4 Best Hotels in Newport County and East Bay, Rhode Island

Built as a summer house in 1874 for Alexander Agassiz, a scientist and explorer, this luxurious and romantic getaway on a 40-acre peninsula has its own private beach, Farmaesthetics spa, and trails to the Castle Hill Lighthouse, as well as Adirondack chairs on the lawn that beckon you to relax and watch the passing boats. Accommodations at this Relais & Chateaux hotel include tastefully appointed rooms in the Agassiz mansion, which vary in style and include the distinctive Turret Suite; an assortment of auxiliary buildings include beachfront cottages, which afford greater privacy; the room rate includes a gourmet breakfast each morning, as well as afternoon tea.

A former Navy base that's now connected by causeway to the downtown area, Goat Island is home to this resort (formerly known as Gurney's Newport) that comes complete with a walking path around the island, a marina full of yachts, a fitness center, and a picturesque lighthouse. Most guest rooms and suites have a water view and are furnished in a contemporary style in calm colors that reflect the sea, sky, and sand. Dining options include the Saltwater restaurant and a casual poolside place for a drink or casual bite to eat. Saltwater Lounge drinks and snacks can also be taken onto a fire pit deck for the best sunset views in downtown Newport. In winter, the hotel has a skating rink on the shores of the bay and serves hot cocoa and other warming goodies.

Inside and out, every detail of Newport's newest hotel is a thoughtful homage to its place on the waterfront and in the city's architectural progression including its residential-feeling rooms that feature linens and robes crafted by Matouk just 25 miles away in Fall River, Massachusetts. The Living Room and its bar are a casual place to dine and unwind with a view of vessels—including the hotel-owned Hinckley yacht, Brenton One—venturing in and out of this vibrant seaport. A seasonal green rooftop takes the view and the experience to an unequaled level. Locally owned, the hotel also offers unparalleled concierge service to ensure guests make the most of even a brief stay.

The custom-designed rooms at this 19th-century mansion on the Cliff Walk, now a landmark boutique hotel, represent some of the most unique and luxurious accommodations in Newport. Rooms have individual themes—Moroccan, Georgian, Empire, Mediterranean, English Trellis, Briar Rose, English Tudor, and others—and are furnished with museum-quality antiques and rugs; all rooms have heated bathroom floors, multiple showerheads, and wet bars, and many rooms have an outdoor balcony or deck, a few equipped with hot tubs.