The Best Boutique Hotels to Book in Rhode Island

From its lofty perch atop the Historic Hill neighborhood, Hotel Viking has been wowing guests for almost a century. This Rhode Island boutique hotel has held on to its period charm – look out for the original key boxes behind the front desk and a brass letterbox in the lobby that dates back to 1926. Continuing the history lesson, the fabulous Breakers Mansion suite pays homage to the Vanderbilt family’s landmark gilded mansion.

A love of art and crafts is everywhere you look in this stylish 19th-century hotel that blends European flair and New England charm. Located in the heart of the downtown Providence theater district, Hotel Providence boasts vintage furnishings and artworks, and uses classic novels as part of its interior design. The artsy theme continues in the elegant guest rooms and suites, which feature oil paintings from world-renowned artists.

Located on the Newport Cliff Walk, one of the most romantic walks in New England, the Chanler is easy to fall in love with. Here, you can spend your days in private manicured gardens while taking in ocean vistas, and evenings enjoying an after-dinner drink by a firepit under a blanket of stars. The 20 guest rooms and villas are imbued with a variety of different styles to reflect Newport history – the Ocean Villas, with French doors overlooking Easton’s Beach, win out when it comes to wow factor.

A thoroughly modern structure among the gilded Newport mansions of yesteryear, Forty 1° North is the first LEED-certified hotel in Rhode Island, giving it ecofriendly brownie points. Sticking to the high-tech, eco-conscious theme, the guest rooms, suites, cottages and lofts all have environmentally friendly amenities, including iPads (to deliver paperless directories, menus and maps), low-flow shower heads and dual-flush commodes. Floor-to-ceiling windows and huge balconies ensure a steady supply of natural light and fresh seaside breezes.

Commissioned in 1874 by marine biologist and naturalist Alexander Agassiz of Harvard University, Castle Hill Inn was originally a summer home designed to provide a view of the ocean and Newport marine life. Today, the staggering vistas remain and have been paired with world-class cuisine, an interior that exudes a relaxed elegance and a boutique spa. Fun fact: Grace Kelly stayed here while filming High Society (1956), and her favorite rocky cove now bears her name.

A 16-room property in the beach town of Narragansett – 30 minutes south of Providence and Newport – the Break Hotel has a refreshing retro-chic surf vibe. But if you think embracing the beach bum lifestyle means this Rhode Island boutique hotel skimps on the luxury, think again. How about a designer salt water pool, a Peloton workout bike, heated bathroom floors and fireplaces in every room? Surf’s up.

Located on the historic Goat Island in Narragansett Bay – a short stroll from downtown Newport – this extraordinary boutique hotel in a modernist building comes with its own working lighthouse. Spend a morning at the Seawater Spa, which has a salon overlooking the bay, before deciding which of the waterfront eateries at Gurney’s Newport you want to try – from For Five Coffee, offering fresh pastries, to Showfish Newport, serving up delectable seafood.

One of the newest boutique hotels in Rhode Island, the Wayfinder was born out of sheer love for Newport. It was created by a group of local chefs, bartenders, artists, designers and entrepreneurs, the goal being to create a fresh take on the traditional Newport hotel experience. The collective expertise and passion for the city is everywhere to be seen here – especially in the retro neighborhood hang-out Nomi Park, where you can enjoy coastal classics and killer cocktails.