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    The Mainstay Inn

    3.9 (20 reviews)
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    Tom L.

    We've honestly never stayed the night, but are very frequent customers of the afternoon tea service. They always have an excellent lineup of home baked cookies, pastries, and light snacks to go with the tea, and a wonderfully friendly staff. Zhana is an excellent server and baker, always with a smile on her face. We love sitting on the porch in the summer or inside the cozy Victorian sitting rooms in the winter with our teas. Of all the places in Cape May, this is probably our most frequent patronage. If their overnight hospitality is as good as their 3 pm tea service, I'd highly recommend staying here on your next trip to Cape May.

    Front of the hotel
    Mariel D.

    Excellent B&B. Food and afternoon tea were both great, the rooms are very clean and the entire place inside and out is beautifully decorated. Service was warm and very helpful, and you can't beat the location. Looking forward to coming back next year!

    Best lights on town.
    Sam M.

    This is our third stay, but our first stay in the off season. The common areas are nice some of the rooms may not be a posh as I've seen some reviewers to expect. But I can tell you that this place has many loyal repeat visitors for many many years. The staff are great, Diane is very accommodating and knows how to keep people coming back. The owners very involved and personable, Pete puts alot of work in this place. Tea time is very nice. The Christmas lights are the best in town. Off season prices are good and their is plenty to enjoy without the struggle to find parking. Tomorrow it will be 62 for the high, looking forward to it.

    Parlor in the cottage. This room is not air conditioned, and pales in comparison to the parlor in the main house.
    Lee N.

    Pros: beautifully decorated rooms, free (and good) WiFi Cons: pricey, mediocre food, main room in the cabin very disappointing We recently stayed in the Decatur room in the cabin. On one hand we enjoyed it: the room was spacious and roomy, and we kind of liked the privacy and quiet of not being in the main house. The room itself was beautiful, with lovely rugs and great furnishings. The Cabin was sold out and yet we felt like we had the place to ourselves. On the other hand, the parlor of the cabin (which is a house beside the main house) was exceedingly disappointing: no a/c, uncomfortable wicker furniture, a counter and sink area that looks like a Motel 6 (see pictures). We were stunned by how poorly appointed it was. Yes, you can go next door to the beautiful parlor of the main house, but you shouldn't have to do that at an expensive place. The breakfast buffet also was disappointing. The fresh fruit is lovely, but other than that its basically a glorified cheap continental breakfast with only one "hot" dish - which often runs out. Our first day there they had a delicious egg casserole, but they had only pan of it despite every room being sold out. People who arrived more than halfway through breakfast were stuck with rubbery, overcooked scrambled eggs like you'd find at a nice Comfort Inn. Again...the place was sold out and they had only one pan of their main dish. If you stay here I don't think you'll feel ripped off, and I MIGHT consider staying here again. But I think it has a few too many flaws for a place this pricey, so I'll probably check out other options first.

    Best looking b&b on the block.
    Tom G.

    I stayed in a few bed and breakfasts in Cape May over the years. New owners took over in 2014 and the place looks great. Diane was dynamite but found the owner Pete polite but unresponsive to desire to support his Inn. My room was the Clara Barton and it was perfect for my stay. Beautiful antiques throughout the two buildings, a wrap around porch that you could enjoy coffee in the morning or a quiet porch swing for you and your lady friend. I met a couple that got married there this past Christmas. Their favorite place in Cape May too The Horses and Carriage rides swing past and share stories about the 1900's and how this home was fully restored. For breakfast, I had Tomatoes and Swiss quiche, fresh fruit and home backed breads. I recommend this beautiful Victorian B&B to anyone.

    zzzz on the Main Stay B&B porch

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    Ask the Community - The Mainstay Inn

    Review Highlights - The Mainstay Inn

    It was super clean, comfortable and welcoming, plus it's close to everything in Cape May.

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    ICONA Cape May - ICONA Cape May local shuttle

    ICONA Cape May

    (64 reviews)

    $$$

    Enjoyed our stay here for my son's 16th birthday. Rooms are updated and very well decorated. The…read morehotel itself is small but very clean and right across from the beach. We could walk almost everywhere (if you like to walk- get those steps in). Hemingways is right next door with a great happy hour and Congress Hall and Washington Street Mall are about a 20 - 25 minute walk each way. They have a shuttle (wasn't running during our stay). Beach entrance directly across the street. We will be back!

    My partner & I truly enjoyed this quick getaway to Cape May. Icona is on Beach Drive, right across…read morethe street from the beach (as the name implies). I've stayed at their Diamond Beach location, but this was my first time here. Let me mention the most enjoyable employees first. Chet was at the Front Desk when I checked out. He was by far the most friendly person I interacted with at the front desk. Some of the females were a bit...... unfriendly. If you chose to work in a customer service position it's probably best to have a sunny disposition. I think Cape May needs to address that. Tarik/Tajik? He was the young men who helped EVERYBODY get their chairs and umbrellas to the beach. He was WORKING! Yet, he always remained pleasant. And lastly, the gentleman driving the shuttle was very pleasant. He picked us up/dropped us off about 4 times. He was also servicing the Mahalo (and Icona resort) so he had his work cut out for him! We REALLY appreciated him as it was pouring one night and he came to pick us up and bring us back to the hotel. That amenity is CLUTCH! Overall, it's a nice hotel. Clean, a beautiful small bathroom, a cute little kitchen area, a small pool, and parking. Somebody mentioned the room was small, but to me it was a decent size. The balcony however, now THAT was small. Just enough room for the 2 of us to sit out there side by side and chill. I did see larger balconies out by the pool (facing the beach) so I guess you get what you pay for (larger room perhaps; suite). The AC however, is loud. It's not a window unit, but one of those wall units. I'm glad I brought my earplugs, otherwise I probably wouldn't have slept. And speaking of sleep, the bed is not what I am used to when I visit a hotel; especially a higher end boutique hotel. It was uncomfortable to me. My partner however, had no problem sleeping and did not feel it was uncomfortable. So.... roll the dice. The pool is tiny. Or shall I say, smaller than the size you will expect it to be. But it works. I chilled in the pool for 3 days. It's a good spot to people watch and break from the sand of the beach. And once we parked, we didn't have to move the car. Cape May is very pedestrian friendly. We walked and rode bikes every where we went. I love it. It was a great getaway. Check it out.

    Lokal Hotel - Cape May - Room 201

    Lokal Hotel - Cape May

    (7 reviews)

    The Lokal is a fantastic boutique hotel option within easy walking distance of the beach…read more The hotel offers beach chair service in season and a heated pool that's open even in the offseason, which was a great surprise. There's no front desk -- everything is handled by text -- but the staff was quick to respond and very helpful throughout our stay, even though we didn't have any issues. Our room (201) was large, clean, and nicely designed, with a full (albeit abbreviateD) kitchen, fast Wi-Fi, and plenty of space to hang out. The balcony had a beautiful view of the sunset and was one of our favorite parts of the stay. One parking space is included and it's a very easy walk to either the beach or town for shopping or food. It's probably (definitely) on the higher end price-wise during the summer, but for a fall weekend, it was ideal: quiet, comfortable, and close to everything.

    This hotel is one of the best places I have ever stayed! It is a great getaway for a couple who…read morewants a clean, modern and cozy vibe. All of the amenities are great! You feel right at home! The rooms all have fun names and the free parking is also a perk. The rooms are large and modern. The decor is wonderful. They have a full kitchen, dishwasher, fridge and little oven. Each floor also has a washer and dryer that can be used for free. The porch has wonderful walking chairs. I also enjoyed the workout mats in room to continue exercise away from home. The heated salt water pool even in early May felt so nice. Wonderful relaxing atmosphere. The fire pits were also relaxing and easy to use. Lokal is steps away from the beach which is fantastic. Would love to visit during peak season to use the provided beach tags and service available. It is also close to many bars and restaurants that are walkable. We really enjoyed our stay here for the perfect Mom and Dad getaway!

    The Queen Victoria

    The Queen Victoria

    (74 reviews)

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME !!!…read more My Sir (yes, I literally call him that because he is such a sexy Sicilian gentleman and always dresses to the 9's!) is taking me away here for my birthday. It's my first one with him in my life :) I was blown away when we walked up to the main house, toured inside of ours, had tea, a cozy night and breakfast. He breakfast was nithing shoet of amazing! The star was the Blueberry Stuffed French Toast casserole - like OMG insanely delicious!!! I kind of had three servings! Many other perfect choices too, like English muffins, fruit, yogurt, granola). Our room is done in dark reds and boasts cherrywood. Also, beautiful prints and furniture. We had a romantic evening with the jacuzzi, (gas) fireplace and cloud cozy King sized bed! Stellar service from all - Sam and Amanda in particular. They do A LOT here! We MAY leave the room today, lol. Walking Washington Street is a possibility. MAYBE the Zoo... I lived in Cape May many moons ago. A definite place to visit- you will always have somewhere to go and somewhere to eat! Splurge on the decadence of The Queen Victoria!!! You're worth it!!!

    We came here for an Anniversary getaway. Doug & AnnaMarie went above & beyond to make each guest's…read morestay enjoyable. This was our first visit to this charming B&B and it was truly a positive & memorable experience. It's located within the heart of Cape May, so walking distance to a myriad of restaurants and shops and only one block from the beach. The amenities are unbeatable - beach cruiser bikes, beach chairs and towels, lots of outdoor porches to relax on and read, and an outdoor shower. The breakfasts are delicious (we had an egg/cheese entree with ham the first day & a stuffed French toast with sausage patty the 2nd day) The daily morning and afternoon baked goods were delicious (especially the assorted breads with homemade strawberry jam!) The owners (Doug & AnnaMarie) are extremely warm and welcoming and go above and beyond & to ensure every guest felt safe during the COVID pandemic (great social distancing, mask awareness, plastic shields as needed & hand sanitizer). A well stocked 24 hr kitchen with plentiful bottled water as well. Lots of extras that you don't find in other B&Bs. They also immediately alerted us when my wife left her pocketbook behind at breakfast. You can tell that the management truly cares about making this place a great experience for their guests without cutting any corners. It's truly a beautiful property with lots of outdoor space and charming rooms each unique & all very well-maintained, extremely clean. The staff are friendly and helpful. Nothing but wonderful things to say about the Queen Victoria & we hope to be back again soon!

    Casablanca - Excellent breakfast

    Casablanca

    (9 reviews)

    We had such a fantastic recent visit here! The management really ensures the cleanliness and…read moreorganization within this bed-and-breakfast. The check-in process was extremely easy as well as the checkout. This hotel is extremely close to the beach and parking on the street was not challenging, but it could be during peak visiting hours. It is also close to many of the local restaurants and supermarket. Lastly, the best part about this place was the beautiful, homemade breakfasts and the afternoon tea. All the pastries during tea time were homemade and delicious. We look forward to staying here again in the future!

    Enjoyed a recent weekend stay at this place & stayed in the Woodrose room. We enjoyed our stay…read moreimmensely. The place is decorated very nicely with new updates. I like that all the doors use a combo code instead of a key. Every afternoon there is tea & a tasty cake & cookies. The breakfasts were very filling & excellent quality ingredients. We sat on the outdoor porch every morning. Our room was on the 3rd floor & was very nice. The bathroom was very large with a fantastic jacuzzi tub for 2! The room was very bright & plenty of room for us. Could have used some more storage in the bathroom. The location of this place is close to the beach & all the restaurants & shops so fantastic location. Only negative is trying to find parking & the bikes that they give you to use - there was no way to move the seat down so I couldn't ride a bike (sucks to be short!). Anyway - definitely a place I will visit again.

    Blue Fish Inn - Bedroom

    Blue Fish Inn

    (22 reviews)

    $$

    Welcome was the first word said to me when we arrived at Franco and Lena's adorable charming clean…read moreand quaint Cape May Inn. One of the only pet friendly hotels on the island, the location was very close in proximity to our whale/dolphin sightseeing cruise (that Jimmy my pup and I enjoyed very much), and was overall very ideal for the two of us. We will DEFINITELY be back soon next season!

    Having never been to Cape May, chose this location based on reviews+price which seemed to equal…read morevalue. Advance impression was excellent - I called several times with questions and Lena was always personable, knowledgeable and patient. The tri-fecta of customer service! Pulling up in front was happy to see pictures matched actual (as we all have sadly learned, not always the case), check-in was a breeze (again with Lena) and enjoyed a humorous back and forth with Franco. Into the room and - no major disappointments. Perhaps slightly smaller than I expected, but super clean, nicely appointed, tile bath, nicer linens that weren't threadbare and a mini-kitchen - micro, middle size refrig, and coffee pot. Just enough. In fact perfect for a 3 night stay. A nice pool (again seemed a tad small, but am seeing that's the norm here, so perhaps it's my expectations that are the wrong size!), a BBQ/picnic area out back, as well as a a laundry/ice machine room. Consistently clean and neat. Everywhere. Just exceptionally well kept up. Slightly outside of 'downtown', but still walkable.... and far less $$$ with far less hustle and bustle. IMO, a good trade off. Very pleased with this choice. We called for an extra blanket and it was delivered in under 5 minutes. Oh, a parking space, beach chairs and towels come with the room, too! Rocking chairs out front, tables and chairs out back let you enjoy some outdoor space - and the pool of course! Very nicely (and thoughtfully) laid out! Note: they have several room types. We chose #4 - king bed, family suite, no pets. But some have full kitchens, some allow pets, various bed sizes, etc. Certainly a room style for everyone. 'House Rules' are appropriate, enforced, and enhance your stay. We'll be back....

    Boarding House - The Boarding House in Cape May, NJ

    Boarding House

    (27 reviews)

    The best stay I've ever had in Cape May!! The rooms are clean and updated, with comfortable beds…read moreand great showers. They have great room amenities (like pour-over coffee and great bathroom products), and a really cute rooftop. The real stars here are the staff though- they're locals with tons of knowledge and recommendations for things to see/do in the area. They treat you like an old friend and are so welcoming- really can't recommend this place enough! Oh, and they're dog friendly which is super nice!

    We are repeat boarding house guests and discovered this gem a few years back. The rooms are very…read moreclean- don't be discouraged by the dog friendly vibe if you're a clean freak like me! (No hate to pups- just want to highlight the cleanliness). The lobby staff is so friendly. There's coffee available in the morning around 9:15, and beer/wine available around 4p. Nice added perks! The roof deck is a fun feature as well, and the bikes (first come first serve reservation system). Minor drawbacks: there's no true outside shower, but there's a hose for your feet in the ice machine closet. There are rinsing stations by the beach too, but not near the entrance where you can rent your complimentary chairs/ umbrellas on queen street. Also, parking is tight and some guests are not conscientious of the parking situation. During our stay, there were multiple cars taking up two spaces in the very small lot. Overall, great spot!

    The Mainstay Inn - hotels - Updated May 2026

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