Monadnock Inn

My sister lives in Jaffrey, New Hampshire and I have been visiting there for decades. The Monadnock Inn has always been a part of those visits and I was so concerned when it closed for a few years. But now, I am excited that new owners have given the Inn a new life. I stayed at the Inn two times last summer when my sister's home was filled with relatives. I was so pleasantly surprised with the lovely rooms that I stayed in as well as the reception from the new owners and staff. They were so welcoming. If you are looking for a place to call home for a few days or more, I highly recommend a stay at the "new/old" Monadnock Inn in Jaffrey, NH. Sandy Galef, Ossining, NY

This is a GEM of an Inn. A beautiful, historic building located at the foothills of one of the most beautiful mountains in America. It was such nice respite after a day hiking to come back to this warm and welcoming inn. The managers were so kind and helped us get to know this amazing spot even better!

I wish we found the Inn to be half as inviting as the two reviewers from March 2025 below did. We found it, and most specifically our room, badly in need of TLC if not a full on renovation. For example, there seem to be mold in the bath tub, the bathroom sink was chipped and rusty, and some of the walls could've used a coat of paint. In general, the Inn seems to be a work in progress, not so much (yet?) ready to welcome guests.

We had a great time staying at the Monadnock Inn. We had some changes in our travel plans, and the owner was super helpful and understanding in making reservation changes. The Monadnock Inn is a lovely old building that feels like stepping back in time in all the best of ways, and the owner, as mentioned, is friendly and helpful. Overall, a terrific experience. Highly recommended.

My experience was simply wonderful. It's a wonderful quiet place. So peaceful and cozy. The owners are so friendly and accommodating. Each room has charm of its own. I highly recommend Monadnock Inn

The Innkeeper was pleasant, she was a true hostess. If you're looking for a safe, clean, and authentic place to spend the night in Jaffrey-look no further.

The owners are so helpful and attentive. The Inn has two sweet resident cats that are charming. Definitely would go back.

The hotel has such a warm welcoming feel to it. From arrival you’re made to feel like part of the family. The building is historic but cosy, the rooms are full of character and really comfortable. I’d highly recommend this hotel to anyone looking for a special experience.

The name placard outside of this run-down dilapidated building should read "Bates Motel". My husband and I booked a room for a family event, upon arrival we both thought the GPS directions were pranking us. The paint was peeling, the grass was overgrown, the porch was filled with a variety of garage sale items. The parking lot was pitted and unsafe. We went inside and went to the "front desk", a table with an old curtain wrapped around it. The staff person was really untrained for accepting guests, and frankly he was a little, ok a lot creepy. He gave us a key and showed us to our room. The room, bathroom and chairs were not dirty, they were filthy. Fortunately, we were dressed for the event and not in need of a shower. During the car ride back we spoke as to whether or not we could actually sleep there. 9:30 at night, we were going to try. We met another couple outside who said they were in the same situation however their drive was 7 hours versus 2.5 for us. Walking back into the building we were met by terrible retching from a nearby room, and the staff person started following us around.......very uncomfortable. We decided to get our things and leave. We are grateful we did. I will be asking for a full refund and reporting this establishment to the consumer protection agency in New Hampshire. Something is definitely wrong with the Bates Motel.

I stayed here in August 2023. The room was fine, comfortable bed, functional bath, clean sheets and towels. But the place is not what it used to be or how old pictures show it. No staff around, no restaurant service of any kind, and a bit run down. we needed a place to crash after a wedding in the area, and it worked fine for that. if you think of it as staying in a friend's spare room (if the friend had no kitchen), you will be fine. if you want a quaint bed and breakfast, or a luxury hotel experience, keep looking.

Adorable and welcoming! Just stayed here for a wedding in Duncan's room, which was bright and cheery! The inn itself was awesome and fun to stay in but the staff really made it worth it. The waitstaff, bartender Gabe and cook Christina(or Kristina, not sure) were so fun while also providing great service! I am weird about inns sometimes, I don't like bugs or feeling creeped out, but this place was not like that at all. It was clean and nice. As for the breakfast situation, you sit down and they bring the food to you. I'm not sure how much it varies but we had burritos one day and eggs bakes the next. They also always had fruit and muffins/chocolate chip bread. I was pleased by how good the food was, especially the burrito. The serving sizes were just the right amount.

Could be incredible. So much potential here, beautiful large porch, rooms with good beds, clean bathrooms but it needs help. Some rooms had no toilet paper but lucky we found extra in one of the rooms, and none of the common area trash cans were lined which left me hesitant to put real trash in them. Parking area is very very dark. Some of the bathrooms should be either given good shower mats to prevent people from slipping, like the clawfoot tub showers, or grab bars or something. Hallways had no lights- more light- most rooms had extra extension cables for plugging everything in and some did not. Some of the rooms were very comfortable and others have some furniture that just needs to go== Want to really like this place, the history, the quietness, and the common area downstairs== please spread the word and get some other financial help going on a property that is well located and a wonderful place to be in the Fall! Maybe a simple binder with local restaurants and some phone numbers as well would be helpful. Hope to see this place hang on and get some much needed care

Dining only. Had Thanksgiving dinner here tonight for the second year in a row. Last year was over a two hour wait before our meals came and service was all over the place. Wait staff was forced to make their ordered drinks at the bar with no bartender and overworked. The new owners were sitting at the bar, while we waited for our table. We chatted and learned they had just purchased the inn recently and had never owned nor run an inn or restaurant before. They were just dining and then going home amid the obvious chaos. Food was good once it finally came. We decided to give it one more try. This year service was not the greatest. I think staff just not trained, as waitress didn't know all of the dressings for salad, coffee served without saucers, other small things. Food was terrible in my opinion except for the salad and desert. Biggest disappointment this year was the dinner. Turkey was dry and salty, stuffing had no flavor and salty, potatoes salty, gravy again salty. Something that vaguely resembled what was once a green bean casserole turned into mush. The carrots were between mild warm to cold and was sent back to kitchen, only to come back the same. I would have gotten better at my work cafeteria for $8.99 instead of $33.00. Thank goodness we met a very nice couple and we all got to know each other and had a nice time chatting which saved the night. I would have given it one star but hostess was very nice and ambience here of an old New England Inn is the best. Sorry to say we will not be back. In the restaurant world, two strikes is generous, and they are out.

I stayed here last night, what a wonderful experience. Quaint little place with spacious room (room 303). The claw foot tub was a nice surprise, a little small for larger folks, but usable. Breakfast was incredible and Magdalena was the most gracious host. She was super attentive, kind and made me miss my own family with her warmth. I look forward to coming back in the near future to stay for more than one night.

Great little place, family run. From the creaky steps to the well decorated rooms, it's a nice and expensive place to stay (I've only stayed in the main house). Breakfast is good and the cozy bar has good dinner. Great service and it looks like it has lots of places to sit outside in the summer (I've only been in the fall).

We drove from Boston and spent the day hiking to the top of Mt. Monadnock. Afterward, we drove to Monadnock Inn where we had made reservations. Check-in went smoothly. The inn keeper is easy-going and friendly. Every effort was made to ensure we were comfortable. We had forgotten to specify we wanted a room with a TV when we made the reservation but we were delighted to be offered a larger accommodation in order to meet our desire. We expected to be tired after our 4 1/2 hour hike, and had intended to fall asleep watching TV after dinner. Even though there is an attractive restaurant, Thorndike's, on the premises, we had a craving for pizza, and wound up going for a take-out pizza to eat in our room. We were so tired from the mountain hike, we just needed to spread out and relax in our room, pigging-out in front of the TV. We felt comfortable making ourselves at home. We slept well. The beds were comfortable. All of the bathroom amenities were very good. If you're waiting for a complaint, you won't get one from us. In the morning, we went to the dining area for the complimentary breakfast and were pleased with that too. Instead of a buffet, we were served coffee and a delicious plate of fresh fruit and a heated cinnamon Danish for starters. We helped ourselves to juice from a nearby table. Breakfast plates were served shortly after. The breakfast main dish was an original version of French toast that consisted of an artisan bread, prepared with a layer of some type of creamy sauce with strawberries between two slices of toast, and topped with more strawberries. This was served with a side of bacon and cottage style sautéed potatoes. The meal portions were satisfying and not too meager, nor too much. Although we only stayed one night, we left having had a positive memorable experience. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Monadnock Inn.

We stayed in the annex house across the street from the Inn in the Pine room. I was not told that we wouldn't be in the main Inn when I booked. The room was tiny and very hot, and with the window open to let in fresh air the road noise was incredibly loud in the morning. We had a connecting door to our neighbor's room, with merely a wooden latch to secure access between the rooms. Our "private" bathroom was down the hallway at the top of the stairs that everyone had to come up - not so private. It had the smallest sink I have ever seen and a pretty small shower stall as well. No amenities aside from towels. Oh, and the chirping smoke detector starting at 2am just made it even better. The breakfast was acceptable, and the staff is what gives this a two star rating, not a one star. They are lovely to deal with, but the annex is not all that great. Perhaps the Inn is better.

I suppose we are one of the few that didn't have some wonderfully amazing experience here. Just read the majority of the other reviews and our stay 4 months ago, was nothing like that. Assuming she was the inn keeper/cook that checked us in, not friendly, but not rude in any sense, just lacked the welcoming vibe one wishes to receive when staying at an inn/b and b. Also, some weird guy just standing off to the side of her waiting for his next command was strange on another level. Forget the name of the room we stayed in, but the bed frame was falling apart and horribly uncomfortable. Both of us woke up with back pain. The room was also cold and there was no way for us to turn up the heat. The next morning (approx 9am) while still sleeping/laying in bed, we were very unexpectedly surprised to hear someone putting a key in our door and just as they were turning the knob I said Hello! very loudly and they stopped...but didn't say anything, just left! Then! About 30 minutes later the cleaning lady (?) just swings our door open and was obviously surprised to see me standing inside, then says she thought we left already (not sure why or how) and pretends to just happen to ask us if we needed anything (?) ....um, no I don't need anything but thanks for barging in on us while we were getting dressed/packing to leave! Check out is 11am lady! Not 9:30! Can't comment on the food bc we didn't eat there, but staff could do a better job in general. Two stars is for the pretty front porch and old looking bar inside.

From the sour milk to the sour attitude of the staff (who make themselves VERY scarce), this place leaves a lot to be desired. The physical plant could use a lot of work. Go elsewhere.

I was just informed that a reservation I made almost three months ago was cancelled. I had a confirmation number but apparently "I" cancelled my reservation some time ago. I have no record of this. The manager sent me something that stated I cancelled about a week after I made the reservation, but there was no record of the original email whatsoever. No one recalls me cancelling the reservation. In the end, I lost the room I confirmed months ago. At first I was told they had another room, but than that was informed that was also incorrect. We planned this reservation far in advance to attend a special wedding. The outcome basically ruined a special event that was planned for months. I know these things happen, but I can't express how disappointed I am with the approach and the lack of proper record keeping. I can state with 100% confidence that I in no way ever cancelled my reservation and the subsequent conversation I had with the manager was "sketchy" at best. It was claimed the other guest already paid in advance. There was no original email notification copied to me, but rather a form letter that was dated September 29. In the end, this was a horrible experience I would not wish on anyone.

Had a great time at the Inns restaurant and bar this past weekend. The locals were all great, the singing couple were incredible, we loved the bartender, and all were so warm to banter with. We enjoyed the burgers, the brussel sprout salad, and swordfish special. The beer selection is pretty limited and there are only bottles, would love to see a better selection and attention to beer with so many great breweries in the area. Will absolutely be back when I'm in the area!

Clean, comfortable, convenient, friendly staff. Highly recommend giving this place a try for a wonderful experience if you haven't already.

Our family spent the weekend in the Kelley room in early October. There was plenty of room for the four of us and that Saturday night was one of the best nights of sleep I've had in a while. It's everything I wanted in a New England B & B - it's old, it's creaky, it's comfortable. And the breakfast, essentially made to order anything we wanted (we wanted lots of bacon), was fantastic. Will definitely stay here again.

The Inn itself is nice. Feels like you just walked into someones grandparents house. Breakfast was delicious! My only advice is to skip Thorndikes, the restaurant on site. I was not a fan, maybe I ordered the wrong thing (left a horrible taste in my mouth). We ordered an app and dessert as well, nothing special. I would return to the inn but I would get dinner in town.

A group of five of us, including my 93 year old mother in law, went to dinner here on Friday evening. The staff is absolutely delightful, accommodating her challenges, and the challenge of dealing with another party member convinced he was funny when he wasn't. The food was universally acclaimed delicious, price was excellent, wine was wonderful. The ambience was what I love--archetype New England inn. Also-wonderful couple laying the piano and singing for background entertainment. Definitely going back soon!

Quality of food, patrons, and especially the hosting staff are excellent. I would recommend Thorndikes restaurant at the Monadnock Inn to anyone and everyone either local, or visiting, top quality.

We just has dinner t the Monadnock Inn...."WOW"...don't tell anyone.......but this is an awesome place for dinner We sat at the bar 1st while our table was prepared....Max Mitchell makes a great vodka martini ....our Caesar salad was very good,,,,, the beef tenderloin was delicious and my seafood masaman curry was so flavorful and had plenty of clams muscles & shrimp w/very nice veg & noodles ....and the creme brulee was excellent Four **** Stars for the the Throrndike Restaurant Also good value for your money Now I have to mention Jennifer our waitress who was wonderful great service & attention and thank you to the host for putting us at such a nice table Finally I need to mention the piano player nice tunes Thank You for a wonderful evening

Customer of over 10 years but never posted a review.... til now! Excellent Food, Great People and a Small Town Atmosphere. Many regulars - both locals and seasonal - are greeted by name when they arrive. A screened porch area in the summer for evening dining is a nice treat. Winters with a cozy warm fire in the fireplace make dining at Thorndike's restaurant (part of the Inn) a nice night out. The bar portion - name Parson's Pub - is more casual but equally cozy. Menu options range from appetizers and salads to burgers and sandwiches to entrées and homemade desserts. Light meals range around 10, entrées up into the mid 20's with most being about 20$. The Veal is one of the Inn's signature dishes, along with their amazing Mussell dish! Perfect place to bring friends and show them a great local dining experience in the shadow of Mount Monadnock.

I had a great dinner out on the porch last night with my wife and in-laws. What a beautiful setting and beautiful evening. This is a handsome old Victorian New England inn nestled in the heart of Jaffrey, New Hampshire near Mount Monadnock. With creaky wood floors, a large screened in porch with several tables, and a quaint and cozy bar, the ambience here takes you back to a time when the pace was slower, and people took the time to enjoy a warm summer evening and each other's company. What really made the evening was the delicious crab cakes with basmati rice, diced mangoes and broccolini. Everything was so well-seasoned and flavorful and that I couldn't leave a single bite behind! If you are in the area you should check this place out!

Hoping that we'd have a relaxing Thanksgiving dinner without the stress of food preparation or dishes, we made a reservation here. I should have known something was up when the hostess couldn't find the reservation on the single sheet of paper in front of her. We we then informed that our table wasn't clear...only a few minutes before we were supposed to be seated. Uh oh. Luckily that process didn't take long. Soon we were all seated...oops, but the table hadn't been adequately wiped down...no setups, no glasses, plates...er...Thanksgiving? Hmmm. Fifteen minutes later, someone stopped by to ask if our server had been by...nope. Still no utensils. A basket of bread arrived next...to hold us over during the next ten minute wait before drinks arrived...well, all but one glass of wine which took another 15 minutes. The food was only average and pleasant conversation with family and friends is the only thing that saved the experience from complete failure.

My Mom and Dad went for lunch. They were not open. It was my mom's 81st birthday and they were visiting the restaurant as they first had 30 years ago. They owners opened for my parents, served them delicious lunch, including cream of mushroom soup. And then the owners comped the lunch.

Jay and Christina were wonderful hosts. So friendly and the food was incredible!! The reason I didn't post 5 stars is because the room was quite cold. I understand it's an old building; and, I'm sure, difficult to heat. Otherwise, it was wonderful

An Old New England Gem. Charming decor and atmosphere, excellent food, friendly and helpful staff. Attended a banquet of the Sons of the American Revolution and later a drink in the bar. My steak tips were terrific and others at my table reported the fish and chips were excellent as well. The portions were plentiful. The inn is well situated for exploring this often overlooked corner of New Hampshire.

I've been going to this restaurant for the past 10+ years. Sad to say, this past weekend is probably the last time I will eat there. We ordered the salmon special, and the fish was nearly raw. The menu description in no way described it as being quickly seared or raw. Had I wanted sushi, I would have gone out for sushi. Knowing that most chefs don't like to have their culinary skills questioned, I reluctantly asked for the fish to be cooked more. But I asked anyway, knowing that I would be paying too much for a limp experience. The waitress had us pick our fish off of our plates and put the pieces on separate small plates. My 82 year old mom accidentally dropped hers on the table....so I then asked them to please cut her a new piece. What they SHOULD have done is just taken both of our dinner plates and come back with properly cooked salmon, plated with the sides so that everything was hot together. Instead, we sat for another 15-20 minutes and ended up eating the sides while we waited for the fish. Upon returning with our fish, both pieces were still flapping. They never cut new pieces, just the old pieces we had to pick off of our plates, returned to us with barely an effort to make it right. Lastly, they are using their same old plastic menu holders which were sticky and gross. During this COVID pandemic, every single restaurant is using disposable menus. Take it upon yourself to do the right thing here, folks. With pandemic health and safety measures being drilled into our lifestyles now, that isn't a good look. And lastly.....not a single offer to reimburse us, comp us a dessert, or any kind of effort to take the sting out of a poorly cooked, expensive meal. I'll go in a different direction next time to the Hancock Inn where I know the quality and service is consistent.

Didn't stay at the Inn, but had a really mediocre dinner at their restaurant Thorndike's. Waitress was loud & annoying; Caesar Salad & Bacon Corn Chowder just OK; Veal Schnitzel oily, over breaded & over cooked with what turned out to be a delicious & flavorful compote of lemon & thyme tucked underneath the meat so that I didn't find it until the last few bites. GREAT setting on the screened in porch, and both the dining rooms & tavern looked good, too. The menu had so much promise with really interesting ingredients & flavors, but the food sadly didn't deliver. Add to that one of the loud-mouthed owners yelling across the yard at someone while disturbing a porch full of diners and I'm afraid you've got a disappointing experience.

Me and my wife went here yesterday for our 7 year anniversary and the staff was top notch and the food was unbelievable. We were so glad to find a local place near our home and can't wait to go back!!!

Yes, go here to eat, and NO don't stay here! Save your money. Absolutely not worth the price for the room. Dirty, unkept, torn furniture, coils poking up in bed. Overpriced small room with no taste at all. Have stayed here before and we loved it... I think whom ever is owning this place hasn't stepped foot in the rooms in a while. You would not have your family stay here. Nothing quaint about 150 dollars for a tiny room with junky furniture (no antiques here, goodwill in this room) weird art.

Quaint, inviting and the food was delicious. My wife and I frequently drive past the Inn and it's located on route 124 in Jaffrey which is a nice scenic drive. Being that it is an "Inn" it was never at the top of mind for dining considerations. After our first experience, it will be a consideration going forward. We started with drinks at the bar which is cozy and rustic. We then moved to our table. The dining room was quiet, clean and comfortable. Starters consisted of rare tuna with soy and wasabi for dipping and we also had the sweet potato tater tots. Tater tots seem odd and out of place in a somewhat formal dining environment however they were fun to eat, enjoyable and cooked really crispy. Main courses were veal schnitzel with noodles for me and the wife got the filet with rice. Mine was delicious. The schnitzel was cooked to perfection with a super crispy and somewhat rich crust. My wife said her meal was also delicious. Side dishes were fine but nothing extravagant or mind blowing, maybe even a little boring. Overall, a great experience but perhaps a little bit pricier than what I would expect. With that said, we will be back.

Just had a wonderful stay with my mother. "Sandy" could not have been kinder or more accommodating. Breakfast was terrific--hearty and healthy. Rooms were tastefully decorated. Made to feel very welcome. Recommend to others!

This is a review for Thorndike's Restaurant located in the Monadnock Inn. The food and service were excellent. The menu had so many unique choices, as well as the standard pub fare. Such a nice surprise for a small town. Sitting out on the screened in porch made it that more charming.

I has a business function here in June 2010 (12 people) and dinner with friends in November 2010. Both experiences were very good. The owners were very accommodating to my business needs and my colleagues are still raving about the dinner.

Pleasantly surprised with our experience this weekend at the Monadnock Inn! Don't let the outside appearance fool you! We stayed in the Kelly Room which was spacious and clean. Conveniently next to an outdoor porch were we could sit outside and enjoy the fresh air and tranquility. The staff was friendly and accommodating. We were very pleased with the food! Our filet mignon and Ahi tuna steak were both cooked perfectly with the right portions of sides. The drinks were strong and tasty and the brownie Sunday for dessert was incredible! Overall very pleased and will return!

My family and I recently "took over" the Monadnock Inn to stay in Jaffrey and say goodbye to a much loved family member. Though the occasion was somber the Inn-keepers were amazingly wonderful to us all, and we were treated as family by them. I cannot thank you all enough for your hospitality... Your rooms are very cozy and well-stated; your food excellent! It was awesome that we were able to all be together, and the Inn was made available to us so that we were able to share our memories of our beloved Aunt with each other. I thank you all for your warmth and kindnesses, and will recommend your Inn to everyone I know who wants to appreciate the best hospitality and staff ever!

I've been here a few times over the years and have been left wanting more every time. It's really disappointing because I really want this place to be great but they just can't seem to deliver. This past visit we sat on the front porch--which is a great screened in room with ceiling fans. I love this room but they ruin it with these cheap, tacky white plastic chairs. Not only do they have no place in a dining room but they are super awkward too. I'm not the only one to struggle in and out of my seat. Now, on to the food. They are offering the pub menu in the dining room now which is a good move. I never understand why a place like that wouldn't. We got an app from the specials menu. It was pretty good but lukewarm. For entrees we got a pulled pork sandwich, chicken parm sandwich and a salmon entree. The pork sandwhich was good but way too spicy. You should make a point about an excessively spicy sauce on the menu or train the waitstaff to mention the spice level when ordering. We like spicy food but this was not appropriate. The salmon was super dry--I had to send it back. The waitress returned with another within minutes--which was suspect. Low and behold this one was over cooked and dry too. I suspect they precook the salmon which is pretty dumb. It is a very quick thing to cook so I can't understand why you would that. Anyway, the last dish the chicken parm was ok, pretty typical. All-in-all disappointed again. I wish this place would get a real chef and invest in some new chairs. *sigh*

Our family of four, while on vacation, had dinner for the first time here. I have eaten in the finest restaurants in America, Europe and Canada, and the food here was among the finest I've ever had. The seafood strudel dish was absolutely delicious and everyone in our party agreed the food was excellent, including my very picky 17 year old. The staff were capable and attentive and very kind in seating us in the main dining room even though we were not really appropriately dressed for the dining room. I highly recommend the Monadnock Inn restaurant.

great little inn close to the mt. good restaurant and great staff -- loved the screened in porch and good drinks. ten minute drive to the mountain.

The tavern food is absolutely fantastic, some of the best food I've ever had. The rooms are comfortable, clean, and warm. Just a great comfortable place is stay.

Stayed at the Inn overnight to attend a wedding. The staff couldn't be nicer, the room was cozy and inviting, and the breakfast was amazing. The dining room even has a fireplace, which wasn't in use while we were there as the weather was still a bit too warm. Loved the quaint, traditional New England feel. Wish our stay could have been longer...and if we ever go back to the area, we will definitely be making a reservation here.