17 Best Hotels in Northeast Coast, Florida

Among only a handful of French Second Empire buildings in the southeastern United States, this inn consists of a main house, built in 1885, and several adorable cottages. Though it is just minutes from downtown and the University of Florida, it is surrounded by lush gardens, fountains, and ponds across the nearly 2-acre property. Owners Joe and Cindy Montalto welcome you like old friends. Most cottages have verandas, private courtyards, and gas fireplaces; all have kitchens, TVs, and DVD players. A full breakfast is standard fare and is served in the formal dining room or delivered to your cottage. Children and pets are welcome with prior approval.

On a quaint residential street, this Spanish-style, three-story inn combines the charm and hospitality of a B&B with modern sensibilities and a chic, coastal-casual vibe. It has a legion of devotees—including the dolphins that entertain guests, almost like clockwork, in the Intracoastal Waterway across the street. Where the wow factor is concerned, though, credit the inn, not the marine life. Each of the 14 rooms (four are suites) is unique and meticulously adorned with vintage furniture, stylish accents, and modern touches such as wine chillers, wall-mounted flat-screen TVs, and jetted spa tubs framed with iridescent mosaic tile. The downstairs gathering area has an open kitchen, where the chef prepares her acclaimed churro French toast and various other sweet, savory, or (if you must) healthy delights.

Consisting of nine buildings dating from the late 1700s, this luxury, adults-only property occupies an entire Historic District block and is the product of a painstaking and imaginative restoration of some of the city's most historic homes, which have been revived with modern luxuries. The rooms and suites are all distinct in design and feature coquina walls, fireplaces, and restored hardwood floors. All accommodations have flat-screen TVs, baths with rainwater shower heads, and kitchenettes with granite counters. In the evening grab a craft cocktail in The Well, a converted garage that now serves as a cozy guest-only bar, and linger around the fire pit. Other amenities include a heated pool, bikes, and a continental breakfast.

This romantic waterfront inn has classic bay views and gorgeous antiques, as well as such contemporary conveniences as plush beds, double whirlpool tubs, and flat-screen TVs. Huge breakfasts, ordered the evening before, are usually served in the manicured courtyard, and guests gather at 5 for snacks, desserts, beer, wine, and homemade sangria. Owners and staff go to extraordinary lengths to accommodate guests' needs. Children, pets, and visitors with disabilities also find a warm welcome here.

A bit more elegant and formal than the average B&B, this inn wows guests with a combination of English and American antiques and a wealth of complimentary food, from extravagant breakfasts to wine and canapés in the early evening. Rooms charm those with romance in mind; many have luxurious bathrooms, and some have double whirlpool tubs. Innkeepers Joy and Andrew Warren are experts at fulfilling special requests from a sunset sail to gourmet picnics on the beach to private carriage rides.

When it comes to location, this Victorian-era property is ideal—far enough from the Historic District to avoid noise, but close enough to have easy access to excellent restaurants (try the nearby Floridian) and shops. Even the waterfront is just four blocks away. The house, restored in 1984, is not as formal as some B&Bs. With verandas, porch swings, and quilts on every bed, it's cozy and quaint rather than elegant. It also has an outstanding breakfast menu; afternoon coffee and fresh-baked cookies; and an easily accessible fridge with free soft drinks, beer, and wine. The innkeepers provide reliable recommendations for local restaurants. A cottage up the block is perfect for families.

There's a reason you feel like you're stepping back in time when you enter this 1820s-era inn made of coquina and handmade bricks—it's on the oldest street in the oldest European-settled city in the country. Innkeepers Jeffrey Sonia and Luis Castro's warm hospitality and attention to detail hearken back to days of yore. In addition to a hearty breakfast, you can enjoy a social hour featuring wine and appetizers. Most rooms have a whirlpool tub, fireplace, and balcony and some have private entrances and their own ghost (the inn's been featured on several ghost-hunting TV shows). Add-on services like breakfast delivered to your door, picnic baskets, and floral arrangements make the inn especially popular with those en el amor.

Guests at this beachfront inn, which resembles a Victorian-era beach cottage, can't say enough about the impeccable personal service, legendary breakfasts, and enjoyable evening social hour. Ocean-side units have great water views, albeit through small windows. The Tradewinds Suite, with an ocean view, private patio, and plantation-style shutters, is the most romantic. Start the day with dill scrambled eggs or French toast, and end it with evening hors d'oeuvres and wine in the library. A chair-lined porch lets you rock in ocean breezes, and on chilly nights you can cluster around the living-room fireplace. An adjacent cottage has additional rooms and a suite.

This charming, fully restored, late-19th-century inn—once used by guests of the Vanderbilt, DuPont, and Carnegie families, who built "cottages" nearby on Cumberland and Jekyll islands—has a rambling, two-story, clapboard main building full of character and rooms with handmade quilts, hooked rugs, king-size beds, and whirlpool tubs. The on-site restaurant, Leddy's Porch, serves biscuits and gravy, along with fried chicken and other Southern favorites, for lunch and weekend brunch. The Mermaid Bar, a lively first-floor pub, can be a blessing or a curse, depending on whether you're trying to catch up on your social skills or your sleep. Request a room in the south wing if you're attempting the latter.

This charming oceanfront inn has spacious, individually decorated rooms, some with four-poster beds, upholstered chairs, and balconies or patios; most have ocean views. Deluxe rooms are much larger, with a king-size bed, sofa, and sitting area; most also have a dining table. Jacuzzi rooms are different sizes. Included in the rate are evening wine and cheese and a continental breakfast that includes a quiche du jour.

Guests at this 1885 Queen Anne dwelling say they're so comfortable and at ease that they feel as if they're in a home, not an inn. The inn's Southern hospitality begins with breakfast by the fireplace and continues with complimentary beverages, homemade cookies or fresh bread throughout the day, and a social hour in the evenings. The "bedchambers" have thoughtful touches, such as plush robes, house bath salts, and organic coffee. Rooms feature a fireplace or gas stove and flat-panel TVs; most have thermo-massage tubs. Lush gardens and stately oak trees give the property a secluded feel, though downtown Gainesville is just a short walk away.

In the early 1900s, Jacksonville's wealthiest residents built mansions along Riverside Avenue (dubbed the Row), and the three-story Riverdale Inn—well-preserved, with heart-pine floors, crown moldings, and guest rooms decorated to period—is one of only two such homes remaining. Despite being more than 100 years old, the mansion feels pristine, inside and out. Some rooms have fireplaces; all have bathrooms with tub–shower combos or showers only; one room has a whirlpool tub. Complimentary breakfast is made to order each morning, and the inn is within walking distance of numerous restaurants, as well as the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens and the Five Points district. You can also pop downstairs for a drink at the Gum Bunch Pub.

A landmark since 1885, this former bridge tender's home is set back from the Intracoastal Waterway at the edge of the north causeway, which still has an operating drawbridge. Rooms open out to plant-filled verandas and balconies, and views look either through trees to the waterway or onto the private courtyard and pretty pool. Each room is furnished differently with charming antique touches, such as an old washbasin, a quilt, or a rocking chair. An "expanded" continental breakfast is served in your room. The inn has a charming waterfront restaurant, full-service spa, and an excellent gift shop; it's also near art galleries and stores.

This late-18th-century inn in the Historic District, a guesthouse since 1845, offers main-house rooms and suites, a room in the former carriage house, and a five-room cottage—all with a serene vibe and a delicious Southern breakfast buffet included. If the walls of the oldest inn in the Oldest City could talk, they would tell tales of buried doubloons and Confederate spies. Furnishings are a mix of antiques and just plain old; the food is fresh and well prepared (there's a chef on property). A stay includes thoughtful extras like free admission to the Anastasia Athletic Club; use of bicycles; complimentary admission to the St. Augustine Lighthouse and Museum; and an evening social with enough snacks, desserts, and house-blend coffees, teas, and hot chocolates to pass for dinner.

You can't be any closer to the St. George Street bustle than this inn nestled in the City Gate Plaza. A continental breakfast of assorted cheeses, fresh-baked breads, and pastries is included. For a splurge, book a Castillo Suite—a romantic two-story suite with a spiral staircase and wraparound balcony with views of Castillo de San Marcos, Matanzas Bay, and St. George Street.

Inside two grand Victorian homes—surrounded by gardens in historic downtown and within walking distance of restaurants and entertainment venues—nicely appointed guest rooms have gleaming hardwood floors, antique furnishings, and modern conveniences like free Wi-Fi. There's also plenty of Southern hospitality, as well as amenities such as an eco-friendly salt pool, business services, and detached cottages with full kitchens.