Rent Our Space - A beautiful and unique venue for your event
Host your next event chez nous!
Our beautiful, renovated Victorian mansion is located at 53 Marlborough Street in Boston’s Back Bay. It is an ideal setting for weddings and other joyous occasions, for business meetings, seminars and presentations, clubs and association meetings, private dinner parties, wine tastings and more.
- Welcome up to 120 guests
- Multiple rooms and configurations available
- Commercial-grade kitchen on-site
- Accessible building
- Historic architecture, modern amenities
The French Library is available for rental Monday through Sunday from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Availability is subject to the business needs of the French Library, and the availability of a staff attendant. We have a maximum standing capacity of 125 people. We can accommodate up to 80 for a seated dinner, and 60 people seated for a presentation or concert.
For more information and availability:


About the building
Constructed in 1867 by a Boston wine merchant, the mansion later was the home of artist Katharine Lane Weems, sculptor of the graceful dolphin statue at the New England Aquarium. Ms. Weems gifted the building to The French Library in 1961.
A major renovation spanning from 2020 to 2022 preserved the building’s architectural charm while modernizing the electrical, heating, cooling, plumbing and IT systems. The kitchen was upgraded to commercial standard, and the building was made fully accessible.
Our Spaces
Five floors of meeting, classroom and library space provide attractive and flexible options for receptions, dinners, lectures, conferences, retreats, and other kinds of events.
The largest event rooms are on the first floor. Conference rooms and classrooms are located throughout the building. A modern kitchen on the garden floor offers an attractive location for fun dinners and cooking demonstrations.

The Founders' Room
Ideal for business events, private dinner parties, wine tastings.

The Ducrest Room
Ideal for wine tastings, private events, corporate meetings.

The Gallery
Ideal for art exhibits, festive occasions, bridal showers, bat/bar mitzvahs.

The Reading Room
Ideal for corporate events, club meetings, ceremonies

The Kitchen
Ideal for corporate bondings, private food tastings, cooking workshops.

Conference Rooms
Ideal for conferences, board meetings and presentations.

Classrooms
Ideal for Masterclasses, seminars, corporate meetings, presentations.

The Obélix Room (Children)
Ideal for childrens' birthdays.

Office Space
Ideal for your work and study related needs.