Newport is a beautiful city in Rhode Island, renowned for sailing, gorgeous beaches, New England charm and the magnificent Newport mansions, remnants of the lavish lifestyles of America’s wealthiest industrialists in the 19th and early 20th centuries. It also offers a delicious food scene with lots of fresh seafood, great shopping and a wealth of hotels and resorts for enjoying it all, including these great options.
Castle Hill Inn & Resort
Located at the west end of legendary Ocean Drive, spread across 40 acres of oceanfront, the Castle Hill Inn & Resort sits within a 19th-century Victorian mansion. Enjoy Atlantic views and an unforgettable stay that makes for an idyllic romantic escape. Look forward to ending your days by watching the colorful sunsets from the Adirondack chairs followed by gourmet dining onsite with mouthwatering prix-fixe courses that include items like Angus beef, Georges Bank scallops and Canadian wild boar. Choose from guest rooms in the mansion and beach cottages, many of which boast two-person soaking tubs, fireplaces and/or ocean views.
Chanler at Cliff Walk
Providing the only accommodation right along the famous cliff walk, Chanler at Cliff Walk boasts the elegance of the Gilded Age as one of the most historic properties in New England. Surrounded by acres of beautifully manicured gardens overlooking the Atlantic, each room has its own distinct decor, designed around a historical period ranging from colonial to Victorian and Louis XIV. Most come with fireplaces, wet bars, and stone bathrooms with heated floors. The celebrated restaurants on the property serve extraordinary meals paired with breathtaking ocean views.
Gurney’s Newport Resort & Marina
Gurney’s is located on secluded Goat Island, reached via a five-minute shuttle from downtown. The island is home to the 1842 Newport Harbor Light as well as this resort and marina which features the only outdoor saltwater pool in Newport. There’s a sundeck for enjoying lazy days and a luxurious spa offering decadent treatments, while its acclaimed restaurant, Scarpetta, serves delicious Italian fare. The “director of fun” can also arrange for mixology classes and wine tastings. While all rooms come with iPod docks and flat-screen TVs, upgrade for a bay view and/or balcony.
The Vanderbilt
If you truly want to immerse yourself in the Gilded Age, The Vanderbilt may be an ideal place to do just that as the former home of a Vanderbilt scion. It sits within a 1909 mansion, decorated with early 20th-century framed illustrations and model ships. The property has both indoor and outdoor pools, a lavish spa and a garden terrace with views of the harbor, sunsets and the city. Enjoy free welcome Champagne and daily Champagne breakfasts, along with candlelit dinners featuring classic New England fare. Rooms are more modern, featuring amenities like flat-screen TVs and kitchenettes.
Francis Malbone House Inn
The Francis Malbone House Inn is a charming B&B that sits along the waterfront downtown in a historic former private residence that was built in 1760 for Colonel Francis Malbone. It features well-preserved 18th-century detailing throughout with its 20 guestrooms featuring working fireplaces and traditional Colonial pieces like four-poster beds. A complimentary multi-course breakfast is served every morning, and guests can also enjoy afternoon tea.
Hotel Viking
Hotel Viking was a popular lodge among VIPs during the Gilded Age and today, guests can look forward to plenty of luxuries like a spa with Thai and Balinese-inspired treatments, Champagne and fresh-shucked oysters on the garden patio and spectacular ocean views paired with frequent live music at the Top of Newport bar. There’s also a large indoor pool and whirlpool with poolside food and drink service, multiple restaurants and a fitness center. Both modern and historic rooms are available, all featuring flat-screen TVs and high-end bath products.
Newport Marriott
The Newport Marriott offers a prime location along Newport Harbor, with some rooms featuring picturesque water views. All come with flat-screen cable televisions, coffeemakers and mini-fridges. Guests can enjoy the indoor pool and sauna as well as a spa and 24/7 fitness center. There are multiple restaurants, some of which come with water views and specialize in creative cocktails.
Newport Beach Hotel & Suites
The Newport Beach Hotel & Suites offers a romantic retreat for couples, with fabulous views and a desirable beachfront location. It hosts an indoor pool and a rooftop terrace with a hot tub and a fire pit as well as a spa providing pampering treatments. There are a variety of rooms available, including options that boast balconies with beach views. Suites even include kitchens, living rooms and washer/dryers.
Forty 1 North
Forty 1 North enjoys a waterfront marina location with its rooms and cottages overlooking the yachts on Narragansett Bay. All are outfitted with environmentally sound amenities like sustainable woods, all-natural bath products and fast-dry towels that encourage reuse, along with in-room iPads and gas fireplaces. Fine dining can be enjoyed onsite at the romantically lit restaurant with floor-to-ceiling French windows showcasing marina views.
The Attwater
The Attwater is a bed and breakfast-style hotel that provides a central location in a 1910 mansion district building that was once a beer hall. A bed and breakfast, it has just 12 rooms, providing a tranquil, intimate stay, all of which come with Apple TVs, mini-fridges, iPads, and coffeemakers in a setting with nautical palettes infused with shades of coral, seafoam and olive green. The on-site café serves delicious house-made lemon-ginger scones, and massages can be enjoyed in the hotel’s spa treatment room. There’s also a small fitness room with weights and stationary bicycles.
