Few Newport experiences beat stepping straight from your hotel door onto the city’s iconic Cliff Walk, a 3.5-mile National Recreation Trail that threads between crashing Atlantic surf and the back lawns of Newport’s Gilded-Age mansions. Staying nearby spares you the hunt for scarce trailhead parking and lets you catch sunrise or sunset on the bluffs with almost no effort. From cliff-top Victorian estates to intimate B&Bs tucked a short stroll inland, the properties below all keep Newport’s most celebrated coastal path well within walking shoes’ reach.
The Chanler at Cliff Walk
The Chanler is Newport’s only hotel directly on the famous Cliff Walk. Located on a gated estate above the ocean, it was the summer mansion of a Gilded Age tycoon. Today it retains that 19th-century elegance, complete with manicured gardens, fireplaces, and a storied mansion atmosphere. Because it sits at the northern trailhead of the 3.5-mile Cliff Walk, guests can reach the Cliff Walk and Easton’s Beach in a short stroll. In addition to its luxury amenities (five-star dining, valet, wine tastings), The Chanler has the most unique location out of all the incredible hotels in Newport.
Cliffside Inn
A few blocks south of The Chanler, the Cliffside Inn, housed in an 1876 Victorian on Seaview Avenue, is set in a quiet neighborhood about a 0.4-mile walk to Easton’s Beach and the Cliff Walk main entrance on Memorial Blvd. Although the main entrance is a short walk away, you can access the Cliff Walk just at the end of Seaview Avenue, so from room to Cliff Walk its an extremely short stroll. The inn has about 16 rooms and a boutique style, richly decorated with antique furniture and artwork. Many rooms have private porches or bay windows with stunning water views. The inn also serves a complimentary spread each morning.
Town & Tide Inn
Situated on Memorial Boulevard West, a half-mile inland from Easton’s Beach, Town & Tide is a small inn known for bright rooms and a central location. It’s also just a few blocks off of Bellevue Avenue so attractions like the International Tennis Hall of Fame and restaurants like Pasta Beach are well within walking distance. The inn offers a quiet stay, yet it’s only a short walk to the start of the Cliff Walk at Easton’s Beach. Although not as close as the other covered on this list, Town & Tide is one of the closest hotels to Newport’s Cliff Walk.
Ivy Lodge
This romantic B&B is tucked just off Bellevue Avenue in the mansion district, a few blocks uphill from Thames Street. It’s a quiet neighborhood, but also just around the bend from the Cliff Walk (via Narragansett Avenue entrance) and allof the action on Bellevue Avenue. The house itself is a large Victorian with richly appointed interiors (victorian wallpapers, fireplaces, wraparound porch). The gourmet breakfast and garden are big hits with visitors. Ivy Lodge offers an upscale bed-and-breakfast experience within easy reach of the Cliff Walk and city sights, letting you leave your car parked and explore on foot.
The Attwater
Set in a neo-colonial mansion on a hill just a few blocks from the ocean, The Attwater combines nautical decor with boutique hotel comforts. The hotel sits just a block off of Bellevue Avenue and a short walk away from the intersection of Bellevue and Memorial Blvd. The its just a roughly 10 minute walk down Memorial Blvd. to reach First Beach and the Cliff Walk. The hotel’s old-world interiors (shiplap walls, navy accents) feel as if you’re in a yacht club house. According to travel write-ups, it is indeed “a few blocks from the water” and has a perky breakfast café on site. The Attwater’s retro-chic style and handy location make it a cozy stop just above the beach.
Newport Beach Hotel & Suites
Set at the corner of Wave Avenue and Memorial Boulevard, Newport Beach Hotel & Suites opened in 1940 and has been a member of Historic Hotels of America since 2000. A 2008 shingle-style suites wing links to the restored gambrel-roof landmark, forming an L-shaped complex that faces both Easton’s Beach and Easton (Newport) Pond. Step outside, cross Memorial Boulevard, and you’re at the northern Cliff Walk trailhead in about three minutes. After your bluff-top stroll, unwind in the heated indoor pool, soak in the rooftop-hotel hot tub, or gather around the pond-view fire-pit lounge. Suites feature floor-to-ceiling windows, Juliet balconies, and deep whirlpool tubs, so ocean breakers stay in sight even off the trail. For chowder and clam-cakes, iconic Flo’s Clam Shack at 4 Wave Ave. sits literally next door.
Atlantic Beach Hotel & Suites
Fronting Easton’s Beach at 28 Aquidneck Avenue, Atlantic Beach Hotel & Suites puts the surf in ear-shot and the Cliff Walk’s Memorial Boulevard gateway roughly 0.9 mile away—an easy 14- to 16-minute shoreline walk. Bright rooms come with mini-fridges, microwaves, and coffee makers, while many upper-floor units add private balconies for sea-breeze lounging. Between outings you can stretch out on the seasonal rooftop sundeck, swim in the heated indoor pool, or grab brick-oven pizza and chowder at nearby Tickets Restaurant & Patio.
