Seaside Hospitality Since 1816
Congress Hall was established in 1816 by founder Thomas H. Hughes, a prominent Cape May businessman. Originally called "The Big House", the hotel was renamed in honor of Hughes' election to Congress in 1828. Now in its third century, this grand resort features the simple pleasures of the past with the modern luxuries we enjoy today.
A stay at Congress Hall is designed around the simple pleasures of a classic American seaside vacation. Here, we believe that hospitality means more than just a room for the night. It means complimentary chairs, towels and umbrellas waiting for you down on the beach; delicious on-property dining for you to treat yourself to; health and wellness classes like yoga every morning; and family activities from sunup to sundown—all to create new memories and traditions with the ones you love.
Located in the heart of Victorian Cape May, it's the perfect place to spend your New Jersey beach vacation. Whatever the season, you will be delighted by the array of choices that make it easy to fill your days and nights. Relax in a private beach tent, lounge by the pool, or sit on a rocking chair overlooking the Grand Lawn.
Rooms
View AccommodationsPhoto
Gallery
View Photo Gallery
Explore Congress Hall
Dining & Cocktails
From the Blue Pig Tavern, to the Boiler Room, to the Brown Room—Congress Hall is home to some of the most celebrated restaurants and lounges in Cape May, New Jersey.
View DiningThe Sea Spa
The Sea Spa at Congress Hall is a full-service day spa. This guest favorite is a haven of simple pleasures, featuring treatments inspired by the rhythms of the ocean.
View Sea SpaTommy's Folly
What's vacation without a little shopping? Check out Tommy's Folly, a charming Café, Logo Shop and Boutique filled with Cape May finds and chic treasures for men, women and children.
View Tommy's FollyResort Amenities
Packages & Special Offers
Classic American Summer
Available through October 13, 2024
Join us in Cape May for an American beach vacation at its best. Book our 'Classic American Summer' package and enjoy a two-day summer beach tent rental, and a daily Resort Credit—included in your stay.
Long summer days spent by the sea. Sun and crashing surf; the gentle chirp of gulls; the salty breeze gently rustling the pages of your bestseller. It's a beautiful scene in Cape May, where white-sand beaches and Victorian charm combine to create the perfect seaside escape. You'll love a luxurious day lingering in one of our striped Beach Tents, the ultimate summertime luxury.
Included in this package:
- Deluxe Overnight Accommodations
- 2-Day Beach Tent Rental, including two lounge chairs, plush beach towels, and a cooler filled with water and soft drinks
- Daily $50 Resort Credit
Book Now
Congress Hall Beach Plum Farm The Sandpiper The Star Beach ShackFor Personalized Service or to book Congress Place Sites Please Call (855) 290-8467
Promo Code: TENT
Terms and conditions apply. See the Reservations Website for complete details.
Stay Enhancement:
Surfing Lessons at Cove BeachAvailable Saturdays from September 6 through October 28, 2024
Learn to ride the waves in Cape May with an expertly-led surfing lesson! This experience is available as a Stay Enhancement for stays at Congress Hall.
Join Cape May’s vibrant surfing culture for a weekend, where you’ll be treated to a customized surfing lesson in the waters of Cove Beach. Take to the water with instructors from our partners at EcoVentures, who will teach you how to ride the waves at your own pace and comfort level. Our sister property, the Beach Shack, will serve as the base camp for this exciting experience.
This experience can be added to your overnight stay at Congress Hall as a Stay Enhancement.
Included in this Stay Enhancement:
- A 1.5 Hour Customized Surfing Lesson on the Saturday morning of your stay, led by an expert instructor at a 3 to 1 guest-to-instructor ratio
- Use of a 9 foot or 10 foot Surf Board, as well as a Leash, Wax and Wetsuit
- A light breakfast on the morning of your lesson
This experience is family-friendly! Anyone age 8+ who is able to swim can take the surfing lesson.
To learn more about our surfing instruction partner, EcoVentures, visit EcoVenturesUS.com.
Book Congress Hall
Reserve Online Call to Book: 1 (888) 944-1816
Please note: our Surf Camp Stay Enhancement includes a surfing lesson for one (1) guest. Additional guests can be added to your reservation at the time of booking.
Stay Enhancement:
Sweet Amalia Oyster Farm ExcursionsAvailable Tuesday, September 17 and Tuesday, October 29, 2024
Set out to the storied banks of the Delaware Bay for a hands-on tour and oyster tasting at Sweet Amalia Oyster Farm. This experience is available as a Stay Enhancement for stays at Congress Hall.
“It’s a gritty, dirty, muddy job, and perhaps you have to be just a little bit crazy to do it. But there’s also a romance to this work," says Lisa Calvo, owner of Sweet Amalia Oyster Farm.
For three decades, most recently with Rutgers University, Lisa studied shellfish pathology, helping to develop oysters resistant to disease. As a side hustle, she launched Sweet Amalia, which was named for her daughter, who, as a toddler, would slurp oysters straight off the reef. The project began as a learning laboratory for studying aquaculture so that Calvo might better assist other farmers, but, a couple of years ago, it became her full-time occupation. Now, on a six-acre, intertidal plot located off of Route 47, Calvo and her team harvest approximately 3,000 oysters per season.
Experience the world of oyster farming firsthand with a deluxe getaway in Cape May that pairs hard work with fine tastes. On the storied banks of the Delaware Bay, you'll receive a shucking lesson and an oyster tasting led by Sweet Amalia's experienced oyster farmers.
Included in our Sweet Amalia Oyster Farm Excursion:
- An In-Depth Tour and Hands-On Oyster Shucking Lesson at Sweet Amalia Oyster Farm
- An Oyster Tasting and Picnic Lunch at Sweet Amalia Oyster Farm
- Shuttle transportation to and from the oyster farm.
In addition to our oyster farm excursion, we invite you to enhance your stay with:
- A Delicious Oyster-Themed Dinner at The Ebbitt Room on Tuesday evening, featuring a menu prepared by Executive Chef Jason Hanin
Book Congress Hall
Reserve Online: September 17 Reserve Online: October 29 Call to Book: 1 (888) 944-1816
This excursion is hosted by Congress Hall's sister property, the Virginia Hotel.
Jazz Festival Getaway
Available October 24 through 26, 2024
The famed Exit Zero Jazz Festival returns this Fall to Cape May! Book our Jazz Fest Getaway package to enjoy deluxe accommodations, two Three-Day VIP Jazz Festival tickets, two Exit Zero Jazz Festival wine glasses, and daily breakfast each morning of your stay.
Included in this package:
- Deluxe Overnight Accommodations
- Two VIP Tickets to the Exit Zero Jazz Festival*
- Two Exit Zero Jazz Festival keepsake Wine Glasses
- Breakfast each morning of your stay**
Fall Festival: October 24 through 26, 2024
Book Congress Hall Book The Star Book The Sandpiper Book The VirginiaTo learn more about this year's Exit Zero Jazz Festivals, visit ExitZeroJazzFestival.com.
*VIP pass provide entry to Exit Zero Jazz Festival. VIP pass provides first-come, first-served access to VIP reserved seat sections all performances on the Main Stage in Cape May Convention Hall. VIP Pass provides access to VIP Lounge in Cape May Convention Hall with complimentary water, coffee, tea, fruit, and grab and go snacks. VIP Pass provides first-come, first-served entry into all Festival stages, tents, and participating club venues. VIP Pass will be waiting for you at check-in to your Cape Resorts stay. After purchasing your VIP Passes, please contact Exit 0 International Jazz Festival to reserve your seats as each show has different times by calling 609-849-9202. Tickets cannot be refunded if reservation is cancelled within 21 days prior to arrival date of reservation.
**Breakfast for Two available for each reserved room night.
Reservations at Congress Hall, The Star and The Sandpiper receive a $20 Breakfast Credit for use at the Blue Pig Tavern per each reserved room night. Credit must be signed to your guest room to be applied. No cash value.
Reservations at The Virginia receive Continental Breakfast per each reserved room night. No cash value.
Sea Spa Retreat
Available for Midweek Stays this Spring and Fall
Indulge and unwind with our Sea Spa Retreat, featuring deluxe overnight accommodations and a credit to the Congress Hall Sea Spa.
Sea Spa relaxation at rates to feel great about
For a limited time, receive a $100 Sea Spa Credit included with your midweek stay at Congress Hall, the Star, and the Congress Place Suites.
Book Now
Book Congress Hall Book The Star Inn Book Congress Place SuitesFor Personalized Service Please Call (609) 884-6543
This offer is available for midweek stays on select dates through November 21, 2023
Fall Murder Mystery Weekend at Congress Hall
Available Friday, November 1 through Sunday, November 3, 2024
Join us for a fall Murder Mystery getaway at Congress Hall! Spend a two-night stay with us and watch the mystery unfold as you experience three days filled with riddles, clues and a whodunit that will keep you guessing until the very end.
From costumes and storylines to humor and problem solving, our partners at Murder Café will be sure to entertain and surprise guests. The performance is broken up over 4 acts and three days, and it is up to you to solve the crime!
Included in this package:- Deluxe Overnight Accommodations at Congress Hall
Our fall Murder Mystery theme:
Haunted High School Reunion
Our Murder Mystery weekend will feature a "haunted high school reunion" theme! From cheerleaders to jocks of all generations, we encourage you to dress the part.
It's 2024, and Belfry High School is hosting their 20th reunion for the graduating class of 2004. Only problem is, the invitations didn't just go out to the 2004 class. When did that teacher last teach a class, one hundred years ago? What about that hippie? Wasn’t he at Woodstock in 1969? That actor looks like they just stepped off of a Vaudeville stage. That jock isn't anyone you've ever seen before. They definitely didn't graduate with you. Well, whoever these ghouls are, they definitely brought drama back from the dead. It seems that everyone is still holding grudges from high school, and someone may be left fighting for their afterlife. Try to find your nametag at the door, and get ready for a high school reunion unlike any you've ever attended...
Sold Out
Our Fall Murder Mystery Weekend is sold out! Please call our Reservations Team to be added to our waitlist: 1 (888) 944-1816
We invite you to join us for a Murder Mystery Weekend at The Pridwin Hotel and Cottages, our sister property on Shelter Island, New York! Built in 1927, the Pridwin's timeless feel and waterfront location make it an ideal host for classic Murder Mystery fun. Click here to learn more about The Pridwin's Murder Mystery weekend.
Fall Girls' Getaway at Congress Hall
Available from September 16 through November 27, 2024
Celebrate the women in your life with a fall girlfriends' getaway to Cape May! Book our Girlfriends' Getaway package to enjoy cocktails, boutique shopping, and Sea Spa relaxation.
“It’s been too long”. Your eyes light up as you arrive to Cape May, where you’ll meet up with the people in your life who—despite busy schedules—make it feel like no time has passed. Celebrate those meaningful friendships with a deluxe escape filled with delicious cocktails, boutique shopping, and some time spent at the Sea Spa.
Your crew will love the historic charm of Congress Hall, where every stay is filled with thoughtful amenities and simple pleasures. Head down for a cocktail in the Brown Room, where drinks are crafted with care and the light glows just right. Then, after dinner, a night of dancing in The Boiler Room is always a good idea...
Included in this package:
- Deluxe Overnight Accommodations at Congress Hall
- Welcome Cocktails for your group at the Brown Room
- A Spa Treatment at Congress Hall's Sea Spa
- A $50 Shopping Credit at Tommy's Folly Boutique for each member of your group
Book Your Stay
Book Congress Hall Online Call: (888) 944-1816Please Note: Online reservations for Our Girls' Getaway package default to two (2) guests. Additional guests can be added to your reservation as a Stay Enhancement at the time of booking.
Subject to availability and change. Restrictions may apply. Packages cannot be combined to existing offers. Packages cannot be applied to existing reservations. Packages cannot be applied to wedding or group blocks.
Thankful for Cape May
Available Wednesday, November 27
through Sunday, December 2, 2024
Celebrate Thanksgiving in classic American style with a buffet in the Congress Hall Ballroom!
Where better to celebrate Thanksgiving than at America's Original Seaside Resort? Stay with us in Cape May, and enjoy a holiday as relaxed as it is tasteful. Our team has prepared a delicious Thanksgiving buffet special for the occasion, complete with classic Thanksgiving favorites—plus a few fun twists—all prepared with fresh ingredients from Beach Plum Farm.
Included in this package:
- Deluxe Overnight Accommodations in Cape May
- Welcome Cocktails for Two in the Brown Room, to get in the spirit
- Thanksgiving Buffet Dinner for Two in the Congress Hall Ballroom
Promo Code: THANKS
For personalized reservation service, please call a Reservations Specialist toll-free at (855) 290-8467.
Terms and conditions apply. See the Reservations Website for complete details
A Cape May Christmas
Available Tuesday, December 24 through Sunday, December 29, 2024
Experience the charm of a Cape May Christmas, and enjoy a delicious buffet dinner in the Grand Ballroom of Congress Hall.
Cape May is a magical destination throughout the holiday season, and it all culminates with a traditional Christmas in the Congress Hall Ballroom, with festive dining and merry music.
Included in this package:
- Deluxe Overnight Accommodations in Cape May
- Welcome Cocktails for Two in the Brown Room, to get in the spirit
- Christmas Day Buffet Dinner for Two in the Ballroom at Congress Hall
Promo Code: CHRISTMAS
For personalized reservation service, please call a Reservations Specialist toll-free at (855) 290-8467.
Terms and conditions apply. See the Reservations Website for complete details.
Glitter Ball Getaway 2024
Available Monday, December 30, 2024
through Wednesday, January 1, 2025
Ring in 2024 in the elegance and style of Congress Hall's Glitter Ball! From the Lobby to the Ballroom, our grand seaside hotel will be decorated exquisitely—the perfect setting in which to spend a night in your finery, with a glass of champagne in your hand.
The Glitter Ball at Congress Hall is the ultimate New Year's Eve party, and you're invited! Black Tie is optional (but encouraged and celebrated) at this marvelous soirée. Dance the night away with your sweetheart and, after the clock strikes midnight and the last drink is poured, take the elevator home to a deluxe guest room or suite at Congress Hall. Or, enjoy a few minutes of fresh seaside air as you walk back to one of our neighboring Cape May hotels.
Included in this package:
- Deluxe Overnight Accommodations in Cape May
- Welcome Party Favors in your Guest Room
- New Year's Eve Glitter Ball Tickets for Two
- Breakfast in the Blue Pig Tavern on New Year's Day
- A Recovery Kit for Two with everything you need to bounce back on New Year's Day: energy juice, bottled water and aspirin
Promo Code: GLITTER
For personalized reservation service, please call a Reservations Specialist toll-free at (855) 290-8467.
Terms and conditions apply. See the Reservations Website for complete details.
Rise, Shine & Relax with Daily Breakfast
Available Year Round
Rise, Shine & Relax and leave the rest to us. Enjoy deluxe overnight accommodations and a farm-to-table breakfast in the Blue Pig Tavern each morning of your stay.
There's nothing like waking up in picturesque Cape May, especially when you have a delicious breakfast waiting for you! You'll love our Chef's selections this season like fluffy buttermilk pancakes, fresh omelets and breakfast sandwiches, all made using fresh ingredients from Beach Plum Farm.
Your package includes:
- Deluxe Accommodations
- Breakfast in the Blue Pig Tavern*
BOOK NOW
Congress Hall The Star The SandpiperFor Personalized Service Please Call 855-290-8467
An Evening To Remember
Available Year Round
Escape with your special someone to the Virginia Hotel & Cottages or Congress Hall. Book our Evening to Remember package to enjoy an intimate evening of dining by candlelight in the Ebbitt Room.
Plan a grand romantic weekend, or a cozy midweek escape—whatever the milestone, we will provide the gracious touch and exceptional service that ensure indelible memories.
Your romantic getaway includes:
Virginia Hotel & Cottages
- Deluxe Accommodations
- Dinner for two in the Ebbitt Room*
- Continental Breakfast for two each morning
- Complimentary Valet Parking
Book now
the Virginia Hotel The Red CottageCongress Hall
- Deluxe Accommodations
- Dinner for two in the Ebbitt Room*
- Complimentary Valet Parking
Book now
Congress HallPromo Code: EBBITT
After booking your overnight stay, please make your dinner reservation by calling the Ebbitt Room at (609) 884-5700.
*Terms and conditions apply. See the Reservations Website for full details.
Dinner in the Tavern
Available Year Round
Enjoy a classic and comfortable evening of American dining in the convivial ambiance of The Blue Pig Tavern at Congress Hall!
Known for hearty all-American favorites, The Blue Pig Tavern's name derives from a gambling parlor sited in Congress Hall in the mid-1800s. Earlier still, in the 1700s, Elias Hughes operated a tavern for whalers on this site. It was the first tavern in Cape May. Today, we offer timeless classics and new seasonal delights with ingredients that are always farm-fresh.
Included in this package:- Deluxe Accommodations in Cape May
- An Evening of Dining in The Blue Pig Tavern at Congress Hall
For Personalized Service Please Call (855) 290-8467
The Benjamin
Available Year Round
The Benjamin
As a Founding Father of the United States and face of the one hundred dollar bill even Ben would light up with a $100 resort credit!
With The Benjamin package you will enjoy wonderful accommodations, and $100 resort credit with the freedom to choose how to spend it. From a delicious farm-to-table dinner in the Ebbitt Room to classic comfort food at The Blue Pig Tavern, cocktails in the Brown Room, relaxation in the Sea Spa, coffee and lite-bites from Tommy’s Folly or Happy Hour at the Rusty Nail. Now, it’s easier than ever with signing privileges throughout all of the Cape Resorts Group Properties in Cape May. How will you spend your Benjamin?
Book Now
Book Congress Hall Book The Star Inn Book Congress Place SuitesFor Personalized Service Please Call (855) 290-8467
Congress Hall
Weddings
Learn More
Meetings
& Events
Learn More
Since 2012, Congress Hall has been honored by Condé Nast Traveler as one of the top US hotels in the Northeast and was recently awarded a spot on Condé Nast Traveler's Reader’s Choice Awards Top 20 Hotels in the Mid-Atlantic and New York. Congress Hall is also awarded with Tripadvisor's Certificate of Excellence. Most recently, Congress Hall was named to the 2021 Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards.
200 CONGRESS PLACE
CAPE MAY, NEW JERSEY 08204
(609) 884-8421
it’s easy to find us
Cape May is easily accessible from the Garden State Parkway and the Cape May-Lewes Ferry. The hotel is located in the heart of the Historic District, right across the street from the beach and the Washington Street Mall.
Valet Parking is provided. Please pull up in front of the hotel and an attendant will assist you with your luggage and car.
From Google Maps:
View Google Map & Enter Your Starting PointFrom Specific Points
From The Garden State Parkway | From The Cape May Lewes Ferry | From New York | From Washington/Baltimore | From Philadelphia