You have many opportunities for stepping back in time when exploring Connecticut's coastline. One stellar example is the Saybrook Point section of Old Saybrook Connecticut, situated at the confluence of the Connecticut River and Long Island Sound 100 miles equidistant from Boston and NYC. Before interstate highways and multi lane bridges dominated the transportation landscape, a railroad roundhouse marked the spot along with ferry docks that shuttled passengers across the river up until the 1920s.
Across the street from this hub of activity was a colonial inn built in 1870 called The Pease House. Eventually it was replaced in the 1950s by a mid-century modernist hotel called the Terra Mar. Attracting guests like Sinatra’s Rat Pack, the Kennedy clan as well as a growing contingent of gamblers, alleged mob connections eventually got shut it down in 1980. Shortly after, the locally prominent Tagliatela family purchased it and took nearly a decade to demolish and build the Saybrook Point Inn & Spa from the ground up bringing the property back to its classic coastal New England character.
Inside Tall Tales
Until recently, two ornate homes stood neglected across Bridge Street from Saybrook Point Inn. Once again, The Tagliatelas came to the rescue fully restoring and adding them to their Saybrook Point Inn portfolio. Three Stories, an Italianate-style masterpiece along with newly opened Tall Tales next door both feature mansard roofs with Victorian era flourishes like ornate trim and opulently bright colors. Designers and architects thoroughly researched and replicated the mileau with period furnishings, wrap-around porches, and secluded gardens.
Tall Tales' interior common areas surrounded by rooms featuring private decks with Connecticut River or Long Island Sound views, spa baths, and original artwork make it perfect for group getaways and families especially when booking the entire house. A kitchen and open-floor plan dining/living area greet you on the first floor while on the second, a game room outfitted with billiards and custom crafted chess & checkers tables make it the perfect man cave or girls getaway depending on your group. A bocce court awaits outside for fair weather merriment.
Each of Tall Tales 6 rooms is not only architecturally unique but themed to notable local historical figures who had a major influence on Old Saybrook's character over the past 378 years like Lt. Lion Gardiner who built Fort Saybrook in 1636; 16th century Dutch trader and navigator Adriaen Block first to establish a trade route up the Connecticut River; Lady Alice Fenwick, who along with her husband Governor George Fenwick, was among Saybrook’s first settlers; and former First Selectwoman Barbara Maynard, whose suite features a second-floor view of South Cove, a crowning testament to her success in protecting Saybrook Point from rampant development. True to historic home standards, placards outside the doors of each room acquaint you with more instructive details.
Perhaps the biggest benefit of being a Tall Tales guest is getting an extra dimension of serenity and privacy while being just across the street from main inn amenities like two heated pools, Sanno Spa, and renowned Fresh Salt Restaurant.
Earth Friendly
Finer details not so readily apparent but making a big impact on your overall experience is Saybrook Point Inn's TripAdvisor Green Leaders Platinum rating. For starters, the grounds outside Tall Tales are landscaped with a roof top rain water collection & irrigation system rather than planted with grass not only for conserving water but also for keeping lawnmowers away when you're trying to nap or hear the ocean surf as you sip a glass of Champagne. Add to this laundry facilities that reclaim waste water, a reverse osmosis tank for water purification, and in-room climate controls that activate upon entry rather than running all day. But their crowning achievement is their on site co-generation plant that recycles hot air produced by their HVAC systems into fully heating their 2 pools. This is especially welcome during cooler months as you slip into their outdoor pool on chilly mornings as the mists lift off the Connecticut River and Long Island Sound.
Fresh Salt
No great inn is complete without an accompanying highly acclaimed restaurant. Water views and superbly tasty seafood dishes make dining at Fresh Salt doubly special. You’re sitting right on the harbor marina where the fresh waters of the Connecticut River meet salty ocean currents. A healthy mix of landlubbers and sailors who just stepped off their boat dine and sip craft cocktails like a Hot Karma Margarita made with smoked chipotle infused tequila in a glass rimmed with black Hawaiian sea salt.
A collection of model tall ships built by the owner's father define the dining room's genuine nautical decor while a 6 foot tall reef aquarium tie it in with the cozy bar area. Seasonal outdoor dining on the patio with a large fire pit puts you that much closer to the waterfront marina and ocean breezes. As you're passing through Fresh Salt's lobby entrance, be sure to check out their vast display of historic pictures documenting Saybrook Point's origins.
Chef Gese Rodriguez builds dishes with ingredients from local farms and onsite gardens whenever possible like arugala, peas, and heirloom tomatoes raised exclusively from SPI’s own seeds as well as day boat caught Long Island Bluepoints, Narragansett mussels, oysters, and yellowfin tuna from off Montauk Point. Sample this wide array of seafood all caught no more than 99 miles from your table with their Cioppino packed with shrimp, scallops, calamari, mussels, and swordfish bolstered with tomato, saffron essence, and capellini topped with grilled house baked Ciabatta.
Their classic fresh baked chocolate chip cookies and other delectable desserts are best followed by glasses of Restaurant Manager Anna Iacoletti's limocello and orangello made from scratch behind the bar using fresh cream and fruit based on her very own Neapolitan recipe.
If staying during the weekend, don’t miss their lavish Sunday Brunch with buffet tables lining 2 rooms brimming with fresh baked pies, tarts, and other homemade treats along with 3 made-to-order chef stations preparing your very own pasta dishes, crepes, and omelets.
Sanno
A modification of the Latin word sano meaning “health,” recently renovated Sanno Spa has 11 treatment rooms surrounding a tranquil seating area and outdoor patio where pre-massage Prosecco, sparkling wines, and snacks are available. Organic marine botanicals and medical grade Skin-Ceuticals are incorporated into treatments ranging from their signature Shea Butter and Hot Stone Massage to an 80-minute Ocean Memory ritual which begins with a gentle polish, followed by a rub of detoxifying self-heating algae mousse to relax tight muscles, and then completed with a full body massage. Beyond beach combing and postcards, a Sanno visit provides the perfect souvenir for making your stay last beyond checkout.
Photos courtesy of Steve Mirsky. Coverage made possible by participating in a sponsored visit.
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