Named best boutique hotel in the Hudson Valley for two years in a row, the Diamond Mills Hotel and Tavern has become the place to stay for discerning travelers and visitors to the Hudson Valley.

The Diamond Mills Hotel reveals its charm in layers. The exterior of this luxury boutique hotel pays tribute to its history as a paper mill from the 1800s until the 1970s. Dark brick and paned windows give an air of authenticity and a nod to the history of the location. But step into the charming reception area and you begin to get an inkling of what the Diamond Mills is about: modern luxury, elegance, and impeccable service.

Located in the heart of the quirky historic center of Saugerties in the Hudson Valley, it’s the perfect place for residents of New York City looking for an accessible, upscale, and relaxing getaway, or as a destination for travelers from afar. With the Hudson River on one side and the Catskill Mountains on the other, Saugerties is extremely picturesque and there are plenty of activities to while away a weekend or longer.

At Diamond Mills, there are only thirty rooms - each elegantly decorated with great attention to detail, with fresh cut flowers, fine linens and fabrics, plush duvets, and down pillows. I sank into my bed and slept like a rock (after eating the chocolate truffles that were left by the bedside with turn down service).

Every room also has a private balcony and view of the Esopus Creek Falls. In warmer weather, it would be lovely to leave the door open and fall asleep to the sound of the rushing water.

There were many things to like about my room, but what I liked most was the radiant heating built into the bathroom floor. Especially welcome on a chilly morning in the Hudson Valley, this is a feature I will make note of when I build my dream house.

Wifi is included with the room, along with other thoughtful extras like complimentary bottled water, fresh cream for your coffee, and a selection of local snacks.

If you’re hungry and the snacks aren’t enough, look no further than the Tavern, located adjacent to the hotel.

The Tavern, under the guidance of Executive Chef Giuseppe Napoli, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, is a fine dining experience not to be missed. Traditional dishes like a spinach salad are given a fresh spin, reflecting Chef Napoli’s inherent love and understanding of food.

Complementing the menu is an excellent wine list, with a nice selection curated from a variety of boutique wineries, as well as more known vineyards.

I was invited to try whatever I liked on the menu and decided on several small dishes: the spinach salad, artichoke hearts ,and lobster corn chowder.

Paul, the knowledgeable sommelier, brought me a lovely prosecco to begin and then a Sauvignon Blanc that perfectly complimented everything I ordered.

The most memorable dish I had was the spinach salad; it was simply divine. A layered salad, it contained fresh spinach, a slice of tomato, pancetta, cippolini onions, foccacia crouton, an over easy egg, and was topped with a balsamic glaze. Mmmm, it makes my mouth water just thinking of it.

The Fried Baby Artichokes were served with a Lemon Mint Caper Anchovy Yogurt Dipping Sauce.

The Lobster Corn Chowder was served with an avocado bacon relish. This, for me, could have been a meal in itself; very filling.

For dessert, I chose something Italian - Vanilla Saffron Panna Cotta with strawberry consomme’, basil syrup, and a sweet black pepper crouton. It was a work of art and tasted as good as it looked.

When dining at the Tavern, you have an option of the starkly beautiful dining room with a cozy fireplace, or a more casual setting at the bar. There’s also a lovely outdoor patio overlooking the falls.

Diamond Mills Hotel and Tavern is a unique hotel and dining experience and a great place to base yourself for a romantic weekend, a girls getaway, or a family vacation in the beautiful Hudson Valley. There is also conference center which can seat up to 400 people, as well as a bridal suite and full service catering from the Tavern.

Do book in advance, as Saugerties is home to HITS, a world class horse jumper competition, with events running from May through September.

Penny Sadler is the Style/Travel Editor for Wandering Educators. For more information on traveling in style, please see www.pennysadler.com and http://adventuresofacarryon.com/

All photos courtesy and copyright Penny Sadler and Diamond Mills Hotel and Tavern

Note: My stay at Diamond Mills was sponsored by Ulster County Tourism. All opinions expressed are my own.