Editors' Picks

Twin Farms

Ultra-cosseting, super-romantic, fantasy-fulfilling

452 Royalton Turnpike, ., Barnard 05031

800-894-6327

See Website

Indagare Adored

At a Glance

Since its debut in 1993, Twin Farms has appeared in the very top rankings of U.S. boutique hotels—Indagare’s most-booked list included. Perhaps it’s because the 300-acre estate is a New England retreat fantasy come to life. Once a getaway for writer Sinclair Lewis and his wife, journalist Dorothy Thompson, in the 1930s, the 1795 farmhouse was later reimagined by Thurston and Sharon Twigg-Smith with the help of designer Jed Johnson and architect Alan Wanzenberg. Today, the main lodge and stand-alone cottages have Moroccan, alpine, art studio or other themes that epitomize the Twin Farms aesthetic, character and charm. Foodies will find their bliss in the delicious farm-fresh food that has you planning your next meal (and the one after that). Those looking to head outside will have plenty of activities on and off property to choose from. In the warmer months, these include hiking, biking, archery, fly-fishing, mountain golf, pickleball and tennis, while skiing, snowshoeing and ice-fishing are offered in the winter. Yoga, meditation, fitness, painting and cooking classes are also available, and guests can enjoy art tours of the hotel. Off property, guests can visit nearby farms, take private woodworking or pottery workshops at the shops of local and renowned artisans and explore the village of Woodstock for some shopping. A stay at Twin Farms is as active or as relaxing as you want it to be.

The Standout: The fullest expression of Twin Farms’ personal attention? The staff’s anything-you-want attitude, as if each guest were the lord of the manor Don’t Miss: The museum-quality art on display throughout the property—including works by Berenice Abbott, Roy Lichtenstein, Jasper Johns, Frank Stella and others

Indagare Loves

  • Accommodations have fireplaces, most of them wood-burning
  • Three cottages are pet-friendly. Canine visitors are lucky dogs, indeed!
  • The creative and impressive picnic set-ups scattered around the grounds

Review

With its vaulted, beamed ceilings, walls of well-thumbed books, fascinating artwork and hand-picked antiques, Twin Farms was clearly once a beloved private home—the former estate, as it happens, of Nobel Prize-winning author Sinclair Lewis and his wife, journalist Dorothy Thompson, who lived here in the 1920s. Today, the 18th-century “Main House” remains the heart of the 300-acre property, but the accommodations have expanded to include 10 suites, 10 cottages and, opening on a rolling basis through fall 2023, eight Treehouses.

A dirt road winds from the Main House and through the woods to the secluded guest cottages and the Treehouses. The guest cottages are wonderful, from the fanciful, Moroccan-themed Meadow to the serene, Scandinavian-style Barn. Each is spacious (most are 1,000 square feet or more), unique and appointed with stylish furniture, king-size feather beds and bathrooms equipped with big soaking tubs. Every room has a distinctive aesthetic. and everything feels carefully thought-through, down to the already-prepped fire, just waiting for a match. If you are traveling with friends or adult family members, consider taking over the two-suite Lodge or booking the four suites in the Farmhouse at Copper Hill, which share a common living area. The inspiration for the serene and luxurious Treehouses came from Aviary cottage, designed by architect Peter Bohlin. Each Treehouse is more contemporary than other accommodation options at Twin Farms and embraces a Japanese wabi-sabi aesthetic—the design creates the illusion that you are literally floating in the trees.

Twin Farms is known for its exquisite cuisine, and the culinary journey is a prominent part of a stay. The hotel’s dining program got its start in 1993 at the Main House, where guests can enjoy breakfast, lunch, dinner and pre- or post-dinner drinks. The fine-dining dinner is the quintessential Twin Farms experience with no set menu, where guests are meant to sit back, relax and let the kitchen team take it away…three courses or eight, wine pairing or no wine pairing—it is entirely up to you. Behind the Main House, a tall garden with lemon-yellow hollyhocks, purple thistles, white hydrangeas, blue salvia and pink flox hugs the walls of a curved stone terrace. There is also a patio for outdoor dining and a fire pit surrounded by Adirondack chairs.

Beyond, the vast lawn spills towards a covered bridge over a pond filled with water lilies and lined with cattails (an iconic spot at Twin Farms); the bridge leads to the hotel’s two-treatment room spa, gym and the newest restaurant, Twiggs. Twiggs opened in 2022 as the more rustic and casual dining option. It has a seasonal a la carte menu that takes full advantage of the Argentenian woodfire grill in its kitchen. The space was designed and constructed by Marc DeSmet and Michaelis Boyd, the same team who created the U.K.'s Soho Farmhouse. It centers around a wood-burning fireplace and houses a 14-seat island bar. Outside, is a patio with a fireplace, Adirondack chairs and more outdoor seating.

Throughout the property, there’s a marvelous sense of laid-back luxury. You may spend your entire stay in shorts or jeans, yet every detail of the resort is exceptional, from the food to the solicitous staff to the museum-quality art—including works by Milton Avery, Jasper Johns, Bernice Abbott, Frank Stella and Roy Lichtenstein. (The Twigg-Smith family, who bought the estate in the 1970s and opened it as a five-room hotel in 1993, has a serious art collection. Today, they own the property with several partners.) The price is all-inclusive, so there are no chits to sign, no tips to dispense.

Spotlight: At Your Service You may very well feel like a guest at an old friend’s country estate (if that old friend has a full staff at-the-ready) while at Twin Farms. And that’s the idea. For this reason, there are no menus, no signing, no tipping, and the approach to service is... “the answer is yes—now what’s the question?” So whether you want an 11-course meal or a special recipe from the chef, or you’re looking to have Brenda, one of the property’s longtime activities coordinators, give you an art tour, teach you to fly fish, take you on a great hike or recommend an afternoon drive to see covered bridges and local craftsmen—just say the word.

Who Should Stay

Design and art lovers, foodies, country connoisseurs and those who love and appreciate indulgent hospitality

Note: The age minimum is 14 years-old.

  • Updated by Kathryn Nathanson

Written by Indagare

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