The Merchant

The Merchant is the type of boutique property that my husband and I prefer. It’s loaded with character and charm and their interior designer is truly gifted. The public spaces are cozy and beautiful. The people working there are very kind and responsive. We booked a parking spot in advance, which was conveniently located just behind the hotel, and never needed the car until we left since everything is within walking distance. We spent 2 nights in King Deluxe room #7, and were very comfortable. The bedroom was spacious and featured large windows overlooking Washington St., so it was bright and airy, though not noisy. We imagine that all of the rooms are different so our comments relate to this room only. We would have preferred a bit less space in the room to accommodate a slightly larger bathroom. The console sink was attractive but not practical for using toiletries and makeup with no space at all on the edges of it. There was a tray beneath the sink to keep personal items on, but it meant having to bend down every time you needed something. We’re fit so bending wasn’t a major issue for us, though a different room might suit some people better. A shelf would be helpful. The breakfasts were nice. We especially liked the overnight oats. The frittata and scones aren’t served until about 8:45 - 9 am, which was late for us on the second morning since we needed to leave by 9 am, but the items in the mini-fridge are available overnight so you can still grab something to eat, and you can make your own coffee anytime. Overall a terrific choice and we’d stay again if we returned to Salem.

We travel fairly frequently and this was one of our favorite hotels. The location is absolutely perfect. We took an Uber from BOS (about 45 min and $40-$50) and never regretted not having a car, especially with the very limited parking available in the city. Everything is within a 15 min walk and most things are 5-10 min. There are numerous restaurants, bars, shopping, liquor/wine, drug stores as well as all of the Salem must-see sights. The hotel is absolutely beautiful. Don't let it's lack of bar or restaurant deter you. We walked to the store and bought drinks and they always have snacks available (chia pudding, overnight oats, chips, pretzels, yogurt parfaits, egg bites, hard boiled eggs, tea, coffee). We were there during a very snowy and cold weekend (the weekend of Salem's So Sweet Festival) and we loved hanging out in the lobby by the fireplace. We were surprised other guests didn't do the same. It felt like we had the whole place to ourselves even though we were told the hotel was sold out. Our room was large and we loved having the fireplace. We were in room 10 (king deluxe). The heated floors in the bathroom were nice give the extreme cold weather. There are no USB plugs, just a regular outlet on both sides of the bed so be sure to bring a plug. Breakfast each morning was a self-serve frittata and scones (along with all of the other snacks provided 24 hours/day). You'll want to pop the frittata in the microwave. It's set out at 9a and stays there until it's gone! And don't miss the homemade chocolate chip cookies at 4p each day. They use a Nespresso and had a few coffee varieties available for that, a good selection of hot teas, but no hot chocolate :-(. The staff is very friendly and helpful. I had a bit of an issue communicating with them by email (they said they responded, I never got it......I believe them but don't know if the issue was on their end or mine) but once I got a text from them the day before we checked in, they were very responsive and helpful (thank you Kaleigh!). If we ever return to Salem, this is absolutely where we'd stay.

Excellent overall stay! Convenient location to restaurants and shops. Responsive and kind staff. Highly recommend a stay at The Merchant!

One of the most beautiful hotels to stay in. The location is perfect, within walking distance to shops, tours, and restaurants. Our room (Room 1) was amazing, featuring incredibly soft beds (a king and a pullout couch), an updated bathroom, and plenty of space. The decor, thoughtful touches, and attentive staff made the experience truly special. We also loved the common area and fully stocked kitchen available for guests. Highly recommend. It’s a bit on the pricier side, but absolutely worth it for the comfort and value.

Great spot near restaurants and attractions. Cozy room and great little snacks and breakfast. Friendly and accommodating.

The Merchant Hotel, Salem MA ★★★★★ Each room has its own unique personality with the warmth and charm of a B&B with the anonymity of a boutique hotel. Room decor and common spaces were both done very well. Even the offsite parking was a non-issue. Fair warning: if you can’t live without the amenities of a larger hotel, or you mind being a stop on the walking tours, it may not be for you. But if neither of those things bother you, it’s an excellent stay. One thing of note — an in-room mini fridge would be a nice touch over the communal one in the lobby. Minor, but worth mentioning. Will happily return and recommend highly.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

What an incredible building! Gorgeous and comfortable. All amenities available, and then some. Located in the heart of everything going on. Would absolutely stay here again.

We stayed 3 nights Oct 2025, and we already want to return. My husband and I both absolutely loved the Merchant Hotel! We stayed in room 6 and it was just perfect. The decor throughout the house is just stunning and the staff is very pleasant. We actually got into town early that day for a tour, and were planning on dropping our bags and leaving, but they had an early check out, so they got the room ready for us and let us check in early. That was so thoughtful and we really appreciated it. They had breakfast each morning and snacks each afternoon. The cookies were amazing! We enjoyed sitting in the balcony as well. The staff texted me daily to make sure we didn’t need anything, and always responded quickly when I called or texted. I really enjoyed the cozy feeling of being in a small hotel versus a big hotel. If we find ourselves in Salem again, we will definitely stay at the Merchant again.

Everything was wonderful, and the bed and pillows were like sleeping on a cloud. What a nice property. Good coffee and lots of prepared snacks ready to grab any time. The only odd thing is that check-in is after 4PM, and the desk closes at 5PM. If you can't be there during that hour, you can check-in online, and they arrange for you to get in after hours, which did work well.