The Best Bed and Breakfasts to Book in New Jersey

Many of New Jersey's B&Bs are charm personified – making you feel at home the minute you step through the door | Courtesy of The Neighbour House / Expedia.com

Dave Stamboulis

9 December 2021

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From pretty coastline and delightful oceanfront towns to verdant farmland, there’s plenty of rural charm to go around in New Jersey. These charming B&Bs go hand in hand with the rolling terrain, miles of beaches and historic stops, whether it be the Atlantic City Boardwalk or captivating Cape May. Check out our pick of the best bed and breakfasts in New Jersey, all bookable with Culture Trip.

The Hugh Boutique, for modern Victorian glamour in Cape May

The exterior of The Huge Boutique, featuring a gray and red terrace with wooden seating and a sign with the hotel's name

Courtesy of The Hugh Boutique / Expedia.com

This boutique Victorian inn in Cape May will wow you with its eight individually designed rooms, each of which takes a color theme – burgundy, bronze, rose, and so on. Built in 1883, the property has been lovingly renovated by its artistic owners and graced with funky modern art and furniture. Breakfasts here feature globe-trotting dishes such as Dutch baby pancakes and shakshuka, and the on-premise Jardin restaurant’s French-influenced tasting menu is miles ahead of the Cape May dining scene. Before digging into dinner, head over to Sunset Beach for a colorful Cape May experience.

Jonathan Pitney House, for a historic stay in Absecon

The white and green exterior of Jonathan Pitney House with a fenced-off lawn and sign featuring the hotel's name

Courtesy of Jonathan Pitney House / Expedia.com

This is the 1799 former home of Dr Jonathan Pitney, better known as the Father of Atlantic City. Restored in 2015, the hotel now features Georgian-style rooms and suites modelled after its former residents, complete with clawfoot tubs and 1800s decor. Located in Absecon, the property is just 10 minutes’ drive from Atlantic City and a 15-minute drive from Walking Bird Farm, where you can pick your own organic blueberries and strawberries.

Mathis House: A Victorian Bed and Breakfast and Tea Room, for a regal escape in Toms River

A room at Mathis House with double bed, a wooden ottoman and desk, red patterned pillows and a portrait on a picture stand

Courtesy of Mathis House: A Victorian Bed and Breakfast / Expedia.com

Built in 1898, this elegant Victorian mansion will transport you back in time with its four-poster beds, roaring fireplaces and excellent afternoon tea service. The Princess Victoria and Queen Alexa rooms come with complimentary champagne and chocolates, and even the standard Lady Genevieve and Lady Samantha rooms offer complimentary beach chairs and towels. The property’s tea room has been voted as one of the best in New Jersey, so be sure to complete your stay in quaint Toms River with some scones and clotted cream.

Carisbrooke Inn, for a relaxing beach break in Ventnor

A green-painted room at Carisbrooke Inn with a double bed, patterned throw and decorative pillows

Courtesy of Carisbrooke Inn / Expedia.com

Carisbrooke Inn is primed for your next Atlantic beach vacation. The 1900s beach house was the first hotel established in historic Ventnor, just minutes from Atlantic City. The building is an American Foursquare that shares features with Frank Lloyd Wright’s Prairie architecture. Choose between rooms with whirlpool tubs or steam showers for two – essentially, your own private spa. Ventnor delivers the perfect balance of small-town charm with access to the casinos and boardwalk just up the road.

Ocean City Mansion, for a couple’s retreat in Ocean City

A white porch with white-painted wooden rocking chairs at Ocean City Mansion

Courtesy of Ocean City Mansion / Expedia.com

Ocean City Mansion dates to 1896 and offers seven lavish guest suites, all with different themes, plus two apartments. The Chocolate Room and Honeymoon Suite have large whirlpool tubs, while the Fireplace Suite features a private balcony and comfy cuddling couch, ideal for couples. Added touches, such as European hot towel warmers, elevate your stay. The white, Victorian porch is the perfect place to relax and watch the world go by.

The Lillagaard, for sea views in Ocean Grove

Exterior of The Lillagaard, with four storeys painted light blue and white balconies on the first three levels

Courtesy of The Lillagaard / Expedia.com

This is the perfect base for exploring Ocean Grove, a charming resort town listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Set next to the beach, the hotel features 20 unique rooms with themes such as Country French or Tropical Paradise. It also boasts three large outdoor porches with ocean views. Breakfast here is top-notch – try the Belgian waffles or French toast made with challah bread, and don’t miss sitting in a rocking chair on the porch with a cone from the B&B’s seasonal, homemade ice cream shop.

Summer Nites, for retro nostalgia in North Wildwood

A room at Summer Nites with a large bed, pink-painted walls and a whirlpool bath in the corner

Courtesy of Summer Nites / Expedia.com

Summer Nites bucks the New Jersey Victorian trend and instead offers a fun, 1950s-themed bed and breakfast. Eat in a unique box car diner complete with a 1953 Seeburg Jukebox and neon lighting, and stay in rooms dotted with ’50s, ’60s and ’70s memorabilia. The Elvis Suite has a slot machine, while Life’s a Beach and the pink Marilyn Room both feature a whirlpool tub. There are bicycles to ride on the boardwalk, a games room with a vintage pinball machine, and an outdoor hot tub and sundeck – what more could you ask for in a Jersey shores vacation?

The Lily Inn, for a taste of history in Burlington

A dark-wood four poster bed in a room at The Lily Inn with matching wallpaper and curtains in a floral design

Courtesy of The Lily Inn / Expedia.com

Located in historic Burlington, this inn is just a block from the Promenade, where you can stroll along the bank of the Delaware River. The building dates back to 1709 and was the town’s first B&B. There are just five rooms here, the most popular of which is the Mary Smith, which features a four-poster bed, gas fireplace and garden views. The Lydia Richie is also a good choice with its two-person whirlpool tub. The inn makes a great base for exploring the nearby Pinelands, a 1.1 million-acre (445,000ha) national reserve, via guided canoe and kayak trips.

The Inn at Ocean Grove, for sunrise wake-up calls in Ocean Grove

Exterior of the main building at The Inn at Ocean Grove, made up of four storeys and painted light gray

Courtesy of The Inn at Ocean Grove / Expedia.com

If you want to eat in and save some money, you can rent a summer cottage here with a full kitchen. Alternatively, stay next door at the main inn where there are 12 rooms set to different color schemes. The fourth-floor Overlook Room is the most romantic, as you can watch the sunrise from your bed. The Inn also gives you discounted beach passes along with bike, boogie board and beach-chair rentals, and both the beach and Ocean Grove Boardwalk are just a short stroll from your door.

The Neighbour House, for a rural retreat in Long Valley

Dining room at The Neighbour House with red-painted walls, wooden floors and a large table and chairs

Courtesy of The Neighbour House / Expedia.com

Named not for the folks next door but for the Nachbars, who settled in what was an original log cabin in 1750, the present-day Neighbour House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is now a gorgeous farmhouse set in Greek Revival style. There are four upstairs rooms themed by color (yellow, pink, blue, and white), and not only do you get free HBO and Showtime with your lodging, but a laptop to use if needed. Located in the countryside of Long Valley, the B&B is well positioned for visiting the nearby Ort and Willow Grove farms, where you can pick your own fresh fruit and produce.

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