A New Take on the Classic Inn

Prentiss House is the revival of the former Mary Prentiss Inn, a 20-room inn built in 1843, nestled between Harvard and Porter Square in an iconic neighborhood setting. Upgraded with modern amenities, fresh interior design and technology enhancements, Prentiss House marries rich history and charm with comfort and convenience. We have 20 rooms to choose from, including suites for up to three people, as well as a lush garden terrace and a sun-filled parlour lounge to relax and unwind in. With limited staffing and services, Prentiss House affords our guests added privacy, independence and the ability to explore the local restaurants, cafes and businesses in the area.

Our Rooms

We have 20 unique rooms at Prentiss House, all updated with new finishes and furniture in 2022. The rooms were designed to maximize comfort and functionality but also to preserve the original architecture and layout of the historic 1843 inn. Most rooms have king beds, wet or dry bars with refrigerators and microwaves, and our suites have living areas with sleeper sofas. All rooms come with fresh linens and towels, smart TVs for streaming, controllable heat/AC, local coffee and tea options and free wi-fi. Rooms are cleaned once per stay and fresh linens and towels are available upon request. We offer discounts for local residents, groups and extended stays.

Features & Amenities

Prentiss House offers many of the same in-room amenities you would expect in a traditional hotel, but our limited staffing and service offerings afford our guests added privacy, independence and more room in their budgets to explore local restaurants, cafes and businesses.

Custom Design + Furniture

Self-Check In/Out

Fast, Free Wi-Fi

Private Garden Terrace for Guests

Available for Events + Bookouts

Optional Self-Parking Available

 4.5/5

What our visitors say

Our average visitor rating is 4.8 / 5

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Lisa Oliver

History of Prentiss House

Prentiss House, formerly the Mary Prentiss Inn, boasts a fascinating history dating back to the 1800s and has undergone many transformations over the years leading up to its rebirth in 2022. Occupying a two-story, 13,549 square-foot Greek-revival style mansion built in 1840, the hotel resides in a quiet residential street in the Baldwin neighborhood of central Cambridge, just a short walk to Harvard Square. The hotel was originally a wedding present built and designed by a notable architect, William A. Saunders, as a gift to his son, William, and his wife, Mary Prentiss. The hotel had been a long-time home to the Saunderses and Taylor family, as well as a hostelry and nursing home. In December of 1991, a local artist, Charlotte Forsythe bought the home and began the journey of transforming the home into the Mary Prentiss Inn. BREC LLC, a Boston-based development company, purchased the inn in 2021 to update the property and room layouts to improve the guest experience while maintaining the quaint and private nature of the former inn. To this day, Prentiss House remains on the National Registry of Historic Places and is recognized as a landmark by the Cambridge Historical Commission.