Hotel Eklund

I have driven by this hotel several times before and have always been intrigued. We booked this as a waypoint to Red River due to a late start from our hometown. It was a great experience, and the hotel was well preserved for its age. The lobby, restaurant, and bar definitely made you feel like you were in the late 1800s. The rooms were quaint and spacious. The weather was cold so the rooms got a little drafty but that should be expected. Overall, we had a great experience and would definitely stay there again.

Road trip led us to this place for a night A real gem in the middle of nowhere New Mexico. Well preserved and restored. Rooms were very nice and comfy. Softest sheets ever! Dined at hotel and food was good. Historic saloon area was very cool. Staff was super accommodating and helpful at every turn.

A freak storm had us snowed in here for two days Jeanette, her husband, and the staff made it so much fun. They normally do not serve lunch, but Jeanette made tomato soup and grilled cheese for the guests since we couldn't get out. I never liked tomato soup, but hers was so delicious!!! The building is from 1892. It is absolutely stunning! The details are amazing. They have done such a wonderful job! If you go, you won't be disappointed.

This was the most interesting and lovely hotel I've ever stayed in and the staff was wonderful to talk to. What you're looking for will determine what you'll finally make of this place. As for me, I saw the beauty in the history and continuity of the building and its business. It's a rare gem that must be experienced. Where I'm from there are many Victorian homes that have been converted to bed & breakfasts. many have gone way over the top to create a pampered experience. It winds up feeling a little fake. Romantic and comfy, but not authentic. This place keeps its original Western heritage and provides a nice upscale approach to a better hotel experience. Visually, everywhere you look there's an interesting story and don't let this go past you. Take the time needed here to soak it all in. Don't just check in and check out like usual. Breakfast is served on decent china, not styrofoam and paper. The food can be made to order and the morning coffee is wonderful. Take a bunch of pictures!

We got stuck in Clayton New Mexico due to blizzard. Love the old building. Comfy bed. Everyone was so friendly. The owners were fabulous host. Their staff was very friendly. Will definitely stay again if we come this way again

Such a quaint, old hotel in the middle of nowhere! It was a nice change from chain hotels and dirty motels. The room was large and clean. The breakfast was deliciously homecooked and plentiful. Beds were comfy. Staff was friendly and accommodating. We’ll be back!

My wife and I stayed here Friday November 15th. We were very late getting into Clayton, but the lovely owner, Jeannette, stayed up to welcome us. We had a fantastic room on the 3rd floor that was larger than any chain motel. The accommodations were wonderful, the bed extremely comfortable, and the history of the place made it a one of a kind. We will be back!

A charming piece of history with room for improvement Hotel Elklund is a beautifully restored gem from the late 1800s, rich in art, history, and vintage charm. Walking through its halls feels like stepping back in time, with gorgeous period details and an atmosphere that history buffs will adore. However, there are some practical aspects that could use attention. The lack of in-room coffee is a noticeable inconvenience, and the toilet paper quality feels more budget than boutique. The single-pane windows, while authentic, allow temperature fluctuations depending on the weather and let in quite a bit of noise—including the frequent train horns, which can be disruptive both day and night. The staff, however, were incredibly friendly and attentive, going out of their way to ensure a pleasant stay. On the downside, housekeeping could pay a bit more attention to detail, as corners and less visible areas weren’t as clean as they should be. Overall, if you're looking for a place with historical character and don't mind a few quirks, Hotel Elklund is worth a visit. Just be prepared for a few modern-day trade-offs.

What a beautiful, old historic hotel. Charm everywhere and only $115 a night. Treat yourself to a quiet restful evening in history.

The staff was friendly and attentive when we were there. The food was tasty as well. However, the reason for my three star rating was the pricing versus the portions. I got chicken friend steak and my wife got meatloaf. Both portions were very meager. I small piece of apple pie was eight bucks as well. I recommend the food here but if you want good portion size, go elsewhere

They don't make hotels like this any more. This is an authentic cowboy hotel from the late 1890s. Beautiful wood, detailed carvings, the place is stunning. Staff friendly. Clean. Quiet. Comfortable. Charming. With all that said, it is an 1890s hotel, and that means there are few electrical outlets in your room and the lighting is minimal. There was no place to put our suitcases but the floor. I'm glad we stayed here and will go back. The beauty and charm outweigh any other negatives. Restaurant on site was good. Porkchop cooked perfectly and delicious. The 1890s saloon bar is beautiful and well worth the trip alone. Full bar. Interesting tidbit. New Mexico has some arcane, some might say insane, liquor laws. The bartender told us that a license went for about $1M. Hotel Eklund had a Class B license. That meant they could only serve New Mexico spirits. So I had a Margaritta made with New Mexico tequila and lime juice. The bartender has learned to be creative as he is not allowed to make or serve anything that is not from New Mexico. Who Knew?

Great historic, comfortable, clean place to stay! Staff very friendly and helpful! We will be back! We travel through here every year to Colorado. By the way the dinner here is very good! Nice ambiance. We had the pork chop and Ek egg rolls. The only place in town that serves cocktails! Breakfast had a good variety of everything simple, with nice touch of extras. Great coffee! Fruit, cereal, oatmeal, yummy coffee cake. Breakfast burritos, quiches etc

We have stayed at Hotel Eklund 3 times. It is clean and comfortable. The breakfasts are delicious & perfect before getting back on the road. The manager was helpful & frien

We wanted a place to stay on a work trip that was not a run of the mill hotel. This was such a neat place, the decor, the lobby, everything. There is a restaurant that has super yummy food, an outdoor courtyard, a very decorative lobby that has so much history, and fantastic staff! Every time we drive through Clayton, we take a picture of the sign to "remember" our awesome experience here. The next time we need to stay in the area we ABSOLUTELY will come here again!

The staff and location is outstanding! What started as a place to stay during a roadtrip turned into a very special experience. The building is very clean and has so much charm. The rooms are extremely comfortable and inviting too. I slept amazing. To top it off the owners and staff are extremely kind and inviting. They went above and beyond to make it a special experience. I highly recommend this place and I will definitely be back! Vonita is amazing as well! Thanks to all of you for such a great experience!

This old historical hotel is our favorite stop on our way back and forth between CO and TX. We love supporting family businesses and try to whenever possible. The staff is wonderful, our dogs are welcome, the large, spacious room is spotless and super comfortable.

Stopped in for an overnight stay at HOTEL EKLUND. Once again my nostalgic is filled with charm of craftsmanship and vintage furnishings. The madam who checks you into your room is pleasant and will assist you in towns info. She has been running this hotel for years and for me it's so nice to see her once again. We sat outside patio with a bottle of wine and snacks til 8:30 pm as it was much cooler .... Summer heat was a bit warm for outside. Lots of pine trees and wild garden flowers all around us. It's sits about 24 people with about 6 tables or so. Nice rooms that are clean and cozy sheets with lots of pillows. Handmade cabinet and desk with the letter E ironwork displayed. Bathroom has white huge fluffy soft towels and bathtub was large porcelain. They continue to keep that nostalgic time period facets, handles, sink etc.... ambiance. Breakfast is so awesome as it's all homemade biscuits and gravy; green chili or cheese quiche l; breakfast fruit breads; breakfast burritos either sausage or ham;pancakes with syrup along with cereal, fruit, hard boiled eggs, fruit juice, milk, coffee. Need to microwave some of food to warm it up which 2 microwaves are available for you put use in the dining room. Also real dishes and utensils.... Salt & pepper, sugars, butter, jelly, & syrup. The restaurant and saloon were closed due to lack of staffing because of result of COVID.... Very sad but hopeful for their future reopening!! Thank you for continuing to keep these old relics alive and hope more folks will stop to support this awesome Hotel. Note it's not bright and shiny or if your looking for convenience or blow dryer or fancy decor it could make you fussy. Just sayin. BRAVO

I would like to say, I have been to many places, at the Eklund hotel in Clayton NM by far one of the best place's I have stayed in a long time, very clean very nice staff helpful and friendly; whatever I asked for they made it happen you'll enjoy your stay here as I have. There is an abundance of history here. A+ in my book!

If you are passing through, I would recommend staying here over the chain hotels down the road. It's a very unique experience- in a good way! The hotel is owned by a couple and they are very friendly and even make a home cooked breakfast in the morning. There is lots of cool history about the hotel and saloon! A one-of-a-kind experience! Oh- and dog friendly!

This neck of the woods is so interesting. It's where the high plains meet the front range. Such a wonderfully unique sparsely populated slice of vistas, valleys and virtues. The Eklund is a squeezebox that will release its ancient aires if politely prodded.

A comfortable place to rest from traveling. A nice hostess ' Mary Beth' was friendly, and most accommodating when I arrived to check in. We stayed in the King Suite facing the Main Street. Parking was easy and felt like home. Breakfast in the dining room was well attended, but the lighting was dark, hard to see what was on the breakfast bar, I served myself but food was cold.

Seriously THE BEST AND MOST CHARMING PLACE IN CLAYTON, NM. We stayed over Labor Day weekend and loved the wonderful breakfast in the morning...it was just like the French breakfast I had in France when I traveled. Fresh and yummy breads, hot oatmeal, scrambled eggs, fresh fruit, juices, coffee and tea, a lovely egg and ham quiche and of course, the green chile burritos. The dining room and bar alone are jaw droppers...such a quaint and wonderful WILD WEST HOTEL-it's really special...so check it out!

Stopped here for the night. Staff is friendly, the saloon/restaurant has western theme. Beef burrito was hot and pretty decent. Hamburg and fries also not bad. Disappointed that margarita was wine based. But ordered one anyway. If you want local flavor than you should stop in.

What an incredible place! We passed through on our trip from TX to CO and we're pleasantly surprised with this gem. It was clean, beautiful, and historic. The staff was friendly and hospitable in a way that most aren't anymore - they went above and beyond! If we ever find ourselves in Clayton again, we'll happily return to Hotel Eklund.

Worst food I have ever experienced... by far!!! It is going to be very difficult for any restaurant to make worse food than Hotel Eklund. Note to the chef: Have a little pride in your food! C'mon, man! This is terrible! We stopped here because we wanted to sit and eat outside with our dog. Huge mistake! The patio is nice. Our server was nice. The food was awful. I mean. I took one bite of the rice, one bite of the beans, and one bite of the taco meat, and I wanted to vomit! Somehow, after we waited 20 minutes, my food came out cold. Disgusting food only tastes worse when it's cold. I ordered "New Mexican" tacos with shredded beef, beans, and "Spanish" rice. The rice was not only cold, but it tasted like that really bad Spanish rice in a bag that you buy for 75 cents at the grocery store. It was soupy, and the flavors were not Mexican. The beans were dry and had a weird skin on them. The tacos meat tasted like shoe leather. I sent it back and left.

We loved this quaint hotel. It reminded me of being at my grandmother's long ago. The bed and pillows were very comfy. The bathroom was clean and spacious, not your teeny space found in some hotels. We had our puppy which was greeted with smiles and pats. The lady, I wish I could remember her name, was so sweet and helpful. We needed to head out very early in the morning and breakfast was waiting for us. We both enjoyed an egg, cheese, and ham biscuit and pastries to go.

Classic historic hotel built 1890s in a western town. The rooms are small but comfortable, we spent the evening in the spacious lobby reading and visiting with other guest. The night we were there local musicians were playing in the restaurant and bar. Great local color and good time. Our room had a queen bed that was in good shape no sags or faults. Our bathroom was spacious with high ceilings and modern fixtures. TV was Direct TV and inclosed in a western style cabinet. For a hotel built over 100 years ago very good. Staff was over the top friendly, glad to help their guest. Morning there is a complementary breakfast, rolls, steel cut oatmeal, quiche and other items, good coffee.

We decided to stay at the Hotel Eklund for a unique stay in a historic Hotel. We were happy we did. We stayed in the middle room with the balcony. There is a nice view from the balcony, even though we didn't sit out there because it was cold during our stay. The room and bed were comfortable and clean. They offer cable TV and wifi. the wifi signal was strong and easy to sign into. The bathroom was modern and clean. They do not provide a hair dryer, and there is very limited shelf space for your toiletries, but that just kind of goes with the architecture of the room. The staff is very friendly. When we checked in we were surprised to get a key to our room. An actual key on a hand painted keychain! No keycard. They had just opened the bar on weekends where you can sit and have drinks or order food. We met some locals in the bar area who were very friendly. The restaurant was still closed due to covid. Its a shame, because the dining room is nice, and the outdoor eating was also very welcoming. The staff was happy to answer any questions, take our picture, tell us a little history of the town, and show us the famous bullet holes. There is not an ice machine, but the staff was always happy to fill my Yeti cup from the kitchen. They are serving breakfast in the restaurant for guests. It was the best breakfast I have ever had at a hotel. This is not crap from Costco served at most hotels. Everything was homemade in the kitchen. Both ham quiche, and green chili quiche, homemade biscuits, gravy, oatmeal, fresh fruit, croissants, cereal, coffee cake, boiled eggs, milk, OJ, Coffee. I went back for seconds of the green chili quiche and biscuits. All the food is served cold, they have two microwaves you use to warm it up. Staying here was a unique experience. Ask about New Mexicos only hanging that happened a few blocks away. It's an interesting story. One negative I would have is that there are train tracks a block away, and the train will wake you up in the middle of the night. Not the hotels fault, just a warning for anyone thinking of staying there. Check out is easy, just drop the key off in the key drop.

This is a beautiful old hotel. They are taking reservations and do serve a modified breakfast. The bar and restaurant area are gorgeous and the check in desk area is lovely. They do have a little shop that sells some wonderfully unique clocks. The rooms are basic, understanding the time period. The bed was very comfortable and the shower head was great. Loved the sink in the bathroom. The side patio was really nice and great to sit outside and enjoy the evening. Please come support this small bu

Last month we were here and we were greeted in a super friendly way - enjoyed a lovely breakfast the following morning after a nice night sleep - a month later and we were greeted less than friendly and the same room we had last month smelled awful - hard to sleep in a smelly room - hopefully if we drive through Clayton again the friendly face will be back and the room will be fresh - such a shame - it's a lovely old hotel with gorgeous bones - just needs a little warmth upon arrival and to keep the rooms smelling fresh - could be worth a try if you enjoy a slice of history!

We couldn't have been happier with our stay here. Very friendly staff both in the lobby and restaurant. Super clean throughout. Nicely updated 100-year old hotel provides all the comforts you want without losing the historic ambiance. We loved the enchiladas and the green chile stew - both very tasty and authentic home cooking. Breakfast was superb. We arrived about 7:45 p.m. and the restaurant closes at 8, so we saw many patrons as they were leaving. It was obvious that most were local residents - always my litmus test for finding the best food in a small town. We will definitely stay here again!

Super nice and very welcoming!!!!! Wow, the lady at the front desk is very inviting and down to earth. The most hospitality i have ever received at hotel. Very unique and charming hotel well maintained and clean hotel.

I thought this was a great place to stay. The rooms were very clean and the staff was incredibly friendly. The food was really good too and it is steeped in history. I would skip the chain hotels and catch some history here

We were passing through Clayton on our way home from Colorado Springs to Slidell, La. My wife said she wanted to eat at a local place and stumbled into the Elklund Hotel's restaurant. What a treat! It's old western decor and style made us feel like we stepped back in time. We were greeted right away and sat at the restaurant. The food was great and we really enjoyed our time. Thanks.

We stumbled across this lovely family owned hotel on our road trip to Colorado for our honeymoon. The owner and her sister treated us like royalty and we loved every minute of our stay. The rooms are very old western style with a restaurant down below. The food, drinks, and atmosphere was amazing! Highly recommend their signature pork chops. The ladies sell so many cute things in the lobby from jewelry to lotion to bath bombs to scarfs. They so graciously gifted us a sample of everything which me and my husband have enjoyed as of to this day. Clayton is one spot I wouldn't mind returning to due to the hospitality of this hotel and the ladies. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for making our honeymoon trip that much special!!!

People were nice and the hotel lobby was cute. We ate at the little restaurant and the food quality was very bad. The ice tea was good but the food was horrid.

The red flag when we walked in should have been the sign that read "Seat your self in the Saloon". So we did, but were immediately reprimanded by a frazzled waitress who told us the wait was 20 minutes even though there were several empty tables. As we were in a small town with limited choices on a Sunday night, we opted to wait. I tried ordering drinks at the bar which took 15 minutes. The charming bartender that my friend raved about (she recommended this place) was no where to be found. There were dirty dishes behind and on the bar. Not a good start. When we were finally seated, the 2nd frazzled waitress brought us silverware but walked off with menus still in hand. When we finally ordered (fillet for me and chicken fried chicken for my hubby) we were very disappointed with our meals. My fillet was very small and completely dry and tasteless. The baked potato was tiny and wasn't even hot enough to melt the butter. My husband's meal was very bland as well. We begrudgingly ate but weren't even able to say anything to our waitress... she was nowhere to be found during our meal and never came to check on us. When we did finally get her attention to complain about the food, in her defense she did not argue and volunteered to take my meal off of our bill. My husband was afraid to order a coffee wondering how they could mess that up. Long story short they need to hire additional staff and take a look at the quality of what they're serving. It's a great location for people traveling through and the building itself is very charming. Shame :(

Great historic 1800's inn. Rooms are very clean and equipped with basic needs. They try and keep its integrity so you won't find vending or ice machines. If you need ice the front desk is happy to retrieve some from the kitchen. The restaurant has great food but remember your in a small western town. Don't be in a hurry and expect them to be out of a few things. All part of the small town charm. Jerry at the front desk is an absolute hoot. Spend some time in the lobby chatting with him. Great time and beautiful inn.

Definite must stop!!! Despite other reviews, the staff was extremely friendly & accommodating, in my humble opinion. We arrived at 1:22 (not having seen that they have a bit of a siesta between lunch & dinner) & they still let us sit & have a very enjoyable meal. As others have reviewed, the Ek Rolls are amazing!!! I would've been happy to have a whole plate of those as my meal but the burgers were excellent as well. Everything was hot & delicious & very affordable. We will most definitely be back on our next trip from south Texas to Colorado

The ambience of The Eklund's restaurant is the best part. The little gift shopping area is super cute and unique. The food wasn't the best. The waitress wasn't that friendly and focus on other things than her customers.

Loved this hotel! It's a gorgeous historic hotel with all modern connivence and large, clean, comfortable rooms. Breakfast is included and the dinning room and bar are really beautiful.

The Green Chile Cheeseburger was fantastic, and the fries were excellent. The meatloaf was great, but kind of a small portion. Service was great. Very good beer selection. Highly recommend!

We are staying in Clayton NM and and we fond the Eklund on our hotel pamphlet and on trip adviser so we decided to try it out. I got the club sandwich it came within 10 minutes it was a a decent size the only thing was the bacon had a lot of fat however this is definitely a great place to stop and we will return

We stopped for the night in Clayton while on a road trip to Colorado. The restaurant at Hotel Eklund was scheduled to be open for at least another hour, and yet despite an empty-looking dining room were told they would be unable to seat us. Hostess came off as completely rude, to the point that I have zero interest in stopping in Clayton ever again. Will be spending my money elsewhere in the future!

Beautiful historic hotel, friendly service and excellent Mexican food. Unique experience in this small town, definitely worth taking the time to experience it.

Plan your trip so you stop in Clayton New Mexico. Old west feel, really 1900 feel to the rooms and food. My meal of xxx chicken (can't remember the name) was, honestly, the best meal I have had in months. The Eklund hotel ~20 rooms and restaurant. I will be back.

This Is a cute little hotel to stay at. Yes, its a little older, but that gives it style. It has a nice little restaurant and bar there, so you don't has to go far looking for food. The staff there are very friendly.

A lovely, quaint hotel in the center of town. Very clean and Jerry at the front desk was so personable and helpful!

The rooms are quaint and comfortable. Well presented. Very much would enjoy another stay here. But will definitely eat elsewhere. It being New Mexico, I expected some good Mexican fare. I got a glorified Patio Dinner from the early 80's. Tasted like It all came from a can, though the blue corn tortilla they used for the enchilada was a nice touch. Our front desk clerk, Barbara, was the nicest, kindest person. She was very helpful.

Great hotel in a charming town. Room was larger with clean soft beds.,. Second-floor room with the front balcony was a bonus addition to the room. Hotel staff is very accommodating and knowledgeable. Connected hotel bar and saloon really gave an old world charm

The ascetics of the hotel is very nice and the dinner in the saloon with live music was awesome! However no sleep all night as trains and travelers made so much noise as they traveled the Santa Fe Trail which is right outside your window. The room we booked with a sofa bed had no sofa bed and the little selection of breakfast was pathetic! Way over priced for sure. I will not be back!

The Historic Eklund Hotel is beautifully remodeled, clean and comfortable. We stayed here just after the remodel in 2004 and again in 2013. The hotel has beautifully restored features, large clean rooms (22 in all) and a friendly staff. The restaurant (in the saloon) can be relied on for excellent food (Janette's homemade soup and pie are always recommended, although the menu is diverse including Mexican offerings). Our service was good and friendly (unlike the other reviewer's experiences) but it is a laid back culture, Relax and enjoy! Hot breakfast in the morning is included with the hotel charge. It is not the usual rolls and cold cereal found in the big brand names. Yummy Quiche, homemade cinnamon rolls, toasted oatmeal and quesadilla bites ready to warm in the microwave. A clever way to serve a fresh hot meal to each guest. The owner (Janette) told us that walk-ins are welcome to purchase breakfast, although that is not well known. Ours food was delicious and you can taste the extra love. If you find yourself traveling through Clayton NM, take time eat at the restaurant and/or spend the night at the Historic Eklund Hotel... the train does rumble through early in the morning but that is part of the old west charm.

Did not stay at the Eklund but did visit the saloon. I'm a sucker for historic watering holes. The saloon did not disappoint. Historic and long bar. Historic photos on the walls. I got the feeling it wasn't all that different from old west days. We were there in the afternoon and I would feel comfortable taking my mom there for a snort if she were still alive. A big plus is the beer sampler which features mostly NM beers. We sat at a table underneath a mounted bison head and pictures of train robber Blackjack Ketchum being hanged. I'm not sure which was the more interesting. An easily overlooked gem. And just a half block off the hwy. Definitely worth a stop between Amarillo and Raton.

Quaint and classic hotel. Love the suite with the jetted tub next to the window! Love the creepy history associated with the hotel. This is our overnight stop when going to Colorado from OKC. The restaurant was nice, food was good and service was slow, but our waitress was very sweet.

There are only 3 sit-down restaurants in Clayton. This is the restaurant in the historic Eklund Hotel. I had the penne pasta with salmon. It was "okay," esp. considering the remote location of Clayton, but I wouldn't order it again. But there is a pretty large menu, and I will eat here again when I pass through in about a month. The restaurant is obviously aiming to please a wide range of palettes. Dessert was banana cream pie. It was good; I'd give it 4 stars and the entree 3 stars. I was seated in the bar; the dining room was closed, although the patio was open. Service was a little slow...waitress just didn't "check in" with me very often on the evening I was there (8/20/14). She didn't notice that my water was empty, or that I was done with my main course and ready for dessert, or that I was done with dessert and ready for my check. Finally had to have another server go get her...sloppy. Then she does the credit card at the table using a tablet and asked, "Did you want to add a tip with that?" I hate that...who would say "no"? I gave her what I thought was 15%; I usually give 20%, but if she hadn't been standing over me, I would have given 10%, with a note why. I posted the menu here as .jpg files; I hope you can access them.

Dinner was neat because they had an open mic night so we enjoyed listening to that During supper. Supper on the other had was mediocre. I got the half club and salad and my husband got the Santa Fe steak plate which was basically a battered hamburger patty with beans and rice, Very bland even with their chile sauces. The waitress wasn't rude but wasn't nice. We ended up staying at the hotel which was actually very neat, historical, and the bed was very very cozy. We got a room to where you walked out on a shared balcony but luckily we were the only ones so it was neat to sit out and chat. Breakfast the next day... Let's just say don't. Oatmeal that I'm 98% sure was instant and limited pastries and the Orange juice tasted spoiled too. Overall it wasn't awful and the rooms were clean and neat so we felt a 3 was deserving.

Love the Eklund. I recommend starting with chips, salsa and guacamole then on to the combo plate for the main dish. The New Mexico cab wine Ponderosa pairs well with it. Last night we enjoyed live music in the saloon while we ate. It was such a lovey evening.