You know a place is pretty special when it makes New Jersey a destination. Not because New Jersey isn’t great, by any means. But it hasn’t exactly been the answer to “Where should we go for the weekend?” — until now. Until Pendry Natirar. And when you consider that it was once owned by the King of Morocco, well… that’s not exactly random real estate trivia. If it passed royal standards, chances are you will approve too.
The Backstory
Originally built in 1912, the Tudor-style mansion at the heart of Pendry Natirar sits high on a hill within a 90-acre enclave, itself surrounded by 400 acres of preserved parkland. The overall estate spans 500 acres of rolling meadows, forests, and actual fresh air.
In 1983, the estate was owned by the King. Today, it’s been meticulously restored and expanded into a 66-room hotel (21 of them suites), with 24 contemporary countryside residences, a private membership club, and enough indoor event space—13,000 square feet—to host everything from a black-tie gala to a very chic corporate offsite.
But it never feels corporate. It’s more like someone with excellent taste decided to buy a historic estate and invited you over for the weekend.
Pendry Natirar Rooms
The accommodations strike that balance between classic and current. Earthy tones. Rich wood furnishings. Marble bathrooms. Still-life artwork that nods to the estate’s heritage without feeling like you’re in a museum. The one-bedroom suites are generous, especially the ones at the back of the property with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking meadows and forest. It’s the kind of view that might just make you put your phone down.
The Spa Situation
Spa Pendry is not exactly a “quick facial before dinner” kind of place. There are Himalayan salt rooms, hydrotherapy circuits, a mud therapy experience, and a lineup of treatments that includes full-body massages, sound therapy, six different facials, and every possible add-on. The new Movement Studio expands the wellness programming even further, with complimentary guided movement and seasonal classes for guests. If you want to lean fully into it, the Relax & Revive offer layers in daily spa and breakfast credits, turning your weekend into a full-on reset.
A Countryside Chic Winter
Pendry Natirar understands that winter is not something to endure; it’s something to program. Seasonal workshops and hands-on experiences make the colder months feel inviting. There’s an artisanal soap-making masterclass using botanical elements from the property. There’s a greenhouse honey and herb infusion workshop where you taste four unique honeys from the Natirar apiary and take your favorite home in a farm tote. And there are watercolor sessions with artist Kacey Munson, where you artistically capture the estate’s rolling hills.
For the younger set, Paintbox by Pendry is not a “drop the kids and run” set-up. It offers complimentary hour-long play sessions, themed crafts, cookie decorating, Children’s Night Out, and even in-room camping. During warmer months, that energy moves outdoors with archery and scavenger hunts across the property. This is actually the kind of fun programming you secretly wish you could join.
Ninety Acres: Pendry Natirar’s Main Event
At the heart of the estate is Ninety Acres, the award-winning farm-to-table restaurant and cooking school. The property includes a 12-acre working farm, and the kitchen uses it like a living pantry. Dinner here is about seasonal menus that showcase what’s growing steps away. The cooking school offers private and group classes, which means you can attempt to recreate the magic at home.
Then there’s Ladd’s Tavern, the more relaxed sibling serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Expect elevated British tavern fare like clam chowder, mac and cheese, and hearty classics done right. If an egg is offered, accept it. The estate raises its own chickens, and the yolks are the kind of golden that make you question every supermarket carton you’ve ever purchased.
In winter, the Great Room hosts Winter Boozy Tea, a spirited take on afternoon tea with cocktails and seasonal bites by the fire. There are cider tastings (including a Burnt Mills Date Night edition), chef-driven seasonal menus, and enough cozy corners to justify ordering another round.
The Club Factor
You don’t have to be a member to stay here, but you very well may leave considering it. Natirar also operates as a private social membership club for those who share a passion for food, wine, adventure, and gathering. Members access exclusive amenities, events, and programming designed to enrich their lives and those of their family members. It’s equal parts country estate and cultivated community.
Why We Love It
Pendry Natirar manages to do something a little unexpected: it reframes New Jersey as a posh countryside escape. Just an hour from Manhattan, you’re in a world of rolling hills, farm dinners, spa rituals, honey tastings, and Tudor architecture. Not bad for a state you used to speed through on the Turnpike. Road trip? Absolutely.
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FAQs
Q: Where exactly is Pendry Natirar—and how far is it from New York City?
A: It is in Somerset County, New Jersey, about an hour from Manhattan (traffic permitting, because we are realists). It sits within the larger 500-acre Natirar estate.
Q: Is it more of a romantic getaway or a family weekend?
A: Both. Couples can hole up at Spa Pendry, book dinner at Ninety Acres, and do Winter Boozy Tea by the fire. Families can tap into Paintbox programming. And spacious suites provide room for the whole gang.
Q: What’s the one experience you shouldn’t miss?
A: Dinner at Ninety Acres. The on-site farm supplies the kitchen. If you can pair dinner with a spa treatment and a morning walk through the grounds (coffee in hand), you’ll understand exactly why this is no longer just a “drive through” state.
Photos courtesy of Pendry Natirar
