Hotel Tides
408 Seventh Avenue, Asbury Park
732-897-7744, hoteltides.com
Number of rooms: 20; Summer price range: $145-$225
The old-school white clapboard facade of Hotel Tides gives little hint of the contemporary, renovated interior. The single clue as you approach is the front entrance: handsome, art-deco glass-and-wood double doors. In the lobby you’ll find an art gallery with a fireplace flanked by mirrored walls streaming with water.
The dining room captures the history of the building with its ornate walls and tin ceiling, discovered after workers scraped away layers of paint. Out back, a heated swimming pool sets the scene for poolside dining. A small spa adjoins the pool area.
Under executive chef and general manager James Hurley, the kitchen produces New American cuisine made with local and sustainable ingredients, including the new addition of an all-organic foods brunch. No two guests rooms are alike, although each shower features river-rock floors. Beds have pillow-top mattresses. The Tides is not just for grown-ups; Children and even pets are welcome. Open year-round.