Southport, Connecticut is a picturesque, historic (est. 1639) port town on the Long Island Sound, just an 80-minute Metro North train ride from midtown New York City, And just a quick stroll from the local train station, Delamar Southport's classic white clapboard colonial architecture situated on the Old Post Road looks like it's been a fixture here since the town's 19th-century maritime heyday.
Until walking inside, it's hard to conceive that construction on the property was actually completed in 2010. Then you realize this quintessential Connecticut escape is a recent creation deftly balancing the refined elegance of New York chic with New England country charm.
Delamar Southport's lobby is the perfect place for lingering with your complimentary glass of champagne or sherry upon check-in. You're surrounded by custom-designed furnishings, antique marble floors, museum-quality art from the owner's personal collection, and a French limestone hearth in the center.
Other inclusives making your stay extra special include chauffeur service within a three-mile radius of the property encompassing local beaches, and a full breakfast buffet each morning. A 24-hour concierge service is on hand to to for example arrange a picnic basket prepared for a day at the beach, along with complimentary towel service and bottled water.
Whether checking into one of the 44 guestrooms or six luxury suites (one of which is the 2,800-square-foot Woodward-Newman Presidential Suite, outfitted with three spacious bedrooms and two and a half baths), you're in for the ultimate boutique-hotel experience. Rooms have a light, airy décor anchored by resplendent four-poster beds, handcrafted furnishings, the latest flatscreen TVs, and Tivoli audio systems with iPod docking stations. Marble floors, Bulgari bath amenities, and Italian linens grace the bathrooms.
It's easy to see why long-term stays, especially in the suites, are common, with twice-daily housekeeping including evening turndown, same-day laundry and dry cleaning service, as well as dog-friendliness (pets under 100 pounds welcome). And lucky for you when it's meal time. You're steps away from the on-site Artisan Restaurant, Tavern & Garden.
Culinary Artisan
Executive chef Frederic Kieffer, a Paris native, cooked at top restaurants in France, New York, and in Connecticut at L’Escale and Gaia before taking the reigns at Artisan in 2011. Kieffer reportedly had his ingredient suppliers lined up well before Artisan's architectural drawings were completed. "We source ingredients from local farms in the spring, summer, and fall. In the dead of winter we have to reach out to Californian or Floridian growers but even then we only work with the most sustainable farms."
Artisan exudes craftsmanship, from the interior's 18th-century classic Scandinavian design to artfully prepared dishes. "Our goal is to produce as much as we can in house”, says Kieffer. "Our restaurant is named Artisan because we want to showcase the craft of cooking in every way possible. Homemade items include our pickles, applewood-smoked bacon, breakfast sausages, foie gras, meatballs, all our pastas, and 
not-to-miss sorbets and ice creams."
Their seafood chowder is a classic dish where it all comes together. First served in a shallow white soup plate with choice morsels caught within the last 24 hours nestled in the bottom, a pitcher of creamy chowder is then poured over the top. Sprinkling on some house-made fennel-flavored oyster crackers adds just the right touch.
Seating options here are diverse ranging from indoor dining area centered around a full bar, an outdoor patio/garden during warmer months with a full service bar as well, and the Copper Room, an elegant glassed-in private dining room ideal for special, more intimate gatherings.
When asked about his personal favorite menu pairings, Kieffer shares, "During summer there is nothing better than our local oysters from Mystic, Connecticut with a glass of Sancerre. If you prefer Chardonnays then the roasted oysters are terrific. Menu items during cooler months like pig croquettes (homemade crispy pig headcheese), chicken-liver mousse, and cheese from our friends at the Fairfield cheese shop, all pair nicely with a glass of Oregon Pinot Noir".
The Spa
A restful escape is never complete without a spa visit. Featuring skin treatments using award-winning Biologique Recherche and Valmont, as well as micro current therapy, medical-grade collagen upgrades, and an Amethyst BioMat, Delamar Southport's full-service spa suite offers respite with a more intimate setting than the typical spa layout. Outfitted with a couples treatment room, steam shower, and living room with a fireplace, you are closer than ever to restorative bliss.
Photos courtesy of Delamar Southport and Elitemeetings.com Coverage made possible by participation in a sponsored visit.
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