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Stanford Inn by the Sea - Eco-Lodge
Categories: Event Planning & Services Hotels Hotels & Travel Hotels Restaurants Hotels & Travel Bed & Breakfast Hotels, Restaurants, Bed & Breakfast [Edit]
44850 Comptche Ukiah RdMendocino, CA 95460
(707) 937-5615
Announcement
Introducing a new vegetarian breakfast menu! e.g., Portobello Benedict, Chilaquiles, Gluten-free Waffles and Pancakes, and more.
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 8 am - 11 pm
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dinner, Breakfast
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- Yes
90 reviews for Stanford Inn by the Sea - Eco-Lodge
Review Highlights
"We also enjoyed the wood burning fireplace in our room."
(in 9 reviews)
"there was also a hot tub and sauna rooms."
(in 6 reviews)
"...give you free vegan chocolate chip cookies every afternoon..."
(in 3 reviews)
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90 reviews in English
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Review from Jen F.
Tracy, CA
1/15/2012
Went to Stanford Inn for a three-day getaway. The staff are very friendly. They make you feel so welcome. When we got to our room- it was already warm, classical music was playing and there was Vegan cookies waiting on the table. It was the most delicious Vegan cookies I have ever had!
Our booking included massages, dinners and brunches. The food was to die for! They're the best looking and best tasting Vegan food I have had so far. Simply delicious! It was great when I look at the menu because I didn't need to think what I could eat, I just picked whatever I felt like eating and rest assured they're meat & dairy free. :)
The place- I wish we had more time to spend there. There's a lot to do- get a massage (which we did), go kayaking, go mountain biking on the trail, run, swim, workout at the fitness room, use the sauna, walk around the gardens, go into town and hang out at the coffee shops or at the beach. Anyway, let's go back to Stanford Inn, when we got there, there was a voice recital from college students at the lobby/dining room so it was busier than usual.
The service was excellent. We had to call for something, I forgot what it was :) but they were quick to respond.
Overall, this place is highly recommended- whether you're Vegan or not. Oh by the way, my husband who is a big meat lover came with me and never ate or looked for meat the whole time we were there. He said the food was very satisfying and filling. The package that we got was a bit pricey but hey, we don't do this a lot. I'll definitely come back to Stanford Inn for a third time. (I went back there recently for breakfast. I went to Mendocino with a bunch of high school friends and we stayed at another inn but I made sure I got to eat at The Ravens). -
Review from Joe H.
Richmond, CA
10/23/2011
We stayed here last weekend while on a visit up the Mendocino Coast. Beautiful hotel. The staff is very friendly, and when checking in the lady took us personally to our rooms. The rooms are simple but very comfortable. The view of the ocean and the garden from our room is great. Hotel is quiet. The pool is good - only complaint is that 3/4 of the pool is too deep for our 7.5 year old daughter (and she is tall compare to her peers!). Overall we liked our room.
The room also come with complementary breakfast - breakfast is all Vegan. We are not vegans or even vegetarians, but we like the breakfasts. We tried the "benedicts", a Mexican style dish, granola, French Toast, and the polenta dish.
Overall we really enjoyed the experience - the hotel and restaurant are true to its Mendocino roots, and that makes our stay. -
Review from Inga W.
9/27/2011
This was our one year anniversary so we wanted to get away for a night somewhere romantic and enjoy a nice view, room and wine country. We wanted to do something different and coastal rather than Napa.
This place isn't cheap, almost $300 a night should get you a nice room, amenities, a nice new bed, since that is what you're there for and the view. The view was pretty, but nothing out of the ordinary, Bodega has the same ones, the room was a bit too rustic for my taste, the furniture old and worn and just not fresh but what killed us was the bed.
It was sagging, old and I swear there since this place opened. Nothing luxury about it. We looked at three other rooms just to see if we could improve but they were all the same. This was a huge disappointment for us, we were looking forward to a nice plush bed that didn't give us sore backs and a night of tossing and turning sleep. The girl said the owners were probably going to get around to upgrading the beds eventually. Well I think they need to get on it, they are horrible and not worth the price you pay for the place at all. We stayed for $100 less in Bodega with the same views and a much nicer room. Upon check out we mentioned the beds again and this time a new girl tried to say the beds were new and pillow top, I almost burst out laughing.
Places that want to charge premium prices should make sure the rooms are worth it. The bedding was also old worn, the towels were on the older side as well. Yes we had a fireplace and nice balcony, but what matters is the nights sleep. The bathroom could use a nice overhaul too, the shower was so tall I had to stretch to reach it. The ventilation was pretty bad and the decor dated.
Another surprise, the food at this place is vegan, although they managed to make me bad eggs in the morning when I was about to cry at the lack of breakfast that I was craving, bloody marry, eggs and bacon.
I still had a great time with my husband because we were there to celebrate but neither one of felt it was worth the money and I feel compelled to write this review so people know what to expect and the owners perhaps do some upgrades that matter or sell the place and let someone else take care of it.Comment from Joan S. of Stanford Inn by the Sea - Eco-Lodge 9/28/2011
We are disappointed to read that you did not enjoy your time… More » -
Review from kathryn c.
Arcata, CA
Updated - 2/4/2012
This is my second review for this place. For some reason the first review posted just three days ago but had intended for it to post 1 year ago after my first stay. Anyhow, I decided to give this place a second try and it exceeded my expectations. Everything was amazing and created such a magical experience for my friend and I. I will definitely go back here again. And if you are thinking of visiting this place, I say definitely DO IT. What a peaceful place. I loved the pool and hot tub too! :)
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/1/2012
This place is beautiful and I love the fact that I can bring my dog. However, I paid over 300… Read more »
Comment from Joan S. of Stanford Inn by the Sea - Eco-Lodge 2/4/2012
We are very sorry that the hot water and pressure issue was… More » -
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Review from L S.
Oakland, CA
1/8/2012
From the moment Jillian answered the phone, I was in love with this place. We went for my birthday weekend in November, and everyone was amazing. The staff are extremely helpful in helping you plan your stay (they offer activities like kayaking and canoeing, and will call and make reservations in Ft Bragg for horseback riding, etc if you need).
The rooms are beautiful and cozy. For the extra cost, the second floor rooms are worth it. We had a picturesque view, preset bottle of Roederer sparkling wine waiting for us in the room after dinner, and a delicious piece of chocolate torte (my partner set this up special). Mmm!
The property has livestock, gardens, and walking paths so you don't have to leave if you don't want. My favorite part is the SOLARIUM! I could have lived in here. It's a glass greenhouse-style building with a heated indoor pool, jacuzzi, sauna, showers, and the perfect place to relax. We took a dip before getting massages in the adjacent building.
The restaurant wasn't great, but I'm refusing to take away a star because of it. It is a vegetarian restaurant, which is not my qualm. I ordered a portabello benedict and the mushroom had no flavor whatsoever, which is too bad because the rest of the plate was delicious. Breakfast is included with your stay, but it might be worth it to try Little River Inn which is down the road and has a phenomenal menu. We went there for dinner and it was superb.
If you're looking for a quiet place to stay with incredible amenities, this is it! -
Review from mandy s.
San Francisco, CA
12/26/2011
This place is wonderful. We went for Christmas weekend with our poochie. They are super pet-friendly (with a fee) and it was nice to not have to worry about that part of it.
The rooms are very cozy and have a bit of a rustic feel. Beautiful wood furnishings everywhere. Hands down, the best part of the room is the wood-burning fireplace. We were very excited about (finally) finding a place with a wood-burning fireplace (not gas or electric).
The bathrooms are small and appear to be older than the rooms. We had a king executive room on the 2nd floor in the River building. This came with a sofa, desk, king bed and a private patio. The view was nice but not *exactly* what I was expecting. Not entirely sure why I thought we would be getting breathtaking ocean views, but alas, the views are nice but not full ocean views (at least not our room). They mainly look out to gardens and there is a peek of the ocean. Still very, very pretty. Also, we were a bit worried that it would be on the noisy side - since it appears the rooms are quite close together in several buildings. But this wasn't the case at all - we never heard our neighbors or any traffic right outside our building. In fact, it felt very secluded and quiet. Enjoyed this part of it.
The breakfast in their dining area comes with the room price and was a wonderful surprise. It was absolutely fantastic! We're not vegan (or vegetarian), but this was a nice taste into the world of vegan food. It's clear the chefs know what they're doing. This is a great place to try new breakfast dishes. I had the florentine benedict on morning #1 and the ranchero on morning #2. Both were served with scrambled tofu. The coffee was perfection and came with your choice of soy or coconut milk.
The room was warm (which was nice - it was an abnormally chilly day) and the fireplace was ready to go when we got in. They left lots of wood, kindling, matches and newspaper. They also had vegan cookies waiting...very, very good.
Finally, the last thing to comment on is the indoor pool, hot tub, and sauna. Really, really nice addition on the property! We didn't swim in the pool but did try out the hot tub and the sauna.
The only reason why this place isn't getting 5 stars is because of the price. It's steep. I would say (overall) it's worth it due to the fireplace and delicious breakfasts, but it's still quite a pretty penny. We were staying over a holiday weekend and there were nice touches everywhere that also made it seem like money well spent: beautiful holiday furnishings (including a cute little Christmas tree in our room) and a nice card and gift from the owners.
Overall, we would visit this place again - likely for another holiday weekend. It would be a bit hard to justify spending quite that much on a regular weekend, but certainly worth splurging for a special weekend away. -
Review from Martin C.
San Francisco, CA
8/6/2011
My GF and I stayed here 2 nights this past weekend for a b-day get-a-way for my GF.
We're not vegans or particularly "green" minded and I chose the site mainly because it looked attractive, which it was. The inn is located at the end of a coastal ravine overlooking the ocean and Mendocino headlands just before you cross the bridge to Mendocino. It's the closest resort on the south side of the bridge to town.
There are 4 connected 3 story buildings -- all in darked stained wood w/red trim) starting w/the lodge and extending south to the 3rd (Forest) bldg where we stayed. The farther away and higher your room the quieter and better the view. There's a veggie garden located below the bldgs that is pretty and interesting to walk through and there is a kayak/bike rental located just below the garden on Big River. Bike rentals are free and included w/your stay; kayaks are not. You also get a "free" breakfast, each night of your stay in the Raven's Restaurant which I've reviewed separately.
There's also a "solarium" with an enclosed pool, hot tub and sauna that we visited but did not use and a array of spa/massage services that we also didn't use. The solarium was warn and inviting (particularly nice considering the chilly weather) but we didn't have time to use it. There is also a small corral w/llamas and cows in it that we saw from our room but didn't visit either.
The room we had was described as a "king" w/a fireplace and view. The description was accurate, except for the bed which was actually a queen. They prepared the fireplace (w/wood, kindling and newspaper) each night, which was a nice touch. The draft of the fireplace wasn't all that good and we had to keep the glass door to the fireplace closed and the door to the balcony open a bit in order to keep smoke out of the room; the smoke alarm wen toff once when we didn't do that. The view from the balcony was nice but we didn't spend that much time there because we were out most of the day and the coast was unusually foggy/chilly for August; it was sunny and war the last 2 times we were here at this time of year.
The room, including the bathroom, was paneled knotty pine, which was quite attractive. The room was spacious but did not have enough electrical outlets for computers and other devices. However, the wireless signal in our room -- furthest from the lodge -- was very good. The bathroom was functional but had only 1 sink and no way to turn off the noisy fan in the adjoining combo toilet/bath. Had to keep the doors of both the toilet and bathroom closed when the fan was running. The door to the bathroom from the bedroon also did not work properly because the latch was jammed; could have fixed it myself but didn't bother doing it. I also would have preferred it if the small couch in the room faced the fireplace, not the bed. But, these are relatively minor complaints.
The rooms are not "cheap" here -- ours was $260/night w/a 10% online discount plus the room tax -- but felt I got my money's worth overall. Could have stayed elsewhere for less but the room would not have been as large or "nice" for this special occasion. If you are handicapped, do not consider rooms on the 3rd floor; they are not handicapped accessible -- just stairs w/no elevator access. Parking can also be challenging at the end of the road; too many cars and too few spaces which makes for some site competition there.
One side benefit of the location is that it's also located on the Comptche-Ukiah road which you can take directly back to Hwy 101 to the east. It's a narrow 2 and sometimes single lane winding road that could be very challenging to drive for some, but I found it a charming and interesting road and wished I had my driven my sports car instead of my Prius on this trip. The view from the summit was particularly nice. Check out the road -- which will take you about 1 1/2 hours to get to Hwy 101 -- even if you don't stay at the Stanford Inn in order to avoid taking Hwy 20 from Ft. Bragg or backtracking on Hwy 128 to get back to Hwy 101. -
Review from Jim R.
Walnut Creek, CA
9/7/2011
Great rooms, bet breakfast ever.
all this and good for conscience and planet , also romantic place.
don't miss afternoon treat! -
Review from Darcy R.
Sacramento, CA
6/4/2011
Our room was beautiful! It was cozy and very clean! Each evening we had fresh baked vegan cookies waiting for us when we got back to our room a nice personal touch!
Breakfast was included in our stay and the menu was excellent. The portions were great!
We also had dinner here one night. The portions were small and it was all vegan. The food was fresh and the presentation was nice! The desserts are amazing and the service was great! We paid $70 for dinner which included two small plates, one dinner and two desserts. My husband said he left feeling hungry... not a good sign.
We strolled through the gardens, visited the llamas and walked on the beach. The inn is peaceful and relaxing! This is a great place to get away and experience some real tranquility. My trip inspired me to want to eat better and maybe start my own mini garden in my backyard.
The downside was the loud family above us. This doesn't really seem like a place to bring small children, but what do I know? There were a lot of people with dogs which was cool as long as they looked after them. It was interesting to see dogs in the dining area. For such a "green" place I thought the choice of bath soap, shampoo and conditioner were interesting.
Overall, peaceful place to relax. I would definitely stay here again! -
Review from Anthony S.
Berkeley, CA
1/18/2011 2 Check-ins Here
B&Bs kinda freak me out a little. Don't they scare you too? Just a little bit?
To me, those two little letters linked with an ampersand conjure up images of dark, dusty, somewhat ramshackle Victorian houses run by middle-aged ladies who collect cats and wear bedazzled cartoon heart sweatshirts from QVC's Quacker Factory. Their musty living rooms are often filled with decrepit antiques, old photos with eyes that follow you around the room, needlepoint pillows with biblical sayings, patchwork quilts and creepy 'sleeping' dolls dressed in lace. When it comes down to it, you're paying to spend the night in the house of a complete stranger. A 'strange' stranger at that. Very strange.
Thankfully, Stanford Inn by the Sea is nothing like a typical bed and breakfast. Astrid and I arrived at 3:30 pm on Saturday of MLK weekend and were graciously shown to our pine paneled room with our own wood-burning fireplace where violin music was playing over the in-room sound system. There was a note from the proprietors thanking us for staying with them and two vegan chocolate chip cookies waiting on the table. Such nice touches! We opened the french doors to the private deck and looked out over the tiered vegetable gardens, ponds and horse and llama stables out to the ocean. Not once did I see a speck of needlepoint or lace.
After settling in, we went to the hotel's complimentary tea reception and enjoyed strong tea and an incredible vegan pudding. After, we sat by the massive fireplace and enjoyed a beer while talking to the other guests and reading our books. Instant relaxation!
The inn is super dog-friendly and if you're lucky, you'll meet Murphy, the house dog who is incredibly sweet! She became my surrogate dog while I was there for two days. It was so cool to see guest's pets sitting with them at dinner or walking around the grounds.
The greenhouse across the way from the main lobby houses their salt water lap pool, jacuzzi, and sauna. The interior of the greenhouse is covered in potted plants and flowering trees; lending a feeling of being in the jungle to this relaxing place.
Eating at the Ravens' Restaurant was an awesome experience too. I'm neither vegetarian or vegan, but immensely enjoyed everything I ate there. For dinner, I had the Stuffed Cannelloni, a gluten-free dish consisting of eggplant 'cannelloni' stuffed with cashew 'ricotta' and covered with a fresh tomato sauce. For breakfast, the Ravens Florentine rocked my world. Fresh, house made, whole wheat english muffins topped with steamed spinach and braised tempeh and then covered with a vegan 'hollandaise' lemon tahini sauce. This was good food...not good vegetarian food or good vegan food, it was just simply good food!
Sure, there were a couple of little hiccups, one involving septic gasses coming up into our bathroom, but these are small things I can overlook based on the service we received and how relaxed I feel after being there all weekend.
I can't wait to stay there again!Listed in: Get Out of Town!
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Review from Jennifer K.
Los Angeles, CA
5/25/2011
Did a ton of research for a place to stay in Mendocino and so glad we decided on the Stanford Inn. The grounds are gorgeous. Love that you can walk through the organic vegetable gardens and that there are animals on the property. The horses are friendly but the llamas wouldn't give us the time of day ...still was fun to see them up close. Loved the wood burning fireplace in the room and sitting on our private balcony that overlooked the gardens and the ocean.
When we arrived, after check in time, our room was not ready. The staff was very accommodating and we were appropriately compensated for the inconvenience.
Also nice to have an indoor heated pool, hot tub and sauna.
The complimentary breakfast was delicious - you order off the menu, it is not a simple buffet of fruit and cereals. It's an organic, vegan restaurant, so be prepared to not get bacon or sausage with your meal.
If I come back to Mendocino I will definitely stay here again. -
Review from Lisa L.
El Dorado Hills, CA
10/16/2011
Amazing,relaxing,romantic getaway! Room was super clean.Bed was very comfortable. Fresh cookies every day left by housekeeping. You have to know going in about the Vegan thing. We appreciated the exposure to this way of eating/being.
Massages were excellent. The spa and pool also super clean, and well maintained. We think it was a fair price.
We will be back! -
Review from Mei B.
San Francisco, CA
4/9/2011
It was our last chance to go away for a "babymoon" and it had to be fairly closeby (time constraint). We decided on Mendocino and heard good things about Stanford Inn, especially since we were bringing Harry, our dog.
I don't know if it was misplaced expectations or a result of having great stays on other recent weekend trips but overall we found the Stanford Inn very average and not worth the price. We had thoughts of ocean views and biking/hiking trails on site. In actuality, the ocean is probably a 1/2 mile away and you have to drive to the other side of the Big River to get to the trails. They were very accomodating to our dog Harry but really even Harry did not have the best time as the grounds are limited and there really is no place for him to run. Sorry to say it but our stay was forgettable and we are unlikely to return. -
Review from Laurie L.
San Francisco, CA
1/13/2012
This is heaven! I kept hearing about this place, and finally decided to go. For some reason I was expecting a combo of zen monastery or too chic eco cool vibe. It was none of that. The most honest way I can describe is JOY. It is a joyous place - and it just spreads out. It is clear it is run as act of love and not as just as tool to make money. I felt pampered in every way, but not just because they saw my & me and $ - I hate that obsequious fake service, it makes my skin crawl. Here the folks working here, want to be there - that's what I felt, and from how they talked about what they did, their love for the area - I felt it. And they wanted us to share in their pride in this atmosphere. They talked to my kids about adventures to be had in the area, listening to them and not just going on what they were told to sell. And that's the thing. I never felt I was being sold anything. I really felt like a guest - the way you do with true family. The rooms are so generous, spotlessly perfect and so luxurious comfortable, sitting on the porch, looking out at the breathtaking views of the ocean, gardens rolling out beneath me, fog cinching in along the redwoods - I felt the presence of sense of connectivity I have longed for. I later found out that this Inn is built on Ley Lines - sacred places in the earth were energy is released. I just experienced a very profound sense of well-being. I thought it would be transitory, just my chemicals getting happy because I was someplace beautiful. We get to the Ravens, the restaurant here I slept better than I had in ages. I did not have to take ambian, which I always bring with me when I travel because I do not take to unknown beds. My husband and I were so snuggled under down blankets with a crackling fire, that when we did go to sleep, as romantic an evening as our honeymoon, well, better... I wasn't drunk. Go here and find romance, peace, great food and JOY !
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Review from Amy M.
Roseville, CA
7/8/2011
This is going to be a long one! First off, a little set up: my husband and I were looking for somewhere to go to celebrate our 9 year anniversary. Being vegan, very often we have a hard time finding somewhere to go where we aren't constantly freaking out about what we are going to eat. So I found this tucked away little inn that serves mostly vegan food and looked to have very pretty grounds and I didn't think it was too expensive.
On arrival Friday evening, we were exhausted from a four hour windy drive and I was immediately impressed by how the girls at the first desk were very businesslike but also super friendly at the same time. When we checked in we made our dinner reservation and breakfast reservation for the next morning at the same time. Then we went to lay down in the room for awhile and there were VEGAN COOKIES awaiting our arrival! That is not something that I am used to. They were really good too! The room was very spacious, each room has its own deck, and each also has a wood burning fireplace. I immediately felt completely at home. Bonus: The bed was very comfortable and there is free wireless internet!
The FOOD. Oh my f'ing God. Completely amazing at every meal. The dinner is maybe a little steep price-wise for some people, but it's basically a 5 star restaurant and the food was so good that I didn't care. It's been too long now so I can't remember everything that we had but there wasn't ONE thing that we didn't love, and over our two night stay we went the restaurant twice for dinner and twice for breakfast. I did see some people complaining on Yelp about all of the food being vegetarian and vegan (the menus are all vegan, but for breakfast you can order eggs and have milk in your coffee if you want). Yes I KNOW, I am vegan so I was happy. But I believe they are fairly clear on the website that they do not serve meat so guess what, don't expect any if you go!
I really wish that we had brought our doggies, I think that they would really have enjoyed themselves. We just weren't sure how they would like it, so we decided to wait and bring them next time. And there WILL be a next time.
So last thing--- some people were complaining that it is too expensive.
I'm sorry, I don't get it. It's between $200 and $250 per night. For that you get:
A cozy room with a deck, a wood burning fireplace, and a comfy bed
The ability to bring your dog with no extra deposit or charge
A full breakfast
Gorgeous grounds and an enclosed pool and spa
Canoes and bikes if you want them
This is no Motel 6! If you just need a place to stay on your way up the coast, I don't recommend this. You come here for the EXPERIENCE. Needless to say, we had an awesome time and we will be back. -
Review from Jessica D.
San Francisco, CA
12/26/2010
We stayed here a couple days prior to Christmas (23rd/24th and checked out Christmas Day) and one word to sum up my experience?
Damn.
We opted for one of their little cabins (we stayed in 253) towards the back of their lot,nestled right by their llamas.Yes,I said llamas.
The hotel,for lack of a better word..is really neat.Our cabin had its own little kicthentte and large livingroom.The couch had a fold out bed and there was another foldout mattress in the closet..perfect to accommodate the 4 people we had in our party.If that wasn't enough,housekeeping brought down extra robes,blankets,towels and even down comforters,without us asking and free of charge.How sweet!
I also really loved our fireplace,which had wood ready to go upon our arrival,plus a nice little storage box outside full of wood for the rest of our stay.
The whole lot is self sustaining.They grow all their own food for the 2 vegetarian restaurants located on the compound.I'm not vegetarian myself,so I was a little bummed they didn't offer meat options,though they did comp our 80$ breakfast for being guest at the hotel.
Plus,theres so many places near by to eat that do offer regular dining options,the vegetarian menus the hotel offered weren't such a downer that I'd complain about it.
The only other thing I would have maybe liked different was an actual door for the bathroom.its just a screen dividing it between the sink and the master bedroom.This would be fine if I had come here with a significant other,but traveling with family or friends? I like myself a liiiiiiittle more privacy when I pee.Just sayin! -
Review from Stephanie W.
Los Altos, CA
2/14/2011
I've been wanting to go to Mendocino for years, and a colleague recommended this Inn for our stay. I owe her big time.
I was able to secure one of their 'cheap' rooms on short notice for Valentine's weekend, and I didn't have very high hopes as I wasn't super impressed with the room when I saw it via their website. But once we got to the property I was overwhelmed by how peaceful and cozy this inn was! The ladies at the check-in desk were very sweet and helpful, and directed us to our room.
The room itself was on the small side, but very comfortable. Little touches like music playing on the iPod/CD player when we opened the door, homemade cookies with a note from the owners, gift certificates to help us celebrate our anniversary weekend... these made this a very special and unique place to stay.
The bed. Ohmygoodness. I could go on about the bed for paragraphs. Fluffy feather mattress, wonderfully cozy quilts/blankets and a cloud-like puffy duvet. And pillows, pillows, pillows. I would go back here just for the bed!!
Our room had a wonderful wood burning fireplace that was set up by the staff so all we had to do each day is light it. We were also given more homemade cookies which was so neat! And our balcony was a nice touch to be able to step out and get some fresh air...
We also had very nice massages and my hubby enjoyed the steam room (though he wished there were showers in the pool/spa/sauna area).
The downsides: this is a doggie-friendly place, so we heard quite a bit of barking and whining from dogs left in cars and in rooms while the owners were out & about. I also did not like the bath products - very old fashioned perfume-y european fragrances that didn't seem to fit the eco-friendly/natural environment of the Inn. Finally, the restaurant is vegan (with the exception of eggs); I am wonderful at being vegetarian as long as I can have dairy. So we were a bit disappointment with our breakfasts as they generally lacked much flavor (but I can recommend the pancakes, fresh carrot juice and eggs florentine).
If I come back to Mendocino, I would stay here again without hesitation. -
Review from Margaret G.
Oakland, CA
3/9/2011
We've stayed here a couple of times and love it. The rooms are oh so comfy. We love the wood, the view, the fireplace, the bed. Bathrooms could use a heat lamp.
If you have a sense of humor about their political correctness, it helps. We are not dog owners, but love the dining room section where dogs can be with their people. Also got a kick out of the Black Panther hot sauce at breakfast ("Burn baby, burn!"). Breakfast is good, even if you opt for the frowned-upon eggs (instead of the egg alternative, whatever it was).
The grounds are lovely. The indoor pool is fantastic as well. -
Review from Megan C.
Seattle, WA
4/25/2011
I've been here twice now, with two people and three dogs, and we absolutely love it. The staff have always been warm and welcoming to us and our dogs, and because one of my dogs is elderly and had a hard time with the stairs to our room, the woman who checked us in did let me know that it was okay to leave my senior gentleman in the room if we let them know & would be on-property and reachable. I didn't take her up on that, but if you think your dog is more comfortable in the room than in your car, that's an option. Mine prefers his own car, and Mendocino is pretty temperate and the parking lot is well shaded. Each night, we got vegan chocolate chip cookies for the humans and sweet potato treats for the dogs.
All rooms in the main building(s) overlook the Inn's incredible gardens: the ones on the top floor give you a bit of the ocean and/or river. The grounds are beautiful, with gardens that provide much of the produce for the restaurants, llamas & horses to visit, and ravens whirling and talking everywhere.
Off property: While it's walkable (across an overpass on highway 1), it's probably easiest just to drive over the bridge and park in the park in order to take advantage of the Big River trail and the beach along the river and out to the ocean (when the tide's low). Mendocino is an adorable town, with good shopping, galleries, & food, plus gorgeous walks along the Mendocino headlands. Most of Mendo is on cliffs/headlands, so there aren't a ton of expansive Pacific beaches right in town.
Please note: the restaurant is really *vegan*, not vegetarian; though they will give you eggs in the morning if you ask for them (they're no longer on the menu). Neither of us is vegan, but we were happy with vegan breakfasts at the Ravens and dinners in town. -
Review from Nikolaje D.
San Francisco, CA
11/24/2010 5 photos
Drive up on friday, check in at 2pm. Room 226, corner room with wood burning stove. 2 queen beds, one for me one for my great dane. I lookout from my private balcony (all rooms have one) at the garden and horses and llamas, organic gardens. Wow, all other inns need to understand what they do here. Rustic, Elegant, Luscious etc. They leave killer home baked cookies in the room, and dried sweet potatoes for my dog. I took a nap on the super comfortable bed and later took a walk around the property, said hello to the horses with my dog, YAY!
Next morning, after a complementary killer breakfasts with killer veg. food, I laid on the rug with pillows in front of the fire with my dog listening to the rain, drinking Germain Robin brandy and dreaming. This is a great inn.
I never heard another guest in my room ever. So peaceful and beautiful. Just amazing.
Now for the staff. Someone needs to use this place as guideline for how to respond to guests needs. Simply the best. Kindness is totally welcome.
Thanks guys, I love this place!! -
Review from Carrie G.
Davis, CA
6/7/2011
This was our first trip taking our 100 pound Lab with us, so we selected this hotel based on the reviews and recommendations based on it's "pet friendliness". I have been wary about traveling with such a large dog in the past, but we have had difficulties leaving him behind because he is suffering from some separation anxiety from his previous owners leaving him during a move, so we decided to give a vacation with him a try. While he is a gentle, 3 year old puppy, he gets really excited around other dogs and we weren't sure how well he would behave outside his element. We couldn't have been happier with the results. The inn sprawled across the base of a hill with vast, beautiful gardens for us to walk our dog around the property. He was welcome in all parts of the hotel, with the exception of the pool, and all the staff was very friendly and always said hi to us and the dog as we walked him. We were happy that our room was clean, odor free, with a lovely view of the garden. Treats greeted us in the room each day...vegan cookies for us, and a vegan treat for the dog. Amenities for us: a mini fridge, microwave, flat screen TV, classical music greeted us from the player that has an iPod docking station, and a wood burning fireplace outfitted with paper/kindling/logs/matches. Amenities for our dog: water and food bowls waiting in the bathroom for him, covers for the furniture, doggie-doo bags. The staff was friendly and helpful and very accommodating to our 4 legged child.
After perusing the reviews from some of the other past patrons, I am not sure what they were expecting out of a place in Mendocino. I felt the inn was exceptionally adequate, clean, with nice amenities, beautiful garden views, good food, nice staff, and great location. For those people unhappy with the price or ammenities, I would suggest you do your homework ahead of time and research what the different inns in Mendocino have to offer. My husband and I come here every year and stay at different places, and I felt that the price was on par with what the other inns are charging. Furthermore, the food in the restaurant on the property was organic, and much of it was grown on the property, which is a huge plus in my book. I am a lapsed vegetarian (choosing meat to further my craft as a chef), but I applaud their efforts to be self sustainable and to educate people on the benefits of being vegetarian/vegan. All this comes at a price, unfortunately...watering the gardens, tending to the vegetables and herbs, paying your staff, cost of getting supplies to Mendocino. While I appreciate the other patrons wanting to save a buck or two on vacation here or there, perhaps they need to look at the big picture or find another less expensive place to travel.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this place as a relaxing place to hang your hat for a couple of days. It is exceptionally pet friendly, and easy to bring your four legged friend with you here. It was a wonderful break from our busy lifestyles and I look forward to coming back soon. -
Review from brewgirl b.
San Francisco, CA
11/7/2010
Awesome, awesome, awesome! I cant think of a negative. VERY eco-friendly and conscious. And yet, there is none of the "dirty hippie" feel that you'd expect.
The grounds, with horses and llamas running about, are gorgeous. The pool/hot tub/dry sauna is situated in a solarium that has lots of leafy foliage. Loved the large deck that overlooked the grounds and the ocean, and the wood burning fireplace in our room (staff cleaned and set up fresh logs, kindling each day).
They provided fresh baked cookies in our room each day, along with a selection of teas/coffee that you can make. There was plenty of room in the room, and the beds are so comfy.
The breakfasts, included in the price of the room, were decidedly vegan, but scrumptious. You can get real eggs if you want, but the tofu scrambles were delish. They had fresh squeezed juices as well.
Staff was friendly and attentive.
The decor in the main building/restaurant had an upscale-lodge feel. Wish we had more time to explore! Very relaxing.
Other reviewers seemed bothered by the price, but I saw no problem with the room rate. -
Review from Angel D.
Annandale, VA
8/11/2011
Wish I could have stayed a lot longer here! We stopped in just for one evening as we toured the coast of northern California and Oregon, and oh we wished we could stay a few weeks! The gardens are lush and peaceful, with plenty of spots to relax and enjoy the solitude and absorb the peacefulness of the place. The restaurant is fabulous! It's worth a trip here for the wonderful vegan and vegetarian food--but there's also a pool, spa, sauna--and the rooms are gorgeous and have fireplaces. A must!! Make a special trip to stay here!
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Review from Peggy P.
Stanford, CA
9/2/2011
My husband and I love the Stanford Inn and have stayed there twice. Other reviewers have commented on the food, the natural beauty, and the professionalism and friendliness of the staff, all of which I find exceptional, but I'd like to add my own anecdote to the others.
When we checked out, we left a very expensive medical device in our room accidentally, and when we discovered this, we called the Inn in a panic. They were extremely accommodating and took the time to double-wrap the device, pack it safely and securely, and ship it to us. The device arrived at our house soon and in perfect working order.
Thank you, Stanford Inn for a wonderful visit and for your care! -
Review from Kathleen B.
San Mateo, CA
2/5/2011
My husband and I just got home from a fantastic stay here. Loved everything about it.
Very very relaxing. The place has a rustic but upscale feel. Rooms are comfortable. Bathroom slightly dated but absolutely spotless with gilchrist toiletries. Very nice!
It's the only place in the area with a workout room, which we really appreciated.
Ravens restaurant serves exceptional vegan dinners. We had the stuffed cannoloni, the ravioli, raw Napoleon, and a mushroom dish. Magnifique!! Breakfasts were fantastic too.
We'll be back. Next time with Max! -
Review from Shireen T.
San Francisco, CA
2/6/2011
Fresh sea breeze - check. Fireplace in wood paneled room - check. Dog friendly? -- check. Llamas and horses - check. 20 mile mountain bike ride on free bike rental courtesy of Stanford Inn - check. Delicious vegan restaurant with gluten-free options -- CHECK!
This place is a fantastic escape for a 1-2 days retreat into heaven. -
Review from Wendy W.
Oakland, CA
8/19/2011
Yes...you can bring your dog...but since you cannot leave the dog outside of your control, you cannot enjoy the pool, the spa, some of the grounds, the gym, etc....what's the point. The website said you could leave the dog in the room, but to just let them know you were doing it.....not the case...policy changed, but website did not....TOTAL BUMMER!
Not a vegan, so not thrilled with the food....probably really good if I was a vegan. Oh, and by the way, the website says "vegetarian", not vegan.
Pricey. Website misrepresents itself. Rooms are not fancy, but adequate. Just okay. No reason to come back. -
Review from shelby s.
9/6/2010
I came here for a weekend a few years ago and what a weekend it was!
I re-learned how to ride a bike. I got a relaxing massage. I went up and down the river in a catamaran. The food at the Raven's restaurant were outstanding. The staff was extremely welcoming and helpful. And we made s'mores in the fireplace of our cute little room. It is such a beautiful place, I need to get away there again soon. -
Review from Kaari J.
Santa Clara, CA
5/2/2010
I feel the same as the others who had mixed reactions.
On the plus side, it is very eco-friendly, allows pets, and had lovely gardens. Nice comfy bed, and the fireplace was great. The staff members were friendly, and Mendo is a great town for a relaxing getaway. Skip Fort Bragg, though--nothing to see.
On the negative side--pricey! I will pay serious $$ for a great, pampering experience, and this was not it.
The food was horrible. Apparently, they only do vegan for dinner--not vegetarian--vegan. For breakfast, they have limited options for non-veggie dishes, which also managed to be bland. Bad hot chocolate, but husband said the scone was tasty.
Tried to nap on Saturday, but we were interrupted by people working on the grounds.
Tried to enjoy the gardens, but, again, we were interrupted by people working on the grounds w/ loud machinery.
Checked out the canoe rentals, but decided that the downstream trip would be great, but the upstream return against the current would be a serious workout, so we skipped it.
The indoor pool was way too cold--everyone huddled into the hot tub, which was a nice temp.
There was also a weird smell emanating from the bathroom--not quite sure what it was.
Overall, it was fine, but not worth the price. I wish we had stayed in downtown Mendo @ a B & B instead. And I recommend never eating at the restaurant. -
Review from scott c.
Daly City, CA
7/15/2010
We just spent the night on 7/10/10 and had a wonderfully relaxing experience. The staff was the most friendly and accommodating of any place we have ever stayed. The grounds are beautiful and the food at The Ravens, which is the on site restaurant, was delicious. As vegetarians we usually only have a few choices on the menu so it was a nice change having so many choices though it made it difficult to only pick a few.
In reference to Bobby J's post about "happy hour" there is printed information in the room and on your table during "happy hour" explaining what is available. Granted it may not have been there before his post.
I would just like to point out to those of you with AT&T cellular service that there is none on site. It was explained to me as some conflict between them and t-mobile. You can drive a few minutes away to the town and get service. It was a little disorienting at first but we just had to use the land line. -
Review from Stephanie A.
Campbell, CA
7/4/2010
Wonderful ambiance. Dog-friendly (although they don't want dogs in the room unattended so they suggest locking them in your car when they aren't with you). Indoor pool--to die for. Warm and sauna-like in the pool room and the hot tub and dry sauna are nice and hot. In-room fireplaces were great and set up for us (the wood) with every housekeeping visit. The robes--soft and cushy. We wore them outside in the cold evenings on our way to the pool and they were toasty. My husband loved his massage (deep tissue). I also liked mine (Thai), and the oils and hot towels they used were nice. The ambiance in the lobby is great (that's where we dined with our pooches). Guest services were pleasant and relaxed, which made me very comfortable and at ease.
Highlights: Bringing our dogs to breakfast (complimentary made to order breakfast with your stay) and dinner; the crash course in nutrition and eating offered by Sid (very inspirational and will change the way I make food choices); the beautiful walks we took around the facility; and the beautiful and friendly guests at the inn (many guests were happily returning customers or mentioned they would be back). Oh! And the beds are SO comfortable. And knowing you're staying somewhere that grows their own food, makes responsible environmental choices (and while that's tricky for a hotel to do completely, they obviously go lengths to reduce packaging, use CFL lighting, conserve water and resources, etc), and doesn't serve meat.
The Inn was well maintained, beautiful, and we will definitely return for future weekends that have it all-- scenery, good food, and comfy and clean accomodations. Jeff and Joan Stanford went out of their way to make sure that all of our needs were taken care of--thanks for that! -
Review from Sharon T.
San Francisco, CA
8/21/2007
I'm what you might call a "city slicker" so I was probably way too excited and impressed that this place has fucking llamas running around. That's because in addition to being a wonderful resort, they are an animal sanctuary. The thing is, bed and breakfast inns like this are a dime a dozen in Mendocino, but what sets the Stanford Inn apart is things like that.
They are extremely environmentally conscious. They rescue animals, compost all their food to help grow the organic gardens on site. Their restaurant is almost entirely vegan and quite good. (While it's no Millennium, I'd say it's comparable to Greens.) So this was a natural choice for me and Tim M. on our honeymoon.
We booked a package deal, which was nice because we didn't have to stress so much about the money we were spending. We got 2 massages (which were amazing!), all our meals, and a canoe rental. Their pool and hot tub are open 24/7 which was a nice treat. Their clientele seemed to be mainly older folks, so we often had that area to ourselves after 9pm or so. Seeing that we were on our honeymoon they upgraded us to the Barn suite, which is in a separate building (literally, a barn) away from everything else. It was really great - huge rooms, fireplace, kitchen and the most comfortable bed I've ever slept in.
They left us organic wine, and truffles in the room. There were also tons of rescued cats all over, which was one of our favorite surprises. I just can't stop saying good things about it. Not only was it an amazing, luxurious, relaxing getaway, but I also felt really good about their efforts to minimize the environmental impact of vacationing. -
Review from Lise L.
Oakland, CA
2/13/2007
The Stanford inn is a decent hotel with pockets of great charm. The rooms are small and plain, but have great fireplaces. The grounds are fun with the onsite garden and cats wandering everywhere, and the lobby/hang out area is cozy and cute with yet more cats. The staff was all warm and helpful and recommended a great beach to take our dog.
Yes, you heard me right, our DOG. The Stanford allows dogs, and if you wish to dine at the restaurant, they will serve you in the lobby area, just outside the restaurant, so your pup can join you. They also have dog sitters to stay with your dog while you get a massage if your dog does not deal well with being left alone in the room. We had a great, cozy weekend here, and I highly recommend it for quasi-romantic weekends away with dog. Without dog, there are places that are a bit more romantic in this price range since noise does carry, and as I mentioned above, the rooms are smallish.
The massages were not great, and waaaaay overpriced. We had the couples massage, and my poor fiance was wedged into the small cold room with me, on a cheap portable table. The setting was gorgeous but in the end, the cold and close quarters was not romantic in the slightest, and this is why I took off the one star. (well two, but one gets added back in for the environmental angle described below).
Extra props for being a Green establishment. The owners really care about the environment and it shows, without decreasing the level of care, attention and comfort.Listed in: Where We Hang With Our Dog
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Review from Nessie V.
10/16/2007
Stayed here for a romantic weekend. Don't think I've ever spent so much on a room before (I'm more of a budget type) but it is definitely worth the price. Fire built and only waiting for a match each night. Vegan cookies on the bedside table. Nice shampoo and soap and stuff. 24-hour pool and hot tub, which is unfortunately a rarity these days. Adorable cats with abbreviated tails wandering around. The gardens are OK too. Next time I'll take advantage of an included bike or kayak rental.
Note: No cell phone reception here, and the radio in the room only got one AM station. -
Review from Katy A.
Updated - 8/25/2009
I had to update -
I got the CUTEST CARD in the mail from the owners thanking me for staying with them. I can't wait to go back now. Seriously....it was the cherry on top!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/13/2009
Indoor Pool!
FREE Canoeing
FREE Bike Rentals
Organic Gardens
Food MADE FROM the Organic Gardens
Beautiful… Read more »
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Review from Vivienne J.
San Jose, CA
9/24/2007 2 photos
3.5 stars.
Went here for an anniversary trip at the end of September. You can park your car pretty much in front of your room door, and we did. The building we were in was 2 story, and there was a separate 3 story building next door. We paid $270/night for what's called an Executive Suite - King, which was a room (15'x12'ish) and bathroom.
The good: Total props to this establishment for trying to be eco-friendly and still run a viable business. Props also for rescuing/neutering/housing stray cats. There are plants and vegetable gardens everywhere. The pool house is beautiful, with a lap pool, hot tub, and dry sauna. Pauline, a facialist they contract with, is good. Staff is friendly.
The bathroom in our room was a good size. The windows and patio door were French-style, which added to the charm of the room. The room was laid out well with king bed, love seat, secretary (with books!), t.v. armoire (with a dvd player, vcr, and stereo), empty fridge (yea!), microwave, and coffee maker, and outside we had a small (maybe 5' deep) patio with a table and 2 chairs. The curtains really block out the sunlight. The bed had feather pillows and comforter and was very comfortable. Local chocolates on the nightstand upon arrival, 2 cookies in our room the next day. There are many ramps from the parking area, so it would seem that the inn has accessible rooms.
The neutral: The included breakfast (and the on-site restaurant) is ovo-lacto vegetarian. The llamas are nice to look at for a bit. The teeny tiny town of Mendocino is a quick minute drive away, and Fort Bragg is down the road about 8 miles. There is a lobby area with a dual fireplace and couches where you can sit and relax, but one side of it is also incorporated into a shop type area full of things to buy.
There are raccoons outside at night. If someone at the front desk tells you that you can leave your patio door open for the kitties to wander in don't do it!
The sad: I have to agree with the other Yelper who said that the website feels kind of like false advertising. My husband and I were both expecting something a little different, especially in terms of an ocean view (we could see some ocean over the treetops from our patio when the fog was gone, but it must have been about 2 miles away).
We, unfortunately, were put in room 207 - directly across the walkway from the ice and vending machines and the extra fireplace wood. Seriously, they just should not rent this room except as a last resort (which maybe it was, we did book late), and they should offer it at a discount for having to deal with the noise of people right outside the door.
We had an issue with booking a massage wherein we thought we had one booked but then it turns out that someone at the front desk had forgotten to confirm with the masseuse. Long story short, no massage.
The bathroom needed a new fan, and the temperature of the water in the shower fluctuated often (from people flushing toilets?). The in-room decaf coffee was terrible. The bed squeaked. The dry sauna in the pool area takes forever (over 15 minutes) to heat up.
Summary: This place, though cute, was entirely too pricey for what it was. I'd stay here again, but I wouldn't be happy about it if the price wasn't much lower. -
Review from Bobby J.
San Francisco, CA
5/16/2010
The Stanford Inn was a mixed bag. The staff at the front office seemed to have a little attitude. They say hosted 'happy hour' from 5-6PM at their wine bar with hors d'oeuvres, however they charge you for the food and the wine by the glass is full price -- I never understood how they could make this so misleading. It is only the cocktails that are half off during this time.
The room was very comfy, very well furnished with a wonderful fireplace but the pics on their website look much nicer than the actual rooms.
Dinner at 'Ravens' was good but not great. The sliders were heaven but my strudel (their signature dish) came out burnt with no explanation from the server. No one offered to pour our wine for us although the rest of the service was very good.
Their rates are currently a "recession special", I paid $290.00 for our room and that's about what I think it's worth so when the rates go back to normal I would feel this Inn is over priced.
If they want to charge higher prices they need to resolve the issues above first - perhaps management could get some lessons from Relais & Chateaux to see how things are done. -
Review from Arthemis G.
New York, NY
1/28/2006
My girlfriend and I went there on my birthday. And it was the best birthday present ever! The drive from SF was long-ish but make it part of the trip coz' you basically drive in the redwood forest forever and it's amazingly beautiful.
Our pine paneled room faced the beautiful organic gardens, had a functional wood burning fireplace which they cleaned out and set for us each night, bottle of complimentary Mendocino Wine, and the most comfortable bed.
We went for a swim the next morning. The pool is in a greenhouse. there was also a hot tub and sauna rooms. after the swim, we had the most delicious breakfast which was also complimentary. The Ravens (the restaurant attached to the Inn) serves the best vegetarian and vegan food. I had a vegan blueberries pancake and a side of granola and she had the multi-grain walnut vegan pancakes. They were fresh and yummy.
After breakfast, we couldn't decide between kayaking or mountain biking (both of which you could rent from the Inn FOR FREE!!). At the end, we chose biking. it wasn't a tough ride, but a 7 to 8 mile ride took us to downtown and we got to do some wine tasting there. it was so much fun.
Okay, to summarize, The Stanford Inn by the Sea is a sensational laid back place to relax and drink in the wonders of Northern California.
Staff was friendly. Hey, this place even encourages Pet Owners to bring their loved ones....like dogs, cats, or even horses. The property also has horses, llamas, ducks, and geese. -
Review from Stephanie L.
Long Beach, CA
5/5/2011
This place is beautiful with unbelievable food, amazing gardens, fantastic food and is even dog friendly. Great place for family with the quick walk to the river, bicycling and rafting.
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Review from Diana S.
Richmond, CA
10/14/2011
We love this place!!! It's a bit pricey but so comfortable and the staff so friendly we save up so we can go once a year. We have a large dog and this is by far the nicest dog friendly place we have ever gone to!! The reason I docked a star is the restaurant. As we are vegetarians we were very excited to eat in the restaurant. It was not that good.:( However, there are plenty of other choices.
