Emerson Inn Parlor Bar and Restaurant

A trip back in time and a hidden Bistro right on the beautiful coast of Rockport & Gloucester. The Inn is like stepping back into the early 1900's, with lovely decor and stunning sea views. The drinks and food at the Bistro are excellent, the girls who waited on us were fantastic and fun. It's a wonderful place to stay and dine for anyone visiting the North Shore.

You can't ask for a better view, especially if you get a table on a porch. It is lovely and peaceful with a vast ocean view. I enjoyed the pigeon cove chowder and duck confit. The triple chocolate cake was very good. There is a parking lot for guests in the back, so parking is not a problem.

A definite stop get a room for couple of nights or just stop in for music or one of their events. Excellent food and cocktails. Beautiful seat looking put at the Ocean. Owner and staff very helpful and friendly knowledgeable about the area Was there couple weeks back for Moonrise Party. Incredible Dinner and Drinks amazing Service By all the Staff and the Owners are Available Friendly Easy to Talk to will answer any questions. Food is Magnificent taste and favors on different regions foods. What can be said about being Oceanside.

Historic Emerson Inn's restaurant. Don't know if tavern is the correct title as there is only a small bar separate from the dining area. Dining room is a large single room with scattered tables and chairs that are meant to get you up after an hour (uncomfortable). Small menu featuring some nice preparations executed tastefully. We enjoyed, a cheese board with jam and honey placed directly on the board, would have preferred small vessels of these accompaniments. Salmon won tons, NY strip, and Scallops. Nothing visually spectacular but the flavors where on point. Very small wine list. Seasonal place April-October.

Lovely, somewhat secluded place to have a drink away from the more touristy hubbub of Rockport’s town center. Very fair drink prices. I can’t comment on the food because we did not eat. Part of the reason we did not order food is because one of us was vegan and they had only one vegan option.

Our new favorite place in the Rockport area. Located in a beautiful historic inn with incredible views of the ocean and surrounding coastline. If you can get a table on the patio. Don't worry if it's a little cool out as blankets are provided. Food, drinks and service are all excellent. The chef's risotto was one of the best we have tasted. Can't wait to go back.

We had dinner on the veranda. It overlooks the water, I can't imagine a better place to be on a warm summer night. Had the clam chowder and the seafood casserole, both very good and the triple chocolate cake for desert which was terrific.

The Emerson Inn is a quaint hotel with the most kind of people working there. From the moment you walk through the doors you feel the immediate welcome and are instantly at peace. The Parlor Bar is a wonderful treat with delicious drinks and food. With all that being said, I feel that what makes the Emeson such an amazing place is everyone that works there. They make you feel at home, they are kind and accommodating!

Got in a little later on our first night and were starving. Went to the bar and found a nice menu and piano dude playing. Was surprised by another couple of singers for a few songs, all very good. Cool spot and good food.

We decided on a last minute stay at The Emerson Inn for GF's birthday. We had originally planned on going to Miami but because of the COVID situation in Florida, made the decision to stay in New England for a little beach getaway in Rockport instead. Because this was for a special occasion, we were initially going to BOUGIE it up at the W in South Beach so when we scrapped those plans, I still wanted to splurge on an ocean front property for our Rockport getaway and selected this place. Arrival: The place is right on the corner and easy to spot from the street. The road from the car to the entrance of the hotel is gravel and not amenable to rolling suitcases easily. Going up to the entrance requires ascending stairs. The concierge was there, after 10pm, friendly and welcoming which was a pleasant surprise for an Inn, which can have limited hours per my past experience. This property DOES NOT HAVE ELEVATORS but the staff offered numerous times to help us take our luggage to the 3rd floor but I felt that we could handle it. The room: We selected a "queen oceanside". The room is tiny. Like literally probably a few feet of space outside the bed in all directions. The bathroom is equally small, only one space to stand which happens to be in front of the sink, in front of the toilet, and to step into the shower. I've had larger rooms in Europe. The bed is very comfortable and the AC worked well. Everything was very clean. The towels were soft. The shower had top 3 best hotel water pressures I've ever experienced. You have to hold on or it'll blow you away. The water was hot. The toilet flush was weak. The tub initially drained very well but after showering for a few days, on our last day (thank god), it didn't drain at all? There was a mosquito inside our room the second we stepped into the room and I can say, having been home for about 24 hours, I am absolutely covered in mosquito bites from our stay here. Our first night, before opening any windows, GF got bitten on her face while we slept. It reminded me of the days I went to medical school in the Caribbean and slept in a mosquito net. Our second night, we opened the windows because the room was prohibitively steamy after taking a shower and the following day I noticed there are a bunch of holes in the screen. Classic. There is no fridge or microwave. The flatscreen TV on the wall worked well but no option for netflix or any streaming services. The view is absolutely stunning but there is no beach or water access. The window is only covered by a shade which doesn't do a great job of blocking out the light. It is very easy to hear doors slamming and other guests taking the stairs so if you are a light sleeper, I would recommend ear plugs. Services: There were ample towels provided. We were told at check in that there would be a card hanging on our door from which we could select to receive additional items. We requested new towels and hung the card outside the door. When we left in the afternoon, we still had not received requested towels so we asked at the desk. When we returned later that night, we still had not received the towels. Eventually, we received them about an hour or so after we returned. Amenities: There is a pool outside that overlooks the ocean. Sitting at the pool for a few hours was one of our best experiences during our trip. The pool is small and the seating limited. There is no room service. There was no maid service during the day. Location: A 40 minute walk to Bearskin Neck (the touristy shit you probably came to Rockport for) and essentially requires driving. There is really nothing within walking distance. There are extremely limited options for food delivery and literally no options for delivery after 10pm. If you're a night owl and you like to eat late, you will be hungry. Miscellaneous: There is a bar and restaurant in the lobby. You can sit on the veranda or inside at the bar. It is a gorgeous view. The drinks are expensive, similar to Manhattan prices ($17 for a drink). We ordered a few cocktails and ate at the restaurant on our last night. I ordered the risotto, and was happy to see vegetarian options on the menu, but the risotto was essentially tasteless and a waste of calories. On our last day, I woke up to three missed calls from the hotel and a voicemail stating, "nevermind, you don't have to switch your room after all". Huh? Why would I have to switch my room? I booked four nights. A staff member unfortunately WALKED IN on us while we were sleeping and was very apologetic. There is no "do not disturb" tag to leave outside the door. I will say the staff were all incredible and the best part of the stay. Ultimately, the 400-something per night we paid for this stay was outrageous and not at all worth what we received. Our W South Beach stay, ON THE BEACH with BEACH ACCESS, in a major US city, tons of amenities, was only slightly more per night, which is absolutely ridiculous.

The good and the oh so disappointing. This was not our first time staying at the Emerson Inn but it was under the new ownership. And unfortunately the differences are noticeable in all the bad direction. But first the good. The Emerson Inn is indeed a lovely property with a beautiful location. Our room was clean, bed was comfortable and the refrigerator we requested was waiting in the room when we arrived. We enjoyed sitting in the chairs with the scenic ocean view we had from our room. We were well aware that there would be no elevators and there would be walking up stairs but we did not mind. There was also plenty of parking. We did appreciate the new saltwater pool. They have a full bar service going now at the Emerson. Many of the guests seem to enjoy having a cocktail, beer or wine on the patio and we did as well. They no longer have iced tea available during the day like the prior owners did; rather there is just water available on the bar. They do have Keurig machines on each floor but I will comment on that in a bit. Now as to the very disappointing. Breakfast was, frankly, terrible. They serve basically a continental breakfast with some fresh fruit, pastries (definitely mass produced not baked on premises), yogurts and cold cereal and then one hot dish each day. The hot dish is a tragedy. The first day we arrived it was a gelatinous concoction of sweetness they called French toast that was so sugary it could have given you cavities in one mouthful. Another day, the hot dish was a quiche that was cold and under a hot lamp, and probably not something that would meet health guidelines to be served to guests. Now to the Keurig machines, the machine on our floor needed to be descaled and wasn't touched by housekeeping the entire week of our stay. On another floor, there were grinds in the Keurig, so it also had not been cleaned. Finally, and this might be the most important of all. Service was lacking. The warmth we felt from prior years that had always made us return to the Emerson is gone. Upon check-in we were handed our keys with barely a word. There was no welcome, no helpful tips on dinner, or sights to see. We never saw the owner.

We just returned from a four day/ 3 night stay and wanted to provide a realistic review of our experience and why we chose the rating we did. First, the not so good, the room and bathroom we had was TINY. I can't speak for all the rooms but the neighborhood queen was small and there's not really any place (Dresser) to unpack so we just sort of lived out of our suitcase at the foot of the bed. You're also going to want to be on very comfortable terms with your partner because the (minuscule) bathroom feels like it's pretty much in the room with you. I've stayed in "micro hotels" in NYC-this was smaller. There's nowhere to plug in things in in the bathroom and the only storage was over the toilet-not ideal as when I pulled a washcloth down, a tube of body wash fell in the toilet. The bed was hard and canted to one side so it wasn't the best nights sleep. I don't know if it was COVID related or due to the change in ownership but there was a new chef who started on our first breakfast day so it took about 1.5 hours between when we were seated to when we got breakfast and, in all honesty, it was bad. The special was lemon blueberry pancakes and they were dense, grainy and had bits of onion in them. We chose to eat offsite for the second day of our stay. Finally, for the not so good, the front desk staff was really inconsistent. The woman who was working on the day we checked in wasn't super hospitable-I was telling her about how this was a getaway for not only my husbands 50th but also our wedding anniversary as the dates fell between both and she gave a vague "that's nice" and just handed us the key. At the end of the night, after we had a few drinks on the porch, we brought in our glasses to try to make things easier for her and she sighed and seemed fairly annoyed. The good, the views are AMAZING. You cannot ask for a better view anywhere; it's honestly breathtaking, I can't say enough about how absolutely gorgeous it was. The pool was pretty and neat but too cool to use-not sure what type of heating they use but it couldn't have been more than 70 degrees at most. The inn and rooms were extremely clean and well kept. Aside from the first day, the remainder of the staff was super great, friendly and helpful. Cameron (I think was his name) was great and his mom who works the desk had him prep us a little to go breakfast bag before we left to pick up our kids from camp early sat morning which was really thoughtful and I wish she had been there when we checked in. The hotel is located about a mile or so from halibut point state park and that's a beautiful hike (I'd suggest walking if you're able as parking there was $20). The bartender who was there thurs and Friday night was really friendly and we enjoyed talking with her. There's always lemon water out And coffee and pastries were put out in the early am which was nice. There are some lawn games but one of the biggest highlights was just sitting in the rocking chairs on the porch overlooking the ocean. I think with better training this place could be even better; the potential is definitely there but there are a few tweaks that need ironed out. All in all we loved the area and would absolutely return.

There are no elevators as this is an old Inn, not a modern remake of an old inn, its the real deal. I have balance and leg weakness issues and the stairs were well worth the view. Also the staff is more than willing to help with luggage. I had a single room with a queen sized bed that couldn't have been more comfortable. The room itself was spotlessly clean. I have been in 4 and 5 star modern hotels that were not as clean. The view was the star though, a panoramic view of the ocean, no other decoration needed. The staff could not have been more responsive or accommodating. Everyone was friendly and eager to help in any way. The service was spot on and the food, even during these crazy times, was amazing. As I was dinning with a friend I couldn't help but notice a new staff member being trained on the proper way to clear and clean the tables, as a nurse I was impressed. The Emerson is nestled in a quiet neighborhood by the ocean. There are numerous public foot paths down to the ocean through the area. I walked down to the rocks just off the property to watch the sunrise. Halibut Point State Park is just a short walk down the road or It can be accessed on the public foot paths. I would bring rugged shoes as it is rocky and muddy in some areas after a rain. I was thinking my walking polls would not have been a bad idea, but I have balance issues. The area itself has many points of interest. Bearskin Neck had shops open with limited access, but still a lovely walk to the top of the neck and down town. I was happy to explore the area and just relax on the huge wrap around veranda or at the pool. This was truly a wonderful way to relax and destress and I look forward to many more trips to the Emerson. Next time I'm bringing the hubby.

Just stay at the Emerson Inn. The staff were efficient. The room was small but clean and updated. The view was amazing. The coffee was perfect and we enjoyed sitting downstairs and enjoying the view.

Fantastic staff, charming accommodations, million dollar view. A jewel of Rockport. Relax and enjoy.

I have never seen such a cold and apathetic business owner. She had trained some of her staff to be just as cold. I requested a larger room, quiet, away from the stairs. We got the tiniest room in the building. Right at the top of the stairs. Noise all night. We could not fit our small dog crate in the room. So so tiny. There was a large stain on the rug. Seemed to be dog urine. When I informed them at checkout, I was told I should have taken a photo of it upon arrival. We were there for one night. The food is horrific. The drinks are terrible and overpriced. The owner clearly does want to pay for skilled staff. Her background is corporate settings. No hospitality experience. And the rates are over the top insulting. Go anywhere else. The ocean views are not worth this insulting experience.

We just returned from our stay at The Emerson Inn by the Sea. I couldn't wait to share some of the highlights. This inn is under new ownership and has gone through a wonderful renovation and has vibes of the roaring twenties. Very tastefully decorated with lots of different areas for gathering. There is a very cozy bar area that opens at 4 pm. You can choose to sit on the veranda or inside. There is a wonderful complimentary breakfast buffet in the morning with one hot item and all the usual breakfast items like, cereals, yogurt, hard boiled eggs and delicious fruit. Dinner is also available with a small but varied menu. Their clam chowder is amazing!, The chips and dip is a lot more than the title. We're talking about homemade chips and the best onion dip that was explained to us that the chef cooks the onions for hours to make this so delicious. Rooms vary in size and offerings. But the bedding is especially good. Very high end and so comfy. The entire staff was so accommodating. The owner, Kimberly is seen everywhere, making sure everything is just right. She loves to chat with her guests welcomes comments to help her to be attentive and make changes if needed. If you have the opportunity to stay here keep in mind this is a 150 year old inn.....lovingly upgraded but still has some things you might take for granted....like an elevator. We had a very enjoyable time and hope to return real soon.

Have stayed a few times and it's pure relaxation. Staff are so kind and accommodating. My go to place by the sea for some rest. ‍‍

My husband and I came here right after we were married in 2009, ever since we come back as this is one of the nicest places to stay in Rockport by far! This is a unique bed and breakfast with a lot of history. The service, bar, and food is amazing. There is a piano player at night outside of the dinning room which is really nice to hear after a long day. The pool is heated, its nice to take a dip after dinner while the sun is setting. The views are breathtaking and in an odd way it feels as if you are secluded...amazing.

Lobster sliders were ok but would have been much better if the bun were grilled and buttered, the chips accompanying it were excellent. Seafood Chowder was good but there was bacon in it YUK never again no warning on menu not good for kosher at all! View was good People were nice

Very poor customer service. Had to cancel a reservation due to covid. They were very nice when I canceled and said I would receive a credit for the deposit (which they said they don't usually do but due to our situation they would do it). Was told I would get information to confirm this. Never received one. I sent email requesting cancelation confirmation and the information about the "gift card" credit. They left a voice message on my phone and said I would receive an email with information that night. (Again Never got said email)A month later I sent another email when I was charged the full price of our canceled stay. I got an email back saying I misunderstood and agreed to full amount being charged to my card and to boot had to use this said credit by November 2022 which they said I agreed to. Not sure how or when I agreed to anything IF NOBODY ever got in touch with me about this. Email even said no one ever responded back to me. I responded and asked when I agreed to this since no one responded to my emails. I have yet to get a response or apology from them. Disputed charge on my card because In my opinion they lack customer service. Sad thing is we were looking forward to a stay there. Definitely will stay someplace else next time we visit family in Rockport.

The inn's broad porch overlooks a lawn with interesting boulders popping through it, and beyond that, the ocean. Rooms vary in size and view. The people who work there were overwhelmingly helpful, and really made our stay relaxing.

We had our wedding at the Emerson Inn at the end of April and were so happy with the experience. Candice, the Events Manager, and Emily, the Guest Services Manager, were both incredible throughout the whole process of booking the Inn, rooms, and putting together our wedding. Candice is so detail oriented and thinks of the small things that will make the experience better for you and your guests. The rooms are lovely, clean, and very comfortable (the beds are awesome). The food from the Pigeon Cove Tavern was great-we did a buffet and all the food was delicious-and breakfast was yummy as well! Of course, the view and location cannot be beat. If you're looking for a relaxing and lovely night away, or a great place to host your wedding on the water-this is it!

If you are looking for a quiet, relaxing stay in Rockport, this is an excellent choice. The facility is top-notch, beautifully maintained, and comfortably appointed. Be aware that the amenities of the village are not within walking distance, however, nor do the rooms offer fridges or coffeemakers. Thus, if you are a coffee addict as I am, you must rely on the friendly dining room staff to set up coffee early each morning in the grand, lovely lobby overlooking the sea. This worked out well on two of the three days we were here. On the third day, oops, not so much. I guess someone overslept that day. This slight shortcoming tempted me to shave a star off my rating, but I will reconfirm here that it is a five-star place based on its gorgeous seaside location and immaculate rooms. Staff are also very attentive. Other than belated coffee on one day, my only real disappointment was the fact that the swimming pool was out of order for most of our stay. I would definitely give the Emerson Inn another shot. The dining room was closed for dinner on two nights of our stay, but open on the third and we were happy about that. The food is good and priced fairly. Buffet breakfast is available every morning (included in our room rate) and was excellent.

My coworkers and I attended a daytime leadership retreat here this past summer in August. Spectacular views and location! We set up in the downstairs meeting area and had a sea view. It was hard to pay attention to the workshop as we all were dreaming of the sea and the view. The buffet lunch was very very good and nicely presented. Parking was tight, but we all found a spot on the lot or nearby street. I want to come back!!

We woke up with water dripping through the ceiling. The first night was very dark no lights in the parking lot or on the porch with tables and chairs. Until we finally went to the front desk and asked about lights on the front porch so we could sit outside and play cards. Staying two nights not enough shampoo to wash one person's hair. When we asked the front desk for an extra towel we got a snooty remark from a girl about how we each needed an extra towel.

I came to this beautiful inn for a long weekend once restrictions started to lift in the Northeast. I was very impressed with how well they handled all of the Covid protocols. I felt extremely safe. Literally everyone in the hotel, as well as the town of Rockport in general, wore masks essentially any time but eating and swimming. My room, while small, was beautiful, clean, and the view was unbeatable. I left the shades up so that I woke up every morning to watch a beautiful sunrise. My room included a $100 voucher towards The Pigeon Cove Tavern, which is the on-site restaurant. I had the best lobster roll of my entire trip here, believe it or not. The $100 was enough to cover a dinner for two and several trips to the bar throughout the weekend. Breakfast is also included every day. It would have been a buffet, but since this was not allowed due to Covid, the waiter told you what was available and you could have as much as you wanted. The grounds are absolutely gorgeous. We used the pool every day and took walks down on the rocks and watched the tide come in. The view from down on the rocks is stunning. Be careful with small children, obviously. It is close to the beaches and the town of Bearskin Neck as well. I would definitely return to the Emerson without hesitation.

Warning: this inn is beautiful, quaint, charming, set on a hill high above the Atlantic Ocean - all those things you look for in East Coast bed and breakfasts ... but beware weeknights in March, my friends. Upon returning from your lovely dinner in town, full with food and drowsy from wine, you will likely find yourselves the ONLY ones in the place. I mean the music from "The Shining" is pretty much playing in the background as you turn the key the concierge gave you when you checked in to "let yourselves in" later. Not kidding. Once in, the Victorian chairs seem to loom in dark corners and the stairs creak a little too loudly on the way up to your room. Once inside, you eargerly lock both locks and turn on something happy and irrelevant, like SNL. *Whew. Safe... for now. In all seriousness, there was NOTHING creepy about the actual hotel. It's gorgeous, the rates were great at the off-season time we visited, the bathroom was very modern and impeccably clean, and there was English breakfast tea and croissants downstairs in the enormous dining room when we awoke. But in the total darkness of a Massachusettes night, I was sure Jack Nicholson was waiting behind our bedroom door. 5 stars for this spellbinding getaway. Visit it... I dare you. ;)

This has all the pros of an old, quaint inn, but none of the cons. By that I mean the ridiculous stuffiness and "preciousness" that many old inns and B&Bs have (and strive for!) this place is cozy and even child friendly. The outdoor pool is lovely. The breakfast is delicious and plentiful and just right. We just spent 3 wonderful days at the inn and I'm already planning my next visit. I would have given a five star rating if only the Grand Cafe had more than one vegetarian dinner option. Overall, a real treat!

To begin: Emerson Inn by the Sea is the ultimate choice for a traveler looking for a petite, charming and elegant historic inn. The decor in the Lobby and landings along the Grand Staircase is a delightful hodgepodge of Victorian, Edwardian and maybe a little Art Deco along the way. Expect glass book cases with old volumes of classics and wonderful photos that remind one that this location was a favorite of Ralph Waldo Emerson himself. The exterior of the Inn has a "Grand Dame" feel, slightly weathered but perfectly endearing. There are plenty of large rocking chairs to sit upon on and gaze out on the open ocean. ( Side note: The Inn sits directly on the coast and there is easy access to a public path that one can use to go down to the rocky "cliff" below. The walk is easy and you can go right down to the water without much effort. ) Upon checking in we were greeted by Mitch who was very nice and was kind enough to provide an upgrade to an Ocean View King with a jet tub - Room 213. It was located on the first level up from the lobby. The room was small, but not too cramped. There was a total of three windows that looked dead straight over the porch roof and out onto the sea. It was absolutely the highlight of the stay. The bathroom, albeit being tiny was actually quite chic with navy walls with the rest all white. The window the the bathroom had tiny shutters that you could open and close making it all the more adorable. Everything was very clean and lots of towels were provided. The toiletries were nothing special, but there was fresh lavender tucked with the towels! How nice! At first I was very excited about the jet tub - but upon being absolutely scared to death on our first morning I decided to forgo using it. I somehow accidentally pressed the button while getting into the deliciously deep tub and the whole thing rumbled and hummed extremely loud - like a old fashioned carburetor. I was so startled - I shut it off straight away. I'm not sure if it was broken or just old since it was so noisy. It did not sound or behave like any other jet tub I've encountered. I recommend trying it out during the afternoon as to not awaken the entire Inn. The bed was very cozy and warm and located right near the windows. Upon waking, you gaze out onto the open ocean. Just wondrous! Free Breakfast was included in the room downstairs in the Grand Cafe. (Side note: We ate both our breakfasts and both our dinners in the Grand Cafe. For details on dinner - please consult the specific review on the Grand Cafe itself) The full breakfast buffet was lovely. Each morning was different! On offer the first morning was: pumpkin pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage, roasted potatoes with peppers and onions, blueberry muffins, assorted cereals and granola, fresh fruit, toast, bagels and juice, coffee and tea. The second morning the pancakes were blueberry, the muffins were replaced by almond croissants and there was bacon instead of sausage. Everything else remained the same. All was clearly made from scratch (save for the cereal and toast/bagels and juice) and prepared with care. Our stay couldn't have been better. I deducted a star for the small room, (but I'm sure there are larger alternatives) and for the dated jet tub. I would certainly come here again for a relaxing long weekend soon!

A very pleasant place for a reasonable price, which includes a good old fashioned American buffet breakfast (Pancakes, eggs, bacon, home fries, bagels, fruit, etc.). The main dining room has a relatively ambitious dinner menu which does not quite reach the expected level of culinary excellence. Lettuce wrapped pork bellies, for example, sounded great and actually tasted pretty good- but the pork bellies were tough and chewy- the opposite of what you would expect. They do need to get an espresso machine no later than next week. Please. Staff is young and unusually well-trained. Very friendly. The place is super clean with comfortable beds and bright, cheery (albeit mostly small) rooms. As with many older inns, the soundproofing is not great, unless you actually like to hear your neighbor taking a shower- and the doors create quite a bang when they close. (Seriously recommend putting some rubber strips along the sides to muffle the slam). All that said- highly recommended.

This gorgeous oceanfront inn site is fabulous. Our bed was comfy and bathroom adorable. Clean facilities and friendly staff were much appreciated. Front porch rockers and dinner on the tavern end of the seaside porch were absolutely delightful. This would have been a 5 star review but for two issues. One, the kitchen seemed to have trouble keeping up with a generous supply of hot coffee, milk, fruit, eggs etc. at breakfast which, disappointingly, operates only from 8-9:30am. On weekends especially it would be nice to extend breakfast to 10am. Two, the gardens and potted plants throughout the property desperately need weeding and perking up. It's the end of a long hot summer, but all over town Rockport's gardening neighbors have managed to keep their flower pots, window boxes and borders enticing. Not so much the Emerson Inn. In fact, I couldn't resist surreptitiously deadheading some pooped plants and pulling a few ol' weeds while there as a guest - especially the potted plant by the front door. So, Emerson Inn, with better managed breakfasts and more green thumbs, I hope to bestow five stars in the future.

So we just took an Uber all the way to the Inn since they advertised music this evening... and, just in case, had even confirmed that was the case by phone this afternoon..... well NO music and no one knows why the two people that confirmed it was a go when we called didn't know.. clueless! If your going to run an Inn, someone that answers the phone should know what the hell is going on.. Very disappointed having wasted the time and expense of trekking both ways from down town Gloucester. Lesson to others... don't trust what they tell you in their ads or on the phone it seems.

I very much enjoyed my overnight stay at the Inn. I'd defintely return here. I was pleasantly surprised as I was upgraded for free to a two-room suite from a single room. The suite was very clean with a Queen-size bed. The bathroom was bright with a bathtub/shower. The room was on the fourth (the top) floor and while there was no elevator, I enjoyed the exercise. (The front desk informed us that someone was available to carry our bags, but we did not need the help.) It was a cold day in late November and the room's heating was excellent. The WiFi worked perfectly and was free. The complementary breakfast buffet was very good with items such as scrambled eggs, smoked salmon and bagels and cream cheese, english muffins, pastries, cold cereals, orange juice, fresh cut fruit, etc... The front desk was friendly and helpful upon check-in. The hotel is in Rockport, which is a quiet picturesque town with views of the ocean.

I am not one to write reviews often but I read on this location before booking and there was a commonality of staff being rude. I have to say most seem to not care about anything while they are working which is disappointing. And get off your phone at work when your behind the desk, Facebook can wait kids.

This was a perfect retreat for a couple of tired parents, exhausted and exhilarated from dropping their middle child off for the freshman year in college in Boston. The view is incredible. If you are up early enough, the sun comes up right in the front yard. There is a wide open lawn and plenty of Adirondack chairs for reading. Go for a swim or embarrass yourselves with horseshoes, it couldn't be more relaxing. Make sure to take the "Atlantic Walk", a public access trail along the beachfront. The crowd tends to be a little older but we met plenty of great people. The food is fantastic. Whether it was the all included breakfast buffet or dinner in either the restaurant or the lounge, everything we ate was excellent. Breakfast can be taken inside or outside on a large screened porch that can seat ~25. The Chef is also a great pastry chef and showed through with the breakfast pastries that were laid out. Our room was a little small, but this is an older resort, built before the age of the 1,100sqft bathrooms. It was very clean, with great bedding and mattress. We did a lot of hiking and driving around Cape May and also coupled the trip with an sunset sail with Salty Dog Charters (see separate review), a perfect combination. Very enjoyable experience.

I am giving 4 stars because I haven't stayed here, but all the rest is a big 5. What a location! This place is awesome. Rooms with a view that are to die for--rocky, picturesque ocean-side cliffs. Historical and tasteful inside with very period furniture and colors. I went to a meeting and enjoyed a great breakfast and tour of the place. It was really awesome. I think a nice romantic weekend in the room on the 4th floor would be amazing!!

I was only here for one night but I really liked this place. Beautiful view of the ocean, some nice walking paths nearby to get closer to the ocean. Cool front porch with rocking chairs. I didn't have food here so can't weigh in on that. Staff was nice in a refreshingly non-corporate way -- bellhop was a nice local kid working there for summer. You can't easily walk into town from here which is too bad, but it's a short drive. The room didn't have a digital alarm clock which I disliked but I guess we all have phones now so that's nitpicking

Our stay at the Emerson Inn was perfect. They went above and beyond to make sure our stay was outstanding. They were incredibly accommodating with our dog that was traveling with us. Definitely recommend!!

Okay....so this place was recommended to me by a co-worker. I had planned a special date night for my wife and I and this place was picked to knock her socks off! Long story short.....the drive up to Rockport, the Seaside Views and the Inn itself was GREAT!!! She was wowed to say the least. NOW!!!! Lets talk about the food! The flavor and seasoning on the food that was served was missing just like the last two stars on this review. The menu was quite anemic as far as selection but they sure made you pay for what little they had. Our server was quite friendly and understanding enough to take our flavorless appetizer off our bill, but seemed distracted at times with the very loud crowd that seemed to be regulars. All in all it was not a total disappointment.....I can recommend their coffee...lol....and their Pepsi was great. I cannot comment on the accommodations....but as a dining experience I would not recommend it to anyone.

The new Emerson Inn dining room/ pub is a bit disappointing. The food is good and well presented, but the atmosphere is odd! Everything charming about the old inn is gone. The new owners cleaned up the look, but it still looks like a dining room ... before the tables are set. The biggest disappointment is the porch! For me, dining on the screened porch was the draw. Now there are no screens and just a few cocktail tables. I really don't care what the inn wants to call the dining room, just cover those tables and put the screens back in!

Great ocean views. Clean/updated hotel. Very peaceful/relaxing/quiet. Delish breakfast however be sure to contact/book your stay with the hotel directly to get it included free. If you book from an alternate sight (travelocity/Expedia/etc) breakfast is NOT included and will run you close to $20 per person. Also note, not close to downtown Rockport shopping district....2miles away so you'll either need to plan for walking time or drive and park down there.

A quiet and peaceful spot with awesome view. Restaurant and bar serve good food and drink. Away from busy downtown Rockport but still close enough. Top notch service.

This is a grand hotel in every good sense of that term! Our stay was short but a most welcomed beginning to a couple of weeks in New England. There is something magical about going to sleep to the sound of crashing waves and then waking to an eastern sunrise over the vastness of the Atlantic Ocean! Our comfy room overlooking the ocean was a wonderful place of rest even though we really weren't actually in the room all that much. The dining room and the Grand Parlor provide a place to rest and relax in the evening with live piano music, good food and yes, even a bit of spirits in the dry town of Rockport. Wonderful!

Such a beautiful, cozy inn! Me and my boyfriend stayed here for the night and loved the gorgeous view, clean room and breakfast overlooking the ocean in the am! The woman at the front desk was very helpful and friendly! We will definitely be back!

I couldn't imagine a more picturesque location. Only 32 rooms or so, so book early. The food was delicious and the staff was very attentive. Close to beaches, lighthouses, shopping, and other attractions. Bring sunscreen, bug spray, a beach towel, and your own hard alcohol and you're good to go.

Jamie at Emerson By the Sea was wonderful and made what was a difficult weekend as pleasant as humanly possible. Lovely spot.

Beautiful and affordable inn in the perfect location. We had a a great experience here and would definitely return in the summer.

My hubby and I enjoyed this venue, for our one year wedding anniversary. Nice and quite. The ocean view was amazing!!!!

Anniversity dinner. party of 12, setting outstanding, service and attention outstanding., I had the duck/2 Ways. tasty but small portions, wife had pan seared scallops a bit over cooked, one guest returned but was told they ran out of scallops and got salmon witch was cooked perfect. Overall our party was pleaed and I will return.

My husband and I recently stayed at the Emerson Inn for a romantic getaway. This Inn did not disappoint! We had a wonderful dinner, along with live music, in the dining room and the buffet breakfast each day was delicious. We thoroughly enjoyed the view in our room as well as on the porch while having an afternoon drink. Every morning we had coffee in the main lobby while reading the newspaper - something we never have time for back home! This was our second visit and we highly recommend staying here for a weekend away.

If I could give this place more stars I would! My husband and I came here after we got married and had such a wonderful experience. Everyone on staff was so nice and professional, the room and views were gorgeous and I'm pretty sure it was the most comfortable bed I've ever slept on! We had dinner and breakfast downstairs and the food was excellent for both meals. I really wish we could've stayed longer but I'm sure we'll be back soon!

The Emerson Inn and restaurant (now called the Pigeon Cove Tavern) is under new ownership (and chef-ship) and has undergone a transformation. Went from where your Great Aunt Fannie would take you for an annual dinner to a very, very cool space. We had a surprise b-day party there last week. Everyone was ballistic with awe! The food was perfect. The dining room--which we had to ourselves--was both gorgeous and comfy. Krysten and Candice, who see to Emerson weddings/groups/events, saw to it that EVERY detail was exactly seen to. Many of our pals stayed over...they said the rooms were great and the views from the windows and balconies superb. Rockport is a wonder-filled place on the Planet and the Emerson Inn the best place to stay or dine, or both!

My husband and I had dinner here last night. The food was amazing and our waiter was very nice and helpful he answered all our questions and was very attentive to our table. So happy to see a great place in our small town. Will definitely be back

This is a great place to stay on a non-holiday weekend. The bed and breakfast charm of the dining hall is best enjoyed with only a few other people. Of course, the beachfront view is beautiful, especially on nights with the full moon, which we've been lucky enough to experience. The staff is always friendly to us and we see that other couples are quite at ease here as well. The rooms are kept clean and up to date. We'd recommend this Inn for weekdays and slow weekends -- only so you can experience the charm of the dining area and lobby. Otherwise, anytime in Rockport ought to be a good time.

Emerson by the sea is wonderful. Breakfast was great. The lobby is beautiful and the view is amazing. You can eat breakfast on the covered patio overlooking the ocean. There are also rockers on the porch to enjoy the view. Nearby there is a public walking bath that brings you along the ocean. Quite beautiful! We will be back!

Very nice hotel with great ocean views. Stayed in the queen room with balcony. Fabulous view but 'balcony' was more of a porch with two rockets and a slider opening to a railing. Great to have the sea air and views and listen to the ocean. We arrived late April and we're disappointed to hear the restaurant on site would not open until June 1. Very good complementary breakfast and friendly staff. Hotel was very quiet at night and we were surprised to see so many other guests at breakfast the next morning. Found great restaurants in Gloucester on Main st