The Groton Inn is a historic boutique hotel originally built in 1678, making it one of America’s oldest inns. While the original structure was destroyed in a fire in 2011, the property was rebuilt as a 60-guestroom property, reopening in 2018. The current property reflects the original inn’s colonial heritage, while offering guests a modern, luxurious feel.

I arrived for my stay at The Groton Inn late in the evening and found the property quiet, but that would be nothing out of the ordinary throughout my stay. The inn is relatively low-key, with the most hustle and bustle coming from frequent group stays and parties, such as the wedding that occurred during my weekend visit.

My Hillview guestroom was extremely spacious, with a king-sized bed, separate seating area with a couch and armchair, a desk area and a sideboard table underneath the hanging television; the table held a coffeemaker and a carafe guests could refill with water at their leisure at stations throughout the inn. The guestroom also offered scenic views of adjacent Gibbett Hill through multiple large windows that provided tons of natural light during the day. In the large bathroom, I found a huge amount of storage, a generous vanity separate from the toilet, a rain shower and heated tile floors.

Beyond guestrooms, the inn offers many comfortable social spaces throughout, including multiple cozy seating areas in the lobby, boasting a roaring fireplace, local artwork and a beautiful antique clock; the expansive outdoor patio; and the intimate Keep’s Conservatory, which doubles as a breakfast restaurant in the morning and is open to the public. Daily breakfast is included in your room rate and includes a bountiful spread of breakfast favorites and an omelet station.

The inn’s main restaurant is just a short walk across the parking lot. Forge and Vine is popular with locals, visitors and guests alike, and for good reason. The new restaurant channels the four natural elements of wood, water, iron and fire, and combines them with the area’s history, for a unique, trendy environment and dining experience. The huge space offers diners the choice to eat in the dining room, with its soaring ceilings and open kitchen; at the bar, where there’s a variety of local beers and an expansive wine list; or outdoors, on the enclosed patio or the deck, with its views of Gibbett Hill. The menu is certainly a challenge, as there’s so much to choose from and all of it truly sounds amazing; decadent dishes feature seasonal and locally iinspired ingredients. I enjoyed the New England cheese plate, accompanied by local honey, apricot jam and spiced nuts, followed by a perfectly cooked steak. The professional staff was extremely accommodating to my multitude of dietary restrictions, and adjusted their offerings and recipes to fit my needs, which made for a dining experience of rare excellence that did not go unappreciated.

All in all, The Groton Inn provides a lovely, luxurious place to stay while in the Groton area. However, even if you do not need a place to lay your head, Forge & Vine is certainly worth a spot on your itinerary, as easily one of the best places to dine in the region.

The Groton Inn

128 Main St.
Groton, MA 01450
tel 978 448 6600
thegrotoninn.com