Why book?
It’s an inn in the truest sense—with elegant yet cozy spaces for reading or striking up a game of chess, staff eager to guide you in discovering the area’s gems, and imaginative food right on the premises.
Set the scene
This isn’t just another upstate resort for someone seeking more amenities than they even knew existed, soundbathing included. The Henson is meant to be a relaxing escape from the chaos of the city and one could easily spend a day reading on the roof with a view of the Catskills Mountains, sitting in the gardens with your morning coffee and cinnamon roll (from Paracasa, the team’s general store meets café down the road), reading a coffee-table book in the living room on topics like how to grow roses, and eating at the hotel’s restaurant Matilda or Day June Luncheonette down the hill. But it isn’t one of those hotels that you’ll never leave. It attracts a design-interested and food-inclined crowd (owned as it is by two acclaimed restaurateurs and two Instagram famous home remodelers). The carefully curated guide to the area which you’ll receive upon check-in is made for those eager to explore the hidden gems of the area between meals.
The backstory
Chefs Jeremiah Stone and Fabián von Hauske Valtierra met Ely and Danielle Franko years ago after many meals at their New York restaurant Contra. The Frankos, also known as The Hunter Houses on Instagram, have been converting cottages into beautiful Airbnbs since 2016 and in 2021, found a 12,000-square-foot run-down hotel in the hamlet of Hensonville, New York. The Frankos knew that they could focus on the design, but needed to recruit their two friends and restaurant experts to spearhead the dining program. The foursome bought the building in a four-way equal partnership and spent almost three years restoring the property (the Frankos lived onsite with their two children during this process), building out the restaurant Matilda, and opening their other two food businesses Paracasa and Day June Luncheonette down the hill (which opened in 2022 and 2023, respectively).
The rooms
There are 16 rooms in the inn, and they’re meant to feel more like bedrooms than hotel rooms. Each has a king-size bed with a Casper mattress, custom The Henson robes and Frette towels, a frame TV, Marshall speakers, Grown Alchemist products, and a lot of natural light. There are framed still lifes on the walls and leafy plants in every corner. The Cozy is a great room option for solo travelers or a couple looking for a lower price point (there’s still a large bathroom and walk-in closet), while The Garden Suites have enough space to settle in, bring a friend, and stay a while. The Balcony Rooms each have access to the shared front balcony fit with two chairs, a table, and mint green planters, perfect for a morning read and pastry. If you’re a sucker for a view, the aptly-named Juliets each have a Juliet balcony that overlooks the gardens and mountains, while The Third Floor rooms, also known as the honeymoon rooms, have extra large bathrooms and a ton of sunlight.
Food and drink
The Henson is for the eater. There’s the restaurant Matilda downstairs, offering inventive fare inspired by the region from New York chefs Jeremiah Stone and Fabián Von Hauske Valtierra. Like their New York restaurants Wildair and Bar Contra, you absolutely cannot miss the desserts and should order all three at any given time—like strawberry granita and potato mousse or chocolate mousse with candied hazelnuts and maple caramel crunch. There’s also a bar adjacent to Matilda with its own separate menu. Breakfast will be offered to inn guests only in the private dining room, which is also available to rent out for events. Down the hill, the team owns both Day June Luncheonette, serving diner-style breakfast and lunch (don’t miss the cheddar melt pancakes, corned beef hash, or breakfast wrap), and Paracasa, a general store with pantry staples and giant cinnamon rolls worth lining up for right at 10 a.m. to get them hot. If you’d rather not leave the premises for a snack, there’s also an Honor Bar next to the living room filled with refreshments like Ghia and a custom beer designed in collaboration with a local brewery, plus sweet and salty snacks. You never have to leave the one block radius of Hensonville to eat very well during your stay.
The neighborhood/area
Hensonville is a tiny hamlet of Windham in the middle of the Catskills with a population of just 378 people. It’s quiet in a good way. You’re just minutes from both Windham and Hunter Mountains, which means close access to skiing in the winter and hiking in the summer at Kaaterskill Falls and Sunset Rock. Plus, you’re only 35 minutes from Hudson and 50 minutes from Kingston. We highly recommend taking advantage of the spacious free parking lot by driving or renting a car to explore the area.
The service
The service is both welcoming and warm yet hands-off when you want it to be. Upon check-in, guests receive an illustrated guide to the Catskills with recommendations from the team on where to eat, where to hike, and where to drink in the area. (We followed the guide’s suggestion to hit West Kill Brewery, which was a highlight of our trip.) The staff is also quick to offer assistance in securing a reservation for dinner at Matilda or booking the wellness room, which has an infrared sauna facing the mountains and a small area with workout equipment.
For families
Kids are welcome—you might even meet the owner Ely and Danielle’s two young kids hanging behind the front desk—but it’s definitely a quieter property. That being said, there’s a firepit for s’mores in the garden, board games in the living room, and rooms large enough to accommodate additional family members. Well-behaved dogs are welcome, too; there is a $50 nightly fee per dog (up to two per room), and pups are given a Lay Lo dog bed and food and water bowls to use during the stay.
Accessibility
As the property is a restored inn, the rooms and amenities are not ADA accessible and require stairs.
Anything left to mention?
It’s an inn and the old structure was kept intact, so don’t be surprised if you hear dog paws or steps from the room above you or a closing door to the roof deck.
