The Best Boutique Hotels to Book in Newport, Rhode Island

This boutique hotel in Newport is manna for the active holidaymaker. Take out paddleboards and kayaks – included in the nightly amenity fee – or, if the weather isn’t being kind, splash in its large indoor saltwater pool. Cycling more your flex? Take part in an outdoor WAVE cycle session led by the local WAVE studio, a stone’s throw from the hotel. You’ll be hungry after the action, no doubt – an unctuous lobster roll on the sundeck will help.

Built in 1926, the historic Hotel Viking has surely the most iconic address of any Newport boutique hotel – One, Bellevue Avenue. It is less than 1mi (1.6km) from the Cliff Walk which offers incredible views of the city’s sprawling mansions. The hotel is decorated in old-world style – expect antique knick-knacks and architectural flourish at every turn. The hotel is appropriately named Spa Fjör will soothe any aches and they even have a suite of therapies designed especially for teenagers.

This Newport boutique hotel was a 19th-century mill and still retains the original beams and exposed brick walls. The amenities, fortunately, are geared towards the whims and desires of the 21st-century holidaymaker. The 23 suites come with king-sized feather beds and opulently marbled bathrooms with rainfall showers. Continental breakfasts are delivered daily and from here, it’s your choice – spa treatment or one block stroll to the Thames Street hub with its kooky shops and local eateries? You decide.

Time travel at this Newport boutique hotel which is as elegant as any other abode on the Cliff Walk. The Chanler has 20 rooms all decorated ornately and in the style of a different period or place – from seaside-themed Nantucket Ocean Villa to the colonial charm of the Williamsburg Room. Pride of place goes to the Cara restaurant – with Atlantic Ocean views and contemporary interpretation of fine dining which scours the New England seas.

Just steps away from Bowen’s Wharf – with its vibrant harbor and square lined with boutiques, galleries and cafes – Pelham Court Hotel and the all-suite accommodations are ideal if you’re looking to be in the heart of Newport. The hotel takes pride in its personal concierge service and visitors will often be on first-name terms with staff by the time they leave. Fancy a night in? Get spruced with complimentary L’Occitane toiletries before getting toasty by the working fireplace, available in most rooms.

Forty 1⁰ North is LEED-certified – the first boutique hotel in Newport to achieve this – meaning it was designed to impeccable standards of sustainability. Overlooking the harbor with its bustling nautical thoroughfare of boats and schooners, there are no less than four bars and two restaurants with which to enjoy libations. Pride of place in the summer months is the Pavilion – a gleaming modern structure located directly on Newport Harbor. Order a margarita and life is good.

Set amongst 40-acres of private beaches, trails and concealed rocks coves, this Newport boutique hotel is the vanguard in secluded luxury. Room styles are abundant – from beach cottage rooms perched atop dunes to a suite within the hotel’s renovated turret – check out the bath with sea views in the latter. The dining room has been serving up meals and memories since 1875 and if the weather is fine, try an alfresco flat iron steak on the Lawn’s terrace.

Gurney’s is a melange of pleasing contradictions – offering the seclusion of a private island yet embraced by Newport Harbor and Narragansett Bay. This provides the illusion of total escape, yet in reality, you are only a few minutes’ stroll from the cobbled downtown streets of the waterfront. In the summer months, soak in the vibes of the luxurious cabanas surrounding the only outdoor heated pool in Newport.

Wayfinder is a true product of its environment – a group of local chefs, bartenders, artists, designers and entrepreneurs have come together to craft a contemporary take on traditional Newport hospitality. Nomi is a retro restaurant and cocktail joint with an awash of color – all orange banquettes and leopard print. The rooms are reliably Rhode Island, too – expect local art and vintage finds in each, plus handcrafted bath products from local business, Shore Soap Co.