The Berkshires Hotels|Lenox, Massachusetts, United States

Wheatleigh

Name: Wheatleigh
Telephone: 413-637-0610

Italian-revival splendor in the Berkshires

VERIFIED LUXURY

Learn How We Inspect

Nestled in the heart of the Berkshires among a forest of tall evergreens and flanked by mountains is Wheatleigh, a 19-room Italian-revival resort steeped in history, architecture and atmosphere. The short drive from the street to the hotel’s horseshoe-shaped driveway is just enough to make you forget you’re in New England (it’s just two and a half hours from Boston and New York).

Wheatleigh, originally a house purchased by New York business and real estate tycoon Henry Cook in 1893, is a palazzo-inspired palace. More than 150 artisans came from Italy to create the intricate carvings you’ll see adorning the exterior and interior of the hotel.

Inside Wheatleigh, each room is architecturally different, but they all feature the same high-tech amenities and modern-day luxuries, like Bang & Olufsen entertainment systems, free Wi-Fi and Bose Bluetooth speakers.

Our Inspector's Highlights

Don’t miss the opportunity to try seasonal, locally sourced cuisine in The Portico by Jeffrey Thompson, though you’ll want to sip champagne in the Great Room before your multi-course dinner.
The original architecture from the home has been preserved and restored, so you’ll enjoy high ceilings with etched detail and stunning surfaces that immediately transport you to another time and place.
Much of the décor you’ll find throughout is one of a kind and sourced exclusively for the hotel; more than 150 artisans came from Italy to craft the ornate carvings you’ll see inside and outside Wheatleigh.
Culture vultures will love the Wheatleigh’s remote location next to Tanglewood, the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
One look at Wheatleigh and you’ll forget you’re in New England. The house, which was originally built in 1893 by business and real estate mogul Henry H. Cook as a wedding gift for this daughter, is reminiscent of an Italian palazzo.

Things to Know

There’s no spa on site, but Wheatleigh will arrange for therapists to accommodate traditional in-room treatments, like massages and reflexology.
Before Wheatleigh became a luxury hotel, it was a 19th-century home. That explains why no two rooms in the hotel are exactly alike.
Be sure to look up as you’re walking through the hotel. Some of the chandeliers and light fixtures, as well as the etched archways and rounded doorways, were part of the original building.

The Rooms

Each of the 19 rooms and suites at Wheatleigh offer a different layout. However, the guest rooms and suites feature similar décor — a sophisticated ambiance with soothing brown, blue and yellow tones.
All rooms are equipped with BeoVision 7 Entertainment Systems, Bang & Olufsen electronics and cashmere- and wool-lined throws for your comfort.
You’ll find a tub-and-shower combination in every room and suite, though some have a separate claw-foot tub for a luxurious soak. Bathrooms are stocked with all the necessary amenities, including a choose-your-own shampoo and conditioner.
The guest rooms all have different views, so be sure to specify if you want a park, courtyard or mountain vista when making your reservation.

The Restaurants

The Portico by Jeffrey Thompson serves dinner each night in an intimate setting overlooking the hotel’s grandiose landscaped lawns.
The restaurant seats about 40 to 45 guests at one time in either the main room or the hotel’s elegant back deck, which is glassed-in to provide comfort year-round. On the deck, you’ll feel as if you’re dining in a private garden, while the dining room feels a bit more formal.
Chef Jeffrey Thompson oversees the menu, much of which features locally sourced fruit, vegetables and cheeses in a three- or four-course prix-fixe or six-course tasting format.
Expect dishes like grilled scallops with scarlet turnips and yellow carrots, rabbit with a rutabaga and spinach dumpling, and French veal with white asparagus and morels.
If you’re looking for something a little less formal, try The Lounge for weekend brunch or dinner. You’ll find everything from a prosciutto and mushroom flatbread to beefy sliders with tomato jam.

Amenities