The Five Best Hotels in New Hampshire
Above, an aerial view of the Church Landing Hotel overlooking Meredith Bay
New Hampshire’s Five Best Hotel Experiences
It is not easy to pick a winner among New Hampshire’s five grand resort hotels (listed below) because, of course, the tastes, needs and interests of all New Hampshire visitors and hotel guests are uniquely their own.
Some visitors may be couples planning a romantic weekend in the mountains (or at the lake, or on the seashore); others may be dads and mothers with young (or very young) children needing proximity to family-friendly attractions like beaches or water parks and/or activities like skiing or whale-watching; and some visitors may be culture-hounds looking for fine-dining options while immersing themselves in art and history.
New Hampshire has world-class hotels and resorts catering to all of these preferences, and our editors have attempted to identify the best of the best hotels and resorts for visitors seeking accommodations in each of the foregoing categories.
Our senior editors are not without biases, however; one lives in the mountains and the other on the Seacoast, so a rustic weekend in the Lakes Region feels like the most appealing getaway to us, and thus, we have placed the Church Landing at Mill Falls resort (pictured above) at the top of our list as our choice as the best hotel in New Hampshire.
That said, for visitors coming to New Hampshire to go deep sea fishing, eat lobsters and lounge on the beach, the Wentworth by the Sea Hotel and Spa in New Castle would probably rank at the top of the list. Skiers might opt for the Mount Washington Hotel overlooking the Bretton Woods ski resort, and culture-hounds might prefer the Hanover Inn on the Dartmouth College campus offering a variety of cultural activities, including concerts, lectures, and art exhibits (and darned good skiing as a nearby wintertime bonus).
In short, there is a grand hotel here for everybody, and nothing missing except palm trees.
Church Landing at Mill Falls.
The Church Landing Hotel is a charming, rustic but luxurious lakeside property just steps from the lake and the town’s many shops and restaurants, with comfortable, beautifully decorated rooms, a variety of amenities, and lovely views of Lake Winnipesaukee. (MAP)
The Wentworth by the Sea Hotel and Spa.
The Wentworth by the Sea Hotel is a historic property that offers luxurious accommodations and beautiful views of the Atlantic Ocean. The rooms are spacious and elegantly decorated, and the hotel’s amenities include a spa and one of New Hampshire’s top five restaurants on site. (MAP)
The Omni Mount Washington Resort.
The historic Omni Mount Washington Resort, one of North America’s palpably grand hotels, was the venue for the Bretton Woods Conference, and is located at the foot of Mount Washington itself. The Hotel offers stunning views of the Presidential Range, and is a great choice for a luxurious romantic getaway or a family ski vacation. (MAP)
The Mountain View Grand Resort and Spa.
The historic Mountain View Grand in Whitefield, New Hampshire was built in 1865 and has been welcoming guests ever since. The hotel is located in the heart of the White Mountains, and offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains and forests. The hotel has a variety of amenities, including a spa, and several restaurants. (MAP)
The Hanover Inn.
Not a grand hotel in size, and it’s not really what you would call a resort, but it is a grand New Hampshire experience, unique in the world, with small town charm, Ivy League arts and culture and big city sophistication. “The Inn” is is also the home of “Pine”, one of New Hampshire’s top five restaurants. (MAP)