Block Island Beach House
Laid-back Victorian beach house meets modern surf culture. Bold prints, saturated colors, and vintage coastal touches. Beach casual is the operating mode, all day, every day.
Book an Oceanview King with Balcony in the Surf building if you want the classic experience: full ocean view, private balcony, and direct beach stairs below
Why It Matters
The only hotel on Block Island with direct beachfront rooms and direct access to Crescent Beach. An award-winning Lark Hotels property that has grown from a single building to a four-building complex since opening in summer 2019. The original Surf Hotel sign still crowns the Victorian turret.
Block Island Beach House is the only beachfront hotel on Block Island, Rhode Island — a Victorian mansion that has operated as lodging since 1876 and was thoroughly reimagined by Lark Hotels in 2019. The main Surf building sits directly above Crescent Beach, while two additional properties on Dodge Street — The Gables and The Gothic — round out the 59-room portfolio. Interiors land somewhere between modern surf shack and classic coastal New England: whitewashed shiplap, bold wallpaper, old wooden surfboards, and large-format Polaroids commissioned specifically for the hotel.
Where You'll Stay
29 room types available
Accessible King
ADA-accessible king room designed for guests who require accessibility accommodations.
King
Accessible Vintage King Studio
ADA-accessible studio room with a king bed and porch. The porch option makes this one of the pet-friendly rooms. Ground-level access removes the stair challenge that affects most rooms in the Surf building.
King
Gables 2-Bedroom Suite
Two-bedroom suite configuration at The Gables — the best option for families or two couples traveling together. More space than anything in the main Surf building.
MultipleGables 2-Twin Room
Two-twin room at The Gables. Good for two single travelers or children sharing. Pool access across the grounds.
Two TwinsGables Friend Zone
A multi-bed room at The Gables built for groups of friends traveling together. The name signals the intent — not ideal for couples wanting privacy, but great for a crew sharing costs.
MultipleGables Guest House 2-Bedroom Suite with Twin Bunks
Two-bedroom Gables suite with twin bunk beds — the family pick. Kids get the bunks, adults get the main bedroom. Pool just outside.
MultipleGables Guest House Deluxe King
Deluxe king room in the Gables Guest House annex. More recently renovated configuration with pool proximity.
KingGables Guest House Two Queen Bedrooms Suite
Two-bedroom suite at The Gables with queen beds in both rooms. Works well for families or friend groups.
Two QueensGables King Suite
Standard king suite at The Gables with a separate sitting area. More space and quieter than Surf building equivalents. Good for couples who want a low-key stay with pool access.
KingGables Lark Suite
The premium room at The Gables building. Larger footprint than Surf building suites, with a soaking tub as a standout feature. Pet-friendly. One of the best options for couples wanting space and tranquility without the beachfront-building noise.
KingGables Poolside King Suite
King suite at The Gables with direct poolside positioning. One of two poolside suite configurations. Pet-friendly at $50/night per dog. Proximity to one of the island's only pools is a genuine selling point.
KingGables Poolside King Suite 2
Second poolside king suite configuration at The Gables. Similar positioning to Poolside King Suite 1.
KingGables Queen
Entry-level room at The Gables — one of the more affordable options on property. Quieter than the Surf building; pool access across the grounds.
QueenGables Queen Deluxe
Upgraded queen room at The Gables. More space than a standard Gables Queen with enhanced furnishings.
QueenGables Queen Suite
Queen suite at The Gables with a small separate living space and pool access.
QueenHarborview King Suite
King suite with harbor-facing views rather than direct ocean. Positioned to capture Old Harbor activity and water views at a slightly different angle.
KingKing (The Gothic)
King room in the Gothic building, 200 yards down Dodge Street from the Surf. Contemporary design with unique patterns and textures — more modern and private than the Surf building. Good for couples wanting a quieter stay. Connecting options available.
KingKing 1st Floor
Ground-floor king room in the Surf building — ideal for guests who want to avoid the steep upper-floor staircases. No balcony but easy beach access.
KingKing Suite
One of the larger configurations in the Surf building. Separate living area in addition to the bedroom. Select pet-friendly (with porch) configurations available. Porch versions allow dogs at $50/night.
KingOceanview King
Ocean-facing king room in the Surf building without a private balcony. Good ocean and beach views. The rooms in this building run small — it's mostly bed — but the location makes up for it.
KingOceanview King with Balcony
The headline room in the Surf building. Beachfront-side placement with full Atlantic ocean views and a private balcony. Rooms in this category are the most requested on the property — the balcony makes the size feel less tight. Steps from the beach below.
KingOceanview Queen
Ocean-facing queen room in the Surf building. Compact but well-positioned for beach access and views.
QueenOceanview Queen with Balcony
Same beachfront position as the Oceanview King with Balcony but with a queen bed. Good option for solo travelers or couples who don't need the king.
QueenOceanview Vintage King
A vintage-styled ocean-facing king room in the Surf building with heavier period-influenced design touches: bold prints, woven textures, and the signature commissioned Polaroid art.
KingPetite Queen (The Gothic)
The most compact room on property — in the Gothic building. Great for solo travelers or couples on a budget who don't plan to spend much time indoors. The 'petite' is not a marketing euphemism; pack light.
QueenQueen (The Gothic)
Queen room in the Gothic building. Contemporary styling with unique patterns. Note: some reviewers flagged very limited storage space in Gothic rooms.
QueenTwin/Twin Connecting (The Gothic)
Connecting twin room configuration in The Gothic. One of the few connecting room options on property — useful for families or groups who want separate sleeping spaces but easy communication between rooms.
Two TwinsVintage Deluxe King
A step up from the standard Vintage King in the Surf building — slightly more space and potentially better positioning within the building.
KingVintage King
Interior-facing king room in the Surf building. The vintage design leans harder into the beach cottage aesthetic. Compact.
KingThe Property
Eat & Drink
4 venues on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
Hotel-recommended island activity: hunt for hand-blown glass orbs hidden around the island. Each found orb is yours to keep after registration.
Seasonal bonfires on the beach are part of the hotel's casual programming. A classic Block Island Beach House experience for guests.
Direct beach access from the Surf building — literally walk out the door and onto the sand. Complimentary beach chairs and umbrellas provided to guests (limited supply; first-come-first-served). The hotel is the only accommodation on Block Island with direct beach access.
Rental companies along nearby Ocean Avenue offer kayaks and paddleboards for exploring the Great Salt Pond — a calm 900-acre inlet just minutes away.
Diamondblue Surf Shop is located right next to the hotel and offers surfboard rentals daily. Staff will direct guests there for board and wetsuit hire once the hotel's complimentary chairs are taken.
Regular live music at the Beach Bar and on the terrace during summer season. Casual, beach-appropriate sets — be aware it carries into adjacent rooms for guests sensitive to noise.
Hotel-recommended nearby activity: the island's dramatic 200-foot bluffs with 141 stairs down to a secluded beach. 1.8 miles from the hotel.
The Gables building has one of the only outdoor pools on Block Island — a genuine perk on an island with very few pool options. Open seasonally (approximately early June through mid-October). All hotel guests may use the pool regardless of which building they're staying in.
On-site gift shop in the Surf building lounge selling beach essentials, vintage-inspired goods, and locally-made gifts.
Guests can rent vintage Polaroid cameras — a fun analog touch consistent with the hotel's beach house identity.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
There is no elevator anywhere on the property. All upper floors are accessible by stairs only — including steep, narrow staircases in the Surf building and reportedly severe stair climb at The Gables. Guests with mobility concerns should book a ground-floor or ADA-accessible room.
The only hotel on Block Island with direct access to the beach. Walk from the Surf building straight onto Crescent Beach.
Limited number of complimentary beach chairs and umbrellas for hotel guests on a first-come-first-served basis.
The Surf building's wraparound porch serves as the main common outdoor space — tables and chairs with open ocean views. This is where The Surf restaurant and Beach Bar dining spills outdoors.
Complimentary in-room and common area WiFi across all buildings.
Lark Hotels' loyalty program offering custom recommendations, free room upgrades, and complimentary stays across the Lark portfolio.
Five complimentary parking spots on a first-come-first-served basis. The island strongly encourages arriving by ferry without a car.
Dogs welcome in select rooms: King Suite Porch and Vintage ADA Studio with Porch in the Surf building; Poolside King Suites and Lark Suite at The Gables. Fee of $50 per dog per night (max 2 dogs). Dogs must never be left alone in rooms and are restricted to porches and exterior areas only.
At The Gables building — one of the only pools on Block Island. Seasonal (approximately June–mid-October). All hotel guests have access.
Waffle kimono robes provided in guest rooms.
All guest rooms have air conditioning. Panasonic units in some rooms — occasionally reported as difficult to operate.
Mini fridges available in rooms for storing snacks and drinks. Guests can pick up groceries at nearby Block Island Grocery.
Filtered water stations with refillable glass growlers on the second and third floor hallways of the Surf building. No plastic water bottles in rooms.
BUILD YOUR BLOCK ISLAND BEACH HOUSE PLAN
Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
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