My end decision is the same but thought it might be helpful to add a further breakdown of what the two properties offer. Its important to note I stayed twice recently at the Four Seasons but only dined twice at the Newbury (and kicked the proverbial tires by visiting the rooms and talking with the front desk and concierge).

The Newbury has three clef d'or concierge.

The Four Seasons no longer has a concierge, though the front desk will and does anything to assist you with bookings, information, etc.

The restaurant at the top of the Newbury has a lovely view, gorgeous flower arrangements, fun and interesting decor, and I found that the food is pretty good but not extraordinary. The Newbury restaurant is always booked and very lively.

The Four Seasons has a restaurant with pretty good food, dated decor, and most recently large arrangements of feathers. I'm sad to say it feels cold and empty.

I've found the service between the Four Seasons restaurant and the Newbury is a tossup. I made a reservation for vegetarian friends at the Four Seasons and they assured me there were vegetarian options on the menu, unfortunately there were none. They did end up making a lovely dish of vegetables and pasta. The person working in the restaurant also was doubling as a bar attendant and the host. There was one other table occupied.

The Newbury has a very small gym with new equipment and no pool or hot tub, or sauna or steam room. Do they have a spa?

The Four Seasons has a much larger gym, a small pool, and both a sauna and steam room for each of the men's and women's sides. Massages are available in your room through a third party.

The rooms at the Newbury are much more variable in layout and size than the Four Seasons, generally they are significantly smaller than the Four Seasons. Overall, I prefer the warmer colors of the Newbury and I find their library space inspired. I prefer the size of the rooms at the Four Seasons and the gorgeous floor to ceiling windows overlooking the park.

The Four Seasons has a very good, and complimentary, cafe, which is available to guests in the morning. They offer pain au chocolate, croissants, breakfast sandwiches (for a fee of course), and fantastic made to order coffee and espresso drinks prepared by two dedicated and caring baristas.

My experience when the Four Seasons had the Bristol Lounge and a fantastic team of concierge, was that this was by far the best in the city. With the loss of both these amenities, I still choose Four Seasons for their amazing service, but I think it is a far closer choice than any city in which I have stayed at a Four Seasons. I've stayed at the Four Seasons twice recently and dined twice at the Newbury, but did not stay there. The Newbury was alive and bustling, tragically the Four Seasons had low occupancy both stays, consisting of primarily medical conferences.

Does anyone know what happened to the space where the Bristol used to be? They are not planning on reopening it. It could be an incredible space for a spa. The Mandarin Oriental spa has been so successful they are booked weeks out and command tremendous rates for their services. I don't know who owns the Four Seasons Boston but they are missing out by not investing in a new restaurant and spa. The luxury hotels in the city with these amenities are knocking the RevPar out of Fenway park.