Inn at Pleasant Lake

The Inn at Pleasant Lake sits on the western shore of Pleasant Lake in New London, New Hampshire, a Lake Sunapee region town built around Colby-Sawyer College roughly 90 miles northwest of Boston and 35 miles west of Concord. The property's private beach, wooden dock, and unobstructed water views establish a quietly unhurried atmosphere that defines the experience from arrival onward. Mount Kearsarge, visible from the lake, frames the eastern skyline.

The main inn is a restored 19th-century New England farmhouse that preserves its original wide-plank floors, clapboard exterior, and low ceilings alongside updated guest room amenities. Twelve rooms divide across lake-view, garden-view, and cottage-style configurations. Each is individually decorated in a relaxed New England country style — quality linens, down duvets, and considered lighting replace the assembly-line furnishings typical of similarly priced chain alternatives. Several rooms include wood-burning or gas fireplaces that extend the property's appeal well into autumn.

The inn's farm-to-table restaurant is one of the Lake Sunapee region's better dining destinations — producing dinners sourced from local farms and occasionally the inn's own kitchen garden, served in a dining room with evening lake views. Breakfast, included in the room rate, features made-to-order eggs, fresh-baked items, and locally roasted coffee. The dining room fills on Friday and Saturday evenings with both inn guests and local residents who follow the seasonal menu.

Guests have exclusive access to the private beach, with complimentary rowboats and kayaks available through summer. Pleasant Lake Conservation Land hiking trails start within walking distance of the property. The inn accommodates adults and children aged 12 and older, resulting in a notably quieter atmosphere than family resort alternatives on Lake Sunapee proper. The owners are present on-property daily and bring attentive, personal hospitality that a larger hotel cannot replicate.