Where Romance & Luxury Converge
If you’re looking for a romantic getaway with quintessential New England charm featuring elegant rooms, delectable dining and first-rate spa services look no further than Blantyre.
About a two-hour jaunt from Boston, Blantyre, located in historic and scenic Lenox, Massachusetts, features 117 acres of beautifully manicured grounds, eight guest rooms, 10 suites and three cottages. The inside of the Main House features beautiful leaded glass windows, richly burnished woods and luxurious fabrics that compliment the building’s stately exterior.
Settle into an overstuffed chair while the scent of freshly cut flowers wafts toward you and the light and airy sounds of a piano travel from the music room. Relish in the glory of the baronial Main Hall, which is located on the first floor and provides guests with a treasure trove of period pieces, heirlooms, and art to enjoy—all which have been selected by the inn’s current owner, Ann Fitzgerald and her mother, Jane.
Comfortable Elegance—A Key to Luxury
Blantyre’s eight guest rooms and its suites possess unique personalities all their own. The eight guest rooms are decorated with rich and elegant furnishings, and the Paterson Suite, a 1,024 square-foot master suite complete with a king-size four-poster bed, features two bathrooms and an adjoining sitting room, which is the perfect place to relax by the fire.
The inn’s Crimson suite is a pleasing and favorite among many of the inn’s guests. Decorated in shade of cream, beige, crimson, and fine damasks and silk, this suite features a private balcony with chaise lounges.
In the 540-square foot Laurel Suite, an elegant king-size bed awaits you for your slumber. In the sitting area, rosy fireplace tiles compliment the hues in the painting that hangs above the mantle. For those late-night snacks or morning newspaper reads, two antique chairs and an ultra-comfy sofa anchored by a marble-topped coffee table make for a welcome respite.
Savory Food & Drink
Every afternoon, the Main House comes alive for the pending dining experience. Linens are laid, tables are set with sterling silver, china and fresh flowers, and the candles are lit—all in anticipation of the delicious meal that Chef Arnaud Cotar is about to prepare for the diners.
Before dinner, diners can expect a glass of champagne and canapés or a sampling of rich red wines. in the Main Hall, or sample one of Blantyre’s rich red wines in the Music Room. The inn’s autumn menu currently features celeriac soup, rare New England Swordfish and seared Bargegat Bay scallops and other succulent starters and entrees of roasted Chatham Day Boat cod, slow-cooked halibut, Châteaubriand for two, roasted boneless lamb rack and more.
The inn, which was voted the number one small hotel in the United States in 2009 and Condé Nast Johansens’ “Most Excellent Country House Hotel for the past three years, also features wine tastings and wine dinners, Sunday afternoon tea through the winter season beginning on Dec. 4, as well as snow barbeques. This fall and winter, Blantyre will host a number of elegant affairs. Here is a sampling of what’s to come:
Autumn Tasting Supper— Sunday, Oct. 23. The supper will feature Louis Roederer champagne, wine from Chateau Pichon~Longueville and Comtesse de Lalande vineyard. The event, which begins at 6:30 pm, costs $450 per person plus tax and gratuity.
Eighties Weekend—Friday, Nov. 18-Sunday, Nov. 20. Join Blantyre as it celebrates its 30th year in business and the decade when it first opened its doors. The weekend affair will feature a three-course dinner with wines of the 1980s on Friday, including Stags Leap Vineyards, Silver Oak Cellars, Joseph Phelps, Heitz Cellar, Spottswoode, Robert Mondavi, Groth, Dunn Vineyard and Diamond Creek. On Saturday, diners will experience a five-course chef’s tasting menu featuring wines of the 1980s and
Blantyre’s last bottle of Château Mouton Rothschild, Premier Cru, Pauillac, Bordeaux, Imperial 1982, as well as a dessert buffet in the Main Hall and dancing in the Music Room to hits from the 1980s. (While garb from the decade of the day isn’t required, a prize for the best 1980s-inspired dress will be awarded.) On Sunday, guests are welcome to depart at their leisure. The price for this all-inclusive 1980s extravaganza is $1,981, plus tax and gratuities.
East Meets West—now through Dec. 20. Along with Mandarin Oriental Boston, Blantyre is offering an ideal fall travel package that includes two nights stay in one of its luxurious rooms (upgrade to the next available room type at the time of check-in may be an option, too, depending on availability). This getaway features daily breakfast for two, a $200 resort credit, and complimentary tickets to Edith Wharton’s The Mount Estate & Gardens and Norman Rockwell Museum. Rates starts at $645 per night, plus tax and gratuities.
Ring in the New Year 2012—Friday, Dec. 30-Sunday, Jan 1. Enjoy afternoon tea upon arrival followed by dinner on Friday night. On New Year’s Eve, attend the black-tie ball from 7 pm to 1 am to ring in the New Year to the sounds of the Sultans of Swing Orchestra. Round out your New Year’s celebration with a delicious brunch on Sunday and a horse and sleigh ride (if the snow cooperates). The cost is $1,000 per person (children age 12 and older are welcome), including meals, house wines, non-alcoholic beverages. Taxes and gratuity will be added to the room.
Time to Relax & Rejuvenate
If it’s rest and relaxation you crave, take advantage of Blantyre’s luxurious spa treatments, such as a facial, body scrub with waterfall shower, manicure and pedicure, or massage (full- and half-day packages are available).
When it’s time to explore the outdoors, Blantyre has got plenty of activities to entertain you. Venture out to the Warming Hut to play a game of pool or watch a sporting event on one of two widescreen televisions, or curl up in one of the Hut’s oversized chairs to catch up on your current autumn read. Play a game of croquet, bocce or shuffleboard, or leaf peep along the 117 acres of trails that hug Blantyre’s perimeter.
Tennis courts are available as well, and guests can book time with a teaching professional who can help them with their volleys and their serves. In the winter, the tennis courts double as an ice skating rink when softly lit light glows from the sidelines and music pipes around the rink. Other winter sports include cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
Blantyre is especially beautiful this time of year, given the fabulous autumn backdrop surrounding the inn and its grounds, but this luxury country inn, which also made Condé Nast Traveler’s Gold List for 2009, 2010 and 2011, is a “best of” place to stay any time of year.
By Laura Starczewski
