TL;DR

Art-focused: Attracts cultured visitors, particularly art lovers near Mass MoCA.
Unique design: North Adams Victorian row converted into a boutique hotel with individual charm.
Versatile appeal: Welcomes young travelers, visiting parents, and Berkshires veterans alike.
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Guess what kind of clientele this North Adams row of Victorians-turned-boutique hotel attracts? Did you guess art lovers? You’d be correct.

It’s actually spitting distance from the area’s most famous art museum, the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, but we don’t recommend any spitting. It’s a cultured crowd, you see.

Art lover or no, this Berkshires boutique inn is undeniably worth a visit. When else will you get to see such a street lined by identical Victorian townhouses?

Each is painted slightly a different color though, so you know which one is yours at The Porches.

The dainty woodwork on the exterior works in cute contrast to the stony bulk of the brick factory-turned creative space across the river.

And it’s not just a string of houses. Porches has pulled out all the amenities, creating a boutique hotel experience that stands out among the B&Bs and budget inns.

It works for the young and hip, for the Williams’s parent visiting their brilliant progeny, and even for Berkshires veterans looking for something a little different.

What are the rooms like?

Number of rooms: 47 rooms with diverse layouts and styles.
Decor: Colorful eclectic style with decorative plates, spiral staircases, and vintage furnishings.
Features: King/queen beds, porch access, double queens, suites with jacuzzis, sofa beds, kitchenettes, LED TVs, Apple TV, Bluetooth speakers, desks, independent heating/AC.
Bathrooms: White tiled, clean, homey, unique style.
See each room in detail here

Each one is decorated differently at The Porches, but they all share a colorful, eclectic style with decorative plates on the walls, spiral staircases, and unique vintage furnishings.

Standard rooms come with king or queen beds, some options including porch access.

Double Queen rooms give ample space for platonic couples or groups, while Suites offer one or two bedrooms.

Suites offer varying extra amenities like jacuzzi tubs, sofa beds, kitchenettes and more.

All rooms include LED TVs with Apple TV, Bluetooth speakers, desks, and independent heating and air conditioning.

Bathrooms are white tiled, homey and clean. They’re very ‘ground-floor bathroom next to rich-mother-in-law’s kitchen that never gets used and smells like potpourri,’ which is in the top ten bathroom styles.

What are prices like?

> Check prices here

And what’s the food like? Any facilities we should know about?

Breakfast: Complimentary spread with fresh pastries, espresso, and more.
Outdoor amenities: Fire pit, gazebo, open-air pool, hot tub with heated slate tile patio.
Indoor amenities: Fitness center, Finnish-style sauna, massage options.

There’s no on-site restaurant at The Porches, which isn’t really a problem. North Adams is already filled with restaurants vying for the ‘best of’ title.

It would be a shame to miss them, so enjoy the complementary breakfast and leave dinner for going out on the town. It’s a nice spread with fresh pastries, espresso and more.

That’s not the end of the amenities, however. A stay at The Porches includes access to a Fitness Center, a fire pit and a gazebo perfect for outdoor relaxation.

Also perfect for rejuvenating outdoors is the open-air pool and hot tub, installed within a cozy patio of heated slate tile.

For indoor relaxation, look no further than the Finnish-style sauna and massage options.

How is the neighborhood? Anything interesting nearby?

Culture: Near Mass MoCA with world-class exhibitions and arts events.
Local gems: Brewery, pre-1900 public library, mill building art studios.
Accessibility: 10-minute walk to downtown; area perfect for relaxed drives to Lenox or Pittsfield.
Nature: Scenic routes past Savoy Mountain, Bellevue Falls, Crystal Mountain; Berkshire Hills Country Club nearby.

North Adams is kind of the weird artsy stepchild of the Berkshires, making it a real gem to many of us.

It’s home to Mass MoCA, which hosts a year-long series of world-class exhibitions and arts events.

There’s also a local brewery, a public library from before 1900, and a mill building converted into art studios, completing the New England trifecta.

Porches is a 10 minute walk from the center, but from there the entire downtown exists in a few blocks.

Enjoy strolling around, checking out the boutiques, the alternative art spaces, and a nice variety of food options.

It’s not just walking, however. The area is perfect for a relaxed drive, which might take you into Lenox, head of the cultured Berkshires types, with its Shakespeare and its Boston Pops.

It’s about an hour’s drive, taking you past some truly lovely natural landscapes like Savoy Mountain, Bellevue Falls, and Crystal Mountain.

You’ll also pass through the equally charming town of Pittsfield, home to the Berkshire Hills Country Club.

And what about the reviews? What did other guests think?

Some things guests liked:

”The room and bed were very comfortable which I would describe as “upscale rustic”. The landscaping and outdoor facilities were all lovely and charming. Breakfast was very good and plentiful which included a varied selection of breads, fruit, lox, eggs, yogurt and early morning availability of coffee! Staff were friendly and helpful! THE PORCHES is within easy walking distance of Mass Coca and a relatively short drive from Williamstown and the Clark….”

”The Porches is extremely distinctive, charming and comfortable. We slept in the largest and most comfortable bed ever! Staff friendly, good breakfast….”