jackfurlongesq_123
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Okay, it’s not Venice (or Paris), and you’re unlikely to run into Ernest Hemingway in the lobby bar, but still. The chief factotum for the Living Room at the essential hostelry on the waterfront in Newport sets the tone for this delightfully clubby alternative to the corporate options nearby. His name is Harry, a former collegiate hockey player, and he represents the best of a friendly staff who will do whatever it takes to ease the tension from a day on foot or on the water. ||The lobby at the Brenton is one flight up from grade level, and while a couple of elevators and a small check-in desk stand off to the side, the larger footprint is occupied by a circular staircase and, well, a living room, offering stylish food and a decent wine list, along with a full bar and at least one burning fireplace. There’s a sense of scale here, intimate without being crowded. The chairs and sofas are upholstered, but not stuffy. In short, if you leaf through a dictionary in search of the word “unwind,” you might find a picture of the Living Room.||I spent two separate weekends at the Brenton in April and May, the latter on Memorial Day weekend (of course it rained), so I was able to confirm first impressions. Staff are unequivocally friendly, dogs are definitely welcome, and there are many clearly marked dog walks throughout the small city. And if my experience is a guide, always pack rain gear for your stay. This is the North Atlantic waterfront, and weather can change in an instant.||Following Newport’s rich seafaring history, the Brenton features nautical themes in its furnishings, starting with hurricane lamps outside each room along an ocean-blue and white color scheme in the hallways. I can attest to the freezer containing ice cream bars and water ice next to the ice machine on the penthouse floor.||The guest rooms are compact. The bathrooms are well appointed and while not spacious, certainly not cramped. Other reviewers have described the challenge for couples not accustomed to an extremely high level of familiarity with each other’s bathroom habits. Simply put, there is little to no privacy between the bathroom and the bedroom, and I’ll leave it at that. I’m sure it was considered trendy design, but it lowers the hotel an entire rating star.||Weather prevented me from enjoying the much-heralded rooftop bar and lounge, but I can report the views from the upper floors of the hotel are directly onto the Newport Harbor. Pricing is above the nearby Marriott, but what you give up by not using Bonvoy points for a corporate property, you gain in privacy and quiet.||Arrival and check-out are equally seamless. Approach from either America’s Cup or Long Wharf to enter a ground-level parking area. A skilled cadre of competent young men will grab you a baggage cart and pull your bags from the trunk before steering you to the elevators. NB, high season (May 1-Oct. 31) parking fees are $40/day. ||But if you choose to stay, you’ll be short walking distance to some of the freshest seafood restaurants, part of the harbor and marina scene that is essential Newport. More importantly, you’ll find wonderful retail shops featuring something besides cookie cutter clothes from every mall in the country. Want a souvenir t-shirt? I urge a visit to the Bite Me Bait Shop, essential to the collector’s wardrobe.||Brenton in brief: good food (limited menu edition), good drink, good vibe, good value, great people and location. Unequivocal recommendation: go.