Great facilities and service The beds are very comfortable Clean rooms Good food and drinks read more

For the restaurant: The food was incredibly bland and overpriced. We ordered a (very dry) unseasoned chicken sandwich, another unseasoned beef burger, and pasta. We requested a little parmesan for the pasta and they told us it'd be $6... Then after paying, the waiter shoved the tip screen in my face, which surprised me because it was not my credit card, but my dads. He took my surprise as hesitation to tip so made an annoyed face. It was super uncomfortable and forceful but whatever still tipped 20%. I hope they train their staff better. Maybe consider not charging for every little thing. Sitting out in the chairs, almost made up for how underwhelming and weird it was in there read more

Big Sur River Inn - outside - Hotels Near Me - Big Sur, California

After a long day of hiking, a nice dinner at the restaurant and then soaking feet in the river after - they have chairs set up permanently was relaxing and beautiful! I enjoyed the food options - and they have a vegan dr praeger burger here. Bathroom onsite is clean with a convenience store next door read more

We had an amazing dinner here on our way home driving up Hwy 1. The food was excellent and our service was attentive and friendly. You can't beat the ambiance while enjoying your meal outside on the patio. The overhead heaters were perfect. read more

Big Sur River Inn - Big Sur River Inn sign. - Hotels Near Me - Big Sur, California

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This review is for the restaurant ONLY! My group and I were seated in the closest table next to the door when there were plenty of other open tables. We were freezing and absolutely confused with why we were seated there. The waiter, named Chandler, gave terrible service. He basically got our drink orders and forgot about us. Someone in my group ordered a beer and he forgot to bring it to the table. Food was overpriced and lackluster. The best thing to order was probably the sweet potato fries, which literally any restaurant can make. The pesto chicken sandwich sounded very good on the menu but when it was brought out it looked terrible. For a $25 sandwich I at least expect some nice bread. Also definitely have to point out, THEY CHARGE $2 for hot water?!?! Absolutely ridiculous.... read more

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What a joke, left 2 messages at 9am to get a room on a Monday night, no call back so i called back and adked why nobody called back, the guy says oh well lots of other places to stay...Adios, tgats enough for me to say i will go somewhere else... read more

A great place to hang out for a couple days. Quality staff. Food cost is average for the area which is on the high side. Be aware there are occasional promotions. read more

Big Sur River Inn - Hotels Near Me - Big Sur, California

My bf & I decided to try this place out around lunch time for valentines day. We took a look at the menu before finding seating & they had alot of tasty sounding options. River inn has indoor and outdoor seating & outdoor seating is right by the river which is beautiful. Since we came around a cooler time, we took indoor seating where they set the fireplace for everyone. Lovely! The food is a bit pricey and the quality of the food is pretty decent especially for an inn. Id recommend coming here if you're looking for a restaurant that's heavy on enjoying the environment & atmosphere rather than cuisine. The restaurant is cozy & has an attentive staff. read more

Big Sur River Inn - shirley temple - Hotels Near Me - Big Sur, California

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This review is specifically for the burrito bar at the general store--not the hotel or the restaurant. The burrito was just okay--pretty bland overall, but it did the job for a quick, easy bite. Also, avoid getting gas here. The station is extremely overpriced and falsely advertises itself as the only one within 20 miles, which is just not true. Good for a grab-and-go snack, but that's about it. read more

This stay was for my bday weekend! They were having a February special sale! I have stayed here atleast 4 other times. The front desk was very helpful and cheerful. arrived at 2 and check in was at 4 but room was ready! nice clean but small room. Had a little porch and rocking chair! Parking is available right in front of door! Dinner was good average priced. Cant really enjoy the river in the winter but still nice to see! Restaurant on site food is good and so is service! read more

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Beautiful outdoor area on the river. You can just order a drink at the bar and sit on the chairs in the river for a relaxing time. read more

Big Sur River Inn - Outdoor seating - Hotels Near Me - Big Sur, California

I ate at the restaurant. The views and river were amazing. I also enjoyed the fresh blackberries that could be picked. The grounds keeper was really nice about letting me get some. Unfortunately the food in the restaurant was not good at all. I ordered a blt with chedder. The sandwich was cold. The cheese was not real chedder and didnt melt at all. The bacon was not cooked enough. I would honestly just come here to chill in the lake. The food inside the store seems better. Also, the ice was good. Although they do not offer samples. Which was disappointing. I didn't like the first one, so I had to get another. But the location was beautiful . Staff are nice. They do not have free internet or wifi. You will not get service unless you pay a insane amount to use theirs. Fyi. read more

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Skip the restaurant and find a chair on or in the river! Live music on Sunday's, and an outdoor bbq where you can buy food to enjoy picnic style. Killer Bloody Mary's using spicy Tito's ($12). Think I saw Sammy at the bar. read more

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Beautiful location. Our room overlooked the grassy area of the beautiful landscaped gardens ad trees as well as the river. Love the suite (a bedroom and separate living room). Rooms could be cleaner. But don't stay here if you are looking for peace, quiet and relaxation. Workers (I think) were out each night yelling in parking lot outside our window (I'm sure they thought they were talking)The walls are made of paper. You can hear kids running around upstairs, snoring, very loud plumbing as toilets are flushed and tvs from other rooms. So sad because the location is wonderful. read more

*****review for the restaurant only: Got the hamburger and chicken sandwich and sat outside on the patio. Nothing special and it was pricy for what you got. Still giving 4 stars as the chairs by the river were SO worth it!! Such an awesome and relaxing spot!!! read more

The good: the front desk people are super nice. I had questions and they have answers. The room was clean and cute. WiFi works good because I had zero reception in Big Sur. The bad: very expensive for what you get or don't get. Small room. No microwave, no fridge, no AC. It is kind of in a secluded area so I understand why the pricing is high, but I was anticipating some more amenities for the price. Overall, it's a lovely place with lots to do in the area. read more

My husband and I stayed in room 20 at the BIG SUR RIVER INN from August 5-August 8, 2025. The rate for 3 nights was $2,093.91. We put up with a horrible stench that we think came from the poorly sealed, cracked or damaged septic tank that was next to our room and by the entrance gate to the property. This was an extremely nasty smell that we experienced every single time we walked to the "suites" section of the property. I have now seen in previous reviews from years ago that this issue is not new. There was also a mildew smell in the room, presumably from carpets that got wet or needed cleaning. This smell was overpowering. Because of the smell, we only used the back room to sleep, and quickly dress. We opened the windows to let some air in, in hopes this would clear the air in the front room, but quickly got a reminder of the foul odor from the septic tank. We tried to find other lodging, but there was none as this was peak season in Big Sur. We endured, setting up the room's portable fan in the window which pulled air from from the river side of the property and pushed it out of the septic-adjacent bedroom. It was still smelly, but what could we do? If you stay in room 20, you will be alarmed by the loud booming noise each time the entrance gate to the property is used. The gate is attached to the building, rather than free standing, so it resonates quite loudly every time it is closed. At first we thought it came from the upstairs' guests. I had to buy flip flops at the store near the inn so I could comfortably shower. With the horrid smell in the bathroom, I didn't feel comfortable being in the shower with bare feet. After showering, I noticed water on the floor adjacent to the shower and around the base of the toilet. My husband discovered that water from the shower goes under the bathroom flooring leaving water on the floor. You can see what we learned in the following video: read more

great ambiance, beautiful place for lunch! got seated quickly, food was ok and pretty pricey but there's not many options in the area so it was worth it! read more

Rated it a 2-- only because of the creek. Other than that, save your money and just visit for the day. The room was subpar and definitely in need of an update. The soap provided was cringe-worthy -- thankfully, I always bring my own. If you're just hoping to enjoy the creek and the chairs in the water, all you need to do is buy food from the concession stand. We saw multiple families who clearly weren't staying at the property but were still allowed to come in and set up for the day. So the idea that this is an exclusive perk for guests is not true. We were hoping for a relaxing stay but instead dealt with a lot of noise. On top of that, the entrance to the rooms had a strong sewer smell, which made it impossible to even crack a window open. Overall, disappointing experience. read more

RESTAURANT REVIEW ONLY First of all this place disappointing... we came here after a long day of hiking and swimming and have been wanting to try this place for quite some time and I was left super dissatisfied and hungry. The service here was not the best.. waitress was cold and distant she forgot our waters and drinks. The host was sweet but the food was bland and a bit overpriced. I am sure this place is in high demand because of its location but you would think that they would invest more time into the food and service.... Overall I will not be coming back. read more

The BEST part of our drive to Big Sur What a peaceful little gem, thankful to the stranger who referred us there! read more

Big Sur River Inn - The big chair! Why not - Hotels Near Me - Big Sur, California

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Amazing getaway my son and his beautiful wife were married at this location, beautiful setting and surroundings would definitely 100% recommend read more

Big Sur River Inn - Hotels Near Me - Big Sur, California

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Buy a drink and find a chair in the shallow river. Best place on earth. Great way to spend an afternoon. Food here is ok, but not the draw. read more

We spent Thanksgiving week at the Big Sur River Inn: Three nights in a two-bedroom "River Suite" and one night across the street in a regular room (they'd sold out the suites that night when we booked). This is one of the few spots that the average family can still afford to stay in Big Sur. It's not perfect, there are physical defects here and there, but for the price, it's wholly acceptable. The location on the river is ideal. Loved Zenning out riverside every afternoon. Staff is friendly and helpful, restaurant is decent, and you're spot in the middle of Big Sur, so it's accessible to hiking and dining. All that being said, we weren't enamored with the smaller room on the other side of the street. The mattress was wider than the box springs and we struggled to sleep as we were leaning off the sides of the bed. LOL! I was glad we only stayed there one night. read more

It doesn't fit the price you pay. The rooms are simple and clean. The beds very comfortable. No small refrigerator in the room but a large TV , you have to pay for internet. No complementary breakfast. Dinner was okay but not worth the price. I ordered vegetarian potato hash it came warm not hot and was practically swimming in oil . It was a lot but not tasty at all. had to order toast it did not come with the breakfast . When it arrived it had obviously been toasted earlier that morning so was cold not good. Had to ask for butter then for jam. We had dinner the night before a pasta dish , again it was okay , not very much taste. Bread was extra. All in all the food iwas disappointing . The rooms do not have enough soundproofing so you hear everything going on in the rooms on either side. Snoring, talking ..... On the plus side The staff are friendly . read more

We did a quick stop at this place and it was totally worth it! We were doing the drive up Big Sur and this place came highly recommended! We stopped for drinks and to let the kiddos stretch their feet it was perfect! The day was beautiful and the kiddos had a blast in the river while we relaxed! Didn't get to try the food but will def be back to give that a try. Overall it was an amazing experience! read more

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This place is a lil slice of heaven . I have been wanting to visit for a long time and finally did. Sitting in the river was my highlight and The restaurant is cute and woodsy and our server Katlynn was adorable. The food is great and very fresh the roasted veggie salad is a must try and even had their famous apple pie. read more

Big Sur River Inn - Relaxing in the river - Hotels Near Me - Big Sur, California

Grab a burrito next door (Big Sur River in General Store) at the grocery store for faster service, less expensive and sit by the River in back to enjoy. $80.00 for two ahi salads with tip. Wifi is pay extra at check in (restaurant)... Some of us work mobile and need to be connected while taking a day off. Party of 12 on same check... I was treated rudely when having to asking twice for lemon with my water (not everyone drinks soda or alcohol and we like water) and I didn't want to leave a tip but no choice. Next time try: Fernwood Tavern down the road (4 miles south) next time for patio dining, pizza or sandwiches, better prices and good/faster service. Noon-10pm all week, music Fridays Fern wood Tavern, 47200 CA-1, Big Sur CA 93920 read more

Wonderful hotel staff and customer service. We will be staying there in the future! Thank you Victoria and the front desk staff for your assistance with our reservation issue. read more

Incredibly run down for the (not cheap) price! We booked this for a cozy romantic getaway and boy did it disappoint! Images on website and their social media was quite misleading. For $600 for two nights we expected at least clean rooms. We arrived and the room smelled strong and musty with old carpet, clumps of sticky hair and dirt in corners of the bathroom floor, mold all over the shower tiling, previous guests hair stuck on the sink drain, cobwebs on the ceiling and (pretty gross but) old blood stains on the sheets. We had to forgo our second night - we realized sending it all the way home to our own bed would be more comfortable and would rather eat the money. Such a bummer but will not return! Will be staying at Glen Oaks right down the road next time. read more

Just go. It's excellent. Stunning campground. We didn't want to leave. The trees are enormous and beautiful.

We're happy we stayed here. Friendly staff and comfy rooms. A great stop on the way down the coast.

We stayed for 2 nights, Sun & Mon. Pool was closed because the walkway was under construction. Beautiful room on the river side which was extremely expensive. We decided to splurge since it was our wedding gift from close friends. They have rooms on the other side of Hwy 1 that are more reasonable in price. I give these rooms 2.5 stars with a 4 star price because of the spotless grounds and location and being a resort, but there's only a handful of rooms. The room was on the 1st floor and easily accessible to the lawn area in front of the river. It's so nice to listen to the river which was 50 ft. from the deck. This resort has everything you need and more. Food at the restaurant was very good and the service excellent. Easy check in with Gabe was a breeze and check out was noon. Wonderful place! Would love to go back in the future. read more

I had a lovely time visiting Big Sur River Inn. When requesting to sit outside the hostess sat us at a spot with a great view of the river. The food price was a bit on the high side but both the tri tip sandwich and the hummus plate were very good. We also very much enjoyed the live band they had playing. The service was a bit slow but the waitress was nice. read more

We had the fajitas pasta and the ribs. Margarita everything here was absolutely fabulous five star all the way. read more

Big Sur River Inn - The food and drinks and service was fabulous - Hotels Near Me - Big Sur, California

We love this place! We always use it as a great stopping point to relax, have a drink and listen to the River. This time, we decided to try the food and it definitely did not disappoint. I enjoyed a salad with a house made cream of mushroom soup. I wish I would've taken more pictures of the food, but I couldn't help but eat it all to quickly! Great family stopping point! read more

Big Sur River Inn - Aperol Spritz - Hotels Near Me - Big Sur, California

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This review is for the motel. The Riverside Suites are positively not worth the $500/night weekend rate. Unless of course you like crowds of people mingling in front of your room, being 20 feet off the highway with plenty of road noise and loud Harley's setting off car alarms. It's really a shame because the natural surroundings are nice, but they are spoiled by crowds of people and poor room location in close proximity to the noise. Save your money and just make the Big Sur River Inn a pitstop for a drink and/or a meal on you visit to the area. read more

We held our son's wedding rehearsal dinner and welcome cocktail party at River Inn. The dinner was for about 60 people and the cocktail party was about 150 people. We started working with Breann at River Inn in March 2023 and the event was for September 2024. What can I say-This event was spectacular! Better than we had imagined! Breann was with us every step of the way, from the fantastic dinner menu, the cocktails and appetizers for the welcome party after the dinner, to the "to-go cookies and coffee" that everyone took when the event was over. Breann thought of everything! The food was delicious! A dinner for 60 and the pork chops, salmon, cheesy potatoes, etc., was dead on perfect. We were able to set up the outdoor tv for the bride and groom slide show, had a Cigar area, which was spectacular, and the setting couldn't be better! The staff was top notch! Very attentive and was there for anything we needed. Besides Breann, who was so fantastic, we have to give a shout out to Sweet Daisy- Breann's assistant, Zeke-The outstanding Cocktail-ologist that made our specialty cocktails the way we wanted them, Rafa and Katelyn-Best Bartenders EVER, Veronica and Lorena-who assisted us all and made everything happen all weekend long. These folks and so many more were outstanding! We highly recommend River Inn for a vacation, but HIGHLY recommend for a wedding! BTW, the wedding ended up being here as well and it was over the top gorgeous! The Chef is top notched! The best Ribeye - Even the Texas folk loved them! We had the whole resort to ourselves all weekend long! This It was a weekend that all will remember for a very long time! read more

Big Sur River Inn - Can only post the cigar bar as the B n G have not posted their pics yet:)! - Hotels Near Me - Big Sur, California

We stopped by for lunch after an intense hike. We luckily were seated quickly in their outdoor patio area. Nice deck but tbh not impressed with the seating chairs considering the prices. Staff was quick to bring us water and get our orders. The menu choices is honestly my driving factor behind the low stars. Extremely pricey considering the options they provided. It was good but in my option not worth the price. I got the Californian Chicken sandwich and it was okay. My partner got the Angus burger and he also said it was okay as it only came with the meat really. They offered to add cheese at an additional cost (??????). Also, the prepared drinks are $16 for a plastic cup drink. I considered getting a margarita but couldn't bring myself to actually order it after I saw the size. It was okay but I don't think we would go back. read more

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My boyfriend & I stayed here overnight following a wedding and I'm sad to say that we will not be returning anytime soon. We got to our hotel and was allowed to grab our keys at noon, which was nice. However, the unfortunate circumstances came later that night after the wedding. There is absolutely no indication of where each room is and my boyfriend and I spent 20 minutes walking around the entire property on the side of the street with the restaurant, which is where we assumed all the rooms were. However, they were all across the street on the other side. We walked into our room and were bummed to see stains all over the carpet, moldy caulking in the shower, and we could hear everything. We got in bed to find out our tv was not working at all, we were not able to watch cable and it recommended us call the front desk (this was unavailable because it was after hours), however, we could ironically hear the people next to us watching cable perfectly fine. In fact, the walls here are so thin, we can not only hear every single car that drives by but also the people watching their television perfectly as well as every conversation they were having. All in all this reminded me of an overpriced Motel 6 and we were super bummed as we heard great things from the reviews and family members. However, as previously stated, it is unlikely we will ever stay here again. read more