Scarborough Inn — Attraction in Ocean City

What a pleasure it was to stay at the Scarborough Inn for an impromptu overnight beach trip with my 17y/o daughter last night! The online booking process was a breeze, including the fact that a promo code for a military discount was clearly provided on their website (we are a military family and appreciate the recognition for our service). The innkeeper’s personality came shining through in his cleverly and humorously crafted inn policies that won me over immediately. We arrived to a charming porch with assorted comfortable chairs, small coffee and dining tables and reading materials, and walked into a quaint, cozy and welcoming lobby. We were warmly greeted and promptly checked in by one of the innkeepers and the inn owner, who greeted me by first name when he saw me again later in my stay. We stayed in room 105, which was beautifully yet simply appointed. What hit us immediately upon entry to room 105 was the crisp, fresh scent of cleanliness. The room contained a brand new mini fridge discreetly placed within a built-in shelving unit/credenza. There was ample storage (large, deep drawers, open shelving, and space to hang clothing if needed). The bed, linens, and pillows were extremely comfortable (and we are picky in that department). There are blackout curtains that would allow late risers to sleep-in, but the panels can be pulled back to welcome sunlight through the delicate sheers. The personal bathroom in room 105 was very large for a bed & breakfast. The shower was amazing! The water pressure was perfect, and the basket of provided amenities was greatly appreciated (two-in-one shampoo/conditioner, lotion, body soap/wash). A small hairdryer was also available in the room, but if you need an iron and ironing board … don’t fret. The inn keeper thought of that too and has one neatly and almost decoratively stowed in the hallway for shared use among the first floor guests. The room can accommodate the use of the ironing board easily if one needs to use it. I love how quiet time is defined at the inn and is well respected by the guests, who also added to the pleasurable stay (we all know that a friendly greeting and good manners from acquaintances go a long way - the guests staying at the Scarborough Inn also get two thumbs up). We woke up to a fresh, home-cooked breakfast consisting of ham and cheese omelets, breakfast potatoes, blueberry pancakes, and fresh fruit served table side with a small buffet of clementines, packaged cold and hot cereals, and of course, a touch of character with the lucky charms marshmallow cups. The hot coffee was plentiful and the service was sincerely stellar. The staff at the Scarborough Inn is warm, inviting, accommodating, and genuinely eager to ensure your stay is nothing short of excellent, which ours was! What takes my 5-star rating to a 5-star +1 is that they located my daughter’s forgotten iPhone charger after we checked out and will be mailing it back to us. I do not visit Ocean City much, but I now plan to return sooner rather than later just to enjoy another Scarborough Inn experience (a hidden respite for quiet, refined comfort in a busy beach city). Thank you to Sne and his team for their...

We had a lovely stay on August 21. We weren’t in town long but for the time we were here, The Scarborough Inn was charming, welcoming, well-kept, and well-appointed.

The Room: We stayed in the Sun King Suite. It was beautifully designed and very clean. The Innkeeper has considered everything for guests of this room. There is a television in the living area and another in the bedroom. The bathroom is beautifully designed with an instantly warm rain shower, opaque windows, and plenty of towels/toiletries. In the bedroom there is a handy garment steamer as well as a small white-noise machine so even though the beach is a block-and-a-half away, you can fall asleep to the sounds of crashing waves if you so choose. The main living area has a nice table, pull-out sofa, and chair for a little social space. There is a wide selection of books from Picoult to poetry and you can take your book out onto the small terrace off the living area. There are two chairs out there but I’d bring out a blanket to sit on because the chairs are showing quite a bit of wear.

The Inn: We just fell in love with the common areas of this inn. The porch is inviting and cozy with rocking chairs, some complimentary refreshments (including wine and cookies), bundled blankets for your comfort, and ceiling-mounted heaters to toast you up in colder weather. Downstairs there is a tranquil space with hammocks, a swing, and shuffleboard. Beyond, there’s a couple outdoor showers and bicycles for use. The dining space has coffee, tea, and cocoa available along with some cereal, microwave popcorn, and even little cups of cereal marshmallows for your enjoyment. Breakfast was delicious and ample with a hearty omelette, small side salad, fresh fruit, and potatoes. It was served quickly and the porch offered the perfect spot to dine al fresco with pink gingham napkins and fresh flowers (pink, of course) to add to the positive energy.

The Vibe: This place has a personality all its own. From the clever messaging everywhere and anywhere they need to communicate to the vintage tunes spinning in the lobby to the hints-of-pink-everywhere design aesthetic, the inn is memorable and brimming with charm. Guests and staff are almost always engaged in pleasant conversation. It’s easy to be there and it calls on you to return.

The Basics: Parking is right on site so that is great. It’s little more than a few minutes walk to the boardwalk in one direction and shopping on Asbury in the other direction. Rooms are air conditioned. While it might be the oldest hotel in OCNJ, updates throughout makes it feel modern. Necessity replenishment (towels, toilet paper, etc.) is available in the hall, but should you need anything, I imagine you can ask any of the friendly staff.

It is obvious in every moment at The Scarborough Inn that each decision is made with care and intention. We thank the entire staff for making ours a memorable stay. We have every intention...

Where to begin? From the moment we walked up the steps to the porch, we felt entirely welcomed and at home. It was my birthday weekend, and I'd been eagerly anticipating this stay since March. The Scarborough Inn met my hopes in every particular, and then some. We were greeted immediately and warmly upon entering the airy lobby, and invited to partake of coffee and fresh-baked cookies that were on a table by the door.

Our room was the Cozy Queen, and perfect for our needs. This is a heritage building (1895), so the room was not huge, but felt larger than it was because of the sparkling white bedding and clean lines of the furniture. It was beachy, modern (but not sterile at all), and obviously clean as a whistle. The bathroom was an excellent size, and similarly bright and spotless. New showers thoughtfully include both a rainwater showerhead and hand-held sprayer (very European!). Water pressure was perfect, and hot water plentiful. We were encouraged throughout our stay to come and go as we pleased, hang out on the breezy front porch enjoying music of the 20s and 30s, or in the lobby where vintage touches occupy the eye. There are plenty of books, too, if you forgot to bring your own!

We slept very well on the firm mattress, and arose to join the other hotel guests for breakfast in the lobby. Service was swift, friendly, and there were lots of delicious choices. My husband opted for the cheese omelet while I had the french toast, and we could have enjoyed cereal and oatmeal as well, if we'd wanted. Coffee is plentiful and excellent! The breakfast area always has coffee set up via a Keurig machine, and I loved the cereal marshmallows for snacking.

On Sunday morning, I ran into the owner and innkeeper, Sne, who is every bit as fun and personable as his website and Instagram feed would have you believe. It feels like he's perfected the art of offering hospitality that is both highly detailed and amazingly relaxed. He kindly made me a delicious birthday cocktail, and sat on the porch chatting with me for some time, while still engaging with other guests who were checking out. I saw how effortlessly he made each of us feel special, and was truly impressed. Assistant Innkeeper Nicole and the rest of the wonderful staff are obviously one of the big reasons that Sne could spend that time relaxing with me, and everyone seemed happy to be working there. That says a lot!

The location could not be more perfect, almost equidistant to the boardwalk/beach, or to the shops on Asbury. This is the ideal place to be in Ocean City, regardless of the season, as you can easily walk to just about anything you might want to do, see, or eat.

In a nutshell, The Scarborough Inn is doing it RIGHT. They're open all year round, and have lots of fun plans for every season, so there's nothing stopping you from booking a visit right now. I firmly intend to...