Did you know that Mystic, Connecticut, was fourth on USA Today’s list of the best summer travel destinations in 2023? Yes! The stunningly rustic-chic city is sprawled across the Mystic River, where it meets the Fisher Island Sound in the North Atlantic Ocean. In fact, we were looking forward to exploring this northeastern US getaway, which is popular for its rustic New England charm and historic seaport. Interestingly, while the town’s stays run the gamut from resorts to boutique ones, it’s the options for a bed and breakfast in Mystic, Connecticut, that take the cake. In fact, many of these inns and B&Bs were built in the 18th and 19th centuries and feature antique trinkets and furnishings even now.
What’s more, these inns even highlight their traditions and locations, offering excellent and well-rounded stays in serene and history-rich surroundings. Plus, they sit in wonderful and enviable locations across the town and have a range of vibes from romantic to historic. Here’s a detailed guide to staying in B&Bs in what was once called the “Head of the River.”
Our Favorite Bed & Breakfast in Mystic, Connecticut
- Stonecroft Country Inn Bed And Breakfast
- Captain Grant’s 1754
- The Inn At Harbor Hill Marina
- Westbrook Inn Bed And Breakfast
- The Inn At Stonington
- The House Of 1833 Bed & Breakfast
- Mermaid Inn Of Mystic
- Captain’s Mansion
- Steamboat Inn
- Whitehall Mansion
- Taber Inne And Suites
Romantic Stays
Mystic is one of those New England cities where romance is practically in the air everywhere. Many of Mystic’s most romantic B&Bs boast serene and secluded locations while still being close to the heart of the town and all its amazing drinking, dining, and entertainment.
Stonecroft Country Inn Bed and Breakfast
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For more than three decades, the gorgeous Stonecroft Country Inn Bed and Breakfast has been a fixture in Mystic, set amidst lush manicured gardens and rolling hills. This Select Registry property has also received a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence. Moreover, the outdoor space is not only a very popular venue for weddings and other special occasions but also perfect for a romantic getaway. The fact that the inn offers many specials, including a wonderful romance package, only made it all the better.
Meet The Hosts
Jodie and G Scott Norton are the amazing owners and innkeepers at Stonecroft. They were so friendly, warm, and accommodating that just talking to them improved our vacation by 10x. What’s more, they gave us tips and advice on exploring the region and even took care of all our whims, fancies, and needs.
Food And Drink
The breakfast was a delicious and huge spread that included egg dishes like omelets (we could choose our add-on), toast, home fries, Canadian bacon, fresh fruit compote, a choice of juices, coffee, tea, and a wonderful “starter” of delicious banana bread with chocolate.
During high season, breakfast was served from 8:30 to 10 am on most mornings in the Yellow Barn’s dining room. During weekdays and the quiet season, when we were visiting, breakfast time was usually flexible, and Jodie and Scott were more than happy to accommodate us. The best bit? They even asked us about our dietary needs at the time of our reservation and accommodated them.
The Rooms
We had a choice of different kinds of rooms across the historic 1807 House and the Yellow Barn suites. We chose one of the two master suites in the Yellow Barn, which were perfect for our anniversary celebrations. What’s more, all rooms boasted private bathrooms with bespoke bath products, bathrobes, two-person jetted spa tubs, and even working fireplaces (although they could be used only from October to April).
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Westbrook Inn Bed and Breakfast
We were looking to stay away from Mystic’s bustle, which is why we loved the Westbrook Inn Bed and Breakfast was perfect. Nestled in an 1876-built classic structure on the Patchogue River, the inn’s setting is very romantic. We especially loved that we were even offered towels and complimentary passes to the beach less than a mile away and bicycles to explore. But what made the inn romantic was the many places to relax, right from the historic wraparound porch and the pink granite loveseat in the library courtyard to the lounge chairs and gazebo in the manicured gardens.
- Meet the hosts: The owner and innkeeper of Westbrook B&B is the ever-cheerful, ever-smiling Meri Wick. She is always excited to talk about the inn and the region.
- Food and drink: Every morning, we’d be treated to a complimentary, scrumptious gourmet hot breakfast in the Instagrammable vintage dining room. Not only was the menu different daily, but the homemade menu also included juices, tea, locally roasted coffee, yogurt, fresh fruit, French toasts, avocado toast with fried eggs and ham, pancakes, spinach and tomato frittatas, apple pies, whatnot! Moreover, water, coffee, tea, and cookies were available throughout the day, and they’d put freshly brewed coffee out at 7 am every morning – much needed! Since we were visiting in spring, we were able to enjoy an alfresco breakfast on the patio. The best bit? They even hosted an afternoon tea on the first Tuesday of every month with French macarons, scones, tea sandwiches, tea, and champagne cocktail, all for USD 40/person and advance reservations.
- Room type(s): We had the choice of nine stunning rooms, all featuring fieldstone fireplaces, plush linens, period antiques and details, and swanky bathrooms with plush slippers, robes, and bath products from Archipelago Botanicals.
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Historic Stays
Mystic’s history and heritage go back to the 18th/19th centuries when the first inns were built. Today, we see them in the form of heritage and historic B&Bs, which bring old-world charm into the 21st century.
Whitehall Mansion
Formerly a tavern and stagecoach, the 1771-built Whitehall Mansion was owned by many families and is even on the National Register of Historic Places. After 1996, it became a premier historical inn. Since it remained in the care of the Stonington Historical Society until then, the place retains many original elements like paintings, moldings, and four-poster beds.
- Meet the hosts: The inn has a wonderfully cheerful and efficient staff who run it with unparalleled efficiency. They not only welcomed us and showed us around the property but also took care of all our whims, fancies, and needs.
- Food and drink: Even though there’s no restaurant on the property, we were offered a full, hearty, complimentary breakfast at the Residence Inn next door. It included everything from healthy and vegan options to whole fruit, waffles, oatmeal, healthy yogurt, and hot coffee.
- Room type(s): We had the choice of five stunning rooms that blended modern hospitality with historic charm. Think luxurious, full-sized canopy beds, working fireplaces, and luxe bathrooms with spa-inspired baths. While they had an intimate 19th-century feel, the modern luxuries like plush mattresses, flatscreen TVs, and free Wi-Fi made our stay all the comfier.
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The House of 1833 Bed & Breakfast
Can you imagine a landmark Greek Revival mansion turned B&B having a full-sized swimming pool? No, right? Well, the luxurious House of 1833 Bed & Breakfast defied all myths we have about traditional B&Bs and still checked all the necessary boxes for a historic stay. Genteel formal parlors? Check. Front-porch rocking chairs? Check. A whole boatload of antiques? Triple check! Did you know they even have a tennis court and even a licensed massage therapist? Yes!
But what makes it historic is that the mansion was built way back in 1833 by banker Elias Brown, who is also related to one of the current owners. This national landmark masterpiece sits on beautifully wooded and landscaped gardens with fountains.
- Meet the hosts: The owners, Evan and Robert, are literally the personification of a ‘home.’ Not only were they so cheerful and welcoming, but they also had the most interesting stories to tell about the inn and the town. They cared for us like we were family and answered all our questions, which were a lot!
- Food and drink: One of the most notable pampering perks about staying here was the New England country-gourmet candlelit breakfast in the breakfast room. Evan and Robert prepared special breakfasts for us every day, with fantastic potatoes, Mexican omelets, Danishes, coffee, tea, juices, and more. We also loved their signature chocolate chip cookies that they’d leave out in the welcoming parlor every day.
- Room type(s): All five suites boasted working fireplaces, antique beds, and sitting areas, and four of them, including ours, even had oversized whirlpool tubs. The best bit? Two suites, one of which was ours, even had their own private garden porches.
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Steamboat Inn
What could be more special than staying in a boat-themed historic inn? Welcome to the Steamboat Inn, a charming and luxurious B&B in the town — and its only waterfront digs, too! All we had to do was step outside to enjoy the maritime town’s amazing waterfront vibe. Moreover, we could even book a trip aboard a two-masted schooner that sailed right from the wharf. It’s no wonder that it was the Editor’s Pick for the “Best Inn with a View” by Yankee Magazine in 2017
- Meet the hosts: The inn’s owner is Greenwich entrepreneur Walter “Sonny” Glaser Jr., a part-time Mystic resident who’s deeply invested in the city’s hotel scene. However, the on-ground activities are managed by innkeeper Sandra Chapman, who’s been the innkeeper for more than a decade now. She was spot-on when it came to recommending sights to check out and places to eat at.
- Food and drink: We had the choice of three breakfasts. The first is the Charles Morgan with artisan wheat toast, seasoned baby potatoes, turkey and bacon sausage, and scrambled eggs. When we wanted something simple, we’d go for the Mystic Bridge, which included seasoned baby potatoes and a vegetable quiche over greens. Finally, there was the Steamship that had turkey and bacon sausage and brioche French toast with Vermont maple syrup. Moreover, the breakfast also included beverages and sides and was served in the George Moon common room. Check out all the breakfast details.
- Room type(s): All 11 rooms and suites boasted gorgeous views, either partial or complete, of the water, which is what made them so special. What’s more, we loved the tastefully decorated interiors with plush beds, whirlpool tubs, working fireplaces, and windows with stunning views. The best bit? Every room is unique; while one sat directly on the dockside, yet another room, like ours, boasted windows with sweeping water views.
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Captain Grant’s 1754
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When an inn says “historic, haunted inn” in the description, it’s probably the pinnacle of historic living, isn’t it? We’re talking about Captain Grant’s 1754, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, has been featured on the Travel Channel and HGTV, and sits on gorgeously groomed lawns.
- Meet the hosts: Even though we didn’t meet a ghost (thankfully!), we did meet the lovely Carol and the amazing Ted, the welcoming and gracious owners and hosts. Carol bought Captain Grant’s more than 25 years ago, lovingly restoring the dilapidated structure into an iconic and historic B&B. In fact, Carol even wrote “The Ghosts of Captain Grant’s Inn” about her own interesting encounters with the supernatural. It certainly made for an interesting addition to our stay.
- Food and drink: Carol and Ted would keep the pantry stocked with dessert, soda, wine, and beer free for us to enjoy. In fact, we could even enjoy a sip of crème sherry from the carafes in our rooms! Ever since the inn opened, they’ve always served a family-style, full country breakfast, which we’d eat until we couldn’t eat anymore. Plus, the menu changed every day, so we got to dig into different kinds of delicious foods during our stay. Every breakfast began with hot cocoa, tea, and coffee by 8 am in winter and 7:30 am in summer. Plus, there were also homemade jams and juices at every meal.
- Room type(s): We had the choice of seven rooms, all with cable TVs, full baths, and carafes with crème sherry. Moreover, three of them, including ours, even had gas fireplaces. Of them all, two rooms, the Margaret and the Holly sit next door in the Avery Home and have queen beds, TVs, carafes with crème sherry and wood-burning fireplaces, while the Holly room even has a jetted tub.
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Modern Stays
While all B&Bs in Mystic do have modern elements to make the guests’ stays comfortable, some of them are more modern than most. Here are the best of the lot.
Captain’s Mansion
The 2023-reopened Captain’s Mansion is just steps from Downtown Mystic and offered us a luxuriously comfortable stay. We loved every bit of this sister property of the Steamboat Inn, especially the Red Brick terrace that overlooks the verdant gardens. It was the perfect spot for us to enjoy a glass of wine and a charcuterie platter.
- Meet the hosts: Walter “Sonny” Glaser Jr, the same person who owns the Steamboat Inn, has also owned the Captain’s Mansion since 2023. Nancy is the manager who was actually responsible for everything amazing about our stay.
- Food and drink: Every morning, we’d enjoy a delicious breakfast in the beautiful dining room and even alfresco on the terrace when the sun was out. On days we didn’t feel like getting out of bed, they’d even serve breakfast to us in our room. We appreciated the choices for the healthier snacks, fresh fruit, pretzels, and nuts available anytime, as well as the wine dispenser with local Connecticut wines and a Keurig machine for hot chocolate and coffee. Moreover, our breakfasts included milk choices, granola, cereal, teas, coffee, different kinds of juices, different pastries and bread, and hard-boiled eggs.
- Room type(s): There were just eight rooms here, which made staying here as intimate as it felt exclusive. Not only did all of them have sleek private bathrooms, but they also had plush beds, huge windows with lovely views, flatscreen TVs, and even seating areas. Our suite even had a fantastic patio with alfresco seating where we’d sit and enjoy a glass of wine.
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Taber Inne and Suites
The family-owned and operated Taber Inne and Suites has been in the heart of the town since 1971. This premier boutique inn sits across 12 buildings over manicured grounds, offering the perfect blend of convenience and warm hospitality of a B&B. Did you know that it has the largest heated indoor pool in all of Mystic? It also has free Wi-Fi in all rooms, making it very easy for us to plan our itinerary for the next day and relax on the property.
- Meet the hosts: Tom Taber is the owner, and he’d always be around for the best recommendations, whether it was which sights to see or the best places to eat. Moreover, the friendly staff was glad to do everything from making dinner reservations to keeping us informed of special events.
- Food and drink: Breakfast was a nice little service that they delivered right to our room, so we didn’t even have to step out in the morning. It included muffins, fresh fruit, pastries, tea, and coffee.
- Room type(s): We had the choice of six room options, including standard rooms, the 1829 Cavan House, one-bedroom Wexroom units, the spacious and luxurious Waterford Suites, the newest East Wing rooms, and the stunning Carriage House rooms. They all have private bathrooms with bespoke bath products, seating spaces, fireplaces, plush beds, and flatscreen TVs. Our Waterford Suite even had French doors leading to a patio with alfresco seating.
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The Inn at Stonington
The inviting Inn at Stonington is located in the picturesque seaside village of Stonington, not far from Mystic. Featured initially in the Tommy Lee Jones-Meryl Streep movie Hope Springs, the charming waterfront inn has a lovely secluded beach just steps away. It’s no wonder that Yankee Magazine named it the Editors’ Pick for the “Most Romantic Inn.”
- Meet the hosts: Dana and her husband, Jay Brown, are the current owners and innkeepers here. Dana has a background in psychology and education and manages everything from rooms to guest books. Meanwhile, Jay is a photojournalist whose subjects range from the Black Keys and pre-fame Kurt Cobain to the picturesque splendor of coastal Maine. Moreover, the staff was exceptionally hospitable, always making sure we were comfortable and would have a good time.
- Food and drink: We were treated to a delicious continental-style breakfast every morning, which included juices, tea, coffee, cereals, yogurt, fruit, and freshly baked treats. But that’s not all. They even hosted a complimentary wine and cheese reception every evening in the elegant first-floor sitting room that overlooked the water.
- Room type(s): Most of the 18 rooms had jacuzzis and fireplaces, while ours even had a private balcony with stunning views of the village and Fishers Island Sound. Moreover, they all also had private luxe bathrooms with bathrobes and natural stone tiles that created a spa-like atmosphere.
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Family-friendly Stays
Mermaid Inn of Mystic
Art lovers like us will love the quirky and comfy Mermaid Inn of Mystic B&B downtown. The 1843-built Victorian Italianate residence is filled with original artwork featuring mermaids by local artist Jennifer Wolcin.
- Meet the hosts: Josephine Guarnaccia is the owner and innkeeper here, and she earns high marks for her hospitality. She bought the inn 23 years ago, having always known that she wanted to own a B&B one day. A resident of Mystic, she turned the historic mansion into a fantastic B&B while retaining the historic original footprint, which meant that every room could have its own private bathroom.
- Food and drink: Formed guests have raved about Josephine’s cooking, and we got to see, or rather taste, it firsthand! Her delights ranged from gourmet waffles with fresh berries to fresh-baked cookies. Plus, snacks, tea, and coffee were available all day long. Not only did she cater to our specific food sensitivities and needs, but she also served breakfast under the gazebo in the garden since we were visiting in the summer. Sigh.
- Room type(s): We had the choice of four unique rooms, all of which had private bathrooms, cozy beds, and splendid views of the town. Moreover, they all had mod-cons like flatscreen TVs, mini-fridges, and even air-conditioning and ceiling fans to make our stay comfortable.
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The Inn at Harbor Hill Marina
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Nestled on Long Island Sound, The Inn at Harbor Hill Marina is a Mystic gem and one of the most romantic hotels in Connecticut. Nevertheless, it also welcomes children of all ages, making it family-friendly.
“We’ve never had more fun staying with the kids at a B&B than at Inn at Harbor Hill. It was a magical experience!”
WOW Travel
- Meet the hosts: Sue and Dave Labrie, both of East Hartford, are childhood sweethearts and the amazing innkeepers at this B&B. They love meeting and hosting people, which is one of the major reasons that spurred them into owning a B&B and innkeeping. In fact, there’s a sign that hangs in the “Gathering Room” that reads, “Enter as strangers, leave as friends.” Sue and Dave are living embodiments of that adage.
- Food and drink: Every morning, a delicious breakfast was served in the dining room between 8 and 9:30 a.m. The buffet included specialty hot items like made-to-order egg dishes and signature homemade waffles, complete with bread, muffins, juices, tea, coffee, and more. The best bit? We’d gather in the dining room every evening to enjoy cheese and wine and mingle with fellow B&B mates.
- Room type(s): At this award-winning B&B, we had the choice of 16 rooms and suites, all of which had plush king/queen beds, luxe private bathrooms, fireplaces, huge soaking tubs, and even private balconies.
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Where to Stay in Mystic, Connecticut
Mystic has many interesting neighborhoods across which the many amazing bed and breakfasts are spread out. So, where should one stay?
We begin with the Mystic River Historic District, a.k.a. Downtown Mystic, which is one of our favorite areas in the city. Not only is it home to the Mystic Drawbridge, but it also has lots of coffee shops, local stores, and even great little local bookstores. Secondly, the historic district is extended on the other side of the river, along Main Street. It’s home to the second-largest cluster of B&Bs in the town.
Finally, Old Mystic is up north, home to some of the best historic B&Bs we’ve listed above. Moreover, this lovely and verdant region has many charming water bodies and gardens.
You might also want to check out the best pool hotels in Connecticut and indoor pool hotels in Connecticut. While you’re at it, why not also check out New England’s best spa hotels?
Why is Mystic CT so popular?
Mystic is known for its quintessential New England charm and for being home to two of the most visited attractions in the state, the Mystic Aquarium and the Seaport. In fact, there are options for a bed and breakfast in Mystic Seaport, CT, too.
Why is it called Mystic, Connecticut?
The name “Mystic” comes from the Pequot term “missi-tuk.” According to the Mystic River Historical Society, it describes a large river whose waters become waves by wind or tides. Of course, we think it’s mystical, too!
What is special about Mystic CT?
It’s home to the Mystic Seaport, the world’s largest maritime museum known for its collection of maritime artifacts. In fact, it’s home to the last whaling ship in the world, the Charles W. Morgan.
