My family and I drove up to the Kirby because we were enticed by the outer exterior beauty; however, we were taken a back quickly at the rude attitude once we entered. The parking lot and interior was completely empty. When we walked up, they refused service because we did not have a reservation - they attributed it to being terrified of a bad review. If they would have explained that they were reservation only (or advertised) I would have understood; however, the attitude and mindset turns me off. I will never return. Thanks for nothing, Kirby! (Picture attached is the empty parking lot) read more

Kirby Hotel - Hotels Near Me - Douglas, Michigan

THIS REVIEW IS FOR THE HOTEL not the restaurant which is J. Pauls. We stayed a weekend and were given Room #6 which is on the second floor on the southeast corner. The room was nice, fairly clean and the bed was terrific. The bathroom was really small so I'm glad I am not any larger than I am! The real problem had to do with the room upstairs. The space needs to be carpeted and the occupants aware that they can cause alot of noise. On the Saturday night of our stay, someone was upstairs dragging something across the room and then back across the room, AT 1:10AM! I thought at first it was a closet door being slid open then closed but that wasn't it. I couldn't figure it out and I had a lot of time to try to figure it out because it kept me awake until they stopped. The following morning guests were in the common area on the 2nd floor around 8:30am talking really loud. There was no respect for other guests that might still be asleep. The last and biggest problem was the service. When we arrived around 6:30pm on a Friday night, we walked into the restaurant and had to ask if someone could help us. The check in was confusing and finally my husband was given the keys. The second thing that really put us over the edge was Sunday morning we waited until the restaurant was open at 10am for our breakfast. Several other parties were there and already seated. We asked to be seated outside which was great and there were also people outside already seated. We had grabbed coffee ourselves because we didn't see our server. We waited. As did the others. Finally a young man came out and took our order. We waited. We waited over 40 minutes and we as well as the others that ordered before us still had not received our food, nor the water we had asked for. We had to be at a friend's home at 11am so we had to leave. My husband decided to go check out while we still waited for our food. He checked out, got our luggage, put in the car and came back.....still no food for us and our porch mates. Hubby went inside at the 50 minute mark, told someone we had to go and we left. The kicker is that we paid a nice sum, over $350 a night, for the room. We were to get wine and cheese upon arrival. No. We were to have breakfast. No. We were to get a night's sleep. Well, mostly. We'll look for another place to stay the area and leave our visits for J. Paul's Restaurant, the amazing place to eat. read more

Dined here tonight with a party of six and the entire experience was excellent! From the atmosphere to the service to our impeccable meals (appetizer through dessert) it was a wonderful evening!! Thank you for providing an upscale meal without pretension. What a charming place! I'll definitely return soon. read more

Dined here with my boyfriend and we practically licked our plates clean. We are still talking about the cheese and charcuterie plate with cantaloupe jam, pickled watermelon, humboldt fog cheese and truffle oil salami. The lamb entree melted in our mouth and the goat cheese gnocchi with braised oxtail sauce was filled with flavor. Our server was inviting and gave us great recommendations. Definitely recommend. read more

Of the four restaurants we visited last week, this was our favorite and I'll tell you why. How earthshaking but simple to list small starters, priced for ease. Pick ANY four and a cheese charcuterie platter is presented w a gherkin w mustard finish. Add a glass of wine, sit next to fireplace and chat w your date and his son.....a www so nice. We selected a mousse pate, chorizo, Brie, and manchego cheese. My dinner was listed as Copper River salmon and was fine. Personally, I've had copper river in Seattle a number of times......known for a deeply red and rosy flesh w a rich taste....my dish bore no resemblance? Mystified. Hoping there was no substitute but feeling deep down someone purported copper river...either the fish broker or the restaurant? So you know the wait staff is under seasoned but hardworking. Loved our time together at the Kirby. read more

I'm so happy to have found this little jewel of a restaurant located in a charming, historic hotel. Chef Mindy is amazing. Her food is mouth-watering. (If you're lucky enough to visit during Spring, the ramp pesto is one of the best things you'll ever eat!) This restaurant is worth a trip to "Pure Michigan!" read more

I had the chance to dine here last night. Beautiful setting,friendly staff and great food and drinks.I will be back and bring my friends. This place is great. read more

Love this place. Mindy is the best! The food is wonderful and the drinks are plentiful!!

The Kirby is a great wine bar and restaurant with a wonderful staff. It has an intimate and friendly, comfortable atmosphere. The food was top notch. From the tuna poke to salads to filet - all delicious. read more

Allisa provided great service. . Food is always fresh and delicious. Truly a first class experience. One of our favorites.

Had a reservation for dinner. Got there 10 minutes early. Told by owner that we had to sit in the garden. They filled all other tables. She was brusque and unapologetic. First and last time there. Avoid this place at all costs. read more

Had dinner at The Kirby this evening. From being greeted at the door, to a very attentive and knowledgeable server Kristine, to the awesome chef and manager Mindy who provided a delicious dinner for the four of us! Favorite dish of the night was the summer corn risotto! We all loved it! The pork chop was tender and succulent. The shrimp spicy and huge. And the burger was cooked perfectly. A really lovely meal in which we all left quite full and content. We definitely will be returning. Thank you Kirby staff !!!! read more

My wife and I were planning a short weekend getaway from Chicago, and found the Kirby on TripAdvisor, where the reviews discussed the cool decor and great food. On fairly short notice, we booked an early season weekend stay, and absolutely loved it. From the complimentary wine and cheese tasting for guests, the personalized attention, and outstanding customer service, we couldn't have been more thrilled with the staff, the location, the food, and the hospitality. Both breakfast and dinner were amazing, and Mindy's knowledge of and love for wine made for a great discussion. If you're staying in the Saugatuck/Douglas area, look no further than the Kirby. You won't regret it! The best B&B experience I've ever had. read more

We had our rehearsal dinner and welcome party at the venue. It was perfect. The food was delicious. Mindy, was incredibly supportive and accommodating. We will definitely be back for dinner and drinks again and again. read more

Outstanding ambiance, especially on the deck out back. Service by Kim was also outstanding. The food was artistically presented, well prepared, and delightful on the palate. Go, relax, have a signature drink, and a great experience. read more

We held our wedding ceremony & reception here. The staff were great. Food was wonderful, and service excellent. I highly recommend for dinner, event &/or wedding. read more

Fabulous experience! I knew from the first moment I corresponded with Mindy that we would be well treated. We spoke and e-mailed and she was pleasant and helpful answering all our questions with confidence. We picked the Kirby as it was newly remodeled and looked appealing. We were met with enthusiasm and treated like royalty from the moment we arrived to the moment we left. No request was too much and everything we asked for quickly appeared. Kim worked hand in hand with Mindy and was also extremely helpful and responsive as was all of the staff. We went with good friends for the Memorial Day weekend and really enjoyed ourselves. My only hesitancy in writing this review is that we won't be able to get in next time we want to go.....but do go! You won't be disappointed. read more

I stayed at the Kirby last weekend for a wedding. It was conveniently located and had plenty of parking. Our room was up some steep stairs, so I would not advise this B&B for those who have trouble with stairs. The Kirby is beautiful and elegantly decorated. We stayed in the Chardonnay room, which was small, but big enough for us. We thoroughly enjoyed the complimentary breakfast, although I wish that it started earlier than 9am. I was very hungry waiting for it to start since I am an early riser. The breakfast included a homemade blueberry-lavender bread, which was delicious. There were several items to choose from for the main breakfast dish. I got the chorizo scramble, which I loved. It was made with local ingredients and had a lot of flavour. I also had some tea, which was very good as well. My boyfriend ordered the cranberry walnut French toast, which was huge and succulent. I had to try some, and I was very jealous! We also had tried some dessert and Port the night before. We had the Salted Caramel Cheesecake, which I thought was good but could use a little more acidity to offset its sweetness. The only negatives that we experienced at The Kirby were that we saw another guest walk out of our private bathroom. When I first used the bathroom, I also saw a used bath towel from a previous guest. I think that there should be a way to lock the bathroom so that this doesn't happen. I also was cold in my room at night, and it took me a while to fall asleep. I do wish to stay at The Kirby again, but I would only do so in warmer weather so that I won't be cold. read more

Awesome awesome awesome! Visiting from Chicago and we had a great night. Amazing night food, great staff and service. A must stop

The day after our son's wedding, we invited guests of the wedding to join us for brunch at The Kirby. Mindy was a joy to work with when booking the event and working out the menu and other details. We all enjoyed having breakfast on the large deck in the back, in a picturesque setting with a pond one side. We felt lucky to have discovered The Kirby! read more

My fiancé and I went to stay here for a couple nights and decided to have The Kirby host our wedding. The dinner we had was delicious. Everything from the mussels to the steak were perfect. The wine list is reasonable and unique. The space is beautiful and spotless. Mindy went above and beyond to make sure our stay was magical. read more

Went here for a girls weekend celebration & Kirby's did not disappoint. Where to start? Maybe food? Phenomenal!! We did all small plates. They were amazing. My favorite though were the crab cakes. We all agreed they were all delish. Then service- Outstanding! 6 women, all going in different directions & Allisa didn't miss a beat. Got it all right & got it to us quickly. Never left us hanging. Atmosphere- such a comfortable, beautifully decorated place with a super neat story to go with it. Incredible place. We loved it & can't wait to return on our next visit. Thanks to Kirby's for doing it all right. read more

Great food and awesome patio! Their crab cakes and pickled vegetables were so good. I was there with a group for dinner and was able to try a lot of the dishes, not one I didn't like. I am not a huge cheese cake fan but it was amazing there. The food was so good went for brunch the next day, great hamburger and asparagus. Wine was delicious too! Can't wait to go back. read more

Ten cousins had a wonderful visit to Douglas/Saugatuck, MI. The highlight of the visit was our dinner at The Kirby, a historic inn and restaurant run by chef Mindy Trafman. We were able to make a reservation. It was a beautiful night and Mindy and her staff set our table out on the patio overlooking water and gardens. Our jaws dropped at the beautiful setting. The menu, which changes daily, was elegant and varied so everyone was able to find something they liked or wanted to try. The food was well presented and delicious. The wine, beer and cocktail list met and exceeded our expectations. Needless to say, we had a great evening. My cousins and I are grateful to Joel and Marsha from the Saugatuck Antique Pavilion, for recommending the Kirby. read more

This was the worst service experience I've ever had at a restaurant. we were a large group, 9, and requested separate checks. Alissa wasn't able to do it because she said she had to add a 20%gratuity. fine, we will figure it out we said. two of our group ordered the tagliatelle. both commented to group it was not good as it was way too salty. one girl told Alissa it was too salty she wasn't able to eat it. Alissa offered her something else which was declined. another comment from Alissa was yours is too salty, yet the other person's was fine?? questioning the authenticity of her"too salty" complaint with an unbelievable tone. all of our jaws dropped. after we received the bill and we're figuring out who owed what Alissa approached our table with a very Curt tone is there a problem?". we said no, we are just figuring out who owed what in which she responded,"I told you I could put the bill on a couple of cards. Well clearly Alissa just wanted her guaranteed 20 percent tip. unbeknownst to Alissa, she would have made out far better than 20 percent if she would have been kind, accommodating and helpful rather than rude. none of us will ever be back and will never recommend. the other food was average. ribeye came sliced and clearly the slices weren't from same steak. some burnt, others rare, strange all for$36. could have had a filet from a much better restaurant for that. burgers were dry. asked for ketchup, had to ask twice. Alissa finally brought two, one for each person who got the burger. one of them said she would need more. Alissa took the second persons and rudely slid it in front of the person who requested more. just an overall bad experience. absolutely no excuse for the condescending attitude and service from Alissa. we are all professional women, not a group of 20 year old kids. we are all still talking about it a day later, certainly not good for business. word to the wise, steer clear. read more

Amazing! Do not and I repeat do not come to SW MI and not eat at The Kirby. It was so good that I should be sleeping but wanted to write my review. Everything was fab....the food, service, ambiance, cleanliness......Mindy, Kayla...everyone was all about making sure you had a good time and enjoyed yourself. No ask was too small...they wanted you to be happy and relaxed...and the food....wow! If this restaurant was near me at home....I would have a new favorite destination. Can't say it enough...beginning to end....Excellent. read more

Though I have not stayed at the hotel, the restaurant/bar is absolutely the best in Saugatuck proper, hands down. You would expect the food around town to be way better, as it's a destination, but The Kirby is a unique establishment in that they are putting the food/bar FIRST. The Butternut Squash Risotto, Shrimp Tempura, and French Fries in truffle oil are of particular note (oh and the Carrot Cake sandwich). Thanks to Kym, Mindy, and the rest of the (small and committed) staff for housing (what I consider to be) the best dining experience in Saugatuck. Not only is the food extraordinary, the vibe, conversation, and love behind it all is apparent and inspiring. Bravo!! read more

Everyone in Douglas told me we HAD to eat at Kirby House. Our server, Kim, was great. But they were out of the artichoke bread dish....did not serve bread (weird), and the food was just okay...not great. The poke was good....the fries were average, just okay. Not all around great. I would send people to The Southerner in Saugatuck before I would send them here. Also, old and creaky place. read more

If you are thinking about dining here or staying here, you absolutely 100% should! The Kirby House captures all of the charm and history you could ask for while offering incredibly modern, up to date, gorgeous renovations and designs. On premises, they serve tasty, flavorful and unique dishes containing exquisite, mouth watering food and cocktails all day long. The Kirby has super spacious, comfortable and charming guest rooms. Can not recommend this place highly enough and everyone that I know who has been here agrees! You will not regret it! read more

The Kirby Hotel is chic, luxurious and cozy all at the same time. The beautiful modern décor captures your attention the moment you walk through the door and it continues throughout the restaurant and guest rooms. The rooms are very clean with plenty of space and the beds are incredible. The best part about The Kirby is the amazing restaurant on the first floor, J. Paul's. I've eaten at pretty much every decent restaurant in Saugatuck and NOTHING compares to the outstanding food at J. Paul's, I have yet to eat a bad meal. The food is unique, flavorful and delicious and the excellent service helps to enhance the experience. I would highly recommend the Kirby for a romantic weekend with your significant other or for a fun getaway with family and friends. read more

Charming hotel close to everything in Douglas and Saugatuck. The renovations they have done are beautiful and contemporary and the restaurant is divine. The outdoor deck is lovely, a great place to have a glass of wine and great food and relax. read more

What a beautiful place! A great combination of lovely people, a fantastic wine bar and amazing food.

We stopped in for a late dinner after a grueling day. Growing up in Saugatuck, we had always known it as the old hospital but walking in for dinner felt like being welcomed into the dining room of an old friend. Beautifully restored, the restaurant is comfortable but not stuffy. The staff is friendly and gracious. My martini was perfect and the wine suggestion, an Elizabeth Spencer Cabernet, proved delicious. It seemed like it couldn't get better, and then the food began to arrive. Crispy Brussel Sprouts first, nicely tangy with apple cider vinegar, just the right amount done with no hint of being soggy. Then Rainbow Beet Carpaccio, a subtle combination of paper thin beets with goat cheese, hearts of palm and a mustard vinegrette, I knew I was in love. Being a big eater, DH chose the Ribeye and ate every bite, except the ones he grudgingly shared with me, and declared it awesome. A nice crust on the outside, perfect medium rare on the inside, steak lovers cannot go wrong with this one. I chose the Butternut Squash Risotto, and couldn't finish it so I took it home. Freshly served, it was the perfect comfort food, all the cheesy squash goodness you want without a bit of mushy. Later, cold from the fridge, it proved to be just as delicious and I was sad when it was gone. The Kirby will be seeing more of us, and you should check them out too. read more

Stunning, luxurious and delicious! I have had the pleasure to both stay at the Kirby Hotel and dine at J Paul's. Staying at the Kirby is a wonderful experience that gives you the feel of a cozy B&B with modern, luxurious details. The interior design is beautiful and feels like a high-class Manhattan hotel; the mattresses are the comfiest I have ever slept on; and the Malin & Goetz shower products smell amazing. Dining at J Paul's is a gourmet experience. We started with the Tuna Poke, which was so fresh and easily the best Tuna Poke I have ever had. I had the Salmon entree for dinner, which was cooked to perfection. Mindy, the sommelier was amazing. She suggested the perfect pairings for each course, and was a wealth of knowledge about the background of all the wine. She also suggested a delicious "filty" martini, which was shaken with a finely ground olive puree'. It was amazing! We will be back for sure. read more