Piaule opened up in July 2021 as a minimalist retreat with an onsite spa and 24 luxury cabins in Catskill, New York, tucked away in the woods. We were beyond excited when we heard about Piaule. It would be one of the first minimalist hotels within reasonable driving distance for us in upstate New York. A couple of friends came with us to stay at Piaule for a couple of nights in October the year it opened. As we drove two hours away from the city, we were greeted by trees in blazing peak autumnal colors. No matter how many times I see it, it will always be striking and magnificent.
While the cabins are immersed within the trees, the main building has a wide breathtaking view of the mountain range.
The main building is where you can access their onsite spa, which includes a heated pool, a mineral pool, steam room, and saunda. During the day, you can take in views of the mountains and trees from within the pool area.
Our two bedroom connected cabin. If you decide to stay here, I recommend booking a cabin that is closer to the trees for more privacy but most importantly, for a better view of the trees! We booked a cabin that was situated higher up on the ground, and while we lucked out with a view of trees and the occasional hotel guest walking back to their cabin, there are other cabins that do not have a view of the trees at all. Since our cabin was a connected one, we had an additional living room that acted as our recreation room with our friends to play board games and watch movies.
We loved our stay at Piaule so much and went back home inspired and refreshed from not only their spa, but from being around nature and the autumn foliage. You can tell the resort was designed to make you feel connected to nature, from the minimally decorated cabins made of wood to the trails you can take around the hotel.
We knew we would always come back to Piaule, and we did exactly a year later on our wedding day. Our wedding was in the town of Catskill, and we stayed at Piaule for the entire wedding weekend. Piaule will always have a place in my heart for the memories we made there with friends and family taking part in our wedding festivities.
Other Things to Do
Manitoga
On our way back to the city, we stopped by Manitoga, the estate, modernist home, and 75-acre woodland landscape of industrial designer Russel Wright in Garrison, New York. We booked a public tour weeks prior to our stay at Piaule, and it was a beautiful way to end our getaway. Our friends that we went with are architecture and design lovers like my husband and I, and we all enjoyed the tour. If you’re someone who admires Frank Lloyd Wright’s work, I’m sure you will enjoy Manitoga. Just plan accordingly because Manitoga’s public tour season runs from mid-May through mid-November!
Magazzino Italian Art
If you love art and going to museums, Magazzino Italian Art is located in Cold Spring, New York. It’s a museum dedicated to postwar and contemporary Italian art. It’s a great stop to take along the way or from Piaule. For us, the visit took about 45 minutes as the museum is on the smaller end. We walked around the museum and came upon an enclosure with donkeys that apparently came from the same island as one of the co-founders.
Hudson, New York
Hudson is a town that is a 15-minute drive from Piaule. It’s one of my favorite upstate towns that you can explore aimlessly for hours looking through home goods shops and vintage furniture shops. Of course, I don’t need to mention the endless options of cafes and restaurants to grab a bite to eat or the many coffee shops to sit in and recharge with a caffeinated drink. My favorite restaurant is Rivertown Lodge’s Tavern followed by Cafe Mutton which has recently earned recognition for its food.
