Jon C.
Yelp
* = Best food we had in Mendocino
* = Extremely comfortable bed & chairs in room
* = Huge tub in bathroom, with shutters for ocean-viewing while relaxing
* = Incredibly helpful, polite staff
* = Gorgeous grounds with ideal view
This was, bar none, the absolute best lodging experience we've encountered thus far in all of California. The Brewery Gulch Inn offers an intimate, relaxing, romantic setting for anybody looking to escape the grind and recharge for a few days.
My wife and I hadn't taken a vacation in a long time. While we're no stranger to Disneyland or Vegas, our favorite trips tend to be quieter ones. Pismo Beach, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Aptos... places near the water where you can stretch out and relax, without feeling over-stimulated. Mendocino seemed perfect and after only a short bit of Googling, it seemed that the Brewery Gulch was THE location to try.
The Brewery Gulch is an impressive wood cabin from the outside, with an enviable, serene garden on the brief drive in. As soon as we stepped out of the car and into the gravel parking lot, the subtle, intoxicating aroma of burning firewood welcomed us. The great room (where you check-in, eat, and enjoy wine hour) is an impressive sight, with a huge wood burning fireplace, wide selection of games, movies, and reading material, and enormous glass windows that expresses every inch of the nearby Mendocino coastline - including a gorgeous view of the cove, with the greater Pacific Ocean clearly in-sight just over the hill.
Every single staff member that we encountered was helpful, polite, and happy. We arrived during wine hour and were treated to the absolute best bowl of seafood chowder that I've ever had in my life. Beyond that, there was a sweet vinegarette salad with mixed greens and gorgonzola, as well as dessert: a perfectly assembled berry shortcake, in which the cake was cubed and tossed with blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, and a clearly made-in-house whipped cream.
We stayed 3 nights. Every meal was tastier than the one that preceded it. For those wondering: the appetizers that they serve during wine hour are more than enough for dinner. We didn't go hungry once.
We stayed in the Osprey room, which had a clear view of the ocean. Very large tub that my wife and I had no trouble sharing. In-room fireplace, two of the most comfortable leather chairs you're ever going to find, the best foot ottoman I've ever used, and a feathertop King sized bed that we absolutely melted into.
Despite everything we loved about Brewery Gulch, I should mention the following (in the spirit of full transparency): the rooms do not include air conditioning... though the cool, mild climate doesn't really necessitate it. The large soaking tub is very decadent, but when you opt for a shower instead of a bath, the water pressure completely vanishes. And lastly: as wonderful as the staff is, they leave the premises at 8 PM. So, when one of your neighbors is blaring their TV through the fairly thin walls at 11 PM, your choices are to either try to ignore it or go knock on that person's door. To their credit, the Brewery Gulch does have a sign beneath all TVs, asking you to only play soft volume after 9 PM.
All things considered: none of those minor inconveniences even came close to upsetting our stay at the Brewery Gulch. From the moment we checked in, we were in heaven... and we can't wait to go back again!