Historic but they make you feel like royalty. The rooms are cute and decorated nicely. The grounds are very well kept. You can tell they take pride in the environment they have created for their guests. In a somewhat rural area, but the tranquility is priceless. Even accommodated my request for a place to charge my EV (they had a 110v outlet near the parking lot). One drawback was the diesel farm trucks driving by on the main road were a bit noisy during breakfast on the patio. read more

My rating would be 3.5 out of 5. This hotel is beautiful and has a lovely ambience. It has a friendly staff. However there are some downsides as well. There are communal bathrooms, no television (that fact was NOT posted on the hotel listing when we reserved the room) and the windows really need to be replaced. One of our two windows had a large crack in it, and the other one could not even be shut completely so it got quite chilly at night. Also in this region there is a lot of wind activity so the windows were shaking loudly at various parts of the night with a loud banging noise. One other negative in my personal experience was I was told by the receptionist that there would be a Vegan option for breakfast, she even wrote down the request. I assumed it would be oatmeal or maybe hashbrowns, something simple like that. But nope- the ONLY Vegan thing they had in the entire breakfast buffet was fruit. I felt very disappointed because they had told me there would be a Vegan option. Even the granola at the buffet had honey in it! They did not offer to make me oatmeal or any other alternative. So they could stand to be a bit more honest & accommodating to their Vegan guests in the future. Note re response from owner: Thanks so much for getting back to me on this. Please be aware that Vegans do not consume honey as it is an animal by-product. If they did they are not Vegan but plant based or vegetarian. The website I secured the hotel listing on was not directed from Yelp and did not mention no television. I do agree that is a positive but I would have brought my kindle if I'd known so I could read. :) Overall the Balch is a nice hotel. read more

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If you're looking for a place to unplug and re-connect this is it. Incredibly accommodating staff, involved passionate ownership all surrounded by an lovely historic building and amazing views of Mount Hood. Loved it! read more

I stayed at the Balch for 6 nights in June and spent many lazy days lying around the hotel reading books and just kind of decompressing. I think the most important thing to start with (and see the 5 stars above, I thought it was great!) is setting the expectations correctly. It's not a Hilton, or a Holiday Inn, or any other type of "modern" hotel experience. The hotel was built over 100 years ago and it reflects the era. Many rooms don't have attached baths, and the ones that do it's obvious they were very "tacked on" and not part of the original build. The rooms themselves are small, but in a cozy way. The hotel is loud, you will hear everything, every door that opens or closes, again, it's an antique hotel, comes with the territory. With that out of the way, it's an amazing place, frozen in time, with some of the most gracious staff I've ever encountered. I had a chance to talk with the entire staff on my visit, some of them at length, and to a woman they were friendly, helpful and kind. The owners, Samantha and Jeff, would happily break their own backs if they thought it would be helpful in some way. They're definitely stressed out small business owners, I don't think I ever saw them work less than a 16 hour day, but they don't let that impact their friendliness or hospitality. The staff, Denise the weekend manager, Mel the cook, Carrie the...everything? were all tremendous as well. The food was really good, if a bit rote. Every day is a parfait of some sort (I had fruit with granola and yogurt on about half the days, and the other half were fruit with honey and no granola or yogurt) and then a main plate that will contain a carbohydrate (I had chocolate scones twice, an orange almond thing once, a blueberry muffin, and a couple of others) and then egg thing. I had three quiches and three scrambles, each with different contents. The food is, however, if predictable in style, fantastic in taste and flavor. I don't think I ever failed to clear my plate. Sadly, the cook, Mel, will be leaving soon, so I'm crossing my fingers they are able to keep up the high standard when she is gone. The public spaces will blow your mind. I don't think I ever saw a guest come in who wasn't blown away. There are two huge sitting rooms, fully furnished in gorgeous antique furniture, and it's all incredibly comfortable. I spent my days bumming from couch to chair to couch to other chair. Great light as well. The countryside is also wonderful, but be advised you will pretty much need to go elsewhere for dinner. The hotel has a limited selection and the only place in town that serves food, Kramer's Market, wasn't great for selection or flavor. anyways, I'm rambling now, but in short, I fell in love with the Balch, and I can't imagine a world in which I won't be returning many times throughout the years. read more

Great little place for a getaway . Foods been great Everytime we visit .chandeliers are full of cobwebs but it adds to the character and keeps the fly's down ! read more

We had a lovely trip here. We enjoyed the food. My wife is gluten free and was well accomodated. The staff person, Becky is a treasure and really made the place shine. We had a nice view of Mt Hood. When the inn is full, it gets noisy. The gardens are beatiful. We will come back. read more

Wow! Where do I start? This little jewel in Dufur had my husband and I feeling relaxed and rejuvenated. The dinner menu is limited but you will not be disappointed. The food is so fresh and worth every penny. The only thing that i felt could be jazzed up is the breakfast. I was hoping for more options but the dinner really made up for it.The living room and common areas boast an old time feel, I really felt the entire old school experience here. We sat in the gardens that overlook wheat fields, this hotel is surrounded by such beautiful views. The innkeeper, Josiah, is friendly and deeply cares about the experience of his guests. The classical music played throughout the day really added to the elegance of this place. I will tell family and friends! read more

Clean, quiet, comfortable and very well maintained. Friendly staff! Beautifully manicured lawn. Will definitely come back!

This is a beautiful hotel with very friendly, attentive staff. When we booked we mentioned we were gluten-free, and they made a delicious gluten-free plum bread for our breakfast! read more

Staying at the Balch Hotel feels like a dream. I can't say enough good things about it. Deborah is the most amazing woman, she was manning the front desk and greeted us warmly, continuing to check on us during our stay. We were so impressed we decided to upgrade to a room with a private bath and she made that happen for us right away. Maybe we got lucky but we didn't even need the earplugs provided. Clean, historic rooms, a delicious breakfast with an amazing chef who greeted us in the morning and was available if we needed anything at all. We can't wait to go back! read more

This hotel was a very pleasant surprise. We generally don't stay at boutique hotels, but this one was perfect. Nice rooms, great service, excellent food (including free breakfast). And it was very affordable and not too far from The Dalles. Definitely worth staying. read more

After a long trip we were happy to check in at the Balch hotel. The friendly and hospitable staff .did everything they could to make us feel comfortable. And we did. We enjoyed the silence, the possibility to plug off and just be. Make sure, you sit in the armchair right, which stands in front of the desk, and just enjoy the mount Hood view and the wonderful music. read more

Loooove this hotel. My friend and I did two 10 day road trips through the states and this was our favourite place that we stayed. It had a unique feel to it, we were greeted with chocolate chip cookies and Deborah who was super friendly and wonderful. We sat in the lounge enjoying a late homemade dinner while chatting with her before watching the sun set behind Mount hood from our room. They even had a telescope beside the balcony for star gazing. My only regret was having not booked another night. They thought of everything, there was even little chocolates and ear plugs in our rooms. The shared bathroom didn't bother us at all, as we were the only one using ours and just to shower, as there's a sink and mirror in the room. In the morning we sat on the sunny patio eating breakfast before heading out. I'd love to return here one day! read more

These local folks really know how to take care of you. From great Food to great service to a beautiful building and awesome rooms.

This hotel is an anomaly in such a tiny town as Dufur (population just over 500, but the town seems smaller) but it is a welcome and most pleasant place to stay. The owners are very cordial and accommodating. The rooms are nice and quite charming. The grounds are immaculate and the lawn is lushly green and neatly mowed. There is a breakfast served every morning, and it was very good. Be forewarned that there is no television, telephone and refrigerator (however, there is WI-FI) in the rooms, but that is part of the charm of The Balch. It's like a step back in time, and a breath of fresh air (literally and figuratively) to stay in such an out-of-the-way but worthwhile destination. read more

By far one of the best hidden places to stay in Oregon. If you want somehting unique, historical and quiet, this is the place to come. The restorations the new owners have done are fabulous and the food is great. Weddings here are also near to perfect. read more

We stayed at the Balch Hotel after a concert at Maryhill Winery. What a little gem this place was! Charming, clean, good breakfast, plenty of bathrooms for the floor we stayed on. Highly recommend it as an alternative to the closer, sterile cookie cutter hotels nearer Maryhill. read more

We booked this hotel as a stop on our road trip from seattle to Bend OR. It is an absolute treasure of a town and this Hotel is awesome. Great restored period rooms, awesome knowledgeable staff and amazing views of the countryside. Absolutely worth checking this hotel out. read more

We thoroughly enjoyed everything about our stay, from the friendliness of the staff (big shout out to Mel), to both our great dinner (delicious Salmon Cakes) to our great (and filling) breakfast. Our room was clean and tidy and comfortable. Loved the Library and the selection of books, my husband read the one by Roger Pond (You Can't Look Cool With a Carload of Sheep-close). The one thing you have to remember is that this is a historic hotel & the walls are thin-so being quiet is being considerate. Really hope to stay again. read more

The whole staff was amazing and it was a perfect place for a wedding - well done Denise, Ashley, and the rest of the awesome crew

My husband and I had the best stay in this historic hotel. The view of Mt Hood and the peaceful gardens were the best. We happen to be there during a summer concert in the yard and it was a lovely setting sipping wine and nibbling on a great hummus plate from the kitchen. Just to visit the charming town of Dufur after a day of wine tasting in the Columbia Gorge was well worth seeking these accommodations out. Josiah and Claire are hands on caring hosts. Breakfast was delicious. Bed was great. read more

We got married here this summer and the folks at the Balch made it so incredible! They were super flexible and accommodating. The new owners definitely have their act together. They were professional and nice to all of our guests. We can't recommend them enough! We are excited to stay here in the future. It will always be a special place to us read more

Loved my stay at The Balch! It was out in a beautiful, remote part of Oregon and it was just what I needed! The hotel is quaint, beautiful, and historic. I loved the history of it. A little noisy at times with the road and when other guests would go to their rooms, but overall that is part of the charm of an old hotel. I will be back! read more

So great! A relaxing stay with a view of Mount Hood, an air of history, and lush gardens about the property.

Called at the last minute and was able to get a room that night. The owners couldn't have been nicer, the hotel itself is a beautiful old building. Breakfast is provided in the morning, and it was very good. Be aware that this is an old hotel, some rooms have private bathrooms, some have to share, didn't bother me any but if you can't share just make sure you ask for a private bathroom. Otherwise the rooms were very nice, and they have sinks so you don't have to haul your toiletries to and fro to the bathroom. read more

We love staying at this old historic hotel. It is comfortable and clean. The food is delicious. And we love supporting the hosts who have saved this beautiful hotel and who offer lots of neat programs throughout the year to attract patrons. We think it wonderful to get away from television and that is a room plus, to us. They do have wi-fi if you don't want to escape total connectedness. read more

We traveled around Oregon for 10 days staying at 8 differemt hotels/motels and our favorite place by far was the Balch Hotel on two different nights in two different rooms. Samantha and Wanda were just the best!! Yes, Dufur is off the beaten path, but not that far from Mt. Hood or The Dalles (I 84) and well worth the stop. The grounds were wonderful, we stayed in their suite and then on our way to Bend we stayed in the 2nd floor room. Both were the best rooms we had and we really got a great night's sleep with a great breakfast. Anytime we are in Oregon, we will be back!! ....and now the Balch has a shuttle to Maryhill Winery, where all the concerts are on the Columbia River!! ,,and Maryhill has great wine too!! read more

Wonderful experience! Staff courteous and responsive. Food was excellent. Would return without question.

Just stayed at the Balch Hotel for a overnight stay. This was the second time my wife and I have stayed at the Hotel. The new owners are super nice and very friendly, helpful, and resourceful. The staff are super friendly and were always willing and able to help out. The lovely cook for the morning Breakfast was really nice and went above and beyond. When my wife and I told her it was our wedding anniversary she went and picked flowers from the garden and put them in a little vase for our table while we ate our breakfast. The room was just what we were looking for with a comfy bed and claw foot tub. The garden is one of the best parts of the Hotel, really well kept and quiet and serene with plenty of places to lay out and read a book. We also appreciated the time and dedication to keeping the Hotel very classy, clean and vintage. The evening front desk lady and cook was also very nice. Will definitely come back again. If you're looking for a nice quiet getaway, this is the perfect B & B for you. read more