It was very nice. We really enjoyed our short stay. We weren't there much but wish we could have…read morebeen.

Lovely! I booked the Dayton Room in the penthouse for the night before my wedding. It was a last…read moreminute purchase and I was very pleased with the results. I didn't want a generic hotel room so the New Victorian Mansion allowed me to have comfort as if I was in my own home. Some of my favorite highlights include: wrap around front porch, view of the Cathedral, large bathroom with a nautical theme, breakfast in the dining room and overall peacefulness and serenity of the space. Upon arrival, there is a free parking lot wrapped around the building and a main entry (you'll ring the doorbell) to get access to your room key pad number and front door code. Depending on what wing and room you stay in, you will travel either inside or out and have the option for both if you stay in the penthouse. The mansion is separated by two sections and anyone staying in the penthouse is on an opposite wing of the building. There is no elevator in the penthouse and it's clearly advertised online so you'll know what to expect in advance without any surprises. The penthouse is technically meant for large group gatherings as there is only shared 1 bathroom. Contrary, I saw others in the penthouse when I was there and we never overlapped on bathroom use. I enjoy the New Victorian because you can customize how you want to stay whether that is luxurious or a more modern dorm style. No matter what you choose, the common shared spaces in each wing are adorable being it's all a mansion. Even the penthouse kitchen was just enough with every accommodation possible: Nespresso machine, coffee cups, wine glasses, blender, fridge, pots, pans, etc. While I only stayed one night and had to depart early, I couldn't fully enjoy the breakfast as I was in rush mode to get married. Contrary, the staff accommodated a slightly early meal for me which was very thoughtful. Rating this a 4 as there is some generic wear and tear, missing paint, carpet stains, and cleaning supplies and cords in the open spaces. With some paint, hiding of tools, carpet stain remover, small porch sweeping with added flowers, this would get a 5 star. My understanding is that there are new owners so perhaps repairs are all in the works after being handed off? Don't be fooled: the place is clean but it looks more dirty due to the slight repairs that need to be done to keep the upscale vibe going.

Amazing Private Bed and Breakfast. Exclusive clientele consisting of family and friends.read more

Phenominal Place! This is one of those rare moments when a five star rating is not enough. It…read morewould rate it so much higher than many of my other five stars because of the unbelieable hosts, delicious breakfast, clean rooms, super comfortable bedding, and breathtaking rooms. Unbelievable! This place is well worth the price. The private bathrooms are spectacular. Between the eucalyptus steam shower with a myriad of water features and the jacuzzi type soaking tub, we could barely tear ourselves away from our personal spa time to go to dinner. We love the fact they have no tv's in the rooms but an awesome speaker/disc system for music of your choice and a refrigerator full of drinks. They had snacks available upon our check in and I would highly recommend the freshly baked chocolate chip cookies for an additional $5 - YUM! The best part of our moring was the delicious breakfast served right to your room. OH My! We loved our breakfast (see picture) and the homemade scones were SO good. We came here to celebrate our 29th Anniversary in February and we weill be back for a summer visit and of course, many more anniversaries. This place made our anniversary special. Thank you Tom and Sandy.

I only need to say one five star thing. THEY SERVE ICE CREAM with breakfast!…read more Well, we've only stayed in five or six bed and breakfasts (mostly in Maine or New Hampshire) but this is (without a doubt) our favorite. The Mansion is beautiful, a real mix of old and new.. so you get history.. but still really nice bathrooms and big bedrooms It's about three blocks further than the other highly rated one in town and well worth the extra travel. We were greeted by our gracious hosts, Tom and Sandy. We made it just in time for the afternoon snack.. you know.. wine, cheese etc... with time to enjoy the large veranda. In fact, we were there for three nights and made extensive use of the veranda.. at breakfast, in the afternoon and in the evening. Tom and Sandy are good about seating you with people that are a good match.. or if you prefer.. alone.. there is plenty of space. You can even have food delivered to your room. We played croquet on the grounds (yes, they have ample parking, gorgeous landscaping, a fountain and a place to play croquet) it was fun, but when my wife kept beating me I decided it was time to try something else. (I grew up in the city, what do I know about croquet?) Back to the breakfast thing.. one day the whole area suffered a power outage so they fired up the grill and cooked us our breakfast. No big deal, it was excellent. We stayed in the Joseph room, but were able to view all except one and they were all very nice. We had a King sized bed (super comfortable) and an oversized bathroom.. a big tub with jets and a shower that I needed the instructions (laminated) to use.. so many sprayers. As we spoke with the other guests.. we were all in agreement that this is a really remarkable Bed and Breakfast. Tom and Sandy's labor of love really shines. A great value.

Clearly one of the best B&B in the country…read more There are there are three keys to a BB, facility, food and owner. Here all three shine, which is good as it is not inexpensive The facility is great. Old, historic and beautiful. An awesome restoration, with fortunately modern bathrooms and AC. In a very quiet location, you really are unlikely to find a better package in St. Paul. Food is definitely a star here. When you hear chef made, it really is, no blowing smoke. Three fresh made options every morning, healthy, savory and sweet. And they will be different each morning if you stay more than one night. And fruit and muffins on the table when you arrive for breakfast with plenty of good coffee or juice. And finally the host, Kevin. Great host, fun, friendly in person and prompt in response in answering questions before you arrive. Knowledgeable about the area and you would not want more.

I have stayed three times and plan to stay again. The décor, amenities and design are excellent…read more The host, is friendly and offers suggestions for exploring along with other tips about St. Paul and the breakfast is quite delicious. The home is located in a lovely, walkable neighborhood near several restaurants.

The breakfast this morning is  -merlot poached pears on bed…read moreof vanilla honey yogurt and granola -blueberry French toast with homemade Merlot/blueberry syrup and fresh strawberries -sausage links -savory salad with quinoa/chick peas/tomato/lemon zatar vinaigrette dressing.

We had an absolutely wonderful stay at Ann Bean Mansion! The rooms were beautiful, comfortable, and…read morethoughtfully appointed -- you can really feel the care that goes into every detail. The owners were incredibly kind and welcoming, making us feel right at home from the moment we arrived. And the breakfast? Absolutely delicious. Fresh, flavorful, and the perfect way to start the day. Highly recommend staying here -- we can't wait to come back!

The good: -Jacuzzi tub…read more-Availability (hard to find a B&B in Stillwater) -Free parking -Quiet location -Lovely bottle of wine in the room, coffee, beverages -Gas fireplace was a nice touch The bad: -Breakfast was offsite at the Lowell Inn and it was terrible! (Not the fault of the B&B of course but we expected breakfast to be at the house like every other B&B we have stayed at. Plus, when paying a lot for a room you expect a nice breakfast. It was low-end greasy-spoon diner quality at best). -The decor left something to be desired. A lot of mismatched items, overly decorated, old carpet that screamed 1980s/1990s. The photos felt misleading and the room did not live up to the pictures. -Outdated bedding that felt like it from from last century (or my grandma's house?) -Price: paid over $250 for one night. We could have gotten much more for less and that was disappointing. I agree with another reviewer that the owners need to visit other establishments to update the B&B and what they offer, otherwise lower the prices significantly. I have been to much nicer B&Bs for a much lower price. Just trying to be honest about what to expect, I really wanted to love this place.

My boyfriend and I stayed in the Art Deco suite about a month ago and absolutely LOVED it. It is so…read morecomfy, cozy, unique. When we entered our room there was classical music playing-a VERY nice touch! A half bottle of wine from the Stillwater st Croix vineyards was waiting for us, another plus. The jacuzzi was wonderful, balcony private, and the outdoor pool was also a lot of fun. Breakfast at the Lowell inn was incredible. The one and only thing that I would change is that there's no room temp control and we both found it a little warm, but the owner was very kind and had it turned down a few degrees for us. We'll definitely be back.

Flew in from Chicago for a wedding and stayed with college friends. Every time I visit, I'm amazed…read morehow this city keeps getting better and better. The wedding was held at 300 Clifton, in Loring Hills on estate row. It's a landmark estate previously owned by a lumber baron at the turn of the century. 300 Clifton (named after the street it's on) was recently purchased, restored and is being used as a historic six-bedroom B&B and event venue. My neice Ali's wedding, reception and dinner was held outside, on the beautiful estate grounds. The bride and groom stood on the front porch and greeted the 150 guests... a wonderful idea I wish more couples would follow. The ceremony was held on the lawn under the the rose bush trellis. The bar was set up on the enormous back porch. A 5-course dinner was served under a huge tent, complete with fans (it was over 80 degrees). The only time I went inside was for wedding cake, so I only got a quick peek at the public rooms. Would love to come back for a tour. I can't think of a more lovely place to hold a wedding than here. My only suggestion is that they add more restrooms.

EEK! Bed Bugs in the blue room in the Carriage House. Recently stayed here and woke up one morning…read morewith bites above my knee and found 3 dead bugs on the sheets. It was a Saturday and no one was in the office and the owners are not listed on the website, plus NO phone number on the website. Finally I saw a worker loading a van and told him and he responded immediately texting the owner. They were full that night and couldn't put me in another room and offered to find a local hotel (which later they reneged on); the worker said they did call for inspection and said repeatedly they would reimburse my stay for the inconvenience. It was annoying not to have any communication with the owner and only when I got home on Sunday did they email to say there was nothing (who knows if that is true) and no mention of a refund. Very disappointed.

We had an incredible girl's weekend at the Rivertown Inn in Stillwater! The home was built by a…read morelumbar family in the 1800s and has been impeccably restored. It's just steps from downtown, so an excellent location! I loved the 'literary' theme - each room is named after and decorated for a famous author. There were six of us, so we rented the entire attic, which was perfect for our group. The rooms were unique, the beds were comfortable, and even with the summer heat, our rooms stayed cool. Our host, Larry, was truly incredible and so hospitable. He knows Stillwater inside and out and had wonderful recommendations for where to eat and what to see. He even suggested we take a drive up to Marine on St. Croix, about 10-15 minutes north of Stillwater, and we loved it. There is so much history to explore, plus a winery nearby. I recommend it too, if you are staying more than one night. Larry also thought of the little details, like setting out a puzzle he thought we would enjoy. Every evening at 5, the inn hosts happy hour with wine and a beautiful charcuterie spread. The rooms in the attic each had their own charm. The Jane Austen room was my favorite-it was especially cozy and even had a steam shower! The beautiful grounds surrounding the property were another highlight, including an enclosed gazebo that was perfect for enjoying the outdoors even when it rained. The Rivertown Inn was the perfect home base for our girls' weekend in Stillwater. The combination of historic charm, thoughtful hospitality, comfortable accommodations, and those special little touches made our stay memorable. For everything we did during our girls' weekend in Stillwater, check out my blog post: We had an incredible girls' weekend at the Rivertown Inn in Stillwater! There were six of us, so we rented the entire attic, which was perfect for our group. The rooms were beautiful, the beds were comfortable, and even with the summer heat, everything stayed wonderfully cool. Our host, Larry, was truly incredible and so hospitable. He knows Stillwater inside and out and had wonderful recommendations for where to eat and what to see. He even suggested we take a drive up to Marine on St. Croix, about 10-15 minutes north of Stillwater, and it ended up being one of the highlights of our weekend. There is so much history to explore, plus a winery nearby. Larry also thought of the little details, like setting out a puzzle he thought we would enjoy. Every evening at 5, the inn hosts happy hour with wine and a beautiful charcuterie spread--a perfect way to relax and catch up. The rooms in the attic each had their own charm. The Jane Austen room was my favorite--it was especially cozy and even had a steam shower! The beautiful grounds surrounding the property were another highlight, including an enclosed gazebo that was perfect for enjoying the outdoors even when it rained. The Rivertown Inn was the perfect home base for our girls' weekend in Stillwater. The combination of historic charm, thoughtful hospitality, comfortable accommodations, and those special little touches made our stay memorable. For everything we did during our girls' weekend in Stillwater, check out my blog: The Perfect Girls' Weekend in Stillwater, Minnesota⁠

Listen, my children, and you shall hear, of a time when showers were scarce and televisions mere…read morefantasy. This restored inn is not for everyone. I found out that it's not for a couple like us attending a formal wedding. Don't get me wrong, the hotel is breathtaking in its attention to the literary detail of the sponsored author (Longfellow in our case). But I could not recommend it if you need unique hours, or an actual shower (not a bath) and would like to relax with some tv at night. No wardrobe closet for our formal wear. Nothing but two hangers occupied with two robes. So, in general the hotel is remarkable and Larry helped make it a romantic stay with my girlfriend, and it is brimming with charm in every nook and cranny. Unfortunately, it seems to have confused a period atmosphere with period amenities. Call it a bed-and-breakfast; call it a literary time machine. Just don't call it modern comfort.

Unfortunately, we didn't have a chance to meet the owner of this B & B, not sure if it would have…read moremade a difference in our experience or not. She was pleasant and friendly over the phone when I made our room reservation. I will say most of the B & B's I've enjoyed, was partially because we had a chance to get to know the owners a bit and see how passionate they were about making a great B & B experience for everyone who stayed with them. So, maybe I've just been spoiled a bit by the extent of the services and amenities others offer, but that's my comparison. What this place does have going for it, is it's location. However depending on where your room is, you'll hear the traffic noise as this is located on a busy street. Also, the fact that there isn't really much else around lodging accommodations limits your choices for this area. There is private parking for guests. The room was clean and comfortable. It was lacking the extra little touches that many travelers have come to appreciate from bed & breakfast operators-shampoo, blower dryer, complementary water or soda, glassware or plasticware instead of dixie cups in the room. Self service coffee, tea and microwave popcorn was available in the dining area. For the price of the rooms, the little extra touches might have helped.

A very pleasant stay, and I am not a fan of B&B's because I have to, you know... socialize, and I…read moream not an extrovert. But hey, our hosts were relaxed and friendly, and the folks we sat down with to breakfast had fun stories to tell. The rooms are idiosyncratic but charming. The bathrooms: just idiosyncratic, but they worked. Breakfasts on the weekends were more elaborate and tasty, and on weekdays simpler but adequate. I get the feeling this may vary with the number of guests. The Birdhouse is on a "busy" intersection which is no big deal because Excelsior is a pretty quiet little town; and a charming one. You are a walk away from good shops and restaurants. You are a very short walk from Lake Minnetonka and its activities. The Porch and grounds are delightful. If you get the right weather for it, lazing outside could be a delicious experience, with an elevated view of the neighborhood. Of course, getting bearable weather (not too many mosquitoes, not too much heat and humidity, not 5 degrees below zero, can take scheduling and luck. In the winter, I imagine the large parlor would be very inviting. So a point off for the various weird bathrooms, which were all functional but awkward, but all in all, I will be staying there again, the next time I visit relatives.

This is a very nice bed and breakfast. I've been to a few and this would have to be my favorite…read more The driveway is a good first impression. A narrow one-way loop up the hill of the beautiful property, beneath the wooden overhang that extends from the historic Victorian home, and past the patio to a shaded parking area. You'll knock on the door and meet the Innkeeper Debby, she's a highlight - very nice lady and she'll make delicious breakfast tomorrow morning! Rooms are cozy and have different features including a huge whirlpool tub in one room. There are refreshments in the kitchen - soda, tea coffee, water, fresh cookies. Value-wise, $194 a night wasn't too bad considering all that was included (and some rooms are cheaper). It's walking distance from some local bars / Cocktail lounges also - I like Anoka Hardware Store (.4 miles). Also consider Mad Hatter Tearoom (.7 miles).

Absolutely lovely inn. From the accommodations, to the hosts, to the glorious breakfast, everything…read moreexceeded our expectations!