Benbow Historic Inn - Garberville, California

Matt C.

Solidly “fine”. There aren’t many lodging options along the avenue of the giants or thereabouts. So, this is possibly as good as it gets. The hotel is quaint and a unique historic building. Rooms are a bit small and dated. Our AC gave out in the middle of the night, which happens. The location is unremarkable. They think very highly of the food options given the prices (we don’t eat there). The staff was helpful and responsive.

Raya S.

The Inn is located in the heart of the redwood country. The grounds are beautifully maintained, with a large lawn, charming rose garden, and access to the river. The building, designed by julia Morgan, is well preserved, with beautifully appointed public areas, with antiques and large fireplaces. puzzles and games are available to pass the time, and a time-honored tradition of tea and scones are served to guests in the afternoon.
Our room wasn't as exciting. It was very small (at $250 a night), with a bathroom so tiny, a large person would have a hard time navigating it.
The restaurant is pricy. Our salad and hamburger were good, but way too salty. The fish and chips at the bar were disappointing. All and all, the most elegant accommodations near The Avenue of the Giants, which is an awesome place to visit.

karenn663

If you find yourself near Garberville this is a great choice. The next best hotel does not even compare. Spend a little extra and treat yourself. It’s very peaceful. Quiet. Several spaces to relax, read, eat, drink. They even had a community puzzle to work on. ||It’s an old property but in the best way. Antique furniture. Old windows that let in the fresh air. Limited outlets for charging your electronics. I travel with an extension cord for this reason. The view from the outdoor patio is outstanding. The food isn’t anything special but it’s good enough considering the delicious wines and ambiance.||I love a good modern boutique hotel but this place had that old world charm. I’m so glad we stayed here.

joandodge

We stayed four nights in this Historic Inn. The Common rooms are quite lovely as is the back terrace. The bar and restaurant are welcoming with terrific staff. All that being said, the rooms are quite old and quite small. The size is to be expected in such an old place, but the furnishings should be updated. What was most disconcerting was the front desk staff. Not one staff member ever greeted us - even when we checked in the fellow at the front was having a personal conversation with a friend of his and did not acknowledge us until his friend left. I would like to give a shout out to Jonathan in the Bar and Matthew in the dining room. Both fellows were gracious, interesting and interested. They were, by far, the hotel's greatest ambassadors.

WilliamCAtlanta

My second time staying here. My wife heard me speak so longily for the town of Garberville and the surrounding areas. I booked the Benbow Inn for our 34st Anniversary and she loved every minute of our four night stay. Get a room without TV and you will be transported back to a simplier time with a decanter of Sherry and a warm and welcoming bed. The restaurant staff was attentive and understaffed most days, but that just meant to slow down and take it easy. The front desk must encounter some bad actors because they always seem on guard and will often escalate an issue instead of finding a solution. Once you get past the front desk, it's smooth sailing back into a time less stressful and bucolic. The gardens are inspiring and the horticultrist seemed to like my queries and comparisons to other world renown places of botanical splendor. In all, the food and drink were very good and the grounds emaculate. A short walk across the way and the Eel River is transportive.

Go54152122254

Celebrated our 41st wedding anniversary with a beautiful weekend at the historic Benbow Inn. We loved our Terrace King room with a real fireplace. Dining was superb for breakfast and dinner and Staff went out of their way to make our weekend extra special. We played at Avenue of the Giants and toured the Julia Morgan house at Benbow. Looking forward to our next visit!!

Scott J.

We had a wonderful experience! The inn is inviting, and social. The communal events and areas prompted fun conversations and interactions. The bar and restaurant were delicious with a great selection, and the staff kept the fires roaring.

Our room was comfortable and cozy, with a gas fireplace and view of the local mountains. The bathroom could still use a few improvements.

Jacquelyn S.

Great place. Reason for 3 stars is that our room had no shampoo or body wash (the dispensers were empty). I asked a few times for these to be refilled (we were there two nights) and they never got filled when called for next day for house keeping service. Very beautiful and historic place. Other issue was when we were at the bar and trying to close out the bar tender went over us a few times, where it became noticeable. Newer people would get drink orders while we were just waiting to close out on first drinks.