In 1867, Cambridge grocer Isaac Harding built this Victorian home for himself and his daughter — a house meant, from the beginning, to hold people close. The ginkgo tree specie - sometimes spelled 'gingko' - has been on this earth for 200 million years — unchanged since the age of dinosaurs, outlasting every ice age and extinction the planet has thrown at it. A ginkgo doesn't just endure. It remembers. That felt like the right name for this place.
What began as a private family residence has passed through many lives before becoming the boutique hotel it is today. Through every chapter, the original bones have been preserved: the crown moldings, the pinewood stairways, the quiet dignity of a house that knows what it is.
We are not a franchise. There is no loyalty points program, no laminated welcome card, no room that looks exactly like a room somewhere else. What we have instead are fourteen rooms, a common room where strangers become friends over dinners, and a staff that actually remembers your name.
Travelers come to Cambridge to visit families, for Harvard and MIT, for conferences and reunions and new beginnings. They leave the Ginkgo with something no chain hotel can manufacture: a story worth telling. If that sounds like your kind of place, we’d love to have you.
GINKGO HOUSE ON HARVARD
a boutique hotel near Harvard Square
OUR STORY
GUEST ROOMS
We take pride in offering our guests a comfortable and cozy living space, complete with high ceilings and chic decor featuring carefully curated furniture selections. Our commitment to seamlessly blending historic and modern design elements sets the stage for our guest rooms and suites. Rest assured that every detail has been planned with the safety and health of our guests in mind, in strict adherence to the city's post-COVID protocols. And to ensure a peaceful night's sleep, we provide only the most comfortable and crisp clean beddings. You can expect a truly exceptional stay with us.
MUST RESERVE IN ADVANCE
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THE EXPERIENCE
Harvard and MIT Tours
The # 1 attraction in Cambridge, Harvard offers student-led campus tours of Harvard and/or MIT multiple times day.
The Charles
Whether you are an early riser or a night owl, a run/walk along the Charles is a must-do in Cambridge with its breathtaking views.
Historic Freedom Trail
A unique collection of museums, churches, meeting houses, burying grounds, parks, a ship, and historic markers that tell the story of the American Revolution and beyond.
Museums
There are three highly coveted museums located within the Harvard Square: Harvard Art Museum, Harvard Museum of Natural History, and Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology.
Theater, Dance and Music
All within walking distance, our guests have access to a broad spectrum of performances from 15th century polyphony to 21st century “game-changing” theater.
Bike to Downtown
With a Blue Bike station just one block away, guests can easily enjoy the scenery of Cambridge on their way to downtown Boston and seaport district.
INQUIRIES
OUR NEIGHBORS
Set 7 minutes away by foot from the nearest subway station, this charming inn in a restored Victorian house is a 9-minute walk from Harvard University and a 13-minute walk from the Harvard Art Museums.
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