Your First Look at River House at Odette’s, New Hope’s New Hotel & Wedding Venue

The ballroom at the River House at Odette’s. All renderings courtesy Refined Hospitality

If you’re a Philadelphian who’s spent any time in Cape May, you know about the Reeds at Shelter Haven. You know about the outdoor sundeck with breathtaking waterfront views, and you’ve likely heard about the luxurious spa they tacked on last year. But what you might not know is that Refined Hospitality, the hospitality group behind the Reeds, has also been hard at work on another waterfront property: River House at Odette’s in New Hope.

Set on the banks of the Delaware River on the high part of River Road in New Hope, River House at Odette’s is a 34-room hotel and wedding venue slated to open in the spring of 2020. The property is inspired by Depression-era vaudeville and Broadway entertainer Odette Myrtil, who, in her post-acting life, ran a lively restaurant and cabaret called Chez Odette on the same plot of land in the ’60’s and ’70’s. (It was later renamed Odette’s Restaurant under new ownership.)

River House credits Myrtil for the French charm that extends throughout the property where her cabaret once existed stood. (In the fall of 2018, Odette’s Restaurant was put on metal beams and driven down River Road to make room for the new hotel. It now serves as an educational tourist destination for the town.) The actress’s artsy French influence can be seen, felt, and tasted at River House through the menu selections, velvet and leather furnishings, an on-site piano lounge, and the open-concept ballroom, where the walls are covered with lines from Myrtil’s own love letters.

When it comes to weddings on the property, you’ll exchange vows in a riverfront garden overlooking the spot where two canals merge into one. (Pretty good symbolism, right?) For cocktail hour, guests will gather in a pre-reception space outfitted with trendy furnishings, striking murals, and layered antique architectural elements. Dinner and dancing takes place in the 3,000-square-foot ballroom, which features hardwood floors, airy chandeliers tucked into the ceiling, and a wall of glass doors that opens to a private terrace. The hotel also offers a rooftop bar that can be made available for post-wedding brunches.

River House’s warm neutral color scheme is designed to highlight the indoor-outdoor experience while also accommodating a wide range of wedding design preferences. Guestroom blocks to accommodate overnight guests will be offered, and couples who book their wedding at River House will be given a complimentary two-night stay. All River House events will be catered in-house, and menus will focus on locally-sourced, seasonally-inspired farm-to-table cuisine (think: protein and veggie dishes that nod to Bucks County farmland). Local wines, beers, and spirits will round out bar selections.

Capacity at River House is 200 guests for a seated dinner, with services priced at $169 per person. Weddings can be booked for as early as September 2020, and dates are already going fast. Scroll down for renderings of the event spaces, as well as a look inside the guest rooms, bars and lounges.

A view from River Road of River House’s front exterior

A king guestroom at River House

The hotel’s swanky piano lounge will feature live entertainment

The rooftop bar will also be available for post-wedding brunches

The riverfront ceremony garden overlooks the intersection of two canals

The pre-function space where wedding guests will gather for cocktails before a ballroom reception

The walls of the 3,000-square-foot-ballroom are adorned with lines from actress Odette Myrtil’s love letters

The ballroom’s glass door wall opens to an outdoor terrace

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