A Return to GrayBarns

Given how memorable GrayBarns was back in 2018, it was an easy call putting it back on the itinerary for this getaway. It was our first stop before Kenoza Hall, which I wrote about here last week.

GrayBarns sits on the Silvermine River, about an hour outside New York City in Silvermine, CT. The history goes back to the 17th century, when the area was a village meeting place and GrayBarns itself worked as an artist outpost and stagecoach stop.

The building started as a small textile factory around the turn of the 19th century, became a speakeasy in the 1920s, then went legitimate after Prohibition ended. By the 1960s it was a classic country inn, with guests including Elizabeth Taylor, Spencer Tracy, and Lauren Bacall.

The cozy common area where you check in/out.

Today GrayBarns is made up of an Inn, Tavern, and Mercantile, all on the same property. What was originally the tavern now houses the Inn, renovated back to something closer to its original stately structure, wide porches, tall columns, set on a bluff overlooking Guthrie Pond.

There are six king suites, each with its own bedroom, living area, and full bath with a soaking tub. You can also get a massage right in your room if you want one.

We stayed in the Hutchens room last time, and the Addison this time.

LARQ Water Bottle, The Untethered Soul, Do/ Present/, Chanel 19 Bag

Breakfast in included with the room, and is absolutely scrumptious.

The Tavern sits right next to Guthrie Pond, and it's known for its atmosphere and more intimate dining setup, but we played it safe and ordered room service instead, given Covid. The food itself is comfort food done well, built around seasonal ingredients from local farms and purveyors.

Wearing Moncler Simone Rocha Coat, Uniqlo x Jil Sander Sweater, The Row Boots, Chanel Bag, Maison Michel Cap

A lot of the homeware in the rooms is actually for sale across the street at Graygoods, a newly renovated country store. Worth popping over for coffee, or to buy the exact pieces you liked in your room.

An artist residency.

We drove into town and stopped at Terrain, a huge plant and home goods store that I'm pretty sure used to be a car dealership.

Picked up a little olea europaea tree to take home!

Something about arriving at GrayBarns just makes you slow down almost immediately.

Thank you to GrayBarns on the Silvermine River for having us again.