Friends Lake Inn

Reviews

Reviews are sorted by relevance, with the most helpful and insightful feedback listed first for easy reference.

  Paul Buckman
2 months ago
If you have not been to the Friends Lake Inn in a while, it's time to go back. The food is amazing. The chef is fantastic. The servers that I met are all great. Finn, or Matt at the bar are top notch. Kelly is an excellent waiter in the bistro. Paul, the GM is very nice. Just can't say enough about how good the food is. I forgot to take more pics, but the mussels are the best I have had. The Shrimp and Scallop dish is soo good. The Pork chop is lights out. They are not just about the Inn guests. They welcome local people as well. I think they do a burger special on Mondays.

  Jawana Watson
2 months ago
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  Yossi Tabak
a month ago
Great for a romantic, cozy, quiet getaway.Place is really clean and well kept, and the building has some interesting history.And you can go over to Friends Lake across the road and enjoy the peace and quiet.

  delaina fisher
a month ago
Jullie and the rest of the Friends Lake Inn personnel significantly exceeded our highest expectations. The site is truly beautiful, surrounded by nature in a picturesque setting. Julie was pleasant, helpful, and accommodating, and she worked with me every step of the way to ensure that we were completely delighted with every aspect of our wedding day despite the short notice. Friends Lake is highly recommended to anyone looking for an intimate, picturesque setting that alleviates as much stress as possible during the planning process.Photography: Emily Belanger Photography

  Howard Goldman
a month ago
A great find while skiing at Gore. Nice change of pace from the usual chains. Staff was very friendly. Many thanks to Jessica who graciously drove me to my car after a visit to urgent care clinic Rooms: Room was very nice. Stayed in Cedar room. Bathroom with soaking tub was beautiful.

  Tia Empress
7 months ago
We eloped here and loved it! We used every service in the package except for photography. The staff was welcoming and helpful. We loved our room despite some issues with the fireplace smoking up the room. Otherwise, it's a gorgeous place and we loved the food. It was exceptional both breakfast and dinner. Jullie was amazing at everything she does and we will be back. The only thing I'd take note of is there isn't roll away beds or really any bed accomodations for children.

  Jim Neidhardt
5 months ago
I brought a group of a half dozen CEOs/COOs here for a 2-day retreat. Everything went great including initial inquiries, booking, arriving, room accommodations, bar, breakfast, meeting room, and check-out. The staff was extremely accommodating, friendly, and make our event a great success. I would highly recommend this venue for business or personal get-aways or events.

  Tricia Cannata
6 months ago
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  Katie Childers
a year ago
We had our intimate wedding at Friends Lake Inn. Absolutely perfect experience. The entire staff is wonderful, every room is beautiful & unique. Cozy, rustic with modern touches, & excellent hospitality. Our food was incredible & we even got to personally thank the chef. They executed our ideas flawlessly, & welcomed our entire party with ease. We highly recommend Friends Lake Inn for your own wedding or milestone anniversary. We cannot wait to go back!

  Belle Dolci
11 months ago
I have been been baking cakes and other desserts for events at Friends lake Inn since 2016. Over the years, I fell in love. The property is stunning and the Inn itself is captivating. I knew one day when I got married there was no other venue for me. Last Sunday my husband and I had the wedding we both dreamed of surrounded by family, friends, spectacular food and beauty. The staff as were incredibly friendly and did an amazing job. Jullie the event coordinator was incredible. She saw that every need was met and made sure things went flawlessly. Her communication leading up to the wedding was fantastic. The room was beautiful and spotless. The steam shower was amazing after a long fun night. I can not begin to recommend Friends Lake Inn enough. Whether you are planning a night out to eat, a stay or even an event, Friends Lake Inn should be a top consideration. Thank you to everyone who was a part of our wonderful day!

  Desire� Smith
9 months ago
I was so disappointed. The hotel is very dated, the room smelled musty, the place needs a total makeover! The prices however, are comparable to a brand new hotel. We lost power for a few hours, and not even the water worked... for the prices they charge, they should have generators in these situations. There are no refrigerators in the room, there is no handicapped accessibility (I walk with a cane) and the stairs don't even have a handrail all the way down. They charge a 20% gratuity for a breakfast, even if you don't go to breakfast. The jacuzzi on the property isn't used anymore, there was so much I was dissatisfied with. The wait staff was great but I was not thrilled with the desk staff. I would not recommend this place at all!

  Lucas Kwederis
7 months ago
I stayed here six months ago and I am very late on a review, however my experience at the Friends Lake Inn is something I will hold on to and remember for a long time.I booked my stay at the Inn with the intention of skiing at the nearby Gore Mountain, sleeping one night at Friends Lake, and then driving 4 hours back home to NJ. There was a mild snowstorm in the forecast predicting 6 inches of snow, which seemed like no trouble at the time.Upon arrival at the Inn I was warmly greeted by a lovely woman who gave me a tour of the entire building and it s history. I was exhausted from a day of skiing and almost wanted to deny the tour, however her excitement about the Inn intrigued me and made me feel welcomed on this solo trip. I wish I could remember her name. (She had later on mentioned she lived across the street, with some pets. I hope herself and the pets are doing well.)The room I had booked was cozy and comfortable. The full size bed and TV kept me rested and entertained after a long day on the mountain. (I remember watching an old rebroadcasted Yankees game that evening.) Throughout the night we received 14 inches of snow and it was expected to continue throughout the following day.The next day I woke up early expecting to drive home, however the roads were impenetrable and my car was buried with snow. I was told to expect a power outage. Very quickly I was advised not to drive and stay at the Inn. My room was upgraded to one with a fireplace to keep warm; flashlights, emergency water, and firewood. All kindly provided by the staff. (After 25 inches of snow the power did end up shutting off. Well advised and prepared upgrade. Thank you!)I spent that day snowed in at the Friends Lake Inn. Staff encouraged me to try out the snowshoes and walk around the grounds. What I thought was was going to be a day full of disaster turned into a weekend of tranquility. I worried about what I would eat given that I hadn t packed much, and could not drive to find food. The owner ended up cooking for myself, the staff, and four other people staying at the inn. (A dinner in which I could write a whole other review about on its own.)The following day I slept even better, in my fire lit room, full of gratitude for how generous and accommodating the staff had been to me. I woke up to a full breakfast to take with me for a second day on the mountain. (And I they had plowed all the snow from my car!!!) I had the best day of skiing of my life.This essay of a review does not even include the minute details of how incredible and memorable my stay at the Friends Lake Inn meant to me. I will remember it for a lifetime. And I will continue to book here whenever I see some good snow pulling into the Adirondack Mountains or even when I just want to pop by and thank everybody for my incredible stay.

  Svitlana Syrtsova
7 months ago
Room Spruce was clean. Bed and armchairs are super comfortable. I would suggest to update a rag on the floor, wall art, and a cover on the bed, they are very old and make an impression that it s ordinary motel on the highway.People should be aware that there are no microwave, no fridge in the room, there is a fridge in common area if needed, no one used it when we stay.. Breakfast is OK, hot, prefixed and served, you can choose only one entree, no much variety, no fruits, no yogurt, cheese, bakery, extra adds-on are for charge. You will not be hungry.Great backyard to enjoy outdoor, location for us was perfect. We looked for a not crowed quiet place.

  P.J. Louis
9 months ago
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  King Jaffe Joffer Ruler of Zamunda
6 months ago
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  Kerry Dudley
8 months ago
Hadn t been since honeymoon in 78 - brought kids & granddaughter for rainy day trip & meal. Unfortunately, vent hood out in kitchen so menu limited. For $$$ spent, charcuterie board could ve had more items (4 of us) Tomato basil soup was delicious. Salads tasty. Drinks good. 2 yo had a blast exploring. $206 tab was steep considering what we had.

  John Impellizzeri
a year ago
My wife and I just returned from a wonderful anniversary weekend at Friends Lake Inn.All of the staff were so very attentive and the accommodations, meals and overall atmosphere exceeded our expectations !A special thanks to the front desk team and servers. Also thank you Gina for making us feel so welcome and special.

  Desmond Reed
2 years ago
We stayed at Friend s Lake Inn over the Columbus Day weekend, and I have to say my wife and I loved every moment of our visit. We stayed in the Great Lakes room which was very clean and comfortable. The room has an amazing stone wood-burning fireplace which made the room very warm and cozy during the evening.The staff are very friendly, courteous, and accommodating; especially Nicole and Betty they were fantastic! The bartender gave us a list of restaurants to check out and he was right on point. The chef recommended we check out Gore Mountain and take the gondola ride up to the top. There are no words that can describe the view we experienced. Nothing but mountains and fall foliage for miles.Next year, we are bringing the family and staying in the cabin. Can t wait to get back!Thank you Friend's Lake Inn for making our weekend memorable!-DR

  amy carter
a year ago
We didn't stay here but came to the restaurant for our 30th wedding anniversary. It was a Monday night and they seated us in our own small dining room with a fireplace and Allison, our server, was adorable and very attentive. The food was out of this world AGAIN - we met chef Jean Miguel whose culinary creations were to die for - cannot wait to come back again and again! Thank you for making our anniversary super special!!!

  James Sylvester
a year ago
This place is AWESOME. Super cozy perfect weekend get away. My girlfriend and I stayed one night on our way to Lake George and it was amazing. Betty is the BEST. By the end of our stay I wouldve thought we had know each other for years. They were bit under staffed while we were there so food took a little while but its tough times and you just have to be patient. It was worth the wait. Breakfast and dinner were delicious. We plan to go back every year.

  Denise Flynn
a year ago
Friends Lake Inn is a nature lovers paradise. Such a beautiful location in the Adirondacks. We were looking for country chic and that was our experience. Dining there also was a great experience . The food was fresh and oh so good. Especially liked the strawberry jam that was made by Kim , who works there.That is just an example of how much staff members put into their work.The owner and staff were friendly , pleasant and helpful. They are the best of the best in the hospitality industry without a doubt!

  Alyssa Albreada
a year ago
My husband and I booked a very last minute trip to the Friends Lake Inn last weekend for his birthday getaway. From the moment we walked in, every staff member we encountered greeted us, asked how we were, offered to help carry bags, and welcomed us with a warm smile. We were kindly escorted to our room which was stunning; the pictures do not do it justice. We enjoyed the peaceful views of the lake (and snow at the time) before we headed down to dinner. We ate in the Birch Bistro Bar so we could watch some basketball games and ended up being served by quite possibly the best bartender and nicest human we've ever encountered - Kathy! She is so friendly and smart. She knows everything about every drink behind that bar! We ended up chatting with other guests, some of whom were also staying, some of whom were just there for dinner. We couldn't get over how nice even the guests were, but that speaks to the company this inn keeps. We were maybe going to sit in one of the dining rooms the next night for a more romantic dinner, but didn't want to pass up on Kathy's great service again (though, all of the servers seemed great too) and just the general fun we had at the bar talking to waitstaff and other guests. The food was top notch - we got the brussels sprouts both nights because they were THAT good. We also enjoyed the toasted almond Caesar salad, sweet & spicy calamari, the birch bistro steak (chimichurri sauce is delicious), filet, and the short ribs - all were amazing. Our dinner/alcohol bill was very reasonably priced for the amount and quality that we ate and drank. Breakfast is included in your stay the next day which was delicious as well. There is a really neat tranquility room with comfy lounging sofas and weighted blankets, wine cellar, snow shoes available (with a trail right out back), a few common rooms with tv's, refrigerators, a pool table, board games, and lounging areas. I certainly understand and agree with Friends Lake Inn's ranking of Upstate NY's #1 Getaway. We can't wait to stay here again and have already started planning a couples trip with a few friends. I am terrible with names but wanted to give a special shoutout to the waitress who recently graduated from Uconn (Go Huskies!), the manager whose daughter is going to school for mechanics, the woman who I believe runs the front desk and lives across the street, and the chef who has a 7 month old baby - their hospitality is second to none. The fact that I know these facts about some of the staff shows just how friendly they are. Thank you for a peaceful, enjoyable, and beautiful stay - we will be back!

  Dagmar D'Agostino
2 years ago
The Friends Lake Inn is one of the most wonderful places I ve ever stayed. The staff is so kind and really go above and beyond to ensure your needs are met. The dining was absolutely incredible, to say the very least. The breakfast was phenomenal every day and the dinner meals were 5 star restaurant worthy. The rooms give a cozy cabin feel while the beds and linens are top quality. There are also so many options for activities during your stay, such as snowshoeing and cross country skiing during the winter, plus there is white water rafting and a low ropes course nearby for the summer months. I can t wait to stay here again! Highly recommend.

  Meghan Wahrendorf
2 years ago
Currently sitting here drinking coffee out of my Friends Lake Inn mug, in my cozy Friends Lake Inn robe, wishing I was back there! I have been to A LOT of hotels/motels in my life but this is now at the very top of my favorites list. When we arrived we got a tour of the place complete with the history which I absolutely loved. The setting was beautiful, the food was AMAZING (and I m as picky as they come about what constitutes amazing food), but the best part was the service. Every single person we encountered was beyond friendly! I started thinking perhaps there is something in the water, they were that nice! It was the most warm, inviting place I have ever been to. The staff is TOP NOTCH. And the cherry on top was how clean and well-maintained everything was. You can tell that everyone there takes great care of the place and it s guests. We will definitely be back!

  Monique Chevygirlss
a year ago
I didn't book this room, I travelled for work.First night my coworker and his wife and I arrived later in the night, the place looked closed .. But we were greeted by welcome notes and codes for our rooms, we were the only guests in the place... We were in the bird rooms..smaller and cozy cute rooms. I will admit the mattress wasn't my favorite.. We misunderstood the booking due to our boss doing the booking the rooms. But they were very accommodating and upgraded us for our second night stay in the tree named rooms. Which we first was staying on a Tuesday night and then we stayed over on a Thursday night.On our Thursday night we were actually greeted by everybody that work there full bar and restaurant was open and it did not disappoint.I personally enjoyed the tree rooms bigger bed. The mattress was super comfy we also had a steam shower in the bathrooms.I must say the sheets and comforter that they use on the bed are super soft and some of the most comfy sheets I've ever stayed in at a hotel.I do enjoy that they have a couple public rooms where there's couches pool tables and Outdoors there is a fireplaceLet's talk about the Birch restaurant. Ally is an amazing bartender!!! The menu had soooooo many choices I wanted try. I had one of their specials the soup which was a creamy queso style soup. Also went with the braised rib with real mashed potatoes. And one of their homemade desserts. Opera cake. (Hopefully thats how it was spelled)Also included in your stay is breakfast which there was numerous choices to choose from I chose two eggs any style with their local resourced bacon wheat toast and then also homemade ketchup and jelly!!! Brewed green tea and OJ..My vacation in the Lake George region yearly and can't wait to take my son for a nice dinner here. It says it's an adult only inn. But they assured me I could actually have my son stay the night but since there's only one bed per room we most likely will opt to stay somewhere else but maybe a nice girl's trip staying in one of the Lakes rooms which features Big soaking Jacuzzi tubs!!Also they have a Tranquility room where you can just meditate and relax and a sauna.I feel the only thing that this place is missing is a gym and a hot tub.But they provide snowshoes in the winter time and have a nice hiking trail that you can do all year round and you're very close to friend's lake.Very happy to have stayed at this place.

  Christine Walsh
2 years ago
My husband and I stayed there this weekend and it was great. The staff (Nicole,Betty and all the others) we very welcoming,friendly and accommodating. The Lake George room was fantastic. The dining room was beautiful and the food was good. The owner stopped by our table to make sure everything was ok. We wished they had local live music in the bar area on Friday and/or Saturday night. Looking forward to staying there next year

  J. Reynolds
3 years ago
We had such an amazing time at friends lake inn. We stayed in their cabin as a weekend getaway and it was beautiful. We loved how the decor was modern yet rustic. We loved all the antique touches!! The steam shower was AMAZING. My only complaint about the cabin is the hot water kept running out halfway through filling the soaker tub... that was a big bummer. BUT the cabin was very Clean, very warm from the cute little wood stove and the kitchen was stocked with everything we needed so we could cook our own meals. We ordered dinner from the restaurant one night and it was spectacular food. The chef is very talented!!! on Saturday we got a little tour from the head manager who told us all the history on the building. She was so friendly and inviting. She encouraged us to take a walk down by the water and snowshoe (inn provided them) So glad we did!!! We have been telling all of our friends and family about this hidden gem up there. We definitely will be coming back again!

  Kasia Lussier
3 years ago
Absolutely beautiful getaway! The place is a truly unique blend of luxury and serene comfort. We stayed for two nights in the Raquette Room on the third floor and it exceeded our expectations. The large bay window had a gorgeous lake view, we enjoyed our morning coffee (in handmade mugs!) on our private screened-in balcony overlooking the woods, and very much enjoyed the whirlpool tub and steam shower. The building has a lot of charm and character, and the friendly and welcoming staff made leaving at the end of our stay super hard. We will definitely be back!

  Colleen B.
2 years ago
This was the best vacation ever. Friends Lake Inn is absolutely everything they advertise. Charming, intimate, beautiful, clean, well-attended. The staff are the best ever, especially Jeff and Betty, so pleasant, friendly, and accommodating. They really went above and beyond to make us welcome and comfortable. We feel like we were leaving friends behind after a wonderful visit. Our room was spacious, inviting and cozy, with a screened in porch. There was also a steam shower which my husband enjoyed, and a wonderful slipper tub that I thoroughly enjoyed daily. The breakfast and dinner menus were outstanding as well, varied and delicious. I truly couldn't have wanted more. The setting was beautiful and peaceful, only a short drive to all kinds of interesting places, restaurants, lakes, beaches, and boating activities. Best of all, we had only to walk out the door to get to some awesome & beautiful hiking trails. I can't wait to return.

  Raymond McBride
a year ago
We stopped in the Friends Lake in for a. drink this evening and were so pleasantly surprised by the attention we received from a fantastic bar tender by the name of Betty. She opened the bar for us and gave us a tour of the beautiful Frinds Lake Inn- a gem waiting to be discovered! Betty is the type of bar tender that makes you feel immediately welcome! We will be back often to wine and dine at such a welcoming establishment, as long as we are treated so well by Betty! Friends Inn and Betty; nothing better! The rooms are beautifully appointed and the menu superb.