New England > All New England > Specialty Lodging > Historic Hotels in New England

Historic & Grand Hotels in New England

New England has a deep and wonderfully varied history from the Pilgrims to the present. Much of that history is alive and on display at comfortable historic inns and Grand Hotels -- a few that have been welcoming travelers since before America was a country. If these walls could talk, they would tell stories of rich ship owners, farmers, or outdoor explorers who built hotels in the mountains and along the shores.

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Connecticut - Maine - Massachusetts
New Hampshire - Rhode Island - Vermont

Inn at Diamond Cove

22 McKinley Court Portland, ME, 04109 Phone: 207-805-9836

Island retreat a must for those seeking exceptional stays and a sense of history

History buffs are in for a treat when they stay at the Inn at Diamond Cove, just off the coast of Portland on Great Diamond Island. The luxury inn, with 22 elegantly appointed island condos and amenities from a heated outdoor pool to tennis courts, a hot tub and a yoga studio, is housed in the former barracks of Fort McKinley, part of the country’s coastal defense system during the Spanish-American War. It overlooks the former parade grounds. Before that, it was an artists’ retreat community, where Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and Harriet Beecher Stowe visited. The inn has been restored with careful attention to historic details, preserving its original character (You can dine in the delightful restaurant housed in the former quartermaster’s storehouse overlooking the cove).

The Griswold Inn

36 Main Street Essex, CT, 06426 Phone: 860-767-1776

Longstanding heritage of hospitality at this Revolutionary War-era inn

The heritage of hospitality at the Griswold Inn began when the first visitors were welcomed in 1776 and proudly continues today with first-rate service, comfortable accommodations and fine dining. One of the oldest continuously operated inns in the United States, the Griswold, in a picturesque and historic seaport village, offers guests a choice of 34 unique rooms, furnished individually with antiques and period reproductions. The inn hosts an impressive collection of maritime art and illustrations as well as a collection of firearms used in the War of 1812. Guests can dine in the Tap Room, attached to the inn in 1801 after being rolled down Main Street by a team of oxen.

Publick House Historic Inn On the Common

277 Main Street - Route 131 Sturbridge, MA, 01566 Phone: 508-347-3313 Toll-Free: 800-782-5425

Gracious Sturbridge inn honors its 18th-century history, offers modern amenities

Don’t settle for the ordinary when you can have a truly revolutionary vacation. The Publick House Historic Inn, which has welcomed guests since 1771, honors its heritage with everything from the antiques and period reproductions in the original inn’s comfortable rooms and suites to the post-and-beam ceiling and wide plank floors held together by cast nails in the Historic Tap Room, the inn’s original dining room, where hearty comfort food is a specialty. Enjoy a drink by the fire at Ebenezer’s Tavern, with its vintage brass beer taps and rum barrels. Modern amenities at the lovely inn include an outdoor pool, a fitness room and spa. And you’ll want to visit the famous Bake Shoppe, with its irresistible pastries, fresh-baked breads and decadent desserts.

Harbor Light Inn

58 Washington Street Marblehead, MA, 01945 Phone: 781-631-2186

Like its town, Marblehead inn honors its history with architecture, furnishings, ambiance

Marblehead, with roots that go back to the 17th century, honors its history – and so does one of its finest inns, the Harbor Light Inn, in the town’s harbor district. The inn sits among other lovely homes and buildings, some of which go back to the Revolutionary War and earlier. Inside, the inn’s chandeliers, hand carvings, finely tooled furnishings, paintings and prints reflect the treasures brought back from many different ports during Marblehead’s golden age of sailing. Some rooms have original exposed beams that go back to the 1820s. History buffs will find much to admire in the area, including the Jeremiah Lee Mansion, built in 1768 and preserved in its nearly original state and Fort Sewall, established in 1644 and now a scenic public park.

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16 Bay View

16 Bay View Street Camden, ME, 04843 Phone: 844-213-7990

Exposed brick, iron balconies, other elements honor luxury hotel’s century-old history

Guests at 16 Bay View notice right away how the boutique hotel has been influenced by its past. Bold structural elements and architectural features in the building, which began a century ago as an industrial brick building, make staying there a memorable experience. Your suite might feature exposed original brick, and all accommodations have ornamental iron balconies that look out over stunning bay, harbor or park views. Gas fireplaces and large, freestanding soaking tubs add to the warm, luxurious atmosphere. Sink into the plush leather couch in the Vintage Room bar and small-plates restaurant, or head up to The View, the magnificent rooftop bar and terrace. The hotel is in the middle of a thriving district full of galleries, fine restaurants and boutiques, and just steps from the harbor.

Visit our sister properties - Lord Camden Inn - Grand Harbor Inn

Hotel Viking

One Bellevue Avenue Newport, RI, 02840 Phone: 401-847-3300 Toll-Free: 800-556-7126

Gilded Age romance meets modern luxury at this historic Newport hotel

When you step into the lobby of the Hotel Viking, you are stepping into history. The hotel, perched in the very geographic center of Newport, RI, amazed the public when it opened its doors nearly 100 years ago in 1926, and it continues to amaze guests who enjoy its sumptuous suites with touches that honor its past, from clawfoot tubs to marble fireplaces and rich, velvet tapestries. You can still see the original key boxes behind the front desk and the brass letterbox in the lobby. But the hotel, a member of the prestigious Historic Hotels of America, has all the modern amenities that make a stay there memorable, from an on-site spa and indoor pool to a fabulous restaurant and rooftop bar with views of Narragansett Bay.

Stonehurst Manor

3351 White Mountain Highway North Conway, NH, 03860 Phone: 603-356-3113 Toll-Free: 800-525-9100

Tradition of elegance and glamour continues in this luxurious hotel in the mountains

Built as a summer estate in 1872 for the inventor of the power loom, the Stonehurst Manor continues that tradition of elegance – and idyllic escape – with luxurious lodging, superb dining and amenities that encourage visitors to both relax and enjoy the great White Mountains region. Rooms, suites and secluded condos offer a variety of comforting features, from fireplaces to whirlpool baths, opulent bedding and breathtaking mountain views. Breakfast and dinner in the Wild Rose Restaurant is complimentary, and the vintage Library Lounge beckons guests to enjoy a cocktail by the fire before dinner. There’s a seasonal outdoor pool and hot tub, life-size chess game in the landscaped lawn, gorgeous gardens and access to a network of trails for hiking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

Deerfield Inn

81 Old Main Street Deerfield, MA, 01342 Phone: 413-774-5587

Tradition of warm hospitality still greets visitors to this charming 24-room inn, built in 1884

When the Deerfield Inn opened its doors to guests in 1884, they came by stagecoach, carriage and horseback to enjoy the inn’s warm hospitality. Today, that tradition continues, with uniquely appointed rooms, most with period reproduction furniture and antiques, hearty meals served by a crackling fire in Champney’s restaurant and tavern, and a comfortable front porch with a ceiling still painted robin’s egg blue. The original hayloft door is still at the inn, the horse weathercock still turns and floors in the main inn still offer unexpected turns. Stroll down Main Street past gorgeous 18th- and 19th-century houses or get up close and personal to the historic town’s roots at the Flynt Center of Early American Life or Memorial Hall Museum.

The Landmark Trust USA

707 Kipling Road Dummerston, VT, 05301 Phone: 802-254-6868

Historic homes, examples of a century of architectural styles, available for vacation rentals

Lovingly restored historic homes, representing a variety of architectural styles from 1802 to 1915, are offered to lucky vacationers by the Landmark Trust USA. The five Vermont properties are each distinctive, many with original furniture or decor or period pieces. Among the vacation rentals is Rudyard Kipling’s Naulakha, built for the author in 1892 and where you can sit at the desk where he penned “Captains Courageous,” “The Jungle Book” and parts of the “Just So Stories.” Kipling’s charming Carriage House is also available. On the picturesque and historic Scott Farm, visitors can stay in the cozy 1915 Sugarhouse or four-bedroom Dutton Farmhouse. The Amos Brown House, built in 1802, which retains much of its original detail, offers immediate access to hiking, biking, skiing and snowshoeing.

Watch Hill Inn

38-44 Bay Street Watch Hill, RI, 02891 Phone: 877-394-8903

Warm hospitality is still the watchword at this historic New England village inn

Iconic New England charm that has endured the test of time: You will find that and so much more at the elegant Watch Hill Inn, in the heart of bustling downtown Watch Hill village. The inn, established in 1845 by the son of the village’s first lighthouse-keeper, has played host to Henry Ford, Clark Gable, Andrew Mellon and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and today welcomes its guests with the same superior accommodations and warm hospitality. Meticulously renovated in 2006 and 2013, its 21 chic, suite-style accommodations feature stainless steel kitchens, spacious living areas and luxurious bedding as well as lovely water and village views. Guests enjoy continental breakfasts, evening wine-and-charcuterie gatherings and amenities in nearby sister including a pool, spa and private beach.

Visit our sister properties - Ocean House Resort - Weekapaug Inn

Inn at Tanglewood Hall

611 York Street York Harbor, ME, 03911 Phone: 207-351-1075

Once a lumber baron’s summer cottage, this luxurious inn welcomes travelers seeking ideal seaside vacation

The romantic Inn at Tanglewood Hall has its origins in the 1880s, when it was built as a summer cottage for Chicago lumber baron Alexander Coburn Soper and his wife, Mollie Eliza Pope. The bed-and-breakfast inn, a York Historical Society Decorator Showcase in 1994, has been restored to its 19th-century grandeur, with six exquisite guest rooms, a wraparound veranda, grand staircase and gorgeous woodland gardens with whimsical fountains. Period antiques can be found both downstairs and in classic rooms and suites, all with gas or electric fireplaces, silky sheets and room to stretch out and plan your day on the nearby beach, in the seaside village or engaging in coastal activities from sea kayaking and harbor cruises to beachside arcades and concerts.

Rabbit Hill Inn

48 Lower Waterford Road Lower Waterford, VT, 05848 Phone: 802-748-5168

Romantic inn takes guests back to more relaxed era

Hospitality is an age-old tradition at the Rabbit Hill Inn, which began in the late 1700s as a place where traders traveling from Montreal to Boston or Portland could hoist a tankard of ale and lodge overnight. Save one period in the 1900s when it was a private home, Rabbit Hill has been an inn ever since. Today’s guests in the 19-room bed and breakfast will discover not only modern comforts (some rooms have double hydromassage tubs) but those that harken back to a relaxed age: a candlelit dining room serving exquisitely crafted American fare, crackling fireplaces, puzzles in cozy sitting rooms, lemonade in the afternoon on the porch and gazebos where you can listen to the waterfall. Rated #39 of the Top 100 Hotels Worldwide, #3 in the USA, and #1 in the Northeast by Travel & Leisure, July 2020.

Hotel on North

297 North Street Pittsfield, MA, 01201 Phone: 413-358-4741

Individuality and heritage are highlighted, celebrated at this one-of-a-kind Berkshires hotel

You can stay at a hotel where all the rooms are alike, or you can stay at the one-of-a-kind Hotel on North, where each room has its own character and each piece of decor is handpicked for its individuality. The 45-room hotel’s history, as a famous menswear and sporting goods emporium, means you’ll find exposed original brick, tin ceilings, decorative columns – even a birdcage elevator where cocktails for two are served! Some rooms in the hotel, on the National Register of Historic Places, have wet bars and gas fireplaces; all have original art and locally crafted furniture. Casual dining is offered in the Berkshire Palate restaurant. It’s a short drive to art museums, Hancock Shaker Village, and dance and theater venues.

Weekapaug Inn

25 Spray Rock Road Westerly, RI, 02891 Phone: 877-394-8902

Hospitality amid scenic surroundings reflects this inn’s origins and earliest ideals

The aura of warm hospitality that surrounds the Weekapaug Inn comes to it naturally: It was a hallmark of the original 1899 inn. The Buffums family wanted to make their inn a welcome retreat for guests, rebuilding it in a secluded enclave by a salt pond after the 1938 hurricane. The inn was totally renovated in 2012 with an eye toward preserving its storied past while providing a host of modern amenities and activities from a lap pool and private beach to kayaking and nature walks. Each room is still unique in layout, furnishings and views, a tribute to earlier guests who requested their same rooms year after year. Each room also has been fitted with a vintage piece – a furnishing or textile – from the old inn.

Visit our sister properties - Ocean House Resort - Watch Hill Inn

Ocean House Resort

1 Bluff Avenue Watch Hill, RI, 02891 Phone: Toll-Free: 877-346-9442

A century and a half after its opening, inn still the quintessential summer retreat for guests

When the Ocean House opened its doors to guests in 1868, it became, for them, the quintessential summer home by the sea. Generations came then, as they do today, to savor ocean breezes, superior service and comfortable accommodations. Today’s luxury inn, newly constructed in 2004, replicates the warm yellow exterior, and the welcoming hospitality, of its predecessor – but with so much more! Ocean House guests not only enjoy its private beach, with cabana service, but its world-class spa, croquet lawn, putting green, saltwater lap pool and fitness facility, fine dining and accommodations that have made it one of Forbes Magazine's "Most Luxurious Hotels & Spas", and one of the top 100 hotels in the world, according to Travel + Leisure readers.

Visit our sister properties - Weekapaug Inn - Watch Hill Inn

Westbrook Inn B&B

976 Boston Post Road Westbrook, CT, 06498 Phone: 860-399-4777

Historic inn retains Victorian charm with modern features for today’s travelers

New England charm on the Connecticut shoreline: That is the signature combination that draws happy visitors to the Westbrook Inn Bed & Breakfast, nestled between the shoreline and the Connecticut River Valley. This inviting bed-and-breakfast inn was built in 1876 and retains that era’s charm in its 10 distinctive, vintage-inspired rooms and suites. Some have canopy or four-poster beds and Victorian touches; the Saybrook Suite has a clawfoot soaking tub. Some rooms have gas fireplaces and kitchenettes. The inn, with a private dock and picturesque gardens, offers sumptuous breakfasts as well as kayaks and bikes to explore the area. Walk to the beach or take a trip to one of the area’s lovely colonial villages for world-class dining and boutique shopping.

Fireplace & Billiards - Adair Country Inn & Restaurant - Bethlehem, NH

Adair Country Inn and Restaurant

80 Guider Lane Bethlehem, NH, 03574 Phone: 603-444-2600 Toll-Free: 888-444-2600

Idyllic getaways are a specialty at this country inn with a history centered on romance

You’ll sense the romantic history of the Adair Country Inn and Restaurant when you pass by stately pines, gleaming birches and stone walls on your drive up to the white colonial-style inn. The country estate was built in 1927 by Frank Hogan as a wedding gift for his only daughter, Dorothy Adair Hogan. The intricate, colorful gardens on the 200-acre estate were designed by the Olmsted Brothers and still welcome visitors seeking an idyllic retreat. The 11-room inn’s Carriage House was the original estate innkeeper’s quarters; the post-and-beam 1811 House retains its historic atmosphere (but adds a a jetted spa tub and large eat-in kitchen). Dine in casual comfort by the fire in the cozy on-site restaurant.