Hotel Kinsley

Hotel Kinsley, nestled in the historic Stockade District of Kingston, NY, has garnered attention as a Michelin Key Selected property, offering a stylish escape in the Catskills & Hudson Valley. Spread across four beautifully restored historic buildings, including a former bank and a pre-Revolutionary War cottage, the hotel is praised for its unique design and central location.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The overall sentiment for Hotel Kinsley is largely positive, with guests frequently describing it as "excellent" and "wonderful." The Michelin Guide awards it a guest score of 19.3 out of 20. While many guests have exceptional experiences, some recurring criticisms, particularly regarding consistency in room experience and breakfast, bring down certain aggregate scores to "good" or "very good."

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently laud Hotel Kinsley for several aspects:

• Design & Vibe: The hotel is celebrated for its modern, stylish, and luxurious interiors, featuring designer furniture, rich Farrow & Ball paints, European-café chairs, and velvet sofas. The design is described as residential, with a relaxed elegance that beautifully blends vintage pieces with custom furniture and original architectural elements. Each of the four historic buildings contributes its own unique charm.
• Location: Its prime location in the heart of historic Kingston makes it highly desirable, offering easy walkability to local shops, restaurants, and art galleries. It serves as an excellent base for exploring the surrounding Catskill Mountains and Hudson River region, including hiking trails, farms, and breweries.
• Service: The staff is frequently praised for being great, friendly, and helpful.
• Amenities: The hotel provides a range of amenities including the impressive Restaurant Kinsley, a well-regarded bar, free in-room WiFi, a gym, sauna, spa services (treatment rooms), and complimentary bicycle rentals. The lobby features a cozy fireplace, and guests can enjoy coffee and tea in common areas.

3. Room Quality

Hotel Kinsley's 42 rooms are spread across its four distinct buildings. Rooms are generally described as lovely, comfortable, clean, spacious, and featuring beautiful, classy, and unique designs with modern furnishings. Key features include premium bedding, excellent mattresses, pillows, and Frette Italian sheets. Bathrooms boast rainfall showers and designer toiletries. Other in-room amenities include laptop-friendly workspaces, free WiFi, air conditioning, mini-fridges, and 42-inch Smart TVs with streaming services like Netflix and Hulu.

However, some guests have reported inconsistencies. Issues with non-functional thermostats leading to freezing rooms, or challenging temperature control with loud external air vents, have been noted. Soundproofing can also be an issue, with guests sometimes hearing noise from common areas, barking dogs, footsteps, or neighboring TVs. The multi-building layout means some rooms are in separate properties, which some guests found hard to locate or less secure, and some of these buildings lack elevators, posing a challenge with heavy luggage. A common minor complaint is the absence of coffee makers in individual rooms, especially for those housed in buildings separate from the main one where breakfast is served.

4. Dining Experience

The Hotel Kinsley's "Restaurant Kinsley" is a significant draw, offering impressive New American fare. This restaurant, a collaboration between highly regarded New York restaurateurs, features a seasonal menu and operates for brunch, lunch, and dinner. The dining room itself is noted for its understated glamour, with terrazzo floors, velvet couches, and unique artwork, creating an inviting atmosphere. The bar also serves the full dinner menu and is praised for its friendly staff.

For breakfast, the hotel provides a complimentary continental offering. While some guests found it "nice," "delicious," "scrumptious," and "fine" with a variety of options like pastries, yogurt, and bagels, others expressed disappointment, calling it "very basic" and wishing for hot food options. There is a discrepancy in information regarding weekday breakfast; one source states continental breakfast is available daily at the 301 Wall Street location, while another indicates no weekday breakfast but a popular weekend brunch. Some guests also mentioned difficulties in finding fresh coffee or proper utensils during breakfast.

5. Service & Staff

The service at Hotel Kinsley consistently receives high marks. Guests frequently highlight the staff as "great," "friendly," and "helpful." Concierge services are available to assist guests. However, one guest noted that staff did not call when their room was ready as promised.

6. Location & Accessibility

Hotel Kinsley is centrally located in Kingston's historic Stockade District, known for its vibrant atmosphere with walkable access to numerous restaurants, shops, and art galleries. It is well-situated for exploring local historical sites such as the Senate House State Historic Site, the Ulster Performing Arts Center, the Old Dutch Church, and the historic Four Corners. The hotel is also an excellent starting point for outdoor activities in the Catskill Mountains and Hudson Valley, including hiking, cycling the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail, and visiting local farms and breweries.

Kingston is approximately 95 miles north of Manhattan, a roughly two-hour drive. Guests can also take an Amtrak service from Penn Station to Rhinecliff, followed by a short taxi ride to the hotel, or utilize Adirondack Trailways bus service directly into Kingston. The hotel offers free private parking for guests, with metered street parking also available. While generally accessible, guests should be aware that some rooms are located in separate buildings a few blocks from the main check-in, which can be challenging to navigate, especially at night. ADA-approved rooms on the ground floor and wheelchair-accessible common areas are available.

7. Value & Pricing

Pricing for Hotel Kinsley can vary significantly, with reported rates starting from around $199.2 per night for two adults. However, some guests expressed concerns about the value, particularly when paying upwards of $600-$700 per night, citing that the provided amenities, especially the basic continental breakfast or rooms in remote buildings without elevators, did not always justify the cost. The Michelin Guide website guarantees the best prices when booking directly.

8. Common Complaints

While generally well-received, Hotel Kinsley has a few recurring issues:

• Inconsistent Room Experience: Guests have reported problems with thermostats (either not working or providing limited control), leading to rooms being too cold. Some also noted dry rooms and noise from an external air vent when windows were open.
• Noise and Soundproofing: Poor soundproofing has been a concern for some, with complaints of hearing noise from common areas, neighboring rooms, barking dogs (the hotel is pet-friendly), footsteps, and TVs.
• Multi-Building Logistics: The spread-out nature of the hotel across multiple buildings means some rooms are off-site, which can be difficult to find or feel less secure. The lack of elevators in some of these buildings poses a challenge for guests with heavy luggage.
• Breakfast Quality & Amenities: While some enjoy the continental breakfast, others found it disappointing, basic, or lacking hot options. Issues with coffee availability and setup were also mentioned. A frequent minor complaint is the absence of coffee makers in guest rooms.
• Maintenance Issues: Occasional reports of issues like cold shower water and cleaning concerns (e.g., lingering hairs from previous guests) have appeared in reviews.
• No Room Service: Guests should be aware that Hotel Kinsley does not offer room service.

Sources

1. michelin.com
2. mrandmrssmith.com
3. hotelkinsley.com
4. visitulstercountyny.com
5. tivoliaudio.com
6. marriott.com
7. expedia.com
8. hotels.com
9. booking.com
10. booking.com
11. thehotelguru.com