My apologies for the delay. Below is a brief comparison of the Mandarin Oriental and Ritz Carlton in Boston:

Reservation/Check-In

I made my reservation at the Mandarin last minute and shot off a quick email to the GM as I had not stayed at the property before and was very curious. I got a nice reply back inquiring about my arrival time and other particulars. I ended up actually coming in a day earlier than I had expected and the hotel was able to accommodate me despite a very full weekend (the Yankees were in town). I arrived around 6pm and was greeted by both the GM and Guest Relations manager, both of whom were exceptionally nice. I was informed I had been upgraded to a Mandarin Back Bay room from my Mandarin room booking. While this is a small upgrade, they were able to get me a non-connecting one on the top floor, which was appreciated. The Mandarin offers a complimentary beverage sent up to the room upon arrival, which was a lovely touch.

My bookings at the Ritz were a bit more complicated as they were equally last minute and involved extending my stay. I also know some of the staff there, making it a decidedly less formal but equally nice experience. I paid a cash upgrade to the club floor ($125) as my first night was a points booking, with the last two being paid via FHR.


Verdict: Mandarin. The Ritz is a bit more low-key--the welcome beverage and personal greeting by the GM are very nice touches.



Room

My room at the Mandarin (825, if memory serves me right) was one of the better appointed hotel rooms I've stayed in. It's marketed as 600sf, which is really stretching it, but it is nonetheless a very spacious hotel room. I emphasize that because the hotel has no true junior suites, only rooms and very large suites. For anything more than two or three days, I would either splurge on a suite or consider another property. Nonetheless, the furnishings and finishes are top-notch; I was particularly impressed by the quality of the bedding, the soundproofing, the state of the art iPod dock, and the overall bathroom. The only mishap was that the handle on the tub broke off one night--the hotel was extremely apologetic and moved me to the next room over (they were sold out, and otherwise would have found me a suite). Unfortunately, the tub in the next room wouldn't hold water. Despite these issues, the hotel worked very hard to rectify them and I doubt they would be a concern for future stays.

At the Ritz I stayed in both a club level room (1264) and a suite (978). The club room is very basic but nicely appointed with all the standard Ritz finishes and decor. I didn't care for the placement of the desk nor the fact that Ritz-Carlton brand toiletries are standard even on the Club Floor. I would strongly advise booking a suite at the Ritz--I paid a $100 upcharge to move to an Executive Suite after the first night and it's money well spent. Suites are approximately 850sf and any even-numbered one from x68 up is going to have at least a partial view of the park. 978 could easily be sold as a "park view" for a significant premium, and it was a nice gesture of the hotel to find me their best suite within that category.


Verdict: This is tough. As a room at the Mandarin is roughly the same price as an Executive Suite at the Ritz, I feel better comparing on that basis. While the Mandarin rooms are more luxurious, the Ritz rooms are more comfortable and also have the option for much more dramatic views. By a hair, the Ritz, assuming a suite booking.



Service


The Mandarin's typical service was excellent, if a tad formal for Boston. The waiter who brought up a welcome amenity was gracious and elegant, taking the time to function as a bellman explaining the rooms' features as well as highlighting several dishes on the room service menu he recommended. Every employee was professional and appeared to be happy to help with any requests. Nonetheless, it felt a little impersonal, if efficient. As far as service recovery, the hotel did a very good job in finding me another room after the repeated bathroom snafus as well as honoring my request to convert a spa credit into F&B for my convenience. They also sent up a bottle of Veuve Cliquot as a gesture, which was very kind and put to good use.

At the Ritz I had access to the Club Lounge, which is the only way to go at this hotel. The Club attendants are consummate professionals who can help with everything from pouring a cocktail to dinner reservations. It's a much more intimate experience and is extremely convenient to only have to call one person for anything you need. The regular hotel staff are otherwise good--housekeeping is very kind but a little forgetful, the doormen can be aloof, and the Concierge a bit arrogant, while certain specific employees really stood out for going above and beyond.


Verdict: Ritz on the Club Level for its personalization. However, service is, by Boston standards, very good at both hotels.



F&B

While I did not eat at Asana, we ordered up room service one night as well as had a few cocktails at the Mbar. The food was the best room service I've had anywhere in the world, and the presentation unrivaled. I ordered steak and eggs one morning and was presented with an 8oz Filet cooked to perfection. Very, very impressive.

Food at the Ritz is more low-end but nonetheless very well executed. Artisan Bistro is a good restaurant with an excellent vibe on a weekend night. I received efficient service and had a very tasty meal. Room service breakfast was average, but I was very impressed that the chef was able and agreed to make me a chicken parm off the menu one night for dinner.


Verdict: The Mandarin, though the food at the Ritz is perfectly fine.




Overall:

I'm torn, as both are luxurious but encompass very different kinds of luxury. The Mandarin would work best for international travelers and couples used to more formal service, high-end finishes, and a destination restaurant. However, for a solo traveler a Club suite at the Ritz is a fantastic option as it offers a great deal of space and a very functional lounge for a relative value.