About Menla
Mission & Vision
Surrounded by thousands of acres of Catskills forest preserve, Menla is nestled in a magical mountain valley. Throughout the year, guests enjoy deep serenity, abundant wildlife, and can explore many different levels of hikes.
Area Information:Menla is 1,500 feet above sea level and set on a 325-acre private nature reserve. At 3,720 feet above sea level, the peak of Panther Mountain is one of the tallest in the Catskills. Menla is located in a region of the Catskills renowned for its unspoiled beauty, variety of wildlife, abundance of rushing streams and rivers, and ancient forested mountains.
The Catskills are one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world and used to be connected to the Alps before the continental divide. Aside from its natural splendor, the area offers such activities as hiking, swimming, kayaking, horseback riding, and cross-country skiing. For avid downhill skiers, the noted Belleayre and Hunter Mountain resorts are just half an hour away.
An easy drive from New York City, Menla is located in Phoenicia, NY—voted one of the “Top 10 Coolest Small Towns in America”—and just 20 minutes away is the most famous small town in America, Woodstock, known for its deep-rooted culture of music, art galleries, and great restaurants.
Meals:Menla’s wellness cuisine is centered around serving fresh, delicious and healing foods. We source primarily from local farms with an eye toward seasonal and organic fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes. We also receive a wonderful bounty from our on-site organic garden throughout the year.Our Executive Chef, Charles Goodall, loves to explore the fantastic flavors of various regional cuisines through their use of different ingredients, particularly herbs and spices. He and the kitchen team create combination of traditional and modern dishes that showcase what the Hudson Valley has to offer in a delicious and healing way.Most of our offerings are vegetarian and vegan with an emphasis on excellent taste and texture as well as balanced nutrition and wellness promotion.We work with a number of dietary restrictions and allergies, so let us know your needs in advance, and we’ll work with you to give you a fantastic dining experience during your time with us.
Accommodation:Upon arriving at Menla, you enter into a natural paradise. Our accommodations are extremely comfortable, and the décor is accented with a touch of Tibet. Guests can choose from a variety of different rooms, from our deluxe private suites to shared housing.
Additional Activities:○ Skiing (Belleayre, Hunter, and Windham Mountains)○ Hiking○ Art galleries○ Fine dining○ Antique shopping○ Music○ Theater (Upstate Films, Woodstock Playhouse)
Upcoming Retreats at Menla
The Feminine Flow: Past Life Regression, Sound Healing, Yoga & Meditation & Spiritual Painting
OUR DESTINY LIES IN OUR ORIGINS: A Weekend Intensive for Enhancing Our Shamanic Service
Gratitude Yoga Fall Yoga & Meditation Retreat: Inviting the Qualities of an Awakened Heart
Breath As Medicine: Connecting to the Healer Within - A Holotropic Breathwork Workshop
Softening Into Ourselves: Nourishing Spirit, Deepening Connection
YOGIC LIFESTYLE RETREAT: A Weekend Immersion into Yoga, Meditation, Ayurveda, Nature
Your Guides
Getting Here
Customer Reviews
Impeccable kitchen...beautiful surroundings
The scenery is magnificent, the landscape supreme, the food was AMAZING, cleanliness was top notch.
Everybody at Menla was extremely helpful and nice, with the exception of one person who shall remain nameless.
return to the heart
Nice place, kind staff, pricey, food was not good, not enough
Staff should wait until meetings are finished before moving items or making accommodations. The trail signs were also confusing and unclear; improving them would make a big difference.
This is a special place
The Menla staff was welcoming and helpful.
I was disappointed with the meals. I live in the SF Bay area and am fortunate to have access to very high quality and thoughtful vegetarian food. I found the meals to be Okay but not delicious. I should mention that our group didn't have breakfast. I did appreciate the creative beverage offerings and constant access to fresh fruit - the apples were yummy!