Mohonk Mountain House

This is not my first stay at a high-end “luxury” hotel so I’m writing this from that perspective. There are really odd disconnects across the board. The valets who greeted us - awesome. Wouldn’t change a thing. Friendly, down-to-Earth, efficient, asked all the right questions and gave all the right guidance as to next steps. Check-in: bizarre. There was a woman whose job must’ve been to greet guests and keep everyone moving along, but nothing. “Checking in or out?” She asked. “In.” Then nothing. The queue was non-existent and it was just a mass of people. It was also a ‘kids stay free’ weekend and completely chaotic. When we got to the desk, the young man was civil, but robotic; and he was the best of the bunch. We had booked a suite for a few grand for just 3 days and two nights. It was our first trip in six years so we decided to splurge. The place is confusing and although they give you one paper map of the place at check-in, the signage inside the hotel is sparse to say the least. Nothing in the elevators. The place is palatial and it wouldn’t hurt to have a discreet and stylish version of a mall map (trust me - it’s complex enough to warrant it). I get they don’t want to ruin any of the history, but at the same time - they could find nuanced ways to enhance the visitor experience on that front. As far as ambiance, it’s beautiful old world charm…with more bare bulb fixtures blaring at you than you could ever imagine. At the time, that was the best you could do after gas light fixtures. But if the place evolved from gas light to bare bulbs (as they became available), I’d suggest it’s time for your next advancement because the bare bulb thing - is abrasive and overwhelming - every corridor, every room, the main gathering places. An endless sea of lightbulbs. And dust! I’m 6’4” and I don’t think anything was dusted over the height of 5’10”. Cobwebs on our bathroom light fixtures, that sort of thing. Was just unexpected. And clutter on all the hallway windowsills every day. As they’d service a room, they’d use the windowsills in the corridors to pile napkins, used dishes, etc. Really took away from the character and views. Services - the spa was great! Two of the best massages I’ve ever had - but the culture in the spa was completely different from the main building and the dining areas to the point I was left wondering if indeed it’s run as a completely separate business; it felt that way. Breakfast and lunch felt as if we were on a cruise ship, with fewer choices. We arrived mid day and our first meal was lunch. The food was barely warm. The only hot thing we had was the soup - which was delicious. Then came dinner. When we booked the suite, they made SUCH A FUSS about men wearing collared shirts, slacks, and proper shoes to dinner. We have friends who stayed here years ago and they wouldn’t seat the husband unless he changed into slacks. So we took it seriously and packed accordingly. Seated next to us was a guy in a hoodie, blue jeans, and sneakers. If you’re not going to enforce your rules, don’t make guests feel badly and force them to pack according to a policy you don’t bother enforcing. You made this guest resentful and left a bad impression. Room service - inconsistent experience. First time, great. Second time, we asked for tea for two; chamomile. “Oh, we can’t do that unless you buy a box.” So we had to buy like a dozen pouches of Egyptian chamomile tea in a wooden box. Ridiculous. I could walk into any office break room in America and get a couple bags of chamomile tea. We ordered coffee the next morning - no one answers the phone in room service BTW - you have to leave a message, then they may or may not call your room back (and wake everyone up) so you can confirm what you already left in your message. Waited an hour - nothing ever showed up. Went to breakfast, came back to the room and room service had cleared the prior night’s tea service, but we left a note not to leave the coffee in case they ever showed up. Weird and not the glitzy experience they advertise and charge for. So in the end, everything was disjointed. I wasn’t going to go into all this detail, but when I told a friend about some of these oddities, she said “After a hundred years, you’d think they’d have it all worked out by now.” And she’s right - after a 100 years, I’d think they’d have it all worked out by now. The grounds - so impressive and beautiful. But I wouldn’t go back. Do a day trip. You’ll get the best of everything.

I was hesitant to embark on this three night trip to Mohonk Mountain House arranged by my girlfriend. I was very pleasantly surprised. Let’s start with the food. All reservations include three meals per day. There are several options for each meal. It’s too much food, but it is delicious. For breakfast, you can dine in the Main dining room and have your choice of many delectable options. I had a lobster omelette, eggs Benedict, and a vegetarian omelette. All three were outstanding. They also were able to prepare my Bulletproof coffee, which is part of my keto diet. You can also eat in the Lake Lounge where there is a complete buffet including scrambled eggs. Having had a complete breakfast each day, lunch was unnecessary, but it was included. Again you can eat in the Main dining room where there are a variety of tasty options from which to choose. Lunch includes a starter, an entrée and dessert. I particularly enjoyed the gazpacho and lobster salad. Everything I ordered was great. The desserts especially are wonderful at Mohonk Mountain House. Or you can go to the Granary, which is an outdoor buffet-style area with picnic tables. There you can order hotdogs, hamburgers, mushroom burgers, vegetarian burgers or a pulled meat barbecue sandwich. There are a variety of salads and fruit options. For dessert you have your choice of cakes, cookies, brownies or ice cream. I could have eaten there every day. We had dinner at three different venues. The main dining room is almost gourmet standard fare. The starters, entrées and desserts were all excellent. Another night we ate at the Pavilion, which was the potential bad weather option for the Granary. Again, it’s buffet style with your choice of different cookout options. There were also crabcakes, mussels, salmon, cold salads, vegetables, and a carving station. Desserts are similar to the lunch options of cakes, pies and ice cream. My only complaint was that we went on the late side and some of the food in the chafing dishes was cold and we were rushed to leave. If you go to the Granary for dinner, go early. Our final dining destination was the West dining room, which is a much smaller room than the Main dining room and, I believe, serves a slightly different menu. Nevertheless, my girlfriend’s pasta and my steak were excellent as were the desserts. Dining at Mohonk Mountain House is a treat. Be prepared to put on some pounds. There are plenty of things to do at Mohonk Mountain House. There is a relatively new spa with indoor pool, swimming and boating at the Lake, which is directly next to the hotel. There are tennis courts, a basketball court, volley ball, discus golf, and a playground. At the bottom of the mountain, Mohonk has a nine hole golf course. It is short, but very challenging with narrow fairways, blind shots, major elevation changes and some severely sloped greens. Our room was spacious enough with a balcony and rocking chairs overlooking the rear side putting green and a view of the lake. Tipping is included in your room rate and the staff is extremely friendly and helpful. I will compare it to the training received by Ritz Carlton employees. Despite the relatively expensive accommodations, There were plenty of families with children there. They claim they have been sold out since January 1., which is a great thing since it means they can retain their employees throughout the year. I give Mohonk House a big thumbs up.

I'm reluctant to write this because I would love to keep this gem a secret but their service and facilities are so consistently wonderful that feel I owe the family and staff a review. Bravo for doing an amazing job, for keeping a historic property in pristine condition, and for maintaining an oasis of calm in a world that is increasingly chaotic. I wish they needed an in-house eye doctor because I would live there in a heartbeat.

Magical place to stay. Beautiful crackling fire at night and lovely view from the balcony. The service is top notch and the spa is a relaxing way to spend the day. The all inclusive aspect really allows for such a pleasant experience. Food is abundant.

I've been to Mohonk several times now (8 I believe) from 2018 through 2023 - most recently a stay in December 2023, with another stay coming up very soon in March. It is an absolutely wonderful EXPERIENCE (not just a place to rest your head), and I can't recommend it enough. I'd start my review by saying if you are looking for an ultra-sleek, high-tech, modern resort with flat screen TVs and late night theme parties with booze, Mohonk is NOT for you. What Mohonk is: somehow both elegant and rustic in appearance (think Victorian castle or ski lodge, not space station); removed from the hustle and bustle and REALLY leaning into a restful, peaceful atmosphere (those "slowly and quietly please" signs on the way up the mountain mean something!); for people who really ENJOY nature and want to spend most of their time embracing it (hiking, ice skating outdoors in winter, paddle boating in summer/early fall, etc.); a cozy, winding place with lots of little nooks and crannies and fireplaces (and yes, it smells like firewood) to relax and read or knit/whatever in. It is 100% a luxury resort - but their take on it is unique and emphasizes service, food, high-quality experiences, and a culture / state of being. It is NOT about the trappings in your guest room. I've had the privilege to go at different times of year (July, September, December, March, April) - many of my stays have been in winter/early spring. Because this is off-season, you do tend to get a better rate/discount, so that's a pro tip! But I also REALLY love that it is a bit quieter (definitely more kids and families in spring/summer/early fall), and the holiday décor in December is truly one-of-a-kind and puts me in SUCH a festive spirit. You could argue that there's "more" to do in summer with the lake-related activities, but they do such a great job in winter as well if you bundle up. I know many of the reviews comment on the price point - again, really check those specials, they are quite decent! - but I would encourage folks to remember that ALL of the meals are included (and of truly wonderful quality), they pay their staff (all of whom I have found to be pleasant, helpful, and welcoming - shout out to Darryl at the desk) a decent wage; and they curate some truly enjoyable activities regardless of the season (trivia and the live music performances have always been spot on to me). If you don't enjoy the outdoors or the tranquility experiences (like meditation), I could see why you might feel that the price tag is steep - but again, this feels like not picking the right destination for your needs. Some additional thoughts - the spa is REALLY wonderful (yes, it's one of the things with an extra price, but I think well worth it if you plan to spend a few hours there on either side of your treatment). The staff are LOVELY (already said that, but for real). The food has always been delicious - ONE meal (and I do mean only one), I ordered something that just wasn't to my taste. It wasn't bad, but it just wasn't for me. My server noticed and offered to bring me something else, which was much appreciated. The trails are well-groomed and generally well-labeled. The meditation sessions in particularly are REALLY wonderful, so try to make it to one of those. The guest rooms are quaint - I think they're in the process of renovating them, and I do at some point look forward to seeing a renovated room that still captures the essence of the place with some updates! SOME PRO TIPS: 1) You do need to make meal reservations for lunch & dinner (they recently lifted that for breakfast), and they now send a reminder email to you to do so. The prime time slots for dinner DO book out fast, so get on that. 2) It can take a bit of time for fist-timers to get their bearings - but they have maps, a concierge who is lovely, and a VERY helpful board in the lobby near the check in desk to look at what's coming up - but I definitely had the feeling the first time I went that I had NO clue where I was going at first. 3) I strongly recommend reviewing the website before arrival, just so you can really hit the ground running and embrace all that they have to offer. My first trip was for a work retreat and I had very little idea what to expect; in retrospect, I feel like I burned my first day a bit by not having a full understanding of what lay in store! 4) You can ask for a box at lunch time (when the buffet is occurring) if you are still quite full from breakfast and want to take something tasty home for yourself on your departure day. A frequent visitor told me this on my last stay, and I was deeply appreciative - my eyes are often too big for my stomach during breakfast time! 5) Coffee & tea are available pretty much the entire day in the lake side lounge - I don't think it's well noted online, but for those that were frustrated, it's definitely there. I think they've also started keeping out some fruit throughout the day for a grab and go bite in the late afternoon. 6) Do the Eagle Cliff Hike IMMEDIATELY - it's stellar. 7) In addition to your dessert at dinner from the menu, ask about the ice cream - that is a dark horse, it is so good and I hadn't tried it until my most recent stay. 8) Yes, the alcohol costs extra money - I find the bar tenders to have a GENEROUS pour, though. But. You could quite easily bring a bottle of wine with you in your bag and have yourself a night cap if you'd rather not pay. If I HAD to pick areas for improvement - and I find this to be REALLY nitpicky - I would say: 1) a FEW of the trails could use some updated markers/signage (especially those closer down towards the gatehouse). I had my map from the front desk and felt fine, though - even hiking alone as a woman. 2) consider allowing guests to move their departure day lunch to their arrival day lunch upon request - I've seen that review a LOT and I get it, some folks would rather hit the road bright and early to go home. Alternative, maybe offer a discounted rate for the lunch on arrival day for those overnight guests coming earlier on check in day. 3) MAYBE some ambient tunes in the dining room at lunch/dinner would be nice - I have been on a night where they had a band playing during dinner and it was AMAZING. 4) MAYBE consider a last-minute, SAME-DAY spa pass (on a first-come, first-serve basis) to access the spa amenities without a treatment if there's a day with fewer reservations. I totally get keeping it exclusive and not wanting it to be too crowded, so maybe only doing this on the occasional day when there's fewer bookings - that might meet in the middle of less expensive access without overcrowding the facilities. 5) The pool is a LITTLE chilly - I saw that review a few times as well, and do agree that most guests (except kids who are just ecstatic about a pool) would find it brisk. All in all, it is a wonderful stay for a very specific type of guest!

Overall excellent experience and would highly recommend spent a weekend in the winter. who its good for: couples, family get togethers (tons of activities for kids), there were corporate events there as well Service: staff were friendly, knowledgeable and went above and beyond. I have never seen so many staff in a resort. Anytime I needed anything I was able to find someone quickly and all telephone requests were responded quickly. (our request for fires to be started in our room took < 5 minutes for someone to be at the door). they were also able to change our meal reservations multiple times. the hiking guides were knowledge and provided a great time. Resort: gives off old school vibes surrounded in a picture perfect location. everything is wood, carpeted but immaculately maintained. no old carpet smell. no dust on anything. (again the staff here are amazing). the resort has plenty of nooks with small tables, comfy chairs often incorporating gorgeous lookouts. on ground and first floor there are plenty balconies with rocking chairs for you to relax. it takes ~ 1 day to find your bearings given all the different locations but plenty of staff are around to help out. there are plenty of hiking trails, outdoor winter activities (snow tubing, skating, organized hikes, smores). free wifi, valet parking as well. Rooms: we had a beautiful suite overlooking the catskills. we had 3 large windows + balcony doors with epic views of the sunset. the room had an old world charm and nice touches (shower cap, q tips, cotton balls). also had a fridge, safe, desk, 2 large chairs and comfy couch. only thing it didnt have was a TV. we loved the fire place the staff would bring wood, matches and light it for us every night. water pressure was great. plenty of towels. every floor had water + ice easily available. we were able to hear people outside in the morning but given multiple exits on the floors this was a rare occurrence. Activities: where they really shine. tons of activities for kids and adults. we tried indoor archery (good for 1 hour), snow tubing (yes you have to climb up the hill but it wasnt bad and the hill was fast), ice skating, tons and tons of hiking (they offer free snow spikes for your shoes due to icy trails). the resort is large and the trails are wide and easily marked. they also had nighttime activities of magic shows, bands with live music, art and movies. we didnt have a chance to check out the gym classes but they have tons of yoga, pilates, meditation. also indoor heated pool we didnt have a chance to go to. definitely more to do in the summer (lake opens up with kayaking, boating, swimming, certain hiking trails and scrambles open) but apparently that is peak season for kids/families. the lounge also has board games and a few TVs. Food: we looooved brunch. it was AYCE and absolutely delicious. the fried chicken, pancakes, breakfast potatoes, apple tart, desserts, seafood, vegetables were fantastic. this could have been our only meal of the day but we did eat dinner. dinner was more restaurant style - you can order multiple appetizers. most things were delicious but they did have a few misses. overall Brunch >>> dinner. they also had coffee /tea/fruit out in the main lounge room during the day and cookie/tea hour at 4pm. alcohol is not included (they do offer free cocktail during the cocktail class at the bar). Price: we paid ~ $750 per night / per person. this included food, most activities (not spa), parking, tips (except for some small tips for cleaning, room service etc). yes it is expensive but the staff went above and beyond and its worth the price. overall we had a relaxing weekend filled with delicious food, amazing views and great hiking with guided activities. would definitely come back during the summer/fall (during the week to beat the crowds!).

First day here. Valet staff is super wonderful. But noise is loud and chaotic and it doesn't feel very restful like a spa should . Fitness classes are terrible- you shouldn't expect to get a good workout in. And you can't expect them to give you the class that was posted. The yoga instructor decides that she is going to do the class listed and does something entirely different. Also they have very few classes here when compared to Canyon Ranch. If you are looking for a restful and relaxing vacation "away from the real world " DO NOT GO HERE. Go to Canyon Ranch in Lennox , MA. They have a significantly greater array of fitness classes and spa treatments. And it feels like a spa should - relaxing, peaceful, quiet... Also the rooms are old, and the food selection is not very varied. Definitely not as good as Canyon Ranch. Only positives are valet staff and location - it is pretty here!

A wonderful place and a restorative experience. Everything here is so well done. Attentive staff, beautiful environment and accommodation. The spa is out of this world and the food is plentiful, varied and gourmet! We had a lake view room with a balcony and fireplace. Staff will lay/light a fire for you. A made-to-order snowfall occurred during our stay, which blanketed everything outdoors beautifully and then, dutifully, disappeared in time for our traveling home! Every nook and cranny (and we didn’t get anywhere NEAR seeing everything!) of this resort is interesting, beautiful and useful for relaxation and enjoyment! Don’t be spooked by nightly rate! Remember, all meals are included and there is no tipping expected, here. Truly all inclusive! Don’t miss this. We will be back!

The hotel and grounds are truly magical. We arrived the day after it snowed so we were treated to a frosting that made our stay even more special than we had expected. The service was outstanding and the food was top notch. The hotel continues to maintain its elegance and beauty without being stuffy. Every piece of furniture is clean and polished, and our room was lovely overlooking the lake. Yes it’s pricey but I still can’t wipe the smile off my face so it was worth every penny.

Been there a couple times. To all the bad reviews (boy I hope they read this) you sound like miserable people! EVERY person on the staff was nothing but courteous and helpful to me. Ever hear the saying, you get what you give? it's in a song, maybe listen to some music, it might chill you out. Don't treat people badly and expect great service! someday you'll run into me, and I'll grab you by your collar and throw you out after I make you apologize for being miserable. I am in no way, connected to Mohonk, just tired of miserable little crybabies. If you read this and it offends you, well then, you know you're one.