Luxury Hotels of the World: Inn at Bay Harbor

Rated one of the top 500 hotels in the world, the Inn at Bay Harbor in Bay Harbor, Michigan is an elegant and sophisticated luxury hotel overlooking the splendor of Lake Michigan. Each night of our stay was an absolute joy. We watched the sunset over one of the world’s most gorgeous bodies of water, enjoyed top-tier service, a beautiful suite with a fireplace, world-class fine dining on-site, impeccable spa services, and so much more. Read on to see why we loved visiting!

Inn at Bay Harbor

Address: 3600 Village Harbor Dr, Bay Harbor, MI 49770
Awards: Top 500 Luxury Hotels in the World by Travel + Leisure
Staff Helpfulness & Friendliness: 5/5
Cleanliness: 5/5
Room size: 5/5
Room Amenities: 5/5
Room and Bed Comfort: 5/5
View from Room: 5/5
Food Variety: 4/5
Food Quality: 5/5 at Vintage Chophouse & Wine Bar
Internet Service Quality: 5/5
Pool: 5/5
Spa: 5/5 at The Spa at Inn at Bay Harbor
Proximity to Other Points of Interest: 5/5
Valet Parking: Yes

Rated one of the top 500 hotels in the world, the Inn at Bay Harbor in Bay Harbor, Michigan is an elegant and sophisticated luxury hotel overlooking the splendor of Lake Michigan. Each night of our stay was an absolute joy, as we watched the beautiful sunsets over one of the world’s most gorgeous bodies of water, enjoyed top-tier service in every aspect of the hotel from dining to housekeeping, we relished in the tranquility of our beautiful suite with a fireplace and lake view, enjoyed world-class fine dining on-site, and so much more. Here’s what you can expect when you stay at Inn at Bay Harbor in Bay Harbor, Michigan.

The Location & View

The location of the hotel lends itself to a fantastic vacation that doesn’t require much, if any, planning at all. A perfect getaway for newlyweds, those looking to reconnect, enjoy a romantic weekend away, or those interested in simply relaxing and unwinding, the Inn at Bay Harbor has unmatched lake views, and is located in one of my favorite cities in Michigan, Bay Harbor. Guests need only walk down the road to find even more fantastic dining options, gorgeous views, fun bars and nightlife, and unique shopping opportunities.

The nearby cities of Harbor Springs, Petoskey, and Boyne City are less than 20 minute drives from Inn at Bay Harbor, and allow guests to enjoy all that the Petoskey Area has to offer, from swimming, fishing, hiking, boating, wake boarding, sailing, and canoeing, to fine dining, high-end shopping, beautiful views, and world-famous wine tastings and so much more. Be sure to subscribe to receive updates when my guides to these 3 beautiful Northern Michigan destinations go live, so that you can easily plan your next adventure op north.

The Rooms

Our room was gorgeously decorated in a very “up north” nautical way that I absolutely adored. With a beautiful, organic color palette featuring bright blues and turquoise, eggshells, creams, bright whites and white marble, and touches of grey, it felt as though Inn at Bay Harbor’s design team brought the lake life indoors. Our room was resplendent with local art and visages of sailboats, seagulls, and other nautical motifs, as well as a large king bed, a fireplace, and amenities that made our room feel like home from the moment we crossed the threshold.

This room also had a large, white marble bathroom featuring a jacuzzi tub, a large rain shower, bidet, and a fantastic view. Between the bedroom and bathroom was a deep closet, a sprawling vanity with fantastic lighting, and two sinks so we didn’t have to share. Waiting for us upon arrival was chocolates crafted locally by the Kilwin family, books about the area and hotel’s legacy, and a bottle of local brew.

We slept so peacefully every night we were here, and we couldn’t hear the other guests in the hotel at all, and we just felt right at home.

Inn at Bay Harbor also has cottages for rent, and has even larger suites which are perfect for honeymooners, bridal parties, bachelorette parties, or family gatherings.

The Amenities

Inn at Bay Harbor certainly doesn’t skimp on the amenities. We had everything we could imagine from makeup remover, bottles of water, and chocolates in our room, to an excellent dry cleaning service, prompt and attentive valets, and staff that went above and beyond to answer our questions, give us advice on what to do in the area, and helped us make reservations as needed. I was getting over being sick the entire duration of our stay, and the staff would check in to see if we needed anything, brought me hot water and honey to help soothe my sore throat, and just generally treated us like family every moment we were guests of the hotel.

The hotel also boasts a beautiful outdoor swimming pool that overlooks the lake, a large Whirlpool hot tub, and outdoor bar that is a great spot to grab a drink when it’s open during the warmer months. There’s also a private stretch of beach complete with chaises lounges and covered chairs, and the hotel is just a short walk from downtown Bay Harbor where guests can find shopping, food, and fun things to do all year long.

Vintage Chop House & Winebar & Other Dining

Northern Michigan is famous for its world class fine dining scene, and the Inn at Bay Harbor fully embraces visiting foodies. The hotel has six dining options on-site including the following:

Vintage Chophouse & Wine Bar
We were seated quickly, we received incredible service, and excellent food and drink pairing recommendations. Plus, we were able to watch the sunset over Lake Michigan, while kept warm from the early-spring chill by a roaring fire place, and it was one of my favorite dining experiences to date! Vintage is located on the ground floor of the hotel, straight back from the front entrance to the left. View the menu here.

The Sagamore Room
Located directly across from Vintage Chophouse & Wine Bar inside the Inn at Bay Harbor, this is one of the best breakfasts in northern Michigan. Guests can eat all they like during the morning breakfast buffet, or order from the a la carte menu to enjoy things like Crab Cake Eggs Benedict, French Toast, Blueberry Streusel Pancakes and much more . The buffet includes staples like pancakes & waffles, omelettes, scrambled eggs, quiche, nearly a dozen different types of fresh fruits, a half dozen different types of cereals, yogurts and parfaits, granola, muffins, toast, bagels, fresh fish and salads, and of course teas, coffee, and hot chocolate. The best part of breakfast is the phenomenal views of the whitecaps crashing onto the shore, just outside the window!

Inn Café & Afternoon Tea
We enjoyed a beautiful afternoon tea by the fireplace from the Inn Café, and it was absolutely fantastic. They were able to make everything gluten free for me, and presented us with a beautiful variety of muffins, cakes, finger sandwiches, tea, and mimosas. The Inn Café itself serves Starbucks coffee, espresso, wine & drinks, pastries, and ice cream, plus there’s a gift shop inside where guests can pick up souvenirs or local specialty items like jams and local art. You may view the Afternoon Tea menu here.

The Cabana Bar
As I mentioned above, there’s an outdoor bar right next to the pool that’s the perfect place to grab a drink and relax, or stroll around the hotel grounds and watch the sun rise or set. They offer a full menu, as well as cocktails and  live entertainment from 3-6pm on Fridays and Sundays during the summer. The Cabana Bar opens June 14th, 2019 and is open through Labor Day.

The Spa at Inn at Bay Harbor

One of the most luxurious spas in all of Michigan, The Spa at Inn at Bay Harbor offers an extensive menu of massages, body treatments, hair and nail care, as well as options for couples such as couples massages. Keep an eye out for my guide to this prestigious and relaxing oasis. The spa also contains a beautiful boutique shop filled to the brim with sustainable fashions, cosmetics, and hair care products.

We absolutely loved our stay at the Inn at Bay Harbor, and I couldn’t recommend this beautiful luxury hotel more. Click here to book your own stay.

Until next time!

xAnnie Fairfax
aka @AnnieFairfax

Thank you to Petoskey Area CVB & Inn at Bay Harbor for sponsoring our stay.
As always, all opinions and photographs are entirely my own.