New Hotels in Hudson Valley & the Catskills: Reasons to Travel to Upstate New York

I've lived in New York City for 30 years, but I am still sometimes startled by the natural beauty that can be found just a few hours beyond its boroughs. Just north of the city, reachable by train or car in less than three hours, the upstate regions of the Hudson Valley and Catskill Mountains—with their emerald forests, quiet glens and wildflower-dotted meadows—are some of the most enchanting escapes. The Hudson Valley and the Catskills have long been getaways of choice for New Yorkers—drawing artists in the 1800s, with the foundation of the Hudson River School; developing sophistication in the 1920s, with the opening of resorts in the 1950s and 1960s (which were memorialized as icons of American nostalgia in Dirty Dancing); and growing their cool factor with the arrival of hippies and Woodstock, and later the wave of urban creatives who moved here from the five boroughs during the pandemic years.

Now, with a signature mix of fashion and funk, this region is attracting a new generation of discerning bons vivants, thanks to their almost overwhelming volume of charms. There are craft breweries, cideries and natural-wine bars (on my list: Subversive, Shrewd Fox, Plan Bee, Seminary Hill and Sonder—and The Maker Hotel's Carriage House for a cocktail); family-run, sustainable farm-to-table restaurants, ranging from rustic to Michelin-grade (including Arrowood Farms, Wm. Farmer and Sons, Silvia, Feast & Floret, Butterfield and The DeBruce); antique design shops, vintage clothiers, textile collectives and bookstores (Finch, Minna, Magic Hill, Nest, The Quiet Botanist, Blackcreek Mercantile & Trading Co., Spotty Dog Books and Ale, Hammertown Barn, Sundry, Rough Draft Bar & Books); bakeries, cafés, cheese shops and ice cream parlors. And, of course, there are miles of forested hiking, biking and ski trails that traverse valleys and waterfalls; lakes and the Hudson River for boating excursions; and awe-inspiring stargazing and birdwatching. There's also a new collection of chic cabin-style and design-centric boutique hotels for the next generation. These are the properties to know for your next trip.

Opened June 2025, The Six Bells is a passion project from Audrey Gelman, the founder of the cult-favorite Cobble Hill shop by the same name (and previously of The Wing). Happily perched on Main Street in the village of Rosendale—which is just south of Kingston, and less than two hours driving from the city—this historic countryside inn has just 11 unique rooms and a tavern restaurant helmed by chef Larkin Young, an alum of top Pacific Northwest kitchens like Canlis. There is also an outpost of the homewares boutique for our shoppers. Calling itself "a storybook you can sleep in," The Six Bells aims to conjure the best of New England cottagecore and Americana—in high style.

3 to Know Nearby: A quick bite at The Big Cheese Market; source Americana outfits at Clubhouse Vintage; see a film or performance at the historic, volunteer-run Rosendale Theater

Opened May 2024 within a restored former hotel in the Catskills, The Henson is an oh-so-stylish 16-room inn created by Ely and Danielle Franko in partnership with celebrated chefs Jeremiah Stone and Fabián von Hauske Valtierra, who run the on-site fine-dining restaurant, Matilda. Other elevated touches include Frette linens, Marshall speakers and Grown Alchemist bath products—but really the property is focused on savoring the area's simple pleasures.

3 to Know Nearby: Dine at the Deer Mountain Inn in Tannersville; shop for gifts, curios and antiques at Pidgin; trek to Kaaterskill Falls, North-South Lake and Sunset Rock

Opened July 2021, Inness is set on 225 acres between the Catskill and Shawangunk mountain ranges, offering a chic country escape (reminiscent of England's Heckfield Place) that combines classic charm (vintage furniture, woven rugs, wood-burning fireplaces) and contemporary appeal (natural wine lists, Aesop bath products, Scandi-minimalist palettes). Guests can choose to stay in one of the 28 freestanding cabins or in the 12-room farmhouse, and shared amenities include a Mediterranean restaurant and outdoor grill (which incorporate local, seasonal produce and ingredients from Inness' own garden), a nine-hole golf course designed by King Collins Golf, two hardcourt tennis courts, two salt water pools (and a seasonal pool bar), 60 acres of hiking trails and a 7,000-square-foot spa and gym facility.

3 to Know Nearby: Craft beer and casual bites at Arrowood Farms; browsing Rose Hill Antiques; exploration in Minnewaska State Park Preserve

Little Cat Lodge is a 14-room Alpine-inspired hotel and restaurant situated on seven acres at the base of Catamount Mountain, within a century-old lodge and local landmark formerly known as Swiss Hutte. The redesign of the property is the brainchild of James Beard award-nominated restaurateur Noah Bernamoff and New York nightlife mainstay Matt Kliegman, who recently launched Rockefeller Center hotspot Pebble Bar (in partnership with celebrity investors Justin Theroux, Pete Davidson and Nicholas Braun); they also operate the historic grocery store Otto's Market in Germantown. The pair has brought on top talent in the form of interior design firm LOVEISENOUGH (behind New York's Le Crocodile, Rule of Thirds, MáLà Project and others) and the James Beard Award-nominated executive chef Jason Bond, to helm the Tavern bar and Dining Room restaurant. Evoking a quaint chalet hidden high in the mountains of Switzerland or Italy—or a rustic cabin deep in the Berkshires—Little Cat Lodge combines romance and nostalgia with the woodsy, artsy aesthetic of the Hudson Valley. Twelve guest rooms equipped with private terraces or patios are located in the Guest House, with a pair of two-bedroom suites located in the Main House (accommodating parties of up to six in each). Lodge amenities include an outdoor swimming pool and pool bar, barrel saunas and hiking paths to the adjacent Catamount Mountain Resort (with prime ski access in the winter)—plus, it's pet-friendly. Open year round, Little Cat Lodge is a unique upstate getaway for hikers, skiers, shoppers and those simply looking for a little peace and quiet.

3 to Know Nearby: Dine at Stissing House in Pine Plains; browse the Hillsdale General Store; ski or hike at Catamount Mountain Resort

Just a 90-minute drive from New York City, tucked away amid 140 secluded acres, where the Hudson River Valley meets the foothills of the Catskills, Wildflower Farms (from the Auberge Collection, behind The Lodge at Blue Sky, Mayflower Inn and Spa, Hotel Jerome and many others) opened in September 2022, with 65 freestanding cottage-style accommodations, brought to life by architects Electric Bowery and designer Ward and Gray. A plethora of wellness and outdoor activities are on offer. Guests should be sure to make time for visits to the nearby Mohonk Preserve for hiking and rock climbing, as well as the many distilleries and wineries and art and design galleries of the area. This fall and winter, don't miss the tasting tour at Tuthilltown Distillery (to experience New York's First post-Prohibition distillery), a botanical mixology class, winter flower arranging and pressed-flower pottery-making with local Hudson Valley artists, ice climbing, farm-to-table activities like foraging, exploring the vegetable gardens and orchards (and feeding the resident chickens, and collecting their eggs, every morning), cooking classes, picnics—and, of course, finding peace and reflection among the sprawling fields of wildflowers. The rustic main restaurant, Clay, features locally sourced plates like black angus tartare with yolk and sourdough, wood-fired chicken with mushrooms, celery root with truffle and hen of the woods mushrooms with parsley.

3 to Know Nearby: Blooming Hill Farm for lunch (including great cocktails and pizza), a farm stand and workshops; shop local goods at Sybil in Beacon; hike in Mohonk Preserve

On the site of a former bluestone quarry in the Catskill Mountains, bounded by Kaaterskill Creek and stands of oak and maple trees, Piaule is a 50-acre modernist retreat—from the homewares brand and studio of the same name—focused on low-impact design and sustainability. Here, the guest experience is focused on achieving serenity and immersion in nature—with minimal interruptions from technology and the outside world. In the same vein, the service level is very casual and hands-off; Piaule is ideal for relaxed, private guests who are happy to come and go independently, while based in a uniquely beautiful setting—but guests looking for tailored, five-star attention will be disappointed. The intimate main house—which is small but striking thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows and a zinc fireplace—contains the reception and an all-day restaurant serving local fare. The 24 standalone cabins were created by Garrison Architects to emphasize natural light, organic structure and privacy, with materials like white oak and local bluestone alongside décor from Piaule and other international makers. Also of note is the spa and wellness center, which is hidden within the hillside and offers a relaxation area and tea room; a few treatment rooms for facials and massages; a bluestone steam room, cedar sauna, cold-plunge pool and heated, screened-in outdoor swimming pool; and a movement studio for reiki, sound bathing, yoga, meditation and more. Inspired by the works of James Fenimore Cooper, whose great novel The Last of the Mohicans was set in these lands, Piaule's architects have shared what they hope guests will take away from the project: "While we detached ourselves [during the 20th century] from our natural surroundings and became entitled to fossil-fueled lifestyles, we overlooked more subtle warnings that now glare in sunsets over the Catskills that are hazed by wildfire smoke from the West Coast. If we can escape our bubbles, find our transcendentalist roots, and refocus on our landscape, we might gain the ability to reprioritize, which would do more than any innovation to ameliorate our current crisis."

3 to Know Nearby: Silvia for a farm-to-table dinner; hunt for treasures at the Catskill Antique Market; visit the home and studio of the Hudson River School's founder Thomas Cole

Art- and design-lovers have never lacked reasons to visit Hudson, New York, but now there is a destination hotel to plan a trip around, too. The Maker is a jewel of a boutique hotel created by the co-founders of the beauty brand Fresh, Lev Glazman and Alina Roytberg, along with hospitality expert Damien Janowicz. Opened in August 2020 in three painstakingly restored buildings (a 19th-century Carriage House, a Georgian mansion and a Greek Revival building) and featuring just 11 individually curated guest rooms and suites, The Maker is a celebration of the bohemian and the artisanal—a haven for creators and artists.

From the four signature studios—named for The Architect, The Gardener, The Writer and The Artist—to the custom-designed furniture, lighting and decorative accents that were created for the property in collaboration with local craftsmen (and are also available for purchase), every aspect of The Maker was conceived in celebration of the creative community. The hotel also features an impressive display of artwork with unique galleries in each of the rooms and common spaces; the pieces were primarily sourced from the owners' own collection, but others were handpicked for the opening (including custom creations like a hand-painted burlap mural by Michael Allen that was inspired by the landscapes of the Hudson Valley).

The hotel's common spaces evoke the sultry, shadowed salons of La Belle Époque and 1920s Paris, with bright glints of Art Deco and industrial flair. A typical evening here should be spent curled up in a velvet or leather armchair by the fire with a glass of wine or tea in hand, reading a text selected from the large library curated in partnership with New York's The Strand bookstore. Don't miss a nightcap in the Carriage House lounge, where truly delightful details include a massive restored Belgian 1878 neoclassical fireplace, soaring wood-paneled ceilings and an inviting circular bar topped by teal and green fringed lampshades; the menu is equally impressive, with such craft creations as "The Song of the Smoke" (mezcal, yellow chartreuse, pineapple, lime, agave, cardamom) and "Kiss of the Spider Woman" (peaflower gin, combier, Lillet Blanc, lemon). On the way back to your room—or out the door the next morning—don't forget to stop in the Perfume Library for a refreshing spritz, selected from the collection of nearly 200 perfumes personally chosen by Lev Glazman. (You can also take home one, or several, of the hotel's signature scents.)

3 to Know Nearby: Lunch or dinner at Feast & Floret; shop stylish homewares and accessories at FINCH; visit Hudson River School figurehead Frederic Church's hilltop home at the Olana State Historic Site

An installment of The Ranch's signature three- and four-day fitness and wellness programs recently launched on a 200-acre lakefront estate built in 1902 by J.P. Morgan for his daughter, with access to the 4,000-acre Ringwood State Park in Hudson Valley. Programming is centered around 5:30 a.m. wake-ups, two- and four-hour hikes and afternoon workouts. For those who love health-based retreats, Indagare ambassador Jim Klaus shares a first look.

3 to Know Nearby: Dine at Valley Rock Inn & Mountain Club; explore the Water Street Market in New Paltz; cross into New Jersey to stroll in Ringwood State Park and the New Jersey Botanical Garden

• The ever-stylish Soho Farmhouse is expected to open its second location outside of the Cotswolds in Rhinebeck in 2027, on a 250-acre property within a former working farm. Restored 19th-century buildings, including a historic manor house, will contain guest rooms, several food and drink outlets, plus hiking, cycling and spa and wellness offerings. (The team behind another Indagare-favorite Cotswolds gem, Estelle Manor, is also rumored to be looking for property upstate.)
• In Mount Tremper, The Aurum is the debut project from Million Dollar Listing New York's Steve Gold and designer Samuel Amoia. It has seen major development delays—but if and when it opens, this revived historic lodge will sit on 131 mountainous acres, featuring 36 rooms, private residences and a truly singular Roman-style hammam that celebrates the ancient spa and social rituals of the imperial baths.
• Starwood's 1 Hotels brand has acquired a 775-acre property on the shores of Fifth Lake in Ulster County (a two-hour drive from Manhattan), and the resort is scheduled to open in 2028.
• One&Only will arrive in Hyde Park, also in 2028, with a 21-acre riverside resort next to the Culinary Institute of America campus. There will be approximately 60 guest rooms, cabins and suites, as well as 54 branded private residences.