Ballard's

Hotels
Independent
8.4 (135 reviews)
42 Water St, Block Island, Rhode Island, 02807 , Block Island , US

Facilities

Bodyboard on site
Boat tours nearby
Front entrance ramp
Health or beauty spa nearby
Parasailing nearby
Free WiFi
Luggage storage
Street parking
Wheelchair accessible
Outdoor furniture
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Exceptional service
Great food and beverage options
Beautiful location
Cons:
Limited room availability
Issues with WiFi
Parking limitations

Categories

Cleanliness
7.85
Rooms were very clean; however, limited parking and some complaints about WiFi may slightly impact the rating.
Service
9.35
Ballard’s staff is unequivocally the BEST, providing personal warmth and attention to detail.
Location
8.85
Ballard’s is located on a gorgeous beach and is just a short walk from the island ferry.
Room Quality
7.85
Rooms are large for a beach resort, but only 3 of the 6 have great views.
Amenities
8.35
Beach resort accommodations and services are available, including foot washes and outdoor bars.
Value for Money
7.85
The sunset dinner specials provide great value, though limited room availability could impact value perception.
Food and Beverage
8.85
Quality food and drinks are consistently highlighted as amazing and artistically presented.
Overall Experience
8.25
A favorite affordable resort with stunning views and a warm atmosphere.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-06 09:43

Property Description

Convenient Amenities
Enjoy complimentary wireless internet access, a picnic area, and bike storage during your stay at Ballard's. Indulge in a meal at the on-site restaurant or grab snacks at the cafe. Relax with a drink at one of the 6 bars/lounges.

Comfortable Accommodations
Make yourself at home in one of the 6 air-conditioned rooms, each equipped with a flat-screen TV and complimentary wireless internet access. Enjoy satellite programming and daily housekeeping for a hassle-free stay.

Prime Location
Situated on the Strip, Ballard's is just steps away from Ballard's Beach and a short drive from Great Salt Pond. Explore nearby attractions like Crescent Beach and Mohegan Bluffs for a memorable vacation experience.

Plan your getaway at Ballard's in Block Island for a relaxing and convenient stay.

Important information:

  • Only registered guests are allowed in the guestrooms.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM

Property Policies

  • Pets

    Pets not allowed

  • Sustainability Certifications

    Property confirms they are implementing guest safety measures

  • Noise policy

    Noise-free rooms not guaranteed

  • Accessibility

    No elevators

  • General

    Property is cleaned with disinfectant

See all policies

Location

Guest Reviews

8.4
Based on 135 reviews
Cleanliness: 7.85
Service: 9.35
Location: 8.85
Room Quality: 7.85
Amenities: 8.35
Value for Money: 7.85
Food and Beverage: 8.85
Overall Experience: 8.25
J
JackiRobert Couples Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee
10
Ballard Creek House was a peaceful home base for an Asheville vacation
Pros:

This house is a short 20 minutes north of Asheville. You can rent this house through YonderNC.com. The house is exactly as described with such a peaceful atmosphere right on a brook and the woods. It has a very open concept, which would be great for couples or families. The large back deck with grill and picnic table is great for any meal and has a portion with a ceiling for the shade. The home is very clean and has a bedroom/bath upstairs and one downstairs. The couch pulls out for another sleeping option. We loved watching TV in front of the gas fireplace at night. There is a fire pit by the brook with lounge chairs. The backdrop is the woods, so great seclusion. The house has everything you could want or need. YonderNC is great with local recommendations and even had a discount to the Biltmore. We used this as our home base for 10 days in Asheville. My only regret is that we didn't allow more time to actually be at the house to fully enjoy it!!!! We would definitely go back!!!! Loved this place!

2025-11-23 via Tripadvisor
4
493nikkin Couples
10
Ballard’s has it ALL and does it ALL - Best Beach Resort on the East Coast!
Pros:

Ballard’s has it ALL and does it ALL!
Ballard’s is absolutely the BEST BEACH RESORT on the East Coast.
NOTHING COMPARES to what Steve Filippi has created on this pristine, magical slice of beachfront property on Block Island. I could write pages, but I will point out these 3 unsurpassed characteristics that will define your experience.
1. HOMETOWN hospitality. Ballard’s staff is unequivocally the BEST! Each staff member is smiling, knowledgeable, and extends personal warmth, demonstrating a genuine desire to ensure your experience is perfect. Steve himself is camouflaged among the staff, wearing exactly the same colors and outfit except you will more than likely find him outside his hand extended, welcoming his customers. Every time I arrive at Ballard’s, I feel like I am home. Unparalleled by any other establishment I have ever visited.
2. QUALITY food and drink. I have eaten at Ballard’s at least a dozen times, and every item is fresh, artistically presented, quickly served, and with some special ingredient that makes it the BEST I have ever had. Whether it’s the Seafood medley pasta simmering in Sambuca sauce served on a skillet like they do in Italy or the New England Clam chowder – all AMAZING! Portions are generous, so sharing an option. On the drinks, WOWEE – BEST MUDSLIDE on the island, and all the other creative, colorful drinks just make for a fun cocktail. Did I mention your table has a view because you are literally on the beach – waves a crashing – moon a beaming – its downright dreamy!
3. ENTERTAINMENT to plan your summer by! Steve hosts well-established bands with remarkable histories that play music that makes you wanna dance, sing and rejoice. All of this against the backdrop of blue waters of the Atlantic ocean.
Because of Steve’s attention to detail, most awesome staff and gorgeous location; Ballard’s is my favorite affordable resort and while summer season 2025 has ended; I can’t wait to come back and keep working my way through your menu, chillin' on your rocks or dancing up a storm to one of you stellar bands.
Thank you for creating this oasis of happiness!

2025-10-03 via Tripadvisor
A
andrewmV5786NM Couples
10
Outside Bar is poppin
Pros:

Love it here! Terrica hooked us up with Drinks at the bar. The best! What a vibe. Will definitely be our first stop every time we come to Block Island

2025-09-21 via Tripadvisor
M
MidAged_Voyager couple us
9
Great location, and service. We will definitely return.
Pros:

Ballards is a short walk from the island ferry, is located on a gorgeous beach, has onsite dining, has multiple bars on the beach and in restaurant. Ballards is a full-service beach resort. Rooms are large for a beach resort and were very clean. The beach shore is kept clean of sea weeds and debris. I enjoyed the fancy step-on activated foot washes. Beach resort accommodations and services are available. The sunset dinner specials are a great value. Ballard has luggage storage should you need or want to stay on the island longer than your checkout time.

Cons:

There are only 6 guest rooms, so getting a booking can be difficult. Only 3 of the 6 rooms have balconies and great view. The other 3 rooms face the hill behind the hotel. There is no cable TV services, only Roku and app streaming services. I could not send/receive email from my computer nor establish VPN services using the Ballard's WiFi, but I could use my cellphone as a hotspot to send/receive computer email. (Note: When leaving, you need to remember to remove your streaming accesses, such as Netflix.) Not an issue for me, but others were complaining about the very limited parking.
In town, a few establishments only take cash and maybe Venmo.

2025-09-20 via Nuitee
W
Whatstherush32 Friends getaway
10
Best service ever!!!!!
Pros:

Terrica was the best . I been coming to Ballards for over 20 years and she is the best experience we ever had in the our 20 years trip.she give excellent service!!!!!! Our best bartender ever we hope to see you next season!!!!!!

2025-09-16 via Tripadvisor
S
Sunshine485847 Friends getaway
10
Terrica is ahhhhmazing!!!
Pros:

Terrica is absolutely fabulous!! Great customer service and great personality!! I will definitely come back! Wooohooo

2025-09-13 via Tripadvisor
I
ibattsss Business
10
We love it here
Pros:

Terrica and Kristiana at tiki high tide are amazing!! Super friendly and just the best. The beach is gorgeous and the drinks are great.

2025-09-12 via Tripadvisor
J
JCooper18 Couples Rochester, Finger Lakes, New York
10
Neosha >
Pros:

Neosha was wonderful! We love her. Would give her 10 stars if I could. She made our experience that much better. Also we recomend the mudslide

2025-09-08 via Tripadvisor
S
Steven family
10
Pros:

Great stay!

2025-09-08 via Nuitee
V
V9373MMgaryb Couples
10
Great Evening Dinner at Ballards
Pros:

Ballards $20 Sunset Dinner special was incredible. Had the 8oz Filet. Cooked perfectly and one of the best I ever had. Our server Neosha was so nice and pleasant and made sure we had everything we needed. Even our bus girl Kristiana had a wonderful smile and very pleasant. Great experience.

2025-09-07 via Tripadvisor
R
richwF4170MC Solo travel
10
Block Island Daycation
Pros:

Terrica was the best....!!!!!!!
Love Block Island so fun and the staff is excellent. Can't wait till next year....
Thank you ...

2025-09-06 via Tripadvisor
L
liberia126 Family Staten Island, New York
10
Consistency All around!!
Pros:

You can spot Ballard’s long before you reach Block Island. Those iconic blue cabanas are the sure sign you’re in for a true VIP experience. I’ve been coming here for more than a decade, and if I had to sum it up in one word it would be: consistency.

The service? Always top notch and reliable.
The food? Exceptional every time.
The vibe? Consistently perfect.

For me, Ballard’s is more than a destination, it’s personal. My husband and I were married here 11 years ago, so staying on the property is always special. The rooms are clean, spacious, and carry a breezy, tropical feel that instantly relaxes you.

What makes Ballard’s truly stand out, though, is the owner, Steve. He’s in a class of his own. I swear this man never leaves! He’s always walking around, making sure everything is just right. On this trip, when I checked in, Sharese (one of the hostesses) was helping me with my bags. I dropped something, looked up, and there was Steve, personally picking it up, walking me to my door, and welcoming me back. That’s who he is: hands-on, present, and genuinely committed to ensuring every guest feels appreciated.

Now let’s talk about the food, OMG! I live for the lobsters here. This season, Steve introduced The Sunset Special. A whole lobster or filet for just $20. Yes, $20! What a deal. On our second night, we had dinner for nine, six adults, and four out of six chose the lobster. We’re still talking about how good it was.

Ballard’s is woven into our story, and every visit feels like coming home. Whether you’re stopping in for dinner, spending the day, or staying overnight, one thing is guaranteed, your presence will be valued, and you’ll leave already planning your return.

2025-09-03 via Tripadvisor
W
Wanderer792780 Friends getaway
2
Unauthorized charges on my debt card
Pros:

I visited Ballard’s on August 12 with a group of friends and had one of the most frustrating experiences I’ve ever had at a beach establishment. We were seated on the beach and provided a waitress, who took a credit card from one of the other girls in our group to open a tab. I personally used my own card only at the bar to buy drinks.

The waitress never returned for us to sign the beach tab, and we were never informed that the original card had been declined. Instead, Ballard’s charged the entire beach tab—$366.97—to my card without my consent. This was not the card given for the beach tab, and I was never asked to approve the charge.

This unauthorized billing caused my account to overdraft, and a deposited check was consumed to cover the charge. I’ve spent over a week trying to resolve this. I called Ballard’s multiple times, spoke with a manager who promised to call me back (never did), and emailed the owner, Stephen, with no response. My bank denied two disputes because the card was used that day—even though it was for a completely different transaction.

The lack of communication and accountability from Ballard’s has been incredibly disappointing. I’ve been left financially strained and emotionally exhausted from trying to fix a mistake that wasn’t mine. At this point, I feel Ballard’s should refund all charges from that day due to the mishandling and stress this has caused.

I would not recommend this place to anyone who values transparency, customer service, or basic financial ethics.

2025-09-01 via Tripadvisor
Q
Q5990JOpaigeh Couples
10
Excellent after we met Terrica
Pros:

This is our first time visiting Block Island and we were having a horrible experience. We went to a few different shops and restaurants, picked up mopeds and everyone was rude, no one was nice. Until we met Terrica at Ballard's. She was super nice, attentive, she greeted us like we were regular people and changed our whole opinion on whether we were going to come back or not. I hope everyone that comes here gets to meet her and has the same turnaround experience that we had.

2025-08-30 via Tripadvisor
S
ShelleyG121 Couples Acton, Massachusetts
10
Beautiful View, Wonderful Food, Friendly Service
Pros:

We were lucky enough to discover Ballard's on our first visit to Block Island. As soon as we got off the ferry, we were ready for lunch. Ballard's had a wonderful menu and was able to accommodate my gluten free needs. I had pan roasted salmon with potatoes and spinach. My husband had the chowder and a grouper salad with onions rings. The food was delicious and service wonderful! We ate outside and enjoyed the view of the ocean! After lunch we were able to lounge on the beach and enjoy the scenery. We loved it so much at Ballard's that we had breakfast there as well. We had avocado toast, potato rosti and egg in the hole sandwich. The staff was friendly and the food was delicious. We will return the next time we are on Block Island!

2025-08-29 via Tripadvisor
M
M312QDjeffd Couples
10
Best place EVA
Pros:

Terrica and Andre best service ever beautiful ocean front bar great food and service Goes way above and beyond greats suggestions of drinks and food

2025-08-28 via Tripadvisor
J
John family
10
Pros:

The staff is amazing! Everyone was so nice and helpful! The food there was great! Also had a nice sundown special every night on certain food. Will definitely recommend and will be back some day

2025-08-28 via Nuitee
G
Gneiss1 Family
10
Fabulous Dinner At Ballards!
Pros:

We went to Ballard’s for the Sunset Dinner. I had the lobster dinner and my son had the filet. Both dinners were outstanding! The view from the back deck overlooking the beach and Atlantic Ocean made the dinner even more special. Don’t miss this opportunity to have a great meal before the season ends!

2025-08-24 via Tripadvisor
G
Gloria family
8
Pros:

Very friendly, hospitable and attentive staff. The hotel is somewhat outdated and as it's a beach hotel, may be challenging to keep completely clean (sand). However, details could be better addressed. That said, the bed was very comfortable (though the cot provided for our third person was not really acceptable - it was truly a cot, not a rollaway bed). The staff was very nice, can't emphasize that enough.

2025-08-21 via Nuitee
R
Robert LaBonne family
10
Pros:

Right on the beach, clean large rooms and great lobster rolls for lunch

2025-08-20 via Nuitee