11 Best Boutique Hotels in Upstate New York

After a long two years being spent practically indoors, New Yorkers are looking for a safe but excellent escape close by. And what could be better than Upstate New York? Picture this: The flame-colored orange, yellow and red leaves, pubs doling out toasty spiced drinks, a chill that sees fashionable attire being brought out. Add to that the apple orchards, quaint towns, oodles of social distancing, and a slew of boutique design hotels, and you know that Upstate New York is where you should be. Whether it’s the Hudson Valley or Catskills in NY, boutique hotels in Upstate New York are changing the name of the game. From lake homes in Finger Lakes and mountain houses in the Adirondacks or the Catskills to historic Hudson Valley properties, there’s no dearth of amazing places to stay.

What was once dominated by grandeur lakeside and ski resorts are now balanced by singular offerings in cozy cabins, refurbished motels, and stripped-down farmhouses. So, what are you waiting for? Pack the most fashionable items in your wardrobe and head to these 11 best boutique hotels in Upstate New York.

Eastwind Hotel and Bar, Windham

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The boutique Windham hotel Eastwind Hotel and Bar also happens to be one of the Best Boutique Hotels in Hudson Valley. A Lithuanian/German couple co-owns this 1920s-era Scandic-chic lodge, which sits on secluded, lush acres. Choose between traditional rooms and A-frame cabins or lushnas, which are Scandinavian-style glamping units. The cabins are romantic as hell with Macramé wall hangings and vintage Turkish rugs. All in all, it makes for one hygge-inducing, cozy ambiance. What’s more, the hotel also has an outdoor sauna for soaking your stress away, picnic tables, and even fire pits. In the evening, they deliver mulled wine and a s’mores kit delivered to your personal fire pit – so romantic! During the day, laze on the hammocks or indulge in outdoor yoga.

The best bit is that the bar in the main building serves not only drinks but huge and delicious breakfasts too! Think rolls, fresh-baked pastries, granola, fruit, yogurt, jams, eggs, coffee, milk, and OJ. It’s no wonder that this is one of the most popular boutique hotels in Upstate New York.

Hotel Tivoli, Broadway

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Owned and run by the Marden pair of painters, Hotel Tivoli is one of the prettiest boutique hotels in Upstate NY. Both owners are a big deal in the art world, so when they gave the hotel a vibrant makeover, it included a whole lot of Insta-worthy nooks. Think intricate paintings, whimsical lighting, and eclectic furniture all over, along with a unique purple tint to the wooden floors. The 100-year-old hotel has just 11 rooms, making your stay as intimate and exclusive as it gets. What’s more, they’re all chic and modern with slabs of marble and bright colors. When they re-did the hotel, the pair also re-did the Corner Restaurant, which now serves Mediterranean-inspired fare with local flair. Plus, they also dish out inventive cocktails designed by the team behind the NYC bar “Employees Only.” Finally, the hotel even has its own corner store selling local, and artisan finds.

Brentwood Hotel, Saratoga Springs

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Brentwood Hotel is one of the most stunning boutique hotels in Upstate New York. The hotel lies right next to the oldest racetrack in America, the historic and iconic Saratoga racecourse. Formerly a motel, the building was refurbished by Brooklyn-based Studio Tack, which is also the team behind the popular Scribner’s Catskills Lodge and the cute Public-Supply notebooks. So, you’ll find a lot of subtle equestrian nods all over. What’s more, your stay also includes free use of the Linus bikes for exploring the mineral springs and the town and complimentary coffee in the hotel lobby. There’s even an outdoor area for relaxing by the fire pit while sipping on cocktails. However, it’s the rooms and suites that’ll blow your mind. The brass-and-blue are impeccably groomed, complete with antique finds from local markets, Persian rugs, Sharktooth textiles, and Billykirk leathers.

The Roundhouse, Beacon

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The Roundhouse is one of the most inclusive boutique hotels in Upstate NY; it even has facilities and rooms for guests who’re physically challenged. The Hudson Valley hotel boasts year-round charm and is perfect for minimalists who enjoy unobstructed views of the surroundings. Rooms and suites at this former dye mill-turned-boutique Upstate Ny hotel feature a rustic-meets-modernist look, with floating plush wooden beds and wrought-silver lamps. If you’re here for a romantic staycation, then splurge for a room with a circular tub overlooking the window. It’s perfect for long, romantic bathtimes. Moreover, both the morning breakfast and the evening cocktail taste better when you’re sitting next to the roaring fire at the hotel bar on a handmade wooden chair. Aside from the cocktail, the seasonal dishes such as pumpkin puree, scallops, and shishito peppers are amazing!

Wm. Farmer & Sons, Hudson

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Wm. Farmer & Sons is one of the most iconic and historic boutique hotels in Upstate New York. The hotel is nestled in a brilliant white 19th-century corner building in Hudson and was even a grocery in a former life. Today, you can choose from 13 rooms and suites across three structures. Moreover, they’re all decked out in a cozy, dark, and sensual color scheme with gas stove fireplaces, clawfoot tubs (wink, wink!), and rich wooden accents. This labor of love is also home to the extremely popular farm-to-table restaurant, complete with brass lighting fixtures and original stone and exposed brick walls. One of the standout features at this hotel is that since the refurbishment saw materials being sourced from many different time periods, the hotel has no color. Instead, the myriad, stunning textures balance themselves out.

Mirror Lake Inn and Spa, Lake Placid

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Offering traditional luxury but with a classic small-resort feel, the Mirror Lake Inn and Spa is one of the best boutique hotels in Upstate NY. Located hardly five minutes from downtown Lake Placid, this stunning hotel boasts elegant rooms and suites with views of the lake. Decked out in neutral hues, they also boast traditional furnishings such as private balconies, fireplaces, and four-poster beds. In fact, one of the most heavenly things to do here is cozying up in the huge, cozy chairs next to the fire in the rooms. Furthermore, the resort offers a slew of organized activities. These include yoga classes, cross-country skiing, snowshoe outings, guided hikes, kayaking, fishing trips, sunset cruises – you name it, they have it.

As the name suggests, there’s a decadent full-service spa on the property, where a massage or a body treatment needs to be followed by a dip in the indoor jacuzzi. Or, you could also cool off in the lovely pool and take a walk in the gardens. Rounding up the amenities are the three onsite restaurants, which earn high marks for their food.

Woodstock Way Hotel

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The sustainable and contemporary Woodstock Way Hotel is one of the most eco-friendly boutique hotels in Upstate New York. Set on a lushly verdant and wooded property with a waterfall and a stream, this casual boutique hotel is within walking distance of the town center. The rooms and suites are filled with artwork and boast a retro vibe, featuring vinyl records and turntables. What’s more, they come with terraces or balconies, with heated floors providing much-needed warmth during cold New York winters. If you go for the rustic-chic cabins, they even have sitting areas, kitchens, and wood-burning stoves of fireplaces, perfect for a group of four people. Despite being a boutique hotel, Woodstock even offers in-room massages. Rounding up the amenities is a cool cafe that features music-themed art.

Hotel The Roxbury

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Hotel The Roxbury is one of the most eclectic boutique hotels in Upstate NY. Nestled along the East Branch Delaware River, the hotel features the funkiest rooms and suites in the region, all riddled with pop culture themes. Think films, cartoons, and TV shows from the 1960s and 1970s! Moreover, they also have mod-cons such as flatscreen TVs, DVD players, free Wi-Fi, coffeemakers, microwaves, and minifridges. If you choose one of the upgraded rooms, they also add soaking tubs, sofa beds, and kitchenettes, perfect for those who want to stay for a longer time. Plus, the suites offer a full kitchen and separate living rooms. Do you want to splurge on a unique stay? Get the three-bedroom, archaeology-themed house!

Aside from complimentary continental breakfast and parking, the property even has a spa with two treatment rooms, a sauna, and a hot tub. Also, did we mention that it lights up in all different hued vibrant lights as darkness falls? Yes!

Stewart House Hotel, Athens

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If you love your stays to have history, then Stewart House Hotel is one of the loveliest boutique hotels in Upstate New York. Tucked in the sleepy little town of Athens directly on the Hudson River, this hotel can even be arrived at by ferry! Choose from nine elegant guest rooms at this architectural gem of an Italianate hotel, which dates back to 1883. Moreover, they all strike a balance between comfort and luxury and feature original exposed brick walls, huge old-time windows, and mod-cons such as plush beds and TVs. In fact, some rooms even add deep-soaking, freestanding bathtubs. What’s more, the hotel has not one but two ‘restaurants;’ one is a circa 1883 tavern that dishes out craft cocktails! The other is a riverfront bar and grill farmed by majestic willow trees, which is the perfect place for date night.

Hasbrouck House

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Hasbrouck House is one of the most historic boutique hotels in Upstate NY. The utterly enchanting inn is set in a restored 18th-century stone Dutch Colonial mansion, complete with a carriage house and a stable. This chic hotel, which sits midway between Woodstock and Kingston, boasts airy rooms with hardwood floors. They also feature vintage-style furnishings, designer bath products, Italian Frette linens, free Wi-Fi, iPod docks, and HDTVs. The cherry on top is that some rooms and suites even offer fireplaces, private terraces, and soaking tubs! So, if you’re looking to splurge, then that’s what you should get. Plus, room service is available in all rooms as it is, making this a wonderful place for a staycation.

But, that’s not all. There’s also a wonderful farm-to-table restaurant on the property that serves all meals. Wellness is a focus here, with a spa that also dishes out private yoga sessions, besides massages and body treatments. Other amenities include a stone patio for sipping coffee and wine, a colorful lounge, and an outdoor pool.

Spa City Motor Lodge, Saratoga Springs

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We know what you’re thinking; a motor lodge as one of Upstate New York’s best boutique hotels? But we implore you to check out the Spa City Motor Lodge, which is worth the extra half an hour’s drive from the Hudson Valley. This Saratoga Springs vintage motor lodge is the first hotel by the brand-new “boutique roadside lodge” brand Bluebird by Lark. Choose from 42 rooms and suites, which sit around a shared indoor courtyard space. It’s also where you’ll see a swish coffee bar (thank god for coffee all day long) and communal seating for mingling.

The rooms and suites are inspired by old-school Americana, with white walls featuring splashes of jewel-tone color. Add to that modern, design-forward furniture and eclectic artwork, and you know that its name belies its character. Since all rooms face the glass-topped atrium, lashings of sunlight pour in the morning via a tall frosted-glass door. Offering privacy and light, this is one of the rarer original mid-century motels.

Recommended Restaurants/Bar in Upstate New York

• Swoon Kitchen Bar: The 16-year-old restaurant serves locally-inspired, French-style menu, complete with a French wine list and a wood-fired oven. The menu is divided into many categories such as a burger specials, a main menu (think seared duck breast, pate, etc), and a Crab Shack Menu (Maryland crab soup, Rhode Island oysters).
• The Wishing Well: This cozy Gansevoort restaurant in Saratoga county has been around since 1936, but the actual structure dates back to 1823! Today, it has wood-walled dining rooms and fieldstone fireplaces, with live music playing at the fireside piano bar, where bartenders dish out old-school cocktails. Later on, dig into a three-course select-your-own prix fixe American dinner.

Recommended Things To Do in Upstate New York

• Hudson River Sightseeing Cruise from Albany: If you’re staying around Albany, then there’s no way better to explore the region that this Hudson River sightseeing cruise. The Dutch Apple II takes you for a 90-minute ride along the Hudson River with a historian narrating interesting facts about the region’s history and sharing anecdotes. Bring binoculars or cameras along to spot birds and local fauna and for enjoying views of the historic houses and lush nature lining the riverbanks.

Where To Stay in Upstate New York

Not surprisingly, Upstate New York is a huge place with many main cities and smaller towns that lie along the Hudson. So, where should you stay? First up is Catskills, which has easy access from New York City and is the most popular destination around here. You can explore not only cute towns such as Woodstock but also spend the day sightseeing and hiking. Next up is the Adirondacks, which are more remote than the Catskills, making them perfect for a rustic vacation. Did you know that the word ‘vacation’ actually comes from the Adirondacks? Yes! Plus, the Adirondacks Park is the largest protected area in the country – a whopping 6 million acres huge! 

Thirdly, there’s the stunning Hudson Valley, which is particularly beautiful in the fall. What’s more, the place has an incredible food and drink scene, especially in quaint towns such as Warwick. Nature lovers will love Finger Lakes, which is all about water fun. Think activities such as boating, fishing, swimming in waterfalls, and indulging in libations in the many wineries along Seneca Lake. Did you know that one of the World’s Most Amazing Waterfalls, Niagara Falls lies just two hours from Finger Lakes? Yes! It’s also one of the Top Tourist Attractions In The USA, so you might want to make time for the same. Finally, there’s Saratoga, which is for those interested in the arts and entertainment.