I’m from Boston originally, but currently live in Denver. I came back to Boston in early August to see my sick mother. I booked a stay at the Iris, which I’d never stayed in previously, but it was close to the hospital where my mother was being treated. I was also looking for a hotel that specifically had a kitchenette and in-house laundry, since I was unsure of exactly how long I would be staying in town. And from the moment I arrived, I felt comfortable, relaxed, and very well taken care of. First, the room. My top floor corner room was clean, quiet, aesthetically gorgeous, and instantly became precisely what I needed: a sanctuary. Plenty of storage for weeks worth of clothes, food items, etc. Rainfall shower head. Beautiful bright sunny room. A really lovely space. Second, the food. Oh my, the food! Whenever I was too tired to cook for myself and ordered room service, the food was nothing short of incredible. I was particularly fond of the fluffy buttermilk pancakes in the mornings (and would love to have the recipe to make them myself!!)! And last, but certainly not least, the staff. I just can’t say enough about them. Every single person at the Iris was an absolute pleasure to see and talk with every day. They were funny, chatty, and warm, asking about my day and making sure I had everything I needed. And they also always asked how my mother was doing, which I so appreciated. One evening, after a particularly hard day at the hospital, I returned to the hotel late, and bumped into Basmala (I hope I’m spelling it correctly!) on my way up to my room. She asked how I was doing, and my eyes immediately filled with tears. I told her I was sad and scared about my mother, and probably just needed a good night’s sleep. She asked if there was anything she could bring me from the kitchen to help me feel better. I thanked her, but politely declined, and went up to my room. A few minutes later, I heard a knock on my door, and there she was, holding a small food container with three delicious chocolate-covered mini-cakes for me. “I hope you like chocolate,” she said. It was such a small kind gesture, but in that moment, it meant more to me than I think I’ll ever be able to fully explain. For the whole duration of my stay (which ended up being nearly twice as long as I’d previously planned), the Iris was my home away from home. It was the perfect place to feel safe, unwind, and relax during a very scary and stressful time for me and my family. I really cannot recommend this hotel highly enough. 🙂 And to all of the people that made my stay so memorable and comforting—Basmala, Tova, Daniel, Alexis, William, Juan, and all of the others that I’m sure I’m tragically and unintentionally forgetting to mention by name 🤦🏻♀️—thank you. Truly. For everything. 🩷
