Each whimsically exotic room at this towering Italianate redbrick inn in the heart of downtown Westport is a study in innovative restoration, wall stenciling, and decorative painting—including magnificent trompe l'oeil designs. The furniture collection is exceptional. Some rooms and suites have sleeping lofts and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Saugatuck River. The Turkistan Suite—with its two-story-high bookcase, striped swag drapes, curving balcony, and king-size bed with Egyptian print canopy and painted valance—is one glorious example. Pros: fabulously artful and cushy rooms, enchanted setting overlooking Saugatuck River, walking distance from downtown shopping and dining. Cons: ultrapricey, service can be a little stiff.
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