Old sea captain's inn voted best in U.S. for second time

Editor's note: This story was changed June 4 to note that Capt. David Kelley House in Centerville was sixth best in the U.S.

What does it take to be Number 1 of the estimated 17,000 bed-and-breakfast spots in the United States?

We asked one of the innkeepers at Candleberry Inn since Tripadvisor users have voted the Brewster establishment best in the nation not once, but twice now.

In 2022, Candleberry was named best bed-and-breakfast/inn in America and 5th best in the world. This year, they are again best in the U.S. and 7th in the world.

(Another Cape Cod sea captain's home, Captain David Kelley House in Centerville, came in as Tripadvisor's sixth best in the U.S. for 2024.)

We asked folks at Candleberry Inn for their secret to repeated success:

“It really is just the level of service, cleanliness of rooms. We tend to overhire so there’s always someone double checking that everything is the way it should be,” said Marco DiDomizio, who has owned and operated the nine-room inn for six years with his partner Angelo Ferraro.

What do customers say?

“From the spotless room, luxury amenities, daily in-house baked goods and beautiful grounds to the extraordinary gourmet breakfasts, the Candleberry Inn never fails to exceed expectations,” wrote one of the guests on Tripadvisor.com.

Several visitors mentioned DiDomizio and Ferraro by name, saying the hosts' attention to detail and impeccable hospitality made them come back year after year.

What is Candleberry Inn like?

Candleberry Inn in Brewster has two acres of manicured lawns, original 230-year-old sloping wooden floors, beach access, a sun deck and authentic Italian cooking. Each of the nine rooms has a private bath and its own control of the building's central air. Room amenities include Egyptian cotton sheets and eucalyptus bath bombs that lend a spa-like feel to the bathrooms, DiDomizio said.

Inn dates to 1700s; listed on National Registry of Historic Places

According to a history compiled by the innkeepers, the oldest part of Candleberry is the main house’s dining room and Seacroft Suite, circa 1780-1790. Sen. George Copeland put on the Georgian Federal style building out front in the early 1800s for his family and illustrious visitors, including rags-to-riches storyteller Horatio Alger.

From the 1870s to 1900s, sea captain Francis Foster lived in the house with his wife, Eliza Emma Winslow Foster, and their three daughters. When Foster died at sea, his widow opened a school on the property.

“The original staircase is roped off now because it is too steep to safely use. I go through there daily and I'm always looking for that sea caption. I wish he would tap me on the shoulder and say hello,” DiDomizio said, noting that Candleberry has friendly vibes but no lingering spirits as far as he knows.

Candleberry was owned from 1945-1964, by the Lund family who ran a dairy farm and provided the Cape with milk and eggs.

DiDomizio and Ferraro came to Brewster in 2016 from New York City and launched a major renovation at the inn. DiDomizio said his partner’s extensive experience as an architect working in historic restoration “drove our decision” to keep features like the sloping floors and steep central staircase, as well as original frames and cornices.

“These are beautiful buildings and we are stewards of them,” DiDomizio said.

How much does it cost to stay at Candleberry Inn?

Vacationing at Candleberry (1882 Main St., Brewster, 508-896-3300) includes a concierge service to help guests find their way to Cape attractions, most of which are only 20 to 30 minutes away, DiDomizio said. According to the website, Candleberry is pet-free and available only to children 12 and older. The $439 nightly room rate in June includes a stay in one of nine named rooms/suites and breakfast in the 1790s dining room or on the patio.

What is a typical breakfast at Candleberry Inn?

DiDomizio points to one of Candleberry’s signature “Uova in Camicia” (Eggs in Dress Shirts). True to their Italian roots, the innkeepers depend on using the best ingredients but fewer of them to produce a lighter, cleaner taste.

“Eggs in Dress Shirts” is their take on the “Eggs Benedict” (without the creamy Hollandaise sauce) found everywhere on Cape Cod.

DiDomizio shared preparation for the dish: One or two gently poached eggs over a slice of toasted rustic bread, crispy bacon, house-roasted and peeled sweet red peppers, freshly cut Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese chards, all finished with a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil. Salt and pepper to taste.

Gwenn Friss is the editor of CapeWeek and covers entertainment, restaurants and the arts. Contact her at [email protected]. Follow her or X, formerly Twitter: @dailyrecipeCCT

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Tripadvisor: Candleberry Inn in Brewster best in U.S. for second time