This New Luxury Hotel Is Well Worth the Hour’s Drive From NYC — Set on 90 Acres With a Spa and Farm-to-table Dining

When you roll up to the Pendry Natirar, you really do roll up. Set on a ridge, above the hills of Somerset County, New Jersey, this new hotel is all about the luxury of space, overlooking hundreds of acres of protected parkland.

It’s also about the growing footprint of this still-burgeoning brand, the trendy younger cousin of Montage Hotels & Resorts, which now has nine locations across the United States.

The newest in the bunch, Pendry Natirar, may be the most unlikely of them all, starting with that distinctive name.

“It’s Raritan spelled backwards,” says general manager Derek Lescrinier, who grew up in Central New Jersey, where the Raritan River flows. In fact, a branch of the waterway runs right past the new resort, which takes its name from a historic estate first built on this site at the turn of the 20th Century.

That private home, one of many stately mansions built across Somerset County in those days, was first built as the residence of Kate Everit Macy and her husband Walter Graeme Ladd. Later, the home and hundreds of acres around it were sold to King Hassan II of Morocco; the property was sold to the county in 2003. Today, the now-refurbished manor forms the heart of the new resort, which is surrounded by a 90-acre parcel with several new-construction additions, including a fabulous farm-to-table restaurant, an organic farm, a swimming pool complex, tennis courts, private residences, and event space.

All of this is, improbably, just 46 miles from New York, about an hour’s drive from the Pendry Manhattan West.

Visiting as I did in the late fall was, perhaps at first glance, not the ideal time, given the chill in the air and the property’s many outdoor amenities. On the contrary: I found the bountiful natural light — hello, hilltop location — and peaceful pace to be a balm for what’s normally a crazed holiday season. The just relax vibe was enhanced by the elegant, timeless decor both in the historic building and the guest wing addition: neutral tones with pops of heather and hunter green, rich fabrics in muted patterns, vintage rugs, all brass everything. The Great Room, as one gathering place is known, is dominated by a massive stone fireplace — original, I’m told — which I settled in front of one evening with a Vesper; other guests were playing pool in the Billiards Room and swapping stories over a bottle of Macallan in the Library.

Then there’s the food. The hotel is still ramping up service at Ladd’s Tavern, a bathed-in-sunlight option in the central manor home. It’s the spot for breakfast — if you’re not doing room service — and for lunch. Think fantastic Caesar salad made with real anchovies (as it should be), fish and chips, and a beefy Mansion burger. But the true culinary star is Ninety Acres, a high-end option that’s worth a trip on its own, with much of the produce sourced from the property’s on-site organic farm. 

For all the luxuries, though, the moments you can’t find anywhere else come back to the Pendry’s perch, high above the fields, forests, and meadows. One morning, still cozy under the down comforter of my king-size bed, I watched the late November sun rise above the trees and hawks wheel in the sky. At a time when chaos seems to reign, it was the perfect way to greet a new day.

Here’s my detailed review of the Pendry Natirar, including a closer look at the rooms, dining, and amenities of this new resort.

The Rooms

The Pendry Natirar has 66 rooms, including 20 suites, in several categories. Entry-level Resort category rooms offer plenty of bang for the buck, with views of the countryside, incredible bedding, and marble-and-brass bathrooms. A step up are the Estate, Deluxe Resort, and Deluxe Estate rooms, which offer better views and more space.

The 20 suites, a key selling point for the hotel, are meant to feel residential, with wet bars, soaking tubs, and plenty of extra space. Some feature dining areas, balconies, and other feels-like-home amenities. Speaking of, the bath products are from MiN New York, and all rooms come with a pod espresso machine and plenty of bedside USB outlets.

Whatever category you’re in, expect to find grown-up furniture with dark-stained wood, marble, distressed brass accents, and a quiet-luxury color palette. (That deep-green paint color is Dried Thyme, a spokesperson tells me.)

Food and Drink

Ninety Acres is the headline restaurant on property and one worthy of a trip in its own right. Chef Peter Rudolph puts an emphasis on local products — some harvested just out the back door — that restores one’s faith in the promise of farm-to-table dining. The menu breaks down with starters, entrees, and sides — eight each — with the option to add bread service a la carte. On my visit, a starter of tuna tartare with zucchini basil purée, piquillo peppers, and almond gremolata followed by dishes such as grilled pork steak with roasted yams and port wine onions were representative of the kind of elevated food on offer. (The Parker House rolls, served with carrot butter, smoked salmon roe, and dill were a particular delight.) Desserts are by executive pastry chef Alexandra McMillen Cavallo, who has created the best apple pie I’ve eaten in years.

Guests can also go a touch more casual at Ladd’s Tavern, in a new addition to the original manor house. The light-filled room was doing breakfast and lunch when I visited, with dinner launching in December 2024. Chef Rudolph is also overseeing the menu here, which tends toward more casual (but no less delicious) items like chopped salads, a Jersey Shore clam chowder, and comfort foods like chicken pot pie.

Both Ninety Acres and Ladd’s offer a full bar, and several premium agaves and other top-shelf choices are available, whether on their own or mixed into contemporary or classic cocktails. Ninety Acres also has a wine cellar-slash-private dining room for events.

Activities and Experiences

The best thing to do here may be nothing at all. At least, that’s how I felt on a sunny but seasonally cool weekend visit. Lounging by the fireplace, having a perfect cocktail, shooting a round of pool in the Billiards Room: these are small pleasures not to be overlooked. But, of course, the resort has much more to do, particularly in the warmer months. A huge outdoor pool is one obvious amenity; tennis courts are another. There are also (free) tours of the 12-acre organic farm on property and a series of cooking classes, held in a purpose-built studio, at Ninety Acres. The Spa has a full lineup of treatments and indulgences, while a fitness studio has plenty of Technogym equipment.

The Spa

The 19,000-square-foot spa is something of a differentiator for the Pendry Natirar. It’s certainly got all the necessary amenities, including a full menu of treatments, 12 treatment rooms, a thermal suite, an indoor pool, a salt cave, and lounging areas. There’s also a well-equipped fitness room close by that’s generously outfitted considering the overall size of the property; two Peloton bikes are a nice touch, as well.

Accessibility and Sustainability

Though set in a historic building, the Pendry Natirar is fully accessible, with smooth surfaces and elevators to event spaces and guest rooms above the ground floor. The property details the features of accessible rooms on its website, including information about hand rails and other fixtures.

In terms of sustainability, the property deserves some green cred for upcycling a historic building and rejuvenating this parcel of once-private property. Its 12-acre organic farm is another big nod to sustainable practices; produce grown on-site ends up in the kitchen of Ninety Acres.

Location

The property is in Peapack, New Jersey, situated on 90 acres inside the larger Natirar Park, a county-managed recreation area with walking paths, biking trails, and trout fishing. It’s about an hour’s drive from the west side of Manhattan, depending on traffic. One notable neighbor is Trump National Golf Club Bedminster, about a 15-minute drive away.

How to Get the Best Value Out of Your Stay

All Pendry Hotels are members of Preferred Hotels & Resorts; the Pendry Natirar is in the L.U.X. collection. Travelers enrolled in Preferred’s I Prefer Hotel Rewards get access to preferential rates, points for future stays, and a variety of on-property amenities, depending on the hotel. Guests can also get preferred treatment when they book Pendry Hotels through a travel advisor, like those on the T+L A-List.