It might smell a little like grandma's house. It might not have an elevator. But this hotel is SO charming and vintage. You can't help but adore it. I wanted to visit the Cumberland Island National Seashore (reviewed separately) and didn't want to spend the 900-1000 plus dollars per night (with a two night minimum) to stay at the one crumbling inn on the island. This is truly like stepping back into the 20s and 30s. Lots of old wood, that slightly musty smell (but not unpleasant). The desk attendants were super kind and helpful. I stayed in room 15, Cross Creek. I chose it because it looked directly out onto the water. The bathroom was clean, the shower was hot. People who are tall might struggle a little, as it's a bit of a short shower. The bed was very comfy and I loved how soft it was, and appreciated the soft blankets. There are multiple configurations of rooms here--queens, fulls, twins, double beds. Each is named after a famous guest or situation. Basic cable TV and that's okay! They do a sack lunch for the island (no food to buy on the island) if you order the night before. There is a restaurant downstairs (reviewed separately) and a small, quaint lobby. Literally FEET from the ferry and national park checkin. Also tons of cute little shops to walk around to see and shop. And if you miss their sack lunches, some of these shops will make you a lunch. I loved my night here. I really did. It's something I won't forget. read more

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Very charming hotel convenient to Cumberland Island ferry -- view of riverfront. Breakfast was great -- bagels, etc, fresh fruit -- cereal & yogurt. The baths are all updated and the couple who own the hotel are very responsive! I can't wait to return. read more

Riverview Hotel - View of riverfront from guests balcony with lots of chairs. - Hotels Near Me - Saint Marys, Georgia

Could have been a 2-star, but really, 2 1/2. It's an old place, so I expected small rooms and a quaint, rustic feel. It is that. But it's just...well the little things. Ice machine was almost empty and I came up with a champagne bottle cork when I filled my bucket. No hooks for towels. Seriously, one towel rack for clean towels, and that's it. The very nice common area balcony is the smokers' section. The internet connection is so slow, I'm curious to see if this will post.... I mean, it's not bad, and the rate is good, and it's a great location. But other than the charming building, it felt more like a cheap motel. Oh, and the "7-10" continental breakfast ran out of coffee at 8:40. Nobody around to tell....I'm sure they'll make more sooner or later. I hope. read more

Older Hotel with a lot of character built in the early 1900's. It's in a terrific location, particularly if you are going to take the ferry to Cumberland Island. It's got some great history and real character. Internet for computer worked but harder to connect for iPhones/Tablets. Individual room AC worked well. Lobby is crowded with memorabilia. A cat and dog (both friendly) roam the place. Owners were comfortable with the lobby door open (for breeze) or closed. The rooms are a little small, but the bathroom with our room was clean and updated: lovely tile, plenty of hot water. The bar, though, is not to be missed. Comfortable, well-stocked, every inch of the walls covered in old advertisements or wise-guy signs. Cindy, the Queen, runs the place. Cindy is a piece of work, trading hilarious foul-mouthed insults with the regulars, loudly, but without malice. She's a force of nature and not to be missed. read more

Riverview Hotel - Upper porch overlooking the St. Mary's River. - Hotels Near Me - Saint Marys, Georgia

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Stayed 2 nights while visiting Cumberland Island in October. This hotel is recently under new ownership and management. The new manager is very friendly and helpful. It is an old historic hotel which is being refurbished to update it without undoing the atmosphere of its prior history. It is a work in progress and they are doing a great job. read more

Dude. I am all about cool, old places with character... but our room was gross. Not comfortable at all. The mattress was AWFUL, the sheets were not clean and they gave us a USED bottle of shampoo. We will never come back, sadly. read more

Riverview Hotel - Hotels Near Me - Saint Marys, Georgia

Such a gem! Sitting right on the river! We had no idea what to expect when arriving since it was our first visit to St. Mary's, GA, but we will not stay anywhere else! Our stay was perfect. Very quiet hotel, beautifully preserved historic building, comfortable room, all the amenities you need, lunch packed and ready for heading over to Cumberland Island, great hotel staff, and the Saloon was fun! Hilarious bartender and pretty good food. read more

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Hotel from the 1916 all original from that time, you go in and you smell the antique.. room with two beds small no to comfy but to sleep one night is ok.. bathroom clean except for the bath tub has hairs all over.. the place is enough if you are going to be only one day like I did read more

Riverview Hotel - Riverview Hotel st Mary's Georgia - Hotels Near Me - Saint Marys, Georgia

Definitely historic and charming in its feel, but other parts of my stay were left wanting. It was frustrating having the faucet handle fall off in the middle of a morning shower and also to be told that the bagged lunches for the ferry were no longer offered (yet were initially part of our reservation). The Riverview Hotel has its good qualities, but also it's bad. My wife and I would recommend the hotel to our friends, but also with reservation. read more

Stayed again Fourth of July weekend 2017. Not super happy with my experience. The sink was cracked, towel bar was broken, paint chips in the walls. Comforter with filthy. Kind of gross. The lunch was good that you get to take to Cumberland Island and it cost $9. I do believe last time I said it was free but it wasn't . Overall they really need to remodel this hotel. Also the $10 off Yelp coupon does not apply. I was told that she did not authorize that coupon. read more

You can catch a glimpse of the river. That's it. This place is a dump! Rundown with old furnishings and carpeting. Outdated lighting and broken plumbing fixtures. The shower valve featured a pair of pliers in lieu of a handle! Buggy and not clean. Front desk clerk was less than caring. Don't believe online photos from years ago! read more

Spent two nights here and wish I read the TripAdvisor reviews and didn't rely on Yelp. I believe that this was once a nice place many, many years ago. Now it's musty, dirty and old. Owner at the desk wasn't particularly friendly or helpful. read more

To begin with the staff is pleasant and location is convenient and it is historic, but it's downhill from there. Our room was #19 on the second floor - no elevator. The picture makes it look nice, but it's really drab. There is no luggage rack or desk and electricity outlets are at the very minimum. We had to plug in our IPad in the bathroom. The TV screen is bigger than the projected picture and it's hung about 10 feet up the wall over the wardrobe. There's a door with frosted glass windows with no shades. If the guest in the opposite room stays up late, your room is lit up too. I was vey disappointed with our stay and was looking forward to leaving. And Saturday night, you didn't have to go the restaurant next door to hear the music from the live band. read more

Awesome staff and very historic building. I stayed 1 night before heading out to Cumberland island. It is so convenient. I can't wait to visit again someday! When staying at the riverview hotel know this hotel isn't like other hotels. Don't expect what you see in all of the chains. read more

Small dingy room with a loud and smelly wall ac unit for heat. No table to put a book or phone next to the bed. No shelf to put my toothbrush. The live music next door was nice but made it hard to sleep at 9pm. The breakfast was minimal but not terrible. read more

We stayed here one night before heading to Cumberland Island. It is a historic building with lots of charm. It is clean with updated bathrooms. We enjoyed the packed lunch we ordered to take with us to Cumberland. It was one less meal to worry about during our camping trip. Parking for the national park is just down the road. We will be back. read more

Charming as charming gets. You can feel the history staying here. The rooms are smaller, but coming from city apartment living, it didn't bother me a bit. The price we found very reasonable as well. For Cumberland Island travelers, definitely stay here the night before -- and the night after -- your visit. *A cold shower was great relief coming off the ferry. read more

Have to agree with others. Very rundown and old. It was 90 + degrees outside and no ac. The lady at the front stated the owners wanted to keep the buildings charm. What does that mean? The entrance had large cardboard boxes stacked in the corner. Is that charming? At least the ac worked in our room. I did have some concerns about the wiring as the electric lights used some very strange on/off switch. Also, how do they pass inspection with electric heaters in the bathroom. Paint was peeling off the walls--asbestos?? Very scary. Breakfast was pathetic, they were out of orange juice, milk, coffee. Very dead town with a waterfront in the midst of repairs that look like may never be done. read more

Very old historical hotel in downtown St. Mary's. Across the street from Cumberland Island Ferry. Location is convenient for the ferry, and they will pack a cooler lunch for you if you are visiting the Island. This is my 2nd stay at Riverside and I was in the Ravanel #5 room. Aside from the remodeled bathrooms (shower/tub fixtures are loose in the wall), and fresher looking paint in my room, which had some decent unrepaird dings in the wall, they haven't done much to modernize, or freshen up the hotel. Old furniture adds to the "antique" look and feel of the hotel but everything smells old and dirty. No A.C. in the common areas, which gives a hot stuffy feeling as soon as you walk in. There are a few rugs in the hallways that slip when walking on, making for a trip/fall hazard. The rooms are standard metal key. The blanket, pillow covers, and sheets have stains on them. The mattress feels old and very springy. There is a flt screen TV sitting on top of a 6" tall armoire (no closet in the room) and the remote didn't work properly. There is just old furniture in the room making for more of an old bedroom feel vs a hotel room. No mini fridge. Window unit style AC in a wall mount. Plugged into one of the few power outlets in the room, and the power cord hanings in the floor and is a trip hazard. It does provide sufficient air to cool the room Shutter style shades on the room adequately block sunlight in the morning. Pet friendly hotel as there is a house cat, and guests had their dogs in the restaurant/bar areas. read more

Shame on owners for letting this historic hotel be in such aweful condition. It's one thing to be in disrepair but to be down right filthy is another. Musty smells, mold and just dirty. Sad. Stay somewhere else. read more

This place is AWESOME! I have stayed here several times and each time has been wonderful. The owners Jerry & Gaila Brandon are the perfect hosts. Very friendly and nice and fun. They have an on-site restaurant and bar there which is convenient and very nice. The food is good and the prices are reasonable. Cindy their notorious bartender is a gem. She is a famed local who really livens up the bar and who really entertains you with her vivacious personality. This hotel is very economical and conveniently located right across from the Georgia Park Service Ferry that you need to take to reach Cumberland Island. A very short and simple walk across the street and your there. There are many shops and other restaurants located around Riverview Hotel with it's centralized location which is right in the center of everything and is within easy, quick walking distance of everything. There is a very nice long front porch that overlooks the main street and waterfront. They have rocking chairs and swing chairs that are fun to sit in as you take in the view and activity surrounding the hotel. Very neat and clean and comfortable rooms. Included with your room is a daily continental breakfast consisting of an assortment of fruit and cereals and breads, and granola bars, and coffee and juice. They make you feel like family here and they are so warm and sweet and helpful and accomodating. They have great stories to tell too, very entertaining. This is a welcome home away from home type hotel. I have always stayed here when I visit St. Mary's and I will continue to stay here always. i just can't say enough good things about the RIverview Hotel. I look forward to my next visit to St. Mary's/Cumberland Island and to the awesome Riverview Hotel. I highy recommend this hotel, you won't be sorry! :) read more

The hotel people are friendly, this is a pet friendly and laid back family type atmosphere, perfect for visiting Cumberland Island. It is walking distance to the ferry. The breakfast was good, just bagels, waffles, donuts, coffee, cereal, juice, and bananas. The packed lunch for island was good. Make sure to take the earliest ferry or camp on the Island to see it all. Hotel is not haunted that I could see. The pub is nice! Restaurants are not good at all in the hotel or near it, way over priced, frozen seafood not fresh and salad was browning. Other than that it was super!! read more

Riverview Hotel - In room 19 - Hotels Near Me - Saint Marys, Georgia

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Not what you expect but super cool. This place is a step back in time. It's not fancy but it's clean and the old fashioned atmosphere is amazing. Sit in the second story porch and overlook the river or down town st Mary's. They offer a packed lunch for 8.00 if you are going onto cumberland island and the lunch is better than anything you would probably pack for yourself. To me, it was like staying at a relative's house for the night! Give it a try and don't make a snap judgement!! read more