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    Ester Lee Oceanview Inn

    3.1 (102 reviews)
    Open 10:00 am - 10:00 pm

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    Moon view from our room

    I absolutely love the Ester Lee Motel. Now, to be honest, the motel itself is maybe three and a half stars-- it's old, the beds aren't great, and the sheets are awful. But there are many five star qualities-- the view through the large windows that open fully is exceptional. But there are many real star is Britney (sorry, don't know the actual spelling) at the front desk! She is so kind and joyful, super helpful, works hard, and she's also funny! What more could you want??! I will continue to pack up my bedding and return to the Ester Lee to make the home of my dreams for just a few days whenever I can!!

    Soapy water from our upstairs neighbor filled our sink before draining out.  Just lovely.  This happened twice.
    Ruth B.

    The Ester Lee is an "iconic" landmark in Lincoln City that I remember from when I was a kid (50+ years ago). Many times since, I, my friends and family have driven by and said we should stay there. Well, my son and I finally decided to give them a whirl. Knowing this is an older place I had no high expectations for modern fancy accommodations. I don't expect my upstairs neighbor's sudsy water to drain into my kitchen sink. I do expect my room, linens and kitchen to include all dishes and equipment to be clean! Our unit was a two bedroom with kitchen pet friendly that was a lower unit. I expected the coastal musty aroma that comes with years of humidity in a concrete walled space. Beautiful sunny days with lots of wind whistling through the door jamb but that's part of the coast! The gathering room was of good size with sparse furnishings. A sofa and chair on the back side and a small TV on the front side of the room about 15-20 ft away. The layout was odd but since we weren't there for TV it was ok. I don't think our fireplace worked but the room got very warm from the sun and chill in the early morning. My son brought his small bird so we needed a pet room. The carpet definitely smelled of wet dirty dog but the furniture was clean. There were pet sheets and a blanket etc to cover furniture if you have a pet that will be on the furniture. The sleeping rooms were fine. One had no window the other had a nice ocean view. Bathroom had glass blocks to make the shower walls to add character. Some towels were fresh others were "clean" but you could tell they had been Hey baby girl, what's going on on the racks for a long time. The kitchen had salt & pepper, minimal pots/pans and utensils (but they DO have some). There is a set of dishes for four but flatware for three to four depending on forks, spoons or knives is out there. If there are four of you someone is not going to get a fork! In the dish cupboard there is a sign that the dishes have been cleaned, but if you want them further sanitized to contact the front office. After finding the bread plate had not just a smear, but chunks of butter still on it and a pot that had food stuck around the sides inside and out, we washed everything before using. The hotel provided one packet of regular and one packet of decaf coffee. Our stay was2-days, and there's no housekeeping between arrival and departure so it would've been nice if they would have provided a second coffee or at least offered a second coffee at check-in. Our stay was not bad enough to walk and eat the cost (which I have done elsewhere) but I don't know that I have a desire to go back. There was just no overall "warmth" about this place to make me feel comfy cozy!

    Pacific Ocean view from the room.
    Krissy H.

    I had a torn meniscus when we were booking a room. The staff was so sweet at making sure I could get into a room that met my physical needs. They doubled checked on us to make sure we were taken care of. The bed was comfortable and our 2 bedroom small house slept the 5 of us comfortably. The kitchen was stocked with the necessary appliances and dish ware. We greatly enjoyed our stay.

    Tammy K.

    You know how airlines through the years have made seats smaller, meals obsolete and the customer service a whole lot "less" until people just erupt in frustration? We think that's been happening at the EsterLee the past few years. Here is our story: Our family has been coming to the EsterLee since 1999. Every life event, holidays, birthdays, graduations and anniversaries...we book cottages. We have been so happy with this place but we've definitely noticed a change the past couple of years. This past week (4/7-4/9 2025) , we stayed in #231, a 2 bedroom Cottage for 2 nights. It's important to note that each room/cottage has a different layout and each has their own quirks. We always thought this was funny and charming, until it wasn't. First of all, as we put together our trip, it was difficult to reach the front desk to make a reservation and they were clearly very busy once we did. Before we arrived, received a text saying if we were going to arrive past the window of 8pm to let them know. Apparently, nobody is there after 8pm. Otherwise check in was 4pm. When we arrived, we were given a sheet of paper that stated housekeeping wouldn't be checking in on us (for 3 days?) and if we needed anything to call the front desk. There was also the code to the internet. We realized after 8pm the internet wasn't working. We also looked around for somewhere to plug in our phones and discovered only 1 out of 4 outlets worked. The bathroom plug in was broken too. The outlets that worked had a bunch of things already plugged in with an outlet extender that seemed super sketchy and a fire hazard. The next day my husband tried to call the office and nobody picked up. So he walked directly to the front desk. He complained about the internet not working, and the lady behind the desk said it was a new system and they don't know if it's working or not unless someone complains. That she'd let the internet company know so they could fix it. It NEVER worked. For 3 days. Upon checkout, we mentioned how unhappy we were about the internet not working and the lack of outlets that functioned. The lady at checkout asked which password had we used? The one on the sheet of paper they'd given us. Seems there was ANOTHER password we should have been given. When my husband (honestly one of the most mellow people I know) said he didn't feel like this was right and how he felt pretty let down by these inconveniences, the front desk lady simply shrugged and turned away. She didn't ask how they could make it up to us or apologize. She didn't offer to take anything off our bill, like the dog fees. In short: We spent $512 and didn't have housekeeping. We didn't have access to electrical outlets to charge our phones. And we didn't have internet. Oh, and nobody is at the hotel past 8pm, which seems like a disaster waiting to happen, especially with those overloaded electrical outlets. The scrimping on certain things like personnel is not okay, especially when we noticed they'd splurged on new personalized EsterLee coffee mugs. Maybe they're spending their money on the wrong things? Our friends had stayed (for the first time) in another cottage and said they only had enough hot water for 1 shower, so they flipped a coin who got to shower first. There was also a tip envelope for housekeeping, even though the housekeeper never showed up (again--3 DAYS). They didn't tip, but felt bad they didn't. They're nice people and said they'd never stay there again. We were pretty embarrassed that we'd recommended this hotel to them for our trip together. It's been 26 years of relative bliss, EsterLee but we may have to break up. We tried and tried but some things are just too much to overlook. And we are pretty damn sad about it.

    Gas fireplace
    Trisha L.

    We stayed in Cottage 6 - a pet friendly cottage with one queen bed and two twin beds. The room with the twin beds is down a fairly steep set of stairs with a wonderful view of the ocean. If you are traveling with young children, I could imagine them possibly being afraid to be so alone downstairs. What I liked about our cottage: - it was CLEAN! Did not smell musty like many of the older motels along the coast seem to smell. - the VIEW! Unparalleled views. So peaceful to sit and watch the ocean. Our dogs spent a good portion of their time staring out the window. - Dog Bedding. Ester Lee provides you with bedding to place over any furniture your pups might relax on during your stay. They also provide a dog towel. Full Kitchen - stove, oven, refrigerator, microwave, dishes, pots and pans and utensils. - Gas fireplace is very cozy. Bedroom - bed was comfortable. Room is a bit cramped. There are pocket doors to close the space off from the rest of the cottage. There is a closet but no dresser. Bathroom - no outlets in the bathroom! I had an extension cord charging/outlet cube so I was able to plug my hair dryer in the kitchen and barely reach the bathroom. Overall, this was a great stay and fit our needs for a weekend getaway with the dogs perfectly.

    Dog friendly cottage at the Ester Lee. Wonderful.

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    6 months ago

    Nice vintage hotel with an awesome view . The room was clean and the staff were very accommodating

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    2 years ago

    Rooms very much in need of a face lift. Sad because it is a nice location overlooking the coast. It's got an easy walk down to the beach.

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Ester Lee Oceanview Inn

    Review Highlights - Ester Lee Oceanview Inn

    Stayed here for our 6 year anniversary and had such a great time.

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Surftides Hotel - Sunset from room 312.

    Surftides Hotel

    (291 reviews)

    $$

    We liked everything, and it was convenient for the child, but there were a few minor issues: the…read morebathroom door in our room creaked, and the exhaust fan was noisy when turned on.

    This is a perfectly reasonable hotel if your needs are mostly to have a place to sleep while you…read moreenjoy Lincoln City and the Oregon coast. We did not utilize a majority of the amenities at the hotel, including the WiFi, fire pits, pool, or restaurant. Pros: The location of the hotel is excellent. It is far enough from Highway 101 that the traffic is not disruptive, but close enough that amenities and activities in Lincoln City are easily accessible. The view of the beach from our room was excellent, and beach access (via several flights of stairs) was convenient. Our room door was equip with a deadbolt, chain lock, and lock in the doorknob. For the most part, the room was clean and quiet, and the mattress and pillows were comfortable. Parking was convenient. Cons: The furniture in the room was not particularly comfortable. The furnishings were either outdated or lacking. The TV was difficult to use. Hand soap for the bathroom was not made available (but, "facial soap" was). The toilet and the sink in the bathroom both leaked/ran after use. Concerns: Our room was not ready and available to us at check-in time. When arriving to our room, after being asked to wait in the lobby, the room smelled strongly of cleaning solutions. During our inspection of the bed, the linens were obviously fresh and clean, but they were covered in hair (like, the laundry facilities they use for housekeeping aren't totally clean). These experiences dropped my rating from 4 stars to 3.

    Starfish Manor - Pacific Suite Shower

    Starfish Manor

    (223 reviews)

    $$

    Where to start! First I called ahead and got a lovely person who helped me navigate the best room…read morefor my specific disability. They accommodated my request to help with my stay, and the person at the front desk even remembered me when I checked in! They have a covered parking area which I very much appreciated in the rain. The lobby is clean and has a modern but welcoming vibe. I LOVED my room. I booked the Nautica suite and it was so lovely. The very large jetted tub overlooking the ocean was breathtaking. The room has a mini-fridge and a microwave. They have a great little sink for filling big water bottles, making tea, etc. no trying to fill the coffee pot in the bathroom sink. The room was also impeccably clean. Rooms that aren't fully cleaned can really put me off about a place. Not here. They seem to have high standards for everything they do here-- and everyone they hire. A gentleman who was from housekeeping even walked me to the elevator when I got turned around as I went to check out. He noticed my hands were full and hit the button for the lobby for me. As I was writing this review, I got a phone call. I had forgotten my favorite lunch box in the fridge! I hadn't gotten terribly far, so I still have time to go back. If you're on the fence, book it. One more neat thing: I got a way better rate booking directly with Starfish Manor. It shocked me, but it bears mentioning. I almost always use Expedia, but while I was looking for more room info on booking, I was delighted to find this. I will 100% be back. I recommend this highly. Surprisingly affordable and so well appointed.

    Ugh - they tour as "luxurious" - maybe they need to look that word up, bc NOT a four star luxury…read more We booked thru Hotels Tonite for a deal (dont do that at this venue for sure!!). They pictured a beautiful suite overlooking the ocean - we got an adu room that looked onto a brown building a few feet away! Seriously?? We went for some romance and this was a huge disappointment bc we planned to look at the ocean. False advertising on Hotel Tonite's part!!! The remodel of this old property is ok. Our room dod have a big jaccuzi tub next to window (that we could barely see out of) not just moisture but actually dirty. A peek-a-boo view of ocean there. Got settled in and ready for movie. TV remote didn't work. hubs had to go downstairs and get new ones. Then upon return and got it on - it was completely ?? unprogrammed! "no channels" screen showing. No way to even see them. No button to see to find? how to reset. After a phone call downstairs they didnt know how to fix it. Said they would see if maintenance was still there at 8pm... Fortunately my man saw there is a little string??? coming from behind tv!! You had to pull it??? to get to the hdmi settings - then figure out which one was correct!! Sheesh. Bed was hard. No body lotion. No kleenix. (what hotel doesnt have kleenix???) Needless to say will never go here again!! It is pictured online like some kind of Salishan Resort. It SO isnt!!! And tho beach is below - really steep LONG long stairway to get up and down. Huge disappointment all the way around. NOT worth the $ and would never have booked if i knew we were getting a brown wall to look at for vacation!

    Inn At Wecoma - Local hospitality tribal love

    Inn At Wecoma

    (199 reviews)

    $$

    First of all, I have to give a big shout-out to Greg at the front desk. He consistently provided…read moreexcellent customer service throughout our weekend stay. One of the reasons I chose this place was because it's pet friendly. When we arrived, Greg gave us little doggie bags that included toys, treats, and poop bags :) There is a small grassy area nearby that makes it handy for a quick potty break if you're lazy like me after 9pm. Greg also told us about a new dog park nearby, so we checked that out, too! They provide a hot breakfast, which wasn't exceptional but wasn't terrible either. We ate breakfast both mornings and survived, lol The room was clean and smelled fresh. I wasn't bothered by any road noise, but I was bothered by what sounded like an army of children stomping on the ceiling. It was probably the same army of kids who interrupted my quiet pool time haha They have a pool, hot tub, and sauna with 10pm-12am being 18 + only, which was lovely. Overall, I would recommend staying at the Inn, and I plan on returning in the near future.

    Centrally located however this place is just ok. They don't clean the room unless you schedule it…read morein advance so be sure to do that. Also when I found that out said well I'll take more towels he's like come get them. The tv didn't work. If you have dvd's Those are the silver round things in the boxes. bring them that's the only option in this town there's a DVR in the room lol - Little disappointed the sink also doesn't drain well it's very slow.

    Looking Glass Inn - King Whirlpool Suite View

    Looking Glass Inn

    (226 reviews)

    $$

    When: Sat. May 23rd to Tue. May 26th, 2026; Party of 2 Adults…read moreRoom 205 - 2 queen bed room A wonderful stay at this cozy boutique hotel (36 rooms) in the Historic Taft district overlooking Siletz Bay... The staff at check-in and housekeeping were friendly and professional. They were eager to assist if any need would arrise. This property recently just completed a renovation taking care of minor touchups as well as replacing the soft goods, just in time for the busy summer season. My wife and I loved this location because of the convenient dining options, ample on-property parking and short walk to the beach. We will definitely be back when visiting again, as well as recommend it to friends and family.

    Absolutely beautiful Inn by the beach in the Historic Taft District…read more Siletz Bay is super easy to access. The rooms are dog friendly--they provide bowl, a towel, treats, waste baggies, and sheets for your furry friend. Their Pet Area is adorable. With a fire hydrant for those of us with boy doggos lol Our room was above the breezeway. We had a view of the bay. Had a comfy fireplace. Could open the window--that salty sea air was much needed for this land-locked family! They have in-shower toiletries in pump dispensers. Plus actual hand soap and lotion. Mini fridge with good size freezer that worked! Microwave and large screen TV. Plus coffee maker in room. They have coin operated laundry on site. $1.25/wash $1.25/dry. Quarters can be exchanged in the lobby. Cookies are nightly in lobby 5-7pm Continental bfast was 8-10am. Nice selection: oatmeal with toppings, yogurt, fresh fruits, mini donuts+muffins, bagels w/strawberry or regular cream cheese (and toaster), string cheese, power packs of dried fruits to take on the go, individual cereals with white or chocolate milk, coffee and tea, a water bottle fill station. They also have beach blankets and beach bonfire blankets to borrow. They have a fire pit area with loungers and area to cook crab too. As well as hose stations to rinse off the sandy feets. The customer service here is AMAZING. You're treated like family instead of just a guest. Just be aware the lobby is not 24hrs. So if you need things, gotta take care of it before they close at 9/10pm. The location is ideal for walking around the Taft District. We admired all the adorable cottages along the way. We much preferred walking to places and leaving our vehicle parked was a bonus. We would stay here again in a heartbeat. In fact, we might be planning another stay for our 25th anniversary! Job well done Looking Glass! You have our stamp of approval. Love this place and the Oregon Coast.

    Surfland Hotel - Patio near the pool and bocce ball court

    Surfland Hotel

    (130 reviews)

    $$

    The rooms are beautiful, we were in a double queen with ocean view. The bathroom products aren't…read morethe typical cheap quality but actually a good brand. It was very clean on arrival and when housekeeping popped by they would empty the trash each day for us. Breakfast was wonderful with a couple of different options each morning-- potatoes, sausage, eggs, different yogurt varieties, they even had an alternate milk selection. There were also staples such as cereal, bread and bagels, waffles, coffee and juice. The trail down to the beach is lit nicely, however it is in need of some repairs for safety. Several of the stones and wood steps are broken, the tape that's supposed to prevent slipping is ripped up and there are some large metal studs that aren't actually in the steps. Our son was afraid to walk the trail himself after falling the first night and had to be carried.

    Oh boy. Where should I even start?! Let's start off…read morepositive. The staff who greeted us upon our arrival was super nice during the whole interaction. She gave us some highlights of the property and we were quickly on our way. Also, the hotel WiFi was pretty good. Now for all the gripes, which I hate to do. This was the first time we stayed here. We "splurged" to stay here, rather than another hotel we regularly go to. At over $300 a night after taxes, we were not expecting stains everywhere; chairs, carpet, and bench. The carpet looked particularly filthy to where it hadn't ever been cleaned. A refrigerator that barely got cold after 2 hours of turning it on. Extremely thin walls; we heard kids next door crashing around for hours. The bed felt like we were just lying on a boxspring! If you have a bad back, the next morning you're going to hurt. They couldn't even supply pillows that would fit a king size bed. An establishment usually has one chance to impress their customer, and they certainly didn't impress us. We will never stay here again.

    Whistling Winds Motel

    Whistling Winds Motel

    (41 reviews)

    $$

    Stayed in the "Love Shack" room. It had wonderful vintage style. There was the wood paneling on all…read moreof the walls and the ceiling. Colorful stained-glass window in the front door. And the craziest fun feature was a full-on jacuzzi tub in its own cave off of the main room with fully mirrored back wall. Shaaawiiiing! Did not use it but it was sure fun to marvel at. The shower was a classic bathtub with the valve switch on the spigot. I bet many would not dig that, but I was tickled with the old school design.

    My fiance and I stayed here back in September. We had a soaking tub suite. We really enjoyed our…read morestay, and will definitely be back. We were disappointed that there wasn't a microwave or a mini fridge in our suite, unfortunately we had to survive on eating snacks or eating out any time we got hungry instead of warming something up in the microwave like leftovers or popcorn. My fiance and I went down to the beach, and that's when he proposed! It was so special, but on our way back he tumbled on some rocks and ended up splitting his head open- we rushed back to the motel to the front office and the male owner was at the desk (can't remember his name) we had asked if we could use some super glue to help my fiancé's head- because we felt it wasn't enough to spend our day at the ER, just a quick super glue fix would do the trick. The owner gladly grabbed some for us and seemed every caring and we all kind of chuckled about the whole situation- my fiance was fine, it was the tiniest nick, not gushing blood. He got patched up and we went about our stay, and he healed up pretty much the next day. We loved the room, and the tub. Very old school, cabin vibes. Will definitely return!

    Ester Lee Oceanview Inn - hotels - Updated August 2026

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