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Chatham Bars Inn
Chatham, Massachusetts, United States · Independent · Grand Luxury
Boston stockbroker Charles Hardy opened this hunting lodge on Aunt Lydia's Cove on 14 June 1914 with steam heat, long-distance telephones, and baths of both fresh and ocean water. Princess Juliana of the Netherlands lived here during World War II; Henry Ford and William Rockefeller were among the earlier guests. Today the 217-room, 25-acre Cape resort holds Forbes Five-Star and a place on Forbes Travel Guide's 2025 Hotel Icons list (six properties in the United States).
- 217 rooms
- Opened 1914
- Neighborhood: North Chatham
About Chatham Bars Inn
- Charles Hardy, a Boston stockbroker, opened it on 14 June 1914 as a hunting lodge: main inn, nine cottages, a golf course, and a chauffeur dormitory.
- Opening-day rooms advertised plastered soundproofing, steam heat, long-distance telephones, and private baths with both fresh and ocean water.
- Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star, plus the 2025 Hotel Icons list (6 hotels in the United States, 23 worldwide).
- Still family-owned, with a quarter-mile of private beach and an 8-acre farm supplying the kitchens.
History
Chatham Bars Inn opened on 14 June 1914, built by Boston stockbroker Charles Hardy as a hunting lodge on Aunt Lydia's Cove in North Chatham. The original complex included the main inn, nine cottages, a golf course, a garage, and a chauffeur dormitory; rooms advertised steam heat, long-distance telephones, and baths of both fresh and ocean water. After Hardy's death in 1929 the inn remained a Cape summer landmark; Princess Juliana of the Netherlands lived here during World War II. A 2006 acquisition brought a full renovation. It is a different property from the smaller Chatham Inn in the town's Old Village.
The setting
0.4 miles from Chatham Pier Fish Market.
Restaurants and bars
- Beach House Grill — Poolside
Experiences
- Culinary experiences — Menus by Executive Chef Andrew Chadwick highlight the Inn's farm and local waters, tailored to groups.
- Waterfront activities and boating — Curated outings including sunset cruises, sailing, fishing and wildlife excursions.
- Chatham Bars Inn Farm — A farm a short drive from the Inn, central to its commitment to fresh produce.
- Cape Cod National Seashore access — The Inn is presented as a private gateway to the Cape Cod National Seashore.
Amenities
- Spa
- Pool
- Sauna
- Hot tub
- Fitness center
- Kids' club
- Tennis
- Private beach
- Pet-friendly
Awards
- AAA Four Diamond (2026)
- Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star (2026)
- Forbes Travel Guide Hotel Icons (2025)
Open Chatham Bars Inn in the atlas for live weekend rates, photos, and the full folio.
More hotels in Chatham
- Chatham Inn — Independent · Grand Luxury