Benbow Historic Inn

Spent a night here on our way up north. We have driven past Benbow many times, and it was nice to finally stop and check it out. The hotel itself is large and lovely, very grand and clearly historic. We arrived a little early for check in but the hostess upgraded us to a better room which was ready, a pleasant surprise! The room was quite nice, comfortable bed and a complimentary brandy was included! They have coffee in the morning and free tea and scones in the afternoon. The grounds and common areas are really what make this place, the back area facing the river and Benbow bridge is beautiful, full of shade from large old trees and lawn chairs to laze on. There’s also a few cornhole sets to try your skill at, but frankly it feels like you should be playing croquet on this lawn. Some rooms include a terrace overlooking this gorgeous area. The second story where the bar and restaurant are somehow has a very old oak tree growing in the middle which is an architectural sleight of hand I would like to understand. The food at the restaurant is good but not cheap. The river access (mid July) is fine, but the water is somewhat low, since there is no longer a “Lake Benbow” since they stopped damming the Eel River some years back. This area can be very hot in the summer. We found a very nice river spot down the road at the public campground and I’m sure there are plenty of other secret spots. Anyway great place to stop and relax, this would be an excellent place for a wedding or an event as well. Thanks for having us!

My girlfriend and I had an amazing stay at the venue. Our experience was very pleasant and gave us 5 roll away beds for my family, one of my kids wan on the patio and loved being close to the mosquitos. Tom hand delivered a salami to our room which my girlfriend enjoyed very much.salami. All of this would not have happened without the amazing experience of our front desk manager Tom. Let me tell you about Tom. Tom has an amazing customer service and will go above and beyond for you and your family and friends. Tom enjoys long walks on the beach and along the river. Thank again Tom.

What a wonderful experience! The food was incredible! Jaun made our visit extra special!! The property is amazing. There was an issue with wasps outside and so we were seated quickly inside at a gorgeous round table. Fresh flowers everywhere. Start to finish it was perfect!

This is a little slice of luxury amidst beautiful northern California. The hotel is so beautiful and the river access is really lovely. We had a great time with our kids, we loved the corn hole, bunk beds in our room and oir King bed was literally the comfiest. My parents visited Benbow Inn in the 90's and sent us here and its still completely lovely. We especially appreciate the supreme hospitality the front desk showed in mailing our daughter's special pillow home after she left it in their library. 🩷 So grateful

The Benbow Inn is very unique. Firstly, it's one of the few places we found in the area that offered a more elevated experience than a motel. It's right off the 101 and 20 minutes from Humboldt State Park. The rooms were shabby and a little old, but clean. There was no TV (which was fine by us but worth noting). However, the bed was comfortable. The staff were incredibly polite, friendly, and professional. The main building had a unique look and feel, kind of old English Manor-esque. Food at the restaurant was expensive but overall of a high standard with a good mix of options--and again, the waitstaff were of the caliber of a 5-star place. ||The place has a ton of character and it was fun to spend a couple of nights there.

Very nice hotel, location is very convenient because there’s no other locations nearby so definitely a lifesaver. Service was nice, from front desk to restaurant! Pretty solid food options but a little pricey. Hotel had great views, rooms were clean and bed was comfortable and cozy! PS. They said there’s ghost but no paranormal activity during my visit lol!

Rooms have an old smell to it. Some rooms do not have TVs, fridges, or microwaves. They have definitely kept the original 1926 vibe going in most of the rooms. The food there in the past has been great. They used to offer gluten-free burgers 🍔, but this last time on August 8th, they no longer offered a gluten-free bun. I think the price of this inn is a little steep for what they offer. You do get to use the pool at the Benbow KOA since they own it. The golf course there is probably one of the worst you will see, but you can still play golf.⛳️ It is better than nothing.

Solidly “fine”. There aren’t many lodging options along the avenue of the giants or thereabouts. So, this is possibly as good as it gets. The hotel is quaint and a unique historic building. Rooms are a bit small and dated. Our AC gave out in the middle of the night, which happens. The location is unremarkable. They think very highly of the food options given the prices (we don’t eat there). The staff was helpful and responsive.

Stayed here with my wife for her birthday. It's 'out of the way', but you can see the in from the road. It's awesome architecture - in the middle of the field - it's very European. The rooms are comfortable and historical feeling.. the wife was over the moon (the wine they left for us helped)... a wonderful experience all around. Only thing to watch for: I'm a tall, portly dude, and sharing a queen bed with my wife was tough.

Such a charming Inn and stay. Benbow Historic Inn and Golf Course and KOA RV resort is located near Garberville in the heart of Redwood Country. The Avenue of the Giants is just a few ew minutes away-perfect for day trips. The historic inn itself is stunning, with its charming rooms and beautifully landscaped gardens. Out wedding group stayed in both the Inn and the cabins. Both accommodations were comfortable and offered all the amenities we needed. The setting was beautiful and the breathtaking views of the Eel River offered a serene backdrop to our stay. The food and drinks at the on-site restaurant were top-notch, and the staff went above and beyond to ensure our needs were met. Just a lovely stay.

Service and accomidation for us was exceptional Thankyou absolutely a experience I will always remember this Valentine's day. The ambiance,food and service was great.

Not a lot of lodging options in the area. If we ever come back to this part of California, we definitely won't stay here. From the minute we arrived, we had issues. The two front desk staff were arguing with each other. The whole place is filthy. I get that it's a historic hotel but cleaning carpets is part of basic maintenance. Our room was large but dirty. Stains on the sofa. The bathroom door would not stay closed even with the deadbolt locked - the spring in the bolt kept unlocking the door on its own. The hotel is equipped with wifi but the signal would not reach to our room so we had to use common areas to check email. TVs have cable but no Netflix or any other streaming so you are stuck with grainy standard definition and have to watch whatever is on live TV. The worst part was the restaurant. We ordered a salad at the bar and right when it came out, we realized there was some live music happening outside, so we picked up our stuff and went out to the patio. We didn't realize that there was a "restaurant patio" and a "bar patio" but it became obvious after a little while because the wait staff serving other tables around us would not acknowledge us at all. So we went back to the bar to order dinner and sat in the unmarked "bar section" of the patio. The $17 salad we ordered was a small pile of spring mix and two very thin, wedge-shaped slices of cheese. No tomatoes, no cucumber, literally nothing else. For $17. Our burger was $34 and nothing to get excited about. The service was just so nonchalant. In other words, no good reason to come back.

We had our staff Christmas party and over night stay was a wonderful experience not to mention food was excellent premise beautiful staff eager to assist! Highly recommend a visit and or a stay!!!

Historic hotel in a beautiful setting. The Richardson Grove State Park is nearby and has lovely trails, swimming holes, and picnic areas. The hotel restaurant is excellent and we loved the outdoor dining area. It would be a beautiful place for events. Some of the rooms are more modern as they have been renovated and some remain more antique style. The lounge area service afternoon tea and cookies. Hotel service was good and our stay was enjoyable.

The location is terrific surrounded by lovely views and landscaping. The interior of the hotel is pretty dated. The bed & pillows aren't very comfortable & seem older. There was a loud wedding right above our room that we weren't warned about when we checked in. We paid for an upgraded room with a balcony but would have preferred a room where we could sleep in quiet. The coffee in the morning is done quite early (8am).

I love the Benbow Historic Inn and have been there. Few times in December around my birthday when it is decked out in full Christmas splendor. It has some issues but the pluses way outweigh the minuse. Oh, amd it's haunted in a good way. Highly recommend if you love historic inns.

If there were a way to give this lovely Inn ten stars I would. My husband and I stayed two nights and experienced a lot of what the Inn has to offer. We dressed up and had two AMAZING dinners in a beautiful restaurant and in the morning enjoyed a delicious breakfast sitting in their historic bar. The staff are fantastic. We had massages in our room, enjoyed sitting by the fire with complimentary tea and scones in the afternoon. It's the same recipe from the original Benbow family. The room was very spacious and the mattress was perfect. We have been here in the summer and the winter and I must tell you that both seasons have their own appeal. If you love history you'll love this Inn. A little tip, ask to check out the white binder at the front desk. It's full of Benbow Inn History. It is clear the present owners truly care about their guest's experience. We can't wait to visit again!

I had huge expectations for our stay at Benbow Inn.....I was not disappointed! We had a glitch in our arrival time so we had to cancel our dinner reservation. Check in was a breeze with a very nice clerk. Our room was beautiful with a garden view and well appointed. I can't wait to come back!

The nostalgia of Benbow Inn is what we were there for it brought back such wonderful memories as we were married their 33 years ago almost to the day. We arrived early, they offered tea and scones in the main lobby. That was a great experience. The scones were nice and hot served with butter and orange marmalade. The tea was piping hot. What a nice environment to sit in while we were waiting. When I walked in the room that we reserved, it was musty. We aired it out. The window is so cute the way it opens to the lawn area where we were married and right above where we had all our food set up. It was neat. The window didn't lock. It wouldn't close all the way there were cobwebs everywhere outside there were cobwebs inside the bathroom as well as lots of cobwebs in the halls, and also in the main lobby, which I think they should deal with, with such a high class Inn. The rug in the room was messed up. The bathroom had mold on the shower curtain and around the rim of the sink drain. The shower and the sink both drain slow and the shower itself is almost impossible to see what you're doing in there because it's so dark. They need to put a light in there. They offer 2 cute robes that weren't advertised, which they should advertise because that would've been nice to know they had them, I wouldn't have packed ours. I love the Sherry that they offer. That's so classy. Loved My private terrace it would've been nice to have pads on the seats because they were pretty uncomfortable metal and cold. Overall decent experience, but it's definitely gone downhill since we were last there. One last thing apparently when you have an anniversary they leave chocolates and champagne in your room when you arrive but we didn't have that later they brought it to us when I brought it to their attention. So that was a nice thing to do. Also, due to our bad experience in the dining area that night with our waitress, the manager gave us a bottle of wine as we left I thought that was really sweet. It's a very classy place. It just needs to be fine-tuned with some of the details that have not been being paid attention to if that doesn't bother you you'll have a great experience.

I can't say enough wonderful things about the Benbow Inn. We wanted a Christmas wedding and I learned from some online research that they decorate beautifully inside and out for the holidays in keeping with the Traditions of their English Tudor architecture for this historic Inn. They were so willing and went above and beyond the call of duty to help us find a way to make our Christmas Wedding dream come true in a few short weeks. Teresa Porter, the owner, offered to officiate for us herself when we couldn't find an officiant who would marry us on the holiday! The pictures online are beautiful and yet they don't completely capture its essence and the beauty of its ambiance. The peace and serenity of an English Country estate set in its own forest and river landscape are a dreamlike experience. Carefully selected amenities combine modern comforts we love with the old world ambiance we admire. Our Garden Cottage room was set off from the hotel with its own terrace directly overlooking the river and you can walk down to the river beach and the stone bridge from the terrace steps. Our suite was entirely furnished in antiques, and had a real wood burning fireplace (wood provided for us by hotel staff at no extra charge!) and had a charming decorated Christmas tree in it! We had a Keurig machine, and there's a double jet tub in the ensuite bathroom as well as a separate shower and double sinks. Like a luxury primary suite in a mansion home. The quiet hush of the forest on a winter night and the gentle murmur of the river soothed us to sleep each night. We had all of our meals at the restaurant while we were visiting because we liked the restaurant so much! Thank you to the staff at Benbow for our wonderful wedding. I wish I could give you ten stars

We loved our stay! It was just for one night on our roadtrip. Beautiful grounds, welcoming staff, clean room. We hope to come back and stay longer!

SO disappointed! Ok, so I didn't get a more expensive room. Maybe that's better, however? One should always at least have a hot shower. Called to ask and The front desk extremely rude. Sent someone up immediately but not helpful. Carpet is dirty, and dated (I get it's an old hotel but update accordingly). I don't even mind the spiders I'm showering with that come through the tile holes, but no hot water?? Checked in Nov 1 which us slow for them. Should have better experience. Staff in the kitchen and bar was great however.

We stayed at the Benbow Historic Inn for a couple nights during ski week so that we could enjoy some of California's natural treasures in the redwood forests in this region. With few options for lodging in this area, we decided to take the minor splurge to stay at this particular inn. The hotel is situated in a beautiful location, in a vale surrounded by mountains and trees and along a tranquil stretch of river. It certainly has stately appearance against this backdrop. Check-in was quick, and even though I had reserved the room at a certain price prior to arrival, the receptionist discovered that there were lower rates for the same room which included a dining credit, and she made the change without our asking. We made our way to our room through the halls that were characterized by dark wood and jewel tones which gave it the feel of an old English manor; I half expected to see men in waistcoats smoking pipes. We booked the Premium King room, and when we walked in we were pleased to discover that the main living area was exceptionally spacious. In addition to king bed, there was a separate "room" with bunk beds (note: only suitable for people under 5' 4", and it's more of a closet as opposed to a room) and a fold-out coach. So, there was plenty of space to spread out. There were some nice touches, such as a small bag of chocolate on the bed and complimentary water and juice. There was also a carafe containing a couple servings of cream sherry that was complimentary as well. There are some quirks that come with older hotels, and this place was no exception. The room was dark at night, particularly in the area around the foldout coach. The windows are single pane and drafty in places, and when we tried to open the windows to air out the room when we arrived, some of the window controls did not work well. It was a little difficult to adjust the room temperature to meet everyone's comfort needs; the person in the foldout coach by the window tended to feel colder at night, whereas people sleeping in the bunk beds (especially the top bunk) felt considerably warmer. The bathroom was very, very small - with a toilet, tub, and small sink there was barely enough space to turn around. Water pressure and temperature were excellent and consistent, but taller people will find the height of the shower head to be inconvenient. Oh yeah, before I forget, you don't need to set a wake up call here. On both mornings, we were roused first by the squawking of bird right outside our window, followed by the persistent knock of a woodpecker. The hotel has a large lounge with comfortable chairs and a wood-burning fireplace that was an enjoyable place to hang out, read, or work on the 1000-piece puzzle that had been started by prior guests. Out back there is a little courtyard that would have been a pleasant place to relax had the weather been a little warmer. Steps lead down to the river, which was low while we were there and made for a nice little stroll. A complimentary hot breakfast is provided, but because of staffing shortages they were unable to provide table service so this was provided in takeout boxes with a couple options each day. These were filling but not spectacular; the breakfast sandwich was delicious and the croissants were warm and flaky, but the biscuits and gravy were not too good. Afternoon tea was a welcome perk, with fluffy scones and a carafe of tea. I'll write more about our restaurant experience in a separate review. The staff here were very friendly and accomodating; when we needed more towels or ice they brought them up promptly. The cost of our stay was a little over $300 per night; though pricier than other options in the area, we felt it to be an acceptable value.

I stayed here the first time almost 3 decades ago for a wedding. It stuck out in my mind as a classic inn with really good service, some of the best. Fast forward to 2021 and I'm back with my family. We had the opportunity to stay as we passed through for one night. We had a view of the river, The room has old furniture and a book selection. The reception from all of the kind people who work here are what made it a fun experience.

Very nice and old charm resort just off highway 101. The decor is mid century but very nicely done. The restaurant is 5 stars as they cooked my filet perfectly rare and they crab cakes were excellent. The staff is friendly and helpful. Even their complimentary breakfast was nicely made. They don't have a TV in our room so we went to bed early and woke up early which is I guess is a good thing.

I have been staying at this hotel over the years but this last time it had been 15 years since I had been. This has always been a favorite and special place for me to stay. I recently read that they had done some remodeling, so I was excited to go back. This visit was so disappointing on so many levels. The place is completely run down and needs major work. The grounds look terrible and everything seems to be falling apart. This is so sad. Definitely new owners since I had been there. This place use to be immaculate. Our room and the entire place was just filthy. Cob webs everywhere. The staff was incredibly rude especially the front desk/check in. I can't imagine ever going back it's just too bad they let this place completely go.

For our 50th wedding anniversary we went back to the Benbow Inn! The 1st time was by accident but the current time was based on how fond our memories were of the place. It still looks like a fairy tail! The staff were very accommodating and helpful. It is not a modern hotel but to us that is why it is so charming. The only thing missing from 50 years ago was the peacocks! Thanks for a wonderful weekend.

The grounds and rustic charm are really a wondeful experience, however the general service and attitude of some of the staff leaves a little to be desired. As a hotel you should be able to feed your guests all day long, but they only have a limited breakfast and there is basically no dining or bar options until 3pm so you are on your own to find lunch. Additionally, they seem to be on a skeleton crew as wait times for food were always very long. I feel like the hotel rates reflect these shortcomings however and the food is excellent once it does come out. Additionally, the area in general is limited to options just due to being in a sparsely populated area. We stayed in the cottage which was perfect for our family to converge from the other rooms and spend quality time together. Try and get one of the rooms that faces the bridge and river as it's a beautiful view to experience while you are there. Even though it says there is a pool/golf course available, and there is, just don't expect too much from it as it's actually across the freeway at the local KOA campground. We will certainly go back in the future, especially now that we know how to navigate the limited ammenitites available.

Such a quaint cute place full of charm. I loved playing cards here by the fire on a rainy day. Would highly recommend.

This is the place to stay, if in the area! I was researching places to stay in northern California along highways 101 & 1, during a road trip from Oregon to California, and was very discouraged by how unappealing all of the hotels sounded. The cities themselves did not sound safe, based upon crime rates. I then came across the Benbow Historic Inn. They state that Eleanor Roosevelt, Cary Grant, Spencer Tracy, Herbert Hoover,... all stayed here. It does look like a place out of time. You are in the middle of the redwoods, and this inn has gourmet dining, in a beautiful setting, comfortable rooms with a decanter of sherry and two glasses waiting for you, tea, scones & music every day at 3:00, if you are there at that time, a large sitting room/library with many areas to sit, along with tables with puzzles on them, a chess board, a baby grand piano, etc. Outside is a fire pit, and a lawn with some lounge chairs & twinkle lights strung around the trees,..... It is a place you can relax, unwind, feel like there are many areas to explore, and a place to feel safe, whereas many of the other hotels/cities in the area come with warnings. We were only there 1 night, and missed the tea & scones, and almost missed our dinner. For dinner, we ordered an appetizer that was grilled watermelon with sliced mint & feta cheese & balsamic vinegar drizzled on it. It was so delicious! I have never had warm watermelon, but it was so worth trying! Excellent! Their butter balls for the bread had black salt sprinkled on top. I've never seen that at a restaurant (or anywhere!). I had salmon with a blueberry compote on top, and we also had the eggplant dish. Both were excellent. We had a dessert that was a waffle, with peach slices on top, a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top, with a caramel/brandy type sauce drizzled over it. I don't often get appetizers or dessert with my meals, but it all sounded so different and delicious, and it was! After driving all day, this place was an oasis of relaxation & beauty. It has so much charm, it was actually a highlight of our long driving adventure. I would definitely always stay here if driving along these roads again. In fact, I would extend my stay for at least a couple of days to enjoy the experience even more. The one point that I was not thrilled with was at breakfast the next morning, we arrived 20 minutes before the end, as there were several people in line ahead of us to check out of the hotel, so it was not quick process. We placed our order, and had some water. We were facing a full day of driving. I realized the waiter had not asked us what we would like to drink, and we had not ordered any coffee or tea, which would help start our long day on the right foot. I asked the waiter if it would be possible to have a cup with our breakfast. He said "No, it was too late. We could have tea at 3:00, during their tea & scone timeframe". We would no longer be there, and being told we can have coffee or tea 5 hours later is really unacceptable, especially as we arrived within the stated hours of breakfast. Not only that, but a 2nd waiter/bus boy came by and started to take away our filled water glasses along with the plates that we were finished with. We can't have coffee or tea or juice, and you are going to take away the one drink we have while we were still drinking it! I realize that some staff may be getting off work or needing to move onto other tasks, but then the restaurant should hire extra staff to cover the remaining customers trying to enjoy the meal that they paid for (it is not a free meal included with your stay). I even left a very good tip, as I was still enjoying the atmosphere of the place, but I really should not have done that, as the waiter so did not try to exert any added effort. It was a very classless move on the waiters part, at an inn that had so far enthralled us with it's charm. There are no Starbucks or Pete's Coffee places that you can drive by and get some caffeine for your long day. I would have given this inn 5 stars, as I feel it had so many unique & delightful attributes, above and beyond many hotels, but I do want the hotel to look at how their wait staff treat their customers, rushing them off & not fully serving them, so they can leave, when we were only eating a quick breakfast before driving another 8 hours on the road; not having a lingering meal. We had arrived within the open time frame. It leaves a very bad last impression on an otherwise enchanting stay. So, for those considering staying here: I highly recommend doing so. It feels like you are back in time, when attention was paid to the details for an elegant, classy stay. For hotel management: please take a look at how the wait staff is trained to treat customers, as described above, as it truly puts a taint to an otherwise incredible experience at the Inn.

We've stayed at the Benbow 4 times in 20 years. The building and grounds are really amazing and have kept us coming back through the decades. We were recently there for our first trip post-covid. We took advantage of a midweek deal; with that the room rate was pretty reasonable, though their base rates are quite high. As far as the hotel and grounds go, they are as beautiful as ever and do not seem to be in any sort of abrupt post-covid decline. The food, on the other hand? Well, in the former days you paid a premium for it, but everything was very fancy and high class -- so it felt mostly worth it. We still paid a premium, but compared to past visits the food felt just "ok". Nothing was bad per se but not reflective of the price point. The service folks seemed like they were really busy -- probably understaffed. The worst was paying $22, before tax and tip, for a single cocktail -- a Sidecar, which was fine but nothing fancy. The whole experience gave an impression of an operation that was increasingly turning to nickel-and-diming to stay afloat. That said, I guess we are grateful that the Benbow is still "afloat" and in business as it approaches 100 years, especially with Garberville and the surrounding area definitely in decline with many shuttered storefronts. Will we return again in another few years as we have been? Probably. Despite our disappointment with the price/quality ratio of the food we did still have a really enjoyable time there.

Excellent food, elegant and original hotel with large rooms and cool history. Family friendly and near the river.

Stayed a night in the beautiful & spacious Garden Cottage. The view of the garden and river was very relaxing. Complimentary champagne for our wedding anniversary was a lovely surprise! We are very gracious to have felt special and the card was personalized. Dinner was delicious and the service was outstanding. William was our server, professional and kind. Our favorite was relaxing next to the river and watching our children play.

My cousin recommended this place. It is a great place to stay. The food for dinner and breakfast was great! They had live music outside. I would definitely stay here again.

"Our Beloved Benbow" is how we refer to this place. Almost three decades ago, we came upon it with friends while camping at Richardson Grove...we all fell in love with the charm this historic Tudor style hotel. It was an era gone by. It soon became the perfect retreat place for my hubby to work on writing. For 26 years we've made our annual winter trek up to the Redwoods to stay at our beloved Benbow Inn! December is stunning with beautiful Christmas decorations! Throughout the years we've experienced the warm hospitality of proprietors John & Teresa Porter, as well as meeting wonderful guests, many became friends, seeing them each year upon our return. There aren't enough stars to match the rich memories we've made and enjoyed here. ACCOMMODATIONS -There are several choices of types of accommodations, main hotel, terrace and newly designed upper level suites overlooking the River. Prefer the Terrace Fireplace rooms, although all rooms have different benefits. TEA TIME - 3pm-4pm, this is one of the things we look forward to! Traditional English black tea with delicious heart shaped currant scones (same recipe used through the decades!). Mid day break for a cup of tea, scones and jam, sitting by the fireplace, chatting with guests or maybe working on one of the puzzles in the lobby. COMPLIMENTARY BREAKFAST- a newer amenity, which we loved. Hot breakfast: scramble eggs, bacon, or breakfast sandwich, diced potatoes, fresh fruit, home baked muffin or croissant. And of course coffee and tea! All packed to go. Can enjoy eating breakfast in lobby, outside patio or in your room. DINNER - the dining room is gorgeous and elegant! Service is excellent, food is good. It's a special feel when you walk into this dining room, the experience adds to the enjoyment of the meal. So many other amenities connected to the Benbow that we have not used, such as a golf course and KOA campgrounds . Best to look at their website to get more info. If wanting a peaceful getaway, surrounded by river, soaring eagles and beauty of the Redwoods, Benbow is the place to come!

I was traveling alone & have physical challenges. Not long after pulling into a handicapped parking spot next to the hotel entrance a nice young man, Juan, appeared and asked if he could assist me. That was amazing! He loaded up my luggage, guided me to check in, and escorted me to my room. Absolutely amazing service! I love the old historic charm & character of the building. My room was kinda small, as was the bathroom, but very efficiently designed. There was soap, shampoo, conditioner, lotion & shower cap in the bathroom that definitely had a more manly scent. The two armchairs were comfortable and my room faced the courtyard. No screens on the windows, but I left it open for awhile as I could hear a variety of older music playing which was relaxing. Also, didn't like that there wasn't a TV or mini frig. However, the front desk staff was kind to put my small lunch bag in their frig. Since I was there on a Thursday nite, I wanted to watch the football game. Wandered down to the lounge where two of the TVs had it on. I ordered dessert & tea. Seasonal gingerbread cake with vanilla icecream was wonderful! Good spice & not too sweet and the icecream had a really good strong vanilla flavor. Also, took a piece of White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake for later, which wasn't anything special. I didn't try the cream sherry in my room but I really appreciated the 2 bottles of water. Next morning went down for breakfast, which was set up in the lounge. They had a fairly good prepackaged assortment of scrambled eggs, potatoes, sausage links, fruit cup, cranberry muffin & homemade biscuit. Also, coffee, tea, water and juices. There wasn't any salt, pepper, ketchup, salsa (another guest asked for that), butter or jam. Muffin was really good, biscuit would have been great with at least some butter or strawberry jam, eggs needed salt, and didn't care for the seasonings in the potatoes. You could sit anywhere except in the dining room. Which opened right after I started eating the offering, not realizing that it would be available. Cuz I would have rather paid for a better breakfast. Honestly, I'd been on the road for over a week, and this was the best comp hotel breakfast coming down the coast from Astoria. Outside of the few missing items (mini frig, tv, window screens & condiments for complimentary breakfast), I really enjoyed my stay. Staff provided outstanding service from Juan, the front desk staff to Barb the bartender who served me dessert & tea.

We stayed here for a couple of nights, as a birthday thing for my husband. We booked two rooms, one for us one for our two kids. I'm glad we stayed at least once, just to say we did, but I'm not sure we'll be returning. The pluses are that the inn itself looks like something out of a fairytale. The grounds, dining room, and common rooms are absolutely gorgeous. The library room is swoon-worthy if you're a book lover. The downsides, however, seem to slightly outweigh the positives. At check-in there is a hidden fee of $100 dollars a room for "incidentals" that you are not told about up front, which is kind of shady. The standard rooms, while cute, lack comfort and amenities that are standard to most hotel rooms. For $300+ plus a night you get a closet sized bathroom, no real dressers, no mini fridge. The beds are also absolutely horrible. Both nights we stayed my husband and I woke up super early with all-over body pain, because the beds are basically just slabs of concrete with the slightest bit of cushion to it. The kids told us they had the same experience. Then there's the on-sight dining. While I will say the food is delicious, it's absolutely not worth the price they charge for it. Dinner is $50-$62 dollars a plate. You don't get a soup or salad with it either. Soup and salad is an additional $14+ per item. Dinner portions are also on the small side and the selection is very limited. I have zero problem paying elevated prices as long as I feel I'm getting what I'm paying for. For example, at Disney World, we paid $62 a plate to eat at Be Our Guest, but everything was included. You got generous portions, starters, sides, and desserts. The only thing you had to pay extra for was the drinks. So I feel a bit ripped-off when I pay $52 for a cut of salmon the size of my palm with no sides or starters. I'm glad we drove into Miranda the next night and discovered the Redwood Palace. Their food is just as good, but they have a way better selection and for more reasonable prices. Breakfast at the inn is also a hot mess. It's free, so of course it's super small and bland. They kept running out of coffee, creamer, and hot water for tea like every five seconds. They just wouldn't put enough out at once. Only one guy was manning orders, handing out take-away bags, and refilling stuff - with a full crowd. I had to ask like four times and wait like ten minutes just to get some orange juice. Our food was only lukewarm by the time we finally got our juice. Then lastly, there's the Inn's pool. It is very poorly maintained and is actually a KOA pool that's shared with an RV park. You have to walk quite a ways out to get to it, the spa broke on the second day, and the bathrooms were disgusting. I like that there was a little store and laundry room right next to it, but the pool itself was a letdown. I think next time we come up to the redwoods we'll stay at the little rental cottages in Miranda. They're half the price, way more amenities, and they are right next to some awesome hiking trails. Their pool also looks way better.

My husband and I haven't been there in 28 years! Still a beautiful building .. flower garden lovely as you drive up . We didn't lodge but came only for a cocktail and appetizer. Was a little surprised at the laissez-faire attitude in the bar. Only 4 people sitting at the bar and one at a table, 3 wait staff. No one was in hurry to take our order. Finally a female did take our beverage order; we still hadn't decided on our food. I finally had to go to the bar and ask that someone take our order. Really disappointed on the service.Cheese/ fruit platter expensive for what you got; I can do better at home. We won't go again.

I found this place about a year ago and my wife and I finally had the opportunity to stay. We spent two nights in the Leta room, 404. The rooms are excellent and the bathrooms are kind of ridiculous. There are very inviting common spaces, library, sitting room, bar/ lounge and large dining room. This is a getaway spot, you are not going to be walking to any other shops or restaurants from here... embrace it! There's a golf course and you can probably hire a fishing guide to pick you up. There's also hiking. I had dinner twice while at the Benbow and both times it was tasty. I have a whole list of suggestions for this place, but I would come again even if nothing changed.

Wow! This just may be the most romantic hotel on Earth! Elegant, charming, and historical, we loved exploring the grounds and cozying up by the fireplace in our room. 10 out of 10 recommend the suites with tubs!

This is my first time staying here .. I needed to have two beds. I ended up getting one of the suites with two queens. This is probably one of the most expensive places to stay but glad we did. Comes with free breakfast. It was great ..

My wife and I had Sunday brunch on the terrace at the Benbow Inn during the spring of 2016 and loved it. Ever since, we had talked about going back and spending some nights there. As our 50th anniversary approached I decided that would be the place that we would stay. When I first made the reservation, I only made it for one night. A day or so later I logged back onto their website to view the dinner menu and discovered that they had a spring special where if you stayed one night at the regular rate, the second night was half off. I called reservations and had our stay extended to a two-night stay. Friday was our anniversary and Saturday was the second night at half price. Sunday just happened to be Mother's Day so we made a reservation for brunch on the terrace before we checked out. When we checked in, we were informed that in addition to the lower rate on the second night there was also a $25 dinner credit that we had not known about. The venue inside and out is wonderful. This visit was in May and all of the gardens and outside areas were in full bloom. The weather was fantastic as was our room. The hotel has been added onto and remodeled since our initial visit but it was done with such care and consideration to maintain the building original design and appeal that a first time visitor would never know. We had our anniversary dinner in the main dinning room and the following evening our dinner on the terrace. The Mother's Day brunch was served outside on the beautiful terrace. The staff was great although other than checking in and out and the meal service we really had no need for any interaction with them. The hotel is historic and loaded with charm, kind of like staying in an old Inn located in Europe someplace. I highly recommend the Benbow Inn for a special getaway or for just a quiet weekend when some solitude is in order. Don P.

We spent Thanksgiving at the Benbow Inn. It is absolutely magical. The historic charm and the setting where outstanding. We had a room on the fourth floor that overlooked the terrace and historic bridge. It was cozy and romantic. The dinner was wonderful, the staff pleasant and helpful. Tea and scones in the afternoon. All the little details made our stay very memorable. Will be back!

I would have rather stayed just about anywhere else. Terrible time here. The room smelled funny. Not clean. The restaurant is low quality with premium prices. Don't forget to bring ALL toiletries as they only have shampoo and conditioner Also was informed that they treat service animals poorly. Limiting accessibility. Not ada compliant as you will be segregated from most of the hotel. ( is that legal??)

We recently stayed at Benbow and this was such a refreshing stay from the usual ho hum accommodation. Lovely scones and tea in the late afternoon. Sherry in the room. Better yet, no television in the room. Fires blazing in the large fireplaces in the bar and the main sitting room.

Returning after 40 years and our honeymoon here, we were delighted to find upgraded rooms and dining that exceeded our expectations. With everyone dealing with Covid it was lovely to find that Benbow is dealing with the pandemic thoughtfully but with grace and charm befitting a jewel in California's redwood forests. Don't miss the fresh bread served with dinner or the amazing foi gras served as an appetizer. The Foi gras is one of the most balanced rustic dishes we have seen. The wine recommendations and wine list were fun and interesting and if a bottle was understandably not available alternative wines that worked well with the menu were suggested. During the day, we headed over to nearby KOA campground where Krissy does an excellent job managing the swimmers and keeping a clean and safe campground. Guests of the inn can swim at the pool and play golf next door. While we have returned several times in the last 40 years, it is wonderful to know that the Inn is in good hands. Looking forward to many more happy times.

From a quick glance, the outside in the rear is gorgeous. Our dogs loved running around below by the water. But upon further inspection, this place is a tad run down and the room was REALLY dusty. We were tired from the long drive so we ate at the hotel restaurant. I was pleased there was one Vegan option. However I was disappointed to be told that the fireplace in the bar area was not working on such a cold night. The TV in our room was pointless as the snow on the screen took me back to the '70s. We lost power that night but luckily they have a generator.

Had a wonderful 5 days at the Inn. Best of all, in the main upstairs "Tea & Puzzles Room", was a beautiful Yamaha G1 grand piano. After checking with staff, showing my business card, and describing my music performance business, I was generously granted permission to play the instrument. It was gorgeous! The rooms are beautiful, dinners were out of this world. Really helpful friendly staff all around. For runners: There are no immediate places to go running right there at the inn (that I could find) right at the location, a few small streets around the back, but I ended up running on them and discovered they are private roads. (Oops!). We drove up to Humboldt Redwoods anyhow, did my running workouts there, which was great. Had a great time, will definitely go back! Many thanks to the entire BHI staff!

Restaurant was Sooo good!! Very swanky for garberville, ca! Tad bit pricey but where else in this area are you going to find food like this!

It's more of a 3.5 over all and a 4.5 for the restaurant/bar. It needs some upkeep. Paint on outside mostly. It's a bit expensive for what you get. It's charming and historic but not awe inspiring. The swimming pool you see in the picture is at the KOA next door, not convenient if you want the pool. It sits on a river and is very pretty. Our room did not have a TV so check when making a reservation. The breakfast was much better than most included ones. The food was great, the drinks were well made and it was very relaxing outside of the occasional motorcycle going up 101.

We chose this inn because of the location being near the Avenue of the Giants, along with the soaking tub that is in the Robert's Suite. Location is easy to drive to and parking is readily available. Upon check in, the desk staff was hospitable but often freely expressed annoyances at their workspace when we passed by. The room was clean and up to standards, we booked the Robert's suite as it included a huge bathroom with a soaking tub. We were very satisfied with the tub but the furniture seemed awkwardly placed and very dated. I understand the rooms are suppose to be vintage but the furniture choices made it seem well worn and dirty (but is actually clean). The soaking tub was amazing after a long day hiking, the water was fast to fill and quick to drain. Overall, I wouldn't stay here again as we paid $400+ for that single night. We feel there might be better options for the price and could find a spa nearby if needed.

We were looking for a place to take our dogs over Fourth of July that was quiet, and we way over shot it. Not only is this hotel beautiful, they give you a room with its own patio and own door, that leads right to the gardens if you have a dog. The inn itself is beautiful, clean, and I like the old fashion Thing. People are nice. What more could you ask for?

When you first lay your eyes on the Benbow Historic Inn you'll see right away that this place is special, unique, and rich in history. You'll wonder what famous person once stayed here and when you find out that Eleanor Roosevelt,  Prince of Jordan, and Cher (just to name a few) actually enjoyed the same Inn you'll feel like you stepped back in time. Staying here during the holiday will lift your spirit. It is pure magic here in December. Here you have twenty two rooms to choose from. Some of the rooms have fireplaces, others have soaking tubs, and a few have private balconies. We stayed in the Terrace King. Here you'll have all of the modern amenities. You'll enjoy eating and drinking outside on the balcony. The view of the stone bridge and Benbow gardens are breathtaking from the balcony. If your like me and you love quality over quantity food then you'll love eating here. Everything we put in our mouth was rich in taste.

This place is absolutely lovely. I came up here with my mom for a night while we were on a family vacation. The hotel staff was extremely pleasant and our room was delightful. We each had our own bed, there was a large flat screen TV in the room, a nice desk area, and large bathroom. The restaurant is very nice and convenient for guests staying in the hotel. The food was fresh, delicious, and served promptly with a smile. My brother and I got the steaks while my mom got the soup, salad, and the small platter of shrimp. Don't make the mistake we did and only order one creme brulee... order two, it is 100% worth it! Breakfast was also great. I had the full breakfast (eggs cooked perfectly, delicious breakfast potatoes) and my mom had the oatmeal. We chowed down on the hot food and were fueled for the day! Given that it was extremely cold outside, we were always warm and cozy nestled in the room or dining at the restaurant. The hotel was clean, charming, and the property is utterly gorgeous in November! I'll be back on my next trip to the Redwoods.

This place spares no expense in making a getaway perfect in every sense of the word. The attention to detail here is unsurpassed in any get away destination you can find. It's clean, the service is amazing, the people are normal and natural and kind. The dining and the river access and the surrounding environment including the bridge make this one magnificent place to visit again and again.

We have been driving by this Inn for 50 years, only.ever stopping for a stretch break on the 9hr trip between Paso Robles and Eureka/Crescent City. So we spent the night, ate dinner here. 10/10 points, hands down! It is quaint but wonderful. You can't see the stone bridge from the highway, or the beautiful garden area or lawn, etc, behind the Inn when you're driving by. Dinner was amazing, our server and bus person simply top notch. Clean. Quiet. Personable. Historic. Wow!!

SCAMMERS@@@@@LIARS,cheaters, absolute scammers, fraud, senior abuse and credit card fraud. They do not call you back. What they tell you on the phone is not what they charge you after you've driven for five hours to try to have a nice vacation they fucked up my vacation they fucked up my whole day. I'm still dealing with these assholes a week later do not stay here they lie to you on the phone when you get there the charges are different then what your told. You've traveled all day, you're hungry you're tired you want to rest and all they wanna do is scam you for money.