Ruby’s Cove Bed and Breakfast

A wonderful place to stay with the perfect location, wonderful breakfast and a comfortable atmosphere.

The hubby and I decided to book Ruby’s on a whim and we are so glad we did! We stayed mid-​week just after Labor Day 2015. Ruby’s is truly something special. It is a beautiful house with so much character and charm and we absolutely loved our time there. The location is superb and convenient — we parked our car and just walked everywhere. We could only stay for 1 night but we are definitely going to be back — and we’ll probably bring some friends! We were lucky enough to be the only couple there that night and we had the whole place to ourselves; it would be a great place to stay with a few friends. The hostess, Donna, was so lovely and accommodating and left some delicious snacks, a growler of beer, a delicious Chardonnay and Edith Piaf playing for our arrival — so relaxing and such a lovely touch! Our room was so comfortable and beautifully decorated and for us, the bed and bedding are a very important part of staying in a hotel/​B & B and these were both stellar. So comfy!!! The icing on the cake was our delicious breakfast — we’re more «savory breakfast» people and Donna made a scrumptious egg frittata that was delicious! I’m going to attempt to make it at home. There was also wholegrain toast, crunchy bacon, yummy potatoes plus a big vat of coffee and various teas. Thank you Donna for such a pleasant stay. FIVE STARS!!!

My boyfriend and I stayed here last night and was the most beautiful house ever! Donna is the sweetest woman. Who cooks the BESTTT BREAKFAST! she was so helpful and her house was immaculate. So clean and so amazing. we can not wait to go back, hopefully October! No time to waste! Not to mention right in the heart of green port. So much to do! This is a must!

I took my wife to Ruby’s for our anniversary and absolutely loved it! I had asked Donna, the owner, helped me out with getting flowers and some treats to make it special. I was really that extra touch that made a huge difference to me. We really enjoyed the Ruby’s and plan to go back soon! My wife is planning on taking some of her girlfriends there when they visit over the summer. Another great thing about Ruby’s is the location, it is walking distance to a restaurants and shops. The Ferry is right down the street, if you wanted to go to the Island. All in all it was a great place. Donna really went above and beyond to make it enjoyable for us!

My Husband and I had a wonderful stay at Ruby’s Cove this past winter… so much so that we’ve rented out the house in a couple of weeks to celebrate a big birthday!
The house is gorgeous. Big enough that guests are not on top of each other, but still with all the warmth and coziness that you want in a B&B.
The thing, though, that makes Ruby’s Cove stand out is definitely the owner, Donna. Her love for the house and her hope that every guest sees what she sees in it is truly evident. Plus, she makes a great breakfast!
We can’t wait to return!

This place was ok… I would definitely visit Greenport again but would probably stay at a different place. It wasn’t bad. The location is great. Donna is very knowledgable of things to do but a little weird. The breakfast was ok depending on the day… She always served an egg dish and something SWIMMING in syrup… Not a diet friendly breakfast for sure… The place was clean but the bathrooms are very small!!! I’m 5’5 about 135 and I just fit.
Overall, not a bad place. It’s good for a short trip!

We had a great time staying at Ruby’s Cove in Greenport during a long weekend. Donna is beyond helpful (aside from having free bikes, she lent us a beach blanket and backpack for our bike ride), also had beer, wine and cheese every night and made an amazing breakfast. And the B&B couldn’t be in a better location — next to everything! We didn’t have a car — took the Jitney from NYC. From Ruby’s Cove we could easily walk and bike everywhere we needed to go.

Background
April 7^th was our 30^th wedding anniversary, and my wife and I wanted to spend a nice quiet weekend at a Bed and Breakfast away from the daily grind. We wanted a locale where we didn’t have to drive 2+ hours to get to. Since we’ve never been to the North Fork, we decided to spend it there and chose Greenport. According to Fodor’s, it is the «prettiest» town on the North Fork. Next up was to decide on which B&B to stay at. After much research I decided on Ruby’s Cove Bed and Breakfast. Its close proximity to main street (127 steps is correct!), quiet location off the main thoroughfare, the legendary innkeeper Donna Gruber, her breakfast cuisine, and the allure of a 177 year old Victorian drew me in.
The Cove
Simply amazing. Interior design is Bohemian and is quite exquisite. The furniture is mostly handpicked and Donna did a fabulous job of blending the various pieces together. Our room (The Madeline) was comfortable and the bed was great. Bathrooms are small. 2 out of the 3 rooms have ensuite bathrooms. Keep in mind the age of this Victorian before complaining about the size of the bathroom. There are no TV’s in the entire house and to be honest we did not miss them. Mood setting music played throughout the day. There are numerous nooks and crannies throughout the house and I found the architecture of the house to be very interesting. This was a place where one can simply pull up any of the numerous chairs (Donna dared me to sit in every one of them and I did) kick back and… relax! Simply doing nothing is still doing something. Breakfast is at 10am which was perfect for us because I fail to see the need to wake up early to have breakfast in order to get it out of the way, so that we can adhere to a rigid itinerary. In my opinion, this would defeat the whole purpose of staying here. Forgot the clock and enjoy the freedom at least for the weekend. Get out there and just talk to people. By the way, wait until you see what «breakfast» really is! Yes, the French Toast is… (speechless). To work off the breakfast, we would jump on the bikes that Donna provides, and ride throughout the town and its outskirts. Pay careful attention to the architect of the fabulous homes you’ll come across.
Greenport
It’s a magical place. I never knew that one town can have a collection of some of the friendliest people I have ever met all gathered in one place. What is also incredible about this town is how many folks know Donna and they all revere her. I can understand why though. Great restaurants, awesome shops. Don’t miss the North Fork food truck that stops in front of the Greenport Harbor Brewing Company on Saturday afternoon. Be sure to sample the 8 different beers in the brewery all for $ 8(right next to the Cove). I would suggest after the beer tasting, head immediately over to The Salamander General Store for the best tasting fried chicken. For dinner we ate at First & South, Noah’s, and The Frisky Oyster. We liked Noah’s the best for the quality of the food and service, but you can’t go wrong with either of them. As you stroll through town you will forget that you’re still on Long Island.

The Keeper of the Cove
Donna Gruber. We now consider her a friend. Nowhere have I ever met a more gracious and accommodating host. Her bubbling, friendly, outgoing nature is simply infectious. It’s natural that when you stay at these types of establishments, you hope that as strangers, we all get along; otherwise the weekend would be a bust. Don’t worry-​Donna has perfected the art of balancing her time and interactions with the other folks also staying at the Cove so that in a short time, everyone is getting along with each other like old friends. It is uncanny how Donna brings people together and for that I am extremely grateful. I know the prior reviews may have seemed over the top, gushing about Donna. I thought so too, to be honest, and Donna and I spoke at great lengths about this, as well as enjoyed some laughs over this subject. I can tell you that everything said about Donna is absolutely true. Add me to those ranks. Her suggestion to stop at the Love Lane Kitchen in Mattituck on the drive in was appreciated-​what a great eatery! And, since it was our 30^th wedding anniversary, at my request Donna helped me to surprise my wife by having a bouquet of flowers, balloon, and champagne waiting in our room when we first arrived. All in all, it was the absolute perfect weekend for us!
Conclusion
My wife and I already miss our wonderful weekend stay at Ruby’s Cove. We miss the breakfasts. We miss the beautiful town of Greenport. We miss the shops and restaurants. We miss the quiet time together. We miss our bike rides. We miss the camaraderie of our friend Donna… until next year…
PS. Donna, Jodi is determined to win the bet. The pics will follow shortly. Also, please keep an eye on that Chimney Cap. When I come back I want to see it still on! LOL… be well.

Even before we arrived, we heard how wonderful Donna Gruber will make our stay at Ruby Cove. Words cannot explain the passion she has for a marvelous guest experience. Starting with discounts at local restaurants, wineries and stores, appetizers on arrival, beautiful rooms, and unbelievable french toast and breakfast we cannot stop raving. Location is key to town. We went in off season, yet Donna was an amazing resource for shopping, dining and wineries. We are fantasying about the breakfast we had and how relaxing our time was at Ruby’s Cove.
Jill M.

Donna is a fantastic host & doing what you feel she was destined to do!!! You immediately feel welcomed as you enter her cozy, eclectic rooms. There’s a great vibe where the perfect music is always playing. The location is very convenient as you can stroll right into town & drop by the local brewery right next door! Breakfast is awesome & not to be missed, although later than the typical B&B, which is plus in our book, but I guess another one of the reasons that make this place special & not typical. JS & LS

My 6-​day vacation at Ruby’s Cove was everything I was looking for in a getaway from Manhattan, on my own: quiet, relaxing but active and fun.
The house: it is really, really beautiful, clean and quiet. The ground floor has several wonderfully decorated living rooms and a porch where you can relax. I was worried that in an old house you can usually hear everything but this is not the case — rooms are very quiet, located at the second level (nothing on third) and
I did not hear any noise from the neighbor rooms. I liked that there were no TVs in the house but a very nice relaxing music playing in the living rooms. I was also worried that I had the room that has the bathroom across the hall (it is private) but it was OK — in the end it is a house, who has the bathroom in the room in a house?
Location: it is really one short block from the heart of the village and one min away from the water. It is very quit, very few cars passes during day and I heard none at night (really!).
The host: Donna is warm and fun and overall a great host! She helped me plan each of my days there with cool insights about everything! I felt so good that I did not realize I was referring to the B&B as «home» in my conversations
Breakfast: Donna is an excellent cook — and I am a foodie! She prepares wonderful dishes with eggs and her French toast is — no kidding! — the best I ate. The breakfast is served at 10 am, which works well with getting up late. Or if you go for a quick swim or walk you can come back — trust me, you will want to come back and arrange your schedule so that you do not miss the breakfast!
Activities: Donna helped with all kind of activities: biking (if you wanna be active you really do not need a car to get around and Donna indeed has about 12 – 15 bikes all type, shapes and colors– have fun trying them!), beaches, vineyards, concerts, live music, shopping, restaurants, etc. I am a big fan of the Square (30 sec away from Ruby’s), with 4 different wonderful places, all under famous chef Keith Luce: Main — restaurant, Prep — take out, Nosh — salads, pastries and Meet — bar. I highly recommend you try all of them! From food, service to décor and live music they offer a great experience.
Bottom line: I plan to return to Ruby’s cove in a few weeks — I think it is gonna be my home away from home :)

My second visit to Ruby’s and it was just as good as the first! Donna is an exceptional hostess, and makes you feel at home no matter what the occasion for traveling is — a weekend away with a girlfriend, or a romantic getaway with a new beau. The house is cozy and enchanting — the décor charming, the beds heavenly, the music playing in the living room perfect for the mood, and the porch — oh, the porch! Perfect place for summer nights paired with wine (the fridge is always stocked, in case you didn’t buy enough of your own from the fabulous vineyards a short drive away), or mornings with the creative and always delicious breakfasts Donna serves up. The house itself is really only half the Ruby’s experience, however — Donna really makes the place special. She’s accommodating through and through — from leaving the lights on and a key hidden for my arrival outside normal check in hours (outside of normal hours for anything, really), to recommendations for all of Greenport + surrounding area’s hidden treasures — the best restaurants, vineyards, beaches, places to visit, bike trails to explore. I already can’t wait to be back!

I visited Ruby’s Cove as a solo traveler midweek in an attempt to avoid burnout at work, and my attempt was quite successful. This B&B is beautiful and relaxing, with comfortable beds, a soothing Pandora playlist playing in the library, and a porch swing you could sit on all day. My plan was to do absolutely nothing for four days, and that’s easy to do in Greenport. Not wanting to drive, I took the Long Island Railroad, which is walking distance from Ruby’s, and I was able to walk around Gilmore Girls-​esque town with no problem. The innkeeper, Donna, also provides free bikes, so I was able to ride up to the 67 Steps beach and Kontakosta Vineyard in less than half an hour.
Donna took care of breakfast, making delicious meals that accommodated my dietary restrictions, and she has great recommendations for the best places to eat in town (sidenote: get the pulled duck at Noah’s and the cucumber soup at First & South). I’m thinking of returning later this year and working from the B&B, because working from a covered porch in the North Fork seems much more civilized than working anywhere else. I’m hoping Donna keeps providing her midweek «stay two nights and get one night free» deal, because otherwise the rooms are slightly too expensive for me. They are worth it, though.

This was my first B&B experience, so it sets a high standard. The house is beautiful, inviting and comfy. Attention to detail was paid down to the different scents in each room, which ranged from cinnamon to lavender. The rooms are comfortable, the breakfast is delicious (she made us french toast, a baked egg dish similar to fritatas, and bacon), and the location is perfect — right next to Greeenport’s downtown area. But honestly, what makes it all come together is the fact that Donna is truly an welcoming, gregarious and gracious host. Thanks for everything!

An afternoon of wine tasting led to an impromptu stay at Ruby’s Cove. Donna was welcoming and hospitable, and the B&B was fun & warm — from the wonderful music playing all day, to the local libations + yummy breakfast — it was a memorable experience.
Thanks for making our visit to the North Fork such a great experience!

We enjoyed our stay at Ruby’s very much. Donna the owner is a very warm & fuzzy type, she really goes out of her way to make your stay enjoyable. She helps you with dinner recommendations, directions the whole 9 yards! The house is stocked with great, ecletic antiques and the rooms are very spacious. The breakfast was delicious, her personality is terrific, Highly reccomend this B&B.

My boyfriend and I had a great weekend at Ruby’s cove. Donna the innkeeper has a bubbly personality and makes you feel welcome as soon as you step into the quaint Victorian house. She makes a fantastic group breakfast and facilitates an environment where guests feel like old friends. The bedrooms are nicely decorated and the house is within walking distance of some great restaurants and literally next door to the Greenport brewery which is a must-​do.

My first bed and breakfast experience and it is safe to say the best I’ll ever find. From the moment you walk into Ruby’s Cove you feel you are at home (except better decorated). The décor is beautiful and comforting, the town is quaint and perfect, and Donna (B&B keeper) is truly amazing.
I was in Greenpoint and at Ruby’s Cove for a wedding that was sadly effected by Hurricane Irene. Donna and many members of the Greenpoint community did everything they could to help all members of the wedding party have the best wedding they could under the circumstances.
I cant wait to go back and spend more time in the town, at Ruby Cove and with Donna. Her home is beautiful and her cooking is fantastic. Ruby’s Cover is perfect for any type of person and can easily accommodate whatever type of experience you are hoping to find from relaxing and romantic to party time.

Ruby’s Cove is soooooo awesome. It is conveniently located in the heart of town, not to mention next door to the Greenport Brewery.
The check in experience was great. The B&B keeper (Donna) is so pleasant. She gave us directions which included a shortcut to bypass the town traffic. Donna offered many options for dinner, offered to make dinner reservations and told us about the local amenities. The rooms make you want to hanky panky alll night! Seriously, they are very romantic. LOL
I’m not a big fan of breakfast but Ruby’s breakfast is awesome. Donna really goes out of her way to make sure you are happy.
You can take the LIRR here but you will have to pay for a taxi to the B&B. Donna can help you with wine country reservations.
I am soooo looking forward to my next trip here. I highly recommend!

The greatest B&B ever!
Forget that it’s centrally located — but it should be noted that within seconds you can walk to all the restaurants and shops in the heart of Greenport.
Forget that the rooms are more comfortable and relaxing than any other dwelling you’ve ever experienced — but it should be noted that you feel instantly at home.
Forget that the breakfasts are better than anything else you will eat for the rest of the year — though it should be noted that the food is both original and familiar and you will not be able to stop eating what you’re served, even if you’re not hungry. (And as an aside, for those of you who come here and need many hours of recovery from eating and wine tasting and other gluttinous pursuits, Donna is not strict about the time breakfast is served. Hey, this is a B&B, not a weekend in army boot camp, okay? And while Donna is the most generous soul, you had better respect her and the time and effort she puts in to making you happy! Or else you’ll hear from me! ;))
I CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH: the greatest thing about this beautifully stunning old Victorian home is its keeper, Donna. The second you meet her, you’ll think you ran into one if your best friends from way back! Her sweetness and generosity and ebullience and tremendous sense of humor are all showered upon you and the only thing you’ll regret is that you have to leave. But you will tell everyone you know about this place and right after you leave, you’ll be thinking about coming back.
Anyway, I’m writing this on the last night of our three-​night Labor Day stay and while I am looking forward to eating nothing salads and celery sticks for the next week, I am sad to leave this house, which already feels like a second home. Thank you, Donna, thank you a million times!