Little Cat Lodge, a 14-room Alpine-inspired hotel and restaurant has opened its doors in the Hudson Valley.
Situated at the base of Catamount Mountain, where the Hudson Valley meets The Berkshires, Little Cat Lodge is a year-round destination that emulates a cozy European chalet with interiors – spearheaded by Hudson Valley’s Loveisenough – that pay homage to the history of the nearly 100-year old, seven-acre site with custom furniture hand-built using local wood milled from Catamount Mountain, the natural landmark that neighbours the property.
Little Cat Lodge is from longtime friends and business partners Noah Bernamoff, a James Beard award-nominated restaurateur, and Matt Kliegman, a notable operator behind some of the buzziest restaurants and nightlife venues. The pair, who both live between NYC and the Hudson Valley, own and operate award-winning restaurants and bars like The Smile, Grand Army, The Jane Hotel Ballroom & Rooftop, Celestine, Black Seed Bagels and Pebble Bar in New York City, and the historic grocery store, Otto’s Market, in the Hudson Valley.
“We’ve both lived in the Hudson Valley for years, and love being part of the community,” explain Noah Bernamoff and Matt Kliegman. “As patrons of Swiss Hutte, we were excited when the opportunity arose to acquire this historic asset and deepen our roots in the area. We hope Little Cat Lodge continues to feel like an intimate mountain lodge; a place to connect with nature, a jumping off point for hiking trails or ski slopes, a comfortable spot for R&R, or a destination for tasty food and drink.”
Designed at large by Loveisenough, the property nods to 1950’s and 60’s Western Massachusetts ski culture and rural cabins throughout the Swiss and Italian Alps. The overall aesthetic was born from early meditations on afternoon naps, forest paths, and the crackling silence of Winter.
Loren Daye, founder of Loveisenough, comments: “We approached this project like a storybook village mountain house – each space feels like a familiar holiday home with warmth, discovery and charm. It’s its own mountain world.”
The picturesque property comprises two buildings surrounded by lush greenery; the two-storied Guest House has 12 guest rooms that merge the rustic charm of an alpine lodge with the magic of mid-century Berkshires, and offer a private terrace or patio that overlooks Catamount Mountain. Two two-bedroom suites are housed in the Main House, accommodating larger parties of up to six. Lined in mushroom wood, each bedroom features custom-built beds made from milled and kiln-dried maple trees sourced from the ski slopes of Catamount Mountain, and one-of-a-kind, vintage items, including arm chairs, artwork, lamps, mirrors and more.
Little Cat Lodge also offers unparalleled access to the outdoors year-round with a seasonal swimming pool and pool bar (open to hotel guests only) offering lounge seating and umbrellas, as well as poolside service on the weekends. Accompanying barrel saunas are located in the woods, and lush forest walkways ideal for hiking connect the property to the adjacent Catamount Mountain Resort. Other amenities include daily complimentary breakfast; a central minibar located in the hotel lobby, for any snacking and sipping needs; and boxed lunches available for day trips off the property.
Little Cat Lodge houses The Tavern, a 45-seat casual bar ideal for après-ski, drinks and dinner, and The Dining Room, a 70-seat restaurant and year-round, covered terrace. Helmed by executive chef Jason Bond, a James Beard Award-nominated chef previously of Bondir Cambridge (a Bon Appétit Hot Ten restaurant) and Clover Food Lab, both The Tavern and The Dining Room offer menus inspired by the Alpine cooking of continental Europe, and highlight the lush bounty of the Hudson Valley. The restaurant also offers a private dining room, ideal for larger gatherings, lively celebrations and more.
