Bed and Breakfast at Captain Haskell's Octagon House

Join us in the comfortable antiques-filled elegance of one of the city's finest historic whaling captain's houses. Relax in our spacious rooms with private baths, or a cozy cupola room for a truly unique architectural experience. Enjoy a leisurely breakfast in the dining room, surrounded by antiques and teapots, or in the conservatory or our old-fashioned garden.

The OCTAGON HOUSE was built in 1847-1848 by the housewright John Vinal for the master of the New Bedford whaler Mercury, Captain Fordyce Dennis Haskell and his wife Sylvia. Bays, other additions and architectural embellishments were added in the 1860s by whale oil products merchant John Hastings.

 "A delightful experience, conversation is lively; food is wonderful." - S.O., Buffalo, NY

Taste locally-caught seafood - freshness redefined! Savor zesty Portuguese cuisine. Indulge your sweet tooth with world-class European style pastries.

Day trip to Boston (70 min.) or Cape Cod (30 min.) Newport, Providence, and Plymouth are all 45 minutes away. Take the ferry to Martha's Vineyard or Cuttyhunk. (Dogs welcome aboard.)

Admire the architecture and enjoy (dog-friendly) West Island Beach in nearby Fairhaven. Discover the unspoiled villages of the "SouthCoast".

Play with your dog on Gooseberry Island, our favorite off-leash beach in New England. Good beachcombing, too!

   "We enjoyed the breakfasts very much, but most of all your great friendship." L.C., Spartanburg, SC

Sample selections from our elegant continental breakfast:

• Homemade baked specialties
• raspberry chocolate scones multi-grain Irish soda bread
• cranberry bread pudding
• assorted biscuits, scones, muffins
• Locally-baked Portuguese breads and pastries
• Fruit course (varies seasonally)
• poached pears
• broiled mango and bananas
• fruit frappes

Explore New Bedford's seafaring past and present - its authentic, still-working fishing fleet at the waterfront, and the cobbled streets of the Whaling National Historical Park.

Visit the Whaling Museum, New Bedford Art Museum, Fire Museum, Seaman's Bethel (the chapel in Moby Dick), the schooner Ernestina, the Frederick Douglas Memorial, the Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden Museum, and dramatic Fort Taber Park on Clark's Point overlooking Buzzard's Bay. Enjoy a walking tour of historic houses. Follow the Under-ground Railroad walking tour. Check out the new art scene downtown. Shop for antiques - lots of great stuff still available!