13 Best Hotels in The North Carolina Coast, North Carolina

Rooms in this 1882 Italianate Victorian residence feature high ceilings and modern fixtures with well-curated antiques and reproductions, premium linens, and thoughtful amenities. Linen-covered tables with fresh flowers greet you at breakfast in the dining room. Porches, a garden courtyard with a fire pit, and a stately sitting room painted in a soothing blue offer relaxing communal spaces. Across the street, an additional cottage houses two suites and a meeting room.

Relax in a rocking chair on the verandas that encircle this classic, three-story, cedar-shingle inn (it's on the National Register of Historic Places) and admire the ocean views across the 4-acre lawn. Rooms have four-poster or canopy beds, handcrafted armoires, and English antiques, along with extras such as heated towel bars and English toiletries. A hot breakfast and evening wine and cheese are served in a lovely sitting room or can be taken upstairs to the Virginia Dare library. The story of this landmark's near demolition, its rescue, and the move to the present site is told in framed photographs, letters, and news accounts lining the sunny dining room.

You'll feel like an honored houseguest in this casually elegant, full-service boutique hotel, with sweeping waterfront views, intuitive rather than intrusive service, and an indoor-outdoor fine-dining restaurant, Café Pamlico. Lounge by the pool, walk out to the dock, or relax on an array of decks and porches, all designed to maximize the sunset experience over the sound. Schedule an in-room spa treatment, borrow a movie to watch in the 14-seat theater, or kick up your heels by stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, fishing, or bicycling through the Buxton Woods Preserve that's just across the street. There's a full-service bar and regularly scheduled live music.

Experience front-porch hospitality and mix with lively locals in this elegant 1830s home, complete with original details, such as the wood plank flooring. With only three remodeled guest rooms, each with some period furniture and two with whirlpool baths, you'll never feel crowded. The owners also rent out a bungalow across the street, and its inviting pool is available to Inn guests. 

This 1850 Greek revival inn lodged Yankee soldiers during the Civil War and today it's home to eight rooms—all with bathroom and flooring remodels in 2022—outfitted with antiques but light on clutter. The licensed commercial kitchen produces terrific breakfasts and private dinners and serves as a comfortable setting for occasional cooking classes.  This historic 8,000-square-foot home has a curious past—at one point, two brothers sawed the house in half to install a large Queen Anne staircase, making the house 9 feet wider and creating a neat double hallway upstairs, adding to the communal space.

This 19th-century Queen Anne–style B&B, with fascinating turrets and period details, is a companionable sister to the family of architectural beauties in Wilmington's 230-block historic district, putting it within easy walking distance of the city's riverfront shopping and dining. New owners in 2022 undertook a complete remodel of rooms and shared spaces, balancing the home's history with modern amenities, new beds, and stylish decor. Convenient off-street parking, huge porches, and strategically placed outdoor accent lighting make it a safe, welcoming property, even after dark.

From the outside, this classy B&B is a beautifully restored 19th-century Queen Anne–style home with an immaculately kept garden, but inside, the neon lights, artistic fixtures, modern furniture, and the aroma of essential oil diffusers feel more like stepping into a Bohemian spa experience. Wellness is at the forefront, and breakfast (and private dinners, by request) is entirely vegan. 

The bright and spacious suites at this oceanfront inn feature wide private balconies, letting you idle close to home and soak in the view all day long. Of course, the beach is merely steps away when you do want some sand between your toes.  Room 9 is in the hotel's namesake lighthouse, a neat architectural feature with a wall of windows facing the sea.

Comfort and convenience are yours in these water-facing rooms, featuring individual climate control, full-size fridges, and private balconies. Suites have a generous sleeping area with pullout sofas, and some have whirlpool tubs. A simple continental breakfast, served in a charming waterfront room, is included, and boat docking is free for guests. The inn also manages several rental cottages.

Several of this comfortable, well-kept B&B's seven rooms include pencil-post canopy beds and bay windows, offering a historic, authentic base for exploring. The decor blends antique pieces with modern fixtures, an approach also evidenced in the pleasant sitting garden and patio adjacent to the Tesla chargers in the parking lot. Before it became a B&B, this 1860s house saw duty as a Masonic Lodge, schoolhouse, tearoom, and a doctor’s office.

This charming 19th-century-style waterfront inn would look perfectly in place on Martha's Vineyard and is just steps from shops, restaurants, and Roanoke Island Festival Park. Individually decorated rooms were updated in 2022 and sport clean, classic lines and muted colors. 

Built in 1853 in the Italianate style, the 8,500-square-foot Verandas underwent a full renovation in 2019 after damage from Hurricane Florence, bringing the beautiful mansion to its original glory with elegant and magnificent—but functional—furnishings. While the decor is formal (brightened by attractive color schemes and high ceilings), the atmosphere is relaxed. Guests can socialize on the four verandas, stroll in the garden, enjoy nights of luxury in one of the eight beautiful rooms, or climb the winding staircase for a wonderful view from the roof-top cupola—the highest point in the neighborhood. So far, new ownership in 2022 hasn't changed a good thing. 

Just up the street from Manteo's romantic waterfront, this B&B is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and meets all the criteria for luxury wrapped in serenity. Each architecturally unique room is furnished with antiques curated from family heirlooms or private collections, and rich linens, cushy bathrobes, and gas-log fireplaces reflect an inn designed for the pampered traveler. In addition to spa and concierge service, afternoon coffee, tea, and desserts are served, and the private gardens, verandas, and porches extend the hospitality outdoors.