Admiral's Inn

Admiral's Inn Review

This Georgian brick edifice, originally the shipwright's offices in what is now Nelson's Dockyard, has withstood acts of God and war since the early 18th century. The sturdy walls, occasionally creaking floorboards, even the ancient bar exude history. The finest rooms at "The Ads," as yachties call it, feature the original timbered ceilings—replete with iron braces, whitewashed brick walls, polished hardwood floors, sailing prints, white quilts, and four-poster beds swaddled in mosquito netting. Those upstairs (Nos. 1-3) spy on the yachts in the harbor through Australian pines and stone pillars. Gulls and egrets seem poised to dart into the timbered living room of the two-bedroom Loft (once the dockyard's joinery). Commandeer the complimentary boat and shuttle to nearby beaches when crowds descend on the compound and the inn's captivating terrace restaurant for lunch.