Chatham Bars Inn Review: What To REALLY Expect If You Stay (2024)

• Private quarter-mile beach, with on-demand Lexus service to outer beach
• Oceanfront heated pool with hot tub and food and drink service
• Adult-only Signature Spa Suites
• Luxury spa with private relaxation pool and Zen garden
• Free 24-hour fitness center
• Lots of activities on-site, including nature walks, croquet, and tennis
• Private charters to Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard
• Free Wi-Fi throughout

• Minimum stay required
• Kids' program is a bit pricey
• Many resort activities cost extra
• Daily resort fee

Nestled near the heart of Chatham on 25 scenic acres overlooking Pleasant Bay, Chatham Bars Inn has been a local staple since 1914. The true Cape-Cod style architecture is complemented by lovely interiors to match -- upholstered wingback chairs, antique-style turned-leg furnishings, and seafaring decor. But don't let the term "inn" fool you, this property is big and amenities-packed, with a beautiful spa, modern fitness center, scenic beach, fine dining, private chartered boats, elegant meeting rooms, and classic clay tennis courts. Thanks to the large pools (including a kiddy pool) and an extensive kids' club, the Inn is a popular choice for families -- but guests looking for relaxation away from the bustling kid-friendly areas can book a room in the adult-only Spa Suites.

When it was built in 1914 by Charles Hardy, Chatham Bars Inn was an elegant vacation destination targeting well-heeled Bostonians. Since then, it has transformed itself into one of the Cape's most luxurious year-round resorts -- with rates to match.

The word “inn” conjures up an image of a cute, quaint setting where guests sit on the veranda for afternoon tea. There is a veranda here overlooking the ocean, and guests can enjoy a daily afternoon tea, but Chatham Bars Inn is anything but a simple “inn.” With private chartered boats, a beautiful golf course, a luxury spa, and fine dining, this property is more like a resort.

Set on 25 acres of waterfront property, this inn is still as much an architectural beauty as it was at its inception. Thanks to extensive renovations, the inn's rooms retain their original glamour while offering modern perks such as flat-screen TVs, Bose Wave radios, central air, and free Wi-Fi.

Chatham Bars Inn is a big hit with families (read: lots of kids every where you look), so couples looking for a quiet, romantic stay would be best off booking the adult-only Signature Spa Suites, complete with a private relaxation pool at The Spa.

With a private beach, multiple dining options, and activities to keep your day as packed as you want it to be, it's possible to visit the Chatham Bars Inn and never leave the property, unless you count stopping by the famed Fish Pier next door to catch the afternoon spectacle of fishing boats bringing in their catch (alongside barking seals).

But for those who do venture out to get a real Cape Cod experience, Chatham's Main Street is less than a half mile away. While other Cape towns have become more commercialized over the years, Chatham has retained that small town feel. Main Street is chock full of shops, galleries, restaurants, and even weekly summer band concerts at the Kate Gould Park. Surrounded on three sides by water, there are plenty of beautiful beaches and activities to enjoy. And if it's fresh seafood you're craving, you've come to the right place.

Located in “the elbow” of the Cape, Chatham is also the perfect jumping-off point for day trips around the Cape and to the islands, particularly if travelers take advantage of the private charter services at Chatham Bars Inn to the islands, rather than taking the ferries from Hyannis or Woods Hole.

• 10 minute walk to Main Street, where you will find shops, galleries, and restaurants
• 40-minute drive to Wellfleet
• 55-minute drive to Provincetown
• One-hour-and-forty-minute drive to Logan International Airport

In the Main Inn, rooms are furnished in New England-style decor with crisp white linens, tufted upholstered chairs, and turned-leg furnishings. Some rooms have an ocean view, while others have a property view. Depending on the category, rooms also have a balcony or porch. For a more homey experience, there are 26 cottages in true Cape Cod-home style.

The Signature Spa Suites, for adults only, are among the most luxurious accommodations. The 12 suites located above the Spa include oversized hydrotherapy tubs, saunas, steam showers, massage tables, and fireplaces. Guests can enjoy spa services within the privacy of their own suite, or at the spa itself. Guests also enjoy access to a private relaxation pool, cabanas, and Japanese Zen Garden.

All rooms feature flat-screen TVs, Red Flower bath products, central air, Nespresso coffeemakers with free coffee, and free Wi-Fi.

Common areas at Chatham Bars Inn are superb, beginning with the oceanfront heated outdoor pool and private quarter-mile-long stretch of beach, both with food and drink service is available and reservable private cabanas. Seal cruises (extra fee) embark from the hotel's dock and free on-demand Lexus SUV service to outer beach is available. The luxury spa, which has its own private spa pool and whirlpool (and more private cabanas), is another excellent means to relaxation. Guests looking to be a bit more active have plenty of options, as well: There's a free 24-hour fitness center with modern equipment, bocce ball, horseshoe, croquet courts, and classic clay tennis courts with lessons and clinics available (additional fees apply). A daily kids' program (not included in the room rates) offers morning, afternoon, and evening sessions.

The Sacred Cod Tavern, located in the Main Inn, serves upscale New England-style pub fare in comfortable surroundings. Open for lunch or dinner, it also has a bar and lounge where guests can relax with a co*cktail or two. Guests who prefer an ocean view with their meal can opt for the Beach House Grill or the seasonal Veranda -- a Chatham Bars Inn staple since 1914. The special-occasion Stars restaurant also offers Atlantic ocean views from its formal dining room. Guests can also dine on the resort's eight-acre waterfront farm, which is located a few minutes' drive from the hotel (free guided tours available).

Ample meeting and event spaces include an ocean-facing stand-alone boathouse with 20-foot-high vaulted ceilings. A cozy library has a computer and a printer, and Wi-fi is free throughout the hotel.