The Best Inns in New England

By Melanie Lieberman
September 21, 2016
Credit: Chip Riegel
New England—the northeastern stretch of states that runs from Connecticut and Rhode Island up to Maine—is freckled with countless charming inns. From tiny bed and breakfasts inside historic homesteads to lavish mansions-turned-inns on the Rhode Island coast, it’s impossible not to feel at home here.

Take Maine’s Camden Harbour Inn, for example, where most rooms are equipped with roaring fireplaces, or the intimate Harbour House rooms at Castle Hill Inn, which gives guests uninterrupted views of Narragansett Bay.

In our annual World’s Best survey, T+L readers are asked to weigh in on travel experiences from around the globe. They share their insights about the best hotels and resorts, the top cities and islands, and even their favorite cruise lines, spas, airlines, and more. The best-loved inns in New England received top marks for their rooms and facilities, location (think: prime beach front), service, value, and food.

At Connecticut’s 30-room Mayflower Grace, it’s not just the manicured acres and nature preserve that enchanted visitors. The 20,000-square foot spa (and mindful forest bathing) and house-made granola are all meant to coax even the most stressed out travelers into a state of total relaxation.

No matter where you stay, the top eight inns in New England all promise one thing: a brand of hospitality that is completely unique to the region.

“Service is unbelievably personal and genuine,” raved one reader about the Camden Harbour Inn. Others echoed the sentiment. “The people are friendly, and committed to making your stay outstanding.”

And at the 20-room Chanler at Cliff Walk in Newport, it’s not just heated bathroom floors and Zinfandel-poached scallops that captured readers hearts. “Staff really go out of their way to make sure you don’t just have a [good] visit,” observed one reader, “but that you have an experience, and a lasting memory.”

For the coziest, most romantic, and downright luxurious inns in New England, consider this the definitive list.
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8. The Mayflower Grace in Washington, CT

Credit: Serge Detalle
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7. White Barn Inn in Kennebunk, Maine

Credit: Serge Detalle

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6. Castle Hill Inn in Newport, Rhode Island

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5. Tides Beach Club in Kennebunkport, Maine

Credit: Courtesy of Kennebunkport Resort Collection

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4. Camden Harbour Inn in Camden, Maine

Credit: Courtesy of Camden Harbour Inn

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3. The Wauwinet in Nantucket, Massachusetts

Credit: Courtesy of the Wauwinet
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2. Chanler at Cliff Walk in Newport, Rhode Island

Credit: Courtesy of The Chanler at Cliff Walk

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1. Weekapaug Inn in Westerly, Rhode Island

Credit: Chip Riegel

One reader said that though the Weekapaug Inn feels remote, it’s really accessible. What's more, guests find Relais & Châteaux-worthy accommodations with an unpretentious vibe—they can go hiking and kayaking or spend lazy afternoons sipping cocktails in Adirondack chairs. “[Weekapaug Inn is] in one of the most exquisite spots in New England,” raved one reader.” So expect nature walks with the resident naturalist and plenty of bike rides around the salt pond."

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By Melanie Lieberman