Luxury Farm Stays: United States (2021)

Allegretto is a, very much luxury, vineyard hotel in the Paso Robles Wine Country, California. The stunning, Mediterranean inspired, property sits amidst acres of beautiful gardens, orchards and vineyards, and blends some of Paso Robles’, and California’s, best wine and food with excellent spa facilities and a very European sense of style and class. THE ACCOMMODATION: The have a choice of top quality rooms and suites, many of them with their own private patio area or balcony. You can expect all the usual upmarket hotel features; comfortable beds, air-con, cable TV, WiFi, mini bar & fridge, coffee maker and some very plush bathrooms. The stunning property, though quite new, has all the aesthetics of an aristocratic Tuscan villa but with modern hotel infrastructure. There is plenty of common space throughout the hotel, living rooms and terraces with lots of space for relaxing or socializing. They have excellent spa facilities; massage, body scrubs, aromatherapy and more on offer, and in the beautifully tended gardens, an outdoor swimming pool, a hot tub and a bocce ball court The food here, at the Cello Ristorante & Bar, is exceptional; they have a nice range of Tuscan and Italian influenced dishes with the ingredients locally sourced as much as possible, and some coming from the chef’s own organic gardens. There is also of course a great choice of Paso Robles wines available including their own branded Allegretto wine; from the on site Malbec, Viognier, Tannat, Vermentino, and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. You’ll find all the usual wine tourism activities here too; tasting sessions and vineyard tours etc. Many other activities in the local area can be arranged via the concierge; horseback riding, golf, art tours, visits to other wineries and olive oil producers, exhibitions etc. THE LOCATION: Equidistance from both Los Angeles and San Francisco (around three hours), Paso Robles lesser known of California’s two main vineyard regions, and all the better for it. Just as Perugia is less favored than Tuscany, Paso Robles is equally eclipsed by Napa. But both Perugia and Paso Robles have something that their more illustrious rivals have long since lost. An unhurried, laid back atmosphere that is perfect for those urbanites seeking READ MORE

Outside Mendocino village in Northern California, Brewery Gulch is a luxury B&B inn with an emphasis on great fresh food, much of the ingredients of which come from their own, on and off site, organic fruit, vegetable and herb gardens, plus other local organic farms. It has an enviable hillside setting overlooking the ocean and surrounded by meadow fields and woodlands, and the property itself is beautifully designed and spares nothing in terms of quality or comfort. All their 10 rooms come with a fireplace, work desk, flat screen cable TV, ipod docking station and WiFi. A fabulous breakfast is included, as is an equally good wine and light dinner buffet in the evenings. The staff are always friendly and attentive and there’s plenty of space to relax around the property with a games room, a library and 10 acres of outside space to explore. You can also arrange massage services too. Note: No children under 12 and no pets! WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “We HATED to leave. One feels completely welcome and at home from the very first step on the property. They have anticipated every possible need to make one’s stay a true pleasure….” “The wine hour/food was excellent! Views are phenomenal and the property is gorgeous!…” >>CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT BREWERY GULCH INN:   READ MORE

The first urban farm project on FarmStayPlanet, Crosby Street Hotel is in the heart of Lower Manhattan’s Soho district and so could never be accused of being some kind of rural escape. It might not be a farmhouse exactly but it does have a small farm as a part of the growing movement of urban farming. It is a top of the range, luxury hotel with a twist; there is a small but very functional farm on the 12th floor roof top terrace producing a good range of organic fruit, vegetables and herbs that end up in the kitchen of their very fine restaurant. And if that wasn’t enough it also has some hens, there to lay what surely must be Manhattan’s freshest eggs. THE ACCOMMODATION: The hotel is large with 89 rooms in total, all of them are bright (floor to ceiling windows), modern and the height of comfort and cool urban style. They range from standard doubles to sumptuous two bedroom suites, all of which are individually styled by someone showing a real flair for interior design. None will disappoint in almost any way, though prices are of course high. The common areas are equally plush with two courtyard gardens and a drawing room, and the above mentioned restaurant of course too. It is always busy and serves up some of Soho’s best, and freshest (see above) food in a nice casual atmosphere. For extra buzz there is the Crosby Bar which has a reputation for excellent cocktails and for being a generally fun place to spend the evening. There is a top class gym at the hotel too and in the basement, a state of the art 99 seat cinema. THE LOCATION: New York City’s bohemian bourgeois Soho district is lively, artistic and with its finger firmly on the pulse of current trends in music, fashion, art and design. The hotel is on a relatively quiet cobbled street called Crosby Street, between Prince and Spring Streets, but you don’t have to stroll far to find yourself in the heart of the action, with some of New York’s best shopping, bars, restaurants and various galleries just a few READ MORE

6000 feet high up in canyon country, and with the stars at night as bright as ever you will see, Zion Mountain Guest Ranch has a range of upscale lodges and cabins on its historical ranch which borders the Zion National Park near Springdale, South Utah, U.S.A. It even has its own buffalo herd and is a perfect place for horseback riding vacations. THE ACCOMMODATION: Their accommodation consists of individual cabins and lodges that are rustic in style but spacious, modern, clean and comfortable, all of them coming with a private bathroom with bath, a fireplace, TV with satellite channels, and cooking facilities from basic kitchenettes to fully equipped kitchens. There is a sociable lounge and restaurant area at the main ranch house too where they serve meals all day and the food here is really first class, with much of the ingredients coming from the farm’s organic fruit and vegetable gardens. Note: There is WiFi but only in the communal lounge/dining area. THE FARM & RANCH: They have a small organic farm at Zion Mountain with an orchard, vegetable plots and some hens and chickens, but of course the main attraction here is the ranch, where a herd of buffalo roam as well as dozens of horses. There is plenty of horseback riding on offer at Zion, for all levels and they have guided rides along some lovely trails around the ranch and farther out into the park. The terrain isn’t too difficult but it is scenic, extraordinary peaceful, and makes for an experience not to be missed. You can book trail rides from one to four hours, which can include a picnic at the edge of one of those classic South Utah red sandstone canyons. And if all the horseback riding gets too much you can book a soothing massage afterwards in the privacy of your own cabin or lodge. THE LOCATION: The ranch has a fabulous location just to the eastern entrance of the Zion National Park, which is an extraordinary place in itself but there is also the enormous Bryce National Park to the west with even more of the iconic red canyons, and the famous Thor’s Hammer. READ MORE