Mainstay Inn

Mainstay Inn Review

Fourteen-foot ceilings, tall windows, a 13-foot hallway mirror, and black walnut dining-room furniture show a pedigree of money and manners. The two wealthy gamblers who constructed the building in 1872, as a gambling clubhouse for their friends (men only), obviously meant to impress. In 1971, the Mainstay became Cape May's first B&B, and since then has been the archetype for those that followed. You can also stay at the adjoining Cottage, or across the street at the suites-only Officers' Quarters. Guest rooms have Victorian antiques, but the luxury suites—traditional, but more contemporary looking—have hot tubs, kitchens, and fireplaces.