A bird's-eye view of the Ocean House in Watch Hill, Rhode Island. Photo by Chip Riegel, courtesy Ocean House
Photo by Chip Riegel, courtesy Ocean House
Photo by Chip Riegel, courtesy Ocean House
A suite kitchen. Photo by Chip Riegel, courtesy Ocean House
Photo by Chip Riegel, courtesy Ocean House
The indoor pool at Ocean House in Watch Hill, Rhode Island. Photo by Chip Riegel, courtesy Ocean House
Ocean House in Watch Hill, Rhode Island, at sunset. Photo by Chip Riegel, courtesy Ocean House
At a Glance
The luxurious Ocean House, with its iconic yellow façade, wrap-around porch and sweeping views of the ocean, is a blend of old and new, celebrating its storied past while providing modern amenities and service.
Indagare Loves
The hotel’s collection of original art by Ludwig Bemelmans, the French illustrator responsible for the Madeline children’s books
The bevy of resort amenities, including a professional croquet lawn, squash courts and complimentary wine and culinary classes
The five-star, 12,000-square-foot Ocean & Harvest Spa
The signature suites, which are individually-appointed and feel like private residences
Ocean House Review
In the decades after it opened in 1868, Rhode Island’s iconic Ocean House was a beacon for monied aristocrats and the East Coast elite who frequented the resort for its prime location on the Atlantic, subdued glamour and discrete privacy. And while parasols have given way to blue and yellow beach umbrellas and cabanas complete with butler service, the Victorian-style Ocean House remains a nostalgic reminder of the past, with all the modern amenities to ensure a five-star experience.
After nearly a century and a half in operation, the property closed in 2003, was knocked down and then rebuilt in nearly exactly the same style, reopening to guests in 2010. During the reconstruction, the architects paid painstaking attention to the original design of the hotel, even noting the exact size and location of all the windows so that they would be placed in the correct position in the new building. While slightly expanded, the now–156,000-square-foot building, which is decorated with more than 5,000 artifacts from the original property, looms large from its perch on a pristine stretch of private beach overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
Almost imposing from the outside, the grand hotel, which is the only Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five Diamond resort in Rhode Island, still manages to feel cozy thanks to its boutique size, with just 49 rooms and 20 signature suites. The guest rooms are all done in varying shades of pastels and channel a seaside cottage vibe that is cozy yet modern, with iPod docks, LCD TVs in the bedroom and bathroom, Frette linens and a complimentary mini bar that remains stocked with jars of chocolate goodies and crackers throughout one’s stay. The suites at Ocean House are all individually appointed and provide some of the most luxurious accommodations in the region. From the bi-level Morgan suite, which is done in lacquered wood to resemble a sleek yacht, to the Penthouse suite and its sprawling rooftop with 360-degree views, these rooms are some of the most exquisite.
The resort offers a plethora of luxe amenities, including a museum quality art audio tour, billiards room, spacious fitness center, Center for Wine & Culinary Arts (which runs wine and cooking classes), indoor pool, two squash courts and the 12,000 square-foot Ocean & Harvest Spa, one of the most blissful aspects of the property. During the warmer months, guests can make use of the shuffleboard court, croquet green and the beach club, where any number of water sports can be arranged.
The on-property dining options are so diverse that guests can enjoy all meals on property without growing tired. The five-star, five-diamond COAST restaurant is the most upscale and boasts stunning views out over the water. The more casual Bistro serves classic American fare with a New England twist. The al fresco Verandah and Seaside Terrace both offer a great shellfish selection as well as family-friendly bites like a big kid grilled cheese. Sun bathers need not leave the beach for meals, as the resort’s Dune Cottage serves brick-oven pizzas, salads and sandwiches from the sandy shore. Weekly events like the Sunday jazz brunch and summer lobster bakes provide even more variety.
Ocean House is also the perfect place to enjoy the winter season. Gondola Village, the hotel’s annual culinary pop-up experience, allows guests to dine in one of three gondolas amid a French Alps-inspired backdrop. Complete with fire pits and twinkling lights, it’s a delightful option for breakfast, lunch, early evening crepes, aperitifs or dinner. Guests stay warm with heated blankets (and Veuve Clicquot). During the 2022-2023 season, a portion of the proceeds from Gondola Village go to the Ocean House Fund for Charitable Giving, a donor-advised fund administered in cooperation with the Rhode Island Foundation, which supports children in need, the disadvantaged, and foodways-related causes in the local community.
Who Should Stay
Those looking for a cozy, luxurious seaside escape and a taste of old New England charm.
Getting There
Ocean House is a three-hour drive or train ride from New York City and two hours from Boston
We visited the Ocean House in Rhode Island in December. With peak season well behind us, it turned out to be a great time of year to visit. The hotel was quieter than usual which made us feel particularly well cared for by the hotel staff. We were fortunate to visit over a couple of days which were unseasonably warm which allowed us to take a long afternoon (early sunset) walk on the beach and another one to the nearby lighthouse and beach village. Note that the village is seasonal and all the stores and restaurants were closed for the season.
The overall hotel is beautiful inside and out and captures a bygone era of beach elegance but with all the contemporary amenities. The room was beautiful and elegant. We loved the fireplace and ocean views. With Indagare’s help, we were treated to a room upgrade and welcomed with champagne when we checked in (cheers!).
The colder weather made a long visit to the spa particularly wonderful (we did a three hour “Couples Experience” which was a mix of relaxing body treatments and a massage).
The hotel also had a couple of Mercedes’ convertibles that were available for guests to use on a complimentary basis. I suspect in high season availability would have been limited but we were advantaged by the offseason and were able to take one of the cars for a 2 hour midday drive. I’m not sure either of us would have guessed how much fun it would be to crank up the heated seats, blast the heater and go for a ride on Ocean Avenue with the roof down in December!
In every instance, the staff at the Ocean House were really lovely, and with the low number of guests, found time to engage with us whether it was the valet, restaurant team or check in folks.
To the extent there was anything even remotely disappointing, it was the food situation. The main restaurant Seasons was closed and the Bistro menu didn’t measure up to what we were hoping. For example, Seasons has a focus on locally sourced and seasonal ingredients. But the Bistro had farm raised salmon (rather than wild) and other more standard fare. The seafood tower was good and felt locally appropriate, but a main course of moules frites was definitely a disappointment. Thankfully, we were doted on by a fabulous waitstaff and sommelier (with a great wine list).
I suppose the most important overall comment would be that we will almost definitively head back around the same time next year but make sure we plan it on a day of the week when Seasons is open.
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Ocean House, Watch Hill, Rhode Island: Exclusive Review - Indagare
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A bird's-eye view of the Ocean House in Watch Hill, Rhode Island. Photo by Chip Riegel, courtesy Ocean House
Photo by Chip Riegel, courtesy Ocean House
Photo by Chip Riegel, courtesy Ocean House
A suite kitchen. Photo by Chip Riegel, courtesy Ocean House
Photo by Chip Riegel, courtesy Ocean House
The indoor pool at Ocean House in Watch Hill, Rhode Island. Photo by Chip Riegel, courtesy Ocean House
Ocean House in Watch Hill, Rhode Island, at sunset. Photo by Chip Riegel, courtesy Ocean House
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One Comment
We visited the Ocean House in Rhode Island in December. With peak season well behind us, it turned out to be a great time of year to visit. The hotel was quieter than usual which made us feel particularly well cared for by the hotel staff. We were fortunate to visit over a couple of days which were unseasonably warm which allowed us to take a long afternoon (early sunset) walk on the beach and another one to the nearby lighthouse and beach village. Note that the village is seasonal and all the stores and restaurants were closed for the season.
The overall hotel is beautiful inside and out and captures a bygone era of beach elegance but with all the contemporary amenities. The room was beautiful and elegant. We loved the fireplace and ocean views. With Indagare’s help, we were treated to a room upgrade and welcomed with champagne when we checked in (cheers!).
The colder weather made a long visit to the spa particularly wonderful (we did a three hour “Couples Experience” which was a mix of relaxing body treatments and a massage).
The hotel also had a couple of Mercedes’ convertibles that were available for guests to use on a complimentary basis. I suspect in high season availability would have been limited but we were advantaged by the offseason and were able to take one of the cars for a 2 hour midday drive. I’m not sure either of us would have guessed how much fun it would be to crank up the heated seats, blast the heater and go for a ride on Ocean Avenue with the roof down in December!
In every instance, the staff at the Ocean House were really lovely, and with the low number of guests, found time to engage with us whether it was the valet, restaurant team or check in folks.
To the extent there was anything even remotely disappointing, it was the food situation. The main restaurant Seasons was closed and the Bistro menu didn’t measure up to what we were hoping. For example, Seasons has a focus on locally sourced and seasonal ingredients. But the Bistro had farm raised salmon (rather than wild) and other more standard fare. The seafood tower was good and felt locally appropriate, but a main course of moules frites was definitely a disappointment. Thankfully, we were doted on by a fabulous waitstaff and sommelier (with a great wine list).
I suppose the most important overall comment would be that we will almost definitively head back around the same time next year but make sure we plan it on a day of the week when Seasons is open.