We had a terrible 3 night stay here. BE SURE TO READ ALL POOR REVIEWS on other trip review websites beforehand! We saw positive reviews (restaurant mainly), but I wish we had found them ALL beforehand - especially the owner's responses. If you have any complaint (even small), be prepared for her wrath! We booked back in Nov for a ski getaway in Feb. We have had many great stays in the Sugarbush & Stowe areas and looked forward to trying a new venue. I called and spoke to the front before booking and all seemed fine. You can HEAR EVERYTHING in this place from your room. From the owner yelling at an employee over a scheduling conflict (we heard him yelling & swearing over an hour about this), to people thumping up and down the wooden stairs, to children running around unsupervised, to staff discussing/investigating an odd smell on property, to conversations from the privacy of other rooms. We knew we may experience some extra white noise due to an old building, but this was beyond imaginable. Ultimately, the guests lacked any consideration for other guests and the owner basically shrugged her shoulders saying look elsewhere. Shocking, to say the least. Noise wasn't even the most disappointing element of our stay, it was the owners' reaction. It was SO loud after the first day that we tried to have our room moved. We were in B7 that is right atop the stairs - we constantly had the room shake with people banging and running down the stairs/halls. There were kids up loud late into the night (11pm+) and we could even hear parents coming down to the room reprimanding them. Then, early in the morning (around 6:30/7am) we woke up to kids yelling and bouncing off the walls in the hall. Unfortunately, the owner, Heather, said all other rooms were booked when I requested a room in a better location. She said we should have looked at the website to see that it's "family friendly". For the record, our complaints were not kids in general - but the LOUD disruptive noises we were experiencing. The majority of our stays at many inns/hotels have been family friendly, but never experienced this level of noise. I do not think "family friendly" normally means "be loud, run wild, let kids go unsupervised, who cares!" There was no apology or suggestion of quieting them down, just a "it's an old building, you should have read the website." The website does not depict the experience we have had. It should be much more clear about the NOISE and lack of consideration. It is simple common courtesy. We tried to find other accommodations without any luck. On our second day, we came back from skiing to a pleasant quiet and took an afternoon nap. We were woken up my the other owner, Andrew, yelling at a member of the staff about her schedule. We experienced this directly from our room over an hour - periodic yelling, swearing, etc. We are pretty lenient, but even this felt unprofessional for guests to witness and made us uncomfortable. We went to dinner offsite for an extended time so didn't witness much through the evening. At 11pm, we woke up to loud noise outside our room which was apparently a group that checked in. Frustrated, we went out to tell them to quiet down and in return the owner Andrew said he was just moving new guests in. Seriously? I know people are excited, but that kind of noise at 11pm? Enough to wake and keep us both up? This isn't a party town, it's a ski town - in all our years of skiing, people commonly wind down or at least respect those that are resting to wake up and ski. We were up the rest of the night which left us unrested and not able to ski the next day. We had dinner commitments that night otherwise we would have left a day early. We counted down the hours and left first thing the next day. We were excited about this stay as the decor is appealing and it appears nice on the outside. We even had a good dining experience in the restaurant previously, which made us want to stay here. The inn's esthetics do not match the owners' behavior nor hospitality. I do not recommend this inn to anyone. **UPDATE: Heather's reply below is not accurate. She said she'd only let me out of my reservation if she found a replacement, which she did not. To claim she offered to just let us off is a lie. We would have left immediately if so, but unfortunately had just given her $700. Also, she wasn't there for the two incidents we had with her husband that she claims she was, so again another lie. We have a recording of one as proof. Two things I agree with: first, life is too precious - and frankly that's why I think others should know our experience so they don't waste their time here! Second, an educated consumer is a good consumer - unfortunately the website does not give proper insight here, but the owner's attitude in responses does... so BEWARE of this venue if you are single or couple that would like normal hospitality & a decent night sleep to ski, as it is quite obviously for long time guests and family only! read more

Awful! Stayed in the barn. Way too loud. Constant noise, door slamming, kids running around unattended. Worst lodging experience I have ever had. This inn is on the cheaper side but absolutely not worth it and the pictures on the website are very deceiving. *UPDATE* I think the response by the innkeeper reveals some of the same unprofessionalism that we experienced at this establishment. They clearly don't have the couth typically possessed by seasoned hoteliers. I failed to mention in my original post that we have the owner(Andrew now that we are using names) on video yelling at a staff member at 4:30 on Friday. Was his profanity laden tirade family friendly? I think not. I promised the staffer I would not post the video. Our issue was with the constant noise not just the children. Slamming doors and loud voices were heard throughout the night. read more

Super chill, laid back atmosphere and excellent, fresh food. Our teenage kids loved all the games. We ordered a bunch of starters for dinner and shared them around the table. Good beer and cider selection. read more

The advertised experience was oversold. First, I got to my room in the "Barn" and it was as basic as it could be. Almost a bit drab. Also, there was no TV. I typically use the in-room TV as a second monitor for my MacBook, due to the demands of my business. I will admit that if I would have read the advertised description, it does mention that "TV's are available in the Pub". I guess in 2017, you wouldn't run into that, so it wouldn't have crossed my mind. I could be wrong, though. I imagine the "barn" room is only there to sleep in after a long day playing in the mountains. By the way, there are plenty of mountain adventures to be had near this Inn, so that's nice. The owner/innkeeper is AMAZING. He is attentive to your needs and incredibly friendly and warm. I voiced my concerns about the television and he immediately placed me into a room in the "longhouse". This room was much better. It had the TV that I was looking for, as well as being extremely cozy. Good shower, comfortable bed, and beautiful scenery. The only negative aspect I can mention about the "longhouse", is that you constantly hear people going up and down the steps. Noise is typically not something that bothers me. However, this was a bit above your average hotel "white noise". Lastly, the free breakfast is ok, at best. I'm a vegetarian and try to eat healthy, all the way around, and I didn't have any REAL options. I could have grabbed some eggs or yogurt, but that's about it. However, the eggs didn't look very appetizing. No oatmeal, no cereal, no toast, no bagels, no sugar-free syrup or jellies. Here it is, the eternal question....Where I stay here again? In a pinch. It wouldn't be my first choice, but I wouldn't avoid it. read more

Came for dinner. Had the chili. Trivial pursuit at the table created a very unique and entertaining dining experience with friends! read more

Just home from a family vacation skiing at Sugarbush, and a wonderful stay at Mad River Barn. This place is fantastic for families. Our room was lovely, simply furnished, but quite stylish with the rustic charm one would expect in rural VT. Complimentary breakfast was delicious, (eggs, pancakes, french toast, bacon & sausage) gave us full stomachs before we headed out for a day of skiing. The game room/pub was the perfect combination for letting the boys play and meet new friends, and let mom & dad enjoy a cocktail or craft beer. (Heady Topper, Lawsons, and Fiddlehead all on the list!!) Despite being slammed for dinner every evening we were there, the staff handled the crowds well. Despite an energetic crowd (and energetic children in the game room) things did quiet down when it was time for bed. The owners certainly have an eye for detail, and care greatly about their business. The best compliment I can give? We'll be back. read more

What a great place to stay! All of the staff is friendly and makes you feel right at home. We stayed with our young daughter, on the first floor, and had no issues sleeping. Did we hear footsteps and voices sometimes? Yes. It was never so bad that we couldn't enjoy our room. Anyone who says otherwise is obviously very delicate and should sleep with ear plugs. Our 1 year old, who has trouble sleeping when we aren't home, did just fine. Breakfast was delicious. Simple, just a few dishes, but done well. Juice and coffee, eggs, bacon and sausage, potatoes, fruit and yogurt were just some of the options. We didn't eat dinner here, but did check out the game room and bar area one night. Once again, super friendly staff and great service. I would definitely recommend this place and hope to stay again in the future. read more

Clean, convenient, kept up and nicely appointed. Don't come here for service though, or privacy (at least in the main barn, as the walls do not have insulation.) Good heat, blankets, pillows. No TV but free WiFi. The Covid substitute breakfast snack was nothing to write home about. read more

This was a reunion. So we had a ton of rooms. The rooms were clean, warm, sufficient, etc. I do note that on the second day, we ran out of shampoo. The lounge with fireplace was amazing. The staff was outstanding. The drinks were great. The breakfast was pretty good. The food was average (had both a dinner, and afternoon wings). Location was great and prices were perfect. read more

We have stayed at the Mad River Barn twice and already have two more stays booked in the next month or so. This place is perfect. The rooms, the bar, the large communal game room and restaurant situated in the wilds of the woods of the Mad River is to die for! The vibe, food, staff and owner Andrew offer the Vermont experience we are seeking again and again. read more

My boyfriend and I cannot say enough about how much we love this place!! From the staff, to the food and the accommodations we were ecstatic!! The six hour trip back from Long Island will be well worth it for future visits. Can't wait to go back :-) read more

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*Review for the Wedding Program* Heather, Andrew, and the whole Mad River Barn team went above and beyond to make me and my husband's wedding better than we could have ever imagined! We had a small 50 person wedding, and were able to follow their small wedding's program (for weddings under 100 guests). All of our guests raved about how beautiful and unique the venue was and how cozy the inn was. I would absolutely recommend the Mad River Barn to anyone looking for a rustic venue that still includes many of the amenities and takes a lot of the stress out of the planning process! Thanks again Heather, Andrew, and team! read more

Fast service and nice physical space but is definitely meant for younger families. The restaurant is loud with kids yelling while unchecked at separate tables from adults. Be aware before booking if you're looking for a more mature setting! Food was decent but ruined by atmosphere. read more

We love the Barn, and have stayed there a bunch in the past year. We recommend it to all of our friends with families. Why? A lot of reasons: * Rooms are comfortable and have beds for parents with up to 4 kids (reasonably priced too!) * Restaurant and bar are great, best beer list in Waitsfield and the burgers are awesome * Friendliest staff this side of the Green Mountains * Rockin' games room that keep our kids occupied for hours And the absolute secret best reason we love the Barn is the hot buffet breakfast they serve (included) every morning. Nothing beats a full plate of fresh pancakes with maple syrup, scrambled eggs, crispy bacon and spicy potatoes in the morning before a big day of skiing. You'll have to find out for yourself what I mean by "the blend", but that's great too and part of the charm. Some critics have complained that the Barn is noisy, and I'd say, yep, it can get crowded and loud. For our family, that is part of the fun. If you're looking for a long winter's nap that starts at 7PM, this isn't the place for you. But if you want a friendly welcome, a delicious meal made from local ingredients, and a cozy night tucking your kids into their bunks, then there is nothing that comes close in the whole Mad River valley. read more

What a nice space and a great, friendly vibe. It had a good variety of food and beer, all unpretentious and nicely done. The service was attentive and relaxed. We will be back. read more

Mad River Barn - New American Near Me - Waitsfield, Vermont

The atmosphere is great they have lunch tables and plenty of games to hang out. I only went to the pub area I order the roasted lamb it was ok not great the sides were really good but the lamb seems like it needed to seasons better. The staff are great read more

Mad River Barn - Roasted lamb - New American Near Me - Waitsfield, Vermont

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Best brisket ever! Soft and succulent with a hint of smokey maple. Fresh slaw and delicious potato salad that tasted farm fresh without excessive sweetener or vinegar. The market fish dish on an iron skillet was also phenomenal. Love the ambiance of the outdoor/covered restaurant area. Definitely a destination-worthy dining experience when in Vermont. read more

There are two distinct experiences from upstairs open seating and downstairs traditional seating by name. Upstairs is like eating at the ski lodge, it's chaos. The atmosphere is there strong suit, it's very cool, a unique barn feel, warm lighting-new and worth the trip. The food is good but a limited menu, the specials were sold out at 7:30pm. I had the steak/Fritts medium but came out rare and sent back but still rare-it was average. Overall fun lively place but the food would'nt make me run back. read more

I had a great visit to Mad River Barn in the fall, but this outing was just so so. Burger was average, a friend's pasta was greasy/oily, beer was flat (I guess they had just kicked the keg). One good thing was the salad. Slow service. read more

My husband and I really enjoyed our stay at the Mad River Barn. The staff was exceptionally friendly! The decor seemed to be fairly new, and all the rooms are designed to feel like you're in a farmhouse. They have air hockey, shuffle board, and cards at the main inn. It's close to Sugarbush, which is where we skied. Also, breakfast is included. We had a lovely time all around and highly recommend MRB! read more

Great rooms, great food and great hosts - what more could a traveler ask for? The Inn itself is lovely, and the (deliberate) absence of TV's in the main rooms was welcome. Andrew and Heather spent a lot of time giving us the history and a tour of the MRB. The beer and cider selection was great, and our food was excellent. Who would believe that you could get such fresh and delicious scallops in the mountains? :) We had a chance to speak to locals and get even more history and recommendations of what to do in the area. As for the food, it speaks volumes that every seat was occupied on a Monday night, when only five guests were staying at the Inn. When so many locals frequent a place - you know it's good! read more

Stopped in here for a night while hiking the Long Trail northbound. If you're a hiker on the LT and need a night off to resupply and clean up, this is an excellent place to stop. The owners cater to hikers as best they can with a discounted rate (I paid $98 w/ tax, which is what you'll pay to stay most places in Northern VT) and will help out with rides to town or laundry as best they can. The owners took extra care to get us out of the rain and into clean rooms/showers 6 HOURS before the normal check-in time of 3pm. They also have a restaurant with good beer and food for dinner and the breakfast the next morning will stick with you to give you energy for the climb out of Appalachian Gap. Keep in mind this place is popular in hiking season and on weekends, so rooms book quickly, and if they're having a wedding (which is typical for weekends) the place is booked solid. I plan to recommend this place to other hikers on the LT going northbound or southbound. read more

Ate dinner here and while most dishes were ok the mac and cheese less was the worst rendition any of us had ever had; it tasted like bechamel only. To their credit they did remove it from our check but I doubt that is enough to make us return read more

This is a great hotel on a great mountain (sugarbush). The proprietors make you feel like family and are as accommodating as they can be. I come as a part of a large group of families, and the kids have a blast and so do the adults. We just came home from our third annual trip, and Mad River Barn is a huge part of why we love it there. Rooms are stylish and comfortable, without being fussy. The pub is great for adults and children (it's also a game room) and we regularly camp out and play games while ordering food and drinks for an evening post-skiing. The dining room downstairs is a more pleasant dining experience (quieter, more like an actual restaurant, as you would expect). The free breakfast leaves something to be desired. Some toast or baked goods would even out the sometimes cold eggs. Overall a very comfortable and lovely accommodation. read more

The Mad River Valley is such a charming and eclectic part of Vermont, and this is exactly one of the places that make it that way. It's not fancy, your kids will feel comfortable and get to blow off a bit of steam upstairs at the game tables. But the adults can enjoy great local beers, (sip and second fiddle both on draft last night), craft cocktails, and a menu that surprises, with the right amount of attention to locally sourced and fresh food. Try the clam chowder, the roasted turkey leg, the elk and venison stew and the maple chicken. Go here, it's a fun slice of Vermont. read more

Two nights in a row, drinks at the bar upstairs related to wedding. Fine selection of beers, helpful, fast bar tenders, welcoming, rustic attitude, great place for a beer and Mac-a-cheese to absorb the ETOH. read more

Our party of 12 recently stayed at the Mad River Barn for 4 nights in the farm house. To be honest, I was a little nervous that the accommodations wouldn't be the best for the price we paid. I thought there was no way this place could be so affordable and amazing. Well let me tell you, I was wrong! The rooms: The mattresses felt like memory foam and the comforters were heaven! The bunks were a good size, even for us tall folks and there was plenty of extra space for all our ski gear, & still leaving room to play. The food: A+, breakfast- can't beat it, definitely something for everyone. Dinner- we made reservations for dinner and loved it. The only complaint was from the 4 year old who likes fake boxed macaroni and cheese but the rest of us had no problem eating his leftovers, it was delicious! The people: I can't give enough praise to the owners and staff. We were a large group of many different personalities (young kids, teens, introverts, partiers) and everyone felt right at home and taken care of. The barn: game room was a huge hit. We brought a few of our own games and played all of theirs! It does get crowded at times but once they close the bar we were able to stay as late as we wanted to with our own food/drinks and we had a blast!! I would definitely recommend this place to anyone and everyone, you will not be disappointed!! read more

We were looking for a convenient place to eat on our way back from VT. This inn was on the right side of the road and we spotted it in time to make the detour. We weren't expecting much, and were pleasantly surprised by this place! The atmosphere was nice, families could sit and choose from a wide selection of board games to play. The maple glaze chicken was delicious. I was very impressed! It actually reminded me of a similar dish I had in France... it was truly that superb. :) read more

Great atmosphere. Lots to entertain kids while waiting on food. Quality stop. Delicious food.

We had dinner here and was disappointed in the consistency of the food. The service was fine as was everything else, but my dish in particular (chile relleno) was bland and undercooked. I usually find dishes over salted when going out, but this one was barely seasoned with anything. The chile was tough, the beans were partially raw, and the butternut squash was dry. It was also lukewarm when it arrived. I suspected that it was sitting out for a while. However, my husband's dish (kale salad) was good if you like anchovies. He said his smoked tomato bisque was not smokey. read more

Great bar! Cool place to dine while feeling at home. This place is great for food drinks and lodging.

We keep trying the Mad River Barn because it's such a great atmosphere, but the food is consistently mediocre-to-bad. We had the worst meal yet: I had seared tuna on the Mad River Barn salad and the tuna was old. It actually scared me. My partner had salmon on the same salad and he said the salmon was very bland. We both felt the salad was over-drenched in dressing, and neither of us could finish it. The fries were great, though. If you decide to go, stick to the beer and fries, and you'll be happy. (Staff is awesome, by the way.) read more

Wonderful establishment and really great service and excellent food! Unfortunately, I have been treated unacceptably poorly on several occasions by the unhappy male bartender who wears the earring. read more

Hospitality gets five golden stars. We went to the Mad River Barn several times for dinner. I give the servers and the ambience a full five stars. The kitchen turned out OK food, but not quite as good as in 2018. The Pub and drinks are always first class great. About the menu, give full credit to the evening specials. Special entrees for the night are always the best bet. Excellent selection of starters. And the wings are better than those at the UN-Worthy Burger in town. If it is an off night and the wings don't come out crisp enough for you - send them back. The kitchen aims to please so give them a second chance. Frankly, I think they have the very best burgers in the Valley. All steak and chops are done to the perfect pink. Often some neat fin or shell seafood. read more

Really tasteful renovation of the old Mad River Barn. The service was really friendly and fast, the atmosphere warm and inviting, and the food delicious. Quite the scene on weekend nights. read more

Had a great time revisiting the Mad River Barn after 28 years. It has changed a lot and for the better! It's modern barn vibe is classic and comfortable. Great common bar area with game tables for kids and comfortable bar area with stone fireplace for adults. read more

Review for the Inn: A lovely place to stay in the mad river valley. The physical space is well-designed, highlighting the recycled object craze. The game room is just perfect for kids and adults alike. Our room was small, but well appointed and very tidy. Beds were wonderfully comfortable. And the breakfast is just perfect before a long day of skiing - hearty and delicious. The only reasons i did not give this five stars are because the game room is insane and impossible to enjoy in the evening, the inn gives no preference to its guests in reservations for dinner (a pretty serious offense for such a small inn), and finally, where we stayed on the first floor was loud, awakened by our neighbors upstairs each am. Stay upstairs, make early dinner reservations and take advantage of the hame room in the afternoon and you have a five star inn! read more

We went to the Mad River Barn for dinner this past Saturday night. The waitresses we inattentive and surly. The food was mediocre. After a misunderstanding which occurred AFTER we paid the check , the owner was confrontational and unprofessional. Luckily for them they have a captive audience in the Mad River Valley but I will never go back and will tell everyone I know to avoid this business at all costs. read more

Thank you thank you thank you Andrew (the owner) for saving my family of four from disaster. Our front wheel drive car couldn't make it to Mad River Glen so we asked to park it at your inn and offered to pay. You refused our money and even offered us a ride!!! The food was delicious as were the brews and the environment trendy and warm. We enjoyed your hospitality while we waited for family in 4 wheel drive to rescue us! Thanks and we will be back, hopefully under better circumstances! read more

Expensive food. Small selection. Slow service. Not a lot of bang for the buck happening here. There are better options in this town. Went expecting a variety of steaks and found 3 tough cuts as the options on the menu. The strips were requested medium rare and came out medium well. The kids steak that were ordered medium well were brought out rare.... read more