The Reluctant Panther Inn & Restaurant www.reluctantpanther.com is one of America’s premier small luxury hotels, providing elegance, luxury, comfort and dining excellence in the quintessentially New England surroundings of historic Manchester Village, Vermont. From award-winning hospitality to impeccable service—from fine dining that earns the praise “Manhattan quality” to rooms that our guests consistently describe as spacious, comfortable, “beautifully decorated and immaculate,”—The Panther is rapidly becoming one of the Northeast’s foremost getaway spots. Each of the twenty suites in the inn has at least one fireplace—many have two www.reluctantpanther.com/panther.html. And each of the suites has a Jacuzzi-style tub in the private bath—sixteen of the twenty are “two-person”—sized for comfort, relaxation, and that very romantic time away.

With posh linens, iPod players, Keurig “One-Cup” coffee-makers, complimentary Fiji Water, Crabtree & Evelyn amenities, plush Barefoot Dreams robes from Cozy Chic, and high-speed wireless internet access across the entire property, The Reluctant Panther provides our guests an opportunity for an unparalleled excursion into luxury. A quick visit to our website (www.reluctantpanther.com/comparison.html) will give even the most discerning traveler a very difficult decision—Which room to choose?

Our expedition in opulence continues in the Panther’s fine dining restaurant with the incomparable cuisine of Executive Chef Justin Dain. A graduate of both the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, and the New England Culinary Institute, chef has returned to his native Vermont after a six-year stint at the prestigious Boston Harbor Hotel’s Meritage Restaurant. From his signature tuna tartare with avocado and ginger essence appetizer to the melt-in-your-mouth oyster mushroom and shallot ravioli that he makes daily on premises, Chef Dain will surprise and delight the most sophisticated palate with his creations—and he extends the culinary treats to the morning with a full sit-down breakfast highlighted by a scrumptious Vermont goat cheese, tomato and spinach frittata. An ideal site for smaller weddings, corporate retreats, and other private affairs, The Reluctant Panther is blessed with beautiful gardens, tranquil ponds and dazzling views of Mount Equinox, as well as venues for dining, receptions, and parties. The informal Panther Pub is a warm, inviting location to host almost any smaller event. Well-suited for private dinners, cocktail parties, business meetings, rehearsal dinners, family reunions, and "after parties," the guest can name the occasion and The Panther will deliver a memorable experience in complete privacy featuring a cozy, sophisticated ambiance and peerless cuisine.

Some recent accolades for The Reluctant Panther include having been named one of the Top 10 Most Romantic Inns for 2008 by American Historic Inns and iLoveInns.com, receiving the Santé Magazine New England Regional Award for Spirits Hospitality for 2007, and having Liz & Jerry Lavalley, the inn’s owners, named as Vermont’s 2007 B&B Innkeepers of the Year by the Vermont Hospitality Council and the Vermont Chamber of Commerce. Recent newspaper, magazine and Internet articles and mentions include The Albany (NY) Times-Union, The New York Daily News, Saratoga Living Magazine, Santé Magazine, US Airways Magazine.