This was our first time at a B&B so we did not know what to expect but we were so happy with what we experienced. The host was very nice and cooked for us an amazing three course breakfast each morning. It was like we had a gourmet meal unlike our usual breakfasts when we go out and certainly not like what we eat at home. We really enjoyed the other guests at breakfast and our 5:00 happy hour with a plate of cheeses and crackers with wine was wonderful. Sometimes we spent up to two hours or more just sitting around talking with them. The host even went out of her way to purchase beer for us which made it extra special touch for us. Thank you so much for making our first experience a good one. Highly recommend! read more

My wife and I spent 3 days in Galena in mid-week just to get away for a bit. Figured we'd engage in something where we could relax and enjoy. We decided to do a Bed & Breakfast instead of a hotel. We got room 5 which has a clawfoot tub in the bathroom, 2 windows (one with a view to the street, the other with a view to their landscaped area) which had a lot of space. The hosts offer a cocktail hour at 5:00 with a fresh snack and a few drink choices. Breakfast is made fresh daily and varies from day to day. The location is excellent; at the end of a quiet street yet 3 blocks from all the shops in downtown Galena. Very close to a couple tourist attractions. The hosts are very attentive and helpful and have been doing this for many years (yet are selling the place...) read more

Aldrich Guest House - Front of House - Hotels Near Me - Galena, Illinois

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Staying at the Aldrich House was an excellent experience. The House is lovely on the outside and the interior has been renovated and styled with beauty, taste, and reflecting the history of the house. Each touch in the individual rooms as well as the common areas give a sense of welcome. The color scheme and decor are relaxing while being elegant in a way that is not frilly or overdone. The grounds are lovely and understated fitting perfectly with the House. The owners called ahead of our arrival to welcome us and give specific details. The checkin time starts at noon which is a welcome early surprise as we are used to times of 3 or later. We arrived and were warmly greeted by the owners, Douglas and Robert, who gave a tour, carried our hugely overpacked (for three days) bags upstairs, and made us feel at home. The touches: breakfast in the morning inside one day, on the porch the next-so delicious. I could write for days about the wonderful food. Chocolate chip cookies all day, coffee, water, and tea, the Shed (which is a whole other paradise of comfort), and the common areas-all perfectly completed a wonderful stay. read more

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Wonderful service, exceptional hors d'oeuvres and cocktail hour. Very tidy. Love the five minute walk across the bridge and onto the main strip. read more

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We were greeted at the door by Douglas who welcomed into their MAGNIFICENT home. He escorted us around and told us about the history of the house and explained the house rules. Then he took us upstairs to our room, which was to say that least, PERFECT! Comfy sheets, comfy bed, cozy bathroom......perfect. We unpacked and headed into town for a quick 1, 2, 3 through town and then back to the house for 5:00 cocktail hour. We finally met Robert as he served me the most delicious John Collins cocktail and herb flavored popcorn. We chatted with a few of the guest that were staying at Aldrich for the 5TH TIME. We visited the Potting Shed for a quick "smoke" and chatted with a couple more guests vaping and watching "Tattoo Nightmares" Douglas recommended Fritz and Freites for dinner and it was FANTASTIC....... After a wonderful and restful nights sleep, we went downstairs and were greeted by Douglas to seat us in the den for breakfast (COVID safety) and poured me a ROBUST cup of Kenyan coffee from Galena Roasting Company and a vanilla and fruit parfait, and then came the main course....an omelet soufflé with Wisconsin butchered sausage patties was to DIE FOR!! After chatting with Robert, we showered and headed back into town and then back for 5:00 cocktail hour. Another yummy John Collins and a 4 cheese, sausage and grapes platter and off to dinner at Goobies for a HUGE burger and fries. Slept comfy again for night 2 and went to breakfast and............CARROT CAKE WAFFLES DRIZZLED WITH A CREAM CHEESE DEMIGLAZE!!!!!!!!!!! Yes...Yes.....YES!!!!!!! That is all I can say is YES!!!! A TRIUMPH!!! Ok, enough about the HOLY $€¥T of a breakfast.....as we sadly left Aldrich House, Douglas sent us off with a little pouch of goodness....Amaretto flavored MARSHMALLOWS! Yes we will DEFINITELY return to Aldrich and will recommend it to ANYONE looking for a B&B in the Galena area. THANK YOU DOUGLAS AND ROBERT......YOU ARE A 5 STAR PLUS!! read more

Aldrich Guest House - Hotels Near Me - Galena, Illinois

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You can tell Robert and Douglas genuinely love what they do. The food was amazing and accommodated our dietary needs, the location just east of the river is the perfect distance from downtown, and the house was a charming combination of historic architecture and modern decorating. We will be back! read more

Top notch Bed and Breakfast! Everything about the Aldrich Guest House is wonderful! The owners make you feel completely at home. The breakfast is high end. Easy walk to Galena's Main Street. read more

Lovely BnB experience. Clean and comfortable, Douglas and Robert were amazing hosts. Walkable to Main Street, enjoyed homemade cookies and the evening cocktail hour. Breakfast was delicious! I highly recommend! read more

My wife and I stayed here in February for our Babymoon. We were greeted at the door by the amazing innkeepers, Robert and Douglas who proceeded to carry our bags to our room and provide an amazing history and tour of the home. The amenities were fantastic including coffee anytime, reusable water bottles, sweet treats, wonderful bedding and a clean space. Each evening, we were welcomed to a happy hour with other guests that included drinks and snacks. Breakfast each morning was delicious and the best start to the day. Robert and Douglas spent time speaking to us and the guests and sharing stories and laughs. The walk to Downtown Galena is less than 10 minutes and very enjoyable. Absolutely recommend the Aldrich House and of course taking home a souvenir Aldrich House coffee mug ! read more

Aldrich Guest House - Living room for happy hour and gathering - Hotels Near Me - Galena, Illinois

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Aldrich Guest House is the best B and B we have ever stayed in. Robert and Douglas are the quintessential inn keepers. They can guide their guests to a huge variety of activities even making reservations for you and making sure you are well taken care of. The rooms at Aldrich Guest House are outstanding, the beds are very comfortable and all of your needs will be met. The breakfasts are the best we have ever had. The guys cook gourmet meals every morning and they are served elegantly. The cocktail hour in the afternoon is worth dropping whatever you are doing to be there. We have stayed at Aldrich House four different times (staying in four of their five rooms - all fantastic), once staying nine nights. We cannot recommend them enough. Now that we have relocated and now live in Galena we are still planning a small holiday with friends to stay at Aldrich Guest House. read more

Aldrich Guest House - The entrance at Aldrich Guest House - Hotels Near Me - Galena, Illinois

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I left an average 3 star review on Google and TripAdvisor prior to getting a response to the owner that made me drop my rating to one. Read below to see why. I felt the need to update my review and drop my rating to 1 star. I had previously rated my stay at 3 but after getting a response from the owner who nitpicked every little detail to make it sound like I was being difficult I'd like to clarify some comments that were made. I initially rated my stay 3 stars which is average, because that's exactly how I felt. I was emailed asking to leave a review that "highlights" my experience and anything I felt needed improving I should email the owner directly. Sorry, but reviews are subjective and shouldn't just highlight the good things and leave out the bad. What's the point of a review then? A specific number of emails that I sent were mentioned (lol) and then it was made out that I was being difficult because of this....so funny how the owner went from being super nice to offended after I don't leave a perfect review. I'm not sure what "special items" the owner was talking about unless he meant the message I requested on the note which I paid for. And the note was as I requested...it's not that hard. I left a message to put on a note and they printed it out....and it's not like they did this for free.....I paid over $50 for this note, champagne, and a dessert that I didn't feel tasted like it was homemade from scratch. And yet because I felt this way, I got called out for it. The dessert wasn't good nor fresh. Period. I paid good money and expected more. Simple as that. Yet the owner acts like I'm being difficult. I suppose I should've mentioned something but what's the point? I already paid for everything and what's done was done. Regarding the wine/cocktail hour, I previously explained to the owner that I had a previous engagement at 5:30 and asked if we could have a drink a little earlier than 5. Our plans ended up not working out so I sent a text to the owner saying we could make the regular time for drinks. Nothing was "prepared" in advance for us. Drinks are made when you order them. But remember, if you want a little more that's $8. Save yourself the money and go to Log Cabin and grab a drink of wine there for that price. And the owner made it sound like we were a no show. Like I said I sent a text and we showed up at the regular time. At the previous B&B I stayed at Farmer's Guest House, they had a wide selection of wine to choose from along with many different cheeses and meats. Throughout that time, I was offered more wine which was very generous. I wasn't told that a second round of wine would be added to my room. I honestly thought the breakfast was underwhelming. I mentioned this in my previous review. Based on my experience at my first B&B in Galena, it was underwhelming from that standpoint. My first stay at Farmer's Guest House had a full, very filling 3 course breakfast. They provide a full juice bar where you can make a custom mimosa. They have a buffet style table of fresh fruit and every juice you can think of. This is followed by a freshly baked sweet/pastry of some sort which is accompanied by various savory dishes that were different each day. Here, I was given a small portion of mixed fruit followed by one small savory or sweet plate. Again, it wasn't bad but it's not what I expected from my previous experience. And it was my mistake regarding the edibles...obviously I meant the "munchies" you provided and tried to make even more money off of. And yes, you aren't a dispensary but apparently you do provide cannabis for guests as there was a box that had some bottles with cannabis. Thank you for that. In the end, I gave an honest review of my stay here. Sorry, but a review is subjective and should point out the good and bad things. If you can't take constructive criticism, you shouldn't be in the hospitality industry. read more

Had the best stay at the Aldrich Guest House. The hosts are super friendly, the house is beautiful, the room was spotless, and the food and cocktails were delicious. What more can a girl ask for? They're following proper protocol during this pandemic which was key for me. I felt totally safe and well distanced during my stay. We'll definitely be back! read more

My husband and I stayed at Aldrich to celebrate our 1 year wedding anniversary and this place did not disappoint at all! Robert and Douglas were very friendly and helpful throughout the reservation process and even provided great suggestions on good eats and sites in Galena. We were immediately impressed with the hard work they put into the house and all of the amenities they offered. The fresh baked cookies, the breakfasts, the coffee, and the 5pm wine and hors d'oeuvres were absolutely delicious! We stayed in Room #4 and even though it was the smallest room, it was very cozy for us. The only flaw was just the small shower, but other than that, the entire house and our room was immaculate. It was also nice to have the massage therapist come to the house to massage us. And we enjoyed the screened-in porch and the parlor room for wine and even a game of Yahtzee. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone visiting Galena. It is only a 10 min walk to the downtown area. Thank you again, Robert and Douglas for an unforgettable time! read more

Great place to stay when visiting Galena. Doug & Robert are awesome! We planned a trip with a few friends and the set up was perfect. Each couple had their own room and bathroom (the idea of a communal bathroom didn't appeal to me). So many things I enjoyed...appetizer & wine time, delicious breakfast, homemade cookies and the location was great for walking downtown Galena. I can't wait to make another trip to the Aldrich House (will be #3 for us!) read more

Absolutely wonderful stay! Douglas and Robert were delightful hosts. They gave great recommendations of local places and things to do. The Aldrich house has a unique history which is captured in the architecture of the building. The location is perfect for a short walk to Galena's downtown area. The favorite part of the stay was the award winning breakfasts!! read more

Aldrich Guest House - Delicious cranberry and orange French toast bake! - Hotels Near Me - Galena, Illinois

Douglas and Robert have created a comfortable and welcoming home which solidly keeps the integrity of the history of the house while adding more modern touches in the decor and dishes they serve to guests. Happy hour is on point, and I can't even stand how delicious the breakfasts were for us! It felt like I was staying at my parents' house and waking up to amazing smells from the kitchen, or coming to the living room for a cocktail after a great nap. Love love love. read more

Incredible! No other words for this place but incredible. The inn keepers, Douglas and Robert are so welcoming, such great cooks, and make Aldrich house such a nice place to stay in Galena. The house itself is really warm, spacious, and inviting! The outside screened porch is incredibly relaxing in the morning to prepare for the day ahead - and is a great space to have their evening happy hours. The breakfast is so so tasty! It's all the little things that make this a great example of what a bed and breakfast can be. I can't recommend staying here enough - book your stay and see for yourself! read more

I can't say enough good things about our stay at Aldrich house. This was our first visit to Galena, and I can't imagine staying anywhere else when we come back in the future. From the moment Robert and Douglas welcome you into the house and give a quick tour, you know they are the hospitality kings. They provide you with everything you could possibly need or want, including a constantly-replenished stock of chocolate chip cookies that are amazing! Speaking of food, they are amazing chefs and create their own recipes, which meant breakfast was delicious as well. We were especially impressed with how they managed to remodel the home to honor the history of the place but also keep it feeling modern. My favorite room was the screened-in porch-- waking up early and reading a book from their library here was the most peaceful I've felt in a long time! As an added bonus, it only takes about 5 minutes to walk down to Main Street. So convenient! I can't wait to come back for another relaxing visit. read more

We had an excellent stay at the Aldrich Guest House. Food was delicious, the innkeepers were delightful & the house was amazing. Robert & Douglas really went above and beyond to make us feel welcome. They provided robes, stainless still water bottles for use during our stay & a water bottle filling station. The wine & hors d'oeuvres on the screened in patio was great. Overall, we really enjoyed our stay and it certainly wouldn't have been the same if we had stayed at another B&B! We will definitely be back! read more

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Doug and Robert are great and have done a tremendous job with the Aldrich House. Rooms are wonderful and it's all about the nice little things which they do a great job with. They are also entertaining and engaging hosts which makes for a fun experience. The breakfasts are delicious and drinks/snacks before dinner is a fun time. Would definitely recommend this to others going through Galena and would love to stay with them again. read more

Nice place on the east side of the river, close to Otto's for those of you familiar with the area. 5 rooms all cloistered together on the second floor. Clean and tidy. Bath towels were thin but that wasn't too bad to handle. Outstanding breakfast, they really fill your plate here. Good stuff too. Very nice gardens. You do hear the Route 20 traffic somewhat, but it didn't keep me up or anything. The hosts were nice and friendly- people persons which is what you want in a B&B. Oh and the room we had had a clawfoot bathtub! I think that may have been a first for us! On-street parking but not hard to find a spot like it is on the west side of the river. read more

The dedication and care to this B&B shows, and our party had a wonderful time thanks to Robert and Douglas. Friends rented out the B&B for a small wedding weekend - Robert and Douglas went out of their way to make sure every detail of our low key weekend went smoothly. Whether it was hanging a commissioned painting on the living room wall for the intimate wedding ceremony, or reorganizing our clothes while we were out shopping, they attended to every detail in the most caring and professional manner. I would recommend this lovely location to anyone staying in the area. read more

Simply phenomenal. The breakfast is impeccable, especially when enjoyed in the screened-in porch. There is obvious attention to detail in the decor. Robert and Douglas are polite, inviting, and fun to talk to. I will definitely be back. 10/10!! read more

Thanks Robert and Douglas for such a wonderful stay. Your home is beautiful, warm and welcoming. The hospitality and the breakfast were perfection. Cannot wait to return this spring! read more

This is the second B&B I've stayed in in Galena, and it is definitely a good one. Proprietors are friendly and welcoming. The house is very nice, and updated just enough to be comfortable but still have the antique charm. Breakfasts were good and they have a beverages and snacks available at all times. Only complaint is the window in our bathroom rattled all night and kept me up. read more

My wife and I are fairly well traveled and have stayed in what feels like 100's of B&B's from Colorado to North Carolina to Michigan and more. This was the best place we have ever stayed and we don't think it's close. The moment you walk in until the moment you leave Robert and Douglas do the best job of making you laugh,feel comfortable and full after the amazing breakfast in the morning. We love going to new places every time we travel but we WILL be back to visit Douglas and Robert. Could not recommend this enough to anybody wanting to come to Galena. Thanks for making our stay so warm and welcoming! read more

I would definitely go back. They make you feel right at home. The breakfast is done very well and lots of thought to make it special. The 5pm social hour is also very nice. Can't wait to return. It is walking distance to all the attractions. read more

We made last minute plans to come to Galena for the weekend. When the Aldrich Guest House was recommended to us, we called and found that they had a room for us. What a wonderful, warm welcome we received! Brian and Fran! The house is beautiful and very well kept. The rooms are all tastefully decorated in keeping with the period (circa 1845). The breakfast food was exceptional, and every detail was attended to. The property has a large yard with several beautiful garden beds with benches and swings to sit and enjoy the lovely surroundings. We look forward to our next visit! Thank you Brian and Fran! :-) read more

Amazing experience! My best friend and I stayed at the Aldrich guest house this past Sunday through Tuesday. We were very impressed with all the detail in the house, very obvious every inch of the house was put together with love and care. Robert and Douglas were phenomenal innkeepers, they made us feel very comfortable and very much at home. Breakfast was amazing. I highly recommend staying at Aldrich house. I can't wait to go back again. read more

This is one of the best bed and breakfasts I've stayed at, and would highly recommend this place. Robert and Douglas did a lovely job of ensuring that we felt comfortable and at home. They even asked initially if any of us had food allergies, and perfectly handled my need for gluten-free foods. The house is very comfortable, and there is always coffee, tea, cold drink and cookies available. This was great for hanging out when we needed some down time. I dare you to spend some time on the enclosed porch and not feel relaxed. read more

This was my first b&b experience, and it definitely did not disappoint. We stayed over here for a night after a trip to Iowa, before heading back to Chicago. The house is adorable- definitely kitchy, but the innkeepers make you feel at home. We had the smallest room, but it really didn't feel too small. The breakfast the next morning was delicious!! Just a few blocks away from Main Street, this is a definite on the recommend list! read more

For our anniversary our children gave us a Gift certificate for a stay at the Aldrich Guest House. We wish we could give them a 10! Where do we begin? We'll start with Douglas and Robert the owners. From the beginning to our last couple of minutes with them was incredible. They recommended places to see, restaurant ideas and even offered to make our reservation. They greeted us with smiles and a tour of their home. They were full of History information about the house and Galena. The house is beautiful! They renovated the house themselves. We were offered homemade cookies, coffee etc Our room was gorgeous. Perfect for a stay in Historic Galena. Everything so clean and decorated. They thought of everything! They had a crystal dish with a small bottle of Prosecco and two sweet champagne glasses on the dresser with a note wishing us a Happy Anniversary. We were served a Gourmet breakfast in the morning. As we were leaving they handed us homemade marshmallows. You just feel happy there. Good Vibes! Looking forward to our next stay. read more

They go out of their way to make you feel welcome. I'm not very outgoing person but they were so nice to talk to. Coffee, food, rooms all A+. Thanks! read more

Such a cozy and wonderful B&B! Robert and Douglas were great hosts. They make delicious breakfast in the morning. My mother and I felt so welcomed and we definitely will be back. read more

Wonderful experience. This early 1800's home is gorgeous. The rooms are quiet, clean and wonderfully decorated. The screened in porch is a great place to relax while you wait for breakfast. The B&B is located on a tree lined quiet street just a couple blocks away from the downtown restaurants and shops. The gardens are quite lovely. We will be staying here again. read more

My girlfriend and I stayed recently. She's a light sleeper so I requested two beds which the Dr. Bench room had. Brian showed my girlfriend and I around, discussed the snacks and drinks that were available, showed us the parlor and library. We then went up to our room which was spotless. The overall decor for the B&B was really nice. It being a week before Easter there were tulips outside and bunnies inside. The meal Sunday morning was superb and they made accommodations for my friend's gluten free needs. All in all, a great location, lovely accommodations and I would definitely stay again. read more

We have a wonderful stay at the Aldrich House. The location is great, our room and bed was very comfortable and the breakfast superb. The owners added many nice touches to welcome their guests. They had water, sodas and ice along with snacks and home baked cookies in their dining room. There is a lovely screened porch where we enjoyed a glass of wine and had views of their beautiful gardens. We are planning our next visit. read more

Of note: the current owners bought this bed and breakfast in October 2014- and in less than a year they have mastered the art of the B&B. Our experience at the Aldrich house was perfect from start to finish. Upon arrival , Douglas and Robert met us at the door. Our bags were taken upstairs while we got a brief insight into the history of this beautiful home. The hosts were never hovering but always accessible, very accommodating (we had to leave early on our last day and they got up early to make us a light breakfast for the road), the food was delicious(fruit salad and Nutella filled pancakes for breakfast), and the rooms have every modern amenity while still retaining a historic feel (claw foot bath tub!!!!). But the things that make this place truly special is the attention to detail that Douglas and Robert show. We came up for our one year anniversary and they had chocolate covered strawberries waiting I our room. It was something so small but made us feel so special. Their garden is amazing, lots of places to sit and enjoy the birds and the flowers. It's a short walk to the Main Street in galena with all the shops and restaurants. Douglas and Robert are so connected to their community- they know many of the owners of the shops and restaurants and are glad to give recommendations or point you in the right direction. You can tell they love it there. What a treat it was to have the Aldrich house as our home base for our anniversary weekend! read more

Outstanding hosts! Beautiful and inviting bed and breakfast! Can't wait to go back! Totally recommend this experience!

Douglas and Robert are amazing at what they do. Their hospitality was second to none, their food was delicious and the location was a perfect 10 min walk from downtown. My wife and I could not have found a better location for a relaxing couple of days. read more