Mendocino holds a special place in our hearts. My family had owned property in nearby Fort Bragg for many years, and I grew up with memories of vacations spent on that grassy bluff overlooking a private beach. When my Dad passed recently, we traveled back to the area to honor his wishes to join Mom as ashes in the sand. Of course as we planned the trip, we looked for the best hotels in Mendocino for a long weekend stay with the kids.
Back in the day the family did not have much money. We stayed in motels that did not appeal to our modern standards. Today there are far more suitable options, and plenty of low cost choices that look very nice. We drove past those, heading for two places we consider to the among the best hotels in Mendocino. Mom and Dad would approve. So we packed up the car with snacks for the road trip, and headed up the coast from a stay in San Francisco.
Watching the sun set through the haze in Mendocino.Best Hotels in Mendocino
Mendocino is a quaint little town on the Northern California coast, brimming with beauty and creativity. An artist colony since the 1960s, Mendocino has kept its charm and lack of pretense. Visitors are drawn to the area because it’s so laid back and downright beautiful. Here the great California Redwoods descend almost down to the rocky cliffs. Oh, and the local wine from Anderson Valley is award-winning the world over.
Along the redwood forest trails in Mendocino.There is a ton for families to do in this area. I wrote about all that in a post for The Points Guy entitled Mendocino Activities for the Whole Family.
As for place to stay, let me tell you about our two amazing experiences.
Brewery Gulch Inn
This sweet little Bed and Breakfast Inn is incredibly charming. Perched on a hill overlooking the craggy seas of Mendocino, Brewery Gulch Inn is one of those special places we will always remember. The owner has done an outstanding job creating a cozy environment with just 12 rooms and a great room/lobby/dining room. Designed in an Arts & Crafts style from original growth salvaged local redwood, this qualifies on our list of best hotels in Mendocino because everything is just impeccable. Design. Style. Cleanliness. Attention to detail. We loved it.
The gardens at Brewery Gulch Inn are pretty spectacularCozy Living Room
Entering the hotel lobby, guests are met with a roaring fireplace, comfortable leather living room furniture, and a bank of windows with views for days. We could have sat on that sofa for hours, but there was so much to see! Very high ceilings give the room an expansive feel along with gigantic windows all around. French doors open out on to a spacious deck with comfortable seating in the sun or shade.
The great room at Brewery Gulch Inn is designed in the Arts & Crafts style.Ocean-view Deck
Just off the living room, the deck is positioned perfectly to take in the ocean views. Rocky shorelines surround nearby Smuggler’s Cove, with waves spraying high on the rocks when the tide is high. Nearby, a grassy hill is dotted with adirondack chairs in the warm sun. We watched deeply colored Blue Jays swoop down to grab seeds from a well-placed bird feeder. Flowers and shrubs sway in the breeze, and it’s sooooooo peaceful.
We loved watching the birds on the deck at Brewery Gulch InnSpacious Rooms
We stayed in the Meadowview suite, a second story room with two bedrooms so the kids could enjoy some privacy. Every space at Brewery Gulch Inn is pristine and spotless, and our suite was no exception. With a king bed in the main room and two twin beds in the second bedroom, our family was very comfortable. The room had a fireplace, coffee machine, small frig, sink and microwave. The bathroom was stocked with spa-like soaps, lotions and treatments for relaxation. To say we were extremely comfortable is an understatement.
Our bedroom in the Meadowview suite.Delicious Breakfast
With a focus on fresh, local and organic ingredients, the kitchen at Brewery Gulch Inn is doing it right. Although we did not taste the simple dinner included with our room booking, it looked delicious. Dinner is served buffet style in the great room, where guests are invited to eat as they please and sit at one of the comfortable tables.
And breakfast. Well the chef knows what she or he is doing, because the food is out of this world. We started with a freshly baked scone, still warm from the oven. Topped with butter and jam, it paired perfectly with a steaming mug of coffee or tea. With table service at breakfast, we were presented with a menu offering a variety of delicious dishes. I chose the huevos rancheros, Ava enjoyed the pancakes and Triton loved the eggs and sausages. Sophia chose to stay cozy in her feather bed upstairs, so we brought her a chocolate chip muffin to eat in the room.
The breakfast scones at Brewery Gulch Inn were out of this world.Beautiful Grounds
During our Springtime visit, the grounds of the Brewery Gulch Inn were ablaze in color. Blooms in all shapes, sizes and varieties were opening in the sun to greet us. As we entered the drive off the main road, a picturesque old wooden water tower looms over a small pond. From the looks of it, this pond must be home to a few friendly frogs and turtles. Nestled against a nature preserve, there is nothing beyond the Inn except meadows, trees and sky. Beautiful.
Little River Inn
Just down the road a bit, the Little River Inn was one of my parents’ favorites. When they would return to Mendocino after they sold the property, this is where they would stay. The Inn itself has a rich history, and has been in the same family for five generations!
On the beach near Little River Inn.Generations of Hospitality
Little River Inn is celebrating 75 years in business. The amazing main home was originally built in 1857 by Silas Coombs, and was converted to a hotel by another generation of the family. Situated on 225 wooded acres, the old Coombs home is now the reception area and lobby sitting room. On the property are 65 ocean view rooms, a dining room and bar, nine-hole golf course with pro shop, and day spa.
The original house now serves as main entrance at Little River Inn.Cottage-style Rooms
The rooms here are housed in buildings old and new, all designed in the classic Victorian architecture of the original home. Lattice work and gingerbread top many of the buildings closest the ocean, and all rooms face this tremendous view. Rolling lawns tip down towards the coast to give great vantage points from virtually any spot. We stayed in a double room with giant balcony, positioned at the top of the hill near the golf course. What a treat it was to wake up each morning and sit on that patio, watching the sun light up the gardens.
The view from our balcony at Little River InnOur room was comfortable and well-appointed, with a fireplace and club chairs as well as a dining table. And the bathroom was huge! Full soaking tub with jets, as well as a nice shower with good water pressure. The girls loved having a nice hot bath at night. After all, the Northern California coast is still chilly in the Spring.
Fantastic Dining
The Little River Inn is known for its restaurant and bar, and rightly so. Not only did guests enjoy dining there, but locals and guests from other hotels also came for the inventive menu. Executive Chef Marc Dym certainly knows his way around the kitchen. We loved breakfasts here the most. I became so addicted to his thin and delicious Swedish Pancakes that I ordered them two days in a row. I even tried to replicate the dish at home, but did not reach his level.
For dinner, I tried the Chicken and Gravy which was superb. Tender, juicy and served with mashed potatoes, the dish was so comforting. Triton liked his fresh, locally caught salmon very much, rubbed with spices and herb and cooked to perfection. For dessert, the girls begged for chef’s famous olallieberry cobbler. We held back though, so there’s another reason to return here for further feasting.
Locals and visitors love Ole’s Whale Watch Bar at the Little River Inn in Mendocino.Golf Course & Spa
At some point in its history, Little River Inn added a 9-hole golf course. Improbable as it sounds, the course winds up from the coast and through the redwoods. Not golfers we, so we did not play but saw that many others loved it. I think if we were to take up golf (again) this might be a great place for us. Not too difficult, gorgeous, and conveniently located next to a renowned spa for relaxation afterwards!
Speaking of the spa, we were so busy sightseeing we did not have time to indulge. The services offered here look inviting, with massages, body treatments, facials and more. From the looks of the spa menu, a number of treatments are seaweed based – how appropriate. We love hotels with spas onsite, so we can stagger to the room after our treatments rather than get in a car and drive somewhere.
The flower beds at Little River Inn were so colorfulSpectacular Views
One of the things that kept my parents coming back to the Little River Inn were the views. This area of California is so picturesque, with literally dozens of gorgeous scenes from sun-up to sundown. Pines twisted and bending from the ocean breezes. Rocky cliffs tumbling into churning blue and white oceans. Beaches made of sea glass, and others offering tidepools full of sea life. Fishing boats bobbing in the ocean with their catch of the day. Gorgeous blooming rhododendrons and azaleas in bright colors. Towering redwood trees and fern-covered trails.
All of these views are available either from your lounge chair at Little River Inn, or in very close proximity. This is one of the primary reasons people love to visit the Mendocino area. There is no amusement park, no cineplex, no shopping mall. This is nature at its finest, and places like Little River Inn have continued to grow in popularity because of the surrounding natural beauty.
This pond was full of pollywogs and tadpoles.Well worth the leisurely drive up the coast from San Francisco, the Northern California coast is like no other. And now you know where to stay when you visit – at the best hotels in Mendocino! (In our humble opinions anyway).
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