* Yes, the garden. It occupies 110% (not a typo) of both sides of the front walk. It's beautiful, fragrant, and astonishing. Many plants (including robust, HUGE ones) that I can't recall seeing anywhere before (not even at Olbrich or Butchart gardens). If the weather during my stay hadn't been muggy much of the time, I would have spent time relaxing out there (e.g., on the porch swing), doing nothing at all. * The view. No, not even the best hosts in the world can take credit for that. Still, one must take that great, eternal, gorgeous Lake Mendota into consideration when deciding whether to stay here. * The housekeeper: Her sweetness and friendliness is worth mentioning, even though only a very small detail. * Parking: Not a problem for me. I suppose that, when the inn might be entirely full, and those who book all 7 rooms each have a car, then the loser of Musical Chairs on any given night (only 6 spots) will have to make sure to move their car by 10 am if they park in one of the two-hour spots on the street (as I opted to do the first night; no problem. And, although I forgot to check, I got the impression that some of East Gorham, along which the inn sits, MIGHT be unlimited parking.) ..................................... Well, the negatives are just too many and significant not to share . . . but I always give credit where credit is due (see above), and the hosts most assuredly love and take pride in their home and inn, and have only the best intentions, and probably believe that they're providing nothing but quality: * I booked the "Garden" Room -- as a single guest, and wanting the lowest price. Well, having now just revisited their website, shame on me (a little bit) for having assumed or thought that "lower level" meant the ground floor . . . and not the basement. Sure, "basement" isn't a very appealing word, but at least it would have amounted to something closer to truth in advertising. As another reviewer noted, the room is at the bottom of some challenging steps (at least, for me, at 71, with knee arthritis having recently deciding to enter a new and fun stage). Creaky steps. LOUD, creaky steps. (A sound that I also had to hear whenever the hosts and housekeeper were also presumably using them to get up and down occasionally. Oh, and I also really enjoyed the sound of floors creaking above me.) * As for those quotation marks: Folks, what one sees out the window of the "Garden" Room is, mostly, an ugly window well. (If you didn't grow up with, or have never seen, window wells and don't know what they are, look it up.) I did also see SOME flora . . . but only a few dregs of something or other, just visible at soil level, above said window well. * Breakfast: We put our choice of "custom" breakfast onto a slip that makes no mention of meat options. When I inquired, host David said, "Oh, we don't eat meat in this house" -- in the sort of "What could be more obvious or unimpeachable?" tone that sometimes gives us radical leftists a bad name. Well, among my many jobs as a young man was making TOFU. (As well, as, not long after, also making FUTONS. Must have been in my anagram phase.) So I know from vegetarianism. I understand and respect those who've made a solid commitment to it. Hurrah! Applause to you! Kudos. BUT IF "WE" NOT EATING MEAT ("IN THIS HOUSE") ACTUALLY MEANS "AND NEITHER WILL YOU", THEN FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT'S WHOLLY (unlike your disclosure) DISCLOSE THAT ON YOUR WEBSITE! (Sorry, guys, but "We offer options for vegetarian, gluten free and vegan diets" comes close, but alas, no cigar. This ain't horseshoes.) * Not quite done! The site says that breakfast is "served 7-10 am" . . . when in fact only the continental-style stuff (which, FYI isn't really any better than at any decent motel chain) is available during those hours. HOT food is only served 7:30 to 8:30. And, it's only two choices (which is fine), but it's only those SAME two choices EVERY DAY: (i) Waffle (blueberries/whipped cream optional); or (ii) A scrambled EGG (with spinach in it, if you like). That's egg. Singular. And, well, not quite as firm or fully done as one might like. (Note my under-statement. Much like the UNDER-cooking.) And "hash browns"? Limp, pale, soggy. * I had the waffle on my final morning -- good, but mine was only a complete breakfast because I included ham that I'd made a point of buying at a supermarket, and kept in my room fridge. (I also had it on day two, along with a lovely sticky bun I'd also bought elsewhere). * The Phantom Host model is really only appropriate for the Airbnb crowd; not so much for a true B&B. OK, so this place is "hybrid" -- but at least come by, during the advertised breakfast hours, to the extent of checking to see that things like the half and half, and COFFEE, haven't run out! One shouldn't have to dig out their cell phone (mine isn't grafted onto my hand permanently) to call the hosts. Thus, only the one star, notwithstanding the best of intentions. read more

The rooms are cute and spacious, and the writing theme sparks a creative sensibility.

Bob & David were gracious hosts--warm and friendly but they also give you space if chatting isn't your thing. Comfortable sleigh bed and it was easy to adjust/control room temp which was great during the very hot days spent there recently. Glorious breakfast with quality ingredients--loved the homemade scones. I appreciated the sensible portions and was very satisfied. Plentiful array of self-serve items but don't miss David's made-to-order breakfast. Keypad entrance was easy and upon first entering you hear softly playing popular jazz and are greeted to a pretty spectacular view of Lake Mendota. There is an easy comfortable feel to the place with plenty of seating/couches to relax in the homey living and dining room area. The location is great with a pretty easy walk to the capitol or campus. read more

Had a wonderful 2 night stay at the Walt Whitman room. Not only was it spacious, it had a jet tub and a patio facing the lake! Will be back! read more

See all

Don't book here. This B&B wouldn't allow me to reserve a guest room because of my service animal. I'm a veteran--but I guess that doesn't matter, because as soon as they heard the word dog they shut down and told me to basically go elsewhere. For a supposedly progressive place they seem to have no problem discriminating. read more

Lovely historical home right on Lake Mendota. We stayed in the Tennessee Williams room and loved it. David and Bob have created a very welcoming space--the bedrooms are thoughtfully set up/decorated and the downstairs rooms are great for reading a book with a view of the lake. This place has so much more character than anywhere else you can stay in Madison. If you stay here definitely go to Salvatore's Tomato Pies for pizza--it's just down the street! Recommendation: book early! This place fills up...and for good reason. Looking forward to making this our go-to place for when we visit Madison. read more

See all

Firstly, what a beautiful looking B&B on the lake, walking distance to capitol, bars, restaurants, football games, and all the good stuff. I was looking forward to staying, but my plans changed unexpectedly. The owners went out of their way to accommodate. The fact that they went above and beyond was appreciated and just plain old nice. I will be looking to book there when I do make it Madison. Be sure to book through their website for the most flexibility! read more

Outstanding two-night stay in the third floor James Baldwin room. Beautiful prairie style furnishings, three quiet and lovely spaces to spend time in overlooking the lake on the main floor, as well as a spacious living room with remote-controlled fireplace. Coffee and home baked goods exceptional and there was a perfect selection of classic jazz playing unobtrusively in the main hall that wafted into the dining room and other rooms. There is a stunning garden and lakeside walking path (paved) just steps from the house. Lots of room and a great value, with free onsite parking. read more

See all

The house is clean, comfortable and inviting, and the owners are friendly yet not in the way. The continental breakfast was bigger than I expected, and you just serve yourself whenever you're ready to eat. The location is fantastic, literally on the shore of Lake Mendota, an easy walk to several different restaurants and the Capitol, with a bus stop right in front of the house if you want to go farther; plus free parking in back. I will definitely stay there again next time I go to Madison. read more

Mendota Lake House Bed & Breakfast - It's pretty even at 5:30 a.m. when it snows in April. - Bed & Breakfast Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

We made the reservation for one night. Once we and showed up at 8:00 pm. The door was locked and there were no answers to phones or emails. We were tired and ready to settle down, but had to go elsewhere. They didn't respond to our messages for almost a week. Then they charged us for the full fee. They locked us out and charged us full fee!!! It's a beautiful building with a nice garden, from what we could see locked outside in the twilight. Lights were on but no one was home... read more

The rooms were beautiful and comfortable. The continental breakfast was pretty small. The second morning, there wasn't even any orange juice left. Same mini quiches were served morning #2, and they were dried out. Same with the scones. The coffee was horrible. read more

Short story: Gorgeous house, spacious rooms, off-street parking, super-friendly owners and very convenient location. Long story: Our room, the Oscar Wilde, was humongous. If you need to be in Madison longer term or need to do some work while you're there, I'd highly suggest this room. Aside from the big, comfy bed, there was a couch and chair in a sitting area as well as a table and chairs. There was so much extra room to spread out and get things done. The owners mentioned that a brewery rents out their whole house during Great Taste and I can imagine how convenient it is to have the room to get some business done. There was a night Packer game while we were there and the owners invited everyone down for drinks and snacks to watch the game. In the morning, there was a good spread for breakfast - homemade scones, organic yogurt, toast, coffee, etc ... It was a great find. We loved our stay. read more

We enjoyed the Collins House and stayed in the Ithmus room. The house was decorated beautifully and was very comfortable. The only B&B in Madison we found that would accept our 2 yo daughter. Downstairs there was a large living room, large entry area, a sunporch (all of which were great for our daughter to play in). They left lovely surprises each night for us to munch on (cookies, lemon tart, chocolate tart) and the breakfast was incredible. It was a set menu but each day was different and very yummy. We didn't feel neglected at all. Within a decent walking distance to the capitol (about 1 mile) and the university which is nice. There is a large park with a playground within 1 block. The only negative I had was that it was a hot and muggy weekend and the downstairs common area was not air conditioned. I don't remember if there were window units like in the rooms but they weren't on. After the first day, we decided to shower AFTER breakfast because we got so hot and sweaty. Overall, a wonderful place!! We hope to stay there again! read more

For $168 for one night...very disappointing. We stayed in the Oscar Wilde room which is touted to be the best, wasn't. Missing baseboards in the bathroom and I was afraid of spiders coming out. Our ceiling was not completely painted for some reason. All the windows were so dirty with spider webs and dirt. The grounds were unkept and I'm telling you spider webs were everywhere. Sitting and trying to eat breakfast looking out windows that were so dirty and full of spiderwebs was anything but enjoyable. They need to hire out a cleaning company to wash down the exterior and they need to finish the repairs. We felt cheated. read more

Hosts were wonderful and the accommodations were too. Excellent location giving you the best of Madison.

Stayed for a football weekend. Great location and a terrific value. Park your car (if you have one) and simply take a nice 15 minute walk to the Capital and just a few steps further to the campus. Stayed in the Oscar Wilde room which was well appointed and had a very comfortable bed. Highly recommend this place. read more

We had a short but lovely stay at David and Bob's B&B. Bob showed brought out binoculars and showed us the eagles on the Lake. The coffee was delicious, the room cozy ("Gore Vidal Room"), and the location beautiful! It's also within walking distance of shops and restaurants on Johnson. Highly recommended! read more

Can't say enough good things about this place. Right on the lake with views from the beautiful room with ultra modern new bathroom. Loved that we could walk by the lake AND right to downtown. The owners are gracious but stay out of your way. Great place to find peace AND culture. read more

I stayed in the James Baldwin room for 5 nights. It was not remodeled yet so was like camping out. The bathroom was very old, and the claw tub was hard for me to get in and out of. The heating system was a big radiator or two baseboard heaters, and each were hard to operate, so I was either cold or hot. The window sills were filthy (when I opened the windows for some air). The futon in the living room was really uncomfortable to sit on. And this room is at the very top, up 3 flights of stairs, the last one being really steep, so I think this room would be better suited for younger, more adventurous people. Downstairs was gorgeous and inviting. It looked over the lake and was very comfy. Breakfast every day was the same scones over and and over. There were also some English muffins, some fruit and some yogurt, but that was it, so I ended up just having my own cereal, milk, and banana in my room each morning. However, the owners, David and Bob were very nice and friendly to talk to. Finally, I checked out and stayed in a Resident's Inn for my last two nights' vacation where I could get a nice hot breakfast and have a modern, comfortable room. read more

I'm happy to say Mendota Lake House B&B is getting my very first Yelp review. It's well deserved. I have stayed here two summers in a row and David and Bob have made some major improvements since taking it over. I have stayed in the Oscar Wilde room and the James Baldwin room. The house is very spacious with multiple sitting areas for guests, the garden in the front of the house is breathtaking, the beds are comfortable, the towels are super soft, the soap and shampoo products they use are all natural, the breakfast is simple (scones, cheese, bagels, yogurt, coffee, etc) and it is all organic and/or locally sourced. It's evident that David and Bob really care about taking care of their guests. We will stay here every time we are in Madison! read more

I will give this place 1 Star and the only reason for the 1 star is because the housekeeper and David were so sweet. Every time I stepped out of the room the housekeeper smiled and said hello....yes its her job and yes I'll acknowledge that. David was very nice and every place he recommended was beyond perfect...so a star for that. However Bob was rude and very insulting. He made my girlfriend feel that because she's a Latina, she couldn't afford a nice car, with his little sarcastic remark when he looked at her car, "That's your car, oh no that's not your car" and chuckled a bit. As for the the room that we spent over 300.00 for...according to his reply, "Wow that's cheap. You got lucky." Seriously where was the luck...No where. We were treated horribly. Normally when I make reservations online I receive a courtesy call...my girlfriend and I did not receive any call considering the amount of money that my partner spend on the room, I received an automatic e-mail, nothing more. Already my first impression of this place is not going so well. I have never been to a B & B before in my life, nor have I ever been to Madison Wi, some have told me that Madison is awesome, friendly, great food and great people....all true except for that awful B&B. Upon arrival...my partner and I (Our first time at a B&B) knocked on the door....waited....rang the doorbell....waited...looked around.....waited.....thinking that maybe they were busy. Still waiting. We waited almost a half an hour when my girlfriend made the call to one of the owners. We were told the security code and in we walked....no one was there to greet us at all. The house smelled of sewer. Walking into our room.... it was dusty, stained tables, filthy curtains , and boy oh boy the room was very drafty and cold.My girlfriend and I didn't feel welcomed at all. But we tried to make the best of it. The room seemed to be under construction with, half painted walls, blue tape covering the faucets in the bathroom, and orange sewer water coming from the pipes. OH JOY. My girlfriend explained to the owner that orange water with what seemed like some gravel were coming from the pipes and we weren't able to bathe and the owner's replied text says, which I do have a copy of, that it was fine to bathe in and there was construction that was being done and messed with the pipe line...first off warn your customer or at the very least a discount or the ability to allow to change rooms, but nothing we were simply told to bathe in it and it was safe and fine...I do not bathe in orange dirty water. YUCK! the continental breakfast was extremely horrible as well. The scones were stale and smelled like days old bread, it was just awful...down to the warm orange juice that sat on the counter. It was extremely horrible, we were treated badly, every time they saw they really didn't exchange any pleasantries not even a simple smile....the only time we were treated well is when David recommended the coffee shops, restaurant, and the capitol....after that we were non existent. The following week we decided to give it another go but this time we would stay somewhere else....the Econo Lounge....OMG best little hotel. Service amazing, room, amazing, the continental breakfast AMAZING. This is our little piece of heaven when we visit madison. I'll will never stay here again and if anyone asks me about this place...my advice would be. RUUUUNNNNNNN!!!!!!!! read more

Awesome views! The owners are extremely nice and knowledgeable about the best spots in Madison. Breakfast was delicious and all organic with local produce. Cute, calm, and charming. Loved it, will be back! read more

Terrific location for visiting Madison. This place is located right on the shore of Lake Mendota and provides easy walking access to downtown Madison, the Capital, and the University districts for those willing to do some walking and Madison is a great place for that. The first floor common areas are beautiful. The building architecture evokes the Prairie style school. The back of the first floor is a combination eating and lounging area with large windows affording a soothing view of Lake Mendota. Couldn't be better! The room we stayed in could use a little work but was a great deal for the price. Overall this place is an excellent deal for what you get and the location. A few concerns lower my score. First, while the breakfast was honestly advertised as self serve continental, still it was rather spartan with no skim milk offered and just a couple of scones and English muffins. Dry cereal and a bowl of fruit rounded things out. The fridge had a couple of yogurts available but one container was 3 weeks past expiration so I'm glad I read the label. On the positive side the coffee was excellent and sitting in the back breakfast area while sipping coffee and looking out on the iced in Lake was food for the soul. The bathroom in our room could use a little work - the original tile floor "crunched" in places where it is apparently lifting up. But the rest of the room was quite comfortable. The room features a flat screen TV but is antenna service only! While one doesn't go to a B&B to watch TV still, the lack of access to ESPN on the night of the college football championship game was a disappointment. We'd come back here again despite the above blemishes. read more