Westport seems to have everything.
Beaches. A town-owned country club. A historic Playhouse and popular Pavilion. A kick-ass library. A wide array of interesting restaurants, a vibrant downtown and high-achieving school district.
And when out-of-town friends and family want to enjoy any of that — a show, shopping, graduation, whatever — they settle into a hotel in … Southport.
Or Norwalk. Or Stamford.
Not counting the dozen or so rooms at the Inn at Longshore — now being renovated — Westport has had zero hotel rooms.
There were 100 or so until a couple of years ago, when the Westport Inn closed. But they were decidedly meh. (Though they were a step up from their predecessor, the really forgettble New Englander “Motor Hotel.”)
That puzzling hole in our hospitality heart has now been filled.
Last week, guests began arriving at the Delamar Westport.
Delamar Westport.
The newest addition to a small group that includes boutique properties in Greenwich, Southport, West Hartford, Mystic and (why not?) Traverse City, Michigan, the Delamar Westport will quickly become one of the buzziest spots in town.
Earlier this week, before the soft opening — only about half the rooms are ready; the restaurant won’t open until next month, the pool next year — I got a quick tour.
My mind was in New Englander/Westport Inn mode. I should have been thinking Delamar brand.
Each room — there will be 86 when finished — is big, but homey. The goal was to combine “classic New England hospitality and modern luxury,” and — at least in the rooms I saw — the designers succeeded. From hardwood floors to the definitely non-Hyatt bathrooms, these are not typical hotel rooms
A Delamar Westport room.
Three of the most luxurious are luxury suites. They were created by Christian Siriano.
The internationally known fashion designer has stepped successfully into a new realm. He also designed the lobby, a fun and welcoming space that includes a whimsical sketch wall.
Siriano did not have far to go for this project. He lives 2 miles away.
Christian Siriano, in the lobby.
The Westport Inn was in Westport, but never really part of it. The Delamar hopes to be very involved in the community. There are meeting rooms and private event spaces, for corporate meetings, weddings and special occasions.
They flank the restaurant, called Dandelion. The cuisine will be “coastal Mediterranean,” with Moroccan influences. It’s a stunning space, with outdoor seating. It’s at the back of the property, with plenty of greenery all around.
Dandelion restaurant.
Also in the works: a bocce court and fire pit nearby. And, in the atrium, a giant olive tree.
Besides filling a (desperate) need for a hotel, the Delamar will benefit from its location diagonally across the Post Road from The Clubhouse.
The golf and other sports simulators, huge-screen TVs and rooftop lounge attract the same type of guests who will enjoy the hotel.
As the first guests arrive, workers are putting finishing touches on the Delamar. They, and the staff who will be the public face, seem genuinely excited for the reveal.
When Westporters step inside, they’ll be excited too.
Finally, we won’t have to send out-of-town guests out of town.