Pros

  • Historic property in the heart of Newport
  • All-suite hotel, with large rooms and luxurious bathrooms
  • Townhouse suites have private rooftop decks
  • Free continental breakfast
  • Afternoon tea and snacks served daily
  • Free Wi-Fi and parking
See More Pros

Cons

  • Few amenities: no pool, spa, fitness center, or restaurant on-site
  • Small bathrooms
  • No elevator
See More Cons

Bottom Line

Housed in a former mill, Newport’s Mill Street Inn is a historic property with modern interiors. With 23 all-suite rooms, this upscale inn has a minimalist vibe and a quiet atmosphere. Rooms have exposed brick walls, simple wood furniture, down featherbeds, and luxurious marble bathrooms. The hotel serves free continental breakfast each morning, as well as tea and snacks in the afternoon. There’s free parking and Wi-Fi, but no pool, spa, fitness center, or restaurant. Travelers looking for these amenities might prefer the nearby Hotel Viking, which usually has similar nightly rates.  

See More Bottom Line

Amenities

Oyster Hotel Review

Mill Street Inn

Scene

Modern interiors and a quiet atmosphere

There are many historic inns in Newport, but there are few like the Mill Street Inn. Most historic hotels in the area have painstakingly striven to maintain original character and period details. And while this is all well and good, the Mill Street Inn offers a breath of fresh air to travelers who may be looking for something other than Queen Anne furniture and traditional decor. While the exterior of the Mill Street Inn maintains its original character, the interior is completely modern, with slate floors in the entry way, contemporary furniture in the guest rooms, and a minimalist aesthetic in the bathrooms. The hotel doesn’t see much hustle and bustle (after all there are only 23 rooms), so the tiny lobby maintains a quiet atmosphere. The breakfast room, just down a few stairs from the lobby, has a small crowd each morning for breakfast, and in the afternoons when tea and snacks are served. While kids are welcome here, there certainly isn’t much for them to do. It should also be noted that the hotel does not have an elevator, which could pose an issue for guests with mobility issues. There's a handicap accessible/stroller friendly entrance on the side of the hotel, but entering through the front door does require a few steps to reach the lobby.  

See More Scene

Location

Close to mansions and Thames Street 

The Mill Street Inn is located on Mill Street, as expected, a tiny one-way thoroughfare that connects Thames Street with Bellevue Avenue. Guests can easily walk to the shops and restaurants on Thames, a nice feature considering Newport parking is nothing short of a nightmare (and it’s expensive). The famed Newport mansions are about a six-minute drive from the hotel, and the beginning of the Cliff Walk, a lovely three-and-a-half mile cliff-side path that meanders along the coast, is about a four-minute drive. Driving to Easton’s Beach will take about seven minutes, and Second Beach will take about nine. T.F. Green Airport is 40 minutes by car, while the city of Providence is 50 minutes.  

See More Location

Rooms

Large, all-suite rooms with a modern aesthetic and luxurious (though small) bathrooms 

For such a small hotel, the all-suite rooms at the Mill Street Inn are uncharacteristically large. Exposed brick walls and contemporary furniture give rooms a modern feeling, but there’s also a subtle nautical theme, thanks to blue-gray and white striped carpeting, polished silver lamps, and light blue accents scattered about the space. Though there are three different types of suites, each with a different layout, decor and amenities remain relatively the same throughout. Each suite features a king-size down featherbed with crisp white 300 thread count sheets. All suites have a living area, complete with a loveseat, small arm chair, fully stocked minibar, flat-screen TV, and a coffee table stacked with funky books like “101 Whiskies to Try Before You Die” or “Other People’s Love Letters.” Studio Suites have a combined living/bedroom area, while Deluxe Suites have separate living and bedroom areas. The latter option is popular with families who use the sleeper sofa in the living room as a separate bedroom for the kids. The two-story Townhouse Suites, the largest of the three options, have private rooftop decks with incredible views of Newport Harbor.  

Bathrooms at the Mill Street Inn are small, which is a bit of a let down considering the size of the rooms. However, they are luxuriously appointed, with marble finishes and oversized walk-in showers with rainfall and high pressure showerheads. There are plenty of fluffy white towels, and Lather toiletries, including soap, shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. None of the bathrooms have bathtubs, which may be a problem for families with young children. 

See More Rooms

Features

Free parking, Wi-Fi, daily continental breakfast, and afternoon tea

In a town with horridly expensive parking, free parking could be considered the inn's ultimate feature. The hotel also offers free Wi-Fi, and serves a lovely, and free, continental breakfast each morning. The breakfast spread usually includes typical continental fare like muffins and pastries, but the Mill Street Inn also serves other yummy items like quiche and frittatas. Drinks include juice, tea, and coffee beverage of choice from Nespresso machines. Afternoon tea is served in the same room each afternoon (just a few steps down from the lobby), and tends to include snacks like salted caramel brownies and toffee crunch blondies. Besides these perks, the hotel doesn’t offer much else in the way of amenities. There is no pool, spa, fitness center, or on-site restaurant, but this is typical of other inns in the area.  

See More Features

Oyster Hotel Review

Mill Street Inn

Scene

Modern interiors and a quiet atmosphere

There are many historic inns in Newport, but there are few like the Mill Street Inn. Most historic hotels in the area have painstakingly striven to maintain original character and period details. And while this is all well and good, the Mill Street Inn offers a breath of fresh air to travelers who may be looking for something other than Queen Anne furniture and traditional decor. While the exterior of the Mill Street Inn maintains its original character, the interior is completely modern, with slate floors in the entry way, contemporary furniture in the guest rooms, and a minimalist aesthetic in the bathrooms. The hotel doesn’t see much hustle and bustle (after all there are only 23 rooms), so the tiny lobby maintains a quiet atmosphere. The breakfast room, just down a few stairs from the lobby, has a small crowd each morning for breakfast, and in the afternoons when tea and snacks are served. While kids are welcome here, there certainly isn’t much for them to do. It should also be noted that the hotel does not have an elevator, which could pose an issue for guests with mobility issues. There's a handicap accessible/stroller friendly entrance on the side of the hotel, but entering through the front door does require a few steps to reach the lobby.  

See More Scene

Location

Close to mansions and Thames Street 

The Mill Street Inn is located on Mill Street, as expected, a tiny one-way thoroughfare that connects Thames Street with Bellevue Avenue. Guests can easily walk to the shops and restaurants on Thames, a nice feature considering Newport parking is nothing short of a nightmare (and it’s expensive). The famed Newport mansions are about a six-minute drive from the hotel, and the beginning of the Cliff Walk, a lovely three-and-a-half mile cliff-side path that meanders along the coast, is about a four-minute drive. Driving to Easton’s Beach will take about seven minutes, and Second Beach will take about nine. T.F. Green Airport is 40 minutes by car, while the city of Providence is 50 minutes.  

See More Location

Rooms

Large, all-suite rooms with a modern aesthetic and luxurious (though small) bathrooms 

For such a small hotel, the all-suite rooms at the Mill Street Inn are uncharacteristically large. Exposed brick walls and contemporary furniture give rooms a modern feeling, but there’s also a subtle nautical theme, thanks to blue-gray and white striped carpeting, polished silver lamps, and light blue accents scattered about the space. Though there are three different types of suites, each with a different layout, decor and amenities remain relatively the same throughout. Each suite features a king-size down featherbed with crisp white 300 thread count sheets. All suites have a living area, complete with a loveseat, small arm chair, fully stocked minibar, flat-screen TV, and a coffee table stacked with funky books like “101 Whiskies to Try Before You Die” or “Other People’s Love Letters.” Studio Suites have a combined living/bedroom area, while Deluxe Suites have separate living and bedroom areas. The latter option is popular with families who use the sleeper sofa in the living room as a separate bedroom for the kids. The two-story Townhouse Suites, the largest of the three options, have private rooftop decks with incredible views of Newport Harbor.  

Bathrooms at the Mill Street Inn are small, which is a bit of a let down considering the size of the rooms. However, they are luxuriously appointed, with marble finishes and oversized walk-in showers with rainfall and high pressure showerheads. There are plenty of fluffy white towels, and Lather toiletries, including soap, shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. None of the bathrooms have bathtubs, which may be a problem for families with young children. 

See More Rooms

Features

Free parking, Wi-Fi, daily continental breakfast, and afternoon tea

In a town with horridly expensive parking, free parking could be considered the inn's ultimate feature. The hotel also offers free Wi-Fi, and serves a lovely, and free, continental breakfast each morning. The breakfast spread usually includes typical continental fare like muffins and pastries, but the Mill Street Inn also serves other yummy items like quiche and frittatas. Drinks include juice, tea, and coffee beverage of choice from Nespresso machines. Afternoon tea is served in the same room each afternoon (just a few steps down from the lobby), and tends to include snacks like salted caramel brownies and toffee crunch blondies. Besides these perks, the hotel doesn’t offer much else in the way of amenities. There is no pool, spa, fitness center, or on-site restaurant, but this is typical of other inns in the area.  

See More Features

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Air Conditioner

  • Babysitting Services

  • Balcony / Terrace / Patio

  • Basic Television

  • Cabanas

  • Cable

  • Concierge

  • Free Breakfast

  • Internet

  • Kids Allowed

  • Laundry

  • Meeting / Conference Rooms

  • Mini Bar (with liquor)

  • Rental Car Service Desk Onsite

  • Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.