From cliff-top mansions overlooking the Atlantic to budget-friendly inns steps from Thames Street, Newport packs more lodging variety into its tiny seaside footprint than most cities twice its size. Use this guide to match your style—and your budget—to the perfect home base, whether you’re splurging on an anniversary retreat or squeezing in a spontaneous weekend escape.
Luxury Stays
Castle Hill Inn – Set on its own 40-acre peninsula off Ocean Drive, this Relais & Châteaux icon marries 19-century manor-house elegance with Adirondack-chair sunsets, a private beach, and chef-driven dining at Aurelia. Ask about the shingled beach cottages if you’d prefer a little privacy right on the sand.
The Chanler at Cliff Walk – Newport’s only Forbes Five-Star hotel still feels like a Gilded-Age private residence, with 20 uniquely themed rooms perched above Easton’s Beach, butler service, and the intimate Cara restaurant for tasting-menu dinners.
Forty 1° North – A sleek, LEED-certified hideaway on the harbor with its own marina. Floor-to-ceiling windows, gas fireplaces, and a buzzing fire-pit deck at The Grill make it a favorite of yachters who like their luxury modern rather than Victorian.
The Vanderbilt, Auberge Resorts Collection – Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt’s 1909 mansion has been reborn as a 33-room playground featuring a roof-deck bar with 360° views, an indoor pool, and a spa that leans into aromatherapy and deep-tissue treatments.
The Brenton Hotel – Opened in 2020 on Long Wharf, every room frames the harbor through glass walls, and guests borrow Linus bikes or hop aboard the hotel’s launch to Goat Island. The rooftop Living Room pours craft spritzes at sunset.
Gardiner House – Newport’s newest boutique stay (opened late 2024) occupies a low-slung, art-filled building on Lee’s Wharf. Twenty-one rooms channel the owners’ 1860s family estate, and the house restaurant, Flora, debuted in June 2024 with Mediterranean-leaning coastal fare.
Mid-Range Favorites
Hotel Viking – A Bellevue Avenue classic that balances Jazz-Age glamour with modern perks: a full spa, an indoor pool, and the lively Top of Newport rooftop lounge. Its central address makes ditching the car easy.
Mill Street Inn – This 19th-century mill turned all-suite boutique charmer hides exposed-brick walls, lofty ceilings, and complimentary rooftop breakfasts one block above Thames Street.
Hammetts Hotel – Think Scandinavian-meets-New England: clean lines, nautical art, and hardwood floors right on Commercial Wharf. Giusto, one of the city’s best modern-Italian spots, is steps from the lobby.
Newport Marriott – Fresh from a $9 million 2025 makeover that touched all 320 rooms and added the Hideaway Terrace pool deck with cabanas, fire-pits, and harbor views—great value if you want big-hotel amenities without luxury rates.
Gilded – Lark Hotels’ 17-room Victorian mixes Rococo curves with bold pop colors, billiards in the parlour, and a courtyard croquet set—perfect for travelers who appreciate Instagram-ready whimsy over predictability.
Budget-Friendly Picks
Wayfinder Newport – Completely rebuilt after a 2022 fire and fully reopened in summer 2024, the North-End favorite offers huge rooms (many with kitchenettes), a retro-cool pool deck, free parking, and an unpretentious local-artist vibe.
Residence Inn by Marriott Middletown/Newport – A five-minute drive from downtown nets you spacious suites with full kitchens, an indoor pool, complimentary breakfast, and lots of free parking—ideal for week-long family stays.
Howard Johnson by Wyndham Middletown – Consistently one of Aquidneck Island’s best values: free hot breakfast, an indoor pool with hot tub and sauna, pet-friendly rooms, and a seasonal shuttle into town.
Cozy Bed & Breakfasts
The Francis Malbone House – A 1760 Georgian mansion on Thames Street serving gourmet breakfasts and afternoon tea in a brick courtyard scented with climbing roses.
Ivy Lodge – Steps from Bellevue’s mansions, this turreted 1880s home stuns with carved mahogany, eight fireplaced guest rooms, and a two-course breakfast in the oak-paneled dining room.
Hydrangea House Inn – Ten rooms (each with a fireplace) plus nightly wine-and-cheese and homemade cookies; expect whirlpool tubs in the suites and easy walks to the harbor.
Marshall Slocum Inn – A sea-captain’s 1855 residence turned laid-back inn; loaner bikes and a wide front porch make it a great choice for car-free explorers.
Waterfront Retreats
Club Wyndham Newport Onshore – All-suite condos sandwiched between Thames Street and the harbor, each with kitchens, washers/dryers, and dual balconies—perfect for families who want space and sunset views.
Newport Harbor Island Resort – Formerly Gurney’s, the Goat Island resort finished a multimillion-dollar re-imagining in 2024 that refreshed the rooms, expanded the marina, and added fire-pit igloos for shoulder-season stargazing.
Newport Harbor Hotel & Marina – You can’t sleep any closer to the action on America’s Cup Avenue: many rooms include balconies right over the docks, plus there’s a salt-water indoor pool for rainy days.
Wellington Resort – Seven harbor-front acres at the south end of Thames offer two-bedroom suites, indoor and outdoor pools, a lawn ideal for sunset wine, and free on-site parking.
Neighborhood Notes
- Downtown/Wharves put you in the middle of dining and nightlife (Brenton, Hammetts, Newport Harbor Hotel).
- Historic Hill & Bellevue Ave pair mansion access with walkable streets (Hotel Viking, Gilded, most B&Bs).
- Cliff Walk & Ocean Drive reward drivers with dramatic Atlantic scenery (Chanler, Castle Hill).
- Goat Island feels like its own resort bubble but runs a shuttle to downtown.
- Middletown offers the most parking and the lowest nightly rates—only a 5- to 10-minute drive from Thames Street.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re splurging on a cliff-top cottage with a private fire-pit or stretching your budget in a color-popped motel rebuilt by local artists, Newport now offers more lodging variety than ever. Use the price tiers above as a compass, and plan your trip to experience mansion tours, harbor sails, and bowls of creamy clam-chowder enjoyed with a salty Narragansett breeze. Have a fantastic stay!
