The Cambridge Marriott is a few steps from the MIT campus, but unfortunately it's not near much else. In the unlikely event that the weather is nice, it's an especially nice walk to Boston along and across the Charles River. The hotel is right at the Kendall subway (MBTA) stop, so you can get to places you might want to go (downtown or uptown Boston, Harvard Sq, etc.) if you don't want to drive.

A suiperb restaurant in the area is the Blue Room, about a 10-minute walk from the Marriott in the Kendall Sq complex. (Yes, the Marriott is in Kendall Sq. But there are 2 places that call themselves Kendall Sq in Cambridge, and they're 1/4-mile apart on Broadway.) The menu is contemporary American/fusion, and the atmosphere is comfortable. In addition to dinner, the Blue Room offers one of the very best Sunday brunches you'll find anywhere -- seatings are at 11 and 1, I believe, and you'd need reservations for brunch.