A LEVELED UP FARMHOUSE DÉCOR
Discovering excellent local places for getaways is important and making sure they are close is helpful right now. Because of this, Briar Barn Inn and Spa, and their on property restaurant, GroveRowley , makes for a great destination.
The 30 rooms are designed to feel like a leveled-up farmhouse, so you will still find fireplaces and TVs, don’t worry! The only amenity we didn’t cover was the The Spa at Briar Barn Inn , but this makes for a great location for a small wedding.
Click Either Photo for the Full Galley of Room Photos.
While not that far away from Boston, it still feels like you are in a quiet remote New England town.
BRUNCH: THE YARD STICK OF CIVILIZATION…
I don’t get to do brunch too often with all that has happened so when I plan for it, I try to make it count! While covering the Briar Barn Inn , I took advantage of their Sunday brunch at their onsite restaurant GroveRowley
The dining rooms were all stunning and the reclaimed barn is a great space. Bloody Mary Flight was stunning with Vodka, tequila, Cervesa and Bourbon being the spirited enhancer left to right. Frittata was stuffed with asparagus, caramelized onions, cheddar cheese, and herbs CROQUE MADAME, always get it on any menu! sunny-side-up egg, ham, cheese, mornay sauce on brioche, house-cut fries. LOADED Avocado Toast with smoked salmon, everything bagel spice, local micro greens, radish, pickled onions, lemon crema BLOOD ORANGE SCREWDRIVER was a nice twist, with vodka, Aperol, blood orange juice And A&J King Artisan Bakers pastries rounded out the table.
CLOSE TO SO MANY ATTRACTIONS
Proximity matters and The Briar Barn Inn is so close (10 to 15 minute Uber) to so many great places to explore, such as:
The Trustees – Crane Estate , 1634 Meadery , Mill River Winery , Ipswich Ale Brewery , Russell Orchard Winery and Cidery , True North Ale Company , and Privateer Rum just to name a few!
1634 Meadery
1634 Meadery is a spot I have wanted to visit for a while, as Ive been a fan of their mead.
Just a 10 minute drive from our stay at the Briar Barn Inn , so it made for a perfect spot for a tasting. Flights of 6 samples are only $10 and given how expensive it is to make Mead, that is a great deal.
Personal favorite is the Beewitched: They describe it as: Semi-sweet mead made with fresh, raw Maine clover honey. If dry or sweet is not your thing, give this a try! Plus, there is a great story to go with it.
They also sell honey and a few bees wax products. Some of the stories on where they source their honey is worth the trip!
The Crane Estate
It was very early in the season to visit The Trustees – Crane Estate , but I wanted to give you a taste for the grounds in April. It was an excellent visit and walking and exploring all the courtyards and gardens before the proper season starts was nice. While overcast and lacking sunlight and blue skies, the weather was perfect for walking all over.
Just a 15 minute drive from our stay at the Briar Barn Inn , so it made for a great activity in place of a hike.
The Trustees do great work and this will be on my calendar for another visit when things are in bloom.
DINNER AT GROVE ROWLEY
After hiking around the grounds of a mansion and learning about mead, and a quick rest at the Briar Barn Inn , we finished the evening off with a relaxing dinner at GroveRowley
Favorites are going to be based on my personal tastes, and probably everyone will have a different opinion.
The Duck Fat Tater Tots were perfect. One of the best things I have had in a long time and the flavors were balanced, which is hard to do when working with duck fat.
Next was the Octopus, and yes I know not everyone will agree with me. I would call them seafood bacon, and they come with potatoes, smoked paprika oil, lemon aioli, pickled onion, and chorizo.
Finally, was the pan seared Fluke, and the broth that it sat on was out of this world, and I considered dipping bread in it, but… the table was packed.
While the hotel visit was #Hosted by the property, we were not paid for this review. All opinions are our own.
