The Pavilion Grand Hotel

An all-suite boutique on Lake Avenue in Saratoga Springs' historic district — 48 suites in a contemporary brick building designed in the Federal-Revival vocabulary the rest of downtown holds. A block from Saratoga Race Course (the country's oldest active thoroughbred track), walking distance to Broadway's restaurants and the Saratoga Performing Arts Center carriage entrance. The Pavilion Grand is the all-suite alternative to the Adelphi and the in-town historic hotels.

Saratoga's lodging market spikes during racing season (July through Labor Day) and during SPAC concert weekends; the Pavilion's all-suite format works for the longer-stay racing-season visitor.

The setting

The hotel sits at 30 Lake Avenue, a block off Broadway and a block from the entrance to Saratoga Race Course. Walking distance to all of downtown — Broadway's restaurants and shops, Congress Park (the original 19th-century mineral springs and gardens), Saratoga Performing Arts Center (15 minutes' walk through the spa state park), and the Adirondack Trust Building. The drive in from NYC is three hours; from Albany, 35 minutes; from Boston, three.

The building

A new-build brick-and-stone hotel built in 2014, designed in the Federal-Revival vocabulary the rest of downtown Saratoga holds. Materials are brick, brass, marble, and velvet. Public spaces include a small lobby with a fireplace, the breakfast room, and a small rooftop terrace with views over the racetrack neighborhood.

Independently developed and owned. The all-suite positioning is the property's commercial differentiator.

The rooms

Forty-eight suites — every room is a suite (sitting area, bed, kitchenette or full kitchen, bathroom). From around $425 in shoulder seasons; peak racing-season (July–early September) rates run several times higher. Layouts include junior suites, full one-bedroom suites, and a few two-bedroom configurations. Bathrooms are marble; furniture is Federal-traditional. Most suites face downtown rather than direct racetrack views.

Food & drink

There's no on-site full restaurant. A continental breakfast is included. Walking distance to all of Saratoga's restaurant scene — 15 Church Street (the destination dinner room), Druthers Brewing Company, Hattie's (the long-running fried chicken on Phila Street), the Wine Bar, Sushi Thai Garden. For a longer drive, Putnam Place (live music) and Mouzon House are 10 minutes.

On the property

A small in-town hotel's amenity stack:

• All-suite room program
• Outdoor heated pool
• Continental breakfast included
• Concierge for race-track and SPAC tickets
• Walking distance to track, Broadway, and Congress Park
• Open year-round

Who it's for

• Racing-season visitors doing a week or longer with a kitchenette
• Repeat Saratoga visitors who want walking distance to the track
• Multi-generational family racing trips with the larger suite layouts
• SPAC concert weekends with the Saratoga Performing Arts Center walking distance

Who it's not for

• Travelers wanting a full hotel restaurant or destination dinner room on-site
• Anyone needing modern boutique aesthetic — the property leans Federal-traditional
• Light-amenity guests in shoulder season — winter is quiet

Nearby

Saratoga Race Course (Belmont, opened 1863, the country's oldest sporting venue still in use) is one block. Saratoga Performing Arts Center (Philadelphia Orchestra's summer home, NYC Ballet's summer home) is 15 minutes' walk through the spa state park. Congress Park (the original spring) is two blocks. Yaddo — the artists' colony where everyone from Truman Capote to David Foster Wallace worked — is 10 minutes by car. Saratoga Spa State Park (the Roosevelt Baths, the trails, the Hall of Springs) is 15 minutes' walk. The Saratoga Polo grounds are 15 minutes east. Lake George is 35 minutes north.