The best stylish suburban staycations outside NYC

March 27, 2018

A staycation used to be a term people used when they were staying home and trying to make their non-vacation seem less pathetic when everyone else was hopping on a plane to an exciting locale. Now, the definition has broadened to not going far away. Thankfully, there are many staycation options to choose from in the New York City orbit – even if you limit the distance to the surrounding suburbs.

Although a suburban staycation may not come to mind when you think “luxurious getaway,” not only are there amazing local options for gorgeous retreats but think of how relaxed you will be without all the headaches of travel. 6sqft found three luxurious suburban retreats less than an hour from Grand Central that can rival any five-star destination abroad. These inns are only “suburban” in their locale. Everything from their level of service to their design-forward decor will transport you far from your daily grind.

Graybarns
194 Perry Avenue, Norwalk (Silvermine), Connecticut

Graybarns Inn, located where the charming Silvermine River breaks at a small waterfall, was once a textile mill and speakeasy. Elizabeth Taylor and Eddie Fisher honeymooned at Graybarns during its first incarnation as an inn and Spencer Tracy was known to pay a visit. After a small fire and change of ownership, it is now an incredibly gorgeous country inn with a world-class restaurant, a village of four luxury homes, a barn with a pop-up bakery (with, arguably, the best baker in the tristate area) and a soon-to-be-finished Mercantile store that will sell coffee, prepared foods, overstock from inn’s kitchen and garden and some takeaways to remind you of your dreamy stay, like super cozy robes and luscious mohair throws.

Nikki (L) and Marsha (R)

Graybarns is owned by Andy Glazer’s development company Glazer Group, officially, but the entire Glazer family, including Andy’s wife Marsha and daughter Nikki, not only developed and designed the property but live there and actively run the inn. Nikki Glazer is a third generation builder/developer. Her grandfather and father built much of nearby Connecticut downtowns of Rowayton and Five Mile River.

Graybarns boasts six beautifully appointed king suites with luxurious full baths, bedrooms, and living areas. The decor is country chic. Nikki loves the concept of “upcycling,” reusing objects in a way that creates a higher quality product. “It’s so back in vogue. Everything today is so fabricated and copied. We didn’t want that. So we’ll find a beautiful chair at Goodwill with rolled arms and great legs and have it reupholstered. It doesn’t have to be complicated, we don’t have to recreate the wheel.” Nikki gave other examples of using found objects around the property, like pitchforks and old ladders, as wall decorations around the inn.

To complement the upcycled decor, Nikki and Masha sprinkled the finest luxury touches throughout, like Smeg kettles, heated bathroom floors, dual shower heads, and cashmere and mohair textiles. “They all lend themselves to the environment.”

The Tavern bar and restaurant

The Glazers know their clientele and give them the luxury and charm they desire. “Manhattanites dream about the concept of ‘county’ which is country without creaky floors and the comfort they’re used to. That’s our recipe.”

“Serving the community is our number one priority. Silvermine was always planned and zoned as a village outpost and we always want to maintain that.”

The George
37 North Mountain Avenue, Montclair, New Jersey

Former cosmetics tycoon Bobbi Brown and her husband, Steven Plofker, love their hometown of Montclair, New Jersey. Only 12 miles from Manhattan, they have opened a “once forgotten” Georgian Inn and created a super-chic 32-room boutique hotel in the heart of Montclair. “My husband asked me to work with him on this project the day I left the brand. The timing was perfect, and I jumped on it. I was very open to exploring another creative outlet,” Brown said.

The George blends a modern style with its historic roots. Brown reimagined the space to have an upscale, chic aesthetic as she handpicked products from some of her favorite brands.

Brown’s love of Montclair extends to the local vendors, “Montclair is such an amazing city. It is very diverse, eclectic, creative, and ever-changing. It was important to me that many of the hotel’s partners are based in Montclair. I’ve brought some of my favorite Montclair salons, gyms, and restaurants, and made them a part of the hotel experience.” Brown’s favorite Montclair wine store, Amanti Vino, will be providing packages to all of the hotel guests.

The hotel opens April 1.

The Bedford Post
954 Old Post Road, Bedford, New York

Built in the early 1760s in the Dutch Colonial style, the original structure of the Bedford Post is one of only three original structures from the 18th century that remains in Bedford today. The Bedford Post is a Relais & Chateaux property in the heart of Westchester County. It has eight rooms, a yoga studio, and two distinct restaurants. They also have daily classes, workshops, and events at the Yoga Loft.

Previously owned by couple Richard Gere and Carey Lowell, who were often seen around the inn and property pre-divorce, Gere still owns the inn with his business partner, Russell Hernandez. According to their brochure, Gere says, “In my long career, I’ve played many challenging and demanding characters, but believe me, none more so than my real life role as an innkeeper. I really don’t know how this all happened. In the end, it probably comes down to passion and a crazy kind of commitment. It was meant to be. All creativity begins with the same impulse—one starts with inspiration, love, courage, patience, and humility. If the motivation is generous, the outcome likely will be also.”

Gere and Hernandez own the inn and lease the two restaurants, currently run by Chef Michael White’s Altamarea Group. A new restaurant group will seamlessly take over the two restaurants this summer and create a piano bar in the Farmhouse.

The Barn offers casual dining and offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner in an open space with a large fireplace, reclaimed wood beams and a rustic decor (outdoor dining on the flagstone patio is available in the summer). The Farmhouse is an elegant restaurant – soon to be a piano bar also – that serves American cuisine based on the philosophy of “clean living and healthy eating.”

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All photos courtesy of Graybarns, the George, and the Bedford Post Inn