Dear Yelp, Visited here in April for a girls getaway midweek. We had a two queen ocean facing. The window seats are glorious. The bathroom is spacious. The beds and pillows were pretty comfortable. We were on the fourth floor and it was quiet, which I appreciated. The hotel And grounds are beautiful and well taken care of. I'd love to return in the summer if I win the lottery. Love, Nicole read more

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We are staying in room 323 The noise outside our window from the air conditioning and venting system of the building is deafening and nonstop all day and night. They provided earplugs in the nightstand drawer so they're obviously aware of the problem but they do nothing about it. We paid over $500 per night and we certainly would have considered another hotel if they had disclosed this before we booked. To add to the non-stop dull roar of the fans, I also get motion sickness very easily, and the floor is so slanted that a water bottle will roll from one side of the room to the other. As a result the bed is slanted. I feel like I am on a ship and I'm going to fall out of bed. When we asked if they could move us to a different room they told us they were fully booked and there was nothing they could do. We had high hopes for this place. The location is great, the restaurants were good and the place has a lot of character and history. The view from our 3rd floor windows is a roof below us and windows of other rooms across from us. They would have been better served to brick up the windows to help deaden the noise. Overall it was a disappointing way to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary. read more

Kind of torn on whether I'd come back because the vibes were great and the drinks decent. But, and this is a big deal for me, their kitchen was closed each time we went, and I prefer drinking in the afternoon rather than at night (at which point I prefer drinks with my dinner at a sit-down restaurant). They also looked like they had only 2 staff in the off season, so it was sometimes hard to flag someone down. read more

This place is amazing. It is so fancy and beautiful. I would live here if I could. Inside there is a store called Tommy's Folly. They have such cute stuff. The pool and outdoor area is beautiful!!! read more

Congress Hall - Congress hall lawn - Hotels Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

My husband and I finally had the chance to use a gift card for Congress Hall and spent a night in Cape May, a town we had never visited despite both growing up in Jersey. We'd heard that Cape May is magical during Christmas, and the town certainly lived up to its reputation. The hotel was beautifully decorated for the holiday season, creating a warm and festive atmosphere. Booking was a bit tricky since I couldn't use the gift card online, but I called their reservation number, and the staff member I spoke with couldn't have been more accommodating. After booking, we received several emails and texts from the concierge offering assistance with planning our stay, which was a nice touch. We arrived on Sunday, December 29th, and had no trouble parking in the self-parking lot, which was free of charge. The hotel was quite busy, though, likely due to the volume of families celebrating the holidays there. While this wasn't the hotel's fault, it did make the lobby feel a little cramped and chaotic--understandably so for such a popular destination during the holiday season. Despite the bustle, the staff we interacted with were friendly, patient, and professional. Some reviews mention the hotel being outdated, but I disagree. I thought the property perfectly blends old-world charm with modern amenities. The hotel was exceptionally clean, especially considering its age--kudos to housekeeping! However, the bed and pillows were quite uncomfortable, and unfortunately, we weren't able to sleep well. We were thankful for our short stay for this reason. Overall, it was a lovely experience, and we would return, though hopefully with more comfortable bedding next time. read more

We like to visit Cape May a couple times a year when we are at the Beach House. We have never been for the Christmas season and we went this year and it was absolutely delightful. The town was adorable and the shops were open. We got so many good deals. Congress Hall is always the star of the show. We especially enjoyed the Moody lounge bar that had live music and a crackling fireplace outback. There was a Christmas carnival set up geared to both children and adults. It was a wonderful holiday experience and a great date night! read more

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Zacharia was a wonderful host for our after dinner Pinot on the patio! We enjoyed the fire pits while we sang along with the stream of 70's and 80's music! My College bestie and will be back! Cape May in March is serine. read more

My girlfriend and I spent the weekend at Congress Hall and what an amazing experience it was. From the room, to the service, and the food, everything was 1st class. I spent one night and one afternoon at the Boiler Room for food and drinks, a restaurant/bar on the premises, and I cant say enough how great that was. My bartender, Zak, was 1st class all the way. From the service, to the food recommendations, he was top notch. I highly recommend visiting and asking for him. The soppressata and hot honey pizza that he recommended was phenomenal! We will definitely be back. I cant wait for our next trip to Cape May. read more

The reason I'm giving this 2 stars is for the coffee. They have a coffee shop. They have a great espresso maker however they do not train their staff. The coffee is never hot and they really don't understand how to make anything other than drip coffee. It's really a shame. I've lived here my whole life and this is the only place I can go for coffee in the winter time and it's always so disappointing, on another hand. The hotel is beautiful. Location is A+. And is a classic historic Cape May spot. read more

Very nice hotel, full of history. Beautiful decor for the holidays. They have a Winter Wonderland with a Christmas Market, festive holiday drinks, and fire pits and heaters outside by the pool. Perfect location, right next to the main shopping area and close to the beach. I had an ocean view room, which overlooked the courtyard and beach and was spacious. There's a nice cocktail lounge, brick oven pizza restaurant, a tavern style restaurant, and a coffee/sandwich place as well as an ice cream shop. Beds are comfortable. Room was clean. Old style with an actual key for the rooms instead of a card key, which was nostalgic. There's also a full service spa, that I didn't get a chance to utilize, but it did look nice. Pool is outdoor. There's access to a gym at the Sandpiper beach club nearby. They offer Valet & Self Parking. Each floor also offers a sitting area. It was a holiday weekend so it was very crowded with people coming to see the holiday decorations and winter wonderland. Staff was nice. I would stay here again. read more

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We went into Congress Hall over the weekend to see what it was like! It was really busy and lots of people were eating at the restaurants inside. They offer valet parking for hotel guests and there is metered parking on the street. The outside is very pretty and they have a bar where you can sit and enjoy drinks on the patio. Unfortunately it was a rainy day, but normally you can sit out on the lawn. We really enjoyed seeing Congress Hall and will look into staying here in the future! read more

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The history of Congress Hall constructed in 1816 for guests visiting Cape May. It burned to the ground in 1876 and was reconstructed in brick shortly after. Many presidents stayed here during their vacations such as Grant, Buchanon, Harrison and Pierce. Congress Hall started to fall in disrepair.In 1996 restoration began to 2002 when it was finally finished. It now stands by Cape May as a high-end resort hotel. We came to visit the grounds as a recommendation from our shuttle driver.As we entered the inside grounds by the pool, we could see why it was worth a visit. They had vendors serving hot mulled wine .* note....great way to warm up with hints of spices and cinnamon, long churros and other specialty drinks. Beautiful grounds and history. Worth a look if visiting Cape May. read more

Congress Hall - Hotels Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

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Stayed at Congress hall this weekend Congress Hall is very nice. I've bee. There several times before and the food and service is very good. However, there are a lot of unsupervised children running around. They run up and down the hallways and around the down stairs area all the time. Spending a lot of money and having this many young unsupervised children running around throughout the establishment is very difficult. If you don't mind that then this is the place for you. The food and service is good but I think I'll be spending my money and staying at a place that doesn't have small children running around when you're there. Make sure you stop in to the Blue Pig. It is excellent for breakfast or lunch. read more

We had a lovely stay in November. The staff was so nice. The rooms were beautifully decorated and clean. It's pricey but going off season is an option. We enjoyed the restaurant and lounge. Super centrally located. I can't wait to go back. 4 stars and not 5 because of price read more

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We stumbled upon Congress hall with a recommendation from our driver from our hotel. Apparently Congress hall was established in 1816 by Thomas H Hughes. The hotel was renamed in honor of his election to Congress around 1828. set in downtown Cape May,they offer a nice Victorian style hotel close to the beach. It was quite cold on the day we came and they had a nice winter wonderland set up with activities throughout the hotel. Even though we weren't staying here we decided to spend some time by the pool in the evening and sip on hot mulled wine. The family thought it was delicious. My boys couldn't resist getting some hot chocolate and Mexican style Churros. It was a short walk from downtown with many nice boutiques. Parking was a big tight and limited. We were lucky that we had at a van shuttle driver that was complementary From our hotel. For over 10 years congress hall has been awarded Conde Nast traveler one of the top US hotels and in a spot on their readers choice awards. And also named 2021 travel and leisure worlds best awards. read more

Congress Hall - Hotels Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

Christmas time at Congress Hall is really fun. The decorations, the people, the drinks, the food and so much activity you can't help finding something to enjoy. read more

Everything on the Thanksgiving buffet was delicious! I think it's very rare that you go to a buffet and you love everything! Our family had a wonderful time! We'll be back! Thank you so much! read more

Congress Hall - This is just a sample of the appetizers! The prime rib, turkey and fixings were amazing as well! - Hotels Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

My wife and I stayed there once and we had a lovely time. The next year, we went back just to visit their cute gift shop. We were denied entrance into the hotel by a parking employee after asking if we were guests. It was awkward and embarrassing, and strange since a train of people walked right into the hotel after us, maybe just to eat dinner or have a drink at the bar. All I know is that the time I stayed there, I was not wearing a Jewish star necklace, and when my wife and I were blocked from entering when we later visited, I was wearing the star over my t-shirt, which the Congress Hall employee took a good look at before telling us to go. I hope he still works in a parking lot. Finished. read more

Thieves. We made a one night stay reservation at this hotel and eight days before we were going to stay there, we attempted to cancel it. They informed us (not upfront of course) that there's a 22 day cancellation policy and that they keep, not just a deposit, but all your money. They also charge your card right away (Full amount! not on the night that you stay. ) It would've been reasonable if they took $100 deposit but no, they are greedy thieves that took the full amount without us staying in the hotel. This is blatant theft. We also ate there. It was a very expensive meal - It wasn't that good. --!Caveat Emptor!-- (Buyer beware). read more

It only took us three years but we finally made our way to Congress Hall! This was the perfect spot for post-dinner cocktails. We visited The Brown Room, which was aptly named given the brown decor shades ranging from butterscotch to dark chocolate. Everyone was dressed to impress and enjoying their drinks amidst live funky piano music. This was the cure for what ailed me, as I am a bit fatigued from the loud, live band scene at other shore points (read: Atlantic City). The patrons were friendly and engaging. Nice mixed crowd with a median age of around 40-50 or so. The cocktails were well balanced and served in what appeared to be Waterford crystal glasses. Ooh, la la! There are several dimensions to this property with varying options for food and drinks. Even the lobby area screams "pull up a chair and enjoy yourself". We'll return to greater explore this historic hotel! read more

Congress Hall - The Brown Room. Gentle piano music and great vibe! - Hotels Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

Here's the thing, I've never stayed here. I come here to take in all of the history and absolute beauty that this building is. I could sit in the lobby and just look at the gorgeous interiors! I mean, it's breathtaking! I had seen an IG post with a picture of the cafe and knew I had to check it out when we were in the area for vacation. The cafe is decorated to feel as though you are in a black and white striped tent. It's so beautiful! So one day I'll stay here but until then I will be thankful that this is a place I can visit, have a cupcake of coffee and shop in! read more

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A great spot for a nice glass of wine. Did not stay at the Hall...but definitely a great stop while visiting the cape.

Don't order the bagels! The cinnamon raisin bagel had 3 raisins and was tasteless. The eggs Benedict w American bacon (not Canadian) was delish. read more

Beautiful resort at Cape May, highly recommend. I came with my family and spent 2 nights here, and it was absolutely wonderful. The restaurant Blue Pig is amazing for breakfast and dinner. The Brown Room is a great place to go chill and have a drink. Our rooms were very comfortable and spacious. The resort is just a minute walk from the beach, and it is gorgeous. We saw dolphins every single day. read more

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Congress Hall promised a lot and over delivered First most places over the past 2 years have been understaffed, did not detect this at CH. Staff were everywhere and worked Long hours. We tried to tip often and heavy as we appreciated it. Rooms were adorable and made up in morning and turned down in evening, unreal and so nice. Bed and pillows were excellent. Shower was a treat, felt like an outdoor "shore" shower which we love in the summer. We ate at one restaurant and had drinks in pool and on the lawn all excellent. The Grand Lawn is something to behold. Sitting in the shade, enjoying the bug free breeze and seeing the wide open sky was an unexpected pleasure. Morning coffee was a true delight. Beach service was a treat. Not having to carry chairs or umbrella or towel was nicer than I thought it would be. Plus could order food and drinks at the beach. Again luxury. Room a/c was powerful. You could set it to 60 and pile under the covers if you wanted. Come to congress hall if you can, you won't regret it. read more

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My review has nothing to do with the actual staying at the hotel. My review has to do with the degree at the beach where they set up probably about 100 sets of chairs for their people to come down that are too lazy to come down themselves. It's all a matter Reed because these people are paying for it so these kids that they have setting up will take and move your stuff off the beach will put things in front of you and give you no room and no access to the beach, apparently the city doesn't care about it because they've been told nothing happens. They come down slap on the wrist and they go right back to telling the people just set it up. Don't worry about it. I've been here for over 40 years and I have to say I've been disappointed by this , nice place but greed and inconsiderate people have taken over read more

Wonderful service from start to finish. Blue Pig is convenient and always satisfying. We had brunch and dinner there. Our getaway was a special one because of Congress Hall. We will return. read more

For the holidays, Congress Hall has a great outdoor setup with an outdoor bar and individual igloos available for rent! They perfectly frame their Christmas tree, giving diners a beautiful view of the decorations. My family organized a surprise graduation celebration and rented an igloo. It was so adorable and festive! Congress Hall even had balloons and flowers (for an additional fee) inside the igloo. It was a great surprise! They have a full bar menu and specialty cocktails. The food menu is mostly appetizers, so we decided to get a bunch to share. They also have yummy desserts. To drink, I had the Congress Hall specialty cosmo, which is made with white cranberry juice. It was tart and delicious! To eat, we split the cheese plate, smoked salmon plate, chips and dip, lobster mac and cheese, chicken sliders, and beef sliders (there were 6 of us and that was plenty of food!). Everything was delicious, but I especially loved the lobster mac and cheese. I am not always the biggest mac and cheese fan, but boy was it amazing! For dessert, we split the cookie trio and the dessert tower. The dessert tower was filled with mini desserts, so it was perfect for a group to share. The cookies tasted homemade and delicious! Even though it says trio, you actually get 6 so we ended up bringing a few home! Overall, the experience and the food was awesome. The igloos were heated, so we were not cold at all. It is a great place for a festive meal and we all had the best time! Thanks to Congress Hall for making my graduation so special! read more

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AWSOME AWSOME AWSOME!!!!!!!!!! Staff and accommodations were above our expectations. this was our second trip here. The only hiccup was the fridge in our room wasn't working. one call to the desk and it was replaced with in a half hour. A second maintenance worker showed up 5 minutes later to make sure the job was done properly. read more

Came to Cape May during the holiday season. For 2 months I was contemplating where we should stay. And I'm so happy I made the decision to stay at the Congress Hall. The hotel for being over 200 years old is absolutely beautiful and decorated beautifully for Christmas. The front desk is very welcoming and very professional, Donna at the front desk is very accommodating, Kind and she's on top of everything. When she says she's going to take care of something she gets it done. I forgot my boots in the first room we checked in before we moved to another room and didn't even realized that I did. Donna had them sent to my new room. I love that the hotel is right by all the little shops and restaurants. It's a very convenient location. Also, CLEAN VERY CLEAN and that is so important to me when I stay somewhere. I was very impressed how clean the rooms where we had 2 rooms and I had no complaints about either. If ever stay at Cape May I highly recommend Congress Hall. It was a great experience. Lastly, if attending a Coast Guard graduation the hotel is very flexible with reservations and will note that your reservation is based on a Coast Guard graduation. It's about a 10 minute drive from the base. read more

Congress Hall - View from room 340 - Hotels Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

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We had dinner with Santa and when we arrived, a few things went wrong with our reservation. We let management know expecting nothing to happen because that's typically how organizations these days are. However that was absolutely not the case with congress hall. The manager Lena completely blew us away with some of the best customer service we've ever experienced. We will tell everyone we know about our experience and will always be customers as a result. read more

The largest institution in Cape May....historic massive structure buzzing with activity. Perhaps too many people and too much activity. Few people wearing masks and very little social distancing. Freaked me out. Having said that, in better times this is a wonderful place to stay with various dining options--- I really enjoyed the great pizza in the very cool and hip cellar downstairs. There are several pools and beach access which is set up like a private beach club with chairs and umbrellas sett up for you. In all, I think this is a fantastic place, in a fantastic town but I wish they were more strict with proper vCOVID-19 etiquette. read more

My two younger daughters and I currently are on a girls weekend here and it is the second time I've stayed here although I've previously rented private homes in Cape May almost every spring for over twenty years. This is THE best place to stay in Cape May. As realtors will tell you, LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION. No matter where you stay in Cape May you know you're gonna wind up at the Blue Pig Tavern in Congress Hall anyway so why not stay where you can just just roll on downstairs to the Brown Room whenever you like and where you can easily walk to any shopping or eatery on Washington Street or Beach Ave without worrying about the availability of parking? And the hotel itself is filled with history and the staff is top notch. There's a reason this was once a summer White House. Highly highly recommend. read more

I didn't see Danny Torrance driving his Big Wheel through the halls and no definitive sightings of Scatman Crothers or Shelley Duvall either but this rambling 19th century grandiosity must have secrets and apparitions to spare inhabiting their 100+ rooms. Look, if your idea of a resort is cool modernity populated by armies of Instagram Influencers shaking their silicone sensations in your face than the Delano on South Beach awaits. Congress Hall is the ancient school that taught the old school a few tricks. Uneven floors holding up an eclectic blend of well worn colonial flourishes that loves nothing more than to bow and scrape at the thought of Queen Victoria leading her royal procession up to the valet. Don't expect spit and polish but do expect clean and comfortable. And when you do come out of your room have a five star dinner at the Blue Pig and a nightcap at a newly refurbished main bar that has lost none of it's considerable charm. This is a "Grand Hotel" in every way. Be forewarned, If you happen to catch Jack reminiscing with Lloyd the bartender... Run!! read more

Awful experience at the Easter brunch. We were the last seating at 3pm and it definitely showed. Everything had been sitting out. Barely anything left. Our server was awful, we had to keep asking for water. I asked for a manager and told her about the food and she said we would have it refilled. It was refilled when we're paying for the check. This was not worth $89 pp. We had 9 people total. The manager was kind, but never came up to our table again. Again this was Easter, expected so much more from them. Definitely will not be back. read more

Everything about Congress all the people that atmosphere is awesome. Can't wait to go there in the winter. read more

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A sensational property. Wonderful amenities. There is simply a great vibe about this place. We had a wonderful day on the property. Its price heavy, but you're on the beach. The inside bar is our favorite afternoon spot. The is a crackling fire and a view of the ocean. The craft cocktails are too notch. read more

Congress Hall - Hotels Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

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Horrible customer service! I am in hospital via ambulance and the hotel will not cancel my reservation or refund me!! While I am fighting for my life, I should not have to worry about this reservation! Do the right thing! read more

Very disappointed. Loved the history but the rave reviews left me a bit dumbfounded. I will be writing in detail to the management about my overnight stay . Beginning with reception and ending with being knocked into by someone dragging something off the elevator ( an employee) and knocking me into the Landry bin lined up outside the elevator. Due to one elevator I had to go up and down steps. Oh I'm old too with a handicap license. I could go on with the sour milk in my latte and the fact that there were three in my room, sister and granddaughter and given 2 hand towels and facecloth. It goes on and on. read more

Did not stay here but enjoyed evening drinks outside. Outdoor bar had a nice selection of wine by the glass & a musician playing guitar - he was awesome! Lots of tables & adirondack chairs for you to sit in to enjoy your drinks. Lots of kids running outside having a grand ole' time. Noticed there are 2 pools - one for adults & one for kids - smart move! Indoor piano bar looked great & inviting but we were not dressed for it - they have a dress code. This place has a lot of history & it's nice to stroll the main hallway reading all the historical things that took place. An enjoyable time! read more

Congress Hall - View from the Adirondack chairs - Hotels Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey