For many, work life doesn’t look how it did even ten years ago. A lot of us are now finding ourselves with greater flexibility in how, where, and when we focus in. Working from home comes with its own batch of luxuries and snags. It can be very freeing to step away from domestic distractions and daily to-dos, clearing space and time for meaningful reflection and deeper work. Particularly those in creative roles will undoubtedly appreciate the change of pace which comes with leaving the city behind for a few nights in fresh environs. Sometimes that’s all it takes to unlock new ways of looking at a project or the clarity of mind required to take your pursuits to the next level.
To this end, we’ve gathered five fabulous hotels within a 2.5-hour drive from New York City. They’re all located within the tranquillity of the Catskills, and offer uniquely wonderful conditions for finding peace and productivity. Read on for a brief intro to our top upstate New York retreats…
The Henson is the sort of classically quaint inn you’d expect to find in the Hudson Valley, with a refreshed design aesthetic and slightly youthful sensibility. This boutique hotel has a lovely warmth and intimacy to it, with only 16 rooms. A range of formats ensure solo travellers can scale back to suit their needs if desired. It’s also got particularly wonderful common spaces for working, with many nooks to try out over the course of your stay. Nearby hiking trails are the cherry on top, helping to set you off on the right foot if you’re a think-while-you-walk type.
If you’re looking for a place to get seriously productive during the day, earning yourself a social nightcap at the end of it, Camptown could strike the perfect balance. This bolthole tends to attract a creative crowd from New York, so stimulation and conversation will be there if you want it. If you’re more in the mood to focus in, simply retreat to your own cabin. You can even drop by the hotel’s honesty bar, complete with a beautifully stocked fridge in case you’d rather graze as your work than make an event of dinner. We would, however, recommend you make it to their Mexican restaurant, Casa Susanna on at least one occasion. It’s a worthwhile highlight which even locals can’t resist.
Wildflower Farms is part of the Auberge Collection – a fact which, to some, will prove convincing enough on its own. If you’re familiar with their properties, you’ll know to expect warmth, character, and an easy sense of comfort extending across all touchpoints. It’s well removed from the hum of any highway, with an air of tranquillity extending over its 141 acres. A working farm on the property heightens the sense that one is worlds away from the city and its attendant responsibilities. Start your day with an outdoor shower at your private cabin, then get down to your tasks in their covered outdoor lounge overlooking majestic mountains. Work doesn’t really feel like work in this sort of environment.
Piaule Catskill is a natural choice for New Yorkers with a particular appreciation for design. Their beautifully minimalist treehouses alone are reason enough to book, complete with floor-to-ceiling glass facades that open to the leafy world beyond their wood-clad walls. The same subtle mixture of Scandinavian and Japanese design influences permeates the common spaces, which take on tranquil tones ideal for long working stints. This is more a place for independent reflection and uninterrupted focus than socialising. In fact, there isn’t even a bar to gather at – instead, any chitchat tends to happen in the more restorative environs of their spa. At Piaule you can expect to feel wonderfully removed from it all and primed to get down to business before returning to real life with a spring in your step.
INNESS is a truly top-of-the-line escape. While it’s a fantastic refuge during the workweek, we’d recommend making the most out of this property by tacking on a weekend with company. Take advantage of the ample opportunities for uninterrupted headspace in this serene setting, having started your day with an energising gym session or even a quick tennis match. Here you’ll find yourself enveloped by a soft landscape which might strike a familiar chord from the paintings of the hotel’s namesake Hudson Valley School artist, George Inness. A sleek and contemporary architectural language is punctuated by hints of more rustic Americana décor, bringing a pinch of patina to the interiors. Their excellent restaurant with ingredients sourced from an onsite organic farm is the perfect place to round out a day well spent in work and play.
These are just a few of the upstate New York hotels that have called to those of us based out of the TF Design Center showroom at 200 Lexington. If you happen to have any favourites to add, do let us in on your tips when you next drop by! We’re always on the lookout for beautiful, design-led hotels to offer a change of scenery.
Text by Annabel Colterjohn
