Sylvia Beach Hotel, Newport

This place is magical. We've stayed at many, many B&B's over the years. Sylvia is our hands-down favorite. The theme is literary. To enhance the book-lover's atmosphere, there are no TV's or other electronic distractions. Books line shelves everywhere and old photos grace the walls with area history. It lacks the frilly Victorian fussiness of so many B&B's. The views of the ocean and the seabreeze have a calming, head-clearing effect. And the food is great! If you're a writer needing a haven to finish that manuscript, this is the place come. Prices are reasonable.

Spent 4 days here and loved everything, from breakfast to dinner, Food and company cannot be beat. But if you don't like cats don't go. Dickens runs the place, and will sleep with you if let. in.Ocean from the deck, or library, ah the library, what a place on the thrid floor to just watch the waves and read in total peace.

My wife and I love the Sylvia Beach Hotel, and we've stayed in the majority of the uniquely eclectic rooms. We live in Portland, OR, and try to come at least once a year. This quirky, funky old hotel draws a very specific crowd. It is not for those who refuse to stay in anything but a Hilton-class "executive" hotel. It's not even really for those Best Western-type families who roll in and out in search of family adventure. Everyone is welcomed warmly, but this hotel is for those seeking connections with loved ones, time for introspection, or simply for those who love books. It is the type of hotel where no one would blink if you went to the dining room for breakfast in a bathrobe (we've seen this happen). The entire hotel is very clean. Most of the hotel is quiet, including the third and fourth floor library areas. There are no telephones or televisions in the rooms, but people do not come to this hotel to sit and watch television anyway. Meal times in the dining room can be noisy as you meet people from around the world. Each room is themed after a different author, and each is full of treasures that relate to that author. There are also journals from previous guests, who share their experiences with those who follow. Rooms are divided by catagory: Classics face the beach and have fireplaces; Best Sellers have ocean views; and Novels overlook the hotel's garden entrance. There are a variety of bed combinations and rollaways are available. Our favorites include Collette, Agatha Christie (both Classics) and Poe (a Best Seller). Breakfast is included in the room rate. A little known secret is that the hotel also has small men's and women's dormitaries. These are inexpensive options for those who don't mind sharing rooms or bathrooms, and breakfast is still included in the rate! I honestly feel that the hotel's "Table of Contents" restaurant has the best food, and is the best value, of any restuarant on the entire Oregon Coast. The food is fresh, seasonal and wonderful. There are limited entrees, but one is usually able to find something they'll like. The meals are fixed-priced and are served family-style, eight people to a table. To encourage conversation, the hotel's owner (who is often there during the week) encourages guests to play "Two Truths and a Lie". You do not need to be a hotel guest to have dinner there. After dinner, hot spiced wine is served in the library. There's really nothing like spending a blustery winter evening in the library in a deep comfortable chair with with a book and cup of warm wine. The hotel has one or two cats that roam from room to room. They may want to sleep in your room, particularly if you've picked up smoked salmon from the waterfront shops. As a result, people with cat allergies may not be comfortable in the SBH. Book well in adavnce - this hotel fills up quickly. Spring, summer, fall or winter - each season has wonderful reasons to visit. Enjoy!

First, the on-line description is not about this hotel. That being said, this is a delightful place to stay if you love books and peace and quiet. I have spent many wonderful vacations here over the last 10 years. There is a communal room on the second floor the length of the hotel. It has unobstructed views of the Pacific Ocean, deep & comfy chairs in which to hunker down and sip your coffee, tea, or wine, and read, write, nap, and/or gaze at the everchanging water. There are no TVs, radios, or private telephones in the rooms. If you want to get away from the constant bombardment of electronic gadgets, this may be the place for you!

I really loved the F. Scott Fitzgerald room, it was funky/shabby/30's chic, and yet so clean. The food was great and reasonably priced, and the company--the company! I read the canned review that started this, and I have to say they must have stayed at a different hotel. I think only three rooms have fireplaces, and none that I know of have jacuzzis. Modern conveniences do not exist... bring your own electronics if you feel lost without them. The best thing, though was the freedom to choose your day's pleasure. I read, napped, relaxed--no pressure to golf, ski or socialize.

My boyfriend and I stayed only for a day because they did not have any open rooms...which was sad because after the first night and the dinner and then breakfast we did not want to leave!!! We stayed in the Alice Walker room...it is a double bed so a roll away was needed...but it worked out fine and Seamus said the roll away bed was very comfy! The cats were great...they pretty much rule the hotel which is fine with me because I have three of them at home in WA. It was amazing because the first thing I did was seat down and read the journals from the last visitors to the AW room...only to find that my old high school english teacher and her husband had stayed in the same room in 2006!!! How funny is that!!! So we felt right at home with the whole place and we did not even miss the fact we did not have TV, telephone, radio...etc....I am actually on line tonight looking for future dates. I got to see a few of the rooms while I was there and I know that I really want to come back and bring my entire family...and friends as well...The staff made us feel welcome the minute we walked in the door! I am sending them some pictures of the cats that I took while I was there because those darn cats are just so CUTE!!! Cannot wait to go back home I mean the SBH but heck they are the same really...my boyfriend who HATES to interact with strangers actually found himself drawn into the Two Truths and a Lie game at dinner! Very nice environment. We spent our time in the library reading, the shops, or on the beach. Never a boring moment...just peace and amazing quiet.

This hotel was a delight for my daughter and I. We stayed in the Herman Melville themed room. It was right near the library which I loved for the ocean views and breezes, the comfortable chairs and the quiet. We enjoyed the cats as well as the staff. We would recommend the family style dinner as the food was delicious and we met some very nice and interesting people. It is a very old building and a very quiet atmosphere. I would think not very accommodating to young children.

Sylvia Beach is for the guest who enjoys quiet and loves to read or walk on the beach. I enjoy it most during a storm when the waves are crashing in and there is a fire in the library fireplace. The food is wonderful and so is the two truths and a lie game.

As an avid reader, I loved this hotel. My husband and I quickly succumbed to the quiet rhythm of the place. We loved the family-style dinner so much, and had such fun companions, that we tried it again the second night, even though there is a fabulous restaurant right across the street. The beach is wonderful. One could easily have a lovely time there alone, reading and watching the ocean from the upstairs library and walking on the beach, but yet have company for dinner in the restaurant. This is not the spot for people who are looking for a modern or pristinely new hotel. It is somewhat worn, not surprisingly, given its age. We stayed in a smaller room (sweet, but a bit small for the two of us) and next time would spring for the bigger ocean view rooms. There are also inexpensive dorm rooms for those on a tight budget.