Helloooo everyone happy Monday and welcome back to the blog. Today I have a super fun review for you of my winter stay at the Briar Barn Inn in Rowley, MA. The Briar Barn Inn was kind enough to invite my boyfriend and I for an overnight visit last week including dinner at their on-site restaurant (Grove) and a spa treatment. If you follow me on Instagram then I am sure you saw my stories highlighting everything we got up to during our stay. The following is a review of my experiences and photos from the visit.

Briar Barn Inn Rowley, MA : A review of my winter stay

“Briar Barn Inn offers laid-back luxury in a farmhouse setting, where New England’s pastoral beauty and serenity live in harmony with our favorite modern amenities. Guestrooms are outfitted with fireplaces, soaking tubs, robes, and slippers. The property features an on-site restaurant, spa, winding courtyard paths, an outdoor fire pit, and a pool. We are located in Rowley, Massachusetts, in the center of the north shore’s most prized destinations, with easy access to Cape Ann culture, Essex seafood, Ipswich beaches, and Newburyport shops.” [Source: BriarBarnInn.com]

Referring to the Briar Barn Inn as a laid back luxury farmhouse setting is a perfect description of what you can expect. My boyfriend and I pulled into their parking lot around 4pm which is just after check in time. The front desk staff was super friendly and we were checked in within a few minutes.

The room was absolutely gorgeous and the Inn was kind enough to set us up with a little welcome amenity which was super sweet and thoughtful. Our room had a lovely view of the courtyard area behind the main building where there were cute string lights glowing against the snow and setting sun. Since our dinner reservation at Grove was at 6pm we had a little time to wander the property. We checked out the silo, the library, the main downstairs lobby and also walked around the porch. There were chairs facing the courtyard and a porch swing which would be so nice in warmer weather.

After we wandered for a little while and explored the property it was time to head to Grove for dinner. The restaurant is a few steps outside the main door to the Inn so you don’t need to worry at all about leaving the property once you’re checked in. We started with the brussels sprouts appetizer which was absolutely delicious. I could have made a meal just out of that alone. It was mixed with other greens and vegetables then tossed with a vinegar-like dressing which was super tasty. For my entrée I had the Bolognese which featured Grove’s house made pasta and my boyfriend had the steak.

We shared bites with one another so I got to try his too – everything was really yummy. I packed up my remaining pasta to go however I left it on the table in the restaurant. If you know me, this 100% tracks and is something I would definitely do. 😛 I was going to run back to Grove and see if it was still there, however, instead we opened our champagne, lit the fireplace in our room and hung out. We have been rewatching True Blood so we fired up the smart TV in the room and he got us hooked up to his laptop so we could watch on the screen. It was a super relaxing end to a really nice night.

The next morning I headed out in my pajamas to one of the (many!) coffee stations around Briar Barn Inn. We had one right down the hall from us so I grabbed us two cups and settled in for a chill morning.

The bathroom and shower in our room were really nice. I am not one to use the provided products in a hotel or Inn such as the shampoo and conditioner however I am glad I did this time because they smelled amazing and were good quality. After a quick rinse off, I was out the door to the Spa at Briar Barn Inn for a facial! The spa is also on-site so it’s all really convenient.

Now, I am not much of a skincare girlie. I am pretty basic when it comes to that and I use simple, minimal products when washing my face. I had never had a facial before and honestly was not entirely sure what to expect. I told Lexa, my spa technician, that I was new to this and she was super happy to explain to me what it entailed. She went over a few quick questions about products, double checked for allergies and went over step by step what she was going to do. She made sure I was comfortable in the room and comfortable with her facial procedure.

If you were watching my stories on Instagram then you definitely saw the glow up after I left the spa. The facial was incredibly relaxing and my skin was so plump and dewy when we were done. If you’re nervous or aren’t sure what to expect, I highly recommend coming to Lexa at the Spa at Briar Barn Inn for your facial. She did a fantastic job.

All in all this was a lovely mid week “staycation” get away to the Briar Barn Inn. Rowley, MA is about 15 to 20 miles from Salem, MA depending on where you’re coming from and the Briar Barn Inn is a really convenient escape to a beautiful property. This would be a great location for you and your partner, a fun girls retreat for spa services and good times or a stunning location for your wedding.

The Briar Barn Inn is located at 101 Main St. Rowley, MA 01969 and they can be reached online or at (978) 484-5161. If you head their way, be sure to tell them I sent you. 😛

Please note I was compensated for my stay in exchange for my review, however, my thoughts and opinions are always my own. No business can pay for a positive endorsement on my website or social media. You can read all about my disclaimers, privacy policy and more here.

Please note all images used are copyright Things to do in Salem, LLC and may not be used without permission. For usage or questions regarding this, please contact me at info@thingstodoinsalem.com.

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