superb
    • Leisure trip
    • Group
    • Deluxe Double or Twin Room
    • Stayed 2 nights

    Henrietta’s Table had an excellent breakfast. Room was very clean.

    Stayed in April 2025

  • Reviewed: 7 April 2025

    8.0
    Comfortable stay and comfort food in a convenient location.
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Deluxe King Room
    • Stayed 1 night

    The Saturday night room rate was extremely high -- we were willing to pay because of convenience and our familiarity with the Charles after many past stays.

    Perfect location for our activities on the Harvard Campus. Easy access to Henrietta's Table for meals during bad weather.

    Stayed in April 2025

  • Reviewed: 7 April 2025

    9.0
    Superb
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Deluxe King Room
    • Stayed 5 nights

    Comfort, location.

    Stayed in April 2025

  • Reviewed: 30 March 2025

    8.0
    Great place but with unsecured wifi network
    • Business trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Deluxe King Room
    • Stayed 8 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Great hotel, comfortable, with gym, several restaurants and sofa areas, next to Harvard Kennedy School. I was surprised however to note that their wifi network is unsecured (without password). Most company policies today don’t allow to be connected to unsecured networks (data risks), so I ended up using hotspot (not always stable). This is annoying for businesses travelers.

    Stayed in March 2025

  • Reviewed: 17 December 2024

    9.0
    Very nice hotel in perfect location
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Deluxe King Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Valet parking at check in on a cold, rainy, windy night was a mess and the rooms are a not large, but are ok sized.

    Feels recently renovated or refreshed. Very attractive design. Good bar and very good formal restaurant. Perfect location.

    Stayed in December 2024

  • Reviewed: 14 December 2024

    8.0
    Very good
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Deluxe King Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Excellent location

    Stayed in December 2024

  • Reviewed: 14 December 2024

    10
    All round, excellent stay.
    • Business trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Deluxe King Room
    • Stayed 5 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Nothing.

    Comfort of the rooms and thoughtful touches, such as mirrors in the shower for shaving.

    Stayed in December 2024

  • Reviewed: 19 November 2024

    10
    Best location and hotel at Cambridge
    • Business trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Deluxe King Room
    • Stayed 2 nights

    The mattress seemed old and so not comfortable

    Everything was excellent

    Stayed in November 2024

  • Reviewed: 10 November 2024

    10
    An exceptional hotel experience.
    • Business trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Deluxe King Room
    • Stayed 4 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Nothing

    Clean, peaceful, friendly staff, great food.

    Stayed in November 2024

Showing 1 – 25

We Price Match
We Price Match
Low rates • No booking fees • Find cheaper? We'll refund the difference!

Guests also reviewed these properties: