This summer, savvy New Yorkers are ditching the overcrowded and overpriced Hamptons for the Catskills, a mountain range just 160km north-west of Manhattan. The scenic two-and-a-half-hour drive leads to a region of rolling expanses and sleepy one-street mountain towns, including the famous Woodstock.
The current hotspot is Phoenicia, a tiny town with only 300 residents. Until recently, it offered little beyond fishing tackle shops. Now, it boasts The Graham and Co, a hotel owned by a group of Brooklyn designers. Rooms start from £91 and feature woods, whites, and industrial hanging lights. Guests can swim in the outdoor pool, lounge on 1980s sun loungers, or watch films on an outdoor projector surrounded by candles and mountain views.
Foodies have welcomed the reopening of the Phoenicia Diner on Route 28. Originally opened in 1962, it now has a new owner, a fresh look, and a menu featuring shrimp and grits skillet and turkey pot pie, with mains from £5.
For a spiritual retreat, Menla Mountain Retreat offers a Tibet-inspired experience. Owned by Robert Thurman, father of Uma Thurman, and visited by the Dalai Lama, it runs programmes like the R&R Cleanse getaway, which includes raw food, hiking, and daily meditation. Prices start from £431.
