1. Briarwood Inn

1. Briarwood Inn

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Carmel, CA

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Briarwood Inn

3.4 (126 reviews)
ModerateHotels
Closed 10:00 am - 7:00 pm

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TB12 joined us for the weekend!
Lance L.

Have you ever been in Love? Not in Love with a person, but in Love with a city?? Well, Carmel-by-the-sea... You had me at Carmel! We have been oh-so-lucky and have stayed in this Magical Town on 3 different occasions and each time we have elected to return to the Briarwood Inn. On our 1st trip in 2014, my wife found the Briarwood Inn while searching for places to stay for our weekday getaway. I can still remember pulling in and going inside the office to check in and being told by the gentleman at the front desk, don't forget to come back later that evening for their Port & Sherry hour. Funny thing was... We showed up later that evening at the designated time for our grand Port and Sherry tasting and guess who was there?? Me, my wife and the same guy working the front desk from earlier that day...haha. Well I wasn't going to pass up on free booze so we let the Port & Sherry flow. From that initial visit, we returned 2 different times over the years, once with friends and another time on our own. What I love about the Briarwood Inn is that it's a Bed & Breakfast without the traditional staying in the same house B&B aesthetic. Each of the rooms available are different from the next and vary in terms of layout and decor with most having fireplaces available. I remember one particular room having a really big bath tub which was very relaxing. Of course with Covid, this has temporarily been altered, but normally they serve up a traditional continental breakfast with all the usual morning goodies. The convenience of Briarwood Inn's location just can't be beat. You literally can park your car your entire stay and just walk everywhere during your visit. Only a few short blocks to town where you can eat, drink and shop until you drop; the downtown portion of Carmel is so quaint and cozy, it's truly a beautiful place to visit. Lots of Art Galleries, mom & pop shops, wine tasting rooms and great eateries, you too will fall in love with this little town. Thank you Briarwood Inn for giving us a place to stay each time we return to this wonderful place we call Carmel-by-the-Sea.

Jennifer S.

If you wanna see Carmel & you're on a budget, this is the place to look into. No frills accommodations located in downtown Carmel, but still comfortable. We got one of the rooms up front. Parking wasn't included but we were able to park on the street right in front & move it around as needed. Typically there is breakfast that is included with your stay but because of Covid, that was not an option when we were there. They do have a coffee maker in your room & a small fridge which was a welcome amenity. The staff at the front desk were friendly. In walking distance of everything in downtown Carmel. Brophy's Tavern is right up the street if you're looking for a quick bite of dinner. They're open later than most places in the downtown area.

Charged the PSC twice maybe? No clue. But tha tlast day, which was a Friday night, upcharge is abhorrent for the Greenwich room.
Ariel L.

I booked on Booking.com a month in advance and there were NO details on the different rooms. Online made it look like all rooms were suites. I should've checked on the website to know more about what I was paying for. That's completely my fault. Big tip: online can be deceiving. Do thorough research before the cancellation window expires. But also, the poor description isn't why this review is what it is. The room was nice enough and deserves 3.5 - 4 stars on its own (the bathroom light is noisy and the water pressure is not that good. It's nothing special but not atrocious. Probably just a little outdated). My husband and I booked for a whole week and there was only one room available, the Greenwich room. It was cute, quiet... until the construction started. There was NO warning before booking that construction would be going on right next to our room. When we arrived, we had to sign a form acknowledging the construction... but it's not like we could cancel because it's outside of the 72 hour cancellation policy. I WOULD have cancelled if I had known about the construction. It's our Honeymoon... we want to sleep in. There is also NO AC so if we wanted a breeze or to not feel so stuffy, we had to keep either the window facing into the parking lot open (right next to the office where people are constantly coming and going) or the back window open... for the construction noises throughout all hours of the day. And the windows dont have screens to keep bugs out. The room was no longer peaceful or cozy. I think the most underhanded thing was that I checked some of the other rates for the bedrooms, like the St. Anne with a jacuzzi hot tub and fireplace or the Dickens with at least a microwave and mini bar... and they were $50 LESS per night than our room, with more amenities. I asked if I could have a discount for the room since it's pricier than their higher end rooms and we are rooming multiple nights in a row (which you would think would make it better pricewise) but no. I asked why those were so much cheaper and they couldn't give me a straight answer except that we had a walk in shower... right. Then it should be same price, not substantially heftier in price. No discount for construction waking us up every morning either, which is absolutely lying by omission on the state of the inn. I get that it's a business, but there is no way that any of that is fair. The location is ideal, right near the main Ocean Ave strip, a block away from a laundromat, and about 10 blocks from the beach, but there are SO many other places to stay that are worth the price that dont wake you up at 8am every day. And if they do, they better warn their tenants about it. It's the right thing to do. Honestly, I wouldn't be so pissed if they were just upfront about the construction at the time of booking and/or offered something for the inconvenience. It's a shady business practice. We wont be staying here again.

Andrea G.

The Penthouse cottage was super comfy for my family and pet. We love the charming vibe and the gas fueled fire place. Everyone had a restful nights sleep on the comfy beds. The pillows were as comfy as my pillows at home. We especially liked the close walking distance to our favorite eateries. We will stay here again.

So quant and cozy.
Shauna B.

Cute little quaint Inn, nestled in the beautiful town of Carmel. We come to Carmel often and we've stayed at a dozen or so places throughout Carmel. This little guy is so quaint and cute. The rooms are so warm and cozy. The beds were so comfortable. They serve a free continental style breakfast each morning in their little, mini, cozy lobby. Augustina assisted us and she was a gem. Such a doll! The only problem is the parking. Not all rooms have an assigned parking space so be sure to ask them when booking your room. Also, they are a tad overpriced for what you get but Welcome to Carmel as they're all overpriced! Here are some of our favorite restaurants for you to enjoy: Casanovas- Great place for lunch. Dinner is a bit on the pricey side. Mission Inn- Great steaks and piano bar. Clint Eastwood owns it. We've seen him a dozen times here at night. Rio Grill- Best artichoke in town. Highlands Inn Market Cafe- Amazing, stunning, breathtaking views. Go for lunch. El Fornio-Great happy hour. Dinner is just ok though. Flaherty's-Great clam chowder. Dametra Café- Most fun you'll have. Live music and great food. Make reservations well in advance. Aw Shucks-Great sit at the bar place. Great seafood spot. Hog's Breath-You gotta stop in for a cocktail. They have a very cool quirky looking patio. Have a Blast! Hope you love Carmel as much as we do.

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2 months ago

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1 month ago

Would have been nice to know that provided parking was actually few blocks away . Other than that hotel was decent and walkable

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3 years ago

I have been staying at Briarwood Inn for over 30 years. The location is fabulous the staff very efficient and friendly.

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Stayed here over the weekend for our minimoon and it was just perfect!

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Stilwell Hotel

Stilwell Hotel

(38 reviews)

Had a pleasant time staying 2 nights here at this boutique hotel with our pup. We got a king sized…read morebed room with a balcony and enjoyed our time. They've designed their hotel to look and feel like a little oasis. The intention was effective because it did feel like an enclosed paradise, quiet and pleasing to the eye. Our service during our drinks and pizza at their cafe and during breakfast time (included in our package) was excellent and staff were really friendly! Complimentary bubbles upon arrival which i love! Dog blankets outside. Good looking bathrooms. Aesthetically pleasing place. Robes and slippers in rooms. Luxurious sheets. My husband didn't love the bed but perhaps he just has a sensitive preference for his back. the rooms were swanky but small but we didn't mind it for 2 nights only. we spent a lot of time enjoying the nice weather outside. Walking distance to many places in downtown and parking at the hotel was included in pricing.

Small but gorgeous hotel. I want to give like a 3.5-3.8, but am doing a 4. While it has an intital…read morehigh end appearance and price point, the Stilwell Hotel lacks the some of the essentials of a true luxury stay. - Staff: during check in, we were helped by a tall blonde young man with a deep voice . He has 0 customer service skills and should not be customer facing. He had minimal eye contact, cold demeanor as if we were bothering him, mumbling, and just overall unpleasant. He had the demeanor of a bro cashier at a GNC. There was a guy next to him which I assume was IT or something since he was messing with something at the front. There was a woman who brought us a welcome glass of champagne, and Angel - who gave us a brief tour and brought our luggage to the room. Angel and the woman were nice. Champagne was good, however I wish they offered non alcoholic options like a juice or sparking cider. Throughout our stay, we encountered many staff on the property in passing - not a single smile from any of them. Even the housekeeping staff at a BestWestern are nicer than the staff here. - Room: gorgeous but small. Booking a room for 2 does not just mean having a big enough bed, but actually room for 2 humans to move around. There is not enough room to lay your luggage out anywhere, and the bathroom was narrow. I would've liked to have a towel bar by the sink instead of having a silly rock be what holds the towel up. The room is aesthetically stunning and the bed was very comfortable. I loved the ambient lighting options and motion activated under-lighting. I liked that we had a balcony. I enjoyed the soaps / lotions, as well all the nespresso in the room. Air conditioning worked well. Room was very clean. - Parking: parking was easy in the day. We lucked out at night but guests arriving after 8pm had nowhere to park, which we witnessed first hand. We saw a guest told the staff "the lot is full", and the staff said "just take the EV spot". What about your guests with EVs who need to charge their cars for the night? On another day, a large car was parked in the entrance into the hotel (not the street) and stayed there for 15 min which blocked entry for everyone else - i wish the staff came out to inform the guest that they couldn't leave their car the. The main lot is very tight with slim spots and awkward parking angles, but the back lot was good . While this wasn't an issue for me, I can imagine coming off of a long flight, finally getting to the hotel at night, and being frustrated at the lack of available parking. - Breakfast: this is the main reason we wanted to stay here. The breakfast itself is good, not great. The French toast, juice, chia pudding and eggs are best things - everything else is okay as I found some things to be stale such as the waffles and muffins. I did enjoy how the food is displayed, and there lots of variety. Staff is constantly refilling items so you never have to worry about things running out, regardless of when you arrive for breakfast. Breakfast is much later than it is at other hotels, and with a small window (8-10am), which can be an issue if you are planning to eat early prior to a hike. 2 staff stay in the area however they just stare at you from the corner of the room. No smile, no good morning. The first day, I felt like we were being stared at as if we were freeloaders sneaking in for free breakfast. It was very uncomfortable. Not sure if they were staring because we're younger than a majority of the other guests but there really is no excuse. I think they should do a wrist band system or something if they insist on eyeing people. Property- they have a cafe by the breakfast area where you can order hand crafted pizza. We didn't do this but it smelled great. The location is convenient with lots of restaurants within walking distance . As a hotel guest, you get a discount at the Foray restaurant, which is closed mondays and Tuesdays Overall: Beautiful, but I don't think I'd stay again. For the price point and all the amenities, I expected to be in love with this hotel. At other hotels with this price point, I'm usually like "I don't want leave!", but not here. It wasn't a bad stay, but the experience didn't match the price point. I hope they get better staff or else I could see this hotel failing in the future.

Villa Mara - Portola room

Villa Mara

(33 reviews)

I'm a very well traveled and discerning traveler. This property is a 10/10. The service was truly…read moreabove and beyond. Very impressed!! The owner should be very proud of their dreams coming to life here. Great job hiring a truly world class team. Love the renovation. Phenomenal taste!!!

Love, love, love this beautiful boutique hotel in Carmel-by-the-Sea!…read more Villa Mara is a gorgeous boutique hotel tucked away in a quiet seaside neighborhood. It blends so naturally into its surroundings that we actually drove right past it the first time. I imagine the town has strict design guidelines to preserve the charm of the area. We stayed here for the first night of our Big Sur vacation, and it was beautiful. When we arrived, we were greeted by a gentleman who escorted us to our room. He appeared to be handling everything himself that evening, yet every interaction was warm and welcoming. His hospitality made us feel genuinely cared for throughout our stay. Our room didn't have a microwave, which honestly suited the elegant aesthetic of the room. However, at night we needed to warm our 17-year-old Yorkie daughter's heating pad for about 30 seconds before bedtime, since she's a senior and warming her tummy helps her sleep comfortably. He happily heated it for us each night. We also needed to keep her food frozen, but the room refrigerator didn't have a freezer compartment. When we asked, he kindly offered to store it in their large commercial freezer in the kitchen. Because this is not a large, impersonal hotel, the warmth and personal touches made our stay especially comfortable and memorable. The service was so attentive that it felt less like staying at a hotel and more like being welcomed into a friend's home. In the evenings, guests were treated to complimentary slices of cake in the lobby along with a glass of wine. Our room had a lovely private terrace, and at night, when we opened the window, we could hear the rhythmic sound of the waves crashing as if the ocean were right next to us. It felt almost magical, and we fell asleep with the window slightly open, listening to the surf. The bed was very comfortable, and the TV was great--it had everything we needed. I especially appreciated the Japanese-made air conditioner, which made it easy to adjust the room to the perfect temperature. I was also impressed by the beautiful Waterworks shower in the bathroom--it was exquisite. Every corner of the hotel reflected impeccable taste and thoughtful attention to detail. Another thing that stood out to me was the scent of the hotel. When I first walked into the lobby, I noticed a beautiful fragrance that I believe came from L.A. Lab candles. It instantly created a luxurious atmosphere, and that same refined sense of style extended to the soaps and bathroom amenities as well. Honestly, we wished we could have stayed longer. On our second night we stayed at Alila Ventana, but next time we visit Big Sur, we'll spend both nights at Villa Mara instead. Finally, I accidentally left my white Japanese hair dryer in the room. When I called the next day, a staff member who hadn't been there during our stay immediately knew what I was talking about and kindly offered to ship it back to me. Less than a week later, it arrived safely at my home- thank you!

Cypress Inn

Cypress Inn

(411 reviews)

$$

Husband is a huge Doris Day fan. We visited Carmel and the Cypress and Terry's was on his bucket…read morelist. We did not stay here as we are beach bum boys. The architecture is beautiful and well maintained. We sat in the living room, just inside the hotel while we waited for Terry's to open. Room was amazing. At the back is a huge fireplace. A piano off to the side. Doris movie posters throughout. It is on the list for at least a night or two just to say we stayed here.

Booked a stay at the Cypress Inn over the 4th of July weekend to enjoy beautiful Carmel and keep my…read morecanine BFF calm and safe. The historic building is impressive, as is the interior lobby, living room, restaurant/bar and 1st floor courtyard. Unfortunately, the guest rooms --or more specifically, Room 207 leaves a lot to be desired. As others have noted, the rooms are indeed small and in need of updating. Bed comfort is subjective. I've stayed at plenty of hotels and generally never had trouble falling asleep, but I did find both the bed and pillows to be overly firm and uncomfortable. The bigger disappointment for me was the noise. 207 is the closest room to the 2nd floor staircase landing, and there's a hallway bench right outside the room door. On multiple occasions, I had to listen to someone sitting on the bench right outside my door talking loudly on their phone before heading downstairs. The utility closet next to Room 207 also resulted in unwanted noise. And there was persistent noise coming from the alleyway directly below my room windows --loud talking, laughing, singing and coughing late into the night and early morning. The hotel staff I interacted with were all friendly and helpful and the building is ideally located in the heart of downtown Carmel. I expected more though for what worked out to be a $600 a night stay.

Carriage House Inn - Fireplace and bay window seat

Carriage House Inn

(125 reviews)

$$$

Room interiors are nice…read more Easy parking Breakfast quiche is really good. Overall bf worked well. Everyone at the desks was nice Convenient location Massive downside is that our room was 80F even with the windows open and both fans blasting when it was much colder outside Probably a solid choice if you come a colder time Some other inns (eg vagabond) are more quaint Overall just feels ridiculous to spend $500 for a night when it's unbearably hot inside

Excellent everything!!! I have not stayed in a hotel with the service they gave. I felt like I…read moreWas in a luxury hotel. When we got in, It was about time for the wine social. They had offered us wine (red or white) and a whole variety of snacks that one Can find on a charcuterie board. They also have a coffee machine where they can make you a personal cup of coffee. Shayla had checked us in and showed us to our room and explained how things worked inside the room and where things were placed. We had booked the deluxe guest room. The room had a fireplace and a 2 person tub. The bed had fine Italian linens with down feather topper and pillows. I slept so well from the comfiness of the bed. They also included 2 beautiful robes and slippers. Parking was a bit snug, but there were 2 spaces that fit much larger cars. You can also park on the street as well. Location was excellent as we were just a few blocks from ocean Ave where all The shops were. The breakfast was amazing which included freshly baked quiches, muffins, croissants, granola and yogurt and more. They will bring the breakfast into your room every morning with your choice of time. They will also include two flasks where you can refill water in the station outside. I highly recommend coming here and will definitely visit again.

Carmel Country Inn - In-Room Breakfast Service

Carmel Country Inn

(159 reviews)

$$$

We stayed at Carmel Country Inn from Friday to Sunday for a girls' trip, hoping for a relaxing and…read morerestful weekend. Unfortunately, our stay was quite disappointing. We booked one of the double rooms with a fireplace. While the room itself was fine, the walls and ceilings are extremely thin. From around 9pm to 1:00 AM, we could clearly hear footsteps from the room above us, along with conversations. It didn't seem like the guests upstairs were being intentionally disruptive -- it felt more like an issue with how the property is built and the lack of sound insulation. We did call the front desk and asked if they could notify the guests upstairs. After that, they were more mindful of their steps, which we appreciated, but we could still hear them trying to whispering. We chose this property because we were looking for a peaceful place to rest, reset, and enjoy quiet evenings. Unfortunately, that was not our experience. For the amount we paid for a weekend stay, we expected much better soundproofing and overall comfort. Sadly, we won't be returning or recommending this property to our family or friends.

The most DARLING bed & breakfast…read more I loved the tea, coffee, and variety of delicious homemade cookies in the lobby when you check in. The homemade breakfast is amazing - warm mini-quiches, yummy pastries, yogurt & berries. Don't go crazy on the cookies and pastries here though- I did and experienced the horrible sugar crashes everyday, sob. The rooms are adorable, clean, and updated - with the most cozy beds too. The staff members are also the sweetest. Sandy is wonderful and make sure to say hi to Butters too, her adorable pup. Walkable to downtown Carmel & easy parking.

Mission Ranch - Outside on the patio (with candles and heat lamps)

Mission Ranch

(1.3k reviews)

$$$

mission ranch was on every single carmel-by-the-sea itinerary that i had come across, so i knew i…read morehad to visit at least once! we came around 4 PM for the early grazing/cocktail menu and were seated right away with a front view of the ranch. we mainly came bc we wanted to see the sheep grazing, but we were unfortunately seated behind a giant fireplace and weren't able to see any sheep during our meal... it was also cloudy we went, so the views weren't as nice as i had seen in pics with the sun, but that couldn't be helped ofc! moving onto the food, i'd say that it was overall good but nothing outstanding that would make me come back solely for the food. i think mission ranch is definitely best for the views! - crispy calamari: had a crispy batter, and the calamari was soft with a good chew! - bbq beef ribs: these were really tender and fell off the bone! the sauce was a good sweet & salty balance. - clam chowder: this was okay, but it was missing some depth and clam flavor personally. there were definitely better clam chowders elsewhere in monterey bay and carmel. - garlic bread: good and crispy, but it was just bread LOL it was yummy dipping it into the clam chowder tho! - orange sunrise: this cocktail was kinda expensive for how little alcohol was actually in the drink, and it tasted alright. nothing memorable i'd say. overall, mission ranch was a fun place to visit for the vibes! i think it's a good place to visit at least once during your carmel trip.

My colleague retired so we celebrated her with dinner at Mission Ranch Inn. It was my first time…read moreand the day was overcast but it was still beautiful and we saw the sheep! It was hustling and bustling and we had to wait about 30 minutes for a party of 7. We ordered the filet mignon, prime rib, bacon wrapped porch chop, fish of the day which was sea bass. For dessert not pictured was the crème burlee, bread pudding, and affogato. Some of us got the same meal. I had the prime rib median well and I wasn't expecting it be so big! It was tender and came with veggies and a baked potato. I was pleasantly surprised by how good the veggies were cooked. I'm not a huge fan of squash but I really enjoyed it. I had left overs because of how big the steak was. We also had a basket of garlic bread which was good. It wasn't the best garlic bread I've had but it was and they gave us a lot. I tried both the bread pudding and affogato which were delicious. All were made in house including the ice cream. Overall, it was a great experience as the ambiance was amazing. It was like three different sections: outside, inside, and closer to the bar area which got really packed. I want to return to experience the Sunday brunch.

Briarwood Inn - hotels - Updated July 2026

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