We arrived at 10 on a Friday evening, not realizing the inn locks up at 9, and found a welcoming note taped to the door with our room key. A formal breakfast room was set with china, crystal, and cloth napkins in silver rings. The sideboard held a lush bouquet of fresh roses and sunflowers.
The Blue Room featured a four-poster queen bed, so high we needed the two-step stool to launch ourselves into it. It was wonderfully comfortable, and pillows of varying thicknesses were a treat. A window seat in front of a bay window at one end of the room made a cozy spot for reading, and we could just glimpse the ocean through the trees. We liked the fact that we could open the windows to the salt air.
Above a corner gas fireplace, a gilt-framed mirror hid a television so seamlessly we didn't know it was there until we read our guest information booklet. Two upholstered chairs faced the fireplace, and we had a radio/CD player and a telephone. An armoire with drawers below contained robes, an iron, and an ironing board.
The bathroom was small with limited storage. It had a shower and whirlpool tub for one. Fresh-scented Elemis Aromapure spa line toiletries included soap, body lotion, shampoo, and conditioner.
The Cliffside's eight suites and eight guest rooms all have at least one fireplace (some have two or three), king or queen beds, Beatrice Turner artwork, and period antiques. Some baths have double whirlpool tubs, fireplaces, stereo systems, and ocean views.
The Cliffside Inn offers several thoughtful extras. Should you want coffee or juice before breakfast service begins, just leave a note on your door. The turndown service includes chocolates and a card with the next day's weather forecast. A wine and champagne room service is offered. The guest information book is comprehensive, delivering not only an introduction to the inn but also details specific to your room, such as how to operate the fireplace, heating, and air conditioning, as well as restaurant and sightseeing recommendations. (We followed one of them to Tucker's Bistro, a romantic and funky Parisian-style eatery on Broadway.)
