There is something magical about spending the holidays in New England. Take it from someone who spends the holidays in 90 degree Fahrenheit weather thanks to living in Curacao! Before moving to the Caribbean, I had spent many years enjoying a classic New England Christmas in Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts. The White Barn Inn in Kennebunk, Maine is my favorite luxury property to experience the holidays and I’ll tell you why!

Location

For those who are not from New England, Maine is a deceptively large state. The main airport in the region is Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), and even then a drive from Boston all the way to the tip of Maine bordering Canada is about 7 hours. That’s quite far considering driving from Boston to New York City is about 4 hours!

Thankfully, White Barn Inn is located in Kennebunk which is about a 1.5 hour drive from Boston or a 40 minute drive from Portland, ME. The hotel is located just a 5 minute walk from the cute town of Kennebunkport, known for their annual 10-day Christmas celebration known as “Christmas Prelude“. The Prelude is a fun holiday festival with daily activities and events ranging from Christmas Tree lightings (there are several!) to waving at Santa Claus riding on a lobster boat. This is one of the busiest times of the year in Kennebunkport and many families have an annual tradition of participating the festival.

During the summer, the hotel is in a great location for a luxury Maine beach trip. White Barn Inn is located just a few minutes from multiple beaches, including: Gooch’s Beach, Middle Beach, and Mothers Beach. You are perfectly situated for a leisurely beach stroll or an afternoon of water activities via local favorite, Aquaholics. The hotel is also in close proximity to the cute coastal town of Kennebunkport, filled with art galleries, jovial bars, hip restaurants, and famed “The Clam Shack“. For those wanting a taste of the city, Portland is only 40 minutes away and offers some of the finest gastronomic and art scene in New England. There is plenty to do in the area!

First Impressions

The White Barn Inn is a landmark building in town with years of history before it was turned into a 5-star hotel. In the mid-1800’s the White Barn Inn served as a boarding house and working farm until it became a proper hotel in the 1970’s. It was only in 2018 that the hotel joined the Auberge Collection portfolio along with a total redesign of the rooms and common spaces making it the luxury property it is today.

At first glance, the White Barn Inn could pass for any classic New England style barn. Pulling into the driveway of the hotel off of Beach Avenue, I was promptly greeted by the valet who offered to park my car (included in the resort fee) and bring my bags to reception. There are multiple buildings on the property, and I was ushered up the stone steps to the main building where a warm reception awaited me. The front desk team welcomed me with a specialty drink, warm apple cider spiked with rum, before continuing the relatively easy check-in process.

As I mentioned, the hotel is split into several different buildings:

• The main building which houses multiple rooms and junior suites
• May’s annex across from the main house which offers junior suites
• The garden rooms and May’s cottage surrounding the pool
• Three standalone cottages about 5 minutes drive away from the main property

There is a green lawn with fire pits in between the multiple buildings giving a sense of space to what could be a crowded area. My favorite room category, and the one I’ve stayed in twice, is the Deluxe Garden Room in the garden annex.

Rooms

There are 23 rooms and 4 standalone cottages in total at this property. Guests who visit this hotel are typically looking for that quaint and cozy atmosphere which the White Barn Inn excels at with so few rooms. All rooms were designed by Jenny Wolf using contemporary sea motifs while still keeping the character of the old property. This means you’ll find sea grass weaved baskets alongside an iron and leather sling chair. The design is tasteful and breathes new life into a property originating in the 1800’s.

The Deluxe Garden room is one of their few pet-friendly rooms, and on this occasion I brought my dogs along for the trip. My favorite feature of this room is the large almost floor to ceiling window by the bed with forest views. In December the window even has a lit up Christmas tree! Every room comes stocked with a complimentary welcome basket of goodies, including homemade cookies, Maine potato chips, a blueberry soda, gummy lobsters, and more. They even provide welcome treats for the fur guests!

While the room itself is small (275 sq ft.), it’s perfectly cozy. There is a large standalone bathtub in the parlor room before the bathroom, and though it’s a nice feature on paper, the views from the tub actually look into the lawn area. There are only 2 Deluxe Garden Rooms on the property, meaning you are only ever sharing one wall with a neighbor at any given time – a huge benefit for a historic property. Those who opt to stay in the main house will find cozy inn-style rooms with the same sea motifs and the spa and restaurants conveniently downstairs – just remember the house is historic and the floors will creak and the walls may be thin!

Amenities

The property and the rooms may be on the small side, but the White Barn Inn delivers on its amenities. The hotel offers a full service spa in the main house just behind the front desk, and a full sized swimming pool in the summer by the lawn and annexes. There is no standalone concierge desk, but the front desk (often staffed by longtime employees) is always happy to provide suggestions for activities.

In-room amenities upon check-in, as mentioned above, are a delight and a nice value add. Turn down service amenities are usually homemade chocolate truffles along with bottled water and sparkling water next to your bedside. In the mornings, a thermos of coffee (or tea or hot cocoa) and small pastries are delivered via cute basket outside your door at the requested time. Finally, one of my favorite amenities is the White Barn pantry located just before the sitting room offering all day snacks, such as: mixed nuts, homemade cookies, banana breads, and fruits.

While the swimming pool is only open in the warm months, the spa is open year round. I had the pleasure of enjoying a spa treatment during my last stay. Reservations are highly recommended as the spa only has one couple’s suite and availability is limited being open to non-hotel guests as well. I enjoyed a deep tissue massage in the couple’s suite and the treatment was great. You won’t find a sauna, steam room, or hammam at this spa, but the smaller size means better care and attention is paid to your service.

Restaurants

You’ve most likely seen the featured image at the top of my blog post with a gorgeous view of a barn with Christmas trees in the large window – that is the White Barn Inn Restaurant. The hotel boasts two restaurants, Little Barn and the White Barn Inn Restaurant, and the identities couldn’t be more different. The restaurants attract foodies from all over New England who flock to try Chef Mathew Woolf’s latest creations.

The Little Barn restaurant is located in an adjacent room to the main restaurant and offers a casual Maine farmstead menu. No need for a fancy jacket here! Breakfast, lunch, and dinner is often served here where the decor is reminiscent of a rustic barn complete with fireplace and mantle. On the menu are comfort classics, such as: short rib mac and cheese, wagyu burgers, and chicken pot pie. There are also more elevated comfort options like lobster rolls (you’re in Maine, after all!), potato gnocchi, and miso cod. Don’t miss out on the brussels sprout chips – they’re to die for!

The White Barn Inn Restaurant – their AAA Five Diamond and Forbes Five Star culinary masterpiece – is the hotel’s pride and joy. Unlike the Little Barn restaurant, this one is upscale and prix fixe with set menus ranging from $165-$275 per person. Seating is within the main barn with the large picturesque window adorned with lit Christmas trees. The menus are strictly fine dining, and food offerings diverge from its sister restaurant with courses such as: mini caviar lobster rolls, lobster bisque, pan-seared scallops, and more. This restaurant is best for special occasions or a splurgy date night, and one thing I can tell you is that it will be a memorable evening.

I want to take a moment to shout out the incredible bar that’s at the entrance of the White Barn Inn Restaurant, that serves both restaurants and hotel guests alike. The bar is cozy, inviting, and full to the brim with bottles of spirits. Next to the bar, and in the main foyer of the main restaurant sits a grand piano with stools on the side to enjoy beverages at the piano. The cocktail menu is adventurous with the bartenders showcasing their creativity, and they’re also great at making the classics. The bar is not to be missed, and you can take your drink to the fireplace in the sitting room once you’ve had your fill of piano covers.

Things to keep in mind

Recommended guests

While I loved both of my stays at White Barn Inn, the caveat is that this hotel is not for everyone. The hospitality industry in Maine is more focused on rustic beach rentals, condos, and Airbnbs, and what makes the WBI so special is that it’s a 5-star hotel near the beach. Rare for Maine! That said, it’s a small historic property with multiple buildings clustered in the same area. I would recommend this hotel more for couples rather than families due to the small size of the rooms and property. For the price point, this is.a great hotel for guests who plan to stay in the area and make the most of the property.

• Guests who prefer a smaller property
• Couples who are looking for a classic coastal New England experience
• Foodies and guests who love fine dining
• Guests who don’t mind spending $800+ per room per night
• Those who prefer modern style decor with historical significance
• Clients who like to travel with their dogs

Pro Tip: I would recommend a minimum of 2 nights and a maximum of 3 at this property.

Overall, my experiences at the White Barn Inn have been nothing but positive, and I look forward to visiting again at a future date.