Fairmont Copley Plaza

For every modern hotel that springs up in Boston, there’s an old-timer that reminds you of the importance of throwback pleasures. The centrally located and beautifully appointed Fairmont Copley Place first opened in 1912, and the grandeur of an earlier era is reflected in the ornate marble lobby. Rooms—all 383 of them—are more sedate, decorated in cool hues and commissioned art sketches depicting Boston scenes. But for those who crave splashes of modernity, no worries. First head upstairs to the expansive rooftop gym, then head back down to the OAK Long Bar and Kitchen, a thoroughly renovated bar and brasserie that’s become a hangout for local sports professionals and other well-known denizens. Oh, and then there’s the hotel’s “canine ambassador:” Carley Copley, an adoptee from the local animal shelter who loves nothing more than greeting guests in the lobby when they first arrive.