We sat on the beautiful patio of this historic inn during Porchfest 2026. The smoked salmon and cheese appetizer and drinks were delicious, the service was friendly, and the new owners are working hard to make this place shine. All of the rooms have been renovated beautifully. Well worth a visit! read more

Ignore all reviews before late 2024; every experience before that was regarding prior ownership. The Garfield changed ownership at least four times since 2018. The current owners (2024 and 2025) -- using the business name I'd Simms, have kept much of the historic architecture intact. That is appreciated. The superficial changes, although there is clearly an attempt to make it artistic, fail in several key areas. Instead of a warmth suited for a historic building, the visual atmosphere is more akin to entering the lobby of a hospital, with all it's bright-light and sanitary harshness: white walls, white granite [I don't think it is fabricated quartz, but haven't gotten in my knees to look under the slabs] bar counter; harsh LED lighting (the smokey gray shades fail to soften them). Adding dimmer switches and reducing the headache-inducing glare would work wonder. A bar with floodlight brightness is so hyper-modern in its personality -- besides not wanting to see all details of every bar patron in harsh light -- is a glaring juxtaposition for a historic building. If they would be more sensitive to the aesthetics of the history, the new owners and their vision would be an even greater positive boon to the town. The owner is very engaged with the local community, fun and warm with the customers, and appears to sincerely care about the spirit of the building and the town. He works tirelessly to ensure the drink offerings and food selections are high quality. He even is actively, hands-on engaged in both the big and small details to ensure everything runs well each day. The lead bartender is excellent with the customers, and amazing and artistic with her seasonal drink creations. she works tirelessly and makes everyone feel welcome, as well as being attentive and fast to serve, whether the bar has five or fifty customers. Both these key members, and the rest of the staff. are friendly, considerate, and professional with all. They have the vision and energy to continue their planned renovations, including the guust rooms upstairs. If they just tone down the harsher post-modernist, sanitary style and imbue more historic respect and warmth, they will create a new Garfield worthy of their obvious skill -- l and even more importantly, worthy of their obvious city's, the State's, and our country's historic landmark. read more

My husband and I drove up into the Michigan thumb on a whim Saturday afternoon. The weather was a little sketchy but we had a wonderful time walking along the water and then we decided to spend the night and try our luck tomorrow even though it was supposed to be stormy weather. We almost didn't try this place, assuming it would be high priced or booked up but I called and they had two rooms available on the third floor for only $10 more than a competitor which only had a tiny matchbox of a room available. We were greeted warmly and the service was very friendly and professional. The gentleman that showed us to our room told us of the history of the building, and that President Garfield had stayed in the very room we were staying, on his summer vacations. It was a beautiful room with plenty of space! We had a shared bathroom with two other rooms, but everything was very clean and they even had an old fashion tub like in the western movies! We fell asleep early and woke up early, so we went for a morning walk, got some pastries at the bakery, some coffee at the coffee shop and then back to the hotel for our free buffet breakfast with live piano accompaniment! Talk about being spoiled! This was a wonderful experience for our first bed and breakfast and we will definitely be back! AND it turned out to be a beautiful sunny day on Sunday! Bonus! read more

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Nice place but needs some attention. shades in the Charles Learned room to block light while sleeping would help. I would also hope you learn that patrons do not feel good when bombarded with rules as if you believe we will steal or lie about bringing pets. Beautiful history just needs some tweaks. read more

Spent a night there with my wife during a weekend motorcycle trip around the thumb. It was a really great place, the history of the place is amazing and the owners pay a lot of attention to all the details. The staff was really friendly and took great care of us. We had dinner there, the food was good, especially if you consider value for money. We had a room on the 2nd floor, it had a great atmosphere. The shared bathroom was strange at the beginning, however everything was super clean. The breakfast next morning was really good and offered a great choice. I really recommend this place if you want to experience something different to the standard hotel/ lodge/ motel read more

We spent two nights at this beautiful old Inn/bar/restaurant. The owners Steve and Theresa were extremely friendly and accommodating. The check in and check out were simple and no hassles. We stayed in Room #1. It is very nice size with a restroom off the room. There is plenty of seating and a very nice table and chairs in the bay window. The flat screen TV is very nice size and has an hd quality picture. The Bed is the treat of the stay. Very soft and supportive. Both my wife and I think it is one of the most comfortable beds we have slept in. The early decorating and styling offer a quaintness and feeling of relaxation and (home-i-ness)The clawfoot tub is a classic. The winding staircase from the foyer is beautiful. The wood trim is truly a work of art throughout the house. There is a restaurant and bar on the first floor. You would never know it in our room as we never heard any loud noises while in the room. There is a player piano on the first floor as well. You can't tell the difference between operating as a player piano or when Theresa plays herself as both are flawless. Exquisite music to enjoy with dinner or relaxing. The staff is friendly and efficient in the bar and restaurant. The food we had, both breakfast and lunch, was delicious. We were completely satisfied and very happy with our stay. The Garfield Inn is only a short walk from shops, a grocery store and other restaurants. A slight walk will also bring you to the harbor and Lake Huron itself. We highly recommend this Bed and Breakfast , The Garfield Inn, and intend to go back ourselves. read more

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We stayed at the Inn last night and our experience could not have been better. Teresa is a wonderful host. The Inn and the room was very clean and had beautiful appointments. The breakfast was excellent. We look forward to our next stay. read more

This is a hidden gem. A beautiful historical house near Lake Huron. The owners are very nice , hospitable and keep the place in impeccable condition. Highly recommend! read more

Affordable dinner in an elegant setting. I had the homemade lasagna and it was delicious! Generous serving - 1/2 came home with me for the next day's lunch. I'm pleased to find a place in Port Austin whose menu and pricing is in between bar food and gourmet. read more

My husband and I came to Port Austin to get away for a couple of days and stayed at The Garfield Inn. When making the reservation I mentioned we were celebrating our anniversary. The marquis sign said 'Happy Anniversary' with our names when we arrived and Theresa was waiting on the porch to greet us. Our room was perfect, the Inn is very lovely, inviting, and super clean. Breakfast was delicious. Due to the weather, our kayaking reservation was rescheduled and delayed by a day with the new time during breakfast at the Inn. I told Theresa because of that to not expect us for breakfast the next morning but she offered to accommodate us and serve us breakfast earlier. We definitely will be back to stay again! read more

This building is a gem, and it was great to see it reopen. My wife and I wanted to check out the interior, so we stopped in on a Saturday evening in February for a light dinner. We were not at all disappointed. I had the Traverse City Chicken Salad and a draft beer, and my wife had a burger and a glass of wine. The food, drinks and service were excellent! Earlier in the year, we avoided going to the Garfield Inn, because of the bad reviews below, but tonight but we were very pleasantly surprised. I am guessing the new owners had some early growing pains that appear to have been rectified . Although they ran out of Swiss cheese for my wife's burger, which my wife did not mind, the chef ran out to buy some, which he did not have to do. If they continue to deliver the food and service like we had this evening, they will do well and a wonderful historic building will be saved. During the winter they have a shortened menu to keep everything fresh, but apparently it will be expanded in the summer. The prices were very reasonable and the atmosphere was wonderful. We will definitely go back. read more

We just stopped in for a quick drink during our bike ride in Port Austin....we got much more from the great bartender, Rodney! Awesome drinks..yes. but a great history lesson about President Garfield and a ghost story too! Thanks, Rodney! And that was a great Kentucky Rodney Mule you made!! Can't wait to go back! read more

This place has reopened for the weekends. Menu ranges from sandwiches to prime rib. Bar was full on a Friday night. Had the NY Strip Steak. Liked the meal and service. read more

Nice folks, quiet atmosphere. Portion sizes are good. Get the clam chowder!! Yum! The BLT Club was not a good choice but the fried perch was spot on. Service was nice and friendly and the atmosphere was nice. It's in an old Victorian type house. This is also an Inn, but we didn't stay the night here. read more

I've been a resident of port Austin for a long time. Had never eaten here so I figured I'd give it a shot.. Big mistake... I ordered 2 pizzas carryout, a BBQ chicken and a Garfield special, they were undercooked and doughy. Worst I've ever seen. But also somehow burnt all along the edges. Practically cold in center. Terribly topped. Sloppily made. I wasn't even going to post a review but after all these issues I returned with the 2 pizzas minus 3 slices and got a refund and they were nothing but rude about it and unapologetic. Please don't waste your money here read more

I had high hopes for a good experience here, since it reopened under new ownership. We were seated quickly, but then sat for 10 minutes without even getting water. I finally flagged down a busser and asked her if we could get waited on. Our server was very nice, apologized for the wait & said that they were "severely understaffed " because it was their first night with their liquor license. The food was good, but when we tried to order a berry crisp with ice cream for dessert, the waitress told us that they ran out of ice cream! Really?? The grocery store is in walking distance of the restaurant! So we skipped dessert & asked for our bills. Another 10 minutes went by before that happened & then 10 more minutes before she took them up. At that point, I wished that I had paid with cash instead of a card! Bottom line, food is good, but be prepared to be there a loooonnnggg time! read more

We went to their Thanksgiving dinner this year (2017). The salad as okay, the dinner rolls were decent the rest of the was bad. The turkey was very very dry, the vegetable was mush, the stuffing was dry and burnt just plan bad!!!....on top of it all the dessert was extra, what resturant that advertizes a Thanksgiving dinner does that. We will not be going back read more

Stayed one night late July 2016. We were the only guest that night. I think there are only 6 rooms. Beautiful Victorian mansion with lots of potential as a B&B. However I don't recommend staying there. It was far too dirty for our taste. Found the room to be no cleaner than an old Motel 6. Previous male guest left hair in sink and a dirty toilet rim that obviously owners failed to clean. Dust everywhere. Dirty coffee maker in room. Bedside table dusty with dead bugs. When looking at directions on coffee bag I noticed the expiration date of NOV 2010. Bathroom floors very dirty in corners. Found out breakfast was included in room rate as we were leaving the next morning. Too late to change plans. No WIFI. No place to put toiletries in bathroom. I sent an email to the business next day requesting the manager call me about our stay. I wanted to make a 'constructive' comment since they have only been open for a couple weeks. I got the email address from their website. I never received a reply. read more

I am sorry to review this as I would have rather written to the owners, add a way to contact you on your website. I hope they hire a new cook! 4 of us dinned here and started off being sat in a beautiful table in an amazing old building. This place deserves to be wonderful, it was anything but! The best part of the meal was the salad! One of us had the rack of lamb and said it was just "ok". The wild rice served with the lamb was rotten, you could smell it from the fork, why didn't the cook smell it while heating it up? One of us had a pasta dish with smoked salmon, it sat under a heat lamp and showed it. Then two of us had the "special white fish". The fish was spoiled rotten, no person who has worked with food would serve this. I re-ordered a burger as a replacement thinking no one can kill a burger but it was very well done hard and dry when ordered medium fast food can cook a better burger than this place. The people who are running this place have NO clue what they are doing. The owner hid in the kitchen never coming out to say they were sorry, are you afraid of your guest's? We saw you peaking out of the kitchen window. We were one of two tables in the place. When we left they were empty. This is the worst "Spoiled" food I have ever been served! Based on the "NEW" owners fear of the customer they will be out of business before the next season.I really hope they can get their act together. This is a small town and needs a place like this. Being open 7 days a week off season is the kiss of death. It is such a beautiful place it deserves to be treated better! I just love the building! https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g42605-d10731096-r427016013-Garfield_Inn-Port_Austin_Michigan.html# read more

Sadly, this place has been closed for a year now. Hopefully it will sell and reopen. If anyone is interested in opening a resturant in a small town this is the place to do it. read more

Just returned from dinner. We had a party of six celebrating a special occasion and we were excited that the Garfield reopened as a nice restaurant again. The only thing good about the place is the bartender and the dessert. The food was bad. We were uncomfortable returning the food or complaining because our waitress had us as her first table. She was brand new. We sat for 20 minutes with no drink order taken. We ordered drinks and dinner at same time and waited another 15 minutes for drinks which is where bartender came in as he hand delivered them (only wine...) The food was not good. The side vegetables were the baby carrots you get out of a bag and about three canned green beans. All inedible. The "perch" looked as big as walleye so definitely not lake perch and breading was not good. Potatoes were all cold. The pasta was terrible. The dessert was good. We shared two different cakes and both were excellent. This place is a gem for its historical setting and it is a disappointment that the quality of food is not there. Maybe it should go back to a sports bar. This is not a fine dining place. Better off at the Bank or the Farm restaurants. If I went again it would be only for a drink and dessert after eating elsewhere. read more