The Merchant

I loved my stay at The Merchant. The rooms feel incredibly cozy and homey, with thoughtful touches that make the whole space feel welcoming. The location couldn’t be more convenient for exploring Salem. It can be a little noisy when people move around the building, but the sound machine in the room made it a complete non‑issue. Overall, a charming, comfortable stay that I’d happily choose again.

I am not exaggerating when I say this was my favorite hotel experience I’ve personally ever had. I normally have major sensory issues when hearing other guests in their rooms while trying to go to sleep. However, in spite of a fully booked location at times during our one week stay, we did not run into this issue once, which was a breath of fresh air and genuinely made the stay rejuvenating. Also as a plus, we were surprised by the high quality of daily complementary accommodations (fresh baked cookies in the evenings, frittata and scones for breakfast, coffee and tea with all of the fixings freely available, etc). On the note of high quality amenities, the vibe of the common areas was so welcoming and my husband and I found ourselves enjoying those common spaces like they were meant to be used, which we normally don’t care to do in a hotel but this felt more like staying in a friend’s home more than a typical hotel. All of the common areas were so tidy and well taken care of by the site staff at all times and regular daily housekeeping was always timely and well done. The staff was also so incredibly accommodating when I informed them in passing of an ankle sprain I had incurred before our stay. The hotel is also in a great central location to really great eats and the train station. Even with a sprained ankle, it was little trouble getting anywhere we wanted to in Salem. Their communication and hospitality was legitimately unmatched and unbeatable compared to anywhere else I have ever stayed. While we had the benefit of my husband’s work paying for a portion of our stay, the experience was so nice that I would find it worth it to pay for this experience again at an average of about $200/night on completely our own dime. I cannot recommend this hotel enough and I will absolutely be returning in the future.

We had a remarkable time at The Merchant. Everything was so well organized from the time we booked through the time we departed and even then some. The communication was excellent, and made for such an enjoyable experience. The staff was so delightful and welcoming...and all of the extra touches at the hotel were spot on. Freshly baked cookies upon arrival...wonderful breakfast touches in the morning...and GREAT coffee. Always a huge plus. We will definitely book here again. The location was perfect. We will be looking forward to staying at more Lark Hotels in the near future...and hope that they compare. Thanks for a wonderful visit.

Second visit to the merchant and my first time staying there. It was lovely, quiet. And comfortable. Check in parking. We’re all very easy as well as access to the hotel and proximity to everything in town. Our room was particularly cozy and we use the fireplace at night and in the morning. Staff were incredibly helpful. Everything is well appointed I will definitely stay again worth every penny.

Lovely boutique hotel. Cozy rooms with gas fireplace. Complementary espresso, teas, water and many sweet and savory snacks including many homemade treats (overnight oats, breakfast sandwiches, egg bites, yogurt parfaits...) and warm scones and quiche on offer in the morning. Perfect location. What a nice getaway!

We absolutely loved our stay at The Merchant Hotel in Salem! My wife and I stayed here in mid-December while heading to Rockport for a show, and it was truly the perfect boutique hotel experience. From the moment we arrived, we were blown away by the stunning decor—beautifully designed, cozy, and full of thoughtful details that made the space feel both luxurious and welcoming. Our room was incredibly comfortable, quiet, and just what we needed after a winter day out and about. With a fireplace! The staff was warm, friendly, and genuinely lovely, making us feel right at home from start to finish. And the warm chocolate chip cookies…honestly unforgettable! Hands down the most delicious cookies we’ve ever had at a hotel (we’re still thinking about them!) 🍪✨ The Merchant Hotel is an absolute gem, and we can’t wait to stay here again soon. Highly, highly recommend! 🌟

This place is awesome! Very lovely and comfortable room. The gas fireplace great, I recommend this cozy option! I loved the pantry, which was always stocked with snacks! The coffee and scones were so nice in the morning, as well as some other breakfast options. There is also a gas fireplace in the “living room” area, and tables for eating breakfast. Staff friendly and the location fantastic. Just steps away from Essex St, PEM, shops, restaurants, and other historic spots. The off-season rates were great too. Very happy, and will be back.

We stayed 3 nights Oct 2025, and we already want to return. |My husband and I both absolutely loved the Merchant Hotel! We stayed in room 6 and it was just perfect. The decor throughout the house is just stunning and the staff is very pleasant. We actually got into town early that day for a tour, and were planning on dropping our bags and leaving, but they had an early check out, so they got the room ready for us and let us check in early. That was so thoughtful and we really appreciated it. |They had breakfast each morning and snacks each afternoon. The cookies were amazing!|We enjoyed sitting in the balcony as well. |The staff texted me daily to make sure we didn’t need anything, and always responded quickly when I called or texted. I really enjoyed the cozy feeling of being in a small hotel versus a big hotel. |If we find ourselves in Salem again, we will definitely stay at the Merchant again.

We loved our stay. We stayed in room 4 on the 2nd floor. We loved the view out the front window and we were across the hall from room 3, which is the George Washington room with a view out the front. Hotel is close to everything. Staff is very accommodating. Our flight arrived really early and we were able to drop off our luggage and go out to enjoy the town until our room was available. Attention to detail- my sister and I went to celebrate my birthday and they left a hand written note. So sweet. They even text you when your room is available and to check in with you during your stay if you need anything. Comfort & cleanliness- Very clean and comfortable rooms. Coffee bar- Lovely and well stocked.

My understanding is that this is a bed & breakfast. But they don't serve breakfast anymore, which we only found out on our arrival. There were some snacks and parfaits ("continental breakfast"). I've had better breakfast at hotels 1/3 the cost, and fantastic breakfasts at BnBs at nearly half the cost. The staff are nice, at least in person. Over text they were more persistent than my mother-in-law on getting an exact arrival time. Sorry our plane was delayed. The room is nice...ish. The area around the fireplace is warped so that was one less place for our luggage. I was not happy about not having a nightstand on my side of the bed. Charging my phone was painful, except I didn't even get to charge my phone because the cord broke while dealing with the lack of a nightstand. The location is good for walking Salem, but not for the price we paid for it. There are other options around that offer the same (maybe with a breakfast that includes some protein).

Such an amazing stay here for a little getaway! We stayed on the Lark suite on the top floor. Very private, the whole inn was amazingly cozy and decorated in fun ship theme. Bed was very comfy, fireplace, amazing huge tub and private roof deck for our room. Staff was all friendly and attentive. They even have snacks and coffee/tea available to self serve all day and night. Such a great spot

The Merchant itself is a beautiful property and not where I had my issues. The grounds are pristine, the rooms clean, and the bed very comfortable. Where I had my issues was with the staff. They need to be adequately trained on how to communicate clearly on their policies to avoid unnecessary stress to their guests. The whole reason I chose the merchant to stay and get ready in prior to my wedding, was because of the beautiful rooms and atmosphere. I was so excited to have a gorgeous background for all of my getting ready photos and comfortable surroundings for getting ready for our big day. Fast forward to check in, I was asked to read the disclaimers prior to signing and second on the list was essentially a statement saying if you are staying here for an event, such as a wedding, you are still limited to 3 guests. Of course, knowing I would have more than that, and this being the first time I had been told anything like this (and considering we had a card in our room congratulating us on our nuptials, they were aware why we were there. I had also reached out a few times prior to our stay), I explained what we were staying here for and if the amount of visitors I had would be a problem. I was repeatedly told they didn't feel comfortable answering that question until they spoke to their manager. However, the manager was not in, and would not be in until 9AM the next day. To which I explained, hair, makeup, etc would be arriving at 8AM, so if it was going to be an issue, I needed to know then, so I could find new getting ready arrangements. The staff member did not budge, and did not offer to reach out to their manager for help/clarification. This mind you, was hours before our rehearsal, roughly 4PM, and the day before our wedding. My wedding planner immediately called and emailed the manager, but didn't get an answer until 8:45AM the next day. So my entire rehearsal dinner was spent scrambling to find a new getting ready location, alerting all of the vendors, bridesmaids, and family to the change and new location, timing, etc. I was extremely distressed. It took away from what should have been a very exciting time, and put a damper on the evening. The next morning on my way out to get ready at our new location, the manager very casually mentioned it was no problem for us to get ready at the hotel, they just like to have a discussion with the group first about being respectful to the property and other guests. I cannot even begin to explain my frustration at this point!!!! Why did the staff not explain that up front during check in?? Why did we not get this simple easy answer via email when my planner asked the day prior??? SO much unneeded stress could have been avoided with that simple statement!!! Of course we would have been respectful! But at that point I had already gone through all of the hassle to alert the vendors, change the timeline, adjust lunch delivery that it was too late to revert back to the original plans without losing even more getting ready time. The cherry on top/ultimate salt in the wound? I was woken up the morning after our wedding by other guests... you guessed it! GETTING READY FOR A WEDDING IN THE MAIN LOUNGE/THEIR ROOM!!! So so soooo upsetting. While of course my wedding day was great, I will never, ever, forget the stress leading up to it caused by the merchant staff.

Incredible hotel, stayed in the Lark Suit #11 quite a few stairs but what can you expect in an older renovated hotel turned hotel!? Bathroom was incredible, large bathtub and walk-in shower. Living areas on the ground floor and 3rd floor with amenities such as teas/coffees and snacks! Highly recommend!

currently staying at the merchant ~ above and beyond impressed with the communication of the staff - the condition of the hotel - and the unique and special details. everything you could want in a hotel. from the coffee maker to the bathrooms - to the beds - it's immaculate - everything is literally perfect. we will absolutely be back.

Absolutely a very warm ,cozy and charming place to stay. It's beautifully decorated. Very clean. The hostess/ staff are friendly and attentive. It's walking distance to everything. It's perfect I give a ten

I love Lark hotels and booking online was a breeze including purchasing a gift card for a local restaurant at a discount. A few days before the stay I received an email about parking and called ahead to reserve a spot in a nearby lot for 5 dollars per day. You can also park in the lot at the hotel for 25 dollars per night. We had a lovely stay at the Merchant. The common lounge downstairs is beautiful as are the rooms. Ours well appointed with a heated bathroom floor and a gas fireplace. The bed was very soft and comfortable. There was a coffee station and a mini fridge right outside our room with seltzers, water, and breakfast items. The food was a nice touch and a way to still feed guests while reducing contact. Unfortunately there were a few hiccups in our stay. We were invited to check in contact-free via a link as a result of COVID, which we did, but the gift card we ordered was not in our check in envelope and our bathroom door was locked so we had to have someone come into our room to let us in. As the coffee station was outside our room we could hear people (and a talkative small child) outside our room often. An insert to the Keurig was missing so we could hear many people trying to brew coffee as well. Social distancing in the downstairs pantry area was tricky as even though there was a sign to limit the space to one party at a time, people kept coming into the room, including staff. Overall we had a really nice stay, there were just a few small details that complicated our visit during COVID.

Amazing place to stay! The renovations are stylish and up to date which is exactly what you want to come back to during a chilly weekend. The staff was amazing offering free snacks, breakfast, and ice buckets left at your door. During COVID especially I felt they did a great job keeping the common areas clean with mask requirements to keep all the guests safe. We will be back soon!

Location - Check - Walking distance to anything in town. Style - Check - not your old small hotel, all the peps you need. Food - Check - the breakfast is perfect, tempting and diverse, including some vegan options. Comfort - Check - from the gas fireplace to the small but well appointed bath room. Service - Check - always someone available and smiling. Come directly to the hotel to get the parking pass for your car, and leave the car around the corner. Why stay in a boring hotel when you can stay at The Merchant?

We stayed for the weekend and just loved this hotel! It was very comfortable and felt like staying at a friend's home. The staff was warm & welcoming. The "small" plates breakfast delicious. Parking is a couple of blocks away but the weather was fine so no problem. Location is great for walking around Salem easily. The rooms on the front can be somewhat noisy with traffic & late night action, otherwise it is a wonderful, cozy spot. I would definitely visit again!

This is from Michelles experience room #4 Incredible hotel/inn very private and lovely. Staff is professional kind and courteous . Outstanding decor. Will definitely be back and highly recommend on every level. Bravo lark

Very charming hotel in a converted old mansion. Very kind staff! With only 8-9 rooms in the whole place, this is a great place to stay if you are visiting Salem to beat the cabin fever of covid. Large comfortable room, Every convenience within blocks and beautiful walks through downtown, around beautiful Chestnut Street or down to Pickering Wharf.

We stayed here for our annual Mother/Daughter vacation. This year's theme was American history and that maid The Merchant an easy choice. We stayed in the George Washington room and it was so comfortable and gives us a great story to share about sleeping in the same room one of our founding fathers did. The staff is friendly and helpful and the location is convenient to everything in the historic district. Can't wait to visit again.

We absolutely LOVED our stay at the quaint and very historic Merchant Inn - and YES! GEORGE WASHINGTON STAYED HERE!! How very cool We loved the high end decorating and took lots of photos to take home. Our room was cozy and comfortable. The staff we met, Brian and Bret, during our three day stay were great. We were late for breakfast every morning but really appreciated the many snacks throughout the Inn all day long. The beat part was fresh, delicious coffee right outside our room every morning!! We were in the 3td floor and the Inn has a coffee and beverage station set up in the 3rd floor for their guests convenience! Very impressive! We will be back!

Absolutely loves staying here! We come to Salem every year and looked forward to staying in this historic home. The property is beautiful! We were greeted by warm and friendly staff that were extremely helpful. The Washington room was stunning! The decor was incredible and the gas fireplace and heated floors made it extra special. It's totally exceeded our expectations! We also loved the complementary coffee in the morning and cookies at night!!! Their attention to every detail made our stay one of the most memorable yet. We are already planning next year!!! Highly recommend!!!!

What a beautiful hotel. If I could give it 10 stars I would. Perfectly appointed room with modern bath, and a ambiatic working gas fire place...switch on and instant coziness. Large rooms especially for an antique property. Outside belcony was beautiful and would be a great place to gather with friends but not in February. The light breakfast was more than enough. Healthy fruits and yogurts. Muffins and grains. And individual egg frittata. The staff was gracious andbspent time showing the features of the hotel. This is a great hotel to just get away. I would return just for the hotel and curl up downstairsnin the lobby with a good book. I would use this as a retreat

It was almost 1 year ago that my fiancé and I got married over the weekend in Salem, MA. Looking at the various hotels in the area, we chose The Merchant based on previous reviews and its location. It was definitely one of the best decisions we have ever made. During our wedding preparations a year ago, the hotel staff figuratively bent over backwards to make sure they took care of all our needs and our families' needs as best as they could. We were impressed and touched by their 5-star service. One year later, we returned to Salem to celebrate our anniversary and appropriately booked a night at The Merchant. Our impression of the hotel and its staff has not changed; in fact, it has only improved. They were gracious, accommodating, friendly and courteous a year ago, this time around, they remembered who we were and were just as gracious and accommodating and friendly and courteous. In fact, they even made sure we stayed in the same room we spent our wedding/honeymoon, even though we didn't ask! Truly, Jennifer (the manager) and her staff have provided top notch hospitality that you can only hope for any time you go on vacation. As for the hotel itself, the pictures you see online definitely demonstrate what the Merchant has to offer. The rooms themselves were comfortable, stylish with a simple but elegant decor; it was home away from home. Sitting in the middle of Salem, it was within walking distance of pretty much all the hotspots the town has to offer. We cannot express enough of our gratitude to the staff for their hard work and courtesy to make us feel as comfortable as possible. We look forward to making an annual trip to Salem and staying at the Mechant where we know we will be well cared for.

A great place to stay right in the heart of Salem. The hotel is close to everything you could possibly want to see while in town. Our room was number one on the first level. It was incredibly spacious, had a nice seating area, and a gas fireplace. Parking is either on-site for a fee, or short walk away for free. There is a lovely main seating area where you can enjoy a boardgame, have a beverage or snack from the snack area, or just relax and chat with your friends. Breakfast was included and was delightful. It consisted of several small plate choices from avocado toast, to overnight yogurt, to mini quiches. My only two critiques were that every staff member was warm and friendly except one older female manager who seemed very unfriendly and smug each time she interacted with guests. The other would be that the snack area could use a bit of variety. Each time we checked it out the snacks were oranges, 100 calorie pretzel packs, seltzer water, and plain popcorn. Sometimes guests may want to cheat a bit on their diets while on vacation....

This was the best hotel I think I have ever stayed in, and there have been MANY. I felt welcomed in immediately upon ringing the doorbell. Tamara showed me around the hotel, carried my bag to my room and showed me how to work everything in my room. The room even had a hand written note with yummy sweets. The decor of the hotel is absolutely stunning, it's incredibly clean and very quiet. It instills a sense of community since it's a boutique hotel and other quests were so friendly. I would HIGHLY recommend this hotel, to others. I cannot wait to visit again, and hope to enjoy other Lark hotels too! (A full review of the hotel and my guide to Salem are on my blog - SarahInStyle.com. Check it out for more!)

Super clean, great staff, snacks, the whole nine yards. A pretty penny but totally worth it. I could stay in those showers for hours. The towels are also really soft. All around perfect, great twist to a historical home!

Beautiful hotel with a great history. There was plenty of coffee, water and snacks that was kept replenished through my stay. My room had a big fireplace and was decorated very well. Breakfast in the morning was very good and the staff were all very friendly and helpful. I would definitely stay here again!

Amazing weekend! This hotel is beautifully renovated and definitely deserves 5 stars. Jennifer the manager makes sure you are comfortable and will do whatever she can to make your stay perfect. There's a small kitchen stocked with free fruit, snacks and coffee. It's right downtown and close to everything. As others have mentioned the parking is a little funky (you have to walk a block) but it's free and you can drop your bags before you park. Lark Hotels are always top-notch and The Merchant is certainly no exception!

We only stayed one night as we traveled the New England states and wished we could have stayed longer. The history and mystery of the location were alluring and accommodations were clean, comfortable and well thought out. You can walk to everything in this historic neighborhood. The breakfast and coffee were outstanding. Tammara was extremely helpful with ideas for our time in Salem and Portland. She is a true professional with guests' best interests in mind.

I am SO happy I stayed here during my trip to Salem. The Merchant is a gorgeous boutique style hotel that's really historic and cozy. The decor is so chic and modern, the common room is beautiful. They have a pantry that guest can go into that offered coffee and tea as well as waters, sodas and some snacks that are available all day and night. I stayed in a room on the first floor and there was no issues with noise, or hearing other guests come in and out. Jennifer is the GM at The Merchant and she was such a great help in regards to us enjoying our stay. She was so nice and informative, giving us suggestions on places to go, where to eat, and answering any questions we had. She gave us complimentary coupons to Front St. Coffee House which was right across the street from the hotel. The coupons included specific options, but if you didn't want any of that, they held a $5 value towards anything served in the coffee house. The Merchant is in walking distance to anything you want to do in Salem, the hotel offers parking, and you can leave your car there for the duration of your stay if you don't plan on leaving Salem. I had an excellent stay and can't wait to return.

Love this place cannot wait until they were open again and this virus has passed. We stayed here this past January after a disappointing stay at another hotel in the area. From the young man at the front desk to the rooms and the decor it was simply fabulous! It's location is terrific. I can see were Parking could be a little bit of a problem as you have to technically park across the street but once you're there everything is in walking distance so you don't really need access to your car every day. The breakfast was just OK but everything else was fantastic very clean very well designed.

INCREDIBLE. Really enjoyed our stay in Salem in October. The details put into this hotel are appreciated. Rooms are a good size and well equipped. Beds are slightly smaller than expected but comfortable. The common room they have is beautiful and you could spend a few hours hanging out there. They also have a DIY cocktail bar if you so choose. In a great location in downtown Salem. It also isn't haunted lol. Would highly recommend

I loved this hotel! We drove from Michigan to stay here for a couple of days and to enjoy the Halloween craze in Salem! My absolute favorite part of our trip was The Merchant! The charm, style, and comfort were unlike any other hotel. The lounge area was awesome! We stayed on the first floor and having that right across the hall to hang out and relax in was great! I'm already considering re-booking for a future trip! The staff was so friendly and accommodating! I would HIGHLY recommend this hotel to anyone considering staying in Salem!

We went here for Salem's Halloween Happenings. The Merchant was within walking distance of every place we wanted to visit. It was warm, cozy and the attention to details was very impressive. The breakfast served in the morning was a welcome delight to get us on our day's adventures, and it was also a chance to socialize with some of the other guests (we met some really nice people!). Lastly, I would be remiss if I didn't mention that Tommy and Tamara were the most friendly and helpful hosts we could have asked for. We will definitely be back! :o)

This hotel was wonderful. The beds and bedding was so comfortable. I forgot to ask the brands.The rooms are spacious and beautiful. The common room with a bar was very nice. The pantry was great with coffee , tea , cold drinks , snacks and baked goods. There was a refrigerator for personal items. It was quiet and peaceful. Great location for walking to shops and restaurants. We had an issue with the a/c and was called and immediately upgraded to another room. I was also given a small gift for my inconvenience. Top Shelf all the way!

We just got home from our trip to Peabody, MA...we stayed at The Merchant for 3 nights. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and were made to feel welcome from the minute we pulled up to the rear entrance. I had the pleasure of talking with Tommy each day...he is absolutely delightful and helpful. The hotel itself is quaint, quirky and most importantly, comfortable. Breakfast served each morning is delicious. Amenities (and just thoughtful touches) are numerous... We will be travelling back to MA in about 6 mos. and will definitely stay here again. Thank you all...

This Inn is truly a gem! We came for a cycling vacation along the New England coast and spent 5 nights in The Merchant. First of all, do not let any of the comments about the parking dissuade you- you may not even need a car on this trip, ours sat in the lot the entire time. In short, the one block walk to the free parking is roughly the same as the walk across a large parking lot. Drop your stuff off first, then park- no biggie. Now on to the good stuff- it's really hard to decide what makes The Merchant so special- the staff or the amenities. Jennifer has a knack for making you feel like you've been close friends all your life- that's just her personality. As for running this inn, she will go to all lent hugs to make sure your stay is fabulous. College courses at schools teaching hospitality should have a 401 level class called "How to manage your inn like Jennifer". Equally impressive are ALL other staff- the ALL are very accommodating, helpful and give you the feeling they truly enjoy working here. We stayed in the Washington room which had plenty of room for lounging and a super comfy bed (I think we averaged about 9.5 hours sleep each night; try that at home?!). The common area is also very inviting and relaxing where you will strike up conversation with fellow travelers, many of whom are repeat visitors to The Merchant. Also noted is that The Merchant is spotless! The breakfast and snack are is all you need to start your day- did I mention the PC Tips tea bags ;-) ? Salem is a fun little town with good dining and everything is within walking distance of The Merchant. Whether the witch thing be your thing, or the Peabody Essex Museum, or just strolling the streets and wondering through the various shops, Salem is just a relaxing little town to spend some downtime. Did you notice how long most of these reviews are? That's a testament to The Merchant!

Getting into this town at the height of Summer Solstice was challenging with all the tiny one -way streets. My husband had reached a boiling point temp rivaled only by the heat-wave outside our barely air-conditioned rent-a-car. We arrived earlier than check-in and Hostess and front desk dynamite Jennifer saved the day and hubby's low blood sugar moment by bringing iced cold water bottles and fruit to the vehicle, then kindly allowed us to store luggage and park while grabbing lunch and having a look around the town. Upon our return we were greeted by vivacious Molly, who charmed us with hysterical and historical tales of the hotel and excelled at customer service. The interior design was divine. You will not be disappointed with this well appointed Inn.

This hotel is beyond beautiful - its aesthetic is funky yet sophisticated, chic yet cozy - with an acute attention to detail in every corner. Clearly a lot of love went into crafting this space - and the staff were friendly an helpful. We cannot recommend The Merchant highly enough and will definitely be returning!

We are now huge fans of Lark Hotels. This was our first stay in one, the hotel is beautiful. The design is really well done, I couldn't take it in enough. The staff is super friendly and very helpful. The hotel offers a stocked pantry for the guests to raid at any time. This was great, coffee, tea, water, juice and snacks are much appreciated after long days of absorbing some history. A second floor deck is a great place to chill and relax after a day of walking. We're super history buffs so we stayed in the George Washington room, this is where he slept while visiting Salem back in the day. Thankfully, as Katie informed us, the bed has since been replaced. It was hard to get out of honestly, insanely comfortable, a step-up from the old mattress of Washington I'm sure. I honestly could not come up with one thing to complain about or that would need improvement. Wait, I have something, one of the recessed lights over the bed was not lined up with the other one more than likely due to structural reasons. It was awful, asymmetry nightmares. ;) When you show up, you are given a loaded iPad to use during your stay. This perk was super helpful, we used it constantly. The Merchant also has parking! Yes, parking! Off the street! Well, it's in the public lot right down the street but this was a major factor in deciding where we stayed in town. Besides just being an awesome place, perks such as off-street parking help. We parked the car, forgot about it and enjoyed our time in town on foot. If you've never been, this is the way to traverse Salem. Driving through town is a nightmare, avoid it if you can. The Merchant is located on Washington Street in a more than perfect location, everything is within walking distance. Breakfast was on the hotel at a local coffee shop. Great coffee, great shop. All-in-all I'd say the Merchant is kind of like a bed and breakfast on steroids. You may not have breakfast served at the location but they still offer to feed you. It's smaller than a typical hotel, you share the beautiful common spaces with a nice, small group of fellow travelers. You get to know the staff which gives it that homey, personal touch. It's a great place, I'm really glad we stayed here. We will for sure stay in other Lark Hotels in the future.

My family and I were coming to enjoy the New England Christmas weather and wanted to stay near, but not in, Boston...we have visited Salem in the past and felt it would be a great "base camp"...and The Merchant has been an absolutely amazing experience... Jennifer (the GM) has been wonderful, and her other staff members have been equally attentive...the property is beautifully kept and while the decor is not "traditional" to the home, it is comfortable and relaxing while being elegant...no pretentious attitudes or posturing...my 13 year old son is perfectly at ease, as are myself and my wife... If you are looking for a home away from home when traveling in the area, I highly recommend The Merchant...with our key to the front door and the relaxed and friendly staff we feel like we are staying with family or friends instead of a soul-less chain hotel...

First, the hotel - chic, elegant, and fun decor brings this historic building to life. Our room was wonderfully appointed, large, clean, airy, and hard to leave! Great shower and super comfy bedding. The bar of waters and snacks for the guests was super convenient and much needed after a night out in Salem! What a beautiful place to stay, with amenities that surpass the chain hotels. The location could not be better for strolling around Salem. You are literally a minute's stroll from Essex, right in the heart of Salem. Secondly, the staff is amazing. From the time we checked in until the moment we left, the staff was friendly and helpful, going above and beyond to make sure we had a comfortable stay. We got great dinner recommendations from Molly! Even after we had checked out, they allowed us to keep our luggage in the hotel and even gave us waters for the drive home! I will definitely be checking into other Lark hotels in the future. Thanks so much for an amazing stay!

Beautiful hotel , great decor and perfect location. BUT be sure to ask and get a description of the room you are staying in. We stayed in room #2. It was on the first floor and next to reception and kitchen. You could hear people coming and going, the AC unit must be in the basement below room 2 since it sounded like a freight train coming a couple times an hour. The room looks onto nothing- a cement wall, rusty fence, a bunch of crap and a small front parking lot. We were not told this was the case- it would seem all other rooms have a decent view. We were in Salem for the weekend for a wedding . The bathroom lighting was extremely dark - no way you could attempt to put makeup on and there was no full length mirror. The person that worked there gave us a small lamp to put in the bathroom - unfortunately didn't help the situation- we were also brought a mirror - but honestly we shouldn't have to ask for these things- just inconvenient. We asked to change rooms but they were fully booked and other hotels in the area were full as well. I would recommend the hotel but not room 2!!! For $500 a night I expected a better accommodation. Kinda bummed.

If you are looking for a little getaway, look no more! The Merchant is the place to be. We came up for a Sunset Sail and decided to spend the night here. The rooms are beautifully decorated, outrageously clean and mirror what they look like on their website. Service was amazing! When entering the room, we were greeted with a little note thanking us for staying, cookies to have as a snack, and bottled water. We chose the George Washington room. The fireplace and heated bathroom floors are a must! There are so many restaurants and shops walking distance to this location. We will definitely be staying at The Merchant, next time we visit Salem! Thanks again!

We stayed in the George Washington room and it was awesome! Staff was very helpful! Hotel was clean and sanitized. We are definitely going to return!

Just spent two nights here in the George Washington room. I loved staying here . I loved the room , the bathroom, the decor . The staff leaves at night and the house is yours. I loved that part. Breakfast is awesome as well. My only minus is .... I just didn't sleep well there ... don't read about it before you go !!!

We chose your property because it was a LARK property and loved your place on Martha's Vineyard. This is now my favorite hotel to date! Thank you for your hospitality. We loved everything about our stay!

Very quaint, very nice looking!!! But if you're looking for a hotel that embraces Salem's history, don't go looking here. It's not your Halloween-town place. I feel like they're trying to have nothing to do with it. The Merchant - before renovation - has quite a bit of a macabre history, which none of the staff seems to acknowledge. Very pleasant though! ...Besides a few pretentious people working there. Do NOT book through any other site besides the Merchant's itself. Booking.com gave us $180/night, but the Merchant charged us 360/night...it was quite a surprise, and no, we were not reimbursed.

My favorite boutique hotel. Charming colonial era mansion converted into a hotel. It manages to keep the feel of an old historic place while staying exceptionally clean. The amenities are luxurious and the hotel is decorated by someone that must be an accomplished designer. We stayed in the George Washington room. The location is ideal to get to the tourist sites and the surprisingly fun night life.

I went stayed here for my birthday in the George Washington suite. The hotel is great. The room is nice, clean and comfortable. I love the heated tiles in the bathroom and the softness of the bed/ fire place. This is my favorite hotel out of all hotels Ive stayed at. The only reason I deducted a star was the parking situation. We went on a day where most of the hotels in Salem were sold out in the winter due to dome ball event. The directions on where to park weren't clear on the website and it was impossible to turn my car around in the small driveway they had.

We came to town for a family wedding and were delighted with our stay at The Merchant. The room was more than comfortable, absolutely beautiful, quiet, and we had all of the comforts of home. The staff was super helpful and the little kitchen with snacks and foods available, coffee, and other beverages was a lovely addition. The entire facility is total comfort, beauty, and in a wonderful central location of Salem for perfect sightseeing opportunities. We highly,highly recommend The Merchant for your stay.

The perfect place to stay in Salem for our honeymoon. Everyone was very helpful way before booking and during our stay. They always answered my emails/messages and were able to accommodate my late check in. We stayed in room 7, which also happened to be my husband's favorite lucky number, and the view was awesome! The bedding was even more awesome! The snacks were complementary and the parking a easy walk. In fact, we did not use the car the entire time in Salem because everything was pretty much in walking distance from hotel. The merchant even went beyond hospitality by leaving us a note, champagne, and two glasses in our room. We will for sure be back!!!

Can't say enough good things about this place. We are both local but our stay was a great "getaway" without leaving town. The rooms are awesome, the staff is super friendly and accommodating.

My husband and I were looking for a quick overnight getaway to celebrate an anniversary and had been wanting to visit the Peabody Essex Museum. I checked around on the web and The Merchant kept coming up and looking good. We booked a room and got a mini vacation. The building is a beautiful old Federal Mansion that has been both lovingly preserved and with just enough added color and pizzazz to keep it from being too stuffy. Small and intimate, the public areas were very inviting and there's a deck which will be great when the weather warms up. Parking is free nearby and you can walk to just about everywhere you'd want to see from the hotel. Our room was just funky enough up in the eaves. All the rooms have big, comfy beds, gas fireplaces, free wi-fi, apple TV, a blue-tooth clock radio and the use of and iPad. There are snacks and coffee and beverages available all day and we got a voucher for breakfast at a nearby coffee shop which filled the bill nicely. Our room had a huge soaking tub which was great after a day of sightseeing. There's lots to see and do in Salem and the Museum is excellent and can take a whole day. The best part of the experience was Jennifer, the manager, who made us feel like long lost family as soon as we walked in the door, making us feel right at home showing us where to find everything and giving us the grand tour. She was very knowledgeable about the area and suggested some great dinner choices - the Firenze was wonderful! And then like any perfect host, she vanished until we needed her assistance again. She made a great visit truly memorable. We've already recommended this place to our friends and as we would to anyone else. We'll definitely be back.

My girlfriend and I stayed here for a long weekend and loved it. The beds are the comfiest I've ever slept in, the decor is excellent, and the customer service is friendly, helpful, and welcoming. In addition, the hotel is so conveniently located, right in the middle of downtown Salem. We definitely want to stay here the next time we're in town!