On a Lark at Gilded Hotel Newport

In the lounge at Gilded, a Lark Hotel in Newport, RI. DRESS: H&M (also seen here)

The lounge transformed into a decadent dining room

A welcoming tray of freshly baked cookies awaits

On the Rum Runner II with Classic Cruises of Newport

Gentle sunlight is cascading in the room. Time passes. I hear the delicate padding of smooth footfalls in the hallway. Undeterred, I burrow back into my puff of a bed, visions of last night's billiards game and french champagne dancing in my head. "Breakfast is served for another hour and a half", I think. But then I smell a whiff of coffee, and hear echoes of laughter from the patio. It's time to venture out from my little sanctuary, enjoy some freshly baked bread, and take in a croquet lesson. Life, as they say, is good.

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SWEATER: Chadwicks of Boston PANTS: Gap WEDGES: White Mountain

Can you believe this table setting?

The Billiards Room at Gilded, perfect for an after dinner game and cocktail, photo: Lark Hotels

The inviting front entrance to Gilded, photo: Lark Hotels

Welcome to Gilded, the newest filly in Lark Hotels' stable of boutique retreats. Tucked in a quiet neighborhood close to downtown Newport, RI, this playful, design-oriented space is filled with thoughtful amenities and curious niceties that make it optimal for a weekend escape. 

Gilded is the product of Lark Principals, Dawn Hagin (also Chief Inspiration Officer) and Rachel Reider (also Director of Design). As with all the Lark properties, the team begins their process with a glint of ingenuity that guides the vision of the hotel. "My creative process begins when I start researching the iconic destination," says Hagin. "I walk through the property itself and let it speak to me...understanding what makes the location unique, then finding the mischievous tidbits that inspire me." The Reider-designed interior features fearless color, a commitment to whimsy, and opulent details that make the space a clever twist on the Gilded Age. 

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Classic Cruises of Newport

Peek into a lovely bedroom at Gilded, photo: Lark Hotels

Considering a weekend in Newport? Here are a few essential agenda items:

The "small plates breakfast" at Gilded - What would you like for breakfast? Fruit? Quiche? A salad? Freshly baked bread and cheese? Breakfast pizza? The small plates breakfast (sample menu here, also available at Lark's alternate Newport hotel, the urban beach house known as The Attwater) allows you to sample as much or as little as you like. 

Cruise Newport harbor on an a classic, prohibition-era yacht - Motor yacht Rum Runner II was built in 1929 for two New Jersey mobsters engaged in trade eluding the Coast Guard while transporting illegal "hooch". Now it is available for private charter and breathtaking cruises through Newport's harbor. 

Lobster and lemonade at Clarke Cooke House - There is something about sitting on the dock of the bay. With a lobster roll and a spiked lemonade. Also, I have it on good authority that this spot is a favorite of Ralph Lauren! 

Watch the sunset over the harbor with a glass of rosé - Take the short (and simply stunning) drive over to Castle Hill Inn, where you can perch in an adirondack chair (blankets provided if it's chilly) and order small bites and a cocktail. Watch the sailboats pass. Repeat. 

Have some Hope for dinner - Step away from the lobster roll. Prepare yourself for grilled octopus, honey mustard pork belly and duck confit lo mein, alongside some of the most creative cocktails in town. 

Pool shark in the Billiards Room at Gilded - Grab a bottle ( I recommend scheduling a sparkling wine tasting with Wine Wise Events) and hit the table. It's the perfect nightcap to a gilded day. 

The "small plates breakfast" at Gilded

SWEATER: Chadwicks of Boston PANTS: Gap WEDGES: White Mountain

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This post is presented by Lark Hotels and Gilded Hotel.