The Chateau Grande Hotel

It’s a simple fact that the Garden State could do with a few more French-style country estates. East Brunswick, a half-hour from Princeton and a little over an hour from lower Manhattan, is home to the Château Grande Hotel, which is exactly that: a spectacular re-creation of Belle Époque luxury, set on fifteen acres of parkland that’s lush enough to remind you that New Jersey’s nickname was never meant to be ironic.

You might not be surprised to learn that, as photogenic as it is, the Château does brisk business as a wedding venue; fortunately, you don’t have to be rolling 200 deep to book a room for the night. Unlike some historic castle hotels, there’s nothing smaller than a 300-square-foot king room here. The suites, as befits a wedding venue, are vast, and nothing short of extravagant, featuring full kitchens, dining rooms, and, in two of them, spacious verandas.

The restaurant, Orchard Park, is overseen by the James Beard award–winning chef David Burke, whose crowd-pleasing menu is made for celebrations. The wine cellar contains some 1,500 bottles, and there’s also C’est La Vie, the hotel’s cocktail bar, as well as Le Petit Café, the hotel’s espresso bar and bakery.

Please note: Chateau Grande’s pool is closed for construction.