Our Eastward travels on the backroads brought us to this hidden gem. This was a very cool old historic building, preserved and so well taken care of. Parking on the side of the building made access to the entrance just a few steps away. Our check in was quick and easy by a friendly member of the staff. We were assigned to Room #202. The elevator made our getting there painless, with the opportunity for using the stairs to get back down. The room, while small, was like a step back in time, cowboy themed and clean. We settled in and proceeded to the dining room for dinner. After perusing the menu we opted for the Sirloin Steak dinner with baked potato and choice of vegetable of the day and side salad. We also ordered a drink from the bar, the local Alien Amber Pint for me and the Mondavi Chardonnay for my wife. I enjoyed my beer but sorry to say that the wine was terrible, though my wife would not let this be known there. Dinner arrived and was plated beautifully, unfortunately the steaks were very tough, grisly and even hard to cut. The flavor was good and they had been cooked a perfect medium rare but the star of this dinner was a terrible disappointment. Again, my wife did not want to say anything. We finished dinner with a Gin and Tonic, enjoying the company of the other folks dining here for just a bit, some local and others passing through as were we, then headed back up to our room, finishing our drink there, to call it a day. The bed was very comfortable and the crisp sheets made our great night sleep even better. Three trains passed through the city overnight and I heard all three of them, loving the whistles and the sounds that only a train can make. We headed to breakfast in the morning with high expectations based on reviews that we had read about 'made to order' omelets and tasty baked goods, but for us the whole experience was just a bit strange and hard to explain. A sign at the entrance of the dining area described the choices from the kitchen. We proceeded in and took a seat. A lady from the kitchen asked if we would like coffee and that was a "yes". She brought the coffee then as she began her return to the kitchen I had to approach her asking about the procedure for getting breakfast. We requested the Quiche. The 'Crustless Quiche' was really nothing more than an omelette cut in the shape of a piece of pie. It was served to us, by a lady who worked in the kitchen, on a cold plate, and the 'quiche' itself was dry and cool as well. The only other breakfast items available, on a side table set up in the restaurant, were a small amount of oatmeal in a crock pot, which was still hot, with cinnamon and brown sugar on the side. And, there were cold biscuits with butter and jelly , and a small piece of cinnamon coffee cake that we split. There was also some kind of juice. I try not to be too harsh in my 'Yelps' but for me this breakfast experience was a terrible end to our stay in this historic hotel. Would we stay here again if our travels took us this way again? I am not sure. We loved the old hotel. The people were friendly but our dining experiences were disappointing. Still, I gave this a four because we enjoyed everything at this hotel other than our dining experiences. read more

Hotel Eklund - Hotel room - Hotels Near Me - Clayton, New Mexico

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This hotel is over 100 yrs old. The problem is access to our room. After checking in and given a key to our room when we left to visit friends when we returned to Eklund the doors were locked. We had to call a number to be let in. So that was different. The next day we missed breakfast that was served from 6:30-8:30. we were up at 9. The owner told us that was their rule, so we left to get breakfast elsewhere. Came back on hour later and the lobby door was locked. Again we called to be let in by the cleaning staff. There policy is to keep everything locked during the day because there is no one to on staff. We checked out went to a Best Western down the road. The beautiful bar is not open at all while we were there, sign on the door said no tours were given. Oh yes the train comes through town near the hotel 3 times a day-horn blaring. That just makes staying there less appealing. I have never stayed in a hotel that did not have a customer service focus but I have now. Historic charm is not enough-stay at your own risk. read more

They don't make hotels like this any more. This is an authentic cowboy hotel from the late 1890s. Beautiful wood, detailed carvings, the place is stunning. Staff friendly. Clean. Quiet. Comfortable. Charming. With all that said, it is an 1890s hotel, and that means there are few electrical outlets in your room and the lighting is minimal. There was no place to put our suitcases but the floor. I'm glad we stayed here and will go back. The beauty and charm outweigh any other negatives. Restaurant on site was good. Porkchop cooked perfectly and delicious. The 1890s saloon bar is beautiful and well worth the trip alone. Full bar. Interesting tidbit. New Mexico has some arcane, some might say insane, liquor laws. The bartender told us that a license went for about $1M. Hotel Eklund had a Class B license. That meant they could only serve New Mexico spirits. So I had a Margaritta made with New Mexico tequila and lime juice. The bartender has learned to be creative as he is not allowed to make or serve anything that is not from New Mexico. Who Knew? read more

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The staff was friendly and attentive when we were there. The food was tasty as well. However, the reason for my three star rating was the pricing versus the portions. I got chicken friend steak and my wife got meatloaf. Both portions were very meager. I small piece of apple pie was eight bucks as well. I recommend the food here but if you want good portion size, go elsewhere read more

This is the fourth time we have stayed at this hotel and we think it must be under new ownership. The check in was extremely slow as compared to before. The restaurant was out of two things they offered for dinner. The meatloaf and green beans were good though. Breakfast is advertised from 6:30 to 8:30. Wait staff ignored us for 30 minutes. We left after one cup of coffee and went to a restaurant in the next town for breakfast. read more

Welcoming and friendly staff, exceptionally clean rooms and extra soft sheets! The continental breakfast was great - homemade biscuits, blueberry jam and quiche tasted superb! Didnt expect the paranormal activity that scared me, however. I stayed in room 203. had family in 204 that had the same experience. Had family in 205 that did not. Still think it was a great place to spend a night and would recommend if you want a different experience. read more

The story of the history of the place was so interesting. The food was a warm hug and reminiscent of home cooking. 10 out of 10

We have stayed at Hotel Eklund 3 times. It is clean and comfortable. The breakfasts are delicious & perfect before getting back on the road. The manager was helpful & frien read more

Hotel Eklund - Hotels Near Me - Clayton, New Mexico

Great historic, comfortable, clean place to stay! Staff very friendly and helpful! We will be back! We travel through here every year to Colorado. By the way the dinner here is very good! Nice ambiance. We had the pork chop and Ek egg rolls. The only place in town that serves cocktails! Breakfast had a good variety of everything simple, with nice touch of extras. Great coffee! Fruit, cereal, oatmeal, yummy coffee cake. Breakfast burritos, quiches etc read more

We wanted a place to stay on a work trip that was not a run of the mill hotel. This was such a neat place, the decor, the lobby, everything. There is a restaurant that has super yummy food, an outdoor courtyard, a very decorative lobby that has so much history, and fantastic staff! Every time we drive through Clayton, we take a picture of the sign to "remember" our awesome experience here. The next time we need to stay in the area we ABSOLUTELY will come here again! read more

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The staff and location is outstanding! What started as a place to stay during a roadtrip turned into a very special experience. The building is very clean and has so much charm. The rooms are extremely comfortable and inviting too. I slept amazing. To top it off the owners and staff are extremely kind and inviting. They went above and beyond to make it a special experience. I highly recommend this place and I will definitely be back! Vonita is amazing as well! Thanks to all of you for such a great experience! read more

What a beautiful, old historic hotel. Charm everywhere and only $115 a night. Treat yourself to a quiet restful evening in history.

Stopped in for an overnight stay at HOTEL EKLUND. Once again my nostalgic is filled with charm of craftsmanship and vintage furnishings. The madam who checks you into your room is pleasant and will assist you in towns info. She has been running this hotel for years and for me it's so nice to see her once again. We sat outside patio with a bottle of wine and snacks til 8:30 pm as it was much cooler .... Summer heat was a bit warm for outside. Lots of pine trees and wild garden flowers all around us. It's sits about 24 people with about 6 tables or so. Nice rooms that are clean and cozy sheets with lots of pillows. Handmade cabinet and desk with the letter E ironwork displayed. Bathroom has white huge fluffy soft towels and bathtub was large porcelain. They continue to keep that nostalgic time period facets, handles, sink etc.... ambiance. Breakfast is so awesome as it's all homemade biscuits and gravy; green chili or cheese quiche l; breakfast fruit breads; breakfast burritos either sausage or ham;pancakes with syrup along with cereal, fruit, hard boiled eggs, fruit juice, milk, coffee. Need to microwave some of food to warm it up which 2 microwaves are available for you put use in the dining room. Also real dishes and utensils.... Salt & pepper, sugars, butter, jelly, & syrup. The restaurant and saloon were closed due to lack of staffing because of result of COVID.... Very sad but hopeful for their future reopening!! Thank you for continuing to keep these old relics alive and hope more folks will stop to support this awesome Hotel. Note it's not bright and shiny or if your looking for convenience or blow dryer or fancy decor it could make you fussy. Just sayin. BRAVO read more

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This old historical hotel is our favorite stop on our way back and forth between CO and TX. We love supporting family businesses and try to whenever possible. The staff is wonderful, our dogs are welcome, the large, spacious room is spotless and super comfortable. read more

If you are passing through, I would recommend staying here over the chain hotels down the road. It's a very unique experience- in a good way! The hotel is owned by a couple and they are very friendly and even make a home cooked breakfast in the morning. There is lots of cool history about the hotel and saloon! A one-of-a-kind experience! Oh- and dog friendly! read more

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Worst food I have ever experienced... by far!!! It is going to be very difficult for any restaurant to make worse food than Hotel Eklund. Note to the chef: Have a little pride in your food! C'mon, man! This is terrible! We stopped here because we wanted to sit and eat outside with our dog. Huge mistake! The patio is nice. Our server was nice. The food was awful. I mean. I took one bite of the rice, one bite of the beans, and one bite of the taco meat, and I wanted to vomit! Somehow, after we waited 20 minutes, my food came out cold. Disgusting food only tastes worse when it's cold. I ordered "New Mexican" tacos with shredded beef, beans, and "Spanish" rice. The rice was not only cold, but it tasted like that really bad Spanish rice in a bag that you buy for 75 cents at the grocery store. It was soupy, and the flavors were not Mexican. The beans were dry and had a weird skin on them. The tacos meat tasted like shoe leather. I sent it back and left. read more

Hotel Eklund - Alien Amber Ale - Hotels Near Me - Clayton, New Mexico

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I would like to say, I have been to many places, at the Eklund hotel in Clayton NM by far one of the best place's I have stayed in a long time, very clean very nice staff helpful and friendly; whatever I asked for they made it happen you'll enjoy your stay here as I have. There is an abundance of history here. A+ in my book! read more

Hotel Eklund - I arrived early before they were open on Sunday and it was worth the wait!! - Hotels Near Me - Clayton, New Mexico

This neck of the woods is so interesting. It's where the high plains meet the front range. Such a wonderfully unique sparsely populated slice of vistas, valleys and virtues. The Eklund is a squeezebox that will release its ancient aires if politely prodded. read more

A comfortable place to rest from traveling. A nice hostess ' Mary Beth' was friendly, and most accommodating when I arrived to check in. We stayed in the King Suite facing the Main Street. Parking was easy and felt like home. Breakfast in the dining room was well attended, but the lighting was dark, hard to see what was on the breakfast bar, I served myself but food was cold. read more

Stopped here for the night. Staff is friendly, the saloon/restaurant has western theme. Beef burrito was hot and pretty decent. Hamburg and fries also not bad. Disappointed that margarita was wine based. But ordered one anyway. If you want local flavor than you should stop in. read more

Hotel Eklund - Hotels Near Me - Clayton, New Mexico

Classic historic hotel built 1890s in a western town. The rooms are small but comfortable, we spent the evening in the spacious lobby reading and visiting with other guest. The night we were there local musicians were playing in the restaurant and bar. Great local color and good time. Our room had a queen bed that was in good shape no sags or faults. Our bathroom was spacious with high ceilings and modern fixtures. TV was Direct TV and inclosed in a western style cabinet. For a hotel built over 100 years ago very good. Staff was over the top friendly, glad to help their guest. Morning there is a complementary breakfast, rolls, steel cut oatmeal, quiche and other items, good coffee. read more

Hotel Eklund - Balcony on some second floor rooms. - Hotels Near Me - Clayton, New Mexico

We loved this quaint hotel. It reminded me of being at my grandmother's long ago. The bed and pillows were very comfy. The bathroom was clean and spacious, not your teeny space found in some hotels. We had our puppy which was greeted with smiles and pats. The lady, I wish I could remember her name, was so sweet and helpful. We needed to head out very early in the morning and breakfast was waiting for us. We both enjoyed an egg, cheese, and ham biscuit and pastries to go. read more

Seriously THE BEST AND MOST CHARMING PLACE IN CLAYTON, NM. We stayed over Labor Day weekend and loved the wonderful breakfast in the morning...it was just like the French breakfast I had in France when I traveled. Fresh and yummy breads, hot oatmeal, scrambled eggs, fresh fruit, juices, coffee and tea, a lovely egg and ham quiche and of course, the green chile burritos. The dining room and bar alone are jaw droppers...such a quaint and wonderful WILD WEST HOTEL-it's really special...so check it out! read more

This is a beautiful old hotel. They are taking reservations and do serve a modified breakfast. The bar and restaurant area are gorgeous and the check in desk area is lovely. They do have a little shop that sells some wonderfully unique clocks. The rooms are basic, understanding the time period. The bed was very comfortable and the shower head was great. Loved the sink in the bathroom. The side patio was really nice and great to sit outside and enjoy the evening. Please come support this small bu read more

Hotel Eklund - Dining room & restaurant area. - Hotels Near Me - Clayton, New Mexico

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We couldn't have been happier with our stay here. Very friendly staff both in the lobby and restaurant. Super clean throughout. Nicely updated 100-year old hotel provides all the comforts you want without losing the historic ambiance. We loved the enchiladas and the green chile stew - both very tasty and authentic home cooking. Breakfast was superb. We arrived about 7:45 p.m. and the restaurant closes at 8, so we saw many patrons as they were leaving. It was obvious that most were local residents - always my litmus test for finding the best food in a small town. We will definitely stay here again! read more

Super nice and very welcoming!!!!! Wow, the lady at the front desk is very inviting and down to earth. The most hospitality i have ever received at hotel. Very unique and charming hotel well maintained and clean hotel. read more

What an incredible place! We passed through on our trip from TX to CO and we're pleasantly surprised with this gem. It was clean, beautiful, and historic. The staff was friendly and hospitable in a way that most aren't anymore - they went above and beyond! If we ever find ourselves in Clayton again, we'll happily return to Hotel Eklund. read more

We decided to stay at the Hotel Eklund for a unique stay in a historic Hotel. We were happy we did. We stayed in the middle room with the balcony. There is a nice view from the balcony, even though we didn't sit out there because it was cold during our stay. The room and bed were comfortable and clean. They offer cable TV and wifi. the wifi signal was strong and easy to sign into. The bathroom was modern and clean. They do not provide a hair dryer, and there is very limited shelf space for your toiletries, but that just kind of goes with the architecture of the room. The staff is very friendly. When we checked in we were surprised to get a key to our room. An actual key on a hand painted keychain! No keycard. They had just opened the bar on weekends where you can sit and have drinks or order food. We met some locals in the bar area who were very friendly. The restaurant was still closed due to covid. Its a shame, because the dining room is nice, and the outdoor eating was also very welcoming. The staff was happy to answer any questions, take our picture, tell us a little history of the town, and show us the famous bullet holes. There is not an ice machine, but the staff was always happy to fill my Yeti cup from the kitchen. They are serving breakfast in the restaurant for guests. It was the best breakfast I have ever had at a hotel. This is not crap from Costco served at most hotels. Everything was homemade in the kitchen. Both ham quiche, and green chili quiche, homemade biscuits, gravy, oatmeal, fresh fruit, croissants, cereal, coffee cake, boiled eggs, milk, OJ, Coffee. I went back for seconds of the green chili quiche and biscuits. All the food is served cold, they have two microwaves you use to warm it up. Staying here was a unique experience. Ask about New Mexicos only hanging that happened a few blocks away. It's an interesting story. One negative I would have is that there are train tracks a block away, and the train will wake you up in the middle of the night. Not the hotels fault, just a warning for anyone thinking of staying there. Check out is easy, just drop the key off in the key drop. read more

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Great historic 1800's inn. Rooms are very clean and equipped with basic needs. They try and keep its integrity so you won't find vending or ice machines. If you need ice the front desk is happy to retrieve some from the kitchen. The restaurant has great food but remember your in a small western town. Don't be in a hurry and expect them to be out of a few things. All part of the small town charm. Jerry at the front desk is an absolute hoot. Spend some time in the lobby chatting with him. Great time and beautiful inn. read more

Hotel Eklund - The restaurant - Hotels Near Me - Clayton, New Mexico

I thought this was a great place to stay. The rooms were very clean and the staff was incredibly friendly. The food was really good too and it is steeped in history. I would skip the chain hotels and catch some history here read more

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We were passing through Clayton on our way home from Colorado Springs to Slidell, La. My wife said she wanted to eat at a local place and stumbled into the Elklund Hotel's restaurant. What a treat! It's old western decor and style made us feel like we stepped back in time. We were greeted right away and sat at the restaurant. The food was great and we really enjoyed our time. Thanks. read more

Hotel Eklund - Santa Fe chicken with "red" chili, Spanish rice, and beans. It was very good. - Hotels Near Me - Clayton, New Mexico

We stumbled across this lovely family owned hotel on our road trip to Colorado for our honeymoon. The owner and her sister treated us like royalty and we loved every minute of our stay. The rooms are very old western style with a restaurant down below. The food, drinks, and atmosphere was amazing! Highly recommend their signature pork chops. The ladies sell so many cute things in the lobby from jewelry to lotion to bath bombs to scarfs. They so graciously gifted us a sample of everything which me and my husband have enjoyed as of to this day. Clayton is one spot I wouldn't mind returning to due to the hospitality of this hotel and the ladies. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for making our honeymoon trip that much special!!! read more

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People were nice and the hotel lobby was cute. We ate at the little restaurant and the food quality was very bad. The ice tea was good but the food was horrid. read more

The red flag when we walked in should have been the sign that read "Seat your self in the Saloon". So we did, but were immediately reprimanded by a frazzled waitress who told us the wait was 20 minutes even though there were several empty tables. As we were in a small town with limited choices on a Sunday night, we opted to wait. I tried ordering drinks at the bar which took 15 minutes. The charming bartender that my friend raved about (she recommended this place) was no where to be found. There were dirty dishes behind and on the bar. Not a good start. When we were finally seated, the 2nd frazzled waitress brought us silverware but walked off with menus still in hand. When we finally ordered (fillet for me and chicken fried chicken for my hubby) we were very disappointed with our meals. My fillet was very small and completely dry and tasteless. The baked potato was tiny and wasn't even hot enough to melt the butter. My husband's meal was very bland as well. We begrudgingly ate but weren't even able to say anything to our waitress... she was nowhere to be found during our meal and never came to check on us. When we did finally get her attention to complain about the food, in her defense she did not argue and volunteered to take my meal off of our bill. My husband was afraid to order a coffee wondering how they could mess that up. Long story short they need to hire additional staff and take a look at the quality of what they're serving. It's a great location for people traveling through and the building itself is very charming. Shame :( read more

Hotel Eklund - Fillet?? - Hotels Near Me - Clayton, New Mexico

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Last month we were here and we were greeted in a super friendly way - enjoyed a lovely breakfast the following morning after a nice night sleep - a month later and we were greeted less than friendly and the same room we had last month smelled awful - hard to sleep in a smelly room - hopefully if we drive through Clayton again the friendly face will be back and the room will be fresh - such a shame - it's a lovely old hotel with gorgeous bones - just needs a little warmth upon arrival and to keep the rooms smelling fresh - could be worth a try if you enjoy a slice of history! read more

Definite must stop!!! Despite other reviews, the staff was extremely friendly & accommodating, in my humble opinion. We arrived at 1:22 (not having seen that they have a bit of a siesta between lunch & dinner) & they still let us sit & have a very enjoyable meal. As others have reviewed, the Ek Rolls are amazing!!! I would've been happy to have a whole plate of those as my meal but the burgers were excellent as well. Everything was hot & delicious & very affordable. We will most definitely be back on our next trip from south Texas to Colorado read more

The ambience of The Eklund's restaurant is the best part. The little gift shopping area is super cute and unique. The food wasn't the best. The waitress wasn't that friendly and focus on other things than her customers. read more

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The Green Chile Cheeseburger was fantastic, and the fries were excellent. The meatloaf was great, but kind of a small portion. Service was great. Very good beer selection. Highly recommend! read more

Hotel Eklund - Hotels Near Me - Clayton, New Mexico

Loved this hotel! It's a gorgeous historic hotel with all modern connivence and large, clean, comfortable rooms. Breakfast is included and the dinning room and bar are really beautiful. read more

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We are staying in Clayton NM and and we fond the Eklund on our hotel pamphlet and on trip adviser so we decided to try it out. I got the club sandwich it came within 10 minutes it was a a decent size the only thing was the bacon had a lot of fat however this is definitely a great place to stop and we will return read more

Hotel Eklund - Hotels Near Me - Clayton, New Mexico