Why book?
A mini-retreat with a can’t-miss farm-to-table restaurant and a wellness area that will keep you busy. Live music, resort events, and a welcoming upstate atmosphere will satisfy all your off-the-grid cravings as an urbanite or Skaneateles resident.
Set the scene
Realizing I hadn't left the confines of a city for so long I forgot what unpasteurized air felt like, I was on the hunt for a relaxing break. The drive from Manhattan to Skaneateles was the perfect foreshadowing for the property. As the skyscrapers fell behind, I found myself along a winding, leaf-riddled road, passing real barns and cornfields, nostalgic hits humming from the car's speakers. I spent the ride with my childhood friend, pointing at Queen Anne and Greek Revival homes: “That’s mine. That’s yours. That one is definitely haunted.” Suddenly, we were welcomed by the warm glow of downtown Skaneateles, so colonial Americana, it could be a movie set. Swinging right up State Street, the resort, tucked in a quiet field, welcomed us into its wood-beamed estate with big smiles and a glass of champagne.
The backstory
So new it still has that “new hotel” scent, this addition to the Woodbine Hospitality Group is an ode to the region: a contemporary take on the rustic upstate aesthetic, stretching from the original John D. Barrow paintings in the lobby to the nouveau craftsmanship of the interiors, featuring signature woodwork by Artistry in Wood.
The rooms
Timeless design. With 89 total rooms, options range from deluxe king rooms to double queens—both featuring accessible mobility and hearing options—as well as a family-style room with multiple semi-private sleeping areas for those traveling in a group. Every touchpoint feels intentional, including a classic brown leather corner chair, a strong contender for one of my favorite dissociation chairs I’ve ever experienced. Rooms range from 350 to 1,100 square feet; during my stay, the highly coveted Presidential and Lodge Suites were occupied by couples on a golf retreat who closed down the restaurant bar together Saturday night—laughing, letting the wine flow, and recounting a cumbersome 17th hole no one could hit.
Food and drink
Chef Esperanza Guzman, who heads on-site Fields Restaurant, and her strategic alliance with Tap Root Fields down the road are a duo I’d blindly follow anywhere. At each meal, you’re getting the full experience of knowing your food was freshly picked that morning—edible flowers, regenerative greens, herbs still fragrant from the field. I ate a charred cabbage that was as delicious as any steak, and a ribeye that was double the size of my head. (And I have a big head.) The menu is seasonal, so this is the kind of place you’ll find yourself returning to again and again to see what Chef dreams up anew each time you're there. On the drinks side, William Elliott, Executive Bar Director of Brooklyn’s Maison Premiere and Manhattan’s Tigre, boasts an extensive cocktail program that will keep you at the bar for hours. When it comes to wine, sommelier consultants BJ Simmons and Alison Feretti have you equally covered for every mood. Opt for one of the Skaneateles bottles of wine, which I tested very extensively and can confirm is perfect.
A note on private bookings: Across the street, The Allyn Lodge is available for large events, connected to the resort with non-stop shuttles. On-site, there’s a private dining area built around a massive, scene-stealing resin-sealed log table. How they got it in there is not for me to know.
Also worth noting is that inside, you'll find one of the best dirty martinis I’ve had in a while. Pair it with their signature warm nuts drenched in Tap Root’s homemade spicy maple syrup, which is destined to put the hot honey craze to shame once word gets out.
The spa
Unfortunately, when I visited the spa was not yet open, but per my secret backdoor tour of the construction area, it’s everything you could ever need. Think cedar-edged rooms, a choose-your-own-adventure wellness setup, and therapists who’ve been extensively trained and are ready to help with whatever's been ailing you.
The neighborhood
Skaneateles has earned its title as the “Jewel of the Finger Lakes,” which is no small feat among 11 contenders. There are all the classics in this town: mom-and-pop boutiques, a staple pub for a beer and the game on weekends, a restaurant every local has a first-date story about, and a gazebo overlooking the pristine lake that, rumor has it, has seen cameos from celebrities like Blake Lively. What really sold me on the integrity of this small town was watching a local pull up in his top-down ’72 Jeep to the Skaneateles Bakery (decidedly the place to be every morning) and shout to a family walking by: “Hey! Didn’t know you were back in town from college this week. How’s it going?” And in that Friday Night Lights moment, I received all the small-town catharsis I needed.
The service
I think these people are my family now, but I don’t want to overwhelm them. There’s so much attentiveness and wholehearted care that goes into not just showing off, but embodying the resort itself. They’ve built something special, and walking through the lobby every morning felt akin to being the suave, popular quarterback walking down a high school hallway getting fist-bumps from everyone who passes.
For families
This is the kind of resort where I would have made core memories as a kid. Pools, trails, nine-hole putting, a pond (essential for childhood shenanigans), and nightly s’mores by the firepit. There’s also a game room with two racing games, a duck claw machine, and an old-school Pac-Man that was born out of the vision of the owner’s own young daughter. That said, my very-much-adult best friend was lured into the game room on more than one occasion. All roads somehow led back to the game room for him.
Eco effort
Tap Root Fields once again steals the show. During our drive around the farm, we got a look at their regenerative farming practices: They upcycle every possible inch of what they grow and use. They’re local legends in their own right, hosting annual Harvest Parties, teaching local university students, and serving as the stomping grounds of Farmer-Chef Jamie, the quintessential Skaneateles maven famous for his stint at local favorite Rosalie’s restaurant and for being the guy all the new-gen want to impress. For THC connoisseurs: Tap Root Fields is an essential pit-stop. Leave the kids in the game room.
Accessibility
Norman Swanson of the Woodbine Group created a place with two fully accessible staple rooms and designed the entire resort to fix the little irritations he’s encountered at other luxury properties: “Why is this handlebar metal? It should be leathered for a comfortable grip.” “Why is the safe in the closet so high? We can’t reach it.” Every space feels designed by someone who has actually stayed in a hotel before.
Anything left to mention
The resort’s signage is built around a local fox legend, Scout, a frequent visitor to the property. You can spot Scout on signposts throughout the resort. As for the real Scout, I’d rank a sighting high among all the rare, small-town serendipities you’ll get to experience.
1000 Mottville Road, Skaneateles , New York 13152
United States
https://skaneatelesfields.com/
(315) 291-7500