Hotel Guide • North America • United States • Rhode Island • Newport
The Ultimate Newport, Rhode Island Guide: Where to Stay, Eat, and Explore
Planning a trip to Newport, Rhode Island? Discover the best boutique hotels, waterfront restaurants, coffee shops, Gilded Age mansions, and unforgettable experiences in this insider travel guide.
Newport, Rhode Island
CURATED BY MACEY PHILLIPS
The Newport edit
Newport rewards a bit of planning, and this is the shortlist worth building a weekend around: The Lawn Terrace at Castle Hill Inn for a late lunch of lobster rolls and cornbread with lavender butter, then drinks in an Adirondack chair while the sailboats drift past at sunset; The Nitro Bar, where the line for signature cold brew and seasonal pours like Black Raspberry Matcha is genuinely worth it; Remy's Loose inside The Chanler, all coastal-French classics and rose-petal cocktails, with the Cliff Walk waiting at the end of the path; Bar Cino, the casual Italian neighborhood spot in Newport's art district where the prosciutto and fig pizza arrives with scissors; Claw & Hammer for the seafood fix you came for, from stone crabs to oyster towers; The Elms, the French chateau-inspired Berwind summer house that's somehow considered the restrained one among Newport's mansions (and a Gilded Age filming location); and Coastal Cruisers, whose navy-and-white striped open-air tours cover the Gilded Age mansion route or a golden-hour loop through the best sunset spots. And because none of it works without the right home base, we've rounded up seven of Newport's best boutique hotels below.
01 / NEWPORT
Where To Stay
Courtesy of Gardiner House
01
Gardiner House
With only 21 rooms and nestled next to the harbor, the Gardiner House is cozy and picturesque. Inspired by the coast and what feels like an afternoon garden party, it’s thoughtfully designed, and no two rooms are the same. Intentional details coat every inch with vibrant wallpapers and fun headboards that blend seamlessly to create a serene, relaxing atmosphere that almost begs you to stay one night longer.
02
The Vanderbilt, Auberge
Luxury through and through, The Vanderbilt is a historic estate where you feel like you’ve stepped back in time but with modern amenities and upgrades. The garden pool will keep you occupied during the day, while drinks in the Parlour, listening to old records and sipping cocktails from the Hidden Bar will feel like you’ve transitioned back to the Gilded Age.
03
The Brenton
For something a little more contemporary luxury with a coastal flair, The Brenton will feel like a crisp and clean stay. With fewer than 60 rooms and within walking distance of many of the exciting sights, it will be nothing but smooth sailing to stay here.
04
The Cliffside Inn
Newport's historic district has no shortage of old-money pedigree, but Lark Hotels made something genuinely worth booking out of it—a 16-room stay inside the former home of painter Beatrice Turner, whose canvases still hang throughout. A 2019 gut renovation left every room distinct yet cohesive: Victorian bones softened by contemporary furnishings, sharp modern bathrooms, gas fireplaces, and Lather amenities, with the main house and carriage house feeling closest to the original and the Cottage Suites trading some of that patina for square footage and privacy.
05
The Chanler at Cliff Walk
Newport's Cliff Walk is lined with Gilded Age mansions people travel to gawk at, and one of them lets you sleep inside: The Chanler, where the rooms and villas each commit to a different era—Tudor, Georgian, Renaissance—with fireplaces throughout, Jacuzzis in most, and ocean views that stop conversation. Downstairs, Cara handles the fine dining and Café takes the looser approach, both drawing locals as much as guests for coastal New England cooking with a Mediterranean streak.
06
Castle Hill Inn
A Harvard marine biologist built his mansion on a promontory jutting into Narragansett Bay because the water was the point, and that same instinct now pays off for guests at Castle Hill Inn—forty acres, a private beach, and arguably the best address on the Rhode Island coast, all a few minutes from downtown Newport. The 19th-century main house holds the most character, though the beach houses and cottages trade a little atmosphere for square footage, and the whole property lands somewhere between family-run B&B and polished luxury hotel: classic New England rooms, serious cooking, service that anticipates, and a nautical romance no corporate box could fake.
07
The Wayfinder Newport
Most of Newport's inns date their nostalgia to the 1870s, but the Wayfinder pulls from a century later—a 1970s palette wrapped around a thoroughly contemporary boutique hotel, with local art, communal spaces built for actually meeting people, and rooms where nautical cues get filtered through Scandinavian restraint and quietly upscale comforts. Nomi Park runs all day as restaurant and lounge, the Poolshack keeps things loose outdoors, and the lobby café pours coffee from Providence roaster Nitro.
02 / NEWPORT
Where To Eat
Courtesy of Castle Hill Inn
01
The Lawn Terrace at Castle Hill Inn
It’s on every list for a reason because it’s that good. The views, the wine, the food — all impeccable. Go for a late lunch and indulge in a New England lobster roll, some fish tacos with summer slaw, and cornbread with lavender butter (!!). Finish off with drinks on the lawn in one of the iconic Adirondack chairs and settle in to watch the sunset and sailboats pass. No Newport trip is complete without a visit to Castle Hill Inn.
02
The Nitro Bar
This coffee spot has become a destination in its own right for Newport lovers. A line worth standing in for their signature Nitro Cold Brew and fun rotating seasonal drinks like a Black Raspberry Matcha or Lavender Latte. A perfect way to start any morning.
03
Remy’s Loose
For a leisurely afternoon lunch or elevated dinner, Remy’s Loose is the perfect setting. Nestled into The Chanler hotel, it’s charming and deliciously luxurious; from the decor to the menu, you’ll feel instantly transported to a different era. With a mix of French classics elevated with coastal flavors, you can sip whimsical cocktails like The Garden Party, with rose-petal- and strawberry-infused blanc vermouth, and bite into refreshing steak tartares and seasonal fish crudos. Post-meal, you can take in the sweeping views of the coastline by taking the path straight to the Cliff Walk — a site not to miss.
04
Bar Cino
An Italian-inspired neighborhood spot that's the perfect refuge after a day of exploring. Order the prosciutto and fig pizza for something savory, accompanied by a pair of scissors so you can cut it any way you like. A fun and casual dining spot in the heart of the art scene of Newport.
05
Claw & Hammer
If you're looking to get your seafood fix, which, if you're in Newport, I assume you are, this is a great dinner spot to add to the list. Famed for their stone crabs and fresh seafood, the restaurant's menu really hits all the high points, including towers of oysters, lobster tails, clams, and jumbo shrimp.
03 / NEWPORT
Where To Explore
Credit: Antoine Bonin
01
The Elms
Modeled after an 18th-century French chateau, this was the summer home of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Julius Berwind. Somehow, The Elms is considered less flashy than its neighboring mansions; however, it is still a masterpiece of its time. Every room is filled with opulence and grandeur that leaves you pondering how to incorporate a marble staircase into your home. An absolute gem of Newport, it has been featured in the hit HBO TV show The Gilded Age.
02
Coastal Cruisers
For a stylish, comfortable way to see all the highlights of Newport, Coastal Cruisers is the best option. Chauffeured around in a seaside navy-and-white-striped cruiser with a knowledgeable guide, you’ll get to learn more and see more than you would on foot. You can choose routes like the Gilded Age Tour, which takes you past all the Mansions, or perhaps a Golden Hour tour, where you’ll get to see all the best sunset spots.
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