It seems that Pursuitist is all about the nation’s smallest state of late. We were back in Rhode Island recently on a whirlwind tour of the Watch Hill Inn, the latest luxury addition to the Ocean House collection of properties.
The 19-room Inn just opened last month and has already drawn a loyal following. {That’s good, because the Ocean House proper is booked solid for August!}
We’re in love with the property’s residential style setup (full kitchens! private living rooms!) and convenient in-town location, allowing guests to take in unspoiled views of Narragansett Harbor as well as amenities like reserved onsite parking spaces and full use of all of the Ocean House and sister property Weekapaug Inn’s amenities.
Check-in was relatively seamless– a quick pop to the main Ocean House to alert the staff to open the gate, followed by a separate and friendly reception at the Inn proper. After settling in on one of the cozy couches in the living room style reception area, we chose our preferred bath scent from a choice of several top name lines, including Asprey and Red Flower as well as enjoyed the low-down on the special Watch Hill Inn amenities available during our stay, which included a daily afternoon tea with refreshments and small bites, beer and wine each evening, as well as a daily continental breakfast spread.
The rooms themselves vary in view and size, but start at an impressive 650 square feet and extend to a 4,000-square-foot penthouse. All suites feature a separate living area and full designer kitchen. The decor is in keeping with the property’s waterfront location–nautical yet definitely upscale, slightly more modern than Ocean House proper. Many rooms additionally feature large terraces with bay views and gas fireplaces, perfect for chilly nights or rainy afternoons. Techy amenities — Sonos HIFI systems, streaming music and movies and Apple TVs are a nice addition to complimentary high-speed WiFi.
We loved the Inn’s more condo-like experience and the close walk into the quaint shops of Watch Hill, as well as the ability to take in the amenities of the Ocean House proper, including the beach, croquet lawn, OH! Spa (a personal favorite) and the hotel’s famed Sunday Jazz Brunch.
While we can understand why many guests enjoy the pampered feel of the Ocean House proper, we’d certainly return to Watch Hill Inn on a long weekend with friends, select it for a more extended stay, or opt-in for this accommodation were we traveling with children. All in all, it’s a well thought-out experience and a welcome addition to the collection. We expected nothing less.
