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While it seems like big hotel groups are gobbling up every cool little brand they can find, independent-minded travelers can take solace: Cape Cod-based Salt Hotels Expanding on its own terms.

The hotel group, based in Provincetown, Massachusetts, has a North American presence with properties in Miami (Hotel Greystone), Cape Cod (Salt House Inn in Provincetown) and projects in Minneapolis and Mexico. But the company’s latest openings in Connecticut and Nantucket are notable additions to the New England hospitality scene.

Abner In Litchfield, Connecticut, the Litchfield County Courthouse has been converted into a 20-room luxury hotel. The renovation turned the former courtroom into a courtroom, a restaurant that repurposed the judges’ benches and jury boxes as banquette seating and reception desks. We dare you not to be inspired to channel your inner Mariska Hargitay and create a Law & Order-inspired courtroom monologue after dining here.

“We went to Litchfield, and it’s like a Hallmark movie set. It’s so beautiful,” said David Baud, co-founder of Salt Hotels. “It’s a lot of fun restoring these historic buildings.”

The Abner, Verdict, designed by Kevin O’Shea, co-founder of Salt Hotels, also features a seasonal rooftop bar. The tall watering hole is meant to be a nod to the turn-of-the-century formal gardens and views of the surrounding countryside. Guests can check into a range of rooms from cozy snugs (formerly a judge’s chamber and now ideal for solo travelers) to chamber suites (formerly a more spacious judge’s chamber that now offers a spacious bathroom and sitting area on top of standard amenities). such as the front and Palermo body bath facilities and a minibar stocked with locally sourced goodies). Breakfast is included with every stay – a Salt Hotels brand standard.

But the brand doesn’t stop there. The team also opened Brant earlier this year on Nantucket, which has 26 rooms and suites in a three-building complex and can feel like the offspring of some of the island’s glitzy resorts and cozy inns. Guests can enjoy a complimentary breakfast around the pool before relaxing with a cocktail or mocktail and a dog-eared copy of Elin Hilderbrand’s latest novel. Accommodations range from studios to multi-bed suites with kitchens.

“It’s a five-minute walk from the ferry terminal but miles away from the crowds,” Bode said with a smile.

The ongoing expansion gives travelers more opportunities to get to know Salt Hotels, which is not part of any major loyalty network but has a preferred presence on the Hyatt-owned Mr. & Mrs. Smith boutique and luxury hotel booking platform.

While none of Mr. and Mrs. Smith’s participating properties are yet on World of Hyatt, a company spokesperson noted that the team is “now working to bring The Abner, The Brant and Salt House to The World of Hyatt platform” — a potential win for Hyatt fans looking to score points in New England paradise.

Rates at The Abner start at $250 per night, while rates at The Brant start at $400.

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