Litchfield Luxury
AN HOUR DRIVE…A WORLD AWAY
THE MAYFLOWER INN & SPA
An idyllic retreat nestled on 58 secluded acres in Washington, Connecticut, The Mayflower Inn & Spa is the epitome of luxury. It’s the perfect getaway for a solo trip to get some much-needed R&R, or a girls weekend, or a romantic escape, or a mother-daughter retreat, or just about any group that’s looking for a special day trip or weekend jaunt. An Auberge Resorts Collection, no comfort is spared, no detail is overlooked.
With the feeling of a small-town inn, and the facilities, service, and operations of a multinational top-notch hospitality company, the experience is pleasant and pristine. The charm is immediate; friendly valets are outside ready to whisk away cars and luggage; a perfectly decorated foyer has a large inviting staircase and adjacent sitting rooms with crackling fires and plush oversized seating, and the mahogany bell desk window is complete with an old-fashioned button bell and brass keys with braided tassels stored in wooden cubbies. There’s always an array of tea, coffee, water, and sweet treats out for guests, next to an assortment of daily newspapers in a room richly decorated with textured wallpaper and heirloom furniture. If you’ve ever watched Gilmore Girls, now is the time to conjure the image in your head of Loreli Gilmore’s Dragonfly Inn in Stars Hollow… and then imagine it’s been given an ultimate facelift.
THE ROOMS ARE
sumptuous,
seamlessly combining old-school opulence with modern elegance in the Granmillenial style. Complete with a king-sized four poster canopy bed, each room looks out on the perfectlylandscaped grounds and bucolic surroundings.
Depending on the season, there’s an array of activities and amenities to enjoy during the visit. The Inn offers mapped e-bike rides through the pastoral landscape of Litchfield County. Warmer months are perfect for an afternoon dip in the outdoor heated pool. There’s a selection of board games in the parlor. The concierge is happy to book archery lessons, snowshoeing, or a fly fishing expedition, and the GM is known for leading impromptu hikes around the grounds. There’s canoeing and tours of the Shakespeare gardens. And out on the patio there are nightly campfires often involving s’mores and a selection of fine wines. The boutique hotel is a portal to a simpler time…and a higher style.
Of course, the Mayflower isn’t just an Inn… it’s also known for its
which is nothing short of exquisite. The abundant facility is a seemingly neverending depot of tranquility. Book the best massage of your life in the most well-appointed treatment room imaginable, utilize the indoor pool or jacuzzi, partake in a meditation class or a signature movement class, or hone in on breathwork with certified experts. The spa is downright restorative, with an almost magical essence. There’s absolutely nothing more calming than an afternoon spent curled-up with a book in an oversized bathrobe in the spa’s sanctuary, sipping tea that seems to magically be always-refilled at the exact right moment, before heading off to the next class or treatment.
Under the new leadership of Executive Chef Jose Ramirez-Ruiz, the food is superb! The menus are fresh and tasty, incorporating as many locally sourced ingredients from Connecticut farms as possible, with a flavorforward approach. The main dining room is a sensory delight, from the decor to the aromas and flavors. The bright and airy space feels whimsically like an English garden paused on a perfect summer day. In stark contrast, the Tap Room feels more like a 19th Century library at an all-men’s country club, with rich dark woods and deep green fabrics, a collection of Regency-style Federal eagle mirrors, oil paintings of the hunt, and a thick bar stocked with a wide variety of liquors…perfect for an afternoon bite or a late-night treat.
And it’s really worth noting that the staff and the service is top notch. Before it’s possible to think of the next thing one might desire, someone is there ready to accommodate
any whim…or add a log to the fire. For the guest, there’s an overwhelming feeling of effortlessness and ease. Enjoying the roaring fire pit on the back lawn as an evening turns chilly… a staff member appears with a blanket. Ready to head out to explore the local Litchfield attractions…the Bell Team has the car warmedup and waiting at the front door - and with an umbrella if it’s raining. Need a suggestion for what to do…everyone on staff seems to have an encyclopedic knowledge of which apple orchard to stop at, which book shop not to miss, and which restaurants are the best stops along the way. Just the way staff is supposed to be, the team at the Mayflower is friendly and helpful, yet never too present or intrusive.
No need for a private jet to get there, but every bit that kind of an experience once you arrive, The Mayflower Inn & Spa is only an hour drive, but it’s a world away.
“THE
MENUS ARE
and tasty,
INCORPORATING AS MANY LOCALLY SOURCED INGREDIENTS FROM CONNECTICUT FARMS AS POSSIBLE”
BEDFORD & NEW CANAAN