Three hours north of San Francisco, near the picturesque town of Mendocino (1.5 miles south, to be exact) the Brewery Gulch Inn is quintessential Northern California. The contemporary Arts and Crafts building contains 10 rooms, each with its own unique style. One thing they all have in common: cozy furnishings and the perfect location for enjoying the best of Mendocino county.
Rooms at the inn are built around a central common room and dining area, which is built around a huge four-sided glass-and-steel fireplace that keeps the room warm and convivial. This is the heart of the inn, where plush carpet, plentiful throw blankets and supple leather seating invite guests cozy up with a book or to play one of the inn’s board games. In the mornings the room thrums with the excitement of a new day, as guests plan their activities over breakfast dishes such as eggs Benedict or made-to-order waffles.
In the evening, a wine and “heavy hors d’ouevres” hour is served and is substantial enough (think quail, roasted potatoes, bread and butter, and dessert) that it substitutes for dinner for many guests. My husband and I opted for dinner at the nearby Little River Inn, so we only nibbled, but it appeared that many of the guests were indeed making it a dinner and settling in for the night. Throughout the day, there’s also coffee, tea, and cookies available.
While each room is slightly different, all have gas fireplaces and views of the ocean. Most have private balconies and many have large soaking tubs. My room, Pelican, was a 2nd floor room with a private balcony and a gorgeous view of Smuggler’s Cove below.
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It had a queen feather bed, gas fireplace, leather club chairs, small desk, flat-panel TV with DVD and Direct TV (the inn has a staggeringly large collection of DVDs available), three-drawer dresser, large closet, and Asprey and Molton Brown bath products.
With light green walls, redwood accents, and plenty of plush blankets and pillows, it was comfortable and inviting. At 240 square feet it was spacious enough for a three-night stay, with multiple areas to relax, and plenty of room for luggage storage. I also appreciated the little touches, like the welcome sparkling wine and local candies, and the fresh flowers in the room.
Those extra touches extend to the service as well. The Brewery Gulch Inn offers a pre-arrival concierge who can schedule activities like wine tours and tastings, horseback riding, massages, and dinner reservations – though with the abundance of food on offer every evening, you might not need them. In addition to plentiful books, games, and DVDs, there’s also a small gift shop onsite so you can shop for souvenirs or snag any items, such as hats or fleece jackets, that you may have forgotten.
If you go: Room rates start at around $285 per night. Book directly online with the hotel or use one of the many booking services such as Expedia, Booking.com or Hotels.com.
