Francis Malbone House is a historic bed-and-breakfast inn occupying an 18th-century Georgian colonial mansion on Thames Street in Newport's Point neighborhood, two blocks from Newport Harbor and the waterfront restaurants and boutiques of Bowen's Wharf. The mansion is central to Newport's most visited sites: the International Tennis Hall of Fame is five minutes north on Bellevue Avenue, the Newport Preservation Society mansion entrances are a ten-minute walk south, the Cliff Walk's northern access near First Beach is approximately fifteen minutes on foot, and the ferry to Jamestown and Block Island departs from Perrotti Park three minutes away. Newport State Airport is five miles from the property.
The house was built in 1760 for Francis Malbone, one of Newport's most prominent pre-Revolutionary merchants, and is recognized as one of the finest surviving examples of Georgian colonial residential architecture in New England. The property encompasses both the original three-story mansion and an adjacent carriage house annex added in the 20th century, together comprising 20 guest rooms of varying size, character, and price point. Period reproduction furniture, four-poster beds, working fireplaces in select rooms, and carefully sourced wallcoverings maintain the colonial aesthetic throughout the main house while the carriage house rooms carry a lighter, more contemporary interpretation of the same palette.
A full gourmet breakfast is included each morning, served in the formal dining room or in the garden courtyard when weather permits — a genuinely substantive meal rather than a continental spread. Afternoon tea is offered daily in the parlor. Standard Rooms in the carriage house annex represent the most accessible price point; Superior Rooms and Suites in the main mansion are larger, more elaborately furnished, and more historically detailed. Garden Suites open directly onto the inn's walled courtyard garden. On-site parking is available at no additional charge — a practical benefit given Newport's notoriously tight street parking in summer. Concierge staff are experienced with sailing charter arrangements, restaurant reservations, and Newport Preservation Society tour bookings.
Room types
- Standard Room
- Superior Room
- Suite
- Garden Suite
Amenities
- Complimentary breakfast
- Garden courtyard
- Afternoon tea
- Concierge
- Parking
Location
392 Thames St, Newport, RI 02840
41.4893, -71.3178 View on map
Highlights
- 1760 Georgian colonial mansion on Thames Street, one of the finest surviving examples of pre-Revolutionary architecture in New England
- Full gourmet breakfast included daily, served in the formal dining room or the walled garden courtyard
- Walled garden courtyard and afternoon tea in the parlor — two amenities that distinguish the inn from Newport's larger hotel properties
- Two blocks from Newport Harbor and Bowen's Wharf, walking distance to mansions, Cliff Walk, and ferry terminals
- Free on-site parking — a genuine practical advantage in Newport's congested summer street environment
Tips for visiting
- Rooms in the original 1760 mansion building are larger and more architecturally detailed than those in the carriage house annex — worth the incremental rate if period character matters to you.
- The garden courtyard breakfast service runs from approximately late May through early October; book a ground-floor or Garden Suite room to have direct access to the courtyard from your accommodation.
- On-site parking is complimentary — a meaningful saving versus paying Newport's metered street rates or commercial garages during peak summer weekends.
- The ferry to Block Island departs from Perrotti Park three minutes away; the inn's concierge can help book day-trip ferry tickets.
- Afternoon tea in the parlor is offered daily but seating is limited; let the innkeeper know at check-in if you plan to attend on a specific day.