Salt Hotels adds 2 New England properties to its growing boutique luxury lineup

Just when it seems like the major hotel conglomerates are gobbling up every cooler small brand they can find, independent-minded travelers can take solace: Cape Cod-based Salt Hotels is expanding on its own terms.

The hotel collective, based in Provincetown, Massachusetts, has a North American presence with properties in Miami (Hotel Greystone) and Cape Cod (the Salt House Inn in Provincetown) and projects in the works in Minneapolis and Mexico. But the company's latest openings in Connecticut and on Nantucket are notable additions to the New England hospitality scene.

The Abner in Litchfield, Connecticut, is a transformation of the Litchfield County Courthouse to a 20-room luxury hotel. The renovation entailed turning the former courtroom into the Courtroom, a restaurant that features repurposed judges' benches and jury boxes as banquette seating and reception desks. We dare you not to be inspired to channel your inner Mariska Hargitay and make a "Law & Order"-inspired courtroom monologue after dining here.

"We went to Litchfield, and it is like a Hallmark movie set. It is so beautiful," Salt Hotels co-founder David Bowd said. "Restoring these historic buildings is just so much fun."

The Abner, designed by Salt Hotels co-founder Kevin O'Shea, also features Verdict, a seasonal rooftop bar. The lofty watering hole is meant to be a nod to turn-of-the-century formal gardens and features views of the surrounding countryside. Guests can check into a range of rooms, from the cozy Snug (formerly a judge's chamber and now ideal for solo travelers) to a Chamber Suite (formerly a larger judge's chamber that now offers a spacious bathroom and a seating area on top of standard amenities like Further and Palermo Body bath amenities and a minibar stocked with locally sourced items). Breakfast is included with each stay — a Salt Hotels brand standard.

But the brand isn't stopping there. The team also opened The Brant, which features 26 rooms and suites across a three-building complex on Nantucket and can feel like the offspring of some of the island's glitzy resorts and cozy inns, earlier this year. Guests can enjoy a complimentary breakfast before lounging around the pool with a cocktail or mocktail and a dog-eared copy of the latest Elin Hilderbrand novel. Accommodations range from studios to multibedroom suites with kitchenettes.

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"It's a five-minute walk from the ferry terminal but miles away from the crowds," Bowd said with a smile.

The ongoing expansion gives travelers more opportunities to get to know Salt Hotels, which isn't part of any major loyalty network but does have a limited presence on the Hyatt-owned Mr & Mrs Smith boutique and luxury hotel booking platform.

While none of the Mr & Mrs Smith-participating properties are yet on World of Hyatt, a company spokesperson notes the team is "working to get The Abner, The Brant and Salt House onto The World of Hyatt platform now" — a potential win for Hyatt fans looking to earn points in New England paradise.

Rates at The Abner start at $250 per night, while those at The Brant start at $400 per night.

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