The Beatrice Boutique Hotel (RI)

Article by Contributor Tricia Bielinski

“If you’re going to open a hotel, you should name it after your mother wouldn’t that be nice?” These are the words of the late Beatrice Tempkin to her son, property developer Joseph R. Paolino, Jr. before she passed away in 2016.  Needless to say, a hotel he did build, and visitors are coming from near and far to delight in its splendor.

The Beatrice is a 47-room boutique hotel newly opened in downtown Providence, Rhode Island. Paolino, a former mayor of the city, has been a lifelong resident of the Ocean State’s capital city.  His real estate company, Paolino Properties, specializes in renovating old buildings to breathe new life into areas of the city that need it.  He felt that downtown needed a luxury hotel product that would capitalize on the city’s rich history, vibrant arts community and a restaurant scene that rivals any major city in the US.

The name isn’t the only thing where Beatrice is present.  The hotel is designed as a nod toward her elegant style–sleek design with pops of color and modern decor.  Paolino also wanted to keep the historic attributes of the structure, and you’ll see these woven throughout the property (the lobby used to be an alleyway, the exposed brick you see is part of the original exterior wall).  Guests can expect deluxe amenities, from heated toilet seats and towel racks to the Dyson hair dryers.  Each room has high vaulted windows that let in lots of natural light and offer views of the city.

As the first boutique hotel to open in Providence in a number of years, the team puts personalizing the guest experience as their top priority.  Jennifer Curtin, General Manager of The Beatrice, has returned home to the area where she grew up from the West coast where she was running a resort.  She is intent on The Beatrice playing host to the community as well as travelers in town for work (the State’s top companies are headquartered in the connected office tower at 100 Westminster Street. Among them, are Providence Equity, Bally’s Corporation, and Nautic Partners. And, Textron’s world headquarters is just across the street.) and the families visiting their respective students at Rhode Island School of Design, Brown University, Johnson & Wales, Providence College, and more. The hotel is dog friendly, and offers text concierge services, a fitness center, and plenty of options for space and room rentals for meetings and events.

For the leisure and weekend crowd, the hotel’s accompanying restaurant, Bellini by Ignazio Cipriani, offers high-end exquisite Italian cuisine.  Led by the fourth generation of one of the premier family-run hospitality groups in the world, Ignazio Cipriani also has Bellini locations in Miami and NYC.  Homemade specialty pasta, meat, and fish dishes pair up with an extensive wine selection and cocktail list that all make for a fine dining experience in a soft and warm atmosphere that reminded me of the Ritz Carlton’s champagne lounge in London.  Brunch service is set to start in a few weeks’ time and the Private Rooftop Lounge (currently accepting applications for membership) will host special events and be open to hotel guests and members. 

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Fun fact: the namesake signature cocktail (the bellini) was invented in Harry’s Bar in Venice, in 1948. Don’t leave without having had one!

If the aim was to bring a breath of fresh air to downtown, they have certainly succeeded.  The hotel is a perfect place for those exploring all the city has to offer from ice skating in the city center to Waterfire in the warmer months.  Plenty of boutique shops are within walking distance as well as theatre and other greats of the city’s culinary offerings.

An afternoon lunch or weekend brunch, a dream wedding or high-powered business meeting, a staycation or a new destination, The Beatrice is the place for all of it.