glass tile, a three-story capiz chandelier and a 9-foot-by-9-foot abalone shell sculpture in the lobby. French doors and “real” windows throughout the building allow fresh Newport breezes in. This is in keeping with the hotel’s eco-friendly ethos, which includes floor-to-ceiling windows to reduce the need for artificial light during the day; low-flow showerheads; and, instead of a morning newspaper, an iPad loaded with the digital version. Many guest rooms boast balconies and harbor views, and each has a gas fireplace. Forty 1° North offers two notable restaurants. There’s the family-friendly Christie’s, with a global tapas menu and a burger The Boston Globe calls one of New England’s 10 best. Meanwhile, The Grill is a dockside delight with succulent steaks, seafood and a raw bar to text home about. For cocktails, the Library, the Oval Bar, plus a private wine room, add to creature comforts. Guests are steps away from Newport’s Thames Street shops and restaurants and the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Also nearby are the century-old Newport Art Museum and St. Mary’s Church, where John and Jackie Kennedy tied the knot. And if you time it right, your Newport stay may include one of the town’s three famous summer festivals—jazz, folk music and international film. Or take an any-old-day stroll on the 3.5-mile Cliff Walk, a shoreline walkway that snakes past those comfortable cottages, relics of a day when opulent pads came without iPads.
Aesthetic surprises await when you step inside Forty 1° North. The classic Newport style is recalled by the marina-facing exterior (opposite, top). Inside, a modern, playful spirit prevails—thus the long, candle-topped banquet table in the Gallery (opposite) and the giant chess set nearby (below). Sicis water-glass mosaic tiles adorn a soothing bathroom (right), while a gabled bedroom (above) offers an inviting harbor view.
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