The Chanler at Cliff Walk

"Newport has a long history of catering to the country’s upper-crust—and you likely would have bumped into a Vanderbilt at The Chanler at Cliff Walk in the late 1800s. Once known as Cliff Lawn, this gilded age manor house was built in 1873 for John Winthrop Chanler and his wife, Margaret Astor Ward, great-granddaughter of the famed businessman and millionaire John Jacob Astor. Later, it served as a school for girls and the summer home of a bishop until finally reopening in 2003 as The Chanler. Rooms are decorated in the styles of different historical periods, each more extravagant than the next. Our favorite is the Martha’s Vineyard villa, an ocean-view beauty with a mantled fireplace, two prim blue chairs, and a full-canopied four-poster king bed with an intricately carved wooden frame as the focal point. There's a reason—or ten—why this place has often been voted the most romantic hotel in America. A new restaurant, Cara, made its debut in July 2018 under chef Matt Voskuil."

"For a true taste of American history, we bet The Age of Innocence began and never ended at this opulent seaside resort. Newport has long catered to the country’s upper-crust, and you likely would have bumped into a Vanderbilt at The Chanler at Cliff Walk in the late 1800s. Today, rooms are decorated in the styles of different historical periods, each more extravagant than the next. Our favorite is the Martha’s Vineyard villa, an ocean-view beauty with a mantled fireplace, prim blue chairs, and a full-canopied four-poster king bed with an intricately carved wooden frame as the focal point. Come summer, book one of its three private yurts, where you can enjoy a light, prix-fixe dinner (think: fresh tomato salad, whitefish crudo) along with the ocean breeze. There’s a reason—or ten—why this place has often been voted the most romantic hotel in America." - CNT Editors, Betsy Blumenthal

"For a true taste of American history, we bet The Age of Innocence began and never ended at this opulent seaside resort. Newport has long catered to the country’s upper-crust, and you likely would have bumped into a Vanderbilt at The Chanler at Cliff Walk in the late 1800s. Today, rooms are decorated in the styles of different historical periods, each more extravagant than the next. Our favorite is the Martha’s Vineyard villa, an ocean-view beauty with a mantled fireplace, prim blue chairs, and a full-canopied four-poster king bed with an intricately carved wooden frame as the focal point. Come summer, book one of its three private yurts, where you can enjoy a light, prix-fixe dinner (think: fresh tomato salad, whitefish crudo) along with the ocean breeze. There’s a reason—or ten—why this place has often been voted the most romantic hotel in America." - CNT Editors, Betsy Blumenthal

"This classic New England hotel is situated on the mouth of Newport’s famous Cliff Walk, a seaside trail dotted with historic mansions, like the Vanderbilt family’s wonderfully, over-the-top summer homes The Breakers and The Marble House. It was the first mansion built along this route for Congressman Chanler and his wife, an Astor heiress, and it has been carefully restored. Each of the 20 rooms and private villas (most with seaside views, many with terraces) are decorated according to a historic period from Colonial to Greek Revival (with plenty of antiques and finds from the current owners’ travels.) Though the result is pretty trad—overstuffed chairs, voluminous drapes, four-poster beds—the hotel still feels remarkably unstuffy, and actually pretty romantic. Take advantage of their transportation service when you’re ready to head into town—they’ll drop you off and pick you up at any point, meaning you can avoid Newport’s notably tricky parking situation. Plus, during the summers the hotel offers a “Beach Butler” who will set you up on the beach of your choice with chairs, towels, an umbrella, a picnic lunch, and a ride to and from."