The Vanderbilt
Moody Gilded Age social club meets coastal New England manor. Think dark navy walls, leather club chairs, real fireplaces, and a cocktail program curated around 19th-century libations. The property was redesigned by SWOON with a saturated color palette described as somewhere between a cinemascope movie set and a swanky private club.
Book the Enchanted Hour experience for tarot readings by candlelight in the mezzanine with a Mint Julep — it's a genuine delight and easy to miss if you don't ask
Why It Matters
Named #1 Hotel in the Northeast in the 2023 Condé Nast Readers' Choice Awards. One of the only hotels in Newport with both an indoor and outdoor pool. The building itself — designed for a Vanderbilt, later owned by Doris Duke — has more provenance than most properties in New England. The entire experience, from the hidden bar to the billiard room to the tarot readings on the mezzanine, is engineered for discovery.
A 33-room Gilded Age mansion smack in the middle of downtown Newport, built in 1909 for Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt, donated to the city, then repurposed as a YMCA for six-plus decades before being reborn as a luxury hotel. Now under the Auberge Collection (flag raised 2022, rooms refreshed through 2024), it leans hard into a moody, social-club identity — jewel-toned velvet, antique brass lighting, specially commissioned still lifes in the foyer, and a speakeasy hidden behind a bookcase in the Doris Duke-inspired parlor. It's a place to be found, not just stayed at.
Where You'll Stay
5 room types available
Alfred Suite
Named for the mansion's original owner, Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt. Guests describe it as the size of a small apartment — spacious, quiet, and lushly appointed. A sitting area, Nespresso setup, bar sink, and luxurious linens. Comfortable enough for a family of four, per reviewer accounts.
KingElise One Bedroom Suite
A one-bedroom suite with its own character and identity, styled in the same saturated palette as the rest of the mansion. Can be combined with the Parlour Suite above to create the Gwynne Two Bedroom.
KingGuild Room
The entry-level option at The Vanderbilt, and still generously sized for a historic property. King beds, nautical blue tones, and views across Newport. Minibars stocked with Nespresso, tea, and a mini fridge. Bathrooms feel like a proper home, not a generic hotel box.
KingGwynne Two Bedroom Suite
The crown jewel. This two-bedroom suite combines the top-floor Parlour Suite and the Elise One Bedroom Suite into an expansive retreat. At up to 2,000 sq ft, it's the largest accommodation in the mansion — ideal for families or groups who want to spread out in serious style.
Multiple KingsParlour Suite
Top-floor suite with the kind of scale that earns the name. Part of this suite can be combined with the Elise One Bedroom to form the Gwynne Two Bedroom Suite — the largest accommodation in the house.
KingThe Property
Eat & Drink
5 venues on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
Guests craft a scrimshaw piece alongside a local Scrimshaw master — a nod to Newport's maritime heritage.
Led by the hotel's bar team, guests learn to make a Colonial-era cocktail, a Gilded Age cocktail paying homage to Alfred Vanderbilt, and a signature Vanderbilt creation. You leave knowing the craft behind three eras of American cocktail culture.
A guided whisky tasting experience inside The Reserve Room with The Macallan.
A weekly hosted oyster experience at the mansion, featuring fresh Rhode Island oysters and cocktails.
A regularly scheduled cocktail experience at the mansion — a nod to the traditional absinthe ritual.
A whiskey-focused mixology session in collaboration with The Macallan, held in The Reserve Room.
Bikes available to guests as part of the resort fee — a practical and popular way to explore Newport's waterfront, Cliff Walk, and historic neighborhoods.
Tarot and birth chart readings by candlelight, with a Mint Julep or Pimm's Cup in hand. Led by Dr. Elle Hawks, a certified Soul Coach and yoga instructor. Available for individuals and bridal party groups.
A scenic tour of Newport in iconic 1920s-era vehicles, including a pass by The Breakers. Can be combined with a personalized 20th century-style picnic.
Hosted mahjong sessions in the mansion's common spaces.
Private yoga sessions available on-property.
A seafaring-inspired tea brunch experience held regularly at the mansion.
A weekly Sunday Roast tradition — a full roast dinner in the mansion's dining spaces. A British pub-style tradition with a Newport twist.
A cruise aboard the Vanderbilt yacht — a Newport maritime experience departing from or near the hotel.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
Two meeting rooms totaling ~1,580 sq ft. The Victory Room handles receptions up to 75 guests; the Snooker Room fits intimate meetings up to 15. The Vanderbilt Room (event space) features jewel-toned velvet draperies, antique brass lighting, and reclaimed wood floors.
Period-accurate 1900s billiard room that looks exactly how you'd imagine an Edwardian millionaire sportsman's game room. Also serves as a small meeting room (up to 15 guests).
A resident library stocked with books and cozy upholstered seating nooks — also features a gallery wall of antique portraits. A quiet retreat between the lobby and Conservatory.
USD $53.50 per room per night. Includes pool access, spa access (facility), beach towels, health club access, fitness center access, and internet.
Adjacent to the spa. Free weights, cardio machines with built-in TVs, and computerized workout programs. Private fitness sessions also available.
Pool adjacent to the Garden Terrace, surrounded by hydrangeas and landscaped grounds. Seasonal (spring-fall). Included in resort fee.
Heated indoor pool — relatively quiet compared to the outdoor pool. Accessible year-round and included in the resort fee.
Full concierge service with personalized itinerary building and local arrangements — frequently cited by guests as a standout part of the stay.
Available during limited hours.
Dogs welcome in select rooms, supplied with a dedicated bed and bowls. Dogs under 50 pounds per Fora Travel; charges may apply.
BUILD YOUR THE VANDERBILT, AUBERGE COLLECTION PLAN
Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
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