The Hotel Albatross Opens in Ocean Grove, New Jersey

The Jersey Shore might not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of beautiful Victorian-style architecture and—wait for it—a dry town. But there’s not much about the town of Ocean Grove, and it’s charming, newly renovated Hotel Albatross, that’s expected.

“This town is completely unique, from its founding as a religious retreat, to the fact that all the homes and businesses have historical land leases from the Camp Meeting Association,” explains Dominick Perrier-Strand, director of hotels for RC Management. RC Management also operates the nearby Majestic Hotel, The Hideaway in Long Beach Island, and Point Pleasant’s Casa del Mar.

In addition to renovating and reimagining the historic property under the strict guidelines of Ocean Grove’s historical preservation commission and the Camp Meeting Association, the Hotel Albatross team had to contend with a challenge that would make most hotel owners balk. The town prohibits the sale of beer, wine, and liquor. In fact, just 40 years ago, the gates of Ocean Grove were locked on Sundays, and cars were not permitted to enter the town.

“Guests are welcome to bring their beverages of choice to enjoy on our property. With the hotel ideally situated on Ocean Pathway, our porches (with a BYO bottle of wine) are the unofficial social club of Hotel Albatross,” Perrier-Strand says. The team offers a complimentary Albatross Aperitif each Saturday throughout the summer, and also features a rotating weekly wine selection. If guests are celebrating a special occasion, the concierge can arrange to have a favorite bottle delivered from the team’s go-to wine shop in neighboring Asbury Park.

“It’ll be chilling in your room before you even unpack,” he says. “Plus, guests are always welcome to hail a ride to a nearby bevy shop in our six-seater golf cart.”

Another unexpected hiccup that cropped up during the renovation? Accessibility. “The building’s Victorian charm created a challenging environment for people with accessibility needs or difficulty climbing stairs. We are proud to have built the first hotel with an all-stop elevator in Ocean Grove, including a stop outside,” says Perrier-Strand. “We hope that this will make the town available to a wider range of travelers looking to experience our slice of the Jersey Shore.”

The hotel’s fully refreshed interior was designed by Mapa Mueller (who previously worked on concepts like The Equinox Hotel and Life House Hotels) and incorporates cheeky wallpaper as well as vintage pieces like an heirloom mirror from the 1950s and archival press clippings to honor Hotel Albatross’ early days. The lobby boasts a rotating merchandise nook styled with personal pieces from the home of Julian C. Hamer, an artist, collector of antiquities, avid gardener, and curator & docent of the local Centennial Cottage Museum on Ocean Grove’s Central Avenue; the overall vibe is eclectic yet cozy, with a healthy dose of quirk.

The 27 rooms, including two sprawling suites named after famous Ocean Grove residents like Hamer and local architect Mark Pavliv, feature special touches including Serta mattresses, Salt & Stone bath products, and pour-over stations with coffee from Maiden Coffee Roasters in nearby Neptune Township. Complimentary beach passes as well as Priority Coast bicycles are available.

While the property doesn’t have a permanent on-site restaurant, Perrier-Strand says his team is excited by pop-up opportunities like hosting a nightly prix fixe tasting menu with beloved New Jersey concepts like Buoy’s in Manasquan and Dock & Claw on Long Beach Island. They’ve also hosted trendy New Zealand ice cream pop-up Golden Boy, highlighted New Jersey wine producer Ripe Life Wines, and plan to offer curated fondue and wine pairing nights during the winter months with C’est Cheese from Asbury Park.

“The challenge here was really to establish a new standard of hotel and service that’s never been available in Ocean Grove before,” Perrier-Strand adds. “We had to be sure that introducing a new accommodation class and price point was going to work in what has historically been a Victorian bed-and-breakfast coastal town.”

Nightly rates start at $249 per night and can be booked at hotelalbatross.com.