The Essex Inn
A historic gem on the Adirondack Coast.
Photos courtesy of Essex Inn
Many travelers pass through Essex to catch the ferry across Lake Champlain to Burlington, VT, without stopping and enjoying the town's abundant beauty. They are missing out on one of the Adirondack’s charming treasures.
In addition to stunning views of Lake Champlain and Vermont's Green Mountains, visitors are treated to a quaint town with delightful shops and attractive dining and lodging options.
A special place to stay on Lake Champlain.
One of the town's brightest stars is the Essex Inn, located directly on Main Street, close to the Ferry landing. It’s hard to miss the majestic buttery yellow Federal structure erected in 1810. The owners enhanced the facade in 1835 with a Greek revival colonnade, adding to the Inn’s distinguished look.
Guest Room #2 at the Essex Inn.
The Essex Inn boasts 11 charming rooms and suites, restored and designed with unique features and furnishings to make your stay comfortable and relaxing.
Rooms are bright and spacious and include:
Plush, high-end bedding
Private bathroom
Smart TVs with expansive channel offerings
Organic soaps, shampoo, and other bath products
High-speed WiFi
The property has air conditioning in all rooms, and all accommodations have opening windows.
Some rooms feature fireplaces, sitting areas, access to the second-floor balcony, private entrances, sleep sofas or daybeds.
One of the Essex Inn’s spacious suites.
Guests can unwind in the inn's spacious parlor, which features comfortable seating and a fireplace, open to all for relaxation, work, or enjoying a beverage. Outside is an artfully landscaped courtyard with a firepit for enjoying Adirondack evenings.
The Adirondack Suite at the Essex Inn features authentic rustic decor.
Fine dining in the Essex Inn’s tavern.
The Essex Inn is a top fine-dining destination in the area. The Inn's tavern showcases the bounty of Adirondack farms and artisanal food producers, featuring seasonal menus and locally sourced ingredients.
Another delicious meal at the Essex Inn.
The menu changes with the seasons. Typical appetizers include a delicious burrata salad, French onion soup, and duck wontons.
Entrees may include filet mignon with a red wine demi-glace, Thai coconut curry mahi mahi, or veal saltimbocca. You can also keep it traditional with tavern classics like fish and chips or the Inn’s famous burger.
The ambiance is as delightful as the food -- gorgeous hand-hewn exposed beams, wood-burning fireplaces, and wide-plank floorboards combine to create a cozy and charming atmosphere.
Step into history in the Essex Inn’s tavern.
An elegant, historic stay in the northeastern Adirondacks.
The Essex Inn has welcomed guests since 1810.
Established in 1810 when Lake Champlain was an important waterway between New York City and Montreal, the Inn served as a gathering place for travelers, merchants, and Essex's townspeople.
According to the Essex Inn’s website, the Inn was a hotbed of espionage in the War of 1812. “Spies and military people using the Essex ferry would hang out at the Inn trying to find intelligence,” according to local historian Morris Glenn. At that time, local militiaman Delavan Delance owned the Inn and regularly housed troops there.
Fast-forward to the 21st Century, and the Inn's owners conducted a full-scale renovation to bring the Inn into modern times and provide the amenities today's guests require while maintaining its original charm.
