Had dinner at the Lakeside Inn in Mt Dora FL. Food was very good with generous portions although slightly overpriced. Our server Tiffany was outstanding. Warmly greeted us upon arrival and offered excellent suggestions. Tiffany was courteous, professional and engaging throughout our visit while serving both our table of eight and the customers sitting outside on the patio area while never loosing her smile. Very impressed with the ambiance of both the dining/bar area and inn lobby, a time capsule of a bygone era. Both one back to the 1890's and early 1920's. Highly recommend stopping by for either a drink or lunch/diner when visiting Mount Dora. Can't beat the lake views. read more

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We spent three nights here last weekend. When checking in, after making a reservation for a "Pet" Room, I received eye rolls and a warning when I asked for clarification of the language on the pet form. The form stated that we could not leave our 15 lb dog alone for extended periods. I asked if we could leave the room for meals and got a mean look and more eye rolls. Not a great start. If you don't want pets, don't say you can bring a pet and then charge a pet fee. The location is fabulous. That said, the exterior of each building is filthy. They have not been cleaned or painted for many years. The room has carpet from the 60's which was stained as well. Food in the dining room was average at best. The bartenders and servers were great. In the main dining room, we saw the "cockroach that devoured Cleveland!" In the same room, the split system air conditioner was leaking down the wall and onto the floor. Well, that is about as nice, and brief, as I can be. Good luck, folks! read more

Had dinner with family on the front porch this evening. The view of the water & sunset was lovely, but the meal was VERY overpriced for the dining experience we received. It feels like this place wants to be a "fine dining" restaurant, but the fine dining details are just not there. Service was extremely slow, and the staff seemed generally a bit harried and disorganized the entire evening. Our cocktail order took forever to arrive, and the drinks that finally arrived were disappointing - one mixed drink ordered with ginger ale was instead made with sprite, one specialty "house cocktail" was room temperature instead of cold, and a glass of white wine was too warm, as well. Disappointing. When the food finally arrived (which also took forever), it was also disappointing - 12oz New York Strip was cut VERY thin and was probably closer to 8oz (and WAY overcooked vs. how it was ordered), the chicken pot pie was bland & under-seasoned (some salt & a squeeze of lemon would have done wonders here!), and a (very pricy!) lobster tail was overcooked. Again, disappointing. Water glasses were never refilled unless we asked, and wine ordered with the dinner course did not arrive until we were almost finished with the meal (and frankly, no longer really wanted the wine). The timing of everything seemed "off," and our server, while very sweet & kind, seemed too stretched across too many tables to be able to offer anyone top-notch service. (Perhaps the bar & restaurant were understaffed - but if so, they should have seated fewer tables!) After our (very long!) dinner, we decided to go inside to the hotel bar to enjoy a quick nightcap, and listen to the live piano music we'd been told was being played. BAD IDEA - the piano player was about as joyless and robotic as she could be, and sounded as if she were practicing for her first-year piano lesson from a musty 1980's pops songbook. Definitely NOT the "nightcap vibe" we were hoping for, so we turned around and walked out, and went home for our nightcap instead. The lake view gets a solid 5, but for the prices they charge, we give the service, food, and bar ambiance a solid 1. Averaged total score = 2. We'd come back to enjoy the view from the porch with a glass of wine, but nothing more. read more

Loved the peaceful atmosphere.Food was good and everything was clean and comfortable! read more

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We spent the weekend at the Lakeside Inn in Mount Dora a grand dame from 1883 with lake views straight out of a postcard. Sure, the rooms are cozy (let's call it vintage chic) and outlets are apparently a luxury of the future but the friendly staff and unbeatable location make up for every missing plug. On our last day, we finally tried the on-site restaurant, and wow talk about saving the best for last! The food was shockingly delicious, the flavors bold, and the portions so generous we almost needed a nap before checkout. I'm so glad we didn't miss it because this place serves up history and happiness in equal measure. read more

Lakeside Inn - Chicken Pot Pie - Hotels Near Me - Mount Dora, Florida

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We were celebrating a special occasion excited to visit the Lakeside inn . We were suppose to have the best room . I will post pics it was soooo run down and dirty !!! They're termites in the rooms and roaches !! The Windows look like they haven't been pressure washed in years . There is also mold behind the walls where the old ac units leaked !! I sent the pictures like the Supervisor ask me to . The Supervisor told me the GM would get back with me that didn't happen !!!!!!! I was charged for this not happening!!! The staff was friendly what a shame Management doesn't upkeep this property !! Don't stay here it's dirty !!!! They're ripping people off !!!! read more

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Wonderful catering event for my son's July 21st, 2026 wedding. Everything was flawless. Thanks to Christian and his team!

We visited the Lakeside Inn for Mother's Day brunch and had a fine experience. They called to confirm our reservation and the staff were friendly. Dalton, our server, was fantastic. He was fast, friendly, and communicated well. To drink, I had a Bees Knees. It was citrusy and strong. The first course salad was nice and had a good variety of vegetables. For my second course, I chose the chicken corn chowder. It was tasty and well constructed. For my entree, I got the shrimp and grits. There was a delay getting our entrees and the restaurant was a bit overwhelmed. The shrimp was over cooked and the dish was a bit salty, but I still liked it well enough. For dessert, I had the lemon berry cake and it was fantastic. The venue is a pretty historic inn, so every area is lovely. They had a piano player and the front porch and garden area are fun to explore. This is a lovely venue. My biggest issue is that when booking, they offered us a 2:00pm and 2:30 seating time. We made a 2:00pm reservation and by the time we ordered, it was 2:22 at which time they informed us the kitchen closes at 2:30 so we needed to get out order in. I understand they close to prepare for dinner service, but I don't know why they would seat people so close to the kitchen closing. We had an allergy question about dessert they couldn't answer because the dessert guy had left for the day. Our meal was a fine experience, but it was a little stressful doing a coursed meal as they were trying to turn the dining room over for dinner service. Parking was also a struggle. The dining experience fell a little short of the venue expectations. I would come back, but definitely earlier in the service. read more

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Very nice Inn. Everyone working there from reception, dining, bar, grounds keepers and house keeping were very nice. You can enjoy your meals in the dining room or on the front porch. The food was excellent. The Inn is located near all the shops and restaurants in Mount Dora. There's a large swimming pool for the guests. We will be going back. read more

Looks nice from the outside. Checked in to room at TV was broken. Shouldn't this be checked before I arrive? They sent repair people to the room 4 times, who were very nice. After 90 min, they moved me to another room, but this one had a broken AC unit. I dealt with it, but AC that works should be a standard. Hotel is very old and run down. Rooms really need some maintenance. An air conditioning unit and operable TV are not alot to ask for. read more

We had dinner after a drink in the hotel bar. The bar is very quaint and historic. We had attentive service and reasonably priced drinks so we decided to have dinner in the dining room. The dining room atmosphere is very nice. It was almost deserted with only one other in the dining room. I'm not sure if we have ever had slower service. After our sever finally came to take our order, I ordered dinner salad and the blackened snapper. My wife ordered a chicken dish. I don't know how long it took to get my salad p, but after what seemed like 15 minutes, we started wondering. I timed it. It took almost another 15 minutes to get a standard tossed salad. We committed to each other how it could take so long to throw some greens on a plate. It must have been cutting the cherry tomatoes in half and grating some Parmesan cheese on top. I ate my salad a slowly as possible and after what seemed an equally long wait our dinners arrived. I'm guessing it took a while to overcook my fish. I managed to eat half of it and I'm not know for leaving food on the plate. At least the green beans were tasty. My wife's chicken dish was actually very good. I don't know what they would do if they had more than two seated tables in the dining room. Needless to say, we won't be back. read more

Lakeside Inn - Parmesan crusted chicken - Hotels Near Me - Mount Dora, Florida

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Came to Mount Dora to experience all the Christmas lights in this quaint little town. We made reservations at the hotel and decided to have dinner at the hotel before viewing the lights. We ordered drinks and decided to try a couple of entrees. The kitchen did take their time to prepare our meals, but, we were not in any hurry after driving all afternoon. All our dinners were excellent. We also decided to try some of their desserts which were out of this world...great. Prices were reasonable and service was very good. I highly recommend dinner and dessert at the Lakeside Inn. read more

Went to Christmas Eve dinner here for the fifth year in a row. Will not return. Poor attitude and no direction for wait staff. Too much bother to service customers. Staff is always confused. Menu never changes and food just average. Portions get smaller and prices much higher. Late seating and poor placement. Piano player played "game of thrones" not "white christmas" ....that sums it up. There are better options for your $300. I wished I would have stayed home and just played Christmas music and had an Omaha steak! I have given up on this place and suggest you keep looking for your "special occasion". event read more

After multiple visits to Mt Dora, I longed to stay at Lakeside Inn, and, finally decided to as a birthday gift to myself. Sunset dinner on the porch and breakfast the following morning in the garden room was the highlight of the stay as was the lake cruise -there was no reason to spend the money on a room overlooking the garden shed and equipment. The room needed definite modern updating including the beds which were extremely uncomfortable and the bathroom as well; guys need elongated toilets! Very disappointed... read more

This review can only speak for the Verandah. What an enchanting and special place! I've long wondered about visiting but have never really been sure what all's open to the public. Sort of looks private. After visiting a small car show on the grounds a few weeks ago, I learned otherwise and endeavored to see about brunch one Sunday and so we did at the Verandah boasting the only lake front dining in Mount Dora. I've spied it before on a Sunday and know they get busy so we went early. So I'm into biscuits and gravy lately, having grown up on oatmeal, and I'm trying it just about everywhere I can and well, their biscuits and gravy's solid. Not cheap with the meat, nice fluffy slightly crispy biscuit, and not flavorless or soupy. Nice. Our waitress, I don't know about her. She fussed about me looking at the lunch menu she put in front of me because they were only serving brunch and was in absentia afterward so much so someone else brought out our food and no one ever followed up with us. Needed pepper, needed hot sauce, needed water refills (thankfully we had our own bottle water intended for a later boat tour), and needed coffee refills. As if! Never got them until we were right close to getting the check. She sure was friendly in the end. Nice place. Good food. Weird not so good service. We came here to enjoy ourselves and not be forced into an experience. That said, different day, different waitress, maybe, and I'd probably like the place. read more

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We ate on the front porch as we love the view and warm Florida breezes! Our server was very busy, but very sweet and attentive. I had a crab cake sandwich on a brioche bun and it was very tasty - lots of crabmeat. My husband had the strawberry pecan salad and loved it. The restroom was well stocked though there was a very busy art festival in town and I appreciated that. We'll be back! read more

Lakeside Inn - Strawberry chicken Salad - Hotels Near Me - Mount Dora, Florida

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You are better off eating at Dennys The place is amazing, but sadly they do not have a good cook, I could make a better breakfast at home. The coffee was so so bad, it looked like coffee, but it didn't taste anything like coffee .the only good deal is the mimosas, orange juice and champagne , they can't screw that one up! read more

Not happy with Christina at the front desk. When we arrived for our wedding anniversary she told us to wait a bit as the rooms were not ready yet. While I am seated waiting right near the front desk another couple walks in and she books them into a room in the main inn. I got up (not happy) and when I was next she said no more rooms available in the inn...we were put in a crappy room in one of the out buildings. I am so pissed off...I told her...I was sitting right there waiting and you gave away my room to another couple. Thanks a lot for your crappy service Christine. read more

Historic inn with great view of lake and prime location downtown. Definitely an older inn - tv was broken, air conditioning was elderly and struggled, and not much warm water. But overall this was a cool place to spend a night. For better or worse no ghostly experiences. read more

First time at this expensive hotel. Room was acceptable, but I went to have dinner at their hotel site restaurant to be told they ran out of food. In addition, no room service was available. Ended up ordering through UBER EATS. read more

Service was lacking in all departments. The rooms and facilities are very dated and not kept up. After staying there for a weekend they attempted to charge us a smoking fee. ( I do not smoke, never have). Meanwhile my family and I did notice on a regular basis that the hotel's maintenance staff would be smoking weed in their utilities room that shares the same hallway. Feels like a cash grab for the hotel, and it is unfortunate that the hotel doesn't select and manage their employees better. read more

Lakeside Inn - Hotels Near Me - Mount Dora, Florida

We stayed in the GateHouse. The room was small, dark, and smelled. This room in the GateHouse is not even pictured on their website it was so bad. Was supposed to have a sitting area but there was none. Carpet was stained. Breakfast in the dining room was a huge expensive disappointment. My eggs were ice cold and I had to send them back. I would never stay here again. The only good thing about our stay was we could walk directly into Downtown. Was it worth it? no. read more

We dined at The Beauclaire for lunch on Memorial Day. This restaurant is part of the historic Lakeside Inn in Mount Dora. It was a very hot but beautiful day so we decided to enjoy our meals on the porch which offers a view of Lake Dora. Dalton was our server and he did a swell job taking care of us. My stepdad and I enjoyed iced tea and my mom had water. Mom ordered a 1/2 club sandwich with a bowl of soup. The Beauclaire features a daily soup and on this particular day it was veggie with couscous. However, they neglected to mention it also contained chunks of beef. Fortunately, mom isn't a vegetarian so no harm no foul. My stepdad ordered the club sandwich as well but an entire one which was accompanied by fries. Both enjoyed their sandwiches very much, but he wasn't crazy about the fries. I ordered the fresh Florida salad which featured mixed greens, grilled shrimp, mandarin oranges, red onion, sliced avocado, pecan pralines, and hearts of palm. I swapped out the hearts for berries and opted for the recommended honey citrus vinaigrette dressing. The ingredients were extremely fresh and the salad was delicious. I was very hungry so it left me slightly unfulfilled but, I ate 2/3 crackers that were served with my mom's soup and this did the trick. I tasted mom's soup and it was very good. It tasted homemade and they were generous with the beef which was very tender. The ambiance is lovely. The Inn and the property are very charming and I would absolutely lodge here. I highly recommend checking this place out whether it's for vacation or a meal. All three meals are available at The Beauclaire and breakfast looks superb! Additionally, there is a nice tavern inside the Inn: Tremain's Tavern. The restrooms were very clean and provide an old school charm. The entire experience was great! read more

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I want so badly to recommend but can only do so if this changes management. We ADORE historic places which is why I hope this place never goes away but it needs an owner to come in and give it the love and attention it and its staff deserve. The reviews say it all but I'll add that if I took a photo of our room and asked my friends to guess where we were, they'd guess a Motel 6 in the 90s. I love the little charms but they get overshadowed by the VERY noisy hallway, the bugs, the lack of any sort of comforter (we had two sheets on our bed and that was it), we were begging for breathable air as the room lacked any ventilation as windows are painted shut, that we waited an hour past check in and then also couldn't get breakfast in AM during their open hours because they were "booked". The thing is, the staff is aware I think they are just resigned that nothing will be done about it. We will def come back but stay elsewhere and forgo the convenience of the location. read more

Historic hotel open since 1883 in charming downtown Mount Dora. My room in one of the lakefront buildings was desperately in need of a refresh, with tired furnishings and obvious termite issues in bath. Very friendly staff and good bar service. Lots of locals drinking at pool and hotel bar. read more

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We are in disbelief that what is supposed to be an iconic Mt Dora property is in such a state of deterioration. We reported conditions to front desk person who literally responded "no one has ever complained". And then added: "but you have a beautiful lake view". The room's door knobs (closet and bathroom) are hanging and the dirty and unkept corridor including entrance to our room is filthy. The a/c barely working. Still waiting for someone from mainatinance to come. The property is in a great location and sunset view by the lake spectacular. But if you care about cleanliness and half decent accommodations then this is not the place for you. read more

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Gorgeous views,town is walking distance. We were there for a wedding which was looking out on the lake. Stay was very friendly. Dinner was made by restaurant in the Inn. Very delicious,rooms are a bit musty smelling. What I guess that's what you get staying in a historical Inn. read more

It's a beautiful hotel... on the outside. The inside smelled musty. The repairs done overtime are shotty. The mini split barely worked, toilet barely flushed, room smelled and felt musty and humid. Sadly, this is our last visit to Lakeside. I need to wash all my clothes just for the horrible smell of the room. read more

Stayed here for 3 night - very charming place. However the charm wears off quickly when there is no hot water in your room. I mentioned it to the front desk the first day and was told it was probably just the time of day - it was 3 pm. Yet still no hot water at noon one day or 9 am the next. Kind of room temperature with shots of cold intermittently. I mentioned it again on check out so they could look at it was just told - oh we are sorry. Kind of feel they have heard this before. For $200 a night we were also not expecting furniture that appeared to come from a thrift store or side of the road. We did have breakfast at the inn one day and it was very good - waitress was great. All staff was very nice. Will definitely visit area again but probably not stay here. read more

Lakeside Inn - Hotels Near Me - Mount Dora, Florida

The Lakeside Inn in Mount Dora, Florida, has a rich history dating back to 1883. Originally known as the Alexander House, it was a simple two-story wooden structure with a handful of rooms for travelers passing through town. However, as the town grew, so did the Inn. It underwent several renovations, including the addition of a third floor and the construction of a grand veranda overlooking Lake Dora. Throughout its history, the Lakeside Inn has hosted many notable guests, including President Calvin Coolidge and Thomas Edison. The Inn has also been the setting for many important events, such as the signing of the Mount Dora Agreement in 1922, which established the town's first zoning laws. Today, the Lakeside Inn continues to be a beloved landmark in Mount Dora. It's a popular destination for travelers who appreciate its historic charm and picturesque setting. The town itself is known for its natural beauty, with lush greenery and sparkling lakes in every direction. Visitors can enjoy scenic boat rides on Lake Dora, explore the nearby nature trails, or simply relax on the Inn's veranda with a book and a refreshing drink. In addition to its natural beauty, Mount Dora is also known for its thriving art scene. The town is home to many galleries and studios showcasing the work of local artists. The Mount Dora Center for the Arts hosts regular exhibitions and workshops, and the annual Mount Dora Arts Festival is a highlight of the year for many residents and visitors alike. Whether you're a fan of traditional paintings or contemporary sculpture, you're sure to find something to inspire you in Mount Dora. I know I certainly enjoyed it when I was there. read more

Lakeside Inn - Gorgeous ! Have boat rides available - Hotels Near Me - Mount Dora, Florida

My wife & I stayed here for 3 nights during the Craft Fair 24-27 Oct 2025. Positives: The main advantage was once parked you can easily walk to the fair. It starts right outside the front door of this hotel. I didn't have to move my car for 3 days. The check-in staff were friendly and helpful. We were each given a room key. I had to exchange mine since it didn't work. The counter staff lady said, a woman complained once because a man was able to come into her room. Hmm? Our room 7225 (King Size Bed with a View) was across the street, then up & down & up more stairs again down some hallways to our room. No elevator! Old style climb-in tub with a shower. There were 2 long safety rails and tub flooring felt safe too. There were 2 night stands, a dresser all with drawers, 2 chairs with arms. There was a walk-in closet with Iron and board, 1 luggage rack & coat hangers. TV that worked well. An alarm clock that was set to another time zone. Daily room service. Negatives: Our room cost for 3 nights was $973.00 ($325.00/night) and it didn't even include breakfast. Instead we were given 3 individual $10.00 certificates that we could use in the restaurant during our stay. When we arrived in our room, both window blinds were closed. We immediately tried to open up both window blinds to allow light into the dark room. The front window blind facing the lake and views was broken. One of the cords was completely missing to open the slats. I then pulled on the other side and the entire blind went up but at a 45 degree slant. I immediately noticed all the wasp nests on the outside of this window and all the others I could see as well. All 3 windows in our room were painted shut, not that I would want to open any of them. All 3 were very dirty. The bathroom door was sprung. No way to keep it closed. When taking a shower, wife found the transfer handle difficult to go from bath to shower. Temperature of the shower changes when other rooms flush their toilets. We could also hear when they did flush them. Leaving our room, one has to use both hands to get out of the room. If you only have one hand, good luck. No refrigerator. The AC/Heater above the closet door across the room blows right into your face when sitting/lying in bed. They allow dogs in rooms. I'm allergic to both Cats and Dogs. I started itching every time I got into the room. Our last night, there was a thunder, lighting, winds and heavy rains. Rain ran down each of our windows from the top and onto the floor. We had to put towels on the floor under each of the windows. We also had to pickup any clothing, shoes, bags, luggage and put them all off the floor. We both complained we could spell gas from the sewer. read more

Booked a room in June for an October stay. Room smelled like mold and zero air conditioning. They were booked and couldn't move us to another room. Here is my problem - the mold didn't happen overnight; the a/c had been broken for some time. We suffered all night and we still ended up paying $200 for the nights stay. Don't stay here. A free breakfast doesn't make up for an evening of breathing mold and dying of heat. Room 7117. read more

Every time we go to Mount Dora, we stop at Lakeside Inn. We don't stay at this Inn. We simply sit by the lake in the beach chairs and watch the view of the water and wait for the sunset. There's never a time in Mount Dora without this perfect spot. It's a must do if you love that type of scenery. You can see birds and wildlife too. This is a place to take a boat ride and we once also saw a small airplane picking up a bride and groom here. It's a perfect peaceful happy spot & it always reminds me of Dirty Dancing. It wasn't filmed here, but I feel like it reminds me of how it looked in the movie. read more

Great facility. Beautiful lakeside view. Have eaten there 3 times this month. But today they dropped the ball. Easter Brunch $50+ pp. Half hour late to seat us. Ok. 4 course meal for brunch. Courses one and two came slow but ok. But main course took more than an hour. Waitress was great but could not do anything. Asked the manager to check. Seemed to blame the waitress! Then still a half hour wait. No sorry from manager. Just looked past everyone No adjustment or let's give you a refill on drinks. Meh. So - they were overwhelmed- and handled it poorly. Still we will be back and generally recommend this beautiful place. read more

Lakeside Inn - View from the Verandah. Very nice. - Hotels Near Me - Mount Dora, Florida

We had dinner in the Tremaine room. I had the starter steak in a red wine reduction with mushrooms. It was more than enough for my dinner and it was delicious served medium rare. My friend had the entree portion of chicken Florentine with fingerling potatoes which was also excellent. The service was prompt and the atmosphere was quite elegant- old Florida style. Dress is casual. We each had a glass of wine and the bill was under $70. Can't wait to go back again. read more

In a world where things are changing faster than the speed of light, it's oftentimes comforting to know there are still plenty of old-time historic places that exist out there. Take Lakeside Inn, a historical hotel situated right on the water's edge of Mount Dora.in Fernandina Beach, for instance. Opened for business in 1883 it's one of the oldest surviving hotels in Florida. Best of all its age-old historic charm remains in tact with its huge porch, rocking chairs and gorgeous views. I dropped the extra bucks and took their best room on the water's edge. The view from it over Lake Dora was breathtakingly beautiful. But the interior of the room was really dated when it came to electrical outlets, furniture and lighting. I had to unplug the small refrigerator as it moaned and groaned loudly, had to unscrew some light bulbs in order to use an electrical outlet that only worked the with the lights on. And, sort of worse, the room had a rather old moldy like smell to it. The hotel restaurant and food is very good with the Beauclaire Dining Room being rather elegant but the best is the Veranda or front porch as it has the best charm and atmosphere. Tremain's Tavern has a super old world gentlemen's club like atmosphere offering light fare and nightly live entertainment. Being there is a five-star experience but staying there or rating the rooms, I can only say, OK, three stars. read more

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Jade was amazing, very attentive and food was good as usual. We love eating here on our trips to mt Dora.

We had dinner tonight to celebrate my wife's birthday. They were out of the Rib Eye, Beef Tips and table beside us were told the Salmon was spoiled. They were also out of corn. My wife ordered the Filet and Lobster Tail. The lobster was so salty we couldn't eat it. After telling our waitress Tiffany, no response from the kitchen... Great view and gorgeous grounds, enjoy but eat elsewhere. read more

It's dated, but beautiful. The breakfast was fantastic. Although the service was slow, our server was polite and apologetic

The only complaint I had was that the ice machine was broken. Very old fashioned quaint hotel. I was nervous about the noise on a Friday but it was completely quiet. Didn't take advantage of restaurant but parking was ample and they let us check in early. read more