Guest User
July 7, 2024
My husband and I are so thrilled that the Rusty Parrot Lodge has finally reopened. We were so curious about how the rebuilt hotel compared to the original. We love staying at boutique hotels and the Parrot has always been our favorite because of the combination of intimacy and luxury. The best of the best was all within steps of our room—which was particularly great after getting a spa treatment (from Acacia, who was wonderful) and I could literally step right from the spa into the elevator up to our room where I had a great nap in our super-comfortable bed. (I should have checked the brand!) The original Western art hanging in the hallways and restaurant made me feel like I was wandering through an art gallery. One of the things I really loved about the original Parrot was the little nooks where I could read a book or have a glass of wine. (My husband is a hiker & skier but I love being in town and relaxing.) The library is now a little bit larger, and the new bar is completely gorgeous—still cozy, but really elegant. In fact, I think “Western elegance” might be the right adjective for the whole hotel. At the same time, there’s not an echo anywhere to be found. Dining at the Wild Sage was such a pleasure, not only because of the creative and delicious food but because I could actually hear the conversation. And if you don’t stay for breakfast, you’re really missing out. The ricotta pancakes were the best I’ve ever had (the chef said he adds butter to the batter!)—and the Snake River Rancheros were truly elevated, with a homemade green chile sauce, pickled red onions, and blue corn tortillas. It was every bit as divine as the breakfasts we enjoyed when RPL opened back in the 1990s. Staff were warm and welcoming (thanks for being our go-to person for in-town recommendations, Jennifer!), and the rooms were beautiful, quiet, and really comfortable. Our 3rd floor balcony had a view of the creek and I loved being hear the water. One of the real bonuses of the rebuilt hotel is that there is a huge balcony with rocking chairs and a giant fireplace which they lit late one chilly afternoon after a rain. I can only imagine how amazing that’s going to be when the weather actually turns cold. We are planning to come back in October with friends and I can’t wait to start recommending it to people again!