Beautiful grounds, quaint rustic cottages with privacy. Lovely gardens through out the 10acres. Some cottages are dog friendly. We stayed in Henry Miller... Though small it was fine for us. The cabin has been redone and the jacuzzi bathtub was awesome. We were able to eat outside in the little private patio area and used the refrigerator, microwave and utensils provided. A great value considering the price of hotels in this area and I would highly recommend. Mgmt was helpful in recommending local restaurants and they were spot on. From Scratch is great for breakfasts, best eggs Benedict I have ever had :) Enjoy this beautiful area of California. I read more

Believe them when they say not to use GPS to try to find this place - though they did thoughtfully put directions right at the spot where you end up if you DID use GPS. Pulling up, we were a little underwhelmed - it's just an older motor lodge kind of place. They added some lovely flowers though, which kind of help? Maybe. The price was right, and that was the most important factor in our selection of this property. The staff was very friendly whenever we interacted with them. The rooms are. . . . again with the underwhelming. In all fairness, I came straight from Carmel Valley Ranch to my room here, so my expectations were probably already tuned a bit high. They were very clean, and the bed was comfy. The sliding door that looks out over . . . the river? Foliage in any case - was really nice in adding some charm. I saw a pool, but we didn't visit it. Mini fridge in the room for your convenience, also nice. Bathrooms were tiny, but clean. My only real complaint is how I could hear every move my neighbors made. Every foot step, every flop onto the bed, every huff. . . . if you're a light sleeper, bring earplugs. read more

Great food at Rio Grill near by. Happy hour at 4 to 6:30 We loved the food here. The Carmel River Inn was so cute and quiet. We were in a newly remodeled cottage (upgraded free) and just loved staying here. We'll stay again! It made a great 15yr anniversary get away. read more

I'm sure the cabins are still great. But the hotel rooms themselves are very poor condition 30 + year old TVs 40 year old mattresses, doors that don't seal and for the hundred plus dollars a night this room is worse than any Motel 6 I've ever seen not to mention they don't even have an apple or a banana for an attempt at something to snack on in the morning it's too bad Carmel used to be a wonderful place no longer though, spend your money elsewhere too bad... this hotel would be a gold mine if they just took care of it but it's falling apart and that's just a damn shame read more

My asthma and I were having a not so great night in the Airbnb location where we were staying due to an allergen trigger in that space, so my boyfriend and I packed up around 11PM in search of a breath friendly space for me to sleep. We drove up to a few inns but all were closed. It was a huge relief to find Carmel River Inn and their 24 hour help desk. Lucky for me, the inn had one last room open and I didn't have to sleep in my car. The person who checked us in was super friendly and helped ensure our stay was great, even if it was just for one night. I will definitely look into staying here again for our next visit! read more

I will always be staying at the cottages here whenever I am in town with the dogs. Not only do they make people feel welcome, dogs are greeted with a water bowl, treats, and toys. It's really nice to have your own cottage so you have more privacy and it is situated in a quiet area. The decor inside is not like a luxury hotel, but they have everything you need in good condition. read more

Older lodging but clean and well maintained. Stayed in small cottage, quiet and restful. Higher price than I would have expected considering amenities (or lack thereof). Have stayed in "sister" facilities (Cambria Pines Lodge) that included very nice breakfast, spa, lovely grounds. Carmel's grounds are nice/rustic, kitchenette (but no breakfast), small (but adequate) bathroom. read more

After staying in the Cambria Pines Lodge on our trip up the west coast which was a nice rustic lodge we thought we would give another Moonstone property a try so we made reservations at the Carmel River Inn. We were given a room upstairs in the main building. Couldn't quite place the smell when we opened the room up, something between musty, rustic, mildew covered by something or what but it was a smell that wouldn't leave. The balcony looked out into some sort of forest area by a small river that you couldn't really see and the separation between the balconies was kind of weird. If you wanted to, you could walk from balcony to balcony which to me meant that you wouldn't want to sleep or leave your room with the balcony door open. Not sure how long Moonstone had owned the property but it reminded me of a hotel that was about to go belly up and someone came in and slapped paint on it with the intention of eventually modernizing it. Unfortunately it wasn't "modernized" for our stay. Small old school TV and overall not very large of a room. It is close to Hwy 1 so you can hear some cars but it wasn't that bad. It is within 5 minutes or so drive to downtown Carmel, the Mission and a nearby grocery store, but not really within walking distance. Do yourself a favor, spend another $20 or so a night and get someplace closer to the ocean in Pacific Grove or something. The Carmel River Inn wasn't the worst hotel I've ever stayed in, but it ranked right up there. read more

I wish I could give this place a million stars!!! We came to Carmel and were planning on using my Marriott points to stay in a hotel but the hotel was in Monterey and not Carmel. So anyway, we called here last minute and they told me the room would be $105 a night. Every where else was at least $250. So we decided to take the risk and give it a try. We honestly were not expecting it to be nice at all we were just too lazy to drive out of the way so we booked it. I was sooo shocked when we walked into an adorable cottage! We have a fireplace and private patio! It is so cozy and clean, I feel at home here! We walked in and enjoyed it so much that we called and cancelled our free room for the next night! The front desk staff was very nice too! I plan on staying here now every time we come! Thank you Carmel River Inn for making our first trip to Carmel absolutely amazing! :) read more

Don't stay here... We only stood for one night and I slept in a hoodie, sweats and socks to make sure the sheets didn't touch me.. Everything was horrible.. The front desk was nice but seriously I don't know how they are in business.. Tube tv, no bath, horrible soaps, squeaky heater, you don't wanna touch anything it smells like mold.. I was so disappointed. All the pic on website are of one renovated cottage... So beware... It was the closest hotel to the wedding we were attending otherwise I would have left... Please don't stay here... Front desk lady was super nice though!!! read more

Looking for last minute, affordable, and pet-friendly place to stay in Carmel was really getting me down, until I discovered the Carmel River Inn. This place is a real hidden gem! Accommodations were comfortable, relaxed, and the grounds were quiet and grassy -- perfect for our two dogs. We stayed in cottage #33 which was maybe the worst of the cottages because it's next to the maid's quarters and there's a lot of noise from the driveway. But still, it wasn't all that bad. Next time I stay, and there will be a next time, I'd like to stay at a quieter, more private cottage. read more

Cute cottages. We stayed here with another couple and booked a 2 room cottage....the second "bedroom" was really a living room with a bed in it, but we were all close so it worked out. Lots of dogs on the property! read more

We were in search of a dog friendly hotel in Carmel and came across the Carmel River Inn based on past yelper reviews. We requested for a renovated cottage and was pleasantly surprised. The grounds are beautiful with many well maintained gardens. Our cottage (Ricketts) was a bit small for two adults and a golden retriever, but nevertheless cozy and comfortable. The woman at the front desk was most helpful and pleasant and our overall stay was great. We would definitely come back again, but will probably request for a larger cottage. read more

Very nice cottages. Quaint, dog friendly, and beautiful gardens.

went here for a wedding blockage and didnt stay in the cottage just the "lodge" i guess that is what its called or looks like from the inside. it is ugly on the outside but its ok and clean in the inside. read more

We had a great stay. Carmel is beautiful and the surrounding areas are fantastic - Big Sur, Monterey, etc. It was nice to stay somewhere outside of the downtown area, which is too touristy for my taste. This place was cozy and non-pretentious with a comfortable bed, excellent water pressure, and it's very quiet and peaceful. The office person, Chris, was extremely friendly and helpful. We will be coming back. read more

Older but very clean ! Plenty of coffee and fixings for it. Super comfortable bed and lots of good pillows. Has a little bit of that "old" smell but that is no big deal . Cleanliness is #1 as far as I'm concerned. I'll be back read more

We stayed in the Gasper Portola cottage. It was kind of like staying in a nice garden or storage shed. Rustic-like. I wanted to stay in a remodeled cottage but the new ones don't allow dogs. This cottage needed a remodel. The carpet was kinda gross, I found a couple dead bugs laying around, and the bed was lumpy. But that's not to say that we didn't enjoy our stay. I was happy to find someplace private that took dogs and wasn't outrageously expensive. And we could park our car right in front of the cottage. I liked the location- close enough to downtown but far enough away. The Safeway nearby was nice since the cottage had a small kitchen. The garden area was nice too for our dog. read more

My spouse and I were very happy that we were able to get a room here on the 4th of July long weekend, even after 10 PM when most all other accommodations in Carmel-by-the-Sea had closed their offices! The folks at Carmel River Inn offered us a cottage at the same price as a room, which we happily accepted. And it was cute! Fireplace inside (nothing like sitting by crackling flames with your sweetie), decorative pillows, fancy chairs and a little table. Small bathroom with vanity area. Very nice! Also, sweet frogs croaking outside made it feel like we were really out in nature. In the morning, we found that the cottage windows opened to a little patio with table and chairs, and a hillside with wildflowers. Very, very charming. Being in Cottage #32 was a treat. Only downsides for us were that the mattress was a little tired, and the curtains let in a lot of light outside (a challenge we solved by draping a few blankets over the curtain rod -- Voila!). Also, the people were nice. They gave us a souvenir from the lodge and were quite eager to make sure we would have a good time. We also found out inside the front office that this inn has also a strong commitment to community service, as evidenced by when the town had a crisis and they offered reduced rates to all who needed a place to stay. Happy to support this kind of business. read more

This was our second stay at the Carmel River Inn. It is true what other reviewers have said about staying ONLY in one of the newly remodeled cottages. All other rooms/cottages are very outdated and funky. The first time we stayed in the Fanny Osborne cottage and loved it. This time was a spur of the moment overnight getaway (we're local-ish) and we stayed in the Steinbeck Cottage. We loved it as well. It had an ENORMOUS whirlpool bathtub that I could've stayed in all night. (They do need a larger water heater to accommodate such a tub, however. It only filled it 2/3 of the way.) There was a gas fireplace and large flat screen tv, a small enclosed porch off the back and a comfy bed. The price can't be beat midweek ($115) and the grounds are very pretty. The have a LOT of little green tree frogs and small toads on site. We have seen many of them (both times one was in our room) each time we've stayed. This time one greeted us on the door handle when we returned from dinner. read more

The only thing going for this place is that it's next to the river. Other than that we did not have a good experience. The room smelled terrible when we walked in, it was also very hot and muggy with no fan. We then saw 2 spiders almost immediately. Two of which ran across the bed and one on my arm. There was also some sort of centipede in our room and two moths. After the spider on my arm I decided to make sure there weren't any more. We then found a black widow by the heater and called the front desk to move our room. They took forever to get back to us but finally moved us. The second room was much better. But then the day of checkout we called to get more coffee and no one was answering or even in the office. It's Memorial Day weekend at 8 am and no one is there. I definitely would not recommend this place. The location is very nice but the cleanliness and customer service is not so good. I understand we are by a river but that doesn't mean I want to pay $150 a night to sleep with black widows. read more

This place was a dream come true. A beautiful, rustic, clean cottage. Perfect location, next to Carmel beach, Carmel river beach, and Point Lobos. Also under 10 mins from all the fine dinning restaurants. The staff was very welcoming and just made you feel at home. Last, the most important thing "DOG FRIENDLY"!!! They loooooove pets and welcome them!!! They have a list of places that you can bring your furry friend too, and they have amazing dog trails!!!! I wish I could give this place a 10. read more

What a great place! Our family has been staying here for a few years now. Recently updated cottages are a nice touch. The staff is extremely friendly and helpful. The grounds are well maintained and features great gardens. The Carmel River Inn is a great value and is pet friendly! Please note that if you are looking for luxury accommodations there are probably better options in the area. This place is for those looking for a unique charm, clean and comfortable appointments and a good value with great staff. read more

I was interested in staying here until I called and spoke to the man at the front desk. I had a few basic questions about the studio cottages in terms of what I saw on booking.com and just wanted to confirm. The man was incredibly rude and very disrespectful. I will not be booking and paying for already bad service before I arrive. read more

First let me state. I'm giving it five stars because I stayed (and paid) for a cottage. So cute and warm. If you want glitz and glamour - I'm not sure why you're in Carmel? This place is perfect if you love the cottage feeling with absolutely serene grounds. I think they've made improvements in 2015 - because I've seen some of the pics and that's not what the cottages look like now. I love the gravel driveways ....the sound of the crunch....the blooming flowers everywhere. They need to have cooking classes and yoga....but then I would never leave. Love it. Not perfect - but perfect for me. read more

It's hard to describe this place - if you list all the amenities (private cottages, patios, fireplaces, whirlpools) it sounds very swanky. But it still has kind of a motel feel (and yes, smell). But for your money, this is the best motel you'll find. We stayed one night in the Steinbeck cottage for $130. I specifically asked for a dog-unfriendly room as I'm allergic. Despite the familiar "what is that?" smell upon entering, and the not-inspired decor, the place was spotless and comfortable. Surprisingly nice bathroom, too! The main house is close to Route 1, so you'll probably hear some traffic, but the cottages are more set back, in kind of a trailer park layout. Staff was really nice, but tried to recommend a crappy restaurant they had a relationship with. Stick to yelp if you're looking for somewhere good to eat. (We had a great meal at the Flying Fish.) All in all, totally recommend. I would stay there again if I were in the area. It's a 5-minute drive to downtown Carmel and just a few more to Monterey. read more

Our first stay was in the main hotel and the result of a spur of the moment trip from SF with our cairn terrier. The area is so beautiful and quiet that we planned another trip. To my surprise, there are a number of cottages on the property. We spent the weekend in Cottage #22. You can pull your car right up front and unload. There was an enclosed patio area and a large grassy area for the dogs to run around. The hotel provided a dog bowl, treats and dog toys - very dog friendly. There is also a pet wash station with soap. On both visits the staff is very nice and helpful. They're extremely knowledgeable about the area and happy to answer any and all questions. The room itself was very quaint and with all the blinds open it was as if you were out in the woods. We'll definitely be back! read more

Absolutely gorgeous location. Came here because the price was right but when we arrived, we were pleasantly surprised! We stayed in room #30. We were upgraded from room #21. The room was newly upgraded. The fireplace was nice to have and kept our room cozy during the rainy, cold nights. We've stayed at all kinds of hotels over the years... Omni hotels, the Grant on San Diego... All five star properties.... But this location outdid itself as far as customer service goes. No, it isn't the fanciest... No room service etc but we would stay here again and again. The only thing I can complain about is their Wi-Fi didn't work too well but our phones worked really well in that area. read more

Great getaway with the pups! The property that the hotel is on felt like we were in the woods. Perfect for walks with your 4-legged friends. Our pommy babies loved it, from the welcome basket that greeted them in the room, with treats, dog/water bowl/toys, to the swing and hammak to laze around in all afternoon. We love it, and plan to come back. Clean, not too far from town, across from shopping off of Highway 1. Perfect for families with dogs. We saw all kinds in all shapes and sizes. read more

Clean but WAY pricey for such simple place. Like an old Motel 6.

Again,my girl Tina came thru.Although I ididnt get to see her (she works here),it was MY mothers day wknd.I was actually able to have both my adult kids in one place for a change,as I rented the largest cottage here,& I wont say which one,cuz it's MINE! HAHA anyway,the weekend went without a hitch,plenty of company for the pups.We had all three, I'll chalk this one up in the memory banks,due to again,Carmel River Inn.great job guys,thanks for the bbq,although we brought our own. read more

I'm hovering between 3 and 4 stars on this, but honestly can't give 4 to a place that is on the run-down side. I was expecting more from the pictures, but truth is the lot of land is on the junky side. Morning coffee from machine was deadly bad, service was fine, rooms were acceptable, but the overall vibe needs to be improved. In the end I paid about $170 for a mini-cottage on a pretty ugly lot of land, which even with its downsides is not bad, so it's got that going for it. Don't think I would return though, would probably explore more options. read more

FOR THE MAIN BUILDING I WOULD GIVE 1 STAR. Our room #68 was overpriced, old and very noisy from Highway 1. Balcony door could hardly open. We were quoted $125 on the phone and when arrived at the hotel we were charged $225 PLUS TAXES PLUS $40 FOR TWO DOGS EACH NIGHT. Price was adjusted by the manager but initially I got lots of eye rolling from the overnight attendant. Four of us were VERY cramped in this room as there are two double beds, not queen. The beds themselves were comfortable and shower pressure was perfect but the sink pressure horrible. I would never again stay in the main building. That said, they have lots of cottages with beautiful grounds and very dog friendly which are all big pluses. Wifi never worked. read more

First of all - the address on olive road takes u to the back side. so if u r using a gps, wait till u hit CA 1 and take the right on HWy 1. We went there this memorial day weekend. pros: 1. the cottages are quaint and cozy with the gardens n backyard 2. the location is ideal for tourists liek us who were torn between monterey n carmel. every place we went was 5 min drive from here 3. the king room we stayed in on the 2nd day was decent. judging from the exterior, we didnt expect it to be tht decent. 4. gardens are pretty, lots of dogs around. very family friendly atmosphere cons: 1. Too pricey for what they give. we payed 200 bucks a night on memorial day weekend at the cottage.the 2nd night we took the king suite which was 150 bucks. 2. the receptionist sucks. she goofed up n had 2 queen beds when we went instead of the king i had reserved. and she blamed the 'computer' saying she didnt know how to fix it!. 3.appearance is very shady. we almost thought we were gonna be mugged when we got there and then changed our minds seeing the cottages. Overall may have been worth it if we had gone on any other weekend , but we loved stayin in the cottage. so if u plan to stay here, take the cottage. u will atlst feel like ur money is worth it. read more

I stayed in cottage 17 and it was really great. One full and one twin bed. Very clean and pet friendly. Water is hard with a slight mineral smell but that's par for the area. Mini fridge was perfect for my needs. Looking forward to returning soon. read more

I reserved a two bedroom cottage for a family girls' getaway, with two dogs. We arrived early on Friday and we're told when the room would be ready. It was ready before they said, and the cottage is delightful. Two very nice bedrooms, a cute kitchen, large livingroom with comfortable furniture, and an ample bathroom. The cabin is very clean and bright, with many windows. There is even a large fireplace. The grounds are very pretty, with walking trails that are even lit at night. Everything is very dog friendly. I can't recommend this enough. We will definitely return. read more

We stayed in cottage 25 which is large (meant for handicapped folks). Economical, comfortable, quiet, convenient (right off Hwy 1 but quiet!), well appointed, and beautifully landscaped. We called the same day of our stay (a Sunday in July) and were given an upgrade to a spacious room in a duplex cottage. Their website lists their cottages in the $200-$300+ range but we were only charged $147, including tax, which is *awesome* in pricey Carmel. We had our own garden patio with a bistro set, a fountain quietly gurgling nearby. Fuchsias ornamenting the railings. The bed was comfortable and the furnishings were cute and tasteful, nice varnished wood tables and cabinet from France. The bathroom was large, very clean, and the toiletries were fine. Towels soft and absorbent. Wireless was in room so worked great. Nice gas fireplace (summer, so we didn't use it but would've been great on a winter's stay). Staff was very helpful and quite courteous. The pool was just big enough for laps (not a full lap pool, of course, but nicer than many motels) and very clean, given the prolific trees and leafy shrubs nearby. There are trails winding through the gardens, very pet friendly. In room coffee was pretty decent; while bean-the maker has a built in grinder. There was a china picnic set with wine glasses and salt/pepper shakers waiting for us to use on the patio or wherever. The state park where the river turns into an estuary is nearby and the river itself flows right along the property, making for a nice peaceful glade or two to sit in and enjoy. Nice! Few things to note: it is pet friendly so if you have respiratory/allergy issues, be aware. My wife's are fairly acute and she was affected, tho not as much as many places. We also had a few ants in the bathroom but given the summer and garden setting, sort of understandable. Staff looked like they would get right on it when we alerted them. read more

This is one of my favorite hotels in all of Carmel. The staff members here are very friendly and knowledgeable, and they always greet you with a smile. The cottages here are immaculate and beautiful. Their landscaping is gorgeous with various types of flowers planted all around the cottages. The room I stayed in had an outside patio attached to it, which was a very nice touch, and the inside is very cute with a little fireplace that gives it an at home feeling. The beds are extremely comfortable as well. The cottages here are perfect for couples who are looking for a romantic getaway, or for any single person who is looking for an all over enjoyable experience. I was also very pleased with the location of this Inn. Although it is located off of Highway 1, it is far enough off the road that you don't hear any noise from the traffic, but instead the soothing sound of the river flowing nearby. Being right off the highway makes it easy for those who are traveling, or on vacation to begin their next trip. read more

Absolutely beautiful. Great and friendly staff, Arthur was extremely helpful and very welcoming. The cottages I stayed in were spacious, clean, quiet, and beautiful. I will definitely be coming here again. read more

We have stayed at the Cottages at the Carmel River Inn for years. We really love it there. It's rustic - but so comfortable - especially when we get a cabin with a fireplace! I love how they welcome our dogs and us - for our visits. We have a visit coming up and I'm giving a special shout out to Stacey as she helped us get the perfect cabin! We love Carmel River Inn! read more