After a few days rain at Bear Mountain Inn in New York, we packed up the convertible for the long drive to Lexington, Massachusetts. I drove the 3 1/2 hours while Danielle slept as we continued our Northeast road trip (aka #TwoChicksAndARoadTrip), before finally arriving in Massachusetts at the Inn at Hastings Park.
Why Lexington? Known as the birthplace of American Liberty, this is where the Lexington Minute Men confronted the British and where the first shots of the American Revolutionary War were fired in 1775, all of which was only footsteps away from where we would be spending the night.
Situated in this historic town of Lexington and only 15 miles from Boston, the Inn at Hastings Park offers guests a boutique inn experience where you might not ordinarily expect one. As someone who loves surprises, this was one of the best surprises on our trip.
As soon as you arrive, you realize you’re somewhere special. From the large historic property with amazing rooftop ironwork to the manicured gardens, the hotel’s exterior is stately and magnificent.
Don’t fool yourself into believing you’re entering yet another New England B&B. There’s nothing ordinary about the 22-room Inn at Hastings Park. After all it’s the first Boston area hotel to have been accepted into Relais & Châteaux, the world’s most prestigious hospitality association.
While the well thought out decor at the Inn at Hastings Park is like something from a magazine, it still manages to remain cozy and inviting.
Maybe you don’t feel siting in your room? Come downstairs and enjoy a cup of coffee or a book and relax. If you do want to venture outside, guests are invited to borrow one of the complimentary loaner bikes.
I definitely appreciated the many details through the Inn at Hastings Park. From the interesting lighting choices, wallpaper, and furniture, you can tell that the owner, Trisha Pérez Kennealy, a trained chef with an M.B.A from Harvard., worked hard to create a remarkable hotel that is unlike any place I’ve ever visited.
Even the check in area is unusual and yet comfortable. Usually the check in process at a hotel means a sterile cookie cutter environment, but that’s not the case here. I keep saying comfortable because that’s exactly how it felt. It was if I was visiting a friend whose home I envied as it was so well decorated, but still left me at ease. I don’t think any of this was done unintentionally and that only adds to the appeal of the Inn at Hastings Park.
After checking in we learned that we weren’t going to be staying inside the main building, but in the historic barn nearby. We walked a few steps across from where we parked our car and up a flight of stairs to room 22.
Our Junior Suite was a patriotic winner of a room. Remember, we are in Lexington, the birthplace of the American Revolution and the decor of the room perfectly reflects this.
The 400+ sq. ft. suite features a huge King bed with Frette linens, a fireplace, and a state-of-the-art sleeper sofa. The staff member that helped us with our bags offered to have someone come make up the sleeper sofa, which I politely declined. However, within minutes a young staff member came and made up my bed. When I say that the bed was made better than any bed I have ever slept in, I’m not kidding. It was so beautifully done I didn’t want to sleep in it. The corners on the bed were so perfect it made me feel a little envious that I’ve never learned to make a bed like that. This only proves how important excellence is to the staff at the Inn at Hastings Park. I will forever remember this bed and the service I received and I will hold all other beds, as well as service, to this standard.
I will forever remember this bed and the service I received at the Inn at Hastings Park and I will hold all other beds, as well as service, to this standard.Click To Tweet
The spacious marble bathroom was my favorite part of the suite as it featured a huge soaking tub and a walk in spa-inspired rain shower.
Although we’d arrived into Lexington later than we planned, we still wanted to go out and explore. We ditched the car and requested an Uber and decided on Waxy O’Connors, a “modern Irish bar” in Lexington. It was a quiet Monday evening, but the trivia game served as entertainment while enjoying a drink (or two). My cocktail was the refreshing Cucumber Basil Smash and we devoured an order of Loaded Tots (Tater tots topped with cheese, scallions, jalapeno and ranch dressing – minus the bacon). With nothing in our stomachs we knew drinks and no food was a bad idea.
The next morning I had to search under the massive duvet to look for Danielle as she seemed to have mysteriously disappeared in her big, comfy bed. I was hungry and we were both ready for breakfast at Artistry on the Green, the award winning restaurant at the Inn at Hastings Park. With a focus on fresh and seasonal ingredients, it’s no surprise that it won Best Restaurant (West of Boston) in Boston Magazine‘s Best of Boston 2016.
I was all about something sweet and I wasn’t disappointed with the buttermilk pancakes with orange butter and native maple syrup. They were picture perfect, light and fluffy, and the unexpected addition of the orange butter was intriguing and delightful.
My pancakes came with a side of hash browns big enough to feed an entire family, but I didn’t object. They were super crispy on the outside, tasted delicious and were the perfect pairing for the sweet pancakes. I could hardly move away from the table when it came time to leave.
Before breakfast we loaded up the car, so after checking out we spent a few minutes on the porch listening to a man playing his guitar with a symphony of birds chirping in the background.
Between the exemplary service, the beautifully designed inn, the restaurant, and a spectacular location, the Inn at Hastings Park surprised me and in a really good way. For anyone looking for a boutique experience with outstanding hospitality in the Boston area, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the Inn at Hastings Park.
The Inn at Hastings Park
2027 Massachusetts Ave, Lexington, MA 02421
On day ten we drive from Lexington to Salem. Check out the many pics of our trip by reading all of the road trip posts and also searching the hashtag, #TwoChicksAndARoadTrip on Twitter, Instagram, and FaceBook.
While I was generously provided discounted accommodations and breakfast at The Inn at Hastings Park, all opinions and photographs, unless otherwise noted, are my own.