In Boston, Feel Like a Rockstar at This Music-Obsessed Hotel
Hip digs and a view of Fenway Park.
I never imagined that Boston would offer respite from a long stretch of cold weather, but The Verb Hotel in the city’s Fenway neighborhood did just that.
Within minutes of checking into the boutique hotel, I headed for the year-round pool (open from 8 AM to 10 PM). It’s comfortably heated like a hot tub when it’s chilly outside, which provided a welcome break from my winter coat, and the hotel has plenty of towels and tunes for poolside relaxation — nothing like swimming laps as Miley Cyrus sings, “I can buy myself flowers.” The distinctive pops of color in the surrounding window panes fit the retro rock vibe of the hotel’s interior, too.
Music and pop culture is the hotel’s whole theme. Museum-quality pieces from the David Bieber Archives — which represents a dizzying amount of memorabilia collected by a one-time music executive, journalist, and pop-culture historian — fill the walls and a glass display case. In a chalk mural by artist Elissa Surabian, Aretha Franklin sings out the names of famous hotel guests from The Verb’s storied past. That’s one of the things I like most about The Verb — its decor has meaning and promotes sustainability with a creative use of existing materials.
The hotel’s location next to Fenway Park (home of the Boston Red Sox) also carries a good deal of history. The Verb originally opened as the Fenway Motor Hotel in 1959 and later became a Howard Johnson Motor Lodge. Ever since its new life began in 2014, The Verb has entertained more generations of music and baseball devotees.
Stadium views and in-room record players: Rooms at The Verb
Photos: Allison McClain Merrill
The Verb has several different room types, ranging from standard king and queen rooms, to pool- and stadium-view rooms, to Backstage trailers (more on those later). My pool-view room featured cozy lantern-style lighting fixtures, a desk area with a vintage typewriter, two bathrobes, and a king bed where I slept comfortably.
Before my stay at The Verb, I’d never heard of a hotel providing guests with in-room record players. Queen and Soundgarden awaited me on the second floor, and the lobby had an abundance of records for the choosing. (If you need any help with the player or a vinyl, just ask.)
Rates vary by date and are often more affordable in the winter ($150 to $240 range) than in other months (select dates may top $600 for a similar room). There are also deluxe “amplified rooms” for guests who would like a patio or balcony.
The Verb is located in a historic building with no elevator connecting its two floors. However, entrances on the main floor are accessible, and a dedicated ADA room on the first level is one of the hotel’s best — with its own patio overlooking the pool.
Leveling up your experience: Backstage trailers at The Verb
Photos: Allison McClain Merrill
I stayed in a custom trailer for my last night at The Verb to get the complete Backstage experience. There are 10 trailers, one of which is ADA-compliant. Each has memorabilia and decor celebrating a particular artist: Stevie Nicks, Janis Joplin, Eddie Van Halen, Mama Cass, Chrissie Hynde, Tom Petty, Kurt Cobain, Dolly Parton, James Brown, and Buddy Guy. The Backstage trailers were a collaboration between Samuels & Associates and Spot On Ventures, LLC, with design by Planeta Design group.
Inside my Backstage trailer — I got Van Halen — I rested on a king bed and lingered in a rainwater shower with NEST bath amenities. A Nespresso machine and a smorgasbord of snacks and drinks waited for me at the minibar. Jack Kerouac’s On the Road appropriately sat nearby.
I had my Red Sox outfit hanging up in the wardrobe for opening day at Fenway Park. On a concert night, Backstage guests can sit in patio chairs and hear music playing from the stadium. Right around the corner from my abode for the night, another significant artifact was on display: Tom Hanks’ former movie trailer, which houses scripts and ephemera from his films.
Japanese-inspired eats and nearby noshing: Dining at The Verb
Fried chicken at nathálie. Photo: Allison McClain Merrill
“Breakfast is included” is one of my favorite phrases. From 7 AM to 10 AM, The Verb’s on-site restaurant, Hojoko, offers cereal, oatmeal, yogurt, fruit, pastries, fresh waffles, boiled eggs, and hot and cold beverages. There are gluten-free and vegan breakfast options, and I highly recommend getting acquainted with the steamed milk dispenser for a splendid cup of coffee.
Hojoko is a Japanese-inspired tavern for the rest of the day. I sampled the pork and shrimp potstickers, as well as flavorful Brussels sprouts prepared with a karashi mustard-soy vinaigrette, apple chutney, pickled Fresno chile, and shiso. Hojoko made Eater Boston’s list of best Japanese restaurants (and as a fun, aptly music-inspired fact, my favorite music duo, Aly & AJ, once stopped by).
The Verb Hotel is also minutes by foot from more of Boston’s culinary delights. For dinner my first night, Italian restaurant MIDA hit the spot. The menu includes many shareable items like arancini, insalata mista, ciabatta toasts, and pizzas. I enjoyed braised pork tagliatelle for my entree, then a decadent taste of tiramisu.
The next night, over at LGBTQ-owned wine bar nathálie, my group shared a charcuterie board, bread served with maple and smoked chili butter, spiced nuts, marinated olives, and the most delectable fried chicken skewers ever. Owner Haley Fortier named nathálie after her grandmother, and 95 percent of her wine list spotlights female winemakers. I don’t drink, so I appreciate that Haley personally suggested a non-alcoholic Lucano amaro with bitters and lemon for me.
Shows, games, museums, and more: Things to do in Fenway
Left: Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Right. Museum of Fine Arts. Photos: Allison McClain Merrill
The Verb Hotel can’t be beat for those planning to see a concert at Fenway Park or cheer on the Red Sox. Other nearby music venues include the House of Blues and the MGM Music Hall at Fenway. The latter seats up to five thousand people.
Art connoisseurs can immerse themselves in the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, each about a 15-minute walk from The Verb. I liked the Van Gogh exhibit and the impressionist paintings at the former; at the latter museum, my group and I marveled at the spacious rooms that were once part of Gardner’s home. I was especially interested in the religious art and small chapel there. Fancy an unsolved mystery? The Gardner Museum is featured in Netflix’s “This is a Robbery: The World’s Biggest Art Heist.”
To get outdoors, the View Boston observation deck in the Prudential Center is a 20-minute walk from The Verb. You’ll get a 360-degree view of the city’s neighborhoods, historic buildings, the Charles River, and green spaces.
Getting to The Verb and around Boston
The Verb is about five miles from the Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) and 2.4 to 4.3 miles from South Station (Amtrak), depending on the route.
For attractions not within walking distance, Uber was usually the most convenient way for me to get around. Approaching Boston’s Seaport, I strolled the Rose Kennedy Greenway, a 1.5-mile stretch filled with public art, food trucks, and lush horticultural displays. Nearby, I dined at the Grace by Nia supper club to hear electrifying jazz performed live (house band The Mastadonis Project is phenomenal). And in South Boston, I drank a perfect cappuccino from Deja Brew while learning about the free Boston Public Art Triennial that features 15 outdoor commissions from late May to October 2025. 
