Hotel Albatross breathes new life into a Victorian mansion in Ocean Grove, New Jersey.
Originally built in 1881, the four-story property has been reimagined by New York-based interior designer Mapa Mueller. The transformation introduces larger guestrooms and suites, a cozy lobby, a coffee bar offering Balthazar pastries, and the town’s first elevator.
Victorian charm meets modern quirks
Guests enter through the lobby, where clashing floral prints, antique finds, and offbeat accents reflect the hotel’s playful spirit. Mueller’s design concept embraces elements of the 19th-century structure, layering timeworn arches and crown molding with bold new gestures.
A salvaged mirror, a family heirloom from the property’s 1950s chapter, anchors the space, while a rotating retail nook—styled with personal pieces from filmmaker Julian C. Hamer—adds a contemporary layer. Hamer’s influence also extends to the Julian Suite, a first-floor accommodation defined by an unfussy, quietly confident aesthetic.
Throughout Hotel Albatross, rich woods, layered textures, and whimsical touches—like hidden doors, mismatched runners, and cheeky wallpaper—balance coziness with irreverence. Custom toile patterns, for instance, are punctuated with playful motifs (like skateboarders and BMX riders), a wink to modern life against a Victorian backdrop.
Art at Hotel Albatross
The hotel’s curated art program blends history and contemporary culture. The collection spans photography by Shawn Zappo and Nick Kiefer, archival imagery from the Library of Congress, construction photography, and press clippings that narrate the building’s storied past.
Guestrooms with an Ocean Grove spirit
Set across four floors, Hotel Albatross’ 27 guestrooms (including two suites) lean into the seaside setting with design details that nod to the Jersey Shore. Wood paneling extends up walls and ceilings to echo the boardwalk, while rainfall showers with vintage towel-inspired tiling add a touch of whimsy.
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