The Swiftwater Lodge Pocono Mountains Evaluation: A Luxurious Winter Paradise

 

On the lookout for a fast, romantic winter getaway? On this Swiftwater Lodge assessment, I’ll share how this new Poconos property shocked us with one thing distinctive – non-public heated plunge swimming pools proper in your suite and a surprising indoor/out of doors heated pool the place you may swim whereas snowflakes fall round you. 

Sure, you learn that appropriately. 

Think about having your individual private pool and entry to a bigger heated pool that allows you to glide seamlessly between indoors and out, even in winter. However these exceptional pool experiences are only the start of what makes this luxurious mountain retreat so particular.

The Journey: A Scenic Pocono Mountain Escape

The drive from Delaware to The Swiftwater Lodge set the right tone for our getaway. It’s just below two hours of scenic mountain views and charming roadside retailers, with zero visitors to spoil the temper. For Philly residents, it’s an equally simple journey, and Manhattan dwellers can attain the property in about two hours as properly. 

The Swiftwater’s location hits that candy spot – far sufficient to really feel like an escape, shut sufficient to achieve with out trouble.

First Impressions: Trendy Mountain Luxurious

Driving up, The Swiftwater Lodge’s exterior makes an instantaneous assertion with its dramatic stone and wooden chalet-inspired design. 

The boutique property, which opened in June 2024, blends rustic mountain structure with fashionable magnificence. A lined entrance with wood beams welcomes you, whereas floor-to-ceiling home windows replicate the encompassing panorama.

Examine-in was easy, and the foyer’s luxuriously swanky design stopped us in our tracks. A built-in stone wall hearth serves because the centerpiece, with placing art work and comfy furnishings. The marble flooring distinction fantastically with heat wooden accents, whereas complimentary espresso, water, and flavored water stations add a considerate contact out there to company 24/7.

The Plunge Pool Suite: A Non-public Pool Expertise

When reserving a keep at The Swiftwater Lodge, company can select from 100 rooms and suites unfold throughout 5 flooring. Whereas the upper-level rooms on the rear of the lodge provide gorgeous forest views, we opted for one thing really particular—a Plunge Pool Suite on the primary flooring.

The spotlight of our suite was the non-public, glass-enclosed, saltwater heated indoor pool, instantly hooked up to the room. Simply to be clear, this isn’t a sizzling tub or whirlpool. It’s a correct 4-foot-6-inch deep pool the place you may really swim, making it good for a refreshing winter dip. And don’t fear, the crystal-clear water is examined day by day. Plus, it’s saltwater, so that you gained’t need to cope with the scent of chlorine in your room.

The pool is fantastically designed with patterned tile flooring, slate partitions, and a zen waterfall characteristic that provides each magnificence and tranquility. The soothing sound of the waterfall even lulled us right into a deep sleep every night time.

The heated lounge space seamlessly blends with the pool, sustaining an ideal temperature that makes it snug to take pleasure in in a swimsuit, even when there’s snow on the bottom exterior. Two massive wicker lounge chairs with plush seashore towels present the best spot for enjoyable after a swim, having fun with a ebook, or indulging in room service. Talking of which, there’s even a room service sushi menu from Desaki subsequent door. It’s a must-try, particularly when loved poolside. 

Our verdict: Extra motels want these!

Trendy facilities within the suite embrace lightning-fast WiFi (each wi-fi and hardwired), a 65-inch TV with an Apple TV show system, and a laptop-sized protected. The toilet is equally spectacular, with wood-look tile bathe partitions, illuminated round mirrors, and quartz double floating vanities. Considerate premium touches, like verbena-scented L’Occitane toiletries and plush robes, make the expertise really feel like staying in a luxurious spa. After a calming rainfall bathe, slipping into one of many ultra-soft robes was the right technique to wind down.

Mornings have been made even higher with a espresso station that includes domestically sourced, signature espresso and complimentary bottled water—good for fueling up earlier than a morning swim. The suite itself exudes luxurious, with The Swiftwater’s signature mattress wearing high-thread-count Frette linens and a complicated impartial and forest inexperienced colour palette, accented with pure wooden touches that complement the mountain setting.

The Concierge Lounge: An Surprising Spotlight

Concierge stage rooms and Plunge Pool Suites include entry to the lodge’s Fifth-floor Concierge Lounge. And it turned one among our favourite spots. 

The elevated area incorporates a roaring hearth, gorgeous lotus-inspired chandelier, snug seating, and a library-like ambiance with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and desk video games. 

Open 24/7, the lounge gives complimentary treats all through the day – contemporary fruit, native packaged pastries, chips, yogurt, and through cocktail hour, a collection of hors d’oeuvres. You’ll additionally discover bottled water, juice, beer, and occasional. Take them to go, or take pleasure in them within the lounge.

However the actual present occurs simply earlier than sundown. The lodge maintains three feeding stations for native wildlife, and watching dozens of deer descend the mountain for his or her night meal turned our day by day ritual. These peaceable creatures go to all through the day, however they’re most lively at nightfall, after they all collect round to take pleasure in their nightly snack. It’s to not be missed! 

The Concierge Lounge is offered to company staying within the Plunge Pool Suites and the Swiftwater Suites (21+).

Pocono Pool Paradise: Swimming in Winter

Past our room’s non-public plunge pool, the lodge’s important heated indoor/out of doors pool amazed us. 

Lacking these summer season pool days? Nicely, throughout the chilly months, you may chill out within the heated indoor space earlier than swimming out into the open air.

The pool options dramatic lighting that adjustments colours all through the night, making a magical ambiance enhanced by water options and mountain landscapes. We really swam whereas it was snowing! It was a surreal and rejuvenating expertise, due to the pool’s good temperature and heated indoor space that you would be able to enter and exit from.

A separate firepit space options massive, cushioned rocking chairs, good for warming up after a swim with a glass of wine whereas gazing on the stars.

The place to Dine at The Swiftwater Lodge

The Swiftwater elevates Pocono Mountain eating with two standout choices: The Olivet, simply off the lodge foyer, and Desaki, proper subsequent door. Each eating places impressed us with their excellent delicacies and ambiance, making each meal an expertise to recollect.

The Olivet: Refined Mountain Eating

The Olivet, the lodge’s signature restaurant, delivers an distinctive eating expertise for breakfast and dinner. The area combines woodsy accents with a luxuriously glossy design. Along with its eating room, there’s additionally a heated out of doors patio the place you may dine poolside close to the firepit.

Even the patio flooring are heated for complete consolation.

Dinner at The Olivet

Our dinner kicked off with a little bit of leisure—watching the expert mixologist put together their signature Dante’s Inferno Margarita. This cocktail, with its black salt rim and contemporary jalapeño, struck an important steadiness of spicy, bitter, and candy flavors. The bar additionally gives distinctive choices like “Manhattans across the World” and the “Martini Olive Journey” for these seeking to attempt one thing completely different. For those who don’t drink alcohol, there’s a inventive mocktail menu as properly.

For appetizers we started with the Beetroot Burrata, a surprising composition of Lollo Rosa lettuce, arugula, cherry tomatoes, and shaved radish in apple cider French dressing. The plating itself was art work, with the creamy burrata offering an ideal distinction to the earthy roasted beets.

The Braised Quick Rib, served bone-out, was remarkably tender and plated over celery root puree with roasted celery root, kale, and pearl onions in a grape brandy demi-glace. Every part complemented the others completely, making a dish that was each refined and comforting.

The Seared Diver Scallops arrived completely caramelized, organized artfully with vibrant inexperienced asparagus spears over a vibrant beet puree. Dots of blood orange gel added each visible enchantment and vibrant citrus notes that balanced the dish fantastically.

For pasta lovers, the Previous World Italian Sunday Gravy showcases home made hand-cut pappardelle in a wealthy tomato meat sauce with meatballs, Italian sausage, and braciola. The portion was beneficiant sufficient to share, although you may not need to.

The service all through the night was excellent, due to Alex and Brookel, who went above and past to make our expertise memorable. Dessert introduced one other spherical of tableside aptitude with a traditional Bananas Foster, expertly ready and flambéed by our server Brookel on a gleaming copper cart. It was each a present and a deal with.

To cap off the meal, we additionally loved the Apple Bread Pudding—served heat with toffee ice cream and a drizzle of salted caramel sauce. It was the right candy ending to an unforgettable eating expertise.

Breakfast at The Olivet

Breakfast at The Olivet the following morning maintained the excessive requirements set the day earlier than, due to Chef Mike’s impeccable contact.

The Brûléed French Toast arrived trying like a murals, topped with caramelized strawberry coulis, lemon ginger crème anglaise, and whipped mascarpone, garnished with contemporary berries. Sure, it’s basically dessert for breakfast, nevertheless it’s value each calorie. 

The Shrimp and Grits – our brunch favourite, featured sautéed collard greens, pickled peppers, and Parmigiano Reggiano stirred into creamy grits. Even the Basic Breakfast impressed with notably high-quality Applewood smoked bacon and completely ready eggs. 

The property even serves their very own signature mix of espresso from native roasters, out there for buy within the foyer to take residence.

Desaki: Japanese Delicacies and Leisure

Only a 30-second stroll from the lodge, Desaki gives a completely completely different however equally spectacular eating expertise. And it’s a number of enjoyable too.

The restaurant’s identify means “vacation spot” in Japanese, and it lives as much as that which means. The area is huge, that includes a number of hibachi stations, however we adopted the locals’ tip to go to for weekday lunch when the ambiance is extra intimate.

We began with their well-known Fireball Shrimp – completely crispy tempura-battered shrimp tossed in a spicy cream sauce that delivers simply sufficient warmth with out overwhelming. 

The sushi right here deserves particular point out. The Desaki specialty roll combines shrimp tempura, yellowtail, and spicy tuna with tobiko, eel sauce, and spicy mayo, whereas the Katana roll wraps spicy tuna and kani with avocado in a tempura coating, topped with seaweed salad and their house-made Ninja sauce. Each rolls arrived fantastically introduced in wood sushi boats, and the parts have been so beneficiant that we ended up taking our complete hibachi order residence.

Talking of hibachi, our chef Vino turned lunch into leisure. Every hibachi meal comes full with edamame, fried rice, contemporary greens, and lo mein noodles, all seasoned with their signature spice mix and served with each garlic Yum-Yum sauce and ginger sauce. And the parts are enormous.

Our server, Brianna, was incredible—attentive, pleasant, and at all times prepared with a advice. Along with Chef Vino’s full of life efficiency, she made the meal much more pleasurable.

The restaurant goes past simply eating – on household enjoyable nights it options karaoke, a dance flooring, full bar, and even complimentary PlayStation and Xbox gaming stations.

Past the Swimming pools: Actions and Facilities

Whereas The Swiftwater’s pool would possibly tempt you to by no means go away the property, the lodge gives loads extra. 

The state-of-the-art health middle incorporates a Peloton bike, an interactive TV treadmill, a Mirror coach, and free weights. 

For wellness, they’ve partnered domestically with each the Magnolia Wellness Middle and Pure Day Spa, providing all the pieces from conventional Swedish massages to cutting-edge therapies. They’ll even organize for in-suite therapeutic massage companies. For a novel excessive vibe expertise and fashionable native vacation spot, ebook a calming halotherapy session on the Crystal Backyard’s salt cave lower than 3 miles from the lodge Additionally they provide different holistic therapies like reiki and sound tub remedy. Afterward, browse their store for crystals and jewellery.

Winter Actions

The Poconos really shine in winter, and The Swiftwater places you near all of the motion. Lower than 5 miles from the lodge, Camelback Mountain gives premium snowboarding, snowboarding and tubing (attempt their galactic tubing at night time), whereas a number of native lakes rework into pure ice skating rinks. Promised Land State Park’s snowy trails present a peaceable setting for winter hikes or snowshoeing.

Outside Adventures

Minutes from The Swiftwater, Mountain Creek Driving Stables gives some of the romantic methods to discover the Poconos. Their guided path rides take you thru serene mountain woods, good for each novices and skilled riders. 

Massive Pocono State Park, moments from the lodge, supplies breathtaking panoramic views that change with every season. Mountain climbing trails vary from simple walks to difficult climbs, all rewarding you with spectacular picture alternatives. In winter, the park transforms for snowboarding, whereas summer season brings alternatives for rafting and household picnics. The park space additionally options distinctive native eateries and bars, making it simple to spend a full day exploring.

There are such a lot of superb issues to expertise close to the Swiftwater Lodge.

The Swiftwater Concierge

Don’t miss the chance to talk with the pleasant lodge concierge in the primary foyer. It doesn’t matter what you need to do whereas visiting, The Swiftwater’s concierge may help you propose the right native journey so you will get probably the most out of your keep. And there’s so many issues to do within the Poconos, it’s unimaginable.

Whether or not you need to go snowboarding, horseback driving, hike one of many gorgeous Pocono state parks or tour and style your means via the Pocono Mountains wineries and breweries, they’ll deal with all of the preparations. 

The concierge right here provides you with suggestions for all of the native gems and finest eats. We even acquired a tip on the very best tacos within the space (it’s Tacos Los Morros, by the way in which).

For those who want slightly remedy of the retail sort, there are many purchasing close to The Swiftwater to discover domestically. The Pocono Premium Retailers with over 100 shops, are solely a 6 minute drive (3.1 miles) from the lodge. All through the world there are charming boutiques, specialty retailers all through the area providing all the pieces from craft candles and soaps to antiques and extra. No matter you need to do, the Concierge at The Swiftwater may help you propose the right purchasing day.

Romance within the Mountains

For {couples} planning a Valentine’s Day escape or romantic getaway, The Swiftwater gives thoughtfully curated packages with elegant room décor, contemporary roses, champagne, and indulgent chocolate-covered strawberries. As night time falls, the out of doors firepit space transforms into a comfy retreat, full with rocking chairs and mushy, colourful lighting.

The lodge makes a speciality of creating unforgettable moments—whether or not you’re taking a non-public swim, watching deer at sundown from the Concierge Lounge, or sipping cocktails by a glowing hearth. Nevertheless you select to spend your time, The Swiftwater supplies the right setting for love.

The Ultimate Phrase

The Swiftwater Lodge has achieved one thing exceptional – they’ve introduced true luxurious to the Poconos whereas sustaining the nice and cozy, inviting ambiance that makes this area particular. The mix of distinctive facilities (these plunge swimming pools!), wonderful eating choices, and considerate service creates an expertise that units a brand new customary for mountain getaways.

What impressed us most was how the property works equally properly as a calming retreat or an journey base. You’ll be able to spend your complete keep having fun with the swimming pools, spa companies, and eating places, or use it as an opulent residence base for exploring all of the Poconos has to supply. There’s no stress both means – the workers excels at serving to you create precisely the expertise you need.

Able to Plan Your Personal Swiftwater Getaway? 

 ➡ Go to TheSwiftwater.com to ebook your keep.

My recommendation? 

Take into account splurging on one of many Plunge Pool Suites for a really distinctive expertise, and don’t skip eating at each The Olivet and Desaki. Pack your swimsuit whatever the season – you gained’t need to miss the heated pool experiences, particularly throughout snowfall. 

The Swiftwater Lodge delivers a mountain getaway that manages to really feel each luxurious and fully relaxed, a mixture that’s surprisingly uncommon and completely value experiencing.