New York's Hudson Valley Has a Gorgeous New 11-room Inn by Audrey Gelman—and We Were the First to Stay

Travel + Leisure

20-06-2025

There are just 11 rooms at Six Bells, creating a comfortable, intimate atmosphere for guests.
The property is an extension of the namesake country store in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, so it's only natural that guests can shop the majority of the products found within each guest room, like printed quilts, lamp shades, and even the mattresses.
The hotel's whimsical decor—with hand-painted murals, mismatched wallpaper, one-of-a-kind furniture, and textiles in every color—evokes a sense of joy and discovery.
A very European, complimentary breakfast spread of soft-boiled eggs, fresh trout, and meats and cheeses served at the restaurant, The Feathers, was a highlight for me.
While the hotel is an ode to nostalgia, modern touches abound: A chocolate treat was left on my bedside table each night during turndown, every time a family with a child came down to dine, there was a high chair waiting for them, and when I had to leave early before breakfast service, a pot of coffee and banana were set up for me downstairs.
'My thesis was nostalgia,' Audrey Gelman said, as we sat at a red corduroy–cushioned corner table, deviled eggs in hand, a metal horse hanging on the wall in front of us, and "Great Balls of Fire" flowing through the speaker.
We were at The Six Bells Countryside Inn—an 11-room property that takes elevated country-kitsch to a new level. And it was opening day for the Hudson Valley retreat. The hotel is an extension of its namesake homeware store in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, and the latest venture from Gelman, the founder of the now-shuttered coworking space for women, the Wing. The three-story hotel, along Roundout Creek, a tributary of the Hudson River, first started welcoming travelers in 1850 when it opened as The Central Hotel. It has since had many lives, always as a hotel or a boarding house.
When I arrived that rainy afternoon in June, the first thing I noticed was the hand-painted, map-like mural on the ceiling. It depicts Barrow's Green—an entirely made-up village that Gelman invented as inspiration when first building The Six Bells shop in 2022—and now lives on through nearly every element of the hotel. (Each of the guest rooms, for example, are tied to a particular storyline or character of the village.)
While a fictional world was the inspiration behind Gelman's concept—a place that's 'not hokey, but also doesn't take itself so seriously'—the very real property on Main Street in Rosendale, New York brings her narrative to life.
'I like to build spaces that people can walk into and they feel like they're in a different reality,' Gelman said. And I'd say she, along with her business partner Jeremy Selman, a hospitality veteran behind names like Line Hotels, NoMad, and The Ned London, have succeeded. Interior of the on-site country store.
Kate S. Jordan/The Six Bells Hotel
From the moment you walk into Six Bells, it feels familiar and warm. Around every corner, there's a new detail: a decades-old wardrobes that Gelman hunted for at various antique malls across the country; custom quilts that match the color of the guest room they live within; a dollhouse replica in the on-site shop with stained-glass windows that perfectly match the property's.
Many of the treasures within the hotel can actually be purchased, including the Sabre silverware at on-site restaurant, The Feathers. While some objets d'art are thrifted finds, many are custom made by artists and producers Gelman has found—or who have found Gelman.
During my two days at the inn, I heard Gelman use several descriptors for where she drew inspiration for this first of potentially many hotels: the English countryside, Agatha Christie mysteries, Bavarian culture, resorts in Tyrol, Austria, and Amish culture in America. Also, 'kitsch, the idea of high-low experiences, theme hotels, and then luxury,' Gelman said. She and Selman worked with Adam Greco of Greco Deco, a New York-based design firm, to bring this project to life in just one year.
'I've freed myself from the limitations of, 'I have to do one thing or the other,'' Gelman said of her transition into hospitality. 'It's more, you're doing the things you're doing, and you're doing them creatively. I don't think the industry should lead you, the ideas should.'
Here, my full review and everything you need to know about The Six Bells Countryside Inn.
'The hospitality experiences I like have a sense of humor about themselves,' Gelman said when explaining her inspiration behind each of Six Bells' 11 rooms. All of the rooms within the 175-year-old building tell their own story—curated entirely from Gelman's imagination.
When I arrived at my room, The Ribbon, there was a leather-bound booklet (custom-made in Ukraine for each room) sitting on my four-poster king-size bed. Within it, guests can read about each of the rooms and the hidden stories within them. Whether it's Lamplight (Gelman's favorite), Mildred's Plum, or the Innkeeper's Suite, the individual personalities shine through in the details. In Lamplight, for example, local artist Wally Whitehurst hand-painted a blue mural, and the king-size bed is tucked behind thick curtains.
Each room has a 'shopping catalogue' that guests can browse through. Items within this booklet include a $40 mug and a $99 floral pillow, or furniture like the rattan Adelaide Console for $3,250 found in the Lamplight room.
While I slept like a baby in my all-green room on The Park Mattress ($2,195) designed by Ostermoor, a family-owned company in Massachusetts, one qualm I had was the lack of storage space. There are three small drawers in the hand-painted wardrobe—that houses a mini-fridge—but if I were staying at the inn with another person or had more clothes, I could see this posing a challenge. The restaurant on property, The Feathers.
Kate S. Jordan/The Six Bells Hotel
An 18-table tavern, The Feathers, is the only restaurant at the hotel. It's one of the Inn's main gathering spaces, serving a complimentary daily breakfast of soft-boiled eggs, fresh trout, and meats and cheeses.
The design is cozy and invites guests to linger. In one corner, tables with dark-red cushions; near the bar, a set of beautiful wooden banquettes for two diners; and a sunroom-like space adorned with floral-blue wallpaper and floral-red couches, which somehow match.
The Feathers menu was crafted in collaboration with consulting chef Molly Levine and the head chef Larkin Young; it will change seasonally, depending on the produce available in the area. During my stay, the Golden Slipper—a cocktail made with your choice of vodka or gin (I opted for vodka, as I always do), honey, lemon juice, and ginger—quickly became my favorite beverage on the creative list. While the food menu is small, the classic American-inspired flavors are not. During my two nights on the property, I tried the chilled buttermilk cucumber soup (Gelman's favorite), the deviled eggs, the roasted half chicken, the oven-poached hake, and the corn fritters. I am still dreaming of the latter, which were paired perfectly with crispy fried sage that I nibbled on even after there was no fritter left to pair it with.
Outdoor dining will be available on the large wooden deck attached to the back of the property, overlooking Roundout Creek.
Come fall, Gelman will introduce rotating seasonal experiences. 'A murder mystery series, definitely,' Gelman promises. She also mentioned that guests will be able to learn first-hand from the various craftsmen and creatives in the area, through a cooking class or watercoloring workshop, which will be introduced later this year. By the end of the June, according to Gelman, the backyard space will have additional seating, firepits, and a chicken coop, and there will be shelves stocked with books to peruse on each floor of the inn.
There is also a small storefront located on the first floor of the property, adjacent to the check-in area. Here, you can shop Six Bells merchandise like tomato-printed tote bags, hand-painted mugs, or embroidered, tufted pillows.
There is no spa at The Six Bells Country Inn. The dollhouse replica of The Six Bells Countryside Inn.
Jess Feldman/Travel + Leisure
The Six Bells is very family friendly, especially for toddlers or young children, simply as a result of its imaginative design. For example, the murals found on many of the walls and ceilings of the common spaces—hand-painted by Whitehurst—invite a closer look. There are two family suites on property, Scrubett's Ledge and The Innkeeper's Suite. In both of these guest rooms, children can search for the hidden bells (of which there are six, of course) within the murals on the walls. A children's playroom will be completed next month.
The outdoor area has plenty of space for children to play, and the soon-to-come chicken coop will only add to the appeal. While there are not many activities on-site for teens or older children, the surrounding area offers plenty to see and do.
The common spaces within The Six Bells Countryside Inn are ADA compliant, and there is one accessible guest room on the first floor. However, the majority of the guest rooms are on the second and third floors, and there is no elevator on the property. The exterior facade and entrance of The Six Bells Countryside Inn.
Kate S. Jordan/The Six Bells Hotel
Gelman and Selman knew they wanted to be in the Hudson Valley. After months of searching, in the summer of 2024, they found the Six Bells property, set in the town of Rosendale, in Ulster County New York. It's about a two-hour drive from New York City.
'There's something really special about it,' Gelman said of the space, located right on Main Street, where many small boutiques, farm-to-table restaurants, and a historic movie theater are steps away. When the weather is nice, there are various riverside trails within walking distance to explore.
Rosendale is also just a 15-minute drive to Kingston, known for its antiquing, restaurants, and distinctive Dutch architecture. During my stay, I spent a few hours there, popping from one store to the next; mid-shopping, I had a delicious BLT on homemade bread at Rosie General. For more great dining options and art galleries, guests can drive about 45 minutes north to Hudson.
The Six Bells is not currently affiliated with any loyalty programs. However, breakfast is included for all guests. Nightly rates at The Six Bells Countryside Inn start from $350.
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