Mansion House

Aptly named, the Mansion House Inn sits in a historic 1791 mansion house with four stories and a charming facade finished with mint-green trim, white banisters, and extruding bay and dormer windows. The interior is cozy and homey -- more bed-and-breakfast than hotel -- with modern touches and a gentle beach-chic vibe. The lobby and lounge areas feel like personal living rooms with wood floors and a combination of wicker and vintage furniture, like hardwood hutches and armchairs upholstered in peach, cream, or light florals. The front porch offers a prime spot for people-watching, and the rooftop deck gives 360-degree views. Faux-wicker sitting areas and cushioned loungers here invite lingering as does the free lemonade. Despite the homey details, this is really a full-service property, offering more rooms and amenities than many classic inns and bed-and-breakfasts in the area. Guests are leisure travelers, including couples and families. Note that during high-season a two- or three-night minimum stay may be required.

Mansion House is located in the low-key, unassuming town of Vineyard Haven (also called Tisbury), right on Main Street, a short but busy stretch lined with restaurants, cafes, and shops. The nearby Owen Park beach isn't huge, but it's kid-friendly and just a five-minute walk away. For guests who want to travel around the island or off it, the Vineyard Haven Ferry and a bus stop are within a four-minute walk. Vineyard Haven, still a dry town, has no liquor stores, but does allow its restaurants to serve beer and wine with food, plus there are usually BYOB options. For a bar scene, Oak Bluffs is about a 10-minute bus ride, while posh Edgartown is about a 20-minute bus ride. The whimsical, picture-postcard "Gingerbread Cottages" in Oak Bluffs are reachable in about 15- to 20-minutes via bus or 10 minutes by car. Free parking is available near the inn.

Guest rooms at Mansion House have the homey, country-chic decor that's common around the cape and islands, and while the details vary from room-to-room, typical elements include white-painted wood furniture, pale mint-green walls, wicker desk chairs, and furniture with striped cushions. Floors may be wood or carpeted. Decor isn't lavish, but rooms are well-kept and cozy. Bathrooms pair white subway tiled shower/tub combos with deep coral walls. 

Rooms are air-conditioned and include flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, coffeemakers, free individual toiletries, and free Wi-Fi. Some upgraded rooms feature soaking tubs, wet bars, microwaves, balconies, sitting areas, or family-sized spaces with trundle beds. Some rooms have views of the water, but guests note that ferry and traffic noise in front-facing rooms can sometimes be an issue. 

Under the inn-like atmosphere, Mansion House is a hotel at heart, with more than the requisite amount of amenities for a mid-range property. The most comprehensive is the on-site health club, free for guests, but also used by locals. There's an indoor heated lap pool, plus a whirlpool, sauna, steam room, and spa treatment rooms where massages, facials, and other treatments take place. The gym is split between a cardio room and a weightlifting room, the former featuring rows of treadmills, ellipticals, and stationary bikes, and the latter with a range of weightlifting equipment and a full rack of dumbbells. The health club also hosts a huge variety of exercise classes in a wood-floored aerobic/yoga room and a group cycling room, and classes are free to guests. Personal training sessions can be arranged for an extra fee. While the spa and gym aren't fancy, they're practical and well-maintained.

The property serves a free continental breakfast; it's light but decent with cold standards like pastries, hard-boiled eggs, and cereal. Coffee and tea are available all day in one of the lounge spaces, and lemonade is served on the "cupola," a rooftop deck with lounge spaces and great views. While it's not owned by the hotel, the Asian-fusion restaurant Copper Wok is directly attached to the building giving a convenient venue for other meals. Wi-Fi throughout the hotel is free and pets are accepted in some rooms. Free parking is available nearby, and guests can borrow sun umbrellas, towels, and chairs for use at the nearby beach.