Name: Hawthorne Hotel
Address: 18 Washington Square West, Downtown Salem, Salem, Massachusetts, United States of America, Boston (and vicinity), Essex County, US
Price range: $262–$504 per night
Rating: 9.23

What guests think

At Hawthorne Hotel, travelers praise the central Salem location and historic charm, consistently highlighting friendly staff, comfortable beds, and convenient on-site dining, while noting compact rooms typical of an older property.

Guests value perks like free on-site parking, pet-friendliness, and a welcoming lobby with complimentary coffee or cider. Common drawbacks include very small bathrooms, limited in-room amenities (often no fridge or microwave), temperature control tied to building systems, and occasional noise, odors, or maintenance and housekeeping lapses. Expect historic character and personable service over modern luxury.

Facilities

Cleanliness

Rooms

Service

Location

Dining

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Facilities

Facilities are basic for a historic property: free on-site parking, pet-friendly policies, and cozy lobby areas with complimentary coffee/cider. Some guests noted no gym or pool and occasional elevator issues.

Related guest reviews

10

Jean

Nov 2, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The staff was awesome very friendly and outgoing and willing to help even while they were extremely busy. The room was so cute and perfect for us. Loved that we had parking (free) while we stayed at the hotel looking forward to visiting again soon!!

10

Barbara

Aug 24, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Close to everything..onsite parking..charming hotel..highly recommend

10

Carolann

Sep 15, 2025

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Stayed 4 nights

Loved the hotel. Couldn’t be more convenient to walk around the area. The staff were so nice. They all were happy to be staff members and it showed. We only ate at the hotel. The food was great. They were on point to make sure I was able to eat the food since I have many food allergies. The whipped ricotta was fabulous!!! We parked in their free parking lot when we checked in and never moved the car until we checked out 3 days later. We walked everywhere. We would definitely stay at the Hawthorne Hotel again!! Thank you Hawthorne for a wonderful stay!

10

Sandra

Aug 29, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The staff was phenomenal, from Lauri at the front desk and the beginning of our stay, the waitstaff, especially our waitress in the Tavern Thursday evening, as well as all the staff on the floor areas were assets to this company. You felt safe, comfortable and like you were with friends. The building had beautiful decor, the parking was an extra bonus. An A⁺ scoring.

8

nelson

May 15, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Great historic spot. Excellent dining options. Staff was very personable. The only negative was no fitness room on the premises.

4

Rhonda

Jun 17, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

While I appreciated the location, the hotel had no amenities. $300 a night was a ridiculous price to pay for zero amenities. No pool, no fitness room, and no complimentary breakfast. I feel gypted.

10

Lauren

Aug 21, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

This was a great hotel right in the center of downtown Salem. Location was perfect and convenient. Especially with the on site parking. Hotel was clean and client, we really enjoyed our stay!

10

Karen

Aug 13, 2025

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Stayed 1 night

Beautiful, well-kept historic hotel. Feels like you’re stepping back in time. Excellent location with parking included. Dog-friendly AND clean. Got an early table for breakfast. Only one server who was also hosting and busing, so service was understandably a bit slow. Food was pretty good, but portions seemed inconsistent. (Mine was pretty substantial, but others were small in comparison.) Poached eggs were perfection! Free coffee and lemonade in the lobby were fresh and delicious.

10

Robert

Sep 4, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Great staff and friendly. Parking was abundant and close by. Hotel is convenient to all the areas popular in Salem. Room had a full bath and half bath which was great.

10

Susan

Jul 18, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Great location and historical feel. Pet friendly with park right across the street.

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Cleanliness

Rooms and public areas are generally clean, with many praising tidy rooms and fresh linens. However, recurring reports mention odors, occasional missed housekeeping details, and wear like peeling wallpaper or mold spots.

Related guest reviews

8

Cathy

Jul 27, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The hotel has a great location, walkable to many attractions. The service is excellent, but there is a bad smell when you enter, also there was a bug crawling on the toilet in the bathroom, which made my stay uncomfortable. I still give 4 stars as its location and service are both perfect.

8

Maria

Dec 30, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Shortage of staff meant my room only cleaned once. All towels removed but not replaced until I asked for some.

10

Bobbi

Nov 3, 2025

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Stayed 1 night

The hotel was amazing. Room was very clean and right in the heart of it all. They staff was very friendly. Will definitely stay here again.

10

Michael

Aug 27, 2025

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Stayed 3 nights

Clean room and helpful staff. All we ask for. Two excellent dining options in lobby. Great stay.

8

Elizabeth

Dec 11, 2024

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Stayed 1 night

I love the Hawthorne Hotel and go every year, but this time the bathroom was dirty and the smell of pot on floors four and five was ridiculous. The bathroom sink had someone's stubble from shaving in it and the shower was not clean. The staff is amazing and helpful.

4

Patricia

Dec 5, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The room was the size of a shoebox.there was someone else’s hair on the floor in the bathroom. And while I was at breakfast, someone on hotel staff entered my room, open the window and smoked a cigarette. I had not used a privacy please door hanger, because there was none available. However, when I returned to my stinky room, they had courteously left me one. It was very strange. I was very glad that I was leaving that day and that I had only stayed one night.

10

Sophia

Jul 22, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Stunning character property. Large reception/entry area with comfortable seating and access to free water, lemonade, tea & coffee. Reception staff were very friendly - we arrived early (around 12pm) and our check-in was around 3/4pm, however, staff allowed us to check-in early. They also gave us free bottled water, a map, and advice re attractions/dining. Adjacent bar/dining area was spacious - again, staff were friendly and drinks were good (didn't order food). Room itself was cosy and as pictured online. Limited storage for clothing in the wardrobe, however, not a problem for us. Bathroom is small, so if you're a larger person it may be uncomfortable/difficult to use. Toilet is very close to sink and feels cramped when using (shouldn't be an issue if you're not a large person). Bedroom was clean and bathroom was almost completely clean. Some beard trimmings on the mirror around the sink (not ours), however, not significant enough for us to ask to be addressed during our stay (we was only staying one night and had a tight schedule). Where our room was located was quiet and we weren't disturbed during our stay.

10

Melissa

Mar 14, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Everything was amazing, beautiful historic hotel. The Tavern was beautiful and had excellent food and drinks. It was actually very clean but the bathroom sink faucet hadn't been hit with cleaner for a while and had mold on it, only reason I gave cleanliness a 4. We will definitely be back and thank you so much for the hospitality!!!

10

Robert

Nov 7, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Room was clean and staff was friendly and helpful

10

Judy

Jul 27, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Rooms were clean, comfortable and spacious. The staff members were friendly, polite and helpful

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Rooms

Many rooms are compact with very small or split bathrooms; some feel quirky due to the historic layout. Beds are widely described as comfortable, but in-room amenities can be limited (often no fridge/microwave) and temperature control or noise can be issues.

Related guest reviews

8

Sally

Nov 29, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Best bed at a hotel. Actually wished my mattress at home felt that good

10

Christina

Aug 26, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

The hotel waa beautiful, loved the history the hotel has. The location was great, I didnt have to move my car till the day we left because everything was so close, which was awesome. I would definitely recommend this hotel. The only thing that sucked was not having a little fridge to keep atleast drinks in. But aside from that it was geeat. Highly recommend

6

Sally

Jul 30, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Lots great- comfortable beds, super parking, location, friendly staff. Noisy outside thrum all night long not great, toilet area quite small, hot water from sink took very long. Doors slam shut for each room so noisy some nights quite late when guests return.

6

Heather

Mar 31, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Pros: I loved the aesthetic of the hotel—it perfectly complements the charm and history of Salem. Its location is fantastic, within walking distance of many of the city's attractions. We had breakfast in the dining room, which was a delightful experience, and the live music added a whimsical touch. The staff was generally friendly and even allowed us to check in early, which we appreciated. Cons: Unfortunately, our room felt like the smallest one in the hotel. It had just a bed, a small table, and a single chair, with barely enough space to move around. The bathroom was especially cramped—you could stand and turn, but that was about it. Cleanliness was average, and the wallpaper was peeling, which took away from the overall ambiance. In conclusion, I wouldn’t stay here for more than a night. Be prepared to get up close and cozy with your travel companion. Next time, we’ll be looking for a quaint B&B instead.

6

Catherine

Sep 26, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The room was very small VERY small. A small bed filled it. Bathroom had a basic shower with poor water pressure. No fridge no nothing really. The heating system didn’t work, it just spewed out cold air. Checkin was fine, good parking, and convenient location. Tiny disposable plastic shampoos are quite eco unfriendly. Hairdryer was very weak.

6

Kathleen

Nov 12, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The room(s) for a single person are incredibly small with the shower actually in the bedroom rather than the bathroom. I have been here before so knew that was the case. I just could not get the water hot enough to shower. It is a lovely hotel but it rides on its reputation as historic and by contemporary standards is very average.

6

Brendan

Apr 25, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Check in was great and is in a great location. The hotel is old but I think that’s the look they are going for. My only complaint was the AC didn’t work. We were located on the 4th floor so the heat from below really heated up our room to almost 80 degrees. I turned on the AC to cool down the room but it just blew hot air. After speaking to the front desk they told me that it wasn’t going to work and that they would offer us a plug in fan. The windows only open up about 5” which makes sense for security reasons but it wasn’t enough to cool the room down and to make matters worse our room was above the kitchen vents so our room constantly smelled like a deep fryer. Other than that it was a good stay but I might venture elsewhere for my next stay in Salem.

8

LORI

May 24, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Great older, city hotel. The staff was very friendly, and the free parking was very convenient. I would definitely stay here again. Unfortunately, they can only have their hvac system on heat or air, so if we wanted the system running, we were too warm. Also, the room above us was being vacuumed at 8am, waking us up.

6

Tamar

Sep 12, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Older hotel with that type of charm. In need of updates. Bathroom situation is strange with shower in a closet and no counter space at sink

6

Jennifer

Jul 30, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Room was just OK… No microwave, no fridge. I know this is supposed to be a Heritage hotel, but they could make it a little more comfortable…the bathroom so very tiny…one person could barely fit in there. Probably won’t stay here again for the price.

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Service

Service is a standout with warm, accommodating front-desk and restaurant teams; guests note early check-ins, upgrades, and thoughtful touches. A few report lapses such as rudeness or slow responses during busy periods.

Related guest reviews

10

Mary

Jul 25, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Always a pleasure to return to the Hawthorne and a trip back into history! The hotel is wonderful, as is the location, will so much to do in Salem. My only suggestions would be to update the tub/shower and have additional bar service staff in the Tavern. Too many people for only 1 bartender. Other than this, everything was great!

8

Stephen

Dec 27, 2025

·

Stayed 6 nights

The front desk staff were very welcoming, and were even able to help us upgrade our room for the week we stayed there.

8

Lynette

Mar 20, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Loved everything, but there was an incident with a staff member in the dinning room on our last day. He chastised me cloudy for taking a seat, after another staff directed me to take a seat. It really upset me,. To the point where we almost left. Funny how one bad instance can affect the whole stay.

10

michelle

Sep 27, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

As always, it's one of the best hotels to stay in. We got there early and our room was available. Awesome service.

2

Nicole

Jun 28, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

The staff were incredibly rude.

10

Sallye

Sep 6, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Service is incredible. Audrey (@ the front desk) was wonderful and helped set the tone for our entire visit. The rest of the staff were terrific as well. The food was great and Katie was a fantastic server. We loved our room. Also, the location of the hotel is perfect for touring Salem by foot!

10

James

Nov 19, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Check us in early and upgraded room. A++

10

Sandra

Aug 29, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The staff was phenomenal, from Lauri at the front desk and the beginning of our stay, the waitstaff, especially our waitress in the Tavern Thursday evening, as well as all the staff on the floor areas were assets to this company. You felt safe, comfortable and like you were with friends. The building had beautiful decor, the parking was an extra bonus. An A⁺ scoring.

8

Sara

Jul 16, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Slow. Receptionist was on the phone, which was fine since sounded like another customer but he never looked up to acknowledge my presence

2

Daniel

Nov 27, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

I recently went the other day after working a double shift at work to stay at the Hawthorne I paid online in advance had my ID plus a security deposit and was still denied entry was highly embarrassed and got stuck out in the night through the cold because my money was tied up in the hotel have not been disrespected or felt so insulted in a long time I would not suggest the Hawthorne hotel to anybody

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Location

Excellent central base in Salem, across from Salem Common and near the Witch Museum, shops, and sights. Guests frequently park once and walk everywhere.

Related guest reviews

10

Lynn

May 20, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Perfect location for exploring Salem's historical sites and shopping.

10

Paula

Sep 22, 2025

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Stayed 1 night

Beautiful historic hotel, clean, well kept rooms. Within walking distance to many Salem sights. We loved our stay.

10

Emerson

Sep 23, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Beautiful hotel in an excellent location. Convenient for Salem visitors.

10

Stacey

Aug 20, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great property, walking distance to all the sights in Salem.

10

Frida Nohemi

Sep 9, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

very centric to everything! Food at the tavern was great!

10

Ryan

Sep 18, 2025

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Stayed 2 nights

With any trip, location is very important, and staying at the Hawthorne Hotel was one of the best decisions we made in planning our trip! I would recommend staying at this hotel any day! It's clean, the rooms are nice, and with the most friendly staff! We had some time to wait before we went to Boston, and we wanted to stay in Salem to explore more. Hawthorne was happy to keep our bags while we explored. If you're planning a trip to Salem, 100% stay at Hawthorne and thank me later! :)

10

Lauren

Aug 21, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

This was a great hotel right in the center of downtown Salem. Location was perfect and convenient. Especially with the on site parking. Hotel was clean and client, we really enjoyed our stay!

10

lisa

Nov 10, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Beautiful hotel, great restaurant and awesome room. Very comfortable bed. Incredible location in the heart of downtown walkable to everything.

10

Susan

Jul 18, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Great location and historical feel. Pet friendly with park right across the street.

10

Sarah-Jane

Aug 16, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Perfect location, right in downtown. Everything was within walking distance!

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Dining

On-site options (the Tavern and Nathaniel’s) are widely praised for tasty meals and generous portions; lobby refreshments are appreciated. Some mention slow service or occasional misses at breakfast.

Related guest reviews

8

Catherine

Dec 31, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

We absolutely loved the beauty of this historic hotel. It retains many original features and was decorated so nicely for the holidays, it was warm and welcoming. Staff was very informative and helpful. We had dinner at The Tavern and enjoyed the setting, the large portions and the excellent food. The complimentary coffee, tea and cider was a very nice touch. The only thing that didn't go well was breakfast at Nathaniels. My daughter's pancakes came out cold and were not tasty at all. My Irish eggs benedict was just so so. The potatoes were hot and delicious but the corned beef was cold and the poached eggs were overcooked so the yoke was hard. Our waitress was very nice and she did take the pancakes off our bill. Maybe the cook was new. Overall we loved the Hawthorne and would definately return for another stay.

10

Dori

Nov 25, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Both restaurants were great! Everything was perfect. Unique, clean, comfortable, with all necessities.

8

Caroline

Aug 19, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

It's an older hotel, but it was clean and charming. Super well located with all sorts of amenities in the vicinity. Front desk was very nice; some of the restaurant staff a little awkward. Breakfast (not included) was decent. It was busy with events (bridal showers, birthday parties) but it was quiet. Beds were comfy.

10

Lisa

May 16, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

We love the warmth of this hotel! It’s very inviting, the employees are all very nice and the location is perfect. We parked easily on premise and walked everywhere. We ate downstairs in the Tavern. Alicia and Laurie exceeded our expectations. The service was fast and incredibly pleasant! The food and drinks were fantastic! We will definitely be back!!

10

susan

Aug 23, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Lovely old hotel. Very good food in the tavern. Music was very enjoyable. Great staff.

10

Frida Nohemi

Sep 9, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

very centric to everything! Food at the tavern was great!

8

Michael

Jan 26, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Hotel was nice,tavern was nice ,Nathaniel restaurant wait time for your dinner to arrive was horrible.

10

Tammie

Sep 6, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Having the tavern was great for a nightcap.. The Seafood Chowder..THE BEST.. The mattresses were thr best ever..Slept like a baby.. Just wish we had some paranormal activity....

10

Marcia

Dec 25, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Room was immaculate, happy pleasant staff, excellent food and drink in the Tavern. Great choice to stay while visiting family at Christmas.

10

Kristen

Aug 29, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Excellent location and walkable to all sites. Breakfast was fabulous in dining room.

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Month	Average price
January	$139
February	$148
March	$160
April	$176
May	$206
June	$249
July	$244
August	$255
September	$271
October	$451
November	$183
December	$150

Hawthorne Hotel

Prices for Hawthorne Hotel

Monthly average prices

About this property

Location

Room options

Room, 2 Queen Beds (Derby)

Deluxe Room, 2 Queen Beds

Room, 2 Queen Beds

Room, 1 King Bed

Room, 1 Queen Bed (Bertram)

Room, 1 Queen Bed (Cleveland)

Economy Room

Superior Room, 1 King Bed (Cabot)

Guest reviews of Hawthorne Hotel

Who stays here?

What guests think

Property Policies

Check-in instructions

Good to know

Optional extras

FAQs about Hawthorne Hotel

Prices for upcoming dates

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18	19
20	21	22 $262	23 $313	24 $311	25	26
27	28	29	30 $286

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
				1	2	3
4	5	6	7	8	9	10
11	12	13 $504	14	15	16	17
18	19	20	21	22	23	24
25	26	27	28	29	30	31