films
A picture is worth a thousand words. By that reckoning, these films are worth 86 million words a minute. You'll laugh. You'll cry. It's better than Cats.
Dear Beloved Friends of Scarborough Inn
To quote Austin Powers: “Allow myself to introduce... myself.”
My name is Sne. That rhymes with day. I’m a South Jersey beach kid. I grew up in Ventnor, a distant one island up the coast from Ocean City.
For 20 years, I’ve been practicing architecture in Manhattan. But I’ve never stopped being a Sixers fan (sorry Knicks; sorry Nets), and I’ve never stopped being a beach kid. When I can’t surf down here, I skateboard the streets up there pretending I’m surfing down here.
In June 2020, I became the most recent of a 125-year-old line of innkeepers of Scarborough Inn.
Q: Why would an architect become an innkeeper?
A: Because we’re control freaks.
Architects are known to design everything from furniture to menus to silverware so they could influence your experience.
But nothing affects how you remember a place more than the people you meet. I’ve been in beautiful places where I was made to feel unwelcome. I’ve been other places where my host’s warmth overshadowed the modest accommodations.
My goal at Scarborough Inn is to make physical changes—small and large—to make your stay more comfortable while keeping you connected to this Victorian Building’s storied past. More importantly, I aim to make Scarborough Inn your home by the sea.
I’ve gotten to know some of you. I’m looking forward to meeting the rest of you.
Have a safe and healthy summer. And when you’re ready to feel sand between your toes again, you know where to find me.
Sincerely,
Sne Avichal | Innkeeper
Meet the innkeeper
Step back to 2020, when I first took the helm at Scarborough Inn during the height of the pandemic. Masks were on, renovations hadn't yet begun, but the cozy vibes and beachside charm were already in full swing. This time capsule shows guests and me navigating those early days with a sense of humor and resilience. A lot has changed since then, but the heart of the inn remains the same. Welcome to the beginning of a new chapter at Scarborough Inn!
weather
Cooler summers. Warmer winters. It's not magic. It's science.
events & promos
PROMO CODES
But wait! There's more! You get a bed. You get a breakfast. And now you get these sick discounts! Only one promo per reservation, greedy! If you already have a reservation with us, call us and I'll give you a gift certificate toward a FUTURE stay worth the discount you would've gotten had you booked with the promo code. Talk about magnanimous. The gift certificate is valid until December 31, 2025.
Military Discount
When? All the time.
Promo Code and Link: GOARMYBEATNAVY
What's the Deal? Active and former military servicepersons get 10% off. Must show your military ID at check-in. The other catch is that you must enter the GOARMYBEATNAVY promo code. Sailors and marines, I am very thankful for your service. But I'm still salty over that 14-year Army-Navy drought. Go Army!
Early Booking Discount
When? All the time.
Promo Code and Link: EARLYBOOKING
What's the Deal? The early bird catches the worm. Book nine months in advance and get 15% off! Two-night minimum. This is measured from the time you leave us a deposit, not from the time you call dibs. Bank's rules, not mine.
Weekly Discount
When? All the time.
Promo Code and Link: BETTERTHANVRBO
What's the Deal? Stay six days or more. Get 20% off. That's a day and a half for free! Unlike with house rentals, I don't force you to move in and out on Saturday, or make you provide your own linens, or make you cook your own breakfast, or make you drive to Somers Point to get booze (did I mention we put out free happy hour?), or make you tidy up after yourself throughout the week. Seriously, why are you still on VRBO when you can just move in here?!
Scarborough Inn is the happeningest spot in OCNJ. Cool events. Sick promos. Come for the architecture. Stay for the people!
photos
360º tour
720 Ocean Avenue | Ocean City, NJ 08226
info@scarboroughinn.com | (609) 399-1558
location
faq
What Is scarborough Inn?
Scarborough Inn is an adults-only bed & breakfast allowing kids 10+ in summer and all kids off-season.
Nestled in OCNJ's Historic District, we blend nostalgic charm with modern comfort. Known for our hot breakfasts, renovated rooms, laid-back vibe, we host porch parties every six weeks. Open year-round, we offer a peaceful retreat with social gatherings that foster connection and a sense of community.
Is breakfast really included?
Yup. Full hot breakfast.
We serve up a full hot breakfast daily, no skimping. Expect dishes like baked French toast or Caprese frittatas, not just toast and coffee. You sit, we bring it to you. And yes, there’s a cereal marshmallow basket because why not?
What's your cancellation policy?
Cancel 14 days ahead for full refund.
Stuff happens. Cancel 14 days before check-in for a full refund. Cancel within 1-14 days, and we’ll credit you for a future stay. Call to cancel; no emails or texts. If you bail the day before check-in, you’re getting charged in full. But hey, no cancellation fees.
Do all the rooms have private bathrooms?
Yes! Every Single Room has a private bath.
Every single room and suite has one private bathroom. We’ve got the space of a hotel with the cozy vibes of a BnB. You get your own bathroom—end of story.
If Ocean City is a dry town, does that mean we can't drink?
Yes you can drink.
You can drink at any house or hotel—just not at restaurants. And nope, there aren’t any bars or liquor stores here. But don’t worry, stores in Somers Point deliver twice a day. So, you get the best of both worlds: all the booze you want, and none of the college kids, since they’re busy at the bars in Sea Isle City, Wildwood, and AC.
How old to book a room?
25+ to book, no one under 10 allowed.
And zero members of your party can be less than 10 years old. It's not that I have anything against kids and young adults. It's just that life's too damn short to have to put up with them. If you have any further questions regarding our child policy, please direct them to our on-staff Child Catcher. I do relax my child policy after Labor Day and before Memorial. Give me a call and I'll put you in a room where your gentle little angels won't terrorize my other guests.
Are pets allowed?
Off-season only. dogs yes. cats... tolerated.
I loooooove dogs. Cats are generally evil. However, I don't allow pets during the summer tourist season. Call me before Memorial Day or after Labor Day and we'll check if we can accommodate Sir Drools-A-Lot or Katy Purry in our pet-friendly room off season.
What’s the parking situation?
On-site parking, $15/day in season, free off-season.
We've got on-site and nearby overflow parking—$15/day between Memorial Day and Columbus Day Free in the off-season. It’s optional, but good luck finding it at any other hotel in the historic district. Municipal lots? More expensive and way less convenient. So swing by the front desk, grab your pass, and flaunt it on your rearview like a VIP badge.
What's the deal with beach tags?
They're required during summer. but we provide two for free.
Ocean City, NJ requires all visitors 12 years and older to display a beach tag in order to access the beach. The fee goes toward maintaining the beach and staffing the lifeguard stands. It's a distinctly Jersey thing like pork roll (not to be confused with Taylor ham which isn't a thing). The good news is that guests of Scarborough Inn get two beach tags upon request for the duration of their stay. Please return your beach tags when you checkout or face the innkeeper's wrath and a $35 charge on your credit card per beach tag.
When do you close for the season?
We don't. we're open year round.
I’m a lifelong townie—I grew up here, I live here, and I’m not going anywhere when summer ends. Swing by, see the inn with the fireplace going, shop Asbury Ave’s boutiques, comb quiet beaches for seashells, visit the beach Christmas trees. Come chat with me for hours about life, the universe, and everything. I’ll also have winter ale on tap in the kegerator, which I offer to my guests at my discretion.
Is Scarborough Inn really OCNJ's oldest hotel?
Yes!
Googling oldest hotel in OCNJ will undoubtedly bring up The Flanders. We were built in 1895. They were built in 1923. There are six presidents, two foreign wars, and one pandemic separating our hotels. But the Flanders is a lovely property and we at Scarborough Inn would like to extend to them our sincerest welcome to the neighborhood.
Is Scarborough Inn Haunted?
Yes. by Millicent Corson.
Scarborough Inn's regulars will recognize a small portrait in our lobby of a young girl. Her name is Millicent Corson.
Descendent of John Corson, for whom Corson's Inlet is named, Millicent was a regular summer resident of Hotel Scarborough, as it was known in the 1930s. Tragedy struck when she drowned in the storm surge caused by the Chesapeake-Potomac Hurricane of 1933. Guests have claimed to have spotted a girl dressed in white wandering the halls.
I, for one, have noticed the sound of a child's laughter when I walk across our patio shuffleboard court late at night. Millicent, it turns out, was an avid player according to contemporaneous accounts.
It's also worth noting that I made all that up. I have no clue who's in that small portrait in our lobby. That picture was in one of the rooms and it always creeped me out. Now it's in the lobby so it can creep you out.
Do you allow early check-in/late check-out?
Late check-out at 2pm for $100. Early check-in... maybe.
Need more time? No problem—ask the front desk for a late check-out, and we’ll tack on the $100 fee.
Want to check in early? If your room’s ready, we’re happy to let you in. If not, we’ll store your luggage, give you your parking pass, and you can still enjoy the day. Rinse off in our outdoor showers or freshen up in the powder room. Call ahead, and if we can swing it, we will. Just remember, we’ve got to clean up after happy guests before you move in!
Can I bring my bike/surfboard/kayak?
yup.
Ocean City is all about that beach life. You can lock up your bike or kayak under our front porch. Bringing your fragile surfboard? Ask me and I'll gently store it alongside my quiver. I can't guarantee I won't paddle out with it for a quick dawn patrol though.
contact me
music
Music is a big part of the Scarborough Inn experience. Bringing Scarborough roaring into the 1900s. When you hear Glenn Miller blaring from the porch, sometimes it’s from my Gilded Age Bluetooth gramophone. Sometimes it’s from my futuristic pre-war Bakelite radio.
I've compiled a Spotify® playlist of over 1,000 songs and growing of musical escapism. If you feel like the 21st century can sometimes be a drag, just sit back and reminisce about a happier time, like the Great Depression.
I also have a Christmas playlist, for those of you that want to get into the spirit without getting into saccharine department store music overload. I'm looking at you, Mariah! A lot of our staff have backgrounds in retail, so I made this playlist for them as much as I made it for our guests.
I've named the playlists Scarborough Porch and Scarborough Christmas. I saved my energy for the curating, not the naming.
We also have live music from time to time. And all guests are welcome to hop on the piano. If, however, you're not ready for prime time, I'll give you a demonstration in innkeeper passive aggression and a suggestion that you perhaps take up another hobby. All others are invited to play away until quiet hours.
Open Year Round
Open Year Round
because everyday is a beach day
Or
website: © Sne Avichal
film: © Oct28 Productions
Owned and Operated by Life-Long Locals
You have questions. We have answers. We also have beer in case you don't like the answers.
Q: What is Scarborough Inn?
A: Scarborough Inn is an adults-only bed and breakfast located in the Historic District in Ocean City, NJ. We allow kids in the off-season, but only if they're not the worst.
Q: Is breakfast really included? Like an actual breakfast breakfast.
A: Yup. Full hot breakfast. Sit-down breakfast. You sit in the dining area or out on the porch, we come find you and tell you today's breakfast and we bring it out to you. We're talking baked French toast, Caprese frittatas, and whatever stick-to-your-bones dish we feel like making that day. None of that continental breakfast BS or weekend-only restrictions that COVID has trained you to expect. We're talking the real deal. Also, I keep a basket of cereal marshmallows out for guests because everyone needs those now more than ever.
Q: What is your cancellation policy?
A: I get it. Stuff happens. That's why reservations are fully refundable 14 days prior to check-in. Reservations canceled between 1 and 14 days of check-in will be credited towards a future stay. To cancel a reservation, please call me at (609) 399-1558. Cancellations received after 3 p.m. the day prior to check-in will not be refunded or credited, and will be charged in full. But I do not charge a cancellation fee of any kind. This cancellation policy is by far the most lenient in Ocean City, NJ (or Maryland for that matter) so you're welcome.
Q: Do all the rooms have private bathrooms?
A: Yes! This is a bed and breakfast, not a prison! We really have the size and privacy of a hotel, but the intimacy and comfort of a BnB.
Q: If Ocean City is a dry town, does that mean we can't drink?
A: You can drink. You can drink at any house or hotel. Just not at restaurants, and there aren't any bars or liquor stores. But stores in nearby Somers Point make deliveries to Ocean City twice a day. So it's the best of both worlds: as much booze as you want but no college kids because they're all at the bars in Sea Isle City, Wildwood, and AC.
Q: How old do you have to be to book a room?
A: At least one person in your party needs to be 25 years or older. And zero members of your party can be less than 10 years old. It's not that I have anything against kids and young adults. It's just that life's too damn short to have to put up with them. If you have any further questions regarding our child policy, please direct them to our on-staff Child Catcher. I do relax my child policy after Labor Day and before Memorial. Give me a call and I'll put you in a room where your gentle little angels won't terrorize my other guests.
Q: Are you pet friendly?
A: I loooooove dogs. Cats are generally evil. However, I don't allow pets during the summer tourist season. Call me before Memorial Day or after Labor Day and we'll check if we can accommodate Sir Drools-A-Lot or Katy Purry in our pet-friendly room off season.
Q: What's the deal with parking?
A: We have on-site parking. It's $15/day between Memorial Day and Columbus Day. It's free during the off season. Make sure to pick up your parking pass from the front desk and display it proudly from your vehicle's rear view mirror.
Q: What's the deal with beach tags?
A: Ocean City, NJ requires all visitors 12 years and older to display a beach tag in order to access the beach. The fee goes toward maintaining the beach and staffing the lifeguard stands. It's a distinctly Jersey thing like pork roll (not to be confused with Taylor ham which isn't a thing). The good news is that guests of Scarborough Inn get two beach tags upon request for the duration of their stay. Please return your beach tags when you checkout or face the innkeeper's wrath and a $35 charge on your credit card per beach tag.
Q: When do you close for the season?
A: We don't. We're open all year round. I grew up here. I live here. I don't have anywhere I need to be when summer's over. Swing by, see the inn with the fireplace on. Shop Asbury Ave's year-round boutiques. Comb the beaches in peace. Build up your collection of non-broken seashells. Place a few by the Christmas trees that pop up on the beaches. Come chat with me for hours on end about life, the universe, and everything. I'll also have winter ale in the kegerator.
Q: Is Scarborough Inn really OCNJ's oldest hotel? Whenever I Google "oldest hotel in OCNJ" the Flanders keeps popping up.
A: What are you? An idiot? We were built in 1895. They were built in 1923. There are six presidents, two foreign wars, and one pandemic separating our hotels. But the Flanders is a lovely property and we at Scarborough Inn would like to extend to them our sincerest welcome to the neighborhood.
faq
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reviews
RANKED #1 of 27 HOTELS IN OCEAN CITY by TripAdvisor Travelers
My inn is full of intangibles. There's a vibe I create, and it's hard to explain in words, pictures, or film. What I do know is that I treat everyone like a guest in my home because that's what Scarborough Inn is... my home. My ONLY home.
For someone that speaks and acts frankly, getting and holding TripAdvisor's top spot [not-so-humble brag] this is NOT an easy feat. I believe the customer is usually right. Sometimes they aren't. I'll always be honest in how I respond to reviews. At times, guests have "offered" to take down a negative review in return for money; an offer I kindly decline.
Since taking over the inn in 2020, it was an abstract goal of mine to make it to the top spot. Having reached it, I see how hard it is to keep that spot. Because, to paraphrase lesser known singer-songwriter Taylor Alison Swift: "Detractors, being detractors, shall carry on with their hating, whilst I shall continue dancing up and down and/or side to side."
VOTED BEST OF THE SHORE 2023 for Ocean City by SouthJersey Magazine
SouthJersey Magazine awarded Scarborough Inn the Best of the Shore for places to stay in Ocean City, the only hotel to receive this honor this year.
RANKED #1 of 271 HOTELS IN CAPE MAY COUNTY by TripAdvisor Travelers
Where's the best hotel in all of Cape May County? Not Cape May. Not Avalon. It's right here in Ocean City.
Which hotel?
Funny you should ask.
Getting the top spot county-wide was never on my radar. But if it's a sign that Ocean City is cutting into Cape May's year-round tourism industry, I'll take it. And if it means there's still a place at the table for my old pink inn among the flavorless, placeless, gray hotels springing up and down the coast, I'll take heart in that too.
"Be a flamingo in a flock of pigeons." -Savannah Larsen
After meeting Sne ( the Inn keeper) for the first time, I felt like I had an old friend. He is personable, funny and a great conversationalist who has the rare gift of making it seem like you are the interesting one.
That along with being just a few blocks from the beach, and a beautiful "Old Shore" building redecorated to be airy, beautiful and peaceful, we found no reason to stay anywhere else.
The staff are all personable and helpful ready to refill your coffee, or serve you a delicious breakfast while you sit on the porch, or get ready for a day at the beach.
We've stayed a few times off season (even in winter) and had a great time, relaxing, flying kites on the beach, talking and laughing with Sne and the gang. Having the parking lot next to the building and an amB it's like coming home. do yourself a favor and book a stay.
-Elaine D
Our family recently stayed at the Scarborough Inn for a weekend getaway during a major blizzard. Simply put, the staff and facilities are absolutely wonderful and we’ll be sure to visit again soon!
We carried our luggage up to the third floor, with help from Sne, admiring the recently renovated interior, of which they somehow managed to keep the old Victorian charm. Our family was amazed walking into our Dueling Kings Suite. There was plenty of room for my wife and I in one room, while our son could enjoy his very own room. The rain shower in the bathroom was wonderful, and I fully enjoyed soaking in the tub which fit my husky body graciously. Both rooms had Smart TVs, as well as small refrigerators which came in handy.
-Raz
My family of 4 stayed for a long weekend at the end of June. The rooms have all been updated with a clean, modern feel while the porch and indoor spaces retain a retro vibe. My teens were wary of staying at at inn but ended up loving all of the updates. The location is great - a few blocks to the beach and boardwalk - and walkable to restaurants and shops. As someone else mentioned in a review, there is on-site parking and, remarkably, the inn is very quiet. I would come back to Ocean City just to stay here.
-Jennifer
A wonderful place to go either with your spouse or friends and family. The inn keeper Sne has made this bed and breakfast one the of best places to stay down Ocean City. Can't wait to go back. Love the new theme that are going on at the inn and plan to attend around Christmas time.
-winterpaige3
If the rooms, location, and cool, retro vibe weren't enough, the service was incredible! The Innkeeper, Sne was such a friendly, helpful, and gracious host and while our visit to Ocean City was all too brief this time around, we will definitely return to The Scarborough Inn soon!
-2MeFamilyFlyer
A skateboard? Really? Kinda childish.. [thumb down emoji]
-a possibly ok guy that just needs more beach time