The Ram's Head Inn
Classic 1929 country inn on Shelter Island's Ram Island with a private beach, tennis court and waterfront restaurant.
The Ram's Head Inn is a 17-room country inn on Shelter Island's Ram Island with 800 feet of private beach, a clay tennis court, a sailing dock and a beloved restaurant overlooking Coecles Harbor. A quieter, family-run alternative to The Pridwin — old-school, unpretentious and especially well-suited to multigenerational stays. The setting is some of the most peaceful on the East End; pair with a day-trip to Sparkling Pointe via the North Ferry for a low-key wine weekend.
Private beach, tennis, family-run country inn
The property
The Ram's Head Inn describes itself on its own site as sitting on 4.5 landscaped acres on Ram Island, an island off Shelter Island, with 13 guest rooms, a private beach with moorings, and a farm/sea-to-table restaurant and bar. The inn is open year-round, unlike many East End seasonal properties, and also runs an event space used for weddings and retreats. 1
Dining
The restaurant runs a full set of menus posted on the inn's site — brunch, dinner, a "Parlour" menu, a beachside lunch menu, sweets, wine and cocktail lists — served to both overnight guests and outside diners. This is a more extensive food operation than most Shelter Island inns of comparable room count. 1
Grounds and recreation
Beyond the beach and moorings, the property lists tennis, wellness ('Be Well') offerings and seasonal activity programming split into waterfront and winter categories, meaning some outdoor amenities are maintained for cold-weather stays rather than shut down for the season. 1
Getting there
Ram Island connects to the rest of Shelter Island by a short causeway, and the island itself is reached only by the North or South Ferry — there is no bridge to the mainland. Visitors combining a stay here with North Fork wine touring typically take the North Ferry to Greenport and drive from there.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
- How do I book a room at The Ram's Head Inn?
- Use the “Check availability” button on this page to compare live rates across booking partners. Weekends in the wine-tasting season (May–November) fill up first — book as far ahead as possible.
- Where is The Ram's Head Inn located?
- The Ram's Head Inn is at 108 South Ram Island Drive, Shelter Island, NY 11964, on the Shelter Island of Long Island.
- How much does it cost to stay at The Ram's Head Inn?
- The Ram's Head Inn is a upscale property in the ~$300–600/night range. Rates fluctuate by season and day of week — expect peak pricing on summer and harvest-season weekends.
- Which wineries are near The Ram's Head Inn?
- Sparkling Pointe are all within easy reach of The Ram's Head Inn, which makes it a natural base for a Shelter Island wine-tasting weekend.
- What is The Ram's Head Inn known for?
- The Ram's Head Inn is known for private beach, tennis, family-run country inn.
- What amenities does The Ram's Head Inn offer?
- Guests at The Ram's Head Inn can expect Waterfront, Private beach, Tennis, and On-site restaurant. Confirm seasonal availability when booking, especially for pools, on-site dining and shuttle services.
- What are check-in and check-out times at The Ram's Head Inn?
- Standard check-in at The Ram's Head Inn is 3:00 pm and check-out is 11:00 am. Early check-in and late check-out are subject to availability — request them at booking or call the property the morning of arrival, especially on summer and harvest-season weekends when the hotel runs at full occupancy.
- Is parking available at The Ram's Head Inn?
- The Ram's Head Inn offers on-site parking for overnight guests. It's typically complimentary at Shelter Island properties, but confirm at check-in if you're arriving with multiple vehicles or an oversized van for a wine-tour group.