The Vanderbilt, Auberge Resorts Collection, appears in the current year’s MICHELIN hotel list as a One MICHELIN Key property. Keys are the hotel side counterpart to the restaurant Stars and use 3 levels to set expectations. One Key marks a very special stay. Two Keys indicate an exceptional stay. Three Keys are reserved for an extraordinary stay. In the updated United States roster that accompanied the global Key reveal, The Vanderbilt’s page shows One MICHELIN Key for 2025.
This one is all about downtown access and amenities in a historic mansion package. The property sits at 41 Mary Street, a few minutes on foot from Thames Street restaurants, the wharves, and the waterfront. Inside, the vibe is a social house feel rather than hushed museum. The lounge and conservatory make easy pre-dinner stops, and the roof deck is one of the city’s signature sunset perches with wide views over Newport Harbor and out toward the bridge. In warm weather it turns into a scene. In shoulder seasons it is a quietly dramatic lookout.
Facilities go deeper than most boutique options in town. The Vanderbilt has both an outdoor pool on the garden terrace and a heated indoor pool near the spa and fitness area, so you can plan a swim regardless of weather. Programming like family movie nights at the indoor pool pops up on itineraries, and seasonal events turn the garden and terraces into gathering spaces. For many guests, that mix of city walkability plus a resort-like amenity set is the draw.
Rooms and suites keep the historic shell but upgrade the creature comforts, so you can spend equal time in social spaces and in a quiet room. The overall footprint is compact compared to a large resort, which helps the place feel personal even when the lobby is lively. If you want a weekend where you leave the car parked and rely on short walks to dinner, harbor cruises, or galleries, this is the address that makes it simple.
The One Key award fits this profile. MICHELIN’s program uses One Key for stays that stand out with personality, quality, and sense of place. The Vanderbilt’s combination of a downtown mansion setting, a genuine roof deck with sunset views, and both indoor and outdoor pools checks boxes that are rare together in Newport’s core. It is a very special stay in the heart of town, now marked with MICHELIN’s badge.
