Spring House Hotel | Favorite Block Island Hotels & Inns
Photo Credit : Michael Benson
Hailed as the “Bermuda of the North,” Block Island, located 12 miles off the Rhode Island coast, is one of New England’s premier summer destinations. There are beaches for swimming, body surfing, parasailing, and more, plus miles of nature trails and great places to bike or to grab an ice cream cone. Where to stay? Read on for our lineup of favorite Block Island hotels and inns.
Crescent Beach on Block Island, Rhode Island Photo Credit : Timothy J. Quill/Wikimedia Commons
Picture it: a rambling, tower-topped 1870s classic with steep gables and a long verandah, situated on the edge of Old Harbor, handy to the village and ferry, and at the beginning of three-mile-long Crescent Beach. That’s the scene that awaits visitors to the Surf Hotel. Owned by the Cyr family since 1956, it offers 34 guest rooms and public spaces, including a restaurant with terrace dining, all recently renovated. Baths remain shared (there are basins in the rooms), and so rates remain unusually affordable. Open seasonally. Named by Yankee as one of New England’s “Best Beachside Lodging” options.
With its Victorian ambience and sophisticated dining, Hotel Manisses is a perfect spot for lovebirds. An interior makeover, completed by new owners in 2016, has given the Victorian landmark’s 17 rooms and its restaurant a fresh, posh appeal. There’s little that past guests will recognize, as the decor has been entirely redone in soothing shades of ivory, gold, and blue. But at least one beloved tradition survives: the bar’s signature flaming coffee. Named a 2017 Yankee Editors’ Pick for “Best Island Inn.”
Spring House Hotel | Favorite Block Island Hotels & Inns Photo Credit : Michael Benson
The island’s oldest hotel and resort is long on historic charm and ocean views, but also options. The main building, built in 1852, features 33 guest rooms; in the property’s gardens you’ll find the 17-room Mott House; nearby, the Barn offers a trio of luxury suites situated over a farm-to-table restaurant. Plus, there’s a newer, 10-room boutique hotel, the Inn at Spring House. Factor in four rental homes on-site and six more in town, and it’s safe to say that Spring House has its bases covered, beautifully.
Decks, ocean views, and whirlpool tubs are among the amenities you may find in your eclectic, antiques-filled room in the main house, along with a complimentary decanter of brandy. (Other types of accommodations, such as private cottages, are also available.) Included in your stay is a gourmet New England breakfast buffet featuring pastries, eggs, baked beans, baked bluefish, and, yes, champagne. Welcoming children of all ages, this inn is a good choice for families.
The Darius Inn | Favorite Block Island Hotels & Inns Photo Credit : The Darius Inn
Dogs travel free on the Block Island ferry, and island beaches are open to leashed pups — but is there a pet-friendly Block Island hotel? You bet! Colorful and casual, the centrally located shabby-chic beach house offers five first-floor suites that are suitable for guests with four-legged friends. A 2015 Yankee Editors’ Pick for “Best Pet-Friendly Inn.”
Studios and one-bedroom suites are offered at this comfortable, no-frills hotel. Grills, picnic tables, and a playground area make it family-friendly, and it’s within easy walking distance of the Block Island ferry and just over a mile from Fred Benson Town Beach.
Which Block Island hotels and inns are your favorites?
This post was first published in 2017 and has been updated.
