Piaule Catskill

TLDR; Beautiful location, exceptional service, high quality modern rooms that lack some creature comforts of comparably priced resorts.

Check-in: Easy, informative, front desk person offered to help us with our bags and was very kind.

Night 1: Hot water runs out after 10 minutes of using shower, the front desk told us it was expected and to wait 20 minutes between showers.

Dinner at Piaule: Stellar food, and the service was perfect. They printed a custom menu to wish my partner happy birthday, amazing move.

I really enjoyed my stay, but I have some issues. I am usually a very lenient grader and rarely write out long reviews but here we go. The service was subpar. Firstly, we went during a very snowy weekend- the roads on property were barely plowed and definitely not salted. My group slipped a few times, especially on the steep walk to and from the spa.
Another bone I have to pick is with the restaurant. The staff was UNBELIEVABLE. So friendly and kind. What upset me is the price of the prefix dinner. I’m not sure where they get off charging those prices, especially for the area. I understand it’s a true chefs meal, and it was remarkably delicious and thought out- but my group of 4 facing and almost $800 price tag seemed a bit too pretentious.
4 stars because I had such a nice weekend upstate, but it’s bordering three.

While a comfortable stay, it is not worth the price tag. Piaule markets itself as “minimalist,” but in reality that seems to mean minimal service and cutting costs. We came for a winter weekend between Christmas and New Years expecting a cozy, relaxing stay, and it fell short.

When we checked in shortly after it had snowed, no one offered to help with our bags, despite the long walk to our cabin. When I asked if that was possible, the staff looked at me like I had ten heads before reluctantly calling maintenance. Later, we saw another couple rolling their own bags through the snow in pitch darkness.

The main house has very limited seating relative to the number of guests and is the only “third location” on site. There are two larger couch areas, and the rest of the space functions primarily as the restaurant. The fireplace was dim and barely maintained. We would have enjoyed the outdoor fire pit, but it had not been cleared of snow and was completely unusable. Paths throughout the property were icy, uncleared, and poorly lit, which felt genuinely unsafe. We overheard multiple guests expressing similar concerns and the paths were eventually cleared, as initially there appeared to be no salting or visible effort to address these conditions.

In the cabins, the shower ran out of hot water after about five minutes, forcing my husband to have his shower in freezing cold water. There are no hooks for coats, and the seating area consists of two uncomfortable chairs. On top of already paying a very high nightly rate, you’re charged extra for yoga and other on-site activities. The spa lacks slippers, robes or even plastic bags to put your wet bathing suit in.

The positives: The scenery is beautiful, the bed is comfortable, the rooms are clean, and complimentary snacks are provided. The outdoor spa pool has a lovely view, and the yoga class we paid for was taught by a strong instructor. The restaurant was decent, and some members of the kitchen staff were genuinely warm and welcoming (especially Donna).

Overall, the property feels understaffed and does not deliver a five- or even four-star experience. Guests are often made to feel like an inconvenience, with little guidance or support throughout the stay. At a significantly lower price point - perhaps around $300 per night - this would be totally reasonable. At its current cost, however, it does not compare to other luxury resorts in the area and simply is not worth it.

My 2 days stay at the Piaule Catskill was such a pleasant surprise. I came to learn about this place when I was randomly checking for luxury retreats in upstate NY.
I chose one of the elevated cabins which provided me with a stunning view of the woods. The cabin was chic with what I would say a minimalist design. The place offered much solitude and space for relaxation and unwinding. I think i had two of my quitiest sleeps this year literally as if I had ear plugs in my ear.
Within the property there are trails for hiking and observing nature. Other services include a small steam pool with stunning views of the Catskills mountains. The restaurant offers high quality dining. Loved the ravioli and the hummus salad.
Everyone in the staff were friendly and attentive
I loved the place. I had some stressful times this year and I longed for a place to relax. The Piaule gave me what I longed for

Love this quiet little get away in the Catskills. Close to lots of hiking trails and hunter mountain. The rooms are very clean nicely designed and comfortable beds. The spa was great with amazing views of the sunset over the Catskills mountains. The food for breakfast lunch and dinner was amazing as well. Highly recommend the Prix Fix menu for dinner.