This Charming Inn Is One of the Coziest Bed-and-breakfasts in New York's Catskills, and It Just Added New Vacation Rentals

The moment I opened the door to New York’s Shandaken Inn nearly four years ago, I felt like I stepped into the very definition of hygge. As one of its first guests back in February 2020, the 15-room bed-and-breakfast in the Catskill Mountains lured me in, comforting me with its luxe-meets-rustic decor, accompanied by the most unassuming yet doting service. Case in point: After a night of roasting marshmallows in the outdoor fire pit and playing games by the fireplace in the cozy lounge, I woke up the next morning to find that the innkeeper had left me a hand-drawn map route because I had told him I wanted to go for a run.

Now the upstate New York getaway, about a 2.5-hour drive northwest of New York City, has expanded its offerings with three new private cottages, which just debuted last week. Each offers more than 1,300 square feet of space with two bedrooms outfitted with king-size beds, suitable for four guests (or six for an additional fee), as well as full-equipped kitchenettes; in-unit washers and dryers; and living rooms with gas fireplaces and televisions. The bathrooms are equipped with rainfall showers, Portico ceramic tiles, Blackman fixtures, and Malin + Goetz amenities. 

“Our new cottages offer the seclusion and space of a private retreat with all the premier service, comforts, and amenities that Shandaken Inn is known for,” Jay Jacobs, the owner of Shandaken Inn, told Travel + Leisure. “It’s the perfect place to unwind after a long day on the ski slopes or hiking the nearby trails.”

The cottages each have its own bespoke design, honoring one of the Catskill region’s historic resorts or camps, with Pines Cottage for The Pines Resort in Fallsburg; Fallsview Cottage for Fallsview Hotel in Ellenville; and Tamarack Cottage for The Tamarack Lodge in Greenfield Park.

The new spaces were constructed under the direction of Catskill Custom Homes’ Cliff Rabuffo and decorated by Alise Yang of AY Designs, in conjunction with Jacobs’ own vision. The result is furniture from La Lune and Old Hickory; wallpapers from John Rosselli, Kravet, Cowtan and Tout, Phillip Jeffries, and Holly Hunt; custom lighting from Hammerton and Paul Ferrante; and bespoke vanities from Furniture Guild. 

Shandaken Inn has even more on the horizon for 2024, with a new wine cellar, including an outdoor deck with views of adjacent Esopus Creek, scheduled to open in the spring. The new space will offer cocktail and wine tastings, as well as pre- and post-dinner drinks. The in-house restaurant and bar, The Clubhouse, also recently brought on a new executive chef from California, Bryon Lopez.

Rates for the cottages begin at $980 a night and go up to $1,225 in the high season (guest rooms start at $274 a night and go up to $365). 

“We aspire to provide a home-away-from-home experience in The Catskills for every one of our guests,” Jacobs added, noting that the inn takes “great inspiration” from the area’s history. “The resurgence of this region has been exciting, and we love being a part of people’s experiences upstate.”