Kicking Back at Little Cat Lodge
Buster claims the cozy corner in our room.
We needed to get away. Not too far. Just for a few days. Ideally mid-week—to avoid weekend crowds. Get cheaper rates. And hey, we can do that now that we’re empty nesters!
So we headed to the Hudson Valley to Little Cat Lodge, a sweet boutique inn at the foot of Catamount ski area in the southern Berkshires—right on the border of NY and MA.
For 35 years the Little Cat property, in Hillsdale, NY, was the Swiss Hutte, an old school alpine-style lodge. In 2022, it reopened as Little Cat—reimagined and renovated by new owners to merge the existing alpine sensibility with modern aesthetics and amenities. The design fusion works beautifully. Little Cat is a great escape with a very cool, laid-back vibe. It’s also pet-friendly—so we could bring our dog, Buster. Always a big plus.
Our room was sleek and modern, surprisingly large, with a comfortable, custom-made king bed and a cozy corner with a daybed, card table and Noguchi lamp overhead. Every touch is well-thought and just right—including the whimsical art on the walls and fantastic textile choices.
Grab a seat…! Sunshine by day, fire and s’mores at night. (The pool is beyond the fence.)
The lodge has twelve regular guest rooms and two suites, a tavern with a fireplace, and a lovely dining room. Our dinner at Little Cat Lodge (a smash burger and chicken pot pie) was outstanding. There’s also an outdoor pool, a barrel sauna, and plenty of Adirondack chairs to kick back and relax in the mountain air.
Little Cat robes.
The place was quiet during our two-night mid-week off-season stay (peak foliage ending, winter yet to come): nice and romantic—perfect for an anniversary trip. At night, we sat around a blazing firepit and made s’mores. Each morning, we enjoyed a complimentary breakfast of granola, fresh fruit, bagels, juice and coffee.
From Hudson to Hiking, the Perfect Location
You certainly can’t beat Little Cat’s location. Its close to several great towns and fantastic recreational options.
Hudson, NY, is 20 minutes west. The main retail stretch, Warren Street, boasts block after block of excellent and eclectic shops. (Read more on Hudson shopping here.)
Good old Great Barrington, MA, is a quick drive east. The town is as vibrant as ever and well worth a visit. (I’ll do a separate post on GB and the Berkshires soon.)
We had dinner in Sheffield, MA, one night—fantastic pizza at Roberto’s (15 minute drive). Other favorite restaurants nearby include The Stagecoach Tavern, Baba Louie’s, Prairie Whale and The Old Mill.
Leading the way!
If you’re a skier, you’re moments from the lifts if you stay at Little Cat in the winter. In warm months, Catamount resort becomes an aerial adventure park with a zip line.
If you like to hike, the Berkshires are a dream—from easy trails to challenging peaks. We did a short hike each day—all quick drives from Little Cat: Jug End State Reservation; Guilder Pond, near Mount Everett; and Race Brook Falls, from the trailhead on Undermountain Road in Sheffield. The waterfall was a magical sight on our last afternoon.
Race Brook Falls. A gorgeous hike, just a short drive from Little Cat.
A Sweet Retreat from New York or Boston
Little Cat is an easy two hour drive from both NYC and Boston. It’s probably filled with guests and tons of fun during ski season. My only concern is that Little Cat is so close to big Cat’s (Catamount Mountain Resort) parking lot, which could mean steady traffic on busy ski days.
At the very least, I wish the lot was more obscured from view with some creative landscaping. The mountain is lovely to look at; the parking lot not so much. But that didn’t diminish our stay and we will absolutely return to Little Cat.
This was a wonderful, fun, relaxing retreat over several gorgeous autumn days. Here’s wishing Little Cat Lodge a big future.
Spotted in Griffin, a fantastic store in Great Barrington.