Athenaeum Hotel

It was wonderful! Only downside was the parking lot was a bit of a walk from the hotel

It was good but the wedding going on was loud and disruptive as we were looking forward to a more tranquil visit. However it was all good

great staff

this was a beautiful hotel with the wrap around porch, stairs and fountain. it did need a new coat of paint and regardless it was lovely. some of the furniture in the interior was not as attractive as it could have been. stay with a theme! all in all, this was a unique experience and i was happy to stay here.

This hotel is old (1881), but it has tons of history and charm. That's why I love it so much. We stayed here for the first time this year, and we've already reserved our room for the 2025 season. It's mind-blowing to walk down the same historic hallways that Ulysses S. Grant, Teddy Roosevelt, and Bill Clinton walked and stayed. We had a fantastic room at the end on the 2nd floor. It had been updated (see photos) and had a great view of the lake. There was even a charming porch area outside the room. The front desk staff were very polite, helpful, and quick to address issues. We loved our maid, too. She took care of our every need and made sure our room was cleaned properly. At the end of our visit, we asked her what some of her favorite rooms in the hotel were. She showed us each room and we reserved one for our 2025 visit. NOTE: I see that some of the less-than-stellar reviews knock the hotel for its restaurant, The Heirloom Restaurant. I agree that the food and service at the Heirloom are not that great and don't meet expectations for such a grand hotel. But I shared that in a separate 3-star review for the restaurant.

This place was a little diamond in the rough and it’s unbelievable of all the places I’ve been in the world which is many was so impressiveI’m

Wonderful, well maintained building on the Chautauqua Institute property. It felt like you were going back to an earlier time.

I’ve been reading the reviews, and I have come to the conclusion that the negative reviews may have come from those expecting amenities we look for in modern hotels. This is not a modern hotel. It is a lovely, creaky building with charm galore, incredibly hospitable staff, wonderful service, and the feel of a trip to the past. Yes, the rooms are small, the floors uneven, the paint cracking in some places. But that is part of the charm. A trip into a different time…one I will gladly repeat!

Yes the hotel is old, 1881, so not for everyone's taste. The location on the lake, the wonderful lobby bar, very friendly staff, and amazing hotel free breakfast make this a 4 star stay and a must-do again in the future. The breakfast featured tons of fresh cut fruit, a delicious egg casserole (heirloom tomatoes, goat cheese...) and the porch sausage was homemade. Best sausage I've had in years. Go for the ambience, go for the Chautauqua Institution, the lake and the homemade pork sausage.

The hotel and staff were wonderful.