Nestled on the edge of Poughkeepsie’s historic Vassar College campus, The Heartwood at Vassar is a recently opened boutique hotel that celebrates local artists, scholars, and farmers. The 50-room hotel offers a warm and inviting space for the Hudson Valley’s various vibrant communities to gather, along with Vassar families and alumni, local Poughkeepsie natives, and weekend travelers.
Along with the hotel, the property also houses The Salt Line Hudson Valley — a seasonally-inspired restaurant that highlights local farmers, makers, and purveyors — and Night Owls, which is an intimate bar that serves classic cocktails and bites. All in all, The Heartwood invites guests to enjoy its atmosphere of art, historic memorabilia, native flora and fauna, and other décor elements.
The property was designed with comfort in mind, offering a total of 50 guest rooms, various communal nooks, flexible event spaces, and top-tier dining. When it comes to interior design, The Heartwood excels with an art collection curated by Vassar’s on-campus art museum, The Loeb. An inviting lobby features floor-to-ceiling glass paneled windows that celebrate the scenic and sprawling views of the surrounding campus.
In the hotel’s communal spaces, the work of many local artists is on display, including a hand-painted mural featuring a visual guide to the horticulture of the Hudson Valley by visual artist Julia Whitney Barnes, while the lobby showcases an immersive art exhibit from conceptual artist Mark Dion that highlights historical memorabilia from the neighboring college.
As for accommodations, guests can choose between double queen, king, or suite-style rooms, and all bathrooms are equipped with stone and marble finishings, a rainfall shower, and a soaking tub. Additionally, The Heartwood offers two deluxe suites that are furnished with separate living, dining, and full-kitchen spaces.
You don’t have to be a Vassar alum or prospective student to stay at The Heartwood—the hotel welcomes academics and weekenders alike to its 48,000-square-foot space, which also houses a 24-hour gym and the new Vassar Institute for Liberal Arts, a place for scholars and community members to put their heads together over local issues. (A multi-day workshop exploring educational justice and equity in the City of Poughkeepsie is being held there later this month.)
Notably, guests also have the opportunity to participate in Hotels for Trees, whereby if guests skip linen service, The Heartwood plants a tree.
Aside from taking advantage of Vassar College’s public offerings, guests at The Heartwood have all of Poughkeepsie at their fingertips. Every Thursday afternoon from May to November, catch the Arlington Farmers’ Market, which takes place on the campus grounds; venture downtown for a show at the Bardavon Opera House; tour Lotus Grove, the historic home of Samuel F. B. Morse; and take a stroll on the Walkway Over the Hudson.
On the lower level, you’ll find The Salt Line Hudson Valley, led by Chef Zachary Lovenguth (formerly of Troutbeck in Amenia and The Amsterdam in Rhinebeck). Named for the northern salt line of the Hudson—the spot in Poughkeepsie where brackish and fresh water mix—the restaurant specializes in farm-to-table fare that highlights the region’s seasonal produce and flavors. This winter, warm up with dishes such as a bisque made of roasted root vegetables; fig and pumpkin bucatini with pumpkin seed gremolata, feta, and harissa garlic sauce; and red wine braised short rib with Aleppo polenta cake, sautéed Swiss chard and parsnips, and pan juss.
Companion bar Night Owls serves classic and specialty cocktails, light bites, and a variety of beers on draft from local breweries, including Equilibrium (Middletown), Plan Bee Farm Brewery (Poughkeepsie), and Lasting Joy (Tivoli).
As The Heartwood joins the Dutchess County community, it is committed to sustainability and green building practices. The property is designed with high levels of energy efficiency, including natural materials and native landscaping, geothermal heating and cooling, and a zero fossil fuel emissions program made possible through photo-voltaic solar panels and solar thermal heating panels.
The Heartwood is located at 165 College Avenue in Poughkeepsie.
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