Pros

  • Rural setting only 20 minutes from downtown Burlington, Vermont
  • On-site teaching kitchen with popular cooking classes
  • The Tavern and Junction restaurants both serve excellent, locally sourced food
  • 18-acre resort including golf course, tennis courts, and outdoor activities
  • Vegetables and herbs grown on site used in kitchens throughout property
  • Large, comfortable rooms with flat-screen TVs and Keurig coffee machines
  • On-site spa with 25-yard lap pool, sauna, steam rooms, and outdoor hot tub
  • Pet-friendly property with a chef-created dining menu for dogs
  • On-site bakery and grab-and-go cafe in lobby
  • Free Wi-Fi throughout and on-site business center
  • Eight meeting and events spaces with in-house catering
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Cons

  • Some room details like stained carpets need an overhaul
  • Breakfast is not included with bookings
  • Yoga and cooking classes subject to additional fees
See More Cons

Bottom Line

The 117-room upper-middle-range Essex Inn Culinary Resort & Spa is a rural-style retreat dedicated to food and wellness just 20 minutes from Burlington by car. Cooking classes are available in the resort’s teaching kitchens and the attractive spa features a 25-yard indoor lap pool, outdoor hot tub, and a full line of massage and beauty services. Large guest rooms have a country inn charm with modern features like flat-screen TVs and Keurig coffeemakers, though some details could use an upgrade. The resort also has outdoor tennis courts and an 18-hole golf course, though guests looking for a more intimate bed-and-breakfast right in Burlington should try Made Inn Vermont B&B, for an urban-chic stay with excellent breakfasts.

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Amenities

  • Cribs
  • Fitness Center
  • Internet
  • Jacuzzi
  • Pets Allowed
  • Pool
  • Spa

Oyster Hotel Review

The Essex, Vermont’s Culinary Resort & Spa

Scene

Rural-style New England resort for foodies and couples needing to relax

Foodies, families, pet lovers, business retreats, weddings, and relaxation seekers are all welcome at this sprawling 18-acre resort dotted with grand neocolonial white and red brick buildings. It all feels very New England, and that impression carries over inside of the inviting hotel lobby with contemporary olive and tan velvet couches and chairs set beside a stone fireplace. There are chunky reclaimed wood tables and dark hardwood antique pieces arranged about green carpets and dark wood laminate floors, creating a laid-back, yet stylish vibe. There are several places throughout for guests to relax, including the cozy, if slightly outdated lounge, with light oak furniture and a living room vibe, as well as The Tavern, the excellent on-site gastro-pub, and Junction, a fine-dining restaurant with quirky, homespun decor blended and reclaimed wood walls.

See More Scene

Location

A 20-minute drive to downtown Burlington, across the road from Essex Outlets

Though the resort feels secluded and rural, it actually sits just off of several major local highways, and downtown Burlington, Vermont is only 20 minutes away by car. The Links at Lang Farm, the hotel’s 18-hole golf course, is adjacent to the property, while the Essex Outlets are essentially across the road, just two minutes by car, or 10 minutes on foot. Stowe, Vermont, a charming New England village in the Green Mountains that’s filled with quaint local shops and cafes is a 45-minute drive from the resort, and Stowe Mountain Resort, one of the state’s premier ski slopes, is 10 minutes beyond that. The closest airport is in Burlington, and takes just under 20 minutes to reach by car.

See More Location

Rooms

Country-style rooms, though some details need an update

Guest rooms have a warm country-inn atmosphere, with dark carpeted floors, soft cream walls with light blue or barn red accents, crafty wall art, and furniture with antique lines, like iron bed frames and dressers. There is an array of room configurations, from Traditional Rooms to Two-Bedroom Suites, but all are spacious (starting at 33 square meters, or 350 square feet). Generous seating areas include overstuffed love seats and sofas in Suites and Studios, and armchairs in smaller rooms. King or queen beds are good, with duvets, high thread-count sheets, and plush brown bed runners. Some details -- like the stained carpets we saw in the Traditional Room, wear and tear on dressers, and a few sagging, outdated couches and chairs -- could use an upgrade. 

All rooms feature flat-screen TVs, Keurig coffee machines, MP3 dock alarm clocks, air-conditioning, telephones, and desks, while several rooms also have fireplaces and apartments feature full kitchens and dining areas. Bathrooms are clean, with beige tiled floors, blue accents, single-basin sinks and small vanities, eco-friendly toiletries, and bathtub/shower combos, while Spa Suites have hot tubs and walk-in showers. Apartments are ideal for families, and most feature sofa beds for additional sleeping space. Guests should keep in mind that certain rooms on the property abut service areas and can be noisy in the morning.

See More Rooms

Features

Cooking classes, locally sourced menus in two on-site restaurants, and an on-site spa with two pools and hot tub

As the name implies, the resort prioritizes two very important things: food and relaxation. Guests are welcome to enroll in any of the cooking courses in the resort’s teaching kitchens, which range from crepe classes to Indian cuisine. Fees vary from class to class, and guests need to book in advance. There are also two on-site restaurants. The Tavern is open every day, serving the hotel’s excellent breakfast, as well as lunch and dinner, in a casual, gastropub setting with a menu that uses many items grown right at the resort. Junction, the laid-back fine dining restaurant with an open kitchen, serves locally sourced, three- or five-course menus that change nightly. Guests are also welcome to stroll the gardens on site or visit the Bakeshop, selling delicious homemade pastries, as well as the grab-and-go cafe.

The hotel’s spa is a soothing retreat decked in soft colors, natural stone, and wood laminate floors. It features a gorgeous, light-filled 25-yard (23-meter) indoor lap pool, steam rooms, saunas, an in-ground outdoor hot tub (open year-round), and an outdoor pool (open seasonally). The spa offers a complete array of massage and beauty treatments for men and women, as well as beauty salon services. The fitness center is part of the spa as well, and has a good selection of cardio equipment, free weights, and pulley machines, as well as yoga classes (for an additional fee). There are also outdoor tennis and basketball courts, 18-hole golf, bicycle rentals, and an outdoor adventure course including rock climbing.

The resort has eight meeting and events spaces on site that can accommodate up to 400 people with in-house catering, though the rooms range in style from slightly outdated to the stylish and modern Boardroom. Pets are also welcome here and the hotel even has a Doggy Room Service Menu, with specially prepared meals like turkey meatloaf. There is a 24-hour front desk and well as free Wi-Fi throughout the property, and the hotel is family friendly. Babysitting services can be arrange with advanced notice and laundry services are available. Self-parking is free.

See More Features

Oyster Hotel Review

The Essex, Vermont’s Culinary Resort & Spa

Scene

Rural-style New England resort for foodies and couples needing to relax

Foodies, families, pet lovers, business retreats, weddings, and relaxation seekers are all welcome at this sprawling 18-acre resort dotted with grand neocolonial white and red brick buildings. It all feels very New England, and that impression carries over inside of the inviting hotel lobby with contemporary olive and tan velvet couches and chairs set beside a stone fireplace. There are chunky reclaimed wood tables and dark hardwood antique pieces arranged about green carpets and dark wood laminate floors, creating a laid-back, yet stylish vibe. There are several places throughout for guests to relax, including the cozy, if slightly outdated lounge, with light oak furniture and a living room vibe, as well as The Tavern, the excellent on-site gastro-pub, and Junction, a fine-dining restaurant with quirky, homespun decor blended and reclaimed wood walls.

See More Scene

Location

A 20-minute drive to downtown Burlington, across the road from Essex Outlets

Though the resort feels secluded and rural, it actually sits just off of several major local highways, and downtown Burlington, Vermont is only 20 minutes away by car. The Links at Lang Farm, the hotel’s 18-hole golf course, is adjacent to the property, while the Essex Outlets are essentially across the road, just two minutes by car, or 10 minutes on foot. Stowe, Vermont, a charming New England village in the Green Mountains that’s filled with quaint local shops and cafes is a 45-minute drive from the resort, and Stowe Mountain Resort, one of the state’s premier ski slopes, is 10 minutes beyond that. The closest airport is in Burlington, and takes just under 20 minutes to reach by car.

See More Location

Rooms

Country-style rooms, though some details need an update

Guest rooms have a warm country-inn atmosphere, with dark carpeted floors, soft cream walls with light blue or barn red accents, crafty wall art, and furniture with antique lines, like iron bed frames and dressers. There is an array of room configurations, from Traditional Rooms to Two-Bedroom Suites, but all are spacious (starting at 33 square meters, or 350 square feet). Generous seating areas include overstuffed love seats and sofas in Suites and Studios, and armchairs in smaller rooms. King or queen beds are good, with duvets, high thread-count sheets, and plush brown bed runners. Some details -- like the stained carpets we saw in the Traditional Room, wear and tear on dressers, and a few sagging, outdated couches and chairs -- could use an upgrade. 

All rooms feature flat-screen TVs, Keurig coffee machines, MP3 dock alarm clocks, air-conditioning, telephones, and desks, while several rooms also have fireplaces and apartments feature full kitchens and dining areas. Bathrooms are clean, with beige tiled floors, blue accents, single-basin sinks and small vanities, eco-friendly toiletries, and bathtub/shower combos, while Spa Suites have hot tubs and walk-in showers. Apartments are ideal for families, and most feature sofa beds for additional sleeping space. Guests should keep in mind that certain rooms on the property abut service areas and can be noisy in the morning.

See More Rooms

Features

Cooking classes, locally sourced menus in two on-site restaurants, and an on-site spa with two pools and hot tub

As the name implies, the resort prioritizes two very important things: food and relaxation. Guests are welcome to enroll in any of the cooking courses in the resort’s teaching kitchens, which range from crepe classes to Indian cuisine. Fees vary from class to class, and guests need to book in advance. There are also two on-site restaurants. The Tavern is open every day, serving the hotel’s excellent breakfast, as well as lunch and dinner, in a casual, gastropub setting with a menu that uses many items grown right at the resort. Junction, the laid-back fine dining restaurant with an open kitchen, serves locally sourced, three- or five-course menus that change nightly. Guests are also welcome to stroll the gardens on site or visit the Bakeshop, selling delicious homemade pastries, as well as the grab-and-go cafe.

The hotel’s spa is a soothing retreat decked in soft colors, natural stone, and wood laminate floors. It features a gorgeous, light-filled 25-yard (23-meter) indoor lap pool, steam rooms, saunas, an in-ground outdoor hot tub (open year-round), and an outdoor pool (open seasonally). The spa offers a complete array of massage and beauty treatments for men and women, as well as beauty salon services. The fitness center is part of the spa as well, and has a good selection of cardio equipment, free weights, and pulley machines, as well as yoga classes (for an additional fee). There are also outdoor tennis and basketball courts, 18-hole golf, bicycle rentals, and an outdoor adventure course including rock climbing.

The resort has eight meeting and events spaces on site that can accommodate up to 400 people with in-house catering, though the rooms range in style from slightly outdated to the stylish and modern Boardroom. Pets are also welcome here and the hotel even has a Doggy Room Service Menu, with specially prepared meals like turkey meatloaf. There is a 24-hour front desk and well as free Wi-Fi throughout the property, and the hotel is family friendly. Babysitting services can be arrange with advanced notice and laundry services are available. Self-parking is free.

See More Features

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Air Conditioner

  • Airport Transportation

  • Babysitting Services

  • Beauty / Hair Salon

  • Business Center

  • Cable

  • Cribs

  • Dry Cleaning

  • Fitness Center

  • Full Kitchen

  • Golf Course

  • Internet

  • Jacuzzi

  • Kids Allowed

  • Laundry

  • Meeting / Conference Rooms

  • Pets Allowed

  • Pool

  • Room Service

  • Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space

  • Spa

  • Supervised Kids Activities

  • Swim-Up Bar

  • Tennis Court

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.