One of my favorite things to do as I adventure is to check out new, different, quirky, odd, boutique hotels. There is something memorable about staying at an unusual accommodation that can make a trip stand out in your memory.
During our weekend jaunt to Montclair, New Jersey this past weekend, we had the opportunity to stay at The George, a grand Georgian Inn built in 1902 and transformed by husband and wife team, Steven Plofker and Bobbie Brown in 2012.
The exterior is fairly unassuming, and even a little staid and stuffy. That impression is immediately altered when you enter the building.
The lobby is flanked by photos of famous Georges: George Washington, George Foreman, George Harrison, and George Clinton. At the reception desk, another gallery wall of George’s taxes your recollection. You’ll spot George Clooney, George Carlin, George Burns (my personal favorite!), and George Hamilton to name a few.
Across from reception, is the most inviting library with a roaring fireplace. It is warm and inviting no matter the time of day. I found a couple of lovely spots to work on my laptop, uninterrupted, during the day.
The gorgeous paneling in the library hides one special treat, the Candy Closet. If you go, be sure to ask about this at the reception desk. I’m a neat freak and the lovely organization of this closet was a delight!
Lest you be worried the George theme is carried too far, it stops in the lobby. However, each room is named, rather than numbered. The friendly and helpful Franz who checked us in put us in the Nancy room. And guess what! We were surrounded by Nancy(s)! The giant print of Nancy Sinatra over the bed was a highlight for us both.
The room had a lovely wet bar with Nespresso coffee machine and Smeg refrigerator. Perfect for having morning coffee or for keeping a few snacks cold for general noshing. The bathroom was small but tidy and efficient. Our room only had a shower, but we checked and confirmed that baths are available in some rooms in each tier. Bonus: if you’re a hairdryer user (which I am not), they stock a Dyson hairdryer in the room.
Most importantly for me, the room was dark and the Casper mattress, though firmer that our mattresses at home, was quite comfortable.
The sites I looked at indicated that there was NOT a gym (you know I prefer onsite gyms when I travel), but we happened across the owners when we first arrived and they mentioned a peloton gym onsite. If you go look for Jim (Gym), you will find not only a peloton cycle and treadmill, but a lovely array of Jims, James and Jamies adorning the walls.
To top is all off, a lovely continental breakfast is served in the ground floor Alex room with some of the tastiest bagels and grapefruit we’ve eaten in a while. If you’d rather eat at a local establishment, we walked a few blocks to Toast and enjoyed some really delicious food.
BOTTOM LINE: This quirky hotel has just the right blend of luxury and weirdness to suits us both.
Here are the pros:
- Free parking
- Peloton gym
- An amazing breakfast spread
- Fast wifi
- Well appointed rooms
- Friendly and accommodating staff
- Easy walking to many places to eat and shop in Montclair
- Near my favorite hair salon (Vanity Salon)
- Bonus: You’re likely to meet a lot of Georges. We met two (besides the one I brought with me). One was a human, one was a french bulldog.
Cons:
I’ve wracked my brains and I honestly can’t come up with any. I’d happily stay here again and I’m not personally prone to wanting to revisit some place I’ve stayed before. It hit all of the right notes in luxury, effortless charm, quirkiness and elegance.
I defy you to NOT want to make an entrance or strike a pose on this staircase!
Photo Credit: @mobtowngeorge
