Inside A Storybook English Manor: Escape To Deer Path Inn

The Deer Path Inn feels like a fairytale manor set in the bucolic English countryside. Located on the North Shore of Chicago in the charming town of Lake Forest, Illinois, just blocks from Market Square, the first planned shopping center. Its iconic Tudor-Revival façade with half-timbered gables, ivy-draped walls, and leaded windows glows romantically at dusk, surrounded by a lush rose garden and boxwood hedges. 

Modeled after a fifteenth-century manor house in Chiddingstone, Kent, the property was the passion project of architect William C. Jones, who opened its doors in 1929. From its earliest days, the inn set the tone for Chicago’s North Shore society. It was where families celebrated weddings and debutante teas, where travelers found a dose of English civility in the Midwest, and where luminaries passing through Chicago chose to lodge in uninterrupted privacy. When fire swept through the upper floors in 1938, it was restored with painstaking care, preserving the building’s bones and its reputation as the cultural heart of Lake Forest.

A meticulous 2016 renovation by designer Frank Ponterio, whose firm is based in both Chicago and Naples, ensured the 57-room inn remained both historically authentic and globally relevant. Local artisans burnished oak paneling to a soft sheen, reconstructed stone fireplaces block by block, and revived wrought-iron fittings to their original patina. At the same time, modern comforts were introduced, including heated marble bathrooms, Frette-dressed four-poster beds, spa-level amenities, and a sommelier-curated cellar featuring vintages from both Old and New World producers.

Inside, you’ll feel like you’re walking into a grand country estate with a lobby anchored by carved oak paneling, antique chandeliers, and fresh floral arrangements from landscape designer Craig Bergmann. The inn excels at creating an atmosphere where time slows down. Beyond the lobby, the Hearth Room, clad with comfy leather club chairs and Chesterfield sofas, beckons guests to sink in with a glass of Champagne or unwind with a book from the curated library.

Afternoon Tea at the Deer Path is one of the inn’s most beloved traditions. In the summer, tea is served in the rose-draped courtyard, and during the winter, guests retreat to the firelit lounge. Silver teapots gleam on white-linen tables while tiered trays present an edited selection of finger sandwiches paired with refreshing, seasonal teas such as Watermelon Lychee and Summer Peach. 

The English Room serves as the culinary centerpiece of the Deer Path, offering European fine dining flanked with velvet banquettes, oil paintings, and flickering candlelight. Savor the Dover Sole with marble potatoes, almond crust, and Champagne beurre blanc or the dry-aged duck breast with persimmon, confit celery root, wilted kale, and radicchio finished with a winter-spiced rum duck jus. For an exclusive, private dinner, gather in the vaulted wine cellar with Gothic arches and candlelight-framed shelves lined with Bordeaux, Burgundy, and California cult vintages. Here, the inn’s sommelier will guide you through an exquisite wine pairing meal to remember. 

Across the inn, the White Hart Pub transports you to a Cotswold-like tavern with timbered beams, hunting prints, and a roaring fire. Its menu leans hearty with a signature fish and chips and the crave-worthy White Hart Burger piled with caramelized onions and sharp cheddar. Yet this classic pub setting also houses one of the inn’s most delightful surprises: a sushi bar where chefs craft omakase platters of uni, toro, and salmon belly with the precision of a Tokyo counter. 

The bar brings the same creativity as the kitchen. The Deer Path Gin and Tonic is crisp and refreshing, with Silent Pool gin over carved ice, citrus, and mint. An Espresso Martini gets a rich twist with bourbon and fresh espresso. For a decadent finish, the Boozy Espresso Martini Milkshake doubles as dessert.

Seeking a themed visit? Staying at the Deer Path often extends beyond the inn itself. Packages transform a weekend into an itinerary of experiences. Petals at the Path celebrates the region’s horticultural richness, sending guests to Elawa Farm for floral workshops before returning for botanical tea inspired by seasonal blooms. Fit for Royalty weaves wellness into luxury, greeting guests with custom pajamas, leading them into a silent omakase dinner paired with teas, and filling the day with meditation journals, curated cardio walks by the lake, and herbal elixirs by the fire.

For accommodations, the Buckingham Suite is the Deer Path’s crown jewel. This private manor within a manor comes complete with a marble fireplace warming the living room, a four-poster king bed dressed in crisp Frette linens, and an infinity soaking tub that fills from the ceiling like a waterfall. Monogrammed robes, Molton Brown amenities, curated minibars, and discreet butler service complete the mise en place.

255 E Illinois Rd, Lake Forest, IL 60045