Some of the most infamous people in the nation were formerly housed in Boston’s Charles Street Jail. At check-in, guests are now greeted with champagne. Reimagined as The Liberty Hotel, this National Historic Landmark is a conversation as much as a place to stay. It is like traveling through a reimagined version of history as you pass through its atrium, which is still surrounded by iron catwalks.
Old and new are deftly combined in the design. Today, high-end eateries like Clink and Alibi have their entrances marked by the original cell doors. Cocktails are now served in a former drunk tank with mood lighting. A visitor once chuckled, “If these walls could talk, they’d ask for another martini.” when they were there recently. The building’s energy has changed, but the stone bones are still there. It is incredibly successful in creating a space that is both stylish and respectful.
| Location | Hotel Name | Original Function | Unique Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, USA | The Liberty Hotel | Charles Street Jail | 298 rooms, Clink restaurant, catwalk atrium, famous former inmates |
| Melbourne, Australia | The Interlude | Pentridge Prison | Bluestone walls, luxury suites, wine bar, Indigenous cleansing rituals |
| Roermond, Netherlands | Hotel Het Arresthuis | Historic Jail | Converted 105 cells into 40 rooms, preserved original doors |
| Istanbul, Türkiye | Four Seasons Sultanahmet | Ottoman Jailhouse | Rooftop terrace, mosaic tiles, Anatolian cuisine, former political jail |
| Montenegro | Mamula Island Hotel | Fortress/Concentration Camp | Spa retreat, Adriatic views, sky spa suite, shamanic treatments |
| Oxford, UK | Malmaison Oxford | Medieval Prison | Boutique styling, original jail wings, modern design |
| Oslo, Norway | The Thief | Smuggler’s Island | Waterfront views, Michelin dining, edgy architecture |
The hotel is located on the outskirts of Boston’s Beacon Hill, close to historic sites like Faneuil Hall and the Freedom Trail. For tourists looking for legacy rather than just luxury, it’s the perfect starting point. Even guided tours of the hotel’s darker periods are offered, featuring inmates such as Frank Abagnale Jr., the Boston Strangler, and Malcolm X.
The hotel produced an incredibly clear design narrative by repurposing the jail’s architecture. Details like barred windows that now frame views of the skyline and hallways that once echoed with orders but now hum with jazz serve as a gentle reminder of the building’s history to guests.
Around the world, Pentridge Prison in Australia has experienced a change that seems just as drastic. The Melbourne prison’s bluestone exterior was preserved for the Interlude, but the interior is a peaceful haven. During renovations, Indigenous Elders combined healing and tradition by performing purification rituals. The 2017 Barolo on the wine list alone is priced to reflect the establishment’s prestige.
Velvet drapes and black marble tiles greet you as soon as you enter one of its 19 suites. The lives that were once confined behind those high stone walls are a far cry from this. “It’s a sanctuary for me now,” said a former prison guard who is now a tour guide. The visitor experience is intricately woven with that emotional nuance.
One example of how space, which was once a punishment, has evolved into a privilege is the Hotel Het Arresthuis in the Netherlands, which created just 40 suites out of 105 jail cells. The choice to keep cell doors in place is part of a larger movement that aims to humanize history rather than erase it.
The Four Seasons Sultanahmet in Istanbul serves as an example of how political narratives can be made more palatable. The area now has an intellectual charm thanks to the writers and thinkers who were once imprisoned there. It feels especially poetic to eat under the mosaics and sip Turkish tea.
However, Mamula Island in Montenegro treads a fine line. Families of survivors are outraged by the resort’s recent conversion from a site of wartime brutality to a wellness destination. Despite this, the resort is constantly overbooked because guests are drawn to its shamanic treatments and tranquil surroundings. It serves as a stark reminder of how tourism can reframe suffering.
An emerging celebrity angle is another. These hotels aren’t secret treasures anymore. They attract influencers for photo opportunities. Celebrities reserve suites for storytelling as well as privacy. With its expansive views and private butler service, the Liberty Hotel’s Ebersol Presidential Suite has played host to celebrities and business titans alike looking to escape the limelight.
These former prisons now offer a highly adaptable visitor experience thanks to thoughtful repurposing. They serve as cultural monuments, hotels, and museums. It’s a very creative approach to conserving architecture and drawing in a fresh wave of adventure tourists.
These former prisons have given rise to notably better urban areas. Beacon Hill was energized by the Liberty. The historic fabric of Coburg was revitalized by the Interlude. Despite its troubled history, Mamula now contributes to Montenegro’s modest but expanding ecotourism industry.
Developers are starting an architectural justice movement by transforming prisons into places of hospitality. Visitors pass through areas that used to restrict freedom but now honor it. Its symbolism is especially potent. Sleeping in a former jail cell that has been transformed with cozy linens and carefully chosen artwork represents both civic and personal change.
These former prisons are shining examples of creativity in a field of hospitality that is dominated by sameness. They are dialogues rather than just accommodations. Remarkably robust, incredibly immersive, and far more captivating than another glass tower hotel, these establishments provide something more uncommon than comfort: perspective.
More abandoned institutions will probably experience similar rebirths by 2030. Destinations could include defunct train stations, abandoned hospitals, or even aging observatories. Our definition of luxury is changing as a result of this trend, which is being fueled by a cultural desire for authenticity and nostalgia. Gold taps are no longer relevant. It has to do with gold stories.
Not only does the five-star luxury resort that was formerly a prison provide comfort, but it also provides context. And that might be the best amenity in today’s experience-driven travel culture.
