This Dreamy New Boutique Hotel (with a Pool!) Is Just ~2 Hours from New York City

Between watering holes, breathtaking hikes and copious ski slopes, there’s really no bad season to visit the Catskills. But if you ask us, summer sounds like the ideal time to visit a newly-renovated upstate hotel with a pool, charming rooms and a lively bar scene. Enter: Hotel Lilien. Here’s everything you need to know about the 19th-century estate so you can go ahead and book ASAP.

• Name of accommodation: Hotel Lilien
• Location: Tannersville, New York
• Distance from NYC: 2 hours, 30 minutes
• Price: from $230 per room, per night
• Accommodation options: 18 rooms, including a suite

Who Should You Bring?

Hotel Lilien’s proximity to Hunter Mountain, Kaaterskill Falls and downtown Tannersville makes it a great option for anyone wanting to explore the best the Catskills has to offer. We’d recommend booking a stay with friends, a weekend getaway with your partner or a work retreat (yes, they host those). With highly Instagrammable rooms and one king suite complete with a kitchenette, you also might want to earmark it for your next bachelorette party or better yet, make it home base for guests during a local wedding weekend.

For their first summer, the hotel is also offering a Summer Share House program, where you can make Hotel Lilien your home for summer weekdays or weekends. As part of either package, you’ll get unlimited $99 weeknights plus discounts on food and drink, guest passes and the security of summer travel plans—done and dusted.

What’s the Food Like?

Come for the cocktails, stay for the food. While the complimentary modern European plated breakfast (served with Partners Coffee between 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.) is a lovely start to the day, dinner service (starting at 5 p.m. with a DJ on Saturday nights) is worth sticking around for.

If you need a visual of what to expect from their menu, local chef Jeffery Grover has mastered the hotel’s fried chicken sandwich, stacked high with homemade slaw and bread and butter pickles, and best served with a side of hand-cut fries and basil aioli. While everyone’s favorite charcuterie board will remain on the menu this summer, the hotel regularly updates their offerings with seasonal specialties that typically don’t require a fork and knife (by design, so you can cozy up on one of the many lounge chairs without feeling the need for a formal place setting).

On the drink front, we recommend the Hot Damn, but you can’t go wrong with any one of their seasonal craft cocktails, wine or locally brewed beer.

Did You Get a Good Night’s Sleep?

Like a baby. Of course, Hotel Lilien cannot guarantee 8 hours of shut-eye, but they sure do set you up for success with brand-new Wright mattresses on every bed, Brooklinen sheets, and of course, fresh mountain air. Every bedroom at Hotel Lilien is one-of-a-kind with an eclectic mix of antique, vintage and contemporary pieces. The space was designed by Field Theory (a shop owned by one of the founder’s sisters) to reflect the collection of someone who’s been acquiring unique pieces over the course of a lifetime. But a heads-up—there are no TVs. We personally enjoyed the chance to disconnect, but if you’re someone who needs the latest Bravo episode to fall asleep, be sure to bring your laptop (the Wi-Fi works great).  

What Amenities are Available?

As we previously mentioned, a breakfast is complimentary, as well as Partners Coffee and tea. The three deck rooms are pet-friendly, while all have free Wi-Fi and parking. The pool is open from May to September, and the lower-level lounge area has board games, billiards, a wood burning fire (in the winter) and a cozy library. The team also facilitates nature walks on Saturday and Sunday mornings down the Huckleberry Trail along Gooseberry Creek to Rip Van Winkle Lake.

How Was the Service?

Top-notch. The staff is friendly, available and the story behind Hotel Lilien is also a good one. The owners are all best friends—members of The Lost Boys Hospitality Group, who got their start with a number of hostels in Panama that ended up gaining a cult following. Now that the team has returned from abroad, they’re brimming with both travel stories and local recommendations, like the best hidden trails to Kaaterskill Falls and the best bakery to swing by for delectable homemade pastries. The space means a lot to them and the personal touches are seen in almost everything.

What Was Your Favorite Part?

We truly felt like VIP guests. Few establishments go the extra mile to ensure they get to know every guest before check out, but that’s exactly what makes Hotel Lilien so special.