Perched on a bluff above the Mississippi River in the bucolic northwest corner of Illinois, Goldmoor Inn makes a lovely spot for a getaway. The small town of Galena has long been a popular leisure destination for residents of the Chicago area and Minnesota’s Twin Cities, offering more than 100 shops and restaurants along Main Street, wineries and trolley tours past lovingly preserved 19^th-century buildings and historic sites, including the home of Ulysses S. Grant.

But guests of Goldmoor Inn will be tempted to forgo all that once they settle into one of the inn’s 18 luxury lodgings set amid 21 acres of pastoral scenery just outside of town. Once a private estate, the castle-like inn resembles an English country manor with 13 spacious suites, three freshly painted country cottages and two cabins. The lodgings are decorated in the style of Arthurian-era England, a French country château or North Woods cabin. The finest river views are from the oversized windows of the second-floor Mississippi Suite where renovations are scheduled to resume after the fall.

My husband and I would have been happy to spend our entire weekend at the inn, ignoring all Galena has to offer. All rooms come with a king-sized bed, two-person whirlpool tub, fireplace and either a balcony or patio. Homemade cookies drew us to the counter of the kitchenette and the order form for a gourmet breakfast to be discreetly delivered to our nest the next morning.

© Katherine Rodeghier

We had the option of taking breakfast in the Goldmoor Inn restaurant, but chose to dine there in the evening instead. Open to the public Thursday–Monday nights, reservations in the 38-seat dining room are highly sought after, and the 10-seat chef’s table in the kitchen is a culinary adventure for small groups. I started with a craft cocktail while my husband chose a selection from the inn’s excellent wine cellar. We had to try the beef Wellington, a staple among the American classic dishes on the menu. Chef Paul Richards finessed his culinary skill in such establishments as La Fourchette in Charleston, S.C.

Innkeepers Slobo and Birgit Radin, originally from Germany, bought the inn in 2015, bringing more than 25 years in the hospitality business with them, including work with Westin and Starwood properties. Slobo runs the food and beverage operation while Birgit oversees guest services and handles hotel management. Goldmoor Inn was handpicked as part of the Discovery Destinations Hotels & Resorts collection of premium properties, also including the Shaker Village at Pleasant Hill in Kentucky, Terra Paradise in Costa Rica and Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara in Abu Dhabi.

One night at dusk we settled into Adirondack chairs on the bluff, watching a rabbit dart into the lush foliage of the garden as the sun set over the Mississippi, keeping our eyes peeled for bald eagles diving into the river. What would we do tomorrow? A walk in the inn’s English rose garden or couple’s massage in the spa? So many decisions.

Goldmoor Inn

9001 Sand Hill Road
Galena, IL 61036
tel 800 255 3925