The Kendall Hotel at the Engine 7 Firehouse
By the Top3Hotels editorial team. Based on Booking.com guest scores and reviews, location data and reference prices. We did not stay at this hotel. Updated 2026-10-24.
Book it if your trip centres on MIT or Kendall Square and you want a joint top-rated hotel in our Cambridge sample, with a well-liked buffet breakfast. If Harvard is your focus or you are watching costs, it is a weaker fit: Harvard Square is a long walk and the rate is high.
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Sold out? See available alternatives →Who it suits and who should skip it
The Kendall Hotel at the Engine 7 Firehouse is a 4-star hotel and our Best Value pick in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It suits business travellers, conference visitors and families with a reason to be at MIT. Guests say the campus and a subway station are right next door, and the property lists a gym, a restaurant and family rooms.
It is less suited to anyone based at Harvard, which is around 36 minutes away on foot. Budget-minded travellers should also note the main complaint: rates feel expensive for the room size and facilities.
Location and getting around
The address is 350 Main Street, in Kendall Square. The location score is 9.7 out of 10, and guests mention restaurants nearby as well as the subway station and MIT campus close at hand.
The Harvard sights in our data are all far on foot. Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East is 2.8 km away, about 35 minutes. Harvard Museum of Natural History and Harvard Square are both 2.9 km, about 36 minutes. Plan on public transport or a taxi. Times are straight-line estimates.
What guests say
The score is 9.0 out of 10 from 616 reviews, joint first among the 9 eligible hotels we compared. Guests like the location next to the subway and MIT, and the buffet breakfast, which they describe as varied, with fresh fruit, hot options and generous portions.
Value is the sore point. Some guests feel the nightly rate is high for the size of the room and the facilities provided.
Price and how it compares with our other picks
The reference price seen for a 2-night stay in November 2026, for 2 adults, was €411.55 per night, about €823 for both nights. The median among the hotels we compared was €317.29, so this is well above the middle. These are not live quotes, so check today's price for your dates.
Our Budget pick, Porter Square Hotel (3 stars, 8.6), was €222.71 a night. Our Luxury pick, The Charles Hotel in Harvard Square (5 stars, 8.8), was €539.02. The Kendall sits between them on price but beats both on guest score.
Why it made our top 3
We compared 9 hotels in Cambridge. The Best Value slot weighs guest score, review count and price together, so it is not always the cheapest. A 9.0 from 616 reviews, the joint highest in the sample, plus a 9.7 location score, made The Kendall the strongest overall balance despite the price.
Before you book
Breakfast is listed as a buffet. Whether your rate includes it is not confirmed, so check the rate details. Parking is not listed in our data, so ask the hotel about options and cost if you drive.
Room size, noise and cancellation terms have not been assessed. Given the complaints about value, compare the price for your dates with our other two picks before you commit.
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Sold out? See available alternatives →Questions travellers ask
Is The Kendall Hotel close to MIT?
Guests say it is right next to the MIT campus and a subway station. An exact walking time is not confirmed in our data.
Can I walk from The Kendall Hotel to Harvard Square?
Harvard Square is 2.9 km away, about 36 minutes on foot as a straight-line estimate. That is far, so public transport or a taxi is the easier option.
How much does The Kendall Hotel at the Engine 7 Firehouse cost?
The reference price seen for a 2-night stay in November 2026 for 2 adults was €411.55 per night. Check today's price for your dates.
Does The Kendall Hotel serve breakfast?
A buffet breakfast is listed, and guests praise its variety and portions. Check whether your rate includes it.
Does The Kendall Hotel have parking?
Parking is not listed in our data. Contact the hotel before booking if you need it.