Perched above Bay Bulls harbour with unbroken Atlantic views from every room, this intimate inn sits directly on the East Coast Trail at the gateway to the Irish Loop. La Roca, the restaurant inside, serves Galician-influenced set menus around a communal table using Newfoundland seafood and local produce, and was long-listed among Air Canada enRoute's best new restaurants in 2024. Puffin and whale-watching boats leave from the harbour below. St. John's is 30 minutes north. The combination of serious coastal hiking, a chef-driven kitchen, and proximity to the capital makes it a useful base on the Avalon Peninsula.