Welcome into the Heart of Provincetown
Historic INN with ENTERTAINMENT & SPa
Happenings at
We are proudly very Provincetown.
Gifford House is a local, gay-owned, vibrant cultural hub hosting events of all kinds most days and nights during our peak season: mid-May thru October. We tend to be quieter in other seasons with the exception of Holly Folly Weekend in December and New Years Eve.
See our calendar for details.
Choose to stay with us to become part of the Provincetown community.
All lively onsite venues close promptly at 1 AM.
Love Lives here
In 1858, Gifford House opened its doors as the first hotel built on outer Cape Cod for the purposes of tourism - second in the entire region. It was haled as the last stop on the cross-country stage coach — Provincetown to San Francisco — in the pre-train era. James Gifford was a visionary for the region and he himself hosted three Presidents at the Gifford House during his stewardship: Ulysses S. Grant (1874), Theodore Roosevelt (1907), and William Howard Taft (1910).
Every generation since has placed their mark on the property. By the mid 1900’s, the basement of the Gifford House became one of (if not the first) leather bars in America now known as Club Purgatory.
By the 1960’s and 1970’s, the Gifford House’s onsite theater now named the Wilde Theater, served as a launching pad for several young actors before they became Hollywood stars - most notably Al Pacino and Richard Gere.
Steven Azar became the proprietor of this legendary property in April 2023 and conducted extensive renovations and expansion projects adding outdoor programming, several stages and a full-service spa (coming Spring 2027) with the intent to safeguard the simple joys and free expression found here for generations to come.
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All the comforts you expect and then some. Boasting Provincetown magic right in the center of town
Open year-round
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A Provincetown institution since 1858, it’s the perfect spot to reunite with old friends or meet a fascinating stranger blown in from sea.
Open 5 PM - 1 AM year-round
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This theatrical speakeasy is our anything-goes, stage, event and community space.
Hosting events year-round
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This subterranean haven features nightly DJ sets, compelling you to let your hair down, and let the night do the rest.
Open until 1 AM in-season
You may have heard of us…
Follow us! IG:@gifford.house
“Stepping into the patina’d halls of this iconic inn is like embarking on a journey through time, where generations of laughter, stories, and adventures intertwine. It's a place where memories are made, and every guest becomes a character in the ongoing saga of this remarkably unique, queer destination…”
Bryan, Inn Guest from LA
“Well, thankfully there’s nothing cookie cutter about it. Gifford House is definitely worth experiencing and makes me want to move to PTown.”
Sam, Inn Guest from Upstate NY