Bluebird Spa City Motor Lodge

America’s postwar investment in roadside motels continues to pay dividends. After a thorough reimagining at the hands of New England boutique hoteliers Lark Hotels and Californian designers EDG Design, the Bluebird Spa City Motor Lodge has transformed itself into the sort of stylish, modern lodging that every small town needs at least one of — especially a town like Saratoga Springs, whose population swells on summer weekends as thoroughbred racing fans converge on the oldest track in the country.

That’s not to say Saratoga Springs is otherwise empty; it’s a compelling four-season destination, with an art and music culture that’s remarkable for a town of its size. This is a hip audience, not easily impressed. Fortunately Lark is the real deal, and the Bluebird Spa City Motor Lodge is too. The rooms are carefully considered, with a minimalist, slightly industrial accent, and enough color (and greenery) to keep them feeling warm.

In the atrium at the center of the hotel, beneath the retractable roof, is the hotel’s lounge, whose blue-tiled floor is a clever reminder of the pool that stood on this spot when the Downtowner was a very different kind of hotel. And while there’s no restaurant, this location is as central as it gets, with more cafés, restaurants, and bars than we can name within a three-block radius from your door.