Troutbeck (Amenia, New York)

A historic Hudson Valley estate in Amenia, New York, with 38 rooms, locally sourced dining, 250 acres, and a dedicated wellness center.

Courtesy of Troutbeck

BY KELLI ACCIARDO

Why it works

Hotel Snapshot

Part of Hudson Valley’s beguiling charm lies in its tapestry of tiny towns and hamlets, surrounded by pristine nature preserves and rolling hills. Amenia would be one of these towns, located in Dutchess County, New York, and home to the quaint boutique hotel, Troutbeck.

Derived from the Latin word amoena, meaning “pleasant to the eye,” it’s easy to see why Amenia has captivated romantics, poets, and thinkers since the 1700s when Troutbeck served as the stomping grounds for these transcendentalists. What was once a humble estate has transitioned into an award-winning inn and tavern over the years, reminiscent of the great farmhouses of England.

Set on 250 acres of wild-to-manicured grounds, bisected by the Webatuck River and Dunham Creek, Troutbeck offers a little something for every kind of traveler: locally sourced cuisine by an acclaimed chef, a wellness center with an ever-changing calendar of fitness classes (plus spa treatments and holistic practices), a heated pool, and all the nature trails you could need for a weekend spent living your best life upstate.

Design & Character

The estate’s first owners, the Benton family, played frequent host to Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and the naturalist John Burroughs, in addition to Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., Duke Ellington, and Maya Angelou. Today, Benton House and Benton Cottage feature well-appointed guestrooms and suites outfitted with Frette linens, Tivoli radios, and cozy nooks designed for work or pleasure. These accommodations also have private screened porches perfect for taking in that fresh Hudson Valley air.

The Rooms

Inside the main house (The Manor House), you’ll find 24/7 reception, along with the property’s onsite restaurant and bar. Seventeen more rooms and suites can be found upstairs, our favorite being the Dunham Suite with a plush four-poster bed, gas-burning fireplace, chaise lounge, and French-style casement windows that reveal the sounds of a bubbling brook below.

The Food & Drink

James Beard-nominated Chef Gabe McMackin (formerly of Michelin-starred The Finch in Brooklyn) leads the culinary program at Troutbeck, which features locally sourced, seasonally inspired fare in The Dining Room, farm-to-table breakfast and lunch offerings in The Sunroom, private dining in The Gun Room, and a smattering of nibbles and craft beers at the Pool Grill.

An all-day house menu is also available to savor in common areas such as the Library, Living Room, and Gallery. Think tinned fish, an assortment of Hudson Valley cheeses, and plenty of smoked trout, along with a Bayley Hazen Blue cheese-topped burger that’s not to be missed. Traveling with littles? There’s no beating their kids’ menu, which is just as enticing for the grownup set.

Amenities

In addition to its celebrated restaurant, Troutbeck also boasts a newly expanded wellness center, The Barns, which is open to hotel guests and members daily.

Pop in for a mat Pilates or yoga class, book a massage therapy or acupuncture treatment, or simply take advantage of the infrared saunas after a morning spent hiking or bike riding. Private classes and sessions are also available, should you be seeking a deeper self-care sojourn.

Location & Neighborhood Recs

In and around the towns of Amenia and Wassaic, there’s Great Cape Baking Company, which is known for its cider donuts and breakfast sandwiches, Ten Mile Distillery for locally crafted spirits, and the beloved Four Brothers Pizza Inn + Drive-In, an outdoor theater with legendary pies. The famed racetrack Lime Rock Park also offers year-round programming.

Fast Facts

Location: Amenia, New York

Star Rating: Four-star

Vibe: A bucolic Hudson Valley retreat loved by artists, writers, and naturalists since the 1700s, modernized for food- and wellness-filled city escapes.

Food & Drink: The Dining Room is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner seven days a week. Guests can also enjoy The Bar, Sun Room, Library, Living Room, and the seasonal Pool Grill.

Amenities: A full-service Technogym fitness studio, wellness sanctuary and spa at The Barns, two US Open-surfaced hard courts, heated pool, hammock and picnic sites, complimentary bikes, and pet-friendly accommodations.

Our Favorite Thing: The Walled Garden, built in 1916 and tiered over two levels, draped in climbing clematis flowers and vines.

Nearby: Farmers’ markets, breweries, vineyards, art galleries, villages, the Mohawk and Catamount Mountains, and year-round skiing, hiking, fishing, and river rafting.

Room Count: 38 guestrooms and suites in the Manor House, Benton House & Cottage, and Garden House.

Starting Rate: Rates start at $400 per night during the off-season; expect $800+ during peak season.

Nearest Airport: Danbury (DXR), Hartford (BDL), White Plains (HPN), Albany (ALB), and New York LaGuardia (LGA). Troutbeck is also a two-hour train ride from Manhattan.

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