* The Dean was one of the hotels honored in our first reader-nominated awards, the Greatest Hotels Ever, which was published in March 2024.
Scene
The European-style Dean hotel embodies downtown Providence’s slightly gritty, industrial charm. This 52-room boutique has everything from hostel-style bunks for friends traveling together on a budget to moody king-bed suites à la melancholic metropolitan honeymoon. Once a strip club and brothel, the Dean was remodeled in 2014 as part of an urban redevelopment project, yet kept some of the building’s original features, including the vintage cage elevator.
The Dean is part of Ash Hotels, a hotelier that also includes Peter & Paul (New Orleans), The Siren (Detroit) and Ulysses (Baltimore), among other boutique hotels, in their portfolio.
Location
The Dean is located in Providence’s DownCity historic district, which is the city center and has been significantly developed over the past 30 years. Key projects included the revitalization of the waterfront, the expansion of the Rhode Island Convention Center, and the development of public spaces.
The hotel is adjacent to the Rhode Island Convention Center and Dunkin Donuts Center. It’s also within walking distance of a variety of places of interest, including the State Capitol building, Rhode Island School of Design, Brown University, Johnson & Wales, (Providence College is about two miles away) and the Providence Performing Arts Center.
Rooms
The Dean offers a handful of different room types, each with its own vibe.
- Queen Room with Two Queen Beds: 275 square-foot room with, air conditioning, and a private bathroom
- Quadruple Room: 225 square-foot room with two bunk beds, air conditioning, and a private bathroom
- Queen Room with one queen bed: 250 square-foot room with air conditioning, and a private bathroom
- King Room with one king bed: 250 square-foot room, air conditioning, and a private bathroom
- King Suite with one king bed: 450 square-foot room, also includes one futon bed, air conditioning, and a private bathroom
- Single Room with One Double Bed: square-foot room, air conditioning, and a private bathroom
- Bunk Bed Room: 160 square-foot room with one bunk bed, air conditioning, and a private bathroom
Rates can vary based on the season and availability, but the average range is between $175 – $300 per night.
Amenities
The hotel’s amenities include a 24-hour front desk, free wi-fi, concierge, two bars/lounges, a karaoke bar and a cocktail bar. The rooms are pretty sparse, but guests will find flat-screen TVs, snack bars and toiletries. In the lobby, you can grab a locally roasted caffeine boost at Bolt coffee bar, which was voted R.I.’s best coffee roaster in 2022 by Food & Wine. Die-hard karaoke fans can belt out ’80s hits in the Boombox, the hotel’s basement karaoke bar, where the red neon decor makes it seem forever some ungodly hour of the night.
FAQs
What is the address of the hotel?
122 Fountain Street
When is check-in?
Check-in is 3:00 pm and check-out Check-out is 11:00 am.
Is the hotel pet friendly?
Yes.
What’s the deal with the karaoke lounge?
The Boombox, which is the hotel’s basement karaoke bar, was inspired by the karaoke boxes of Tokyo and Seoul, according to the hotel’s website.
Is there parking at The Dean hotel?
Yes. This Providence hotel offers self-parking for $38 (overnight). The parking area is adjacent to the hotel.
How far is Providence from New York City?
Providence is 180 miles north of NYC.
What time does The Magdalenae Room open?
The hotel’s Magdalenae Room has permanently closed.