Review Author

Kelli Acciardo

Contributing Writer

It’s hard to envision a Tuscan villa this majestic, well, anywhere besides Tuscany. Yet, an hour outside of New York City, in the Lower Hudson Valley town of Chester, sits Glenmere Mansion, a Relais & Châteaux boutique hotel that looks like it was plucked out of the Italian countryside.

With marble-columned porticoes, grand staircases, and miles of verdant, rolling hills as far as the eye can see, it’s easy to see why Glenmere has become one of the area’s premiere wedding venues. And that’s largely due to its 150 acres of well-manicured gardens designed by Beatrix Farrand, America’s first female landscape architect.

When they are not hosting lavish events at the estate, you can spend a night or more in one of their 18 stately guest rooms and suites, of which no two are alike. Some have expansive terraces and fireplaces, and some boast separate seating areas and studies, but rest assured: They all include a well-appointed mix of fine art and antiques meticulously arranged by interior designer Scott Snyder. Plus, some of the dreamiest beds you’ll sink into and have a hard time leaving. Except, perhaps, to have a soak in your marble en suite bathroom, complete with heated floors, claw-foot tubs, and Acqua di Parma products.

The R&R doesn’t stop there. Although there are plenty of five-star spas in the Hudson Valley, Glenmere is the only hotel that features both a Carrara marble bathhouse and an authentic Turkish hammam. Its 8,000-square-foot spa focuses on centuries-old water therapies and offers a circuit through an herbal steam room, dry heat sauna, stimulating Swiss shower, cool mist room, and central aqua massage vitality pool.

The Moroccan Purification Ritual begins with a full-body exfoliation on a heated marble belly stone, followed by a detoxifying clay wrap, warm-water cleanse, and head-to-toe argan oil application. Afterward, guests are led to the relaxation library for post-treatment tapas and organic tea.

When you’re feeling peckish, there are two onsite restaurants downstairs, helmed by Executive Chef Gunnar Thompson. Frogs End is a cozy tavern filled with vintage chess boards, frog-themed curios, and warm woods. Order French onion soup for lunch, a fireside burger from the secret list, or a nightcap at the bar.

The Supper Room leans more formal for dinner with a farm-to-table menu, twinkling chandeliers, candlelit white linens, locally sourced fish and game, and desserts drizzled with honey from the property’s bee colonies.

When the weather permits, the central courtyard, The Cortile, provides an al fresco setting for dinner or late-afternoon reading. Glenmere’s wine cellar holds thousands of local and rare vintages highlighted through an ongoing Wine Dinner Series.

Fast Facts

Location: Chester, New York

Rating: Five-star

The Vibe: Quiet luxury in the Hudson Valley.

Our Favorite Thing: Meandering through the formal gardens to the hen house, where heritage-breed chickens supply freshly laid breakfast eggs.

Food + Drink: Frogs End tavern and bar, The Cortile, The Supper Room, and in-room dining.

Neighborhood Rec: Plan a day trip to Storm King Art Center, about 25 minutes away.

Amenities: Outdoor pool, pavilion, whirlpool spa, fitness center, two Har-Tru tennis courts, two Har-Tru bocce courts, championship croquet court, spa, and complimentary Volvo SUV house car.

Nearby: Brotherhood Winery, Historic Hudson, West Point, Woodbury Common, Dia Beacon, Bear Mountain State Park, and Jones Farm.

Rooms: 18

Pricing: Historically $750 to $2,675 per night.

Closest Airports: New York Stewart International Airport or Westchester County Airport.