Cape Cod Hotel Review: The Chatham Bars Inn
The Chatham Bars Inn delivers a delightful slice of New England charm. The property is perched on a hilltop, adorned by beautiful hydrangeas and overlooking the ocean. During your stay, it’s a very safe bet that you’ll find yourself looking down at the outdoor pool deck, tennis courts and the harbor while sipping on a nice, icy summer drink.
The rooms are scattered throughout the property: some are located within the “Main Inn”, while others are in nearby cottages or on the actual beachfront. Our room was comfortable, but pretty small considering the lofty, summer prices.
The hotel was really bustling the week that we visited at the end of August. Guests and locals filled-up the six different restaurants and bars, which gave it a “buzzy energy”, but without making it feel overcrowded. The youthful, international staff really added to the vitality of the overall scene. They gave it a fresh and eclectic flavor, which somehow blended nicely with the hotel’s traditional New England architecture and interior design.
The on-campus food offerings are a bit of a mixed bag. For such an upscale hotel the pool menu could be a lot nicer. Perhaps, because they cater to lots of families and young children –it’s not especially focused on serving healthy adult options. The caesar salad was a bright spot. The nachos portion size is really absurd–meant for being shared by a party of 5 or more– which is not noted on the menu.
The Veranda restaurant and the indoor fine dining establishment called STARS, serve much higher quality meals than what’s available on the pool deck.
The hotel’s proximity to downtown Chatham is another nice feature. You can literally walk or ride a bike into the center of town for sundries, window shopping and some great, laid-back restaurants. Try the Impudent Oyster, but make sure to make reservations way in advance, or walk-in right at 5pm sharp to try and snag a seat at the bar.
The fastest way to get to the hotel if you’re not close enough to drive, is by flying into Hyannis airport and taking a 45 minute Uber ride from there. From NYC, it’s only a quick, 30 minute flight.
Certainly not inexpensive, but for a taste of Cape Cod and breathtaking views of the harbor and the ocean check out the Chatham Bars Inn. You’ll be happy you did!
https://www.chathambarsinn.com
Eric Dessner MD is an ophthalmologist in Brooklyn, NY. He is the founder of Medmic.com