Two miles south of downtown Mendocino on Highway 1, the Glendeven Inn and Inn at the Cobbler’s Walk are fraternal twin inns set on an acre of oceanside land in Northern California. While the inns differ slightly in decor and furnishings, they share many of the same amenities (and ownership). Among them: three-course in-room breakfasts made with eggs from the Glendeven Inn’s own chickens, gracious hospitality, and a spectacular setting on the coast.
Reception for both inns is located in the same building, which also houses the guests-only Wine Bar[n]. The first thing I noticed up pulling up, was that each parking sign was personalized with the name of the guest. Guests staying at the Glendeven Inn have only to walk a few feet from the reception desk to their rooms; guests at the Inn at the Cobbler’s Walk will take a short—as in, about three seconds—drive across the road.
Within each inn, rooms vary in size and style. Most have either gas or wood-burning fireplaces, and many have jetted or soaking tubs, and private patios or decks.
Glendeven Inn is set in an 1867 farmhouse. Etta, the daughter of the original owner, kept a diary from the time when she and her family made the arduous journey from Maine, all the way up until her golden years, and guests who stay in Etta’s Suite can peruse a copy to learn more about what life was like in the area so long ago. The two-room ocean-view suite has a wood-burning fireplace, antique walnut queen bed, small sitting area with dining table and sofa, and a private balcony that looks over the farm’s small pasture, and beyond it to the Pacific Ocean.
Rooms at the Inn at the Cobbler’s Walk are a bit more modern. My room, the Headlands Suite, was a top-floor two-room suite with a balcony view of the surrounding woodland. There was a king bedroom, and a living room with a dining table, gas fireplace, queen-size Murphy bed and a wet bar. Unlike Etta’s Suite in the Glendeven Inn, the Headlands Suite at Inn at the Cobbler’s Walk felt a bit more updated and modern. While I loved the antique furniture and period charm of Etta’s Suite, I also appreciated the contemporary style and comfort of the Headlands Suite.
In both rooms, I enjoyed free wifi and in-room three-course breakfasts—usually fruit or yogurt, scones, and a baked egg dish. Both rooms also had access to a communal kitchenette area plus all-day access to unlimited cookies, coffee, tea, and sherry. In both rooms, there was a small bag of feed for the inn’s chickens; guests are also invited to join the proprietor in feeding the herd of llamas that live on the property.
Each evening, guests from both properties convene in the Wine Bar[n] for complimentary hors d’oeuvres and wine. On select nights, guests can also pre-book The Shared Table, an intimate multi-course dinner with wine pairings, for 6-12 people. And, on Saturdays, the inn offers a traditional afternoon tea complete with scones, finger sandwiches, clotted cream and lemon curd, and sparkling wine.
But, the perks don’t stop there. The inns also offer massages in-room, or in a private massage cabin on the property. Guests of both inns can book a private chauffeur-driven wine tasting tour of the nearby Alexander Valley wine region. And, those who’d rather not venture far can hike one of the several trails that lead from the inns to the nearby beach, headlands, and old growth forests that surround the property.
The inns even offer elopements for up to 6 guests with a package that includes an officiant, a six-person tiered wedding cake, flowers, 90 minutes of professional photography, and Roederer Brut sparkling wine.
Both Glendeven Inn and Inn at the Cobbler’s Walk offer comfortable rooms, easy access to the best of Mendocino, and plenty of on-site activities to keep guests busy for a long weekend.
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If you go: Check-in time is between 3pm and 7pm, and check out time is 11am. Pets are not allowed and children are allowed only in the Beach Trail Cottage vacation rental. There is a two-night minimum on weekends and between Christmas and New Year’s, and a three-night minimum on holiday weekends.
You can also book these inns on an online booking site. Try checking Expedia for the Glendeven Inn or Booking.com for the Inn at the Cobbler’s Walk.
