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The Cliffside Inn
Newport, Rhode Island, United States · Lark Hotels · High Luxury



Maryland Governor Thomas Swann built this Second Empire manor as Swann Villa around 1876, a block from Newport's Cliff Walk, and it is now The Cliffside Inn. It housed St. George's School from 1897 to 1901, then became the Turner family's summer house, where painter Beatrice Turner worked until 1948, and some of her canvases still hang here. Lark Hotels' 2019 renovation left 16 rooms with gas fireplaces in the Ochre Point-Cliffs Historic District, where AAA rates the inn Four Diamond and Michelin has given it One Key.
- 16 rooms
- Opened 2019
- Neighborhood: Ochre Point
About The Cliffside Inn
- Built around 1876 as Swann Villa for Maryland Governor Thomas Swann, a railroad president, congressman, and ambassador.
- From 1897 to 1901 the house was the first home of St. George's School, before the prep school moved to Middletown.
- Painter Beatrice Turner summered here from 1907 until her death in 1948; original work still hangs in the inn.
- Adele Turner, who named the house Cliffside, descended from Jacob Shallus, the engrosser of the United States Constitution in 1787.
The setting
13-minute walk to International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum. 15-minute walk to Easton's Beach.
Experiences
- Cliff Walk — The inn is steps from the scenic Cliff Walk, a block away.
- Beach access — A short walk from the beach, with complimentary beach chairs and towels for guests.
- Afternoon wine and refreshments — Wine and refreshments offered daily from 5 to 6pm.
Amenities
- Gas fireplaces in every room (seasonal, turned off June 1 – October 1)
- Gourmet breakfast included with every stay
- Extensive wine list available on site
- Afternoon wine and refreshments 5-6pm daily
- Coffee, tea, hot chocolate and bottled water in common area 24/7 (self-service)
- Complimentary on-site parking (one car per room reservation)
- Semi-private outdoor spaces in the Garden, Hydrangea, Cliff and Atlantic Suites
- LED flat-screen TVs
- Free high-speed wireless internet
- Complimentary beach chairs and beach towels
- Bath amenities from Lather
- Blackout shades in rooms
- Waffle kimono robes
- Room essentials such as wine glasses, corkscrews, irons, hairdryers
- Complimentary daily housekeeping
- Personalized concierge services
Awards
- AAA Four Diamond (2026)
- MICHELIN One Key (2026)
Open The Cliffside Inn in the atlas for live weekend rates, photos, and the full folio.
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