The Six Bells Countryside Inn
- Six Bells only has 11 rooms. This creates an intimate and comfortable atmosphere for the guests.
- It’s no surprise that the property is an extension to the country store of the same name in Cobble Hill Brooklyn. Guests can find many of the items they need within the guest rooms, such as printed quilts and lamp shades.
- The hotel’s whimsical decor—with hand-painted murals, mismatched wallpaper, one-of-a-kind furniture, and textiles in every color—evokes a sense of joy and discovery.
- The Feathers restaurant served a complimentary breakfast of fresh trout, soft-boiled egg, meats, and cheeses that was very European.
- The hotel has a nostalgic feel, but there are also modern touches: a chocolate treat is left at my bedside each night, a highchair is available for every family that comes to dine with children, and a banana and coffee pot were waiting downstairs for me when I had to leave before breakfast.
“My thesis was nostalgia,” Audrey Gelman said, as we sat at a red corduroy–cushioned corner table, deviled eggs in hand, a metal horse hanging on the wall in front of us, and “Great Balls of Fire” flowing through the speaker.
We were at The Six Bells Countryside Inn—an 11-room property that takes elevated country-kitsch to a new level. It was the opening day of this Hudson Valley retreat. The hotel is a part of the Hudson Valley. namesake homeware store Gelman’s latest venture is in Cobble Hill Brooklyn. She was the founder and owner of the Wing, a coworking space that has since closed. The Central Hotel was a three-story hotel located along Roundout Creek tributary to the Hudson River. It opened in 1850 as The Central Hotel. The Central Hotel has been a variety of things over the years, but always a hotel or board house.
The ceiling was painted with a map-like mural. It depicts Barrow’s Green—an entirely made-up village that Gelman invented as inspiration when first building The Six Bells shop in 2022—and now lives on through nearly every element of the hotel. Each guest room, for instance, is linked to a certain storyline or character in the village.
While a fictional world was the inspiration behind Gelman’s concept—a place that’s “not hokey, but also doesn’t take itself so seriously”—the very real property on Main Street in Rosendale, New York brings her narrative to life.
Gelman stated, “I enjoy creating spaces that make people feel like they are in another reality when they enter.” Gelman and Jeremy Selman have been successful in their endeavors.
Kate S. Jordan/The Six Bells Hotel
Six Bells feels warm and familiar from the moment you enter. Every corner has a unique detail.
The Feathers, the on-site restaurant of the hotel, sells many of the treasures found within. This includes the Sabre Silverware. While some objets d’art are thrifted finds, many are custom made by artists and producers Gelman has found—or who have found Gelman.
Gelman used several descriptions to describe where she found inspiration for the first of many hotels that could be built: the English countryside; Agatha Christie mysteries; Bavarian culture; resorts in Tyrol and Austrian Tyrols, as well as Amish culture. Gelman also mentioned “kitsch, high-low experiences and theme hotels” as well as “luxury”. She and Selman worked together with Adam Greco from Greco Deco, an New York design firm to bring the project to life within one year.
“I’ve freed myself from the limitations of, ‘I have to do one thing or the other,'” Gelman said of her transition into hospitality. It’s not just that you are doing what you do, but you are doing it creatively. “I don’t believe the industry should guide you. The ideas should.”
You can read my full review about the Six Bells Countryside Inn.
The Rooms
Gelman explained that her inspiration for each of Six Bells 11 rooms was “the hospitality experiences I enjoy have a sense humor about them.” All of the rooms within the 175-year-old building tell their own story—curated entirely from Gelman’s imagination.
On my four-poster, king-size sleigh bed, I found a leather-bound book (custom-made for each room in Ukraine). Guests can learn about the stories hidden in each room. The details of each room, whether it is Lamplight, Mildred’s Plum or the Innkeeper’s Suite, show the personality behind them. In Lamplight for instance, local artist Wally Whitehurst painted a blue wall mural and the king size bed is hidden behind thick curtains.
Each room contains a “shopping catalog” which guests can peruse. This booklet contains items such as a $40 mug, a $99 flower pillow or furniture, like the $3,250 rattan Adelaide Console found in the Lamplight Room.
The lack of space for storage was my only complaint. I did enjoy sleeping in the all-green bedroom on The Park Mattress, designed by Ostermoor – a family owned company from Massachusetts. There are three small drawers in the hand-painted wardrobe—that houses a mini-fridge—but if I were staying at the inn with another person or had more clothes, I could see this posing a challenge.
Food and Drink
Kate S. Jordan/The Six Bells Hotel
The Feathers has 18 tables and is the only restaurant in the hotel. The Inn offers a daily complimentary breakfast that includes soft-boiled egg, fresh trout and meats.
The design is inviting and cozy. The design is cozy and inviting.
The Feathers Menu was created in collaboration with Molly Levine, a consulting chef and Larkin Yount, the head chef. It will change according to the season depending on what is available locally. During my stay, the Golden Slipper—a cocktail made with your choice of vodka or gin (I opted for vodka, as I always do), honey, lemon juice, and ginger—quickly became my favorite beverage on the creative list. The food menu may be small but the flavors are classic American. During my stay, I sampled the chilled buttermilk-cucumber soup (Gelman’s favorite), deviled egg, roasted half chicken and oven-poached hake, as well as the corn fritters. I still think about the corn fritters, which I paired with crispy fried salsify even when there were no fritters left.
The large wooden deck at the rear of the property overlooking Roundout Creek will offer outdoor dining.
Activities and Experiences
Gelman is introducing rotating seasonal experiences this fall. Gelman says that “a murder mystery series is definitely” on the cards. She said that guests would be able learn from local craftsmen through a watercoloring or cooking workshop later this year. Gelman says that by the end of June, guests will be able to enjoy additional seating in the backyard, a fire pit, and a coop for chickens. Each floor will also have shelves of books.
A small storefront is located adjacent to the reception area on the first-floor of the hotel. Six Bells offers a variety of merchandise, including tomato-printed bags, hand painted mugs and embroidered, soft pillows.
The Spa
The Six Bells Country Inn does not have a spa.
Family Friendly Offerings
Jess Feldman/Travel + Leisure
This is because of the imaginative design. The Six Bells has a great family atmosphere, particularly for toddlers and young children. For example, the murals found on many of the walls and ceilings of the common spaces—hand-painted by Whitehurst—invite a closer look. Scrubett’s Ledge Suite and The Innkeeper’s Suite, two of the family suites located on property. Children can hunt for hidden bells in both rooms. There are six of them, naturally. The playroom for children will be completed by next month.
There is plenty of room for children to run around in the outdoor area, and a chicken coop that will be built soon will add to this appeal. The site does not have many activities for teenagers or older kids, but the surrounding area has plenty to do.
Accessibility and sustainability
There is one accessible room located on the first level of The Six Bells Countryside Inn. The majority of guest rooms are located on the second and the third floors. There is no elevator at the property.
Location
Kate S. Jordan/The Six Bells Hotel
Gelman & Selman already knew that they wanted the Hudson Valley. In summer 2024 they finally found Six Bells, a property in Rosendale, Ulster County, New York, after searching for months. It is about a two hour drive from New York City.
Gelman described the location of this space as “really special”. It is located on Main Street where there are many boutiques, restaurants that serve farm-to table food, and an historic movie theatre. There are many riverside trails to explore when the weather is good.
Rosendale, which is a 15-minute trip from Kingston, is known for its Dutch architecture and antiquing. I spent some time there during my stay, hopping from store to store. I also had a BLT sandwich on homemade bread in the middle of shopping. Rosie General. Hudson, located about 45 minutes to the north of New York City, offers a variety of great restaurants and art galleries.
The Best Value for Your Stay
Six Bells Hotel is currently not affiliated with any loyalty program. Breakfast is provided for all guests. Rates for nightly stays at The Six Bells Countryside Inn Start from as low as $350
Each hotel reviewed by T+L is chosen based on its alignment with our values. core values.
