8 Chic Seaside Hotels Where You Can Live Out Your Coastal Grandmother Dreams
An homage to Nancy Meyers movies and Martha Stewart, the coastal grandmother movement isn't just an internet aesthetic—it's a way of life. The term, coined by influencer Lex Nicoleta, refers to a design trend embodied by long weekends by the beach spent hunting for seashells; it's comfortable, hospitable, and calming. Whether you’re a coastal grandmother yourself or simply craving a getaway that taps into a love of chilled white wine, romance novels, chambray, and sun hats, look no further than these seaside hotels. From Southern-style hospitality in Florida to cozy cottages in Rhode Island and gorgeously landscaped islands in South Carolina, these properties feel as welcoming as a hug from an effortlessly chic grandmother.
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The Moorings VillagehotelThe Moorings Village
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Gold List 2022 
Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019While it’s the setting for the Rayburn House inn on the moody Netflix drama Bloodline, the Moorings Village and Spa is actually a tranquil beach getaway in the postcard-perfect Florida Keys. Guests here can opt to rent the 6,000-square-foot Blue Charlotte vacation home, which feels like a private beach house with its spacious veranda and lap pool, or one of the one-bedroom cottages, done up in blue fabrics, rattan furniture, and large coastal prints. Do as much or as little as you want during your stay, from long walks on orchid-lined pathways to leisurely swims in turquoise waters.
- Patrick J O'Brienhotel
The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort
$$ | Gold List 2023 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023Like something out of The Notebook, the winding, moss-laden entrance to the Sanctuary Hotel on Kiawah Island inspires instant calm. From there, the 250-room oasis has everything you need to let your inner Nancy Myers shine, including a stretch of private beach, a piano bar, vintage-inspired bedding in the guest rooms, and stylish boutiques off the lobby. Since the hotel is only 40 minutes from Charleston, you can easily make a day trip to the city for a fancy meal or some more shopping.
- Moris Morenohotel
Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023Just south of West Palm Beach in Florida, Eau Palm Beach gives major seaside-chic vibes, starting with champagne at check in. In each ocean-view room, you’ll find coastal blues, lemon yellows, and lots of nautical details, including local photography and artwork. Don’t miss a treatment at the famed Eau Spa, which boasts a Buddhist-inspired garden with dipping pools and a pagoda, and when you want to get off property, take a leisurely drive around Palm Beach to see the million-dollar estates lining the shore, or to visit Henry Flagler's Whitehall mansion on the intracoastal waterway.
- Amy Fronczkiewiczhotel
The Wanderer Cottages
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Hot List 2023This collection of 17 quintessential white clapboard New England cottages has cool, surf shack-inspired decor and a prime location within biking distance to Kennebunkport’s best restaurants, shops, and beaches—perfect for East Coast creatives craving a quick coastal getaway. Each studio and one-bedroom cottage has a cute name, like Love Shack (#11) or Surf Shack (#3) and has been decorated with vintage black-and-white surf photography, nautical-themed antiques, and custom rope-wrapped surfboards. All feature mini-fridges and wet bars, and most are dog friendly. A prime location on a leafy street one mile from Kennebunkport’s buzzy Dock Square allows guests to skip the hassles of summer traffic and parking and use free cruiser bikes to visit downtown’s lobster shacks and bars. Rooms from $183. —Jen Murphy
- Courtesy Ocean House/Photo by Chip Riegelhotel
Ocean House
$$$ | Gold List 2018, 2023 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023Meticulously restored and undeniably luxurious, Ocean House in picturesque Watch Hill, Rhode Island, is the epitome of coastal-grandma chic. Each of the 49 rooms and 20 suites offers sweeping views of the ocean or the hotel’s manicured gardens, helping you start every day with something beautiful. Also on site is an impressive art collection, which includes early works by Madeline illustrator Ludwig Bemelmans, as well as several dining options and a five-star spa. If you can, stay in the Tower Suite, which features a wooden spiral staircase and Block Island Sound vistas—or the immaculate Morgan Suite, with a fully equipped kitchen, nautical touches, and a spacious outdoor terrace.
- Gary Bogdonq/Hotel Effiehotel
Hotel Effie
$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2022Named after owner Tom Becnel’s grandmother, Hotel Effie in South Walton, Florida exemplifies the grandiose personality of its namesake. Featuring the warm hospitality you’d expect from a real Southern grandma, each guest is welcomed with chocolate chip cookies and a big glass of sweet tea. Even though many of the rooms feature views of the area’s famous Emerald Coast waters and sugar-sand beaches, the best 360-degree vistas come from the expansive rooftop pool or private beach. Celebrity chef Hugh Acheson was consulted on the food offerings, offering a haute take on many southern classics—like the lobster risotto or blue ribbon gumbo.
- Lisa Romereinhotel
Shutters on the Beach
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023No hotel does the linen shirt, bucket hat, and bottle of rosé aesthetic better than the iconic Shutters on the Beach in Santa Monica, California. Each of the 186 guest rooms is decorated like a wealthy grandmother’s East Coast manse, with breezy decor, big windows, and artwork by Robert Motherwell and Roy Lichtenstein. The highlight, however, is the hotel pool, which has incredible views of the Santa Monica Bay. During your stay, be sure to make time for a relaxing treatment at the One Spa, like a hot-stone massage or the signature microcurrent facial.