Newport hotels

One of the best hotels in Newport and part of the Auberge collection, this classic property is where you’ll find the most interesting people. Set right in the heart of downtown, you can walk to pretty much all the restaurants, bars and ice cream spots around town from here.

The hotel has a range of guestrooms and suites to choose from, all newly renovated and carefully curated. My favorite is the Alfred Suite, where I curled up by its custom bookcase with a warm blanket one wintery weekend as the fog rolled in.

The hotel’s downstairs bar and various eating establishments are always filled with an international crowd. As the social darling of the town, you’ll always find something fun going on here – I love playing a game of Mahjong in the Private Dining Room on Sunday afternoons. Don’t miss the rooftop bar, with its epic views across the water.

Located at the famed Cliff Walk, this glamorous boutique hotel is a converted Gilded Age mansion and Newport’s only 5-star property. Cliff Walk is your ticket to seeing all the mansions from the ocean side, and from here you can also walk to town easily, or straight down onto First Beach.

One of the best hotels in Newport for luxury lovers, The Chanler has just 20 beautiful rooms, all decked out in old-world opulence. The fine dining restaurant, Cara, offers stellar ocean views and serves only the finest New England ingredients.

I particularly love the bar here, where the bartenders will happily share all the local legend stories and gossip about this historical manse. If you want to learn even more about the hotel’s storied past, they also have a cultural ambassador that does fireside chats about the history of Newport society.

The Castle Hill Inn is set on a 40-acre estate facing the ocean by Narragansett Bay. Established in 1875, this gorgeous spot is a bike ride out of town but feels like another world altogether. Even if you’re not staying at this Relais & Châteaux property, anyone can come and sit on an Adirondack chair on their stunning lawn.

The guestrooms are as swish as you’d expect, either in the grand old house, where you’ll find suites with giant bathtubs, down at the private beachfront in a cottage (very doggie friendly), or in the quaint Harbor Houses, where Grace Kelly famously stayed. For something truly unique, the Turret Suite is where to live out that New England fantasy.

As well as offering fantastic dining at on-site restaurant Aurelia, the hotel is also home to my favorite spa in town.

This romantic boutique property set in a classic Victorian mansion is just steps from the Cliff Walk. If you want to be close to all this little town has to offer without being right in the heart of the action, this is one of the best hotels in Newport.

There are just 16 guestrooms and suites to choose from, all of which are elegantly decorated. One my favorites is the Atlantic Suite in the Cottage Suite building, which has a four-poster bed and its own little deck for summer evenings.

I love that the hotel is just a five-minute walk from First Beach, where you can watch the surfers zipping in and out of the waves. Breakfast is served on the veranda each morning, and this is a great place to meet other guests. I also love that the hotel is dog-friendly, with plenty of outdoor seating spots.

With just seven rooms, this whimsical property dates back to 1880 and is located in the heart of downtown. This is one of the best hotels in Newport if you want to be able to walk to the beach, the harbor or the Cliff Walk.

The sweet guestrooms and suites are all named after famous women from Rhode Island. My favorite is the Catherine Williams room on the third floor, which has a clawfoot tub – she was a writer and a leading figure in the Dorr Rebellion in support of universal suffrage.

Chart House Inn serves breakfast (with the best coffee, courtesy of Parlor out of New York) and afternoon tea on the porch, along with a selection of games. The same owners also have Stoneacre Brasserie and Stoneacre Garden a quick walk away – both are well worth checking out.

If you’re after a luxury waterfront experience, The Brenton is one of the best hotels to go for. From here you can enjoy fantastic views across the harbor while still being in the midst of all the action.

There are 57 rooms and suites, all with big windows overlooking the town or its storied harbor. Despite being a big hotel, it has a charmingly residential feel, with the suites offering full-service catering. When the stormy weather comes in, cozying up in a suite – with added in-room spa services – is just what you need.

My favorite part is the hotel’s Living Room area, where you can sit at the bar and chat with locals, and the rooftop is another great spot. Don’t miss the chance to head out on the hotel’s 36’ Hinckley Picnic Boat for a sunset sail with friends.

Right on the water, this classically styled property is great if you’re planning to spend time downtown. It also draws plenty of the yachting crowd thanks to its marina program.

There’s an array of different accommodation types on offer here, from rooms and suites to cottages and lofts. Last time I stayed I booked their two-storey cottage with a full kitchen overlooking Narragansett Bay, which was a great option for our extended stay as we wanted to have friends over for home-cooked Italian seafood-inspired meals.

But the hotel also has plenty of on-site dining options, including Christie’s and The Grill. For me, sitting at the Pavilion Bar right on the water in the summertime is the loveliest spot. I highly recommend ordering one of their local seafood towers – you’re in Rhode Island, after all.

This is one of the newer boutique waterfront properties in Newport, and it follows a quintessential nautical theme. It’s nestled in downtown’s waterfront area with access to all the town’s buzzy activities.

There are 84 rooms and suites to choose from – my top pick is the King room, which has a lovely day bed in the window. You’ll want to lie there all day gazing down at Newport’s crowds below, as I did. For extra space and water views go for a Maritime Suite, which has a separate work/lounge area.

When hunger strikes, head downstairs to Giusto, which serves up Italian dishes with a Rhode Island twist. What I like most about this restaurant is that all the staff have undergone serious hospitality training, so you get plenty of personal attention without it feeling over-the-top – just how I like it.

This colorful boutique property is located right next to the Newport Art Museum. This is one of the best hotels in Newport if you’re looking for a slightly quieter spot in town – it’s off the main drag, but still within five minutes’ walk from everything you need.

There’s a small selection of rooms and suites, all done up with fun nautical flair. King rooms are cheerfully decorated with desks for work commitments, while King suites have their own fireplaces – trust me when I say you’ll appreciate that during the winter months.

The hotel’s all-day cafe serves great coffee and muffins, and I love the fact the low-key but attentive service makes it feel like you’re staying in a chic friend’s house rather than a hotel. There’s also a small gym for working up a sweat.

This is hands down one of the best hotels in Newport for dog lovers. When I last stayed here, it was as much for my dog Ella as it was for me. Paws on Pelham has just 13 rooms, all of which are kitted out with dog beds and treats for your furry friends. Top tip: room 10 has a delightful free-standing bath and king size bed.

Located right in town, you can easily take your pups for walks to the nearby beaches or straight to the doggie meet up on Sunday mornings at St Michael's School. The hotel serves coffee and breakfast in the mornings, where your dog might make a few new friends.

My favorite part of staying here is the lovely personal attention from the innkeeper. It felt like staying at a friend's home, and I know all the dogs see this as a fun summer camp.