Located in the Catskills town of Hunter, Bluebird Hunter Lodge serves as the perfect home base for a summery getaway or a stop on a scenic road trip.
Despite being a small rural town in the mountains, Hunter offers dining options and outdoor adventures that rival the best-known resort towns. Within a 3-mile radius, you can indulge in delicious meals at Tabla, known for its creative small plates and craft cocktails, Jessie's Harvest House, offering hearty farm-to-table fare in a cozy setting, and Jagerberg Beer Hall and Tavern, where you can enjoy authentic German cuisine and a wide selection of beers. For outdoor enthusiasts, Bear Pen Mountain Sports provides excellent hiking and biking trails, while Mountain Top Arboretum offers a serene environment for nature walks and bird watching.
With all this around, you’d imagine you’d drop your bags and go. But no, the Hunter Lodge
is going to make you want to stay awhile. Walking through the front door, the lobby offers a modern ski lodge vibe. Books line the walls, chess on the table, and seating surrounding a fireplace for warmer months.
The Hunter Tavern was just ahead of us when we checked in, and I could see the sweeping mountain views through the large windows surrounding an even larger dining room fireplace.
My daughter was delighted that our room was on the bottom floor, next to a small game room. And she was over the moon when she discovered I had booked us the “Fun Zone” room.
Complete with two full-sized bunk beds and a small stairway in between, this room might look like camp, or a “dormitory” as my dad described it when we FaceTimed to show him the room. But each bed does not skimp on comfort with four fluffy pillows, the softest sheets, and an extra plaid flannel blanket for cold nights. Instead of closets, we had four large cubbies. The room also featured a small microwave oven and refrigerator.
I personally judge all hotel rooms by their bathroom, and this one did not fall short. The shower was large with fresh modern tile. A nice large wood counter offered plenty of space for us to spread out. And the Ursa Major bath products had me shopping online for their Perfect Zen lotion.
So once we got settled, did we head out to explore the town? Nope, we headed right back to the Hunter Tavern for dinner. The waiter welcomed us to “sit anywhere” as if it was our local haunt. Their menu offered what I’d call elevated pub food with a perfect kids menu to boot. The staff was so kind and fun, we joked throughout the meal. They even brought out my daughter’s brownie dessert with about 15 cherries, much to her delight.
Following dinner, we walked out to the back deck to take in the view. Other guests were sitting around the outdoor fire pit, reading a book, or enjoying a cocktail. Other families were playing cornhole on the lawn.
We retired early as this was a stop on a longer trip, but wow, what a lovely stay. Hunter Lodge made an impression at every turn. From the warm welcome at the front desk and the little journal paper attached to our key, to the cashless tipping app that made it possible to express my gratitude to all that made our stay great (I WISH more hotels did this). And of course, Steve, at the Hunter Tavern who was responsible for the extra cherries at dinner and the much needed coffee in the morning. We are smitten with this property and hope to return to this or one of the other nine Bluebird Hotels very soon. This brand is definitely our vibe.
Details
Hotel Site: https://www.bluebirdhotels.com/hotels/the-hunter
Booking details details found on the Independent Experience Portal
Distance from NYC (by car): 2 hours
Plan extra time during the summer months and holidays Bluebird Hunter Lodge A charming lodge in the Catskills
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