It was a hot, bustling Boston day when we arrived for our Saturday night stay at the Taj Boston. But the moment we stepped inside the marble foyer of the 1927 Beaux Arts building, the mood changed to cool and serene. We could have stayed in our suite all day, nibbling on the fresh fruits left for us and looking out onto the lush Public Garden, located across the street from the hotel. But instead, we freshened up and stretched our legs on the retail-rich Newbury Street, also steps outside the hotel's doors.

Back at our suite later in the day, we experienced first-hand the features that make hotels in the Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces portfolio””including The Pierre in New York, London's 51 Buckingham Gate, and the company's landmark hotel, the Taj Mahal Palace & Tower in Mumbai””so luxurious. Windows of the 273-room hotel, which opened last January, open on panoramic views of the Public Garden and the city skyline. Marble bathrooms feature Bulgari toiletries, plush Ploh terry robes, and a crystal ring holder. In the bedroom, high thread count sheets fit over a fluffy feather bed. Our living room, furnished with elegant seating and a small office area, had a working fireplace.

We had brunch in The Café, which is open for power breakfasts through to the evening for fine dining. From the extensive menu, we chose more local fare. My boyfriend had an omelet with crab and pancetta; I opted for poached eggs over rock shrimp hash made with fingerling potatoes, chorizo, tomatoes, and leeks. As we sipped freshly squeezed orange juice and strong coffee from our window seats, we watched passersby on Newbury Street””some with shopping bags, others with picnic baskets heading to the Public Garden.  The Taj Boston also serves Afternoon Tea in The Lounge, an elegant drawing room complete with a harpist.

We spent Sunday afternoon shopping. Just down the street from the hotel is Thos. Moser (19 Arlington Street), a showroom for traditional, handcrafted wood furniture, some of which has a modern twist (our preference!). On Newbury Street, charming boutiques and luxury retailers are mixed in with High Street shops. My favourites included Calypso (114 Newbury Street), where I admired the bold-coloured and travel-friendly silk frocks. Louis Boston (234 Berkeley Street) may well be the anchor for the shopping area. It's a one-stop venue with designer duds for men and women, a salon, and Boston Public, a spot for lunch and dinner.

The famed Cheers is a few blocks away, but the Taj's Bar is very much a Boston standout. It opened when Prohibition was repealed in the 1930s. Renowned for its Martinis and classic cocktails, The Bar has a club-like setting and fireplace. Tuesday through Saturday evenings, there's a pianist, and on Friday nights from 9 ”“ midnight, a trio enlivens the space.

If you get to the Taj Boston before summer's end, book yourself the ”˜Go Fly a Kite' package. Once you're finished flying a kite and taking a Swan Boat ride through the lagoon at the Public Garden, you can feast on a beautiful picnic lunch prepared by the hotel's chef. It also includes accommodations that overlook the Public Garden, complimentary valet parking, and dinner for two in the Café (rates begin at $580; garden view suites from $880).  But if you already have a full itinerary, the simple Bed & Breakfast package (accommodations for two in a Deluxe room and breakfast In-Room or at the Café) start at just US$305.

Boston in the autumn or winter is perfect for hibernating. And suites with wood-burning fireplaces are among the amenities that will keep you inside. A Fireplace Butler prepares the fire with your choice of wood (cherry or maple woods will scent the room, birch burns quickly and heats up a cocktail hour). Stay in a little longer and enlist the services of the Bath Butler. The bath menu includes the soothing “Boston Tea Party Bath,” where you sip herbal tea while soaking in water infused with lavender and natural sea salts. The “Simply Romantic” is about much more than the scented bubbles and rose petals. It also features champagne, strawberries, and the romantic soundtrack. Thankfully, you can fully enjoy the bath””and the hotel””any time of year.

Rates start at $305.

Taj Boston
15 Arlington Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02116
Phone: (617) 536-5700

www.tajhotels.com/boston

New York-based Sofia Galadzawrites about interior design for Contract magazine and has written for Conde Nast Traveler, Time Out New York, 360 and Four Seasons Magazine.

Click here for concierge Kelly Giblin's Boston recommendations