Gilded

We had read the NY Times review of Gilded and looked at the photos on many websites including this one. That being said, sometimes photos do not describe the true experience. Here is ours. We checked in on a Monday afternoon, and we were greeted by the person working in a friendly manner, given our keys to the room and iPad. No asking did we need help with our luggage up to the third floor (there is NO elevator). We were also confused by the signage as to where to go to check in as there are multiple entrances so we parked in the back and had to walk around to the front to get in. Frustrating.
Once we finally got all of our luggage up to our third floor room, we relaxed for a while, Though the rooms are well appointed, there was dust everywhere including the baseboards and all over the lamps, etc, and no super clean feeling from the room which would be expected when one is paying $ 400 per night. The room itself is beautiful with a nice bathroom and shower and sitting area. But NO little refrigerator, and nobody asked if they could bring us ice when we checked in, so we had to get that as well.
The entire time we were here until Friday, nobody from the hotel asked if we needed anything, and then on Friday when we went to the reception area to check out, we rang the bell a few times and nobody came out. This was around 9:15am, and breakfast was set out, so there must have been SOMEBODY around. Oh, they charged my credit card on Monday when we checked in, so they got their money.
We left feeling like we had been cheated. Honestly, the hotel could be top notch but they have a LONG way to go in the customer service realm, and the place needs to be spotlessly clean if they want people to pay $ 400 per night.
Everything looks pretty in the photos and on several reviews, but we would not stay here or any other Lark Hotels again. It’s too bad, because we have plans to go back to Newport, Nantucket and other places up that way.

I usually don’t write many reviews. If I do, I only do it for specific very positive or negative reasons. So I will be short and very simple with this one.
We stayed in many top rated European and domestic hotels during our previous vacations and getaways. Staying in this hotel was a very pleasant part of our overall «Historical New England experience». They really try to make you feel welcome.
Great management… And delicious breakfasts.

Spent two night here. The accommodations were perfect! Nicely decorated … Emily and Dave, general managers, we’re both friendly and informative. They breakfast was the best I have had at any b&b!

What a lovely hotel! The Décor is absolutely amazing! This hotel stands out on the service side. The staff at check-​in was wonderfully friendly which was a welcome surprise from my days at the Hilton for business travel. As we were leaving the front desk after checking in, the front desk staff told us that some warm chocolate chip cookies that they were cooking should be ready in a few minutes — and when we said that we had to leave she said that she would have some brought up to our room which she did with two glasses of milk! A great service experience!
The room was very comfortable and nicely appointed the location is central to most of Newport and is very convenient! They give you purple iPads that are preloaded with all the areas dining and tourist spots which was a very nice convenience! The breakfast was amazing as well as you can see from the pictures that I uploaded it was a very unique and delicious dining experience!
Overall we would highly recommend staying here! Wonderful staff and a great hotel experience!

This place is actually as good as it gets! Me and my husband stayed here for the thanksgiving holiday.
I luv everything about gilded: the room décor and comfort, the dining hallway, the piping hot coffee all day with cookies, the tapas style breakfast, the lively colors — every single piece of it. Above all, the staff at Gilded made us feel at home.
I am definitely staying here any other time I visit Newport.

I don’t even know where to start. My husband and I rarely get away, so when I booked our room at Gilded I did so because it looked beautiful and comfortable, while being close enough to town for us to walk everywhere. Everything about this stay just exceeded my expectations.
Our room was ready an hour early and the woman who checked us in was so friendly and helpful. I think she may have been one of the owners? She explained everything, offered suggestions, and I was so surprised to hear that she upgraded our room. She knew we were celebrating our 9^th anniversary and that I was surprising my husband. It was very, very nice of them.
When I got to our room, which was beautiful by the way, I found that they had left a lovely handwritten note along with a plate of chocolate dipped strawberries. How nice is that?
It was clear to me at every point that they took their guests comfort very seriously. The bed was comfy, the breakfast lovely, and every staff member was just exceptionally friendly.

I’ve never written a Unilocal review before but the Gilded warrants it!
My husband and I just returned from the most wonderful Labor day weekend stay at The Gilded to celebrate our one-​year wedding anniversary. It was far and away one of the best hospitality experiences we’ve ever had. Everything was perfect: from a unique, fun and ‘quirky elegant’ interior design, unparalleled hospitality from the managers, and extremely delicious breakfast spreads (and homemade cookies awaiting our return to the hotel every night), we couldn’t have asked for a more enjoyable stay. The hotel is only 10 minutes from town, but off the beaten path of the tourist traps. We received an i-​pad upon our arrival which we referenced throughout the weekend, as the device had pre-​downloaded apps of varying local restaurants, attractions, bars, etc. which were already categorized for different purposes (i.e. dinner, brunch, rainy-​day activities, boat excursions, etc).
It is so clear that the managers of the Gilded do this as a labor of love, because every single part of the hotel was so thoughtfully executed. We can’t wait to recommend the Gilded to everyone we know!

It is very rare that I write negative reviews. But never have I had a worse encounter with a hotel as I did with Gilded. I found the hotel online while booking a bachelorette party in Newport. The photos looked gorgeous and the staff I spoke to was very nice. However, the minute I arrived I was severely disappointed. Nobody was there to help us with our bags. While the hotel advertised a wonderful renovation, the place looked dark and nothing like the photos. There was a miscommunication so only one of our three rooms were available that evening. Since I didn’t want the bridal party to swap hotels during a special weekend I booked elsewhere (The Viking Hotel, which I highly recommend).
I assumed I would be refunded my deposit since a) both parties had a miscommunication on dates and b) the hotel and rooms looked nothing as advertised. But upon nicely asking for a refund since I was forced to book elsewhere, the staff changed their tone and wrote lengthy emails explaining how they were kept up for hours trying to rebook the rooms. After spending three hours upon arrival figuring out how to still make this trip special, I was shocked that I was sent emails from the manager about her personal dilemmas.
Even though the hotel was able to rebook the majority of the rooms I was only offered a third of my deposit back. I tried contacting the CEO and he never replied.
I will never be staying at any of the Lark Hotel group’s hotels and I highly recommend being very cautious if looking at their properties. Again, it was the worst experience I’ve had with a hotel, and I travel at least every month. I hope you don’t have to experience the headache that I did with Lark Group.
***Additional review based on hotel’s reply***
As I said in the review above, I never heard back from the CEO. In addition, I received an email from the manager that began with the following:
«I also had a very stressful and unpleasant weekend — not sleeping, wondering if these rooms were going to be rebooked last minute, and knowing that our small, family owned and growing hotel company could take a big hit to our pocketbook on what is one of our most important weekends of the summer.»
Again, I just want to warn people about the hotel, because in addition to the continuous bad experience I experienced, the hotel misrepresents itself on the website. It looks nothing like the gorgeous photos.

I had the pleasure of staying here for a weekend in June while attending a friend’s wedding. Gilded is a newly opened boutique hotel that in some ways resembles a large bed & breakfast. From what I have read, it was formerly a hotel/​bed & breakfast and has undergone a recent renovation transforming it into its current playful and abundantly colorful state. It’s a huge departure from the stodgy Brahmin Newport that people generally envision.
Located a bit off the craziness of Newport’s main drag, Gilded is still under a 15 minute walk to the harbor and located right near some of the other grand hotels. On arrival, Gilded has an advantage of plentiful off-​street and convenient on-​street parking. Check-​in was smooth, friendly, and professional, and we were given an iPad to use which came preloaded with suggestions for nearby attractions.
Our room was a second floor «suite» with a king bed and small sitting area. They’ve tried to utilize the existing house in interesting ways, so there are a few oddities like the lack of closet but instead a clothes-​hanging bar jutting out from a corner of the room, and steps leading to a bathroom that likely used to be a closet. Based on the pictures, all the rooms are unique and have their own architectural touches and flourishes, but in any event our room was well-​appointed, quiet, and comfortable.
The rest of the grounds include a pool table, an inside walkway with tables for eating, a beautiful outdoor courtyard with tables perfect for enjoying breakfast, and a large front room with couches. Breakfast was served every morning in the main check-​in/​kitchen area, which also comes with a fridge for guests to place leftovers.
While overall it was a very pleasant stay, a few things weren’t the best — the food was beautifully presented, with cute little jars and bottles for fruit, absolutely gorgeous looking baked goods and other cereals. But while the appearance was perfect, the taste left something to be desired. Much of the food wasn’t particularly good, and while filling enough we were rarely interested in having more of anything. The other issue was with ants in our room and bathroom. They were mostly a problem in the bathroom, but we found a bunch in the bedroom as well.
Overall this is a great place to stay in Newport and a place I’d be interested in visiting again. It’s so nice to see a place that doesn’t feel stodgy and old. Gilded really crushes it from a décor standpoint, and hopefully the other things will improve in time.

No doubt one of my best stay :)
Hotel is only one month old, great location, nicely designed with great detailed and very modern. Staffs were all very helpful and super friendly. (All handsome and pretty too: D) we were handed a laptop informing places of interest, high tech and thoughtful.
We slept with great comfort. There are more then enough outlets in the room. Supplies were all well prepared in the bathroom as well.
Breakfast was amazing. Every item pleasing to the eyes drawing appetite. They tasted as good as they looked.
Totally an awesome experience!

Firstly, we were two of their inaugural guests so we arrived with an open mind. Emily, the manager, was very helpful on the phone and open to answering any questions we had.
Upon entering this whimsical and well designed B&B we were very impressed with all the details and design elements. Our check in was easy breezy. While we were only staying one night, they upgraded us to a King Deluxe suite, which was a terrific surprise. We were handed an iPad, along with our room keys and info card, which was pre-​loaded with area information, suggestions and things to do.
The room was heavenly, great design, cool furniture and the bed was so deliciously comfortable. The bathroom was stocked with great amenities like shampoo, soap, etc… from a company called Lather.
We parked the car and left it. Gilded is located in the middle of everything, so we were able to walk to just about everything we wanted to go to. Lots of great places to eat, grab food, shops and whatnot were easily accessible from this location.
We slept really well, and loved the small plate sumptuous and delicious breakfast that was served the next morning.
We had fun hanging out at Gilded, played pool chilled, read and could have easily spent a few more days there. What I love about the place is that they kept the old bones of its predecessor, while offering a modern, hip updated vibe. The images on the site don’t do this place justice. Clearly great design is at the forefront of the proprietors efforts, and their hotel management and staff were all awesome and lovely.