Castle Hill Inn
Castle Hill Inn is a Relais & Chateaux inn on a 40-acre peninsula at 590 Ocean Drive, the west end of Newport's Ocean Avenue, with views over Narragansett Bay and the Atlantic. Newport Classical concerts are held inside the tent at The Chalet Terrace, with complimentary valet parking at the tent or a grass self-park lot halfway up the drive. Indoor and outdoor spaces are accessible, but this is an old building and staff will show you the easiest route.
Before you go
- Capacity
- 40-acre estate; events for 36 to 250 guests
- Indoor or outdoor
- Both: concerts in the tent at The Chalet Terrace, indoor dining at Aurelia and outdoor dining on the Lawn Terrace
- Official site
- castlehillinn.com
- Next festival here
- Newport Classical Music Festival, Jul 1 to 18, 2027
Worth knowing before you go
- The self-park lot is grass, halfway up the drive near the greenhouse; valet at the tent is free and recommended if walking is hard.
- It is an old building, so the route between spaces is not always obvious; ask valet or host staff to guide you.
- The whole property is non-smoking, terraces and lawn included.
- The Lawn Terrace bans sleeveless shirts, swimwear and athletic gear, and Aurelia asks for no sport caps, flip flops, T-shirts or shorts.
- Only service animals are allowed, since terraces and lawns are food service areas.
Festivals here
Venue basics: Concerts inside the tent at The Chalet Terrace · Complimentary valet or a grass self-park lot · Accessible, with elevator to a lower-level restroom.
Is it for you
Choose it if
- you want a concert with ocean views and dinner on the same estate
- you would rather valet than hunt for parking
- you are staying overnight in Newport and want a year-round inn
Think twice if
- you need a relaxed dress code or want to bring a pet
- you prefer to self-park on pavement rather than grass
Getting there and parking
Castle Hill Inn is at 590 Ocean Drive, Newport, RI 02840, on a 40-acre peninsula at the west end of Ocean Avenue, a short drive from downtown Newport. The inn is open year-round.
Festival-specific · Newport Classical Music FestivalComplimentary valet parking is available at the Chalet Tent, or you can self-park in the inn's grass lot halfway up the drive on the right, near the greenhouse and culinary gardens. Restaurant guests get complimentary valet at the Main Inn.
Inn guests can ride the M/V Mistress launch between the Castle Hill Marina, Ann Street Pier and Perrotti Park in town for $15 per adult, free for children 12 and under with an adult. It runs weekends from late May to the end of June and through September, and daily from late June to early September.
Accessibility
Both the indoor and outdoor spaces are handicap accessible, and Newport Classical describes the concert setting as fully wheelchair accessible, with an accessible restroom on the lower level reached by an elevator. Guests with limited mobility are encouraged to use the valet.
Because it is an old building the path from one place to another may not be obvious, so let the valet or host staff guide you to your spot.
Confirm your specific needs with the venue before you travel (castlehillinn.com).
Camping
We don't yet have confirmed information about camping at Castle Hill Inn. The venue's own pages are the place to check: castlehillinn.com.
Food, water and what you can bring
The Lawn Terrace serves a casual a la carte menu outdoors for lunch and dinner as weather allows, moving indoors with the same view in winter, and has a kids menu. Aurelia at Castle Hill is the fine dining room with a six-course tasting menu at $165 a head, closed Tuesday and Wednesday evenings and limited to parties of six. Gluten alternatives and vegetarian dishes can be arranged if you say so when booking.
There are Terrace and Mansion bars, and you may bring your own wine if it is not on the list, with $35 corkage per bottle and a two-bottle limit per table. The property is non-smoking throughout, only service animals are permitted, and the dress code bars sleeveless shirts, swimwear and athletic gear on the Lawn Terrace and in the bars.
Sound and sensory
Newport Classical concerts take place inside the tent at The Chalet Terrace, with panoramic views of the Atlantic and Narragansett Bay. The inn also has a jazz band every Sunday afternoon year-round, on the terrace in warmer months and in the lobby in winter.
Quick answers
Where are Newport Classical concerts at Castle Hill Inn?
Inside the tent at The Chalet Terrace, looking out over the Atlantic and Narragansett Bay.
Where do I park at Castle Hill Inn for a concert?
Complimentary valet parking is at the Chalet Tent, or self-park in the grass lot halfway up the drive on the right near the greenhouse. Restaurant guests get free valet at the Main Inn.
Is Castle Hill Inn wheelchair accessible?
Yes. Indoor and outdoor spaces are accessible, with an accessible restroom on the lower level reached by an elevator, though in this old building you should let staff show you the easiest route.
Can I eat before a concert at Castle Hill Inn?
Yes. The Lawn Terrace serves lunch and dinner outdoors as weather allows, and Aurelia offers a $165 six-course tasting menu, closed Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. Book ahead and mind the dress code.
Can I smoke at Castle Hill Inn?
No. The whole property is non-smoking, including the terraces and lawn.
Can I bring my dog to Castle Hill Inn?
No. Only service animals are permitted, because the terraces and lawn are food service areas.
Can I get to Castle Hill Inn by boat?
Inn guests can. The M/V Mistress launch links the Castle Hill Marina with Ann Street Pier and Perrotti Park for $15 per adult, weekends in late spring and September and daily in high summer.
Can I camp at Castle Hill Inn?
We don't yet have confirmed information about camping at Castle Hill Inn. The venue's own pages at castlehillinn.com are the place to check.
A little history
The house was commissioned in the 19th century by Harvard marine biologist Alexander Agassiz and built in 1875 on a headland he chose for watching the ocean. The 1938 hurricane briefly cut the peninsula off from the mainland, naval officers used the mansion as a base in the Second World War, and afterwards it became a summer hotel, later winterised for year-round stays. In 2008 it became the first Rhode Island property in Relais & Chateaux.
Newport Classical holds concerts in the Chalet Terrace tent, and many patrons book a pre-concert dinner indoors or al fresco on The Lawn.