Up on the Roof – Hotels

Why you may not be making your usual summer trip plans to get out of the city just yet, it doesn’t mean you can’t get away from the everyday of city life.  As one of my favorite old songs go, it’s always good to go Up on the Roof.

With Memorial Day being the unofficial start to summer, roof top options are re-emerging all over the city.  So if you don’t have a friend that enjoys loft living and a spectacular rooftop view, you can still get that up on the roof experience in the public arena.

Colonnade Roof Top Pool

The Colonnade Hotel Perhaps the pinnacle of the rooftop experience in Boston is the rooftop pool at the Colonnade, which opens up for the season on Tuesday, May 26th.  It comes at a price of $30 per person per day and is only open to the public Monday through Friday 8am – 8pm, but this may be the splurge worth taking.  Pool side food offerings are light and spectacular.  Feel like a diva or superstar in the pool or poolside.  And, make sure to smile and wave to the paparazzi or the poor working slobs on the upper levels of the Pru, looking down at you with pure green with envy.

Taj Boston – The most famous rooftop in Boston for decades was the old Ritz Carlton hotel where many galas where held under the stars and overlooking the Boston Common.  Since the Taj hotels have taken over the space, in name and management alone, so they say, the rooftop lives on. Private events are still held here and on occasion throughout the summer it is opened up for one night only public affairs. To get the inside scoop on these, one must call restaurant reservations, as they are not generally openly advertised.  So, while one cannot casually stroll up to the top of the Taj to see the view, with a little planning, you can dance in the shadows of past Ritz revelers.

Roof deck at XV Beacon

XV Beacon – Dubbed by many as the best boutique hotel in the world, XV Beacon is a celebrity haven that often now surpasses the Taj and the Four Seasons in impressive guest lists.  Their roof deck does offer stunning panoramic views of Boston from its Beacon Hill perch, but it is a view relegated to guests of the hotel only.  Formerly donning a bar, the roof deck is for views only, though you can easily bring up a drink from the bar or your room without any hassle from the hotel staff.

Long Wharf Marriott -Not quite a roof deck, as it sits half way up the backside of the hotel, Oceana at the Long Wharf Marriott’s patio is stunning none the less. Oceana is the oft forgotten sister to the over crowded financial districts single scene at Tia’s down below at street level.  But with a great view of the harbor and all its hustle and bustle, plus a wonderfully refreshing breeze on a summer evening, this is the less crowded and more relaxing way to take in the Boston Waterfront scene.

Know of any other hotel roof decks neglected in this post?  Please share in the comments section below.  Boston is a beautiful city (particularly now that the Big Dig is just a debt-ridden memory) and I hope to see it from every possible angle.

Installment 2 coming soon – Up on the Roof Dining Options

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Julie Salickram is a contributing writer/blogger for DirectoryofBoston.com. Follow her at twitter.com/julesac