This past weekend, we
discovered a magical escape for a romantic weekend! The just-opened
Stone House in Little Compton is an impressive, historic
hostelry hugging the coastline in this charming Rhode Island town.
Little Compton is a revelation, a glorious mix of shingle-style
cottages and agricultural fields that spill down to the seashore. We
are reminded of the Hamptons 20 years ago, back when that resort
community’s vibe was relaxed—before the see-and-be-seen
restaurants and nightspots dominated.
The historic façade of the Stone House, overlooking the beach in charming Little Compton, Rhode Island.
The Stone House mixes
18th-century architecture with cutting-edge green technology to
minimize its carbon footprint. Our suggestion: Book a room in the
main house topped with a wedding cake-like cupola, and take in the
stunning vistas of the rocky shoreline.
An open-plan, contemporary-styled room in the barn at the Stone House.
Or,
reserve one of the super-spacious, open-plan aeries tucked upstairs
in the contemporary-cool barn. Savor any of the sublime spa
services—perhaps a deep pore cleansing facial or a Balinese
massage—before sipping a martini in the sunken garden tucked into
the extensive lawn. Dinner at Pietra is—in a word—chic, mixing
contemporary design with crisp service and superlative eats,
including curry-coated fried oysters on pillars of rice; a risotto of
hand-foraged chanterelle mushrooms and black truffles (Hand-foraged?
Count me in!); and Maine halibut with tiny tomatoes and white
anchovies. (The hotel’s tap room is still a work in progress and,
when finished, will add a further dimensionality to the hotel.)
Soak away your cares in the giant Japanese soaking tubs in the rooms above Pietra restaurant.
Take a long walk along the
shore, venture to nearby Evelyn’s for a lobster roll and steamers,
or stroll to colorful Sakonnet Harbor to watch the boats bobbing
about the marina.