From Butler-Drawn Baths to Late-Night Cabaret, How to Spend a Weekend at Pennsylvania’s Most Luxe Resort

There’s nothing quite like a vacation in Paris, and it’s even better when you can create that experience without having to travel over the Atlantic. After all, everyone has a favorite French-inspired activity. Whether you’re strolling to the bistro for a morning croissant, sipping afternoon tea in a chaise lounge while reading The Sun Also Rises, or catching an evening cabaret show full of red velvet and black lace, there’s a romance and a magic to the Gallic way of life that will make you feel a world away on vacation. And that’s what makes staying at The Chateau, a newly renovated space at Nemacolin, so transportive.

The iconic Pennsylvania resort has managed to match the elegance of the French capital in every detail, from its food to its arts to its architecture. With its summer reopening, The Chateau has already become a destination for national and international travelers, and fortunately, it’s only a drive away from Philly, which means it’s now possible to feel like you’re traveling to Europe, without really leaving home.

To find out how The Chateau performs this magic trick, we got an inside look at the resort along with local travel influencer (and Paris enthusiast) Peixi Kwee. Here’s how to make the most of this summer’s must-visit Pennsylvania destination. 

The Look

The enchantment of Nemacolin begins on your drive in, as soon as The Chateau’s French-inflected Georgian columns pass into view. Inspired by the Ritz Paris (which Kwee has previously visited), The Chateau was reimagined to take guests back to France’s 18th-century zenith, with an exterior featuring alternating columns and windows adorned with red, off-white and green awnings. With panoramic views of the Laurel Highlands in the background, guests follow paved walkways (parasol optional) up to the central porte cochere to enter the main lobby. 

“Driving up you immediately see just the vastness of it,” Kwee says. “If you want to feel like a princess for a weekend, this is the place to treat yourself–it’s so grand I felt like I could walk in wearing a ball gown and not feel out of place.”

Once inside, the Parisian aesthetics continue, the interiors defined by pastel hues and luxuriant drapery. The hotel suites are both timelessly elegant and make for the perfect photo opp thanks to new wall, floor and window coverings, with bold, individual color schemes, from robin’s egg blue to rich gold. In addition to each room having its own personality, each scheme is unified in a shared Gallic spirit with luxurious marble, stunning chandeliers, and intricate floral motifs. Add to this Nemacolin’s signature, luxuriant soaking tubs, and you have accommodations that would make Marie Antoinette happy. 

The Stay

All the french esprit is brought to life by your own personal butler. From the moment guests arrive, their stay is supported by Nemacolin’s celebrated butler service. Kwee found that her bags were taken and transported to her suite as soon as she stepped from her car, and once in her room, her butler gave her an in-depth introduction to the amenities offered by Nemacolin. 

“You got the sense that he would try to make any request happen,” Kwee says. “His recommendations were really personal and thoughtful at the same time.”

At guests’ request, butlers will draw a bath with a curated array of scents and soaps, or bring a selection of pillows, including therapeutic choices like a cooling, amethyst-lined option. From there, butlers take a comprehensive approach to making sure guests have a standout stay.

“Butler service at Nemacolin begins the minute a reservation is made to ensure every detail is taken care of, from curating itineraries to around-the-clock service. There is no request too outrageous for the butler team as they deliver real-life magic,” says Jose Carlos Curci, General Manager-Hotel Complex. “Traditional white-glove service is provided, and no task is too big or small. From the little things, such as a personalized welcome email and call prior to arrival to providing lounge service, unpacking, packing, ironing, and selecting arrival and departure gifts, Nemacolin’s butlers are always at hand to ensure a carefree stay.”

Kwee’s butler, for example, helped her take advantage of all that Nemacolin has to offer. That started with Nemacolin’s holistic wellness offerings. Kwee began her first morning with aromatherapy, sampling different herbs and plants taken directly from Nemacolin’s garden. This preceded a visit to Nemacolin’s extensive spa services, and from there, their main pool, offering views of the rolling hillside and poolside snacks (Kwee enjoyed the homemade popsicles). 

The Sips

Of course, the flavors of France are an inextricable part of any Parisian experience, and Nemacolin’s dining and drinking options will be central to any guests’ stay. Perfect for an afternoon treat, The Bleu Room hosts a full afternoon tea service. Guests are immersed in blue in a delightful, almost playful environment, with custom-designed, baroque-applique-fabric seating areas. Tea arrives in teapots and porcelain place-settings rimmed with 24-karat gold, and accompanied by classic tea cakes and finger sandwiches.

“The porcelain pieces are intricately painted by Anna Weatherly Designs and her team of master artists in Budapest, Hungary, where it takes hours of free-hand rendering and small brush strokes to produce these one-of-a-kind, perfectly coordinated pieces,” says Chantal Bernicky, Hardy Family Art Director. “Anna Weatherly has designed fine porcelain pieces for Nemacolin as well as royalty and politicians including Princess Diana, The White House, Buckingham Palace, and fine shops and museums around the world.”

Kwee’s next stop after finishing her sipping was The Hardy Room, which presents guests with a classic, library-like environment in which to enjoy a selection of high-end cigars, bourbons, scotches and cognacs, all guided by an aficionado’s insight. For those looking for something stirred or shaken, The Chateau’s reimagined Lobby Bar offers luxurious libations in an accessible, relaxed environment. 

“You can see the gardens that surround the hotel, and inside there’s gold everywhere,” Kwee says. “The bartenders are so nice there–we felt like we could come and sit there any time we wanted.”

The Tastes

And that’s all without even getting to the food. For breakfast, Kwee visited Fawn & Fable for avocado toast, dining in a whimsical, fairy tale-inspired environment that also serves classics like mac & cheese and tomahawk steaks for its dinner service. 

The centerpiece of The Chateau’s dining options, and where Kwee got the full, French royalty treatment, is Lautrec, so named for the collection of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec lithographs that adorn its walls. There, Kwee experienced a five-star dining experience with a five-course tasting menu, featuring French-inflected but highly contemporary, eclectic dishes accompanied by attentive service. 

“The server walked us through the individual cuts of steak, and explained how the different kinds of marbling affected the flavor,” Kwee says. “They also pushed out a whole cart for dessert, and we could just pick what we wanted, which was a really cool presentation.”

Finally, Kwee ended her stay with Nightcap, a cabaret lounge and standalone venue. Featuring craft cocktails and small bites, the lounge transports you into the Parisian night, with mesmerizing cabaret performances. 

“It had these Moulin Rouge vibes, all red, wood, dark–and very cool,” Kwee says. 

It provided Kwee with the perfect end note to her trip–and makes for a great last sip for any day full of adventure at The Chateau. 

This is a paid partnership between Nemacolin Resort and Philadelphia Magazine