22 Best Hotels in Cape Cod, Massachusetts

One of the Cape's most luxurious small resorts, this meticulously kept getaway comprises a beautifully restored main house—originally a sea captain's home built in 1828—and several other carefully groomed buildings and cottages all centered on a beautifully landscaped pool area. A widow's-walk sundeck has a panoramic view of Cape Cod Bay. A nightly wine-and-cheese reception is a nice perk. As this has been a favorite for Ptown visitors for more than 55 years, with many repeat guests, it's wise to book early.

Step inside this light-filled circa-1790 inn and you'll quickly see why this has been called one of the best inns in America—every detail is spot-on, from the fresh pastries at afternoon tea to the gorgeous landscaping surrounding the garden patio, where guests enjoy multicourse breakfasts. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the nine-room inn has been home to sea captains, artists, and author Horatio Alger. 

A short hop off congested Route 28 sits this imposing 1845 Greek Revival home where thoughtful amenities abound, from the soft bathrobes, beach supplies, and fresh flowers in each room to a selection of complimentary cordials. The large rooms and suites have either antique or canopied beds, plush comforters, fancy drapes, and deep tile baths. Some have fireplaces and sundecks. Breakfast is served in the formal dining room or in the greenhouse-style interior courtyard; baked goods and coffee are available for afternoon tea and after-hours. Check the website for periodic special rates.

Named for the sea captain who had the home built in 1866, this gracious inn exudes mellowed elegance with original ornate plaster ceiling medallions and marble fireplaces, along with a fun modern touch—a heated saltwater pool, open year-round. Guest rooms are adorned with antiques and offer luxurious amenities like Turkish towels and artisan bath products. Most rooms have fireplaces; three rooms upstairs have their own private sunrooms, perched above the trees and the pretty back lawn.

Created meticulously from six different buildings, this inn hasn't a single detail left unattended—period furniture and antiques fill common areas and guest rooms; a queen-size bed is the smallest you'll find, dressed in 300-thread-count linens; treats are left on the pillow for nightly turndown service; and there's complimentary wine and cheese in the afternoon. Penthouse suites have two floors of living space with a full kitchen, and many rooms have private balconies with water or town views. Other perks include use of the hot tub and sauna, free coffee, tea, and infused water, and free parking.

There are plenty of thoughtful touches at this 1810 Queen Anne–style cottage: fresh flowers in every room, lavish breakfasts, refrigerators stocked with beverages, and beach chairs with umbrellas (perfect for nearby Sandy Neck Beach); there's even an outdoor hot tub and shower. Airy, country-style guest rooms have lots of white wicker, checked curtains, and pastel-painted floors; the spacious second-floor Wisteria Room overlooking the lush yard is a particularly comfortable retreat, and the screened-in porch is a peaceful place to sip early-morning coffee.

A stately 19th-century Greek Revival building with imposing columns, the inn has one of the most dramatic facades of any house on the Cape; it sits near nature trails and has its own fine gardens, patios, and tree-shaded lawns. Mahogany queen- or king-size four-poster beds and antique furnishings provide comfortable respite in a classic setting. A bountiful four-course breakfast starts the day off right.

At this understated and serene but stylish inn, perched on a bluff overlooking Vineyard Sound, common areas include an art-laden living room with a boulder fireplace and water views, oversize windows, and modern white couches; a bistrolike breakfast room; and a porch with more stunning water views. Contemporary furnishings such as natural oak tables, unbleached cottons, ample shelf space, and ceiling fans adorn each room; four have private decks with views of the Sound. Baked goods are a real treat here, so don't miss breakfast or the free afternoon snacks.

Smartly and traditionally furnished common areas—including the high-ceiling parlor, the formal dining room, and the wraparound porch—are a major draw to this dignified 1825 Greek Revival house. Guest rooms in both the main building and the carriage house are filled with a mix of old-world romantic charm and modern amenities; each is uniquely decorated, and some have fireplaces for those chilly evenings. A sweet touch: Cookies delivered to guest rooms every afternoon. 

This sterling, light-filled B&B offers a soothing respite from the bustle of town; opt for one of the carriage-house rooms for even more seclusion. Most guest rooms have gas fireplaces, and two have spa tubs, and the white, tan, and chocolate color schemes, beadboard walls, and pedestal sinks in the bathrooms (some of which have radiant-floor heating) impart a crisp, clean, modern-beach-house flair. Guests can also enjoy the property's integrated art gallery with original works from artists around the world.

This sophisticated complex comprises a 1901 former church (the Abbey), an ornate wood-frame 1882 Victorian (the Painted Lady), and an 1827 Federal-style house (the Village House), and the theme in each is a nod to the buildings' respective histories—the Painted Lady's charmingly appointed guest rooms, for example, are named after former inhabitants. The luxurious rooms in the Abbey, named for the six days of the Creation, have whirlpool tubs and gas fireplaces; if it's available, splurge on the Tuesday room: the incredible stained-glass "compass" window will take your breath away.

Entertaining innkeepers, tasty baked goods, and proximity to the beach are three good reasons to consider this gleaming circa-1835 Greek Revival--style inn, located in the Barnstable village of Centerville. A former sea captain's home, the inn is now helmed by Rick Garceau and Tom Nortz, who often serve breakfast dressed as "Britney Scones" or "Frank Scone-atra." A baby grand piano and fireplace in the living room lounge add to the aura of comfort meets style. 

With its expansive landscaped grounds ringed by a wrought-iron fence, this elegant 1849 Italianate inn with a wraparound porch and grand foyer resembles a private estate. Guest rooms have many luxurious amenities, including decadent bedding and plush robes, and several rooms are outfitted with gas fireplaces perfect for cozying up in the cooler months.

At this delightful inn, a Lark Hotel property, five buildings of one- and two-bedroom suites ring a landscaped lawn that leads to a scenic wooded pond. Guest accommodations are casually decorated, many with a maritime theme, with bleached wood, white and blue decor, and comfortable furniture. In Eli's Tavern, dishes range from fried oysters to fish-and-chips and steamed lobster, as well as other pub favorites like steak tips and buffalo tenders. Dog-owners will be happy to know 21 rooms are pet-friendly.

Lilacs, pink roses, and beautiful perennial gardens add a floral flourish this 1857 Greek Revival farmhouse located on a quiet residential road near the bay. Innkeepers Mark and Amy Scamman set the scene for a romantic getaway with guest rooms sporting country antiques, beamed ceilings, four-poster beds, and fluffy duvets. In the attached carriage house, some guest rooms have small balconies overlooking a wooded lawn with gardens, grape arbors, and berry bushes.

New owners, who live on-site, are refreshing the look of this circa 1848 Victorian, but it still has that 'olde inn' appeal, with graceful lines, high ceilings, and stained glass. Despite intricate wall coverings and canopy beds, the spacious rooms are uncluttered and welcoming, merging vintage charm and a lighter modern touch. The two suites in the adjacent carriage house, outfitted with king beds, have a simpler, cottage style.

This gorgeously decorated and recently renovated inn occupies a 1798 building on a bluff beside a cranberry bog with Pleasant Bay views from many of the rooms and a small private beach with its own dock. At the dock is "A Little Boat," a 21-foot motorboat the hosts use to take guests on complimentary tours of Chatham Harbor. There are kayaks and paddleboards for guests to use (free) and experiential activities such as cranberry picking, oyster shucking, and bread baking lessons. A daily happy hour includes wine and tasty snacks like baked Boursin with spicy honey. The main house has four guest rooms, and two nearby buildings contain another five.

Though one side of this aged beauty sits right on busy Conwell Street, the interior is all serenity, bathed in white, an ideal backdrop for the brilliant wood floors, statement furniture, and art pieces—think Colonial farmhouse with a decidedly modern edge. Guest rooms range from the standard double, tiny but lovely at 125 square feet, to deluxe king, with a small sitting area. Outside there are several very private seating areas on brick patios, shaded under a pergola of greenery.

Outside, this 1895 sea captain's home looks like many other historic houses on the Cape; inside is a surprisingly upscale boutique B&B appointed with reclaimed barn wood, leather furnishings, and two gallery rooms filled with fine art photography. Innkeepers Adrian and Xenia D'Ambrosi have created an adults-only haven featuring beautiful plants (Xenia is a garden designer) and excellent four-course breakfasts (Adrian is a chef who has worked for Jean-Georges Vongerichten.)

Giving a generous nod to its name and its 19th-century heritage, this inn is full of nautical and historic touches: seaside artwork and furnishings, steeply pitched roof lines, wide-plank floors, antiques, and a good deal of painted furniture. Sleep with your windows open and you'll likely hear the waves of nearby Nauset Beach, a five-minute walk from the inn—have your morning repast inside the homey pine-paneled breakfast room, or outdoors on the stone patio.

With its graceful columns and welcoming front veranda, the regal Winstead Inn sits along a quiet street; many of the rooms have a view of the heated, outdoor saltwater pool, a real oasis with potted palms, fountains, and flowers. The inn has a second property 1½ miles away in Harwich Port, with 14 rooms on a private stretch of beach fronting Nantucket Sound. Inn guests have use of the beach amenities.