Friends Lake Inn

My husband and I stayed one night here and it was magical. The food downstairs is unique, the game room is so cool, and the wine cellar you can walk through feels like being in a castle. Our room was so comfy, the bed was so soft and the big tub was great for soaking, and the shower was just *chef’s kiss*. 10/10, if we’re ever in the area again I expect we will return.

This place was beautiful! But I have to talk about the cook & his team. Jeane made such good food we still talk about it. Phenomenal food! Wow.

My wife and I were thoroughly impressed with our recent stay. The service was truly exceptional - Betty, Angie and Kelly went above and beyond to ensure our comfort and satisfaction. Even with a wedding taking place, they managed everything seamlessly. The room itself was lovely, and the fireplace was wonderful. We can't wait to come back!

My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our stay! The place is beautiful! We stayed the first weekend in February, which was quiet. This appealed to us. We purchased a package to include breakfast & dinner. We loved the fireplace and the snowy view on our patio! Mary was our room attendant and she was so hospitable. Our chef was Scott and he was amazing, honestly! Our server, Tracey, was very accommodating and friendly! It was the get away that we needed! Although it is a quiet town, you can go snowmobiling nearby, cross-country skiing on Friends Lake or drive about an hour to either White Face Mountain or Lake George for outlet shopping. This is a place for quiet and relaxation!

We stayed for our first anniversary and it was simply wonderful. The staff were so kind and accommodating. The rooms were very comfortable and relaxing. Every meal we had was absolutely delicious. I would definitely recommend for a relaxing and romantic getaway. Everything was superb!

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!!!

What an amazing experience we had. From the time you make your reservation until the time you leave everyone was friendly and attentive. The staff makes you feel like you're in their home and they are proud to share it with you. The food was an enjoyable experience their menu is a fine dining explosion of food for everyone's pallet. We loved everything we ate from breakfast to dessert. The room was comfortable and cozy with a fireplace and enough wood to keep it going the whole time we were there. We cannot wait to go back in the fall.

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

Driving in from Watkins Glen, through the Adirondacks during the first week of October, foliage was at its peak. The scenery was gorgeous. On arriving at Friends Lake Inn we were greeted warmly by the friendly staff. Throughout our stay they were most helpful. The room was immaculately clean. There is and award winning restaurant on site, that uses the farm to table approach. Most of their ingredients are locally sourced. The location is such, that there is minimal traffic, so the extreme quiet lends itself to a blissful night's sleep. The bed and pillows were very comfortable, and the linens, of top quality. I had the opportunity to speak at length with the owner. His approach is to address guest feedback personally. He is proactive, with continued upgrades to the inn, in order to ameliorate the guest experience. If you are tired of the humdrum chain hotels and motels, then look no further. Friends Lake Inn should be your destination of choice for a superlative experience.

This was the best hotel experience I have ever had. It is hard to capture the fine details that make up their high-class service. Me and my wife stayed in the Dove room. Very personable service overall. The staff were friendly; the housekeeping was tidy and unintrusive; room amenities include a bathrobe, Keurig coffee, and TV with cable; the breakfast dining area was classy and enjoyable, and a breakfast timeframe of 8-11 AM is so generous for we who like to sleep in. Far enough away from society to feel like a retreat but close enough for a 30 minute drive to Glens Falls or Schroon Lake. Highly recommend this to anyone interested. I will be coming back!

What a truly wonderful, beautiful, and exquisite place to have a small wedding reception. From all of the smallest details to the most incredible food, our evening was absolutely perfect. As a local to the area, I could not recommend the Friends Lake Inn enough for the ideal, everything-you-need, elopement location. The owner even came to me (the bride) to ask how everything was, and it was truly wonderful.

We had a great stay! The cedar room was very comfortable. The dinner and dessert was excellent, particularly the Delmonico steak! Kudos to the chef!

Haven’t been to the friends Lake Inn for dinner in a few years. They have a new chef who is outstanding. We had rack of lamb, Boursin stuffed chicken and salmon. Appetizer of crabcake and honey pear salad as well as tuna. All were done to perfection. Well worth the 35 minute drive from Hague. Service by Kelly was also great. We will be back!

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

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!

We had our elopement here and it was perfect. They took care of everything so it was stress free from start to finish. Service was outstanding and they were very attentive to our needs. The woman working by herself made it feel like 10 people were helping us when it was just her! The photographer they picked out was very experienced and took a lot of time with us. The person who made our cake made the best cake I've ever had. All the staff we met was wonderful and we had great conversations with them. Our room was the Great Room and it was everything you think of for an adirondack getaway. I'd recommend this to anyone, plus the price was astounding for what we got!

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. ❤❤❤

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.

My husband and I did an elopement style wedding here and it was absolutely perfect! The owner was extremely nice and made great conversation. Dawn was amazing for making sure everything was prepared and good to go on wedding day. We loved our upgrade to the Great Lakes room! 10/10 plan on doing this for a nice weekend getaway. If you are thinking of eloping please do this venue. It’s an Absolute fairytale for pictures. Also, make sure you try the cheesecake and bison steak 😋

Could not have asked for a better time at the Friends Lake Inn. Everything was clean and tidy, staff (especially Betty at the front) were exceptional, food was amazing, and what great views! The Friends Lake Inn brought a very special wedding up to the next level. Thank you!!

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!

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!

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.

My wife and I recently stayed here over our anniversary weekend. The food and drinks are definitely several notches above what you'd expect for on-site hotel offerings. The rooms are spacious and comfortable. The amenities are great (I'd never heard of a steam shower before, but I want one. I also left with a robe). The location is nicely off the beaten path. Easy to get to local attractions, but far enough away that it's a nice refuge. What stuck out most for me was the pride the ownership and staff seemed to take in providing services that go well above and beyond what's expected. Betty at the front desk gave us daily recommendations for local activities, restaurants, directions, and local history that made the whole trip come together. Phinneas mixed innovative and carefully constructed drinks at the bar, which we were able to take up to our room to enjoy on the balcony. The owner, Alim, stopped by several times just to chat with guests, get suggests, and give his own recommendations. Highly recommend.

My husband and I stayed here for our first anniversary and I had to write a review, which I never do. But, this was absolutely necessary. From the moment of arrival, the room, the view, the cozy home feeling, and the service. Impeccable. The front desk manager, ugh I can’t I remember her name🤦🏻‍♀️ The room location was right near the outdoor wedding venue and as I sat outside enjoying everything, I could help but hearing her explain in detail how the day was planned what they do and what to expect was pretty impressive. I couldn’t help but pay attention. If she is not the manager, she should be….or a raise of some sort. She knew her stuff. She was pleasant, knowledgeable and such a friendly welcoming woman. She very much accommodated us during our stay. Highly recommend and we will now call this our annual anniversary gift to us. Can’t will till next year!!!!!

We had a great family reunion weekend. Betty got us set up for a special family dinner, accommodating a special request that set us up for a great visit. Our server was awesome. It was a very pleasant and relaxing weekend. A walk across to the lake with morning coffee was a great start to the day. We look forward to another visit!

Charming inn with beautiful grounds to hike and explore. The room was cozy and the bed was very comfortable. I would definitely go back again!

Not so friendly at first at Friends Lake Inn : Good location and booked for access to the restaurant, bar and lounge. On arrival informed by a rather sour receptionist that bar and restaurant were not available because of a wedding party. Found somewhere in-town to eat on a Saturday evening. Very lucky to get a table at the Bull House. Excellent food and service. Wi-Fi/Internet connection flaky. Much warmer reception in the morning at breakfast. Ok overall.

Our room was really nice. A large wedding was going on when we stayed over. We felt like intruders. We would’ve stayed somewhere else had we known. It was loud and crowded. It wasn’t the peaceful stay we expected. WiFi was in and out constantly. Hard to text to check-in at home.

We got married at FLI 10 years ago and recently came back to celebrate our anniversary. It was a 5 star experience back then and a beautiful elopement experience. Perhaps it was because it was our wedding, but so many things that made it such a special place back then are no longer there. Gone are the turndown service with chocolates, gone are the breakfasts delivered to your room (we were also told at the front desk we'd be able to get made to order breakfast on Saturday and on Saturday we were told, "we're not doing that"), gone are the nice toiletries and room amenities (I mean there wasn't even tissues in the room). There are no vending machines, no ice machine, no fridge in the room - if you're thirsty you have to go down to the bar but when you just want some water you don't want to get dressed to go downstairs to ask the bartender for a glass of water...so tap it is. Even the backyard pond space was disappointing! Overgrown and unkempt. This space used to have several beautiful Adirondack chairs to sit in front of the pond, I didn't see a SINGLE Adirondack chair in the entire establishment - but I did see a bunch of plastic wedding chairs in a line outside, so that's nice I guess. Our room had ceiling panels popping off, discolored tile grout and a cracked sink. The furniture and bed in the room were nice (porch furniture was pitiful) but the room itself needed some TLC. Front desk staff greeted us with a "there's 2 robes and 2 mugs in your room and there better be 2 robes and 2 mugs in your room when you check out, take a paper to show you to your room and here's some incorrect breakfast info."..great, thanks. We ate dinner at the restaurant, our steaks were delicious, the canned green beans with a $40 steak however, were not. The wings were also fantastic. For a boutique hotel that sells itself as a romantic getaway space, I expected more. I know things have changed over 10 years, but when my budget Maine getaway hotel gives better amenities like bottles of water and individual toiletries at half the price, I CERTAINLY expect that from a place like this. On the plus side if you want to be in a remote feeling location but be near some great Adirondack towns, it IS a great spot for that.

I held my wedding here in April 2022. Unfortunately, my wedding didn't go as well as I hoped partially because 2 days prior to my big event I got an email informing me that the wedding coordinator couldn't make it to my wedding because she and some of the staff were sick (The wedding coordinator is included in the wedding package offered by the Inn just to clarify). I was really worried about my big day after this news, but she assured me I was in good hands. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case at all. The day prior to my wedding, once my family and I arrived, there was a lot of confusion about what rooms my family would be staying in even though they had been reserved for quite a bit of time prior to the wedding. The day of the wedding the staff in charge of now coordinating my wedding were very disorganized and unaware of all of that was to be accomplished on my special day because of a lack of communication with the wedding coordinator and because guidance was absent. They were very short staffed. My center pieces and other floral arrangements never made it to the guest tables, enterance tables, or the wedding couple table. Two dozen rose petals we had prepared were supposed to be sprinkled over the reception tables--also didn't happen, and they never left the fridge along with the special center pieces and other floral arrangements. The flowers were one of the most crucial aspects of my wedding, and I emphasized this ahead of time to the coordinator. A refund for the flowers was not offered, the Inn instead simply delivered them to my honeymoon room the next day with an apology. There were many other mistakes made too, such as misplaced signage and our picture collage was hidden in a dark corner of the reception room where noone noticed it. The photographer included with the wedding package rushed us through taking our pictures right after we completed our vows and knowingly made us miss the entire cocktail hour with our family and friends and some of our reception. He was in some sort of a rush for whatever reason. Unfortunately, the young lady that was placed in charge (at the last minute to replace the actual coordinator) of coordinating the wedding on the wedding day was no where to be found until about a half hour prior to the start of our special day, so my husband had to run around like a chicken with his head cut off trying to tell people where to go and what to do until the bride was ready. That was not my husband's responsibility. I did inform Friends Lake Inn about why I was upset the next day and after, and I spoke with the owner. He offered me a free night stay at Friends Lake Inn and then proceeded to ask me, "Will that make me happy?" I sincerely hope this doesn't happen to another couple. The owner asked me to leave a good review after he offered me a free night stay at the Inn, and I believe a truthful one is indeed just that. If you are having a small-moderate sized wedding, I strongly advise that you consider looking else where for a dependable venue. The Friends Lake Inn proved that if they are thrown an unexpected curveball, they are not able to pull through. I hope this review helps those special couples out there who are in the process of deciding on their dream place to share their vows.

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!

It’s just not what it used to be. Had a night away for our twentieth anniversary. Had stayed here years ago with fond memories. Disappointed restaurant and bar not open. Had good meal in town. Outside sauna shut down. Balcony furniture facing road and sliver of lake metal and uncomfortable. Room was immaculately clean but could not get steam shower to operate and kuerig non functional. No hot food for their “breakfast”. Sadly disappointing stay with an over $400 price tag.

I usually don't write reviews but this is a special situation. Part of the reason I came here is because they supposedly gave a make to order breakfast. They show the breakfast menu on the website and it looks really good. They said that breakfast is free but there is a mandatory 20 percent tip added to your bill. All 3 days I was there they had "continental" breakfast, which was basically bread, cereal packets, granola bars, orange juice packets and apples. The first day there was no where left to sit so they told me to sit "wherever I want" so I had to sit in a room where the lights were off and the tables were not set up. The real disturbing thing was one man gave a shout because his bread was moldy. Also the orange juice packets were a month expired. I don't have a photo of the bread but took a photo of the orange juice. To charge a 20 percent tip on that is outrageous. Also they never pick up a phone been trying now for days, calls and emails do not get any response. Not even the front desk answers. The walls are also super thin.

My boyfriend and I spent a night at Friends Lake Inn and were extremely dissatisfied with our stay. Upon arrival, we were assigned a different room than we had booked which we were told was “an upgrade”. We lost the lake view and our gas fireplace and were given a room with a “real wood burning fireplace” without appropriate supplies to be able to have a fire. We had to gather supplies on our own to be able to enjoy a night by the fire which was suboptimal given the 20 flies flying around our room. Not to mention, our porch had a direct view of the garbage and dirty linen bags. Every single creak was heard and the kitchen door was located directly under my headboard. This was not relaxing to say the least. We were looking forward to a nice relaxing getaway and were extremely disappointed with our stay. This was overpriced for the value and I would not recommend staying here.

Unfortunately our experience was not a positive one. We were looking for a weekend escape and was not made aware prior to booking that there would be back-to-back weddings going on at this venue. We were told last minute we would not be able to have use of the dining room and have to eat off premises. What we saw online was not what we walked into. Our room stunk of burnt firewood . The smell was overwhelming. Upon arrival our room was still not available. With the wedding going on people were hanging outside the back porch which was unnerving. Was very taken back by the owner while expressing our concerns. Would not recommend a stay.

We just had the worst dinner and experience. We waited almost 2 hours for completely inedible food. The kitchen staff were cursing and screaming on the other side of the wall from our table. At least one waitress quit or was fired in the middle of it all. Our waitress, while starting out well, never came by our table by the end. Two of my kids got the fried chicken sandwich which was over fried and dry. We got the chicken pot pie that had a soggy, doughy puff pastry on top and an odd, off putting taste. My husband got duck that was carbonized on the outside and dry as a bone. We asked for bread twice, and never received it. I would not recommend eating at this establishment.

DO NOT have your weeding at Friends Lake Inn. This review does not even deserve a star. It’s atrocious! Even though it is some what “All inclusive” it’s not worth going there. How do I start out: THEY DID NOT PROVIDE APPETIZERS!!! During cocktail hour we were supposed to get specific appetizers passed around and we had no food at all!! It was so embarrassing because the wedding guests were expecting food. Good thing I paid for open bar, which by the way was an extremely high price. The amount of turnover of staff you deal with during the process is unbelievable. We had three different wedding advisors and they were absolutely horrible. Our contract we signed with FLI was breached. one by not providing the food that was listed on the contract. We also paid for a guest to have a dairy free meal and he was not provided any food. Flowers were supposed to be included including centerpieces for each table. Our main table the bride and groom sit at they forgot to make a centerpiece for our table. So they used my bouquet and placed it in a clear vase to make up for it! We were told a price for hair and makeup for the bridesmaids and then after they did their services they told them it was a higher price! The cake was not made how I wanted. It looked like a kid made it. For the price they charge it still came out to be so much more than what they state on their website, so why not pay that price at a decent place that does not screw you over. Oh and btw we tried filing a law suit for breach of contract, they never showed up to court. We found out they have so many law suits already filed with them. They owe millions of dollars in back taxes. How are they not shut down!!

They seemed unsure they could fit us in when we called for a dinner reservation but upon arrival we were led into a nearly completely empty dining room. The beer list was just sad, ring toss ready onion rings, a chicken cutlet that could double as a hammer, venison sliders that were little pucks and oily fried mushrooms that set my body into an immediate itch. In short, out of six diners, no one was satisfied by the quality of their selections. Mid level fine dining prices with Sysco bag escapee entrees, prepared by a person who hates eating.

We chose this place because it was located close to our rafting site. It was advertised that breakfast was included. We planned to have breakfast at 8 a.m., which we confirmed and reconfirmed the day before, and planned our day accordingly. Unfortunately, when we arrived at the lobby that morning, we were told that breakfast was delayed by 20 minutes. No specific explanation was given, and the staff seemed quite laissez-faire about it. As a result, we had to scramble and find a nearby coffee shop to grab something before heading out for our full-day rafting trip. We understand that things happen, but the hotel should have done a better job making up for the inconvenience.