Looking for a quick, romantic winter getaway? In this Swiftwater Hotel review, I’ll share how this new Poconos property surprised us with something unique – private heated plunge pools right in your suite and a stunning indoor/outdoor heated pool where you can swim while snowflakes fall around you.
Yes, you read that correctly.
Imagine having your own personal pool and access to a larger heated pool that lets you glide seamlessly between indoors and out, even in winter. But these remarkable pool experiences are just the beginning of what makes this luxury mountain retreat so special.
The Journey: A Scenic Pocono Mountain Escape
Winter views from The Delaware Water Gap, on the way to The Swiftwater Hotel. | Photo: Better Living
The drive from Delaware to The Swiftwater Hotel set the perfect tone for our getaway. It’s just under two hours of scenic mountain views and charming roadside shops, with zero traffic to spoil the mood. For Philly residents, it’s an equally easy trip, and Manhattan dwellers can reach the property in about two hours as well.
The Swiftwater’s location hits that sweet spot – far enough to feel like an escape, close enough to reach without hassle.
First Impressions: Modern Mountain Luxury
The Swiftwater Hotel’s striking mountain architecture | Photo: Better Living
Driving up, The Swiftwater Hotel’s exterior makes an immediate statement with its dramatic stone and wood chalet-inspired design.
The boutique property, which opened in June 2024, blends rustic mountain architecture with modern elegance. A covered entrance with wooden beams welcomes you, while floor-to-ceiling windows reflect the surrounding landscape.
The Swiftwater Hotel’s grand lobby showcases modern mountain luxury. | Photo: Better Living
Check-in was effortless, and the lobby’s luxuriously swanky design stopped us in our tracks. A built-in stone wall fireplace serves as the centerpiece, with striking artwork and comfortable furnishings. The marble floors contrast beautifully with warm wood accents, while complimentary coffee, water, and flavored water stations add a thoughtful touch available to guests 24/7.
The Plunge Pool Suite: A Private Pool Experience
The private Plunge Pool Suite featuring a heated pool and relaxation area at The Swiftwater | Photo: Better Living
When booking a stay at The Swiftwater Hotel, guests can choose from 100 rooms and suites spread across five floors. While the upper-level rooms at the rear of the hotel offer stunning forest views, we opted for something truly special—a Plunge Pool Suite on the first floor.
The highlight of our suite was the private, glass-enclosed, saltwater heated indoor pool, directly attached to the room. Just to be clear, this isn’t a hot tub or whirlpool. It’s a proper 4-foot-6-inch deep pool where you can actually swim, making it perfect for a refreshing winter dip. And don’t worry, the crystal-clear water is tested daily. Plus, it’s saltwater, so you won’t have to deal with the scent of chlorine in your room.
The pool is beautifully designed with patterned tile floors, slate walls, and a zen waterfall feature that adds both beauty and tranquility. The soothing sound of the waterfall even lulled us into a deep sleep each night.
The heated lounge area seamlessly blends with the pool, maintaining a perfect temperature that makes it comfortable to enjoy in a swimsuit, even when there’s snow on the ground outside. Two large wicker lounge chairs with plush beach towels provide the ideal spot for relaxing after a swim, enjoying a book, or indulging in room service. Speaking of which, there’s even a room service sushi menu from Desaki next door. It’s a must-try, especially when enjoyed poolside.
Our verdict: More hotels need these!
The living area of the Plunge Pool Suite at The Swiftwater | Photo: Better Living
Modern amenities in the suite include lightning-fast WiFi (both wireless and hardwired), a 65-inch TV with an Apple TV display system, and a laptop-sized safe. The bathroom is equally impressive, with wood-look tile shower walls, illuminated circular mirrors, and quartz double floating vanities. Thoughtful premium touches, like verbena-scented L’Occitane toiletries and plush robes, make the experience feel like staying in a luxury spa. After a relaxing rainfall shower, slipping into one of the ultra-soft robes was the perfect way to wind down.
Spa-inspired bathroom with premium amenities | Photo: Better Living
Mornings were made even better with a coffee station featuring locally sourced, signature coffee and complimentary bottled water—perfect for fueling up before a morning swim. The suite itself exudes luxury, with The Swiftwater’s signature bed dressed in high-thread-count Frette linens and a sophisticated neutral and forest green color palette, accented with natural wood touches that complement the mountain setting.
The Concierge Lounge: An Unexpected Highlight
The Concierge Lounge at The Swiftwater | Photo: Better Living
Concierge level rooms and Plunge Pool Suites come with access to the hotel’s 5th-floor Concierge Lounge. And it became one of our favorite spots.
The elevated space features a roaring fireplace, stunning lotus-inspired chandelier, comfortable seating, and a library-like atmosphere with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and table games.
Open 24/7, the lounge offers complimentary treats throughout the day – fresh fruit, local packaged pastries, chips, yogurt, and during cocktail hour, a selection of hors d’oeuvres. You’ll also find bottled water, juice, beer, and coffee. Take them to go, or enjoy them in the lounge.
Local wildlife viewing from the Concierge Lounge | Photo: Better Living
But the real show happens just before sunset. The hotel maintains three feeding stations for local wildlife, and watching dozens of deer descend the mountain for their evening meal became our daily ritual. These peaceful creatures visit throughout the day, but they’re most active at dusk, when they all gather around to enjoy their nightly snack. It’s not to be missed!
The Concierge Lounge is available to guests staying in the Plunge Pool Suites and the Swiftwater Suites (21+).
Pocono Pool Paradise: Swimming in Winter
The indoor pool area offers year-round relaxation | Photo: Better Living
Beyond our room’s private plunge pool, the hotel’s main heated indoor/outdoor pool amazed us.
Missing those summer pool days? Well, during the cold months, you can relax in the heated indoor area before swimming out into the open air.
Year-round swimming at the indoor/outdoor pool with mountain views | Photo: Better Living
The pool features dramatic lighting that changes colors throughout the evening, creating a magical atmosphere enhanced by water features and mountain landscapes. We actually swam while it was snowing! It was a surreal and rejuvenating experience, thanks to the pool’s perfect temperature and heated indoor area that you can enter and exit from.
The poolside cozy outdoor firepit area | Photo: Better Living
A separate firepit area features large, cushioned rocking chairs, perfect for warming up after a swim with a glass of wine while gazing at the stars.
Where to Dine at The Swiftwater Hotel
The boneless braised short rib appetizer at The Olivet | Photo: Better Living
The Swiftwater elevates Pocono Mountain dining with two standout options: The Olivet, just off the hotel lobby, and Desaki, right next door. Both restaurants impressed us with their outstanding cuisine and atmosphere, making every meal an experience to remember.
The Olivet: Refined Mountain Dining
The Olivet’s elegant dining room | Photo: Better Living
The Olivet, the hotel’s signature restaurant, delivers an exceptional dining experience for breakfast and dinner. The space combines woodsy accents with a luxuriously sleek design. In addition to its dining room, there’s also a heated outdoor patio where you can dine poolside near the firepit.
Even the patio floors are heated for total comfort.
Dinner at The Olivet
The Beetroot Burrata appetizer at The Olivet | Photo: Better Living
Our dinner kicked off with a bit of entertainment—watching the skilled mixologist prepare their signature Dante’s Inferno Margarita. This cocktail, with its black salt rim and fresh jalapeño, struck a great balance of spicy, sour, and sweet flavors. The bar also offers unique options like “Manhattans around the World” and the “Martini Olive Adventure” for those looking to try something different. If you don’t drink alcohol, there’s a creative mocktail menu as well.
For appetizers we began with the Beetroot Burrata, a stunning composition of Lollo Rosa lettuce, arugula, cherry tomatoes, and shaved radish in apple cider vinaigrette. The plating itself was artwork, with the creamy burrata providing a perfect contrast to the earthy roasted beets.
The Braised Short Rib, served bone-out, was remarkably tender and plated over celery root puree with roasted celery root, kale, and pearl onions in a grape brandy demi-glace. Each component complemented the others perfectly, creating a dish that was both refined and comforting.
Seared diver scallops with seasonal accompaniments | Photo: Better Living
The Seared Diver Scallops arrived perfectly caramelized, arranged artfully with bright green asparagus spears over a vibrant beet puree. Dots of blood orange gel added both visual appeal and bright citrus notes that balanced the dish beautifully.
For pasta lovers, the Old World Italian Sunday Gravy showcases house made hand-cut pappardelle in a rich tomato meat sauce with meatballs, Italian sausage, and braciola. The portion was generous enough to share, though you might not want to.
Tableside Bananas Foster preparation at The Olivet | Photo: Better Living
The service throughout the evening was outstanding, thanks to Alex and Brookel, who went above and beyond to make our experience memorable. Dessert brought another round of tableside flair with a classic Bananas Foster, expertly prepared and flambéed by our server Brookel on a gleaming copper cart. It was both a show and a treat.
To cap off the meal, we also enjoyed the Apple Bread Pudding—served warm with toffee ice cream and a drizzle of salted caramel sauce. It was the perfect sweet ending to an unforgettable dining experience.
Breakfast at The Olivet
The Olivet’s signature Brûléed French Toast | Photo: Better Living
Breakfast at The Olivet the next morning maintained the high standards set the day before, thanks to Chef Mike’s impeccable touch.
The Brûléed French Toast arrived looking like a work of art, topped with caramelized strawberry coulis, lemon ginger crème anglaise, and whipped mascarpone, garnished with fresh berries. Yes, it’s essentially dessert for breakfast, but it’s worth every calorie.
Shrimp and Grits at The Olivet | Photo: Better Living
The Shrimp and Grits – our brunch favorite, featured sautéed collard greens, pickled peppers, and Parmigiano Reggiano stirred into creamy grits. Even the Classic Breakfast impressed with notably high-quality Applewood smoked bacon and perfectly prepared eggs.
The property even serves their own signature blend of coffee from local roasters, available for purchase in the lobby to take home.
Desaki: Japanese Cuisine and Entertainment
Chef Vino’s spectacular hibachi performance at Desaki | Photo: Better Living
Just a 30-second walk from the hotel, Desaki offers an entirely different but equally impressive dining experience. And it’s lots of fun too.
The restaurant’s name means “destination” in Japanese, and it lives up to that meaning. The space is massive, featuring multiple hibachi stations, but we followed the locals’ tip to visit for weekday lunch when the atmosphere is more intimate.
We started with their famous Fireball Shrimp – perfectly crispy tempura-battered shrimp tossed in a spicy cream sauce that delivers just enough heat without overwhelming.
The signature Desaki roll at Desaki | Photo: Better Living
The sushi here deserves special mention. The Desaki specialty roll combines shrimp tempura, yellowtail, and spicy tuna with tobiko, eel sauce, and spicy mayo, while the Katana roll wraps spicy tuna and kani with avocado in a tempura coating, topped with seaweed salad and their house-made Ninja sauce. Both rolls arrived beautifully presented in wooden sushi boats, and the portions were so generous that we ended up taking our entire hibachi order home.
Speaking of hibachi, our chef Vino turned lunch into entertainment. Each hibachi meal comes complete with edamame, fried rice, fresh vegetables, and lo mein noodles, all seasoned with their signature spice blend and served with both garlic Yum-Yum sauce and ginger sauce. And the portions are huge.
Hibachi dinner featuring jumbo shrimp and chicken teriyaki | Photo: Better Living
Our server, Brianna, was fantastic—attentive, friendly, and always ready with a recommendation. Together with Chef Vino’s lively performance, she made the meal even more enjoyable.
The restaurant goes beyond just dining – on family fun nights it features karaoke, a dance floor, full bar, and even complimentary PlayStation and Xbox gaming stations.
Beyond the Pools: Activities and Amenities
While The Swiftwater’s pool might tempt you to never leave the property, the hotel offers plenty more.
The state-of-the-art fitness center features a Peloton bike, an interactive TV treadmill, a Mirror trainer, and free weights.
For wellness, they’ve partnered locally with both the Magnolia Wellness Center and Pure Day Spa, offering everything from traditional Swedish massages to cutting-edge treatments. They can even arrange for in-suite massage services. For a unique high vibe experience and popular local destination, book a relaxing halotherapy session at the Crystal Garden’s salt cave less than 3 miles from the hotel They also offer other holistic therapies like reiki and sound bath therapy. Afterward, browse their shop for crystals and jewelry.
Winter Activities
The Poconos truly shine in winter, and The Swiftwater puts you close to all the action. Less than five miles from the hotel, Camelback Mountain offers premium skiing, snowboarding and tubing (try their galactic tubing at night), while several local lakes transform into natural ice skating rinks. Promised Land State Park’s snowy trails provide a peaceful setting for winter hikes or snowshoeing.
Outdoor Adventures
Minutes from The Swiftwater, Mountain Creek Riding Stables offers one of the most romantic ways to explore the Poconos. Their guided trail rides take you through serene mountain woods, perfect for both beginners and experienced riders.
Big Pocono State Park, moments from the hotel, provides breathtaking panoramic views that change with each season. Hiking trails range from easy walks to challenging climbs, all rewarding you with spectacular photo opportunities. In winter, the park transforms for skiing, while summer brings opportunities for rafting and family picnics. The park area also features unique local eateries and bars, making it easy to spend a full day exploring.
There are so many amazing things to experience near the Swiftwater Hotel.
The Swiftwater Concierge
The main lobby and concierge desk at The Swiftwater | Photo: Better Living
Don’t miss the opportunity to chat with the friendly hotel concierge in the main lobby. No matter what you want to do while visiting, The Swiftwater’s concierge can help you plan the perfect local adventure so you can get the most out of your stay. And there’s so many things to do in the Poconos, it’s incredible.
Whether you want to go skiing, horseback riding, hike one of the stunning Pocono state parks or tour and taste your way through the Pocono Mountains wineries and breweries, they’ll handle all the arrangements.
The concierge here will give you recommendations for all the local gems and best eats. We even got a tip on the best tacos in the area (it’s Tacos Los Morros, by the way).
If you need a little therapy of the retail kind, there are plenty of shopping near The Swiftwater to explore locally. The Pocono Premium Outlets with over 100 stores, are only a 6 minute drive (3.1 miles) from the hotel. Throughout the area there are charming boutiques, specialty shops throughout the region offering everything from craft candles and soaps to antiques and more. Whatever you want to do, the Concierge at The Swiftwater can help you plan the perfect shopping day.
Romance in the Mountains
The outdoor pool transforms at night with colorful lighting | Photo: Better Living
For couples planning a Valentine’s Day escape or romantic getaway, The Swiftwater offers thoughtfully curated packages with elegant room décor, fresh roses, champagne, and indulgent chocolate-covered strawberries. As night falls, the outdoor firepit area transforms into a cozy retreat, complete with rocking chairs and soft, colorful lighting.
The hotel specializes in creating unforgettable moments—whether you’re taking a private swim, watching deer at sunset from the Concierge Lounge, or sipping cocktails by a glowing fireplace. However you choose to spend your time, The Swiftwater provides the perfect setting for romance.
The Final Word
The Swiftwater Hotel has accomplished something remarkable – they’ve brought true luxury to the Poconos while maintaining the warm, inviting atmosphere that makes this region special. The combination of unique amenities (those plunge pools!), excellent dining options, and thoughtful service creates an experience that sets a new standard for mountain getaways.
What impressed us most was how the property works equally well as a relaxing retreat or an adventure base. You can spend your entire stay enjoying the pools, spa services, and restaurants, or use it as a luxurious home base for exploring all the Poconos has to offer. There’s no pressure either way – the staff excels at helping you create exactly the experience you want.
Ready to Plan Your Own Swiftwater Getaway?
The Swiftwater Hotel’s illuminated evening entrance | Photo: Better Living
➡ Visit TheSwiftwater.com to book your stay.
My advice?
Consider splurging on one of the Plunge Pool Suites for a truly unique experience, and don’t skip dining at both The Olivet and Desaki. Pack your swimsuit regardless of the season – you won’t want to miss the heated pool experiences, especially during snowfall.
The Swiftwater Hotel delivers a mountain getaway that manages to feel both luxurious and completely relaxed, a combination that’s surprisingly rare and absolutely worth experiencing.
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