Ali M.
Google
The Darby is a remarkable story of a comeback and is a lovely getaway that we hope to return to for years to come. The hotel has under 40 rooms I believe, creating a real community atmosphere. It felt like old school catskills. Guests are encouraged to hang out in the common spaces, and I had many pleasant conversations with folks around the bonfire and in the bar on site, Delphine - a callback to the property's original proprietress. The rooms have been thoughtfully appointed and the beds and linens are very comfortable. This would be a perfect place to host a retreat - it's got plenty of common spaces, 15 acres of walking trails, is a 2 minute walk into narrowsburg, and it does have a full professional kitchen which may bode well for a future dining option. The real highlight of this place though, is the manager Leóne, an absolutely lovely person who also has a plant store in town. Leóne's warmth, kindness, and attentiveness to the guests and the vibe are unsurpassed. If you're lucky you may get to meet his giant doodle named Seamus, who is as sweet as he is large. This hotel is dog friendly, by the by, and families are welcome. That being said, I will note that the walls are very thin, and sound transfers. I solved this for myself with ear plugs and white noise from my phone. Guests were well behaved though, and nobody was noisy late at night. The place really does have the atmosphere of a fun boarding house, with people greeting each other in the hallways and striking up conversations in the common spaces. This once-derelict building has been lovingly restored into a place that encourages people to come upstate to get away, slow down, and reconnect. I was delighted to find there were no TVs in the rooms, both because it encourages leaving your room and because of the sound transference. This place is continually changing and upgrading, I can't wait to see what they've done when we come back - which we will be as soon as possible. Many thanks to the Darby for being an excellent landing pad for our annual anniversary weekend.