My boyfriend and I stayed at the Narragansett Inn from July 17-19th, having searched for a place in a good location that could fit into our budget. The Narragansett is a very barebones establishment, so those looking for luxurious accommodations are coming to the wrong place. Having arrived via the Montauk ferry and landing in old harbor, we found the inn conveniently located just around the corner and situated on a small hilltop overlooking the harbor. The views were magnificent, and we spent many relaxing hours taking it on from the veranda’s rocking chairs, while ordering drinks from the bar.

I’m glad to report that the Inn seems to be much better kept these days than in past years. My boyfriend and I did not notice any cleanliness issues during our stay, and we are both neat freaks. The room itself was sparse, yet clean, and also with wonderful harbor views. The shared bathrooms, there are two per floor, were always clean, and having a sink in the bedroom (which sounds strange) actually turned out to be quite convenient, making it unnecessary to go down the hall to the bathroom just to brush your teeth for instance.

The free breakfast was a nice surprise. During our stay, an all you can eat buffet was offered each morning consisting of pancakes, bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs, roasted potatoes, yogurt, fruit, granola, cereals, pastries and coffee and juices. I warn against arriving too late to breakfast. My boyfriend and I found several of the food items nearly depleted (e.g., a fruit bowl eaten down to only 3-4 cubes of watermelon) with the staff seeming reticent to replenish them. The Oar restaurant, located just behind the inn, is an excellent place for dinner or lunch and is convenient for those who don’t want to walk or bike back in the dark if returning late. In addition, the doughnuts at Payne’s on the dock right next door are some of the best I’ve ever had.

As mentioned, the Narragansett Inn is not the right place for those seeking creature comforts. The building itself is approximately 100 years old, so while that adds to the charm, it is also obvious that it’s in need of a lot of TLC. The rooms do not have air conditioning (although it appears that few establishments on the island do and it was hardly needed during our stay), windows must be propped open with sticks and the furnishings are threadbare, if non-existent. Having stayed during the week when things were fairly quiet business-wise, I cannot speak to the noise levels coming from the restaurant and bar, however, the walls of the Inn are very thin, so disturbances from the neighboring rooms and hallways are more than likely. Light sleepers may want to bring their earplugs in either case. Overall, the inexpensive lodging prices, free breakfast and fabulous location make the Narragansett a good choice for those on a budget, but fussy individuals should look elsewhere.