Castle Hill Inn
Gilded Age New England with a laid-back soul. Think Adirondack chairs on a sloping lawn, sailboats drifting past, and afternoon tea in a Victorian mansion — unhurried and deeply rooted in place.
Breakfast and afternoon tea are reserved exclusively for overnight guests — a big perk when the lawn gets crowded with day visitors.
Why It Matters
One of very few Relais & Châteaux inns in New England with a Michelin 2-Key designation, a Forbes Five-Star restaurant, and its own private beach. Grace Kelly hid from paparazzi here in 1956. The New York Times called it 'quite simply, the best place in town.' It's employee-owned, which shows in how the place is run.
Castle Hill Inn sits on a private 40-acre peninsula at the far end of Newport's Ocean Drive — literally the last thing before the Atlantic takes over. The original 1875 Victorian mansion was built by Harvard marine biologist Alexander Agassiz, and the property still wears that history well: hardwood floors, antique furnishings, gas-jet fireplaces, and sweeping views of Narragansett Bay from nearly every angle. A Relais & Châteaux member since 2008 and a Michelin 2-Key property, it's also home to Aurelia, a Forbes Five-Star tasting-menu restaurant that has earned Wine Spectator's Best of Award of Excellence ten years running.
Where You'll Stay
12 room types available
Beach Cottage Rooms
Cozy cottages perched on the sand dunes of the private beach, looking over a quiet New England cove. The most casual and beachy option on the property. Select cottages are dog-friendly.
Beach House Rooms
Steps from the private beachfront with panoramic Atlantic Ocean views. Semi-private decks. More contemporary feel than the Mansion rooms. No dogs permitted.
Bridge Room
Third-floor Mansion room with a striking view of Narragansett Bay and the Newport Pell Bridge. Victorian character throughout — hardwood floors and period furnishings.
Chalet Room
A charming guest room above the event space in the historic Chalet building, with views toward the bay.
Chalet Suite
Above the event space in the historic Chalet building, this suite looks over the Chalet Tent toward Narragansett Bay. Sitting room with wet bar and double pull-out sofa; bedroom with queen platform bed beside a gas-jet fireplace.
Harbor House
A cluster of intimate cottages looking out over Narragansett Bay — famously the retreat Grace Kelly used when filming 'High Society' in Newport in 1956. Private porches, bay views, and genuinely cozy scale. Dog-friendly.
Lighthouse Suite
The most spacious accommodation in the Agassiz Mansion, on the third floor. Partial ocean views plus East Passage and Narragansett Bay vistas. Gas-jet fireplace, hardwood floors, antique furnishings.
Mary Walsh Room
West-end second-floor Mansion room with a full view of Narragansett Bay. Hardwood floors and antique Victorian furnishings.
Master Bedroom
Second-floor Mansion room with a full view of the East Passage and Narragansett Bay. Known for spacious, elegant layout without feeling overdone. Gas-jet fireplace and antique furnishings.
Mrs. Agassiz's Room
Named for the original mistress of the mansion, this Agassiz Mansion room carries the full historic character of the property — gas-jet fireplace, antique furnishings, and bay views.
Rose Room
Second-floor Mansion room with a beautiful view of Narragansett Bay. Classic Victorian aesthetic with gas-jet fireplace and hardwood floors.
Turret Suite
The showpiece of the Agassiz Mansion — a bi-level suite built into the historically restored third-floor turret. Panoramic views take in Narragansett Bay, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Castle Hill Lighthouse simultaneously. Soaking tub with ocean view. No children under 13 or dogs permitted.
The Property
Eat & Drink
5 venues on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
Complimentary afternoon tea served in the Agassiz Mansion from 3:00–4:30 PM daily. Exclusively for overnight guests — a genuine perk when the property is busy with day visitors.
Waterside beach fire on Wednesday and Sunday evenings throughout the summer, starting at dusk. Weather permitting. S'mores included.
Complimentary Martone bicycles for guests to explore Ocean Drive and the surrounding coastal roads. Sign out from the inn daily.
Complimentary fishing equipment available for guests to use from the property's peninsula.
Tuesday guided bird walk across the 40 acres with a naturalist from the Norman Bird Sanctuary. Swarovski Optik binoculars available to borrow from the front desk. Starts at 10:00 AM, meet at the Mansion fireplace.
Wednesday guided tour of the inn's kitchen gardens led by the expert forager. Learn how seasonal herbs, vegetables, and wild edibles inspire Aurelia's menus and what sustainable foraging looks like in practice. Meet in the Mansion Lobby at noon.
Monday 45–60 minute meditation session in the Secret Garden. A blend of breathwork, movement, and stillness. Mats provided. Starts at 10:00 AM.
Saturday morning yoga sessions on the private beach led by instructors from local studio Thames Street Yoga. Yoga mats provided. Meet at the beach cabana at 9:00 AM.
A guided walk through the property's history with Castle Hill's Managing Director Brian. Covers the forgotten stories of the 40 acres and the mansion. Runs Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 11:00 AM. Meet at the 'Downwind' sailboat sculpture on the lawn.
Complimentary lawn games and board games available for guests throughout the property.
The property's private sandy beach with full attendant service: beach chairs, chair covers, plush towels, and umbrellas set up for you. Beach attendants available daily 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM from Memorial Day through Labor Day, and weekends through mid-October.
Sunday evening beach fire paired with stargazing hosted by local astronomer Scott Macneill. A genuinely special and rare amenity. Starts at dusk, weather permitting.
Castle Hill Inn's private water taxi offers scenic rides along Narragansett Bay to Newport Harbor, passing Gilded Age mansions and the New York Yacht Club. Departs from Castle Hill Marina, stops at Ann Street Pier and Perrotti Park. Round trip is approximately 90 minutes.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
Available to borrow from the front desk for bird watching and wildlife observation.
Full gourmet breakfast served daily 8:00–10:00 AM in the dining rooms or in-room. Included with every stay.
Available in many cottages, rooms, and suites.
Available in select rooms and suites.
Available in select rooms; several have ocean or bay views.
Local herbal bath products made from organically grown flowers and herbs from Rhode Island farmlands. Used in both spa treatments and in-room amenities.
Complimentary valet parking on-site for all guests.
Castle Hill Inn does not have a swimming pool. Private beach serves as the primary water recreation option.
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