Plymouth, Massachusetts is about to get a notable new hotel: The historic town will get the second Mirbeau Inn and Spa at the Pinehills, a private community and village. This is the second property in the Mirbeau Collection, joining the original retreat located in Skaneateles, in Central New York’s Finger Lakes Region.
We met up with Natalie Ward, the upcoming hotel’s general manager, and Linda Dower, brand owner and the property’s interior designer, to see what visitors should expect, and how the Inn will be a good pick for corporate retreats.
Slated to open in June, the hotel is developing as an “urban getaway” concept, Dower said--a place that people in New York or Boston (or anywhere in between) can get to easily for a break: It is about an hour away from Boston and three hours from New York City. (Visitors can take a train to Providence, Rhode Island—about two hours—and drive to the hotel.)
The design is decidedly European and residential in nature, with fireplaces and turrets throughout. The hotel has only 50 rooms—16 of which are in the Manor House (including the two Turret Suites and two One-Bedroom Suites), and 34 are in the guest house. Within a year, construction will begin on another 40 rooms for an eventual total of 90. Each guest room will have a fireplace, over-sized bathrooms (with tiled walk-in showers,) and views over the gardens, the Village Green and The Pinehills golf course. Bonus: Most will include large soaking tubs. We hear the Turret Suites will be the top pick, but the One-Bedroom suites are larger. In warmer weather, be sure to request a room with a terrace or balcony.
The exterior of the property, meanwhile, was inspired by impressionist artists (especially Monet), so expect plenty of flowers, water and bridges in a soothing atmosphere.
For foodies, the hotel’s fine dining restaurant (Henri-Marie) is adjacent to the Manor House. It was designed as a repurposed Chapel and has a separate entry. The restaurant is open for dinner with French-inspired cuisine from around the world. This space also includes the Henri-Marie Jardin, an outdoor dining area. For other meals (as well as dinner), the Wine Bar & Bistro is a good pick and looks out over the gardens.
For groups or corporate retreats, the Inn has a 1,000-square-foot Giverny Salon with natural lighting on two sides (maximizing the exposure) and pre-function space overlooking the gardens. For larger groups, there’s a 3,600-square-foot tent area suitable for groups of up to 250 people. There are also two golf courses nearby for networking, and Henri-Marie can be used for events during the day. The Inn is already getting requests for group bookings (mostly weddings), and the Spa is organizing activities for groups or teams. Wi-Fi will be available throughout the resort, making it easy to stay connected and to download content for presentations.
The Spa, Ward said, is the “heart” the Inn. It will have 14 treatment rooms and will offer massages, body wraps and body scrubs, facials, manicures, pedicures, couples treatments, and blowouts. It will also have a central resting area that is surrounded by hand-painted murals, frescoes, and stone columns, and includes a heated foot pool and fireplace (perfect for those long, cold New England winters). The outdoor Aqua Terrace has a hot tub, large fireplace, and bar as well as a light fare menu available throughout the day. (Those more interested in drinking can sample the wine list or try some specialty cocktails.)
Good to know: Henri-Marie is open to locals, but much of the rest of the Inn is limited for guest use, so getting a table (or a prime seat in the hot tub) shouldn’t be a problem.
