If you’re a Francophile and want a truly amazing spa getaway experience without having to travel to France, Mirbeau Inn & Spa at The Pinehills in Plymouth is just the ticket. The new 50-guestroom spa retreat combines the amenities of a gracious French manor house, a world-class spa, and four-star dining with the comforts of a private estate setting. Owners Gary and Linda Dower opened the inn and spa June 2014 to rave reviews. This is their second Mirbeau Inn & Spa stateside (the first is in Skaneateles, New York, in the Finger Lakes region). Aside from the distinctly French-inspired architecture, the chateau’s buildings surround a lush and vibrant pond and gardens, which are a nod to 19th-century impressionist painter Claude Monet’s gardens at his home in Giverny, France. The grounds together with the ultra-luxe accommodations will win the approval of even the most discerning traveler.
Accommodations
Linda Dower designed the guest rooms and common areas herself. She chose an inviting and rich color palette in the guest rooms—yellow, violet, deep red, or pale blue. King- and queen-sized beds are dressed in luxurious linens and down comforters. Bathrooms are equipped with claw-foot tubs and walk-in showers. Each guest room also has its own gas-burning fireplace. And for artwork, Linda chose prints of famous Monet paintings: Woman with a Parasol, Water Lily Pond, and Resting Under the Lilacs to name a few. Speaking of Monet’s gardens, most guest rooms have balconies overlooking the gardens—the replica landscape of the famous gardens includes a bright green Japanese bridge that spans a pond, where water lilies float in the spring and summer months.
Dining
The Bistro & Wine Bar restaurant offers a relaxed atmosphere and is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with a spa-oriented menu showcasing a European-style breakfast, inventive salads, soups, and delicious comfort foods, all created by executive chef Stephen Coe. Chef Coe is also a master of French cuisine, offering spirited twists on hors d’oeuvres of foie gras, escargot, and tarte flambé, while main dishes also have subtle French nods such as filet mignon and pomme purée, or salmon with foie gras. The wine bar boasts an
extensive list of wines by the glass from all over the world, (including flights) and handcrafted, small-production spirits, with cocktail classics from the 1920s and ’30s, interpreted with a modern twist, and hand-prepared ingredients from chef Coe.
Spa
The real pièce de resistance is the tranquil 14,000-square-foot spa. Guests are invited to lounge in the “resting area,” a sanctuary of relaxation (complete with a heated foot pool), bask in the herbal-infused steam rooms, or unwind in the whirlpool spa on the Aqua Terrace, which has a large outdoor fire pit. If you are looking for even more in-depth pampering, therapeutic spa treatments include classic Swedish and deep-tissue massages; body wraps; and skin renewal therapies performed with Babor skin products. All treatment rooms have gas-burning fireplaces. Spa Mirbeau also offers a variety of fitness classes, including yoga, Pilates, and indoor cycling, on a daily basis. Additionally, they have a workout room equipped with state-of-the-art cardio equipment and free weights.
If you are looking to feel like you are a world away without traveling too far, head south and take in the beauty and tranquility of this inspired spot.