This Upstate New York Hotel Was Just Voted No. 1 in the State—and It Has a 6-acre Farm, 65 Stunning Cabins, and a Mercedes-Benz You Can Drive

Travel + Leisure

20-07-2025

Wildflower Farms, in Gardiner, New York, was named the No. 1 hotel in New York state in T+L's 2025 World's Best Awards.
From the central open-air firepit of the Great Porch, to the playful tile spewed throughout various common spaces and the 65 cabins and cottages, the design of Wildflower is exquisite.
The majority of ingredients in the food and beverage program at Wildflower are sourced directly from the property's on-site farm, so every creative item on the menu is extremely fresh and delicious.
There is a rotating schedule of activities, like daily Vinyasa yoga flows, a botanical-cocktail mixing class, and a Forage the Farm experience, where guests pick produce themselves alongside one of the farmers and then cook with the executive sous chef.
The stunning spa, Thistle, is a peaceful escape that continues the hotel's theme of bringing the outside in; treatments incorporate botanicals grown right on the farm.
My mom grew up in New York's Catskill Mountains, and throughout my childhood, I always looked forward to our summer visits to see family. I recall the scenic landscape of the rolling hills, the constant sounds of birds chirping, and the genuine smiles we received from neighbors while walking in town; a kind of warmth all around that's hard to come by in a major city, let alone anywhere else today.
Of course, the Catskills and Hudson Valley have changed drastically in the past few decades, gaining a chic reputation that feels at odds with my childhood reality. But still, when I made plans to spend a night at Auberge Resort Collection's Wildflower Farms—one of the only properties from a luxury hotel operator set in this area—I was keen to see this area in a new light.
My partner and I pulled up to the sprawling 140-acre property in Gardiner, New York, on a Thursday evening in June, after an easy two-hour drive north from New York City. It had been raining all week, and almost as if for our arrival, the sun decided to show off by peeking out through the clouds. It was quite the scene: The massive firepit of the aptly named Great Porch was burning bright, some guests in elevated loungewear peacefully read books while others walked along the pebbled pathways in the distance, hotel-branded Mercedes Benzes were pulling into the driveway behind us, and gorgeous cocktails continued to make their way out of Clay, the adjacent restaurant and major draw of the hotel.
It felt as if we'd stepped into some form of alternate, curated universe, and in a way, we had. While Wildflower is managed by Auberge Resorts Collection, it is owned by Gardiner residents Phillip and Kristin Rapoport, who had spent seven years developing the property before it officially opened in the fall of 2022. Alfresco dining at Wildflower Farms.
Tara Donne/Travel + Leisure
What I realized after just 24 hours at Wildflower Farms is that everything you see or experience here is entirely intentional. The burnt orange and green colors of the Americana-inspired decor match the woodlands seen from the back decks of many of the cabins. The way in which the staff knew before we did that we wanted to end our dinner outside of the restaurant and had a s'mores kit ready for us at one of the firepits. The welcome ritual that invites you to scrub away stressors from the week prior is centered around products made directly from botanicals grown at the 6-acre, on-site farm.
And it's at the farm where this spirit is most palpable. I had the pleasure of seeing it first hand from farm director Will Conway and executive sous chef Kyle Chandler through the Forage the Farm experience offered at Wildflower. I spent just about an hour or so in the fields with Conway, handpicking some of the very first Spring produce of the season—Tuscan basil, pea flowers, and asparagus. I took in all the facts from Conway: About 80 different herbs, vegetables, and flowers are grown on site; production happens year-round; and perhaps my favorite, 'broccoli is a loser' compared to broccolini.
'My job is to nourish people, not just put out pretty food,' Chandler told me, as he nonchalantly stirred green garlic, sending a vibrant scent throughout the space. He was cooking the three of us a casual lunch of mixed green salad and risotto, all made from the ingredients I had just picked—which when I think about it, is actually not casual at all.
As I finished up my lunch, cooked by a chef born 10 minutes down the road in New Paltz, New York, that warm feeling returned, and lingered for the rest of my stay.
Read on to see why T+L readers voted Wildflower Farms, Auberge Resorts Collection, the No. 1 resort in New York state in the 2025 World's Best Awards.
The design of Wildflower is the product of the Rapoports' vision. They worked with California architects Electric Bowery and New York designers Ward & Gray to bring the natural elements of the landscape in, creating the exact right combination of minimalism and upholstered comfort.
The look and feel of the 65 standalone cottages and cabins—some with floor-to-ceiling windows and fireplaces, others with private decks or outdoor firepits—is essential to the property. The angled, wooden buildings can be seen from the moment you step onto the Great Porch to check-in, standing out in the flowing meadow and pebbled pathway. Others are more tucked away within the property's woodlands. Cabin No. 32, where my partner and I stayed, is one of the latter. When I stepped onto our private back deck to check out the setting, I could hear the burbling tune of Shawangunk Kill, a free-flowing stream that runs along the back of the property. (It's formally known as a Bower Cabin.)
From within, the aesthetics continued. The walls of the high-ceiling space are dark green, paired well with leather and velvet accents of the same color, and burnt orange, too. But my favorite part of the room was the little details sprinkled throughout to enhance the stay, like the portable steamer placed in my closet, the extra quilts that not only match the vibe but also the comfort level of the space, and the binoculars and lantern, both of which my partner and I used several times throughout our short stay.
The culinary and beverage program at Wildflower, as well as all Auberge hotels, is key to the stay. At the epicenter is Clay—named because of the high content of clay found in the soil on the property—where executive chef Rob Lawson and executive sous chef Kyle Chandler lean on the land's produce to curate their creative menu. The Great Porch also has light bites that are best enjoyed by the open flames, and there's Dew Bar, the poolside restaurant opened seasonally.
The vibe of Clay is buzzy, but impressively comfortable. When we sat around 7:30 p.m. that Thursday evening, guests and locals alike were starting to fill in, whether to sit at the chef's counter, at one of the tables along the back wall, or along the massive floor-to-ceiling windows.
But the food is really the star of the show. The dinner menu varies from traditional country milk bread served with an extremely impressive miso butter, to braised cabbage served with black rice, to Montuk tilefish paired with charred asparagus. My pick for the night was the hanger steak served with tableside shiso chimichurri (which was very fun to watch them make), bok choy, and sumptuous black-butter potatoes. My partner went for the Hudson steelhead trout paired with glazed purple carrots; I later learned from Chandler that this was a recent addition to the menu for the season.
The chefs here work hand in hand with the farmers, like Will Conway, to ensure that they are only using the freshest of ingredients, so the menu regularly changes.
'Whatever Will can throw at us, we come up with something,' Chandler said. 'We got to utilize it.' And they really do utilize it: Every day, the team collects about 50 pounds of scraps from the kitchen and turns that into compost. 'It really comes full circle, we try our best every day to have no waste and bring it back to the farm,' Chandler said.
Then there's the drinks. Throughout my stay, I sipped on freshly brewed iced tea, a custom alcohol-free cucumber beverage, bone broth, and a gin cocktail that had edible flower pedals in it (I later picked these colorful flowers myself on the farm). All were exquisite, and nice to look at, too. The open-air movement studio.
Auberge Resorts Collection
There's no shortage of things to do at Wildflower Farms. There is a weekly schedule of events posted on the Great Porch—some of which are complementary, and others that require an extra fee. In a single day, that schedule can have a Vinyasa flow, an animal-feeding session at the farm, a biscuit-baking class, and a botanical mixology course.
When I was there in June, my partner and I rose early to play tennis at the on-site courts, which require a lovely, short nature walk to get to. Then, later, I met up with Conway for a Forage the Farm experience—the very first of the season, as this activity is only available in the warmer months. Having exclusive time with two of the people responsible for the harvesting, and menu ideation at the property was one of the best things I've ever had the privilege of doing during a hotel stay.
The farm education center, Maplehouse, is also a highlight; weekly hands-on classes are hosted here regularly, as well as private events. The spa pool.
Tara Donne/Travel + Leisure
Auberge is known for its phenomenal wellness programs, and Wildflower is no exception. At the spa, Thistle, guests can reset on daybeds surrounded by stunning blue-green tiled walls, dip into the indoor saltwater pool, or enjoy the saunas and steam room—all entirely complementary with your stay.
On my second day, I got the 90-minute, Lymphatic Reset signature treatment, which is an anti-inflammatory experience that's meant to relieve fatigue and stress. It started with a 30-minute compression boot session, and in those first 10 minutes, I immediately fell asleep. I woke up about an hour later feeling perfectly dazed, and practically floated to the lounge area, where a custom non-alcoholic cucumber drink was waiting for me. I then sipped on the complimentary bone broth that was set next to the saltwater pool and waded in the water. It was pure bliss.
Wellness is also sprinkled throughout the stay in other ways outside of Thistle, like the welcome ritual and the nightly turndown service. As part of the latter, each night, there is a new gift left on the nightstand, such as a piece of eucalyptus or a printed card with a breathing exercise on it. For our stay, it was a homemade CBD chocolate, meant to naturally reset the circadian rhythm. Wildflower Farms' outdoor pool.
Auberge Resorts Collection
As mentioned, there's no shortage of things to do at Wildflower, and this includes activities for kiddos. Daily activities like the 'Feed the Animals' session in the mornings, the cooking classes, or the painting classes would be great for family members of all ages. Outside of the scheduled events, the land is truly the playground here, whether that's in the meadows with the pebbled pathways, on the farm, or at the outdoor pool. The available s'mores kits to enjoy by any of the three outdoor fire pits are great, too.
Due to the high price point and environment, though, I'd say the property is best fit for a romantic getaway. During my stay, the majority of guests on the property were couples, or adult friends and families. There are 65 cabins and cottages on the property's grounds.
Tara Donne/Travel + Leisure
The hotel is very accessible, with public spaces like the health club and pool having accessible entrances and pathways. Plus, there are accessible spaces in the parking area. Although, I will note that the pebbled pathways to get to each room may cause some difficulty, so I'd recommend getting a ride from a staff member, which is always an option.
As for the rooms, there are four accessible cabins and suites that vary in size. Wildflowers on the grounds at Wildflower Farms.
Tara Donne/Travel + Leisure
Wildflower is set in Gardiner, New York—a quiet corner of the Catskills, just about an hour and a half to two hours north of New York City. In Gardiner and nearby New Paltz, walking, hiking, and biking trails are easy to come by, with the Shawangunk Mountains right there.
The property is also conveniently located to some of the area's buzzing towns, like Kingston to the north with its great vintage shops and new-to-the-scene dining options, as well as Woodstock a bit further. Art-forward Beacon and New Windsor, both known for the museums Dia Beacon and Storm King respectively, are great spots to hit if you are driving south, or are just interested in taking in a bit of arts and culture.
Auberge Resorts Collection does not have a loyalty program. That said, Wildflower Farms is bookable on Amex Travel for platinum card holders, with complimentary daily breakfast and a $100 resort credit.
Nightly rates at Wildflower Farms, Auberge Resorts Collection, start from $1,000.
Every T+L hotel review is written by an editor or reporter who has stayed at the property, and each hotel selected aligns with our core values.