7 Best Hotels in South County, Rhode Island

High on bluffs overlooking Block Island Sound stands this extraordinary replica of the Victorian grande dame of the same name built here in 1868. After the dilapidated original was torn down in 2004, Ocean House was rebuilt for $140 million with the same warm yellow exterior, lobby fireplace stonework, and front desk mail slots. This new version has a third of the original's rooms, however, and more than twice the windows—the better to appreciate the stunning views. The spacious rooms have feather-top beds with luxury linens, marble bathrooms, plush towels, and bathrobes. Deluxe rooms have deep soaking tubs, and Grand Deluxe rooms have fireplaces and terraces. Guests may take complimentary wine and culinary arts classes and can arrange to golf at Lake of Isles, 19 miles away in North Stonington, Connecticut, or The Preserve about a half-hour inland in Richmond.

Narragansett's sole upscale boutique hotel has a laid-back boho surfer vibe—minus the feel of the cramped VW Vanagon—and on a clear day, you can see the Newport Bridge and Block Island from the Chair 5 rooftop bar and restaurant. Guest rooms are large and luxe, many with balconies overlooking the ocean or the heated year-round saltwater pool; all rooms have Apple TVs, iPads, heated bathroom floors, and king-size beds with supersoft linens.

Guest rooms at this lovingly restored Relais & Chateaux inn on Quonochontaug (Quonnie) Pond are furnished with luxury linens and the work of area artists. Lawn games, naturalist-guided programs, watercraft outings, and in-season swimming at a private beach and a lap pool are among the resort's varied activities. Guests also have access to programs and services at the nearby Ocean House, a sister property.

A great choice for families, this well-maintained 50-room boutique motel is less than a quarter-mile from the ocean. Guests have access to 150 feet of private beachfront with free parking and a coveted key to a surfside bathroom. The motel has cheery guest rooms, grounds dotted with fountains, and a pool with plenty of comfortable lounge chairs. The Bellone family, which also owns the nearby Hotel Maria, has operated the Breezeway since 1970.

Set amid 3,500 acres of rural land in South County, the upscale Preserve has a large variety of lodging options from hotel suites in the Hilltop Lodge to dozens of tiny houses, condos, and entire homes. The selection of on-property activities at this upscale Preferred Hotels & Resorts property is equally diverse and includes shooting sports, hiking, boating, fishing, equestrian, spa, and meals served in a hobbit house.

With whimsically sumptuous decor styled by celebrity fashion designer Randolph Duke, this early-19th-century farmhouse inn and restaurant has 21st-century Instagrammability. Located in the village of Shelter Harbor, 5 miles from downtown Westerly, it was first established in 1911 as part of a music colony. The 22 rooms are in the main building and a converted barn; some rooms have en-suite fireplaces. The third-floor Ascend Spa is a soothing retreat that can be enjoyed solo or with a partner, and guests have access to a nearby private beach and an outdoor tennis court. The Farmhouse Kitchen + Bar serves dinner Wednesday--Sunday.

Massive Victorian hotels once lined the sea wall in Narragansett Pier: the Shore House isn't quite that grand, but the 31-room hotel's decor does nod to the past, and the circa 1891 building has been extensively remodeled with a fresh coastal interior design. Some rooms have oceanfront balconies; some have water views. The ground-floor Sea Craft restaurant has a raw bar and serves lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch.