Ben Sprecher

Review of Athenaeum Hotel

The Atheneaum is the Grande Dame of the Chautauqua...

The Atheneaum is the Grande Dame of the Chautauqua Institute - a stately antique hotel with grand open spaces, massively high ceilings, 15-foot-tall walk-through windows, and a world-class porch overlooking the lake. It's also getting long in the tooth, with creaky, musty hallways, unevenly-rolling updates to guest rooms, and generally fraying physical plant. Its best days may be behind it, but the staff still works hard to accommodate, and it's the best place to stay in the area.