La Tourelle

Like a piece of France moved to the Ithaca countryside, La Tourelle is much more a country inn & event space than a standard roadside hotel. Cozy lobby includes a self-​serve honor-​system bar, or take your drink out back for a round of giant chess. Also on the property is a spa and a bistro-​style restaurant. In season you can go «glamping,» camping in a big tent with glamour, whatever that means lol.
Free wifi, free coffee in the lobby too, but parking is a little thin. Our king room was the corner unit, very generous size, great calming field views from two windows, windows that actually have screens and opened! Room also was equipped with a table for two. Free Keurig coffee, pricey snacks and massage oils in a basket. Marble vanity, another window and a jacuzzi tub in the bathroom, no extra charge. Bed was a hint soft, great. No USB charging station but had a HD tv with too many channels and a DVD player.
You check in at a real desk with chairs, nice. Everything looked in excellent condition to me including carpets, I didn’t see any of the problems that some Unilocalers have complained about.
For a nice hike, leave your car at the hotel and walk thru their property about a mile to Buttermilk Falls State Park, which lets you dodge the $ 7 parking fee, and enjoy the waterfalls there.
But without a deal a weekend night will run you two and a half Benjamins, ouch.

Great place. King room with fireplace was extremely nice – well decorated, clean, comfortable, and plenty of space. Staff was very pleasant and accommodating.
You can hike to Buttermilk State park, which we started but our little one got tired. We’ll try again in warmer weather.
And, it’s locally owned, so the money stays in town rather than going to some corporate executive. I understand that local people work at chain hotels, so I’m not against them, but locally owned and operated is good too.

I highly recommend La Tourelle if you are staying in the Ithaca area. Outside of town, neighboring Buttermilk Falls Park– this hotel offers a quiet, charming, family-​run hotel. The entire staff that our bachelorette party met was fantastic. In the colder weather, you are greeted by a lovely wood burning fire in the lobby. Each of the rooms for our party was spacious and the décor simple yet quaint.
Our accommodations included breakfast at the Bistro onsite. Food was great and the service was equally good for our large party. Loved the stained glass of the ceiling in the Bistro– beautiful.
I was really impressed how accommodating everyone was when we needed to inquire about using a room for a small gift exchange. Realizing that our party was too large and we wouldn’t fit comfortably in one room, we asked if there was just a room we could use for a bit to present some gifts to our Bride-​to-​be. We didn’t want to monopolize the lobby– as other guests would of course be there or coming in and out, What Cameron and the staff set up for us on the fly was wonderful and more than we could have expected! We really just needed a separate room and some chairs to seat our party of 13. When we returned from our wine tour that afternoon– they had set up some partitions and strung some pretty lights to help liven up the space. They set us up with glass, plates, even a stereo system. We knew they were being nice to let us use the space, and said the only thing we may need to bother them for was ice— but they took care of everything for us as well.
Really loved this local gem in Ithaca. And will be my absolute recommendation to anyone I know headed to the area.
Thanks again for a wonderful stay.

At La Tourelle, «charming» is an understatement. I love La Tourelle and make sure to stay there every time I visit Ithaca. I’ve gone a few times just for a weekend away from NYC even though there are better places nearby, just because I love this hotel.
Some of the rooms were redone a few years ago and are simultaneously cozy and spacious, which I didn’t even think was possible. I’ve heard anecdotally that some of the rooms need to be redone; this hasn’t been my experience, but that’s something to keep in mind. Still, I’m speaking just to my own experience and I’ve really liked the rooms. I guess the takeaway is that they can be hit or miss. There are paths in the woods behind the hotel for low intensity hiking through some lovely trees and past waterfalls. The area behind the hotel also has a wide open grassy area with a gazebo and lovely view.
The owners of La Tourelle are incredibly warm and their friendliness can be felt throughout the hotel. They put out fresh oatmeal cookies every day and have a free cocktail hour every day. The brunch at the restaurant is also delicious and you should definitely check it out if you have time.
I know friends have stayed at La Tourelle while visiting Cornell; while you have to drive to the campus, it isn’t far.

This was our third visit to La Tourelle and we have enjoyed every stay. They had an AWESOME Living Social deal where we stayed in a fire place room with complimentary breakfast for $ 130! The place is quiet, clean, and cozy. It’s not all brand new and totally updated, more like nice and clean and more 90s-​2000ish décor. There was also a complimentary happy hour for guests from 5 – 6 where you were able to sample the various wines and beers with the «bartender» who was very knowledgeable about the wines. The breakfast at the bistro was really well done (as it has been every time we have come). The place is just a mile or so outside of the Commons. They also have dog friendly rooms (which are not quite as nice as some of their other rooms, but really helpful when traveling with your fur babies). Great for a short getaway! Overall the staff was helpful, friendly and felt much more personal than staying in a chain hotel. We will definitely stay there again.

We had breakfast here on Monday, 10/​19/​2015. While upon entering, there was a foul stench in the foyer, once we entered the bistro, the environment changed entirely. It was quite quiet, almost spa-​like in how everyone was whispering softly.
We enjoyed delicious cocktails — a blood mary and mimosa, and the coffee was excellent. I enjoyed a goat cheese and asparagus omelette, and my sister had the oatmeal crusted french toast. She loved it. My side of bacon crispy was wonderful — thick slab bacon cooked to perfection.
Our server, Andy J was excellent, tending to our every need. Not to mention nice eye candy (I suspect he may also work in the spa?) But overall the experience was memorable and delicious. I wouldn’t miss it if I were you!

This was the most amazing place I’ve every stayed. So polite, most comfortable tub, most comfortable bed, my cat loved it too. Paradise!

Friendly staff but the hotel was a bit run down and needs some TLC. The carpets are coming up so bad that it’s a trip hazard, rusted bathroom sinks, dirty white lamp shade & wooden headboard was dusty (i believe because my allergies kicked in). There was no water, drinks, etc. in the room or anywhere to get something to. The hotel is shared withAugust Moon Spa so there is no hot tub, sauna, etc. the bed was comfy, the room was spacious and the front desk staff were really accomodating. Good stay, lovely night’s rest. Would stay here again if in the area.

Usually, hotels are never as charming as they look on their websites. La Tourelle, however, lived up to its hype. My boyfriend and I spent 4 nights there last week in a beautiful, clean, comfortable room. We fell asleep every night to the sounds of a bull-​frog in the little pond between the hotel and the state park. Every morning, we ate breakfast on our balcony and looked out over a beautiful, green vista. The walls are thick, the room was quiet. The bistro served a lovely lunch. The staff is very friendly and there is a charming lounge on the ground floor with complimentary coffee and cookies. The only complaint we have (a really silly one) is that the lovely bathroom could have used a couple more hooks for hanging towels and robes. But this might possibly be the best hotel I’ve ever stayed in. Would love to come back and stay here again.

Great find. Best breakfast in Ithaca! Nice comfortable country inn with spacious rooms, comfy beds and nice staff. Spa is excellent.

La Tourelle is one of the most consistently wonderful lodging experiences at any hotel at which I’ve stayed — anywhere. The rooms are wonderful and immaculate. The restaurant is first-​rate. Leslie and the staff are warm and professional and make you feel comfortable and like part of the family. I highly recommend it. And, I don’t usually go out of my way to write a review. (This is only the second Unilocal review I’ve ever written.) Can’t wait to go back.

We were there for a meeting. The place is fantastic inside and out. The staff was extremely friendly and helpful. I loved the free wine tasting in the evenings.

My husband and I had our weekend honeymoon here and it was lovely. Rooms were comfortable with an elegant country feel. Such a convenient getaway with delicious breakfast at the bistro, a 30 second walk to John Thomas Steakhouse (fantastic), and a tranquil spa right on site (August Moon). No need to drive anywhere once you arrive!
They also have dog friendly rooms; always a plus in my book.

Lovely location, close to town, and with great scenic view from room. Friendly owner and staff. This place could be an absolute gem with a décor/​ambiance makeover. Very dated with a variety of décor themes going at once which don’t come together cohesively. Get a decorator in here, coats of fresh paint and put some money into pulling a theme together and it would payback in spades. Could be charming, but as is it’s a high price point for the experience you get. Same could be said for accompanying steakhouse.
Breakfast in Bistro — oatmeal encrusted French toast — was outstanding!

Great stay at this wonderful boutique hotel. Only wish we had found it sooner. We stayed in a fabulous pet-​friendly room. Staff extremely helpful, room fresh and clean and nicely decorated. Pretty grounds — ideally situated for waterfalls, downtown and IC functions.

My boyfriend and I stayed at La Tourelle for my friend’s wedding which was also held at the resort. It was a BEAUTIFUL wedding and the hotel’s staff was so helpful and accommodating.
Because the wedding party had the nicest rooms in the place, we had a normal room. The rooms were really comfortable. The beds were quite cloudlike. Like other reviews said, they weren’t very new, and there were definitely improvements that could be made, but the grounds were amazing and it just felt relaxing on the whole.
We took a walk down their little paths, and thought they weren’t much of a hike, it was a nice way to start off the morning before breakfast. I wish that more trails were nearby or that there were shuttles taking us to different places, but it doesn’t take away from how much of a good time we had there.

We stayed here due to the process of elimination: most places with charm in the finger lakes require a minimum 2-​night stay during peak season. We only had one night to spare, so it was either La Tourelle or the Holiday Inn or Country Suites. Wanting to choose a local business, we went with La Tourelle. We weren’t too disappointed, because the reviews I’d read beforehand prepared me for what I found: a quirky boutique hotel in need of renovation.
The positives about this place center mostly around its serenity. The grounds are tranquil and the view from our room was so pastoral — leaves just about to turn, a stunning sunrise, rolling green hills and a pristine pond complete with lily pads and surrounding gazebos. It was very relaxing to wake up in the morning and take in this view and crisp fall air. It was also surprisingly quiet at this hotel. There was even a wedding going on the night we stayed, but we honestly didn’t hear much. Being able to relax with this kind of silence was wonderful.
The negatives about the place: kind of hokey theme, building in need of renovation, high price point. I can’t really fault the place too much for a high price point, because nearly every place in the fingerlakes charges between $ 200-​$ 300 a night, depending on the room you choose. Our room had a gas fireplace, lovely hardwood floors and a very large bathroom with soaking tub. When we arrived in our room, however, parts of it were not entirely clean, and we had to ask the front desk to adjust this while we were out for dinner. They did come and rectify this situation and gave us a small discount on the room. They handled this well, but I was surprised that it even happened at this price point.
If you’re looking into places to stay in the fingerlakes, La Tourelle isn’t a bad choice, but don’t expect it to be luxurious. It’s got character and attempts to go the extra mile (friendly enough front desk and complimentary wine hour from 5 – 6), but if you’ve stayed at large luxury brand hotels, it just will not compare, so enjoying it requires an expectation adjustment.
One thing I really enjoyed — the real wood-​burning fire in the lobby the morning we left. It was just delicious and filled the entire place with a sense of warmth and well-​being. For this fire alone, I might consider coming back in the winter time!

La Tourelle is pretty much in a category of its own. I feel funny calling it a resort, because it’s not the typical sprawling resort with activities everywhere. Nor is it just a hotel. I’ve come to think of it as a charming B&B situated inside of a hotel.
We’ve made an annual tradition of traveling up here for New Year’s Eve (which, more importantly, happens to be my birthday). We get the Paris room, which is an executive suite with hardwood floors (we aren’t really into the carpeting in the smaller rooms), plushy chairs, and a gas fireplace… not to mention an amazingly comfortable bed, which everyone else here seems to rave about as well.
It’s a beautiful, peaceful escape from the city — I could sit on the sofa in front of the fireplace and stare out the window of the balcony over the snow for hours.
We also finally got around to checking out their cocktail hour this year — they have a selection of whites and reds available to taste, but the tasting portions are rather generously poured. (They also had Ithaca beer for people who didn’t want wine).
And because we always go for the New Year, I’m not sure if it’s just for the holiday or if they do it all the time, but they also leave you a complimentary bottle of Knapp champagne, sitting in ice.
And now I feel like I’ve told you too much. If you happen to beat us to reserving the Paris room on New Year’s Eve next year, don’t be surprised if a very angry birthday girl crawls through your balcony to take your bottle of champagne.

Lovely La Tourelle is our first choice for lodging in the Ithaca area. Our rooms were clean, large, beautifully appointed, and (I love this) full of books. The pillow-​top beds were as comfortable as any bed I’ve ever slept in. We had terraces with views and encounters with wildlife on the walking trails.
This hotel is pet-​friendly! We made some nice new friends. :)
The common areas are charming and comfortable. No extra charges for in-​room WiFi.
La Tourelle staff were enthusiastically helpful and friendly, and went above and beyond to fulfill requests and meet needs.
Some tweaks would lead me to award five stars:
La Tourelle claims to be a green hotel, so how about defaulting to NOT changing sheets and towels unless the guest requests it? The default is changing the sheets *daily* unless you remember to put a card on the bed saying not to. There wasn’t even an option to keep our towels, though we hung them so carefully that some days housekeeping left them alone.
The handle to turn on the water in my mom’s tub dripped unless it was closed so tightly that she couldn’t turn it herself
Even though we left the hotel’s wrapped bar soap untouched, housekeeping left another bar every day until we had a pile of them
Simply Red could add oatmeal to the menu at Simply Red. It’s available, so the breakfast menu only *looks* vegan-​unfriendly
The coffee in the lobby & in Simply Red was weak and not especially good, and the lobby cookies were meh

La Tourelle was ALMOST going to get a four star review from this visit, but they REALLY saved it in the end!!!
Showed up with two girlfriends for a weekend of debauchery and spa. When we arrived our room wasn’t ready – here is where the star was at risk– but somehow everyone else checking in at the same time as me had a ready room… I was not best pleased. But, with amazingly thoughtful Bill at the helm, we headed into Ithaca for some pub lunch and returned when they called us to say our room was ready.
Room was lovely– easily big enough for the three of us, electric fireplace, giant squishy beds. No complaints! We went for a wine tasting at the nearby Six Mile Vinyard, then came back for some local wine tasting at their bar. We headed out into the snowy Ithaca night for some dinner. When we were done – around 11:00 pm– we could not find a cab company ANYWHERE to get us back. It was snowing, eighteen degrees, and it’s an hour and fifteen minute walk. We called the desk to ask them to find a cab service for us and they DID!!! We were so impressed to be rescued!!!
Sunday morning we spent in the – as always– wonderful August Moon Spa having the alcohol cleansed from our pores, and as we were getting ready to leave, there was Bill! Shoveling the snow away from the area by our car! So we wouldn’t have cold feet!!! I’ve never seen anything like it!!!
We’ll be back, La Tourelle!!!