We Went to St. Orres 35 years ago on our honeymoon and remember it having great food, beautiful rooms , and comfortable ambiance. We enjoyed it so much we decided to return for our anniversary this year. We checked in late and did not expect to have no cell service or internet, it was not a good time for us to be unreachable. We decided to wait until the morning to talk to the owner about it . They were so gracious and offered us another cottage. We moved and the rest of the time was wonderful. The food was as good as I remembered. The full breakfast they bring you each morning was wonderful and the main house was as beautiful as it was all those years ago. We had a wonderfully relaxing few days. Who knows maybe we will go back for our 50th. read more

Well, I have such mixed feelings about our experience here. Because it started out weird, I had a cynical eye for everything. Our party of 6 arrived at different times; they will not seat you separately. Once all there, two people needed to use the restroom- this seemed to upset the hostess. The real kicker was when one person slid into the bathroom as we were being seated (therefore not all seated together) and the hostess made a comment about not being able to do her job, so she'd wait. From then on, I felt as if we were being talked down to. Although the specials list(dumbed down way of saying "oral menu", which is what they call it) was long, it wasn't overtly complicated or detailed. All in all, the menu is intriguing and the food is very good. It really is a good deal for the money. read more

LOVED it here. Can't wait to go back. Great views everywhere, well thought out details for the whole experience and dog friendly. The restraunt was delicious too. read more

It is hard to understand the wide divsity of reviews, although the most recent are the most positive. Tonight, my wife and I had dinner: lamb for me and salmon for my wife. It was the BEST lamb that I have had for a long time. Starting with Fennel soup, followed by a prosciutto and asparagus salad and finally the entree, the whole experience was outstanding. Even the freshly baked bread, served on a hot brick straight from the oven was special. The Pinot Noir was outstanding. Service friendly and professional: the ambience is romantic with white linen, candlelight and roses. One waiter and one bus woman for the whole dining room (about 7 tables this eveniing); both were courteous, helpful and efficient. A truly special birthday evening. read more

This review is only for the restaurant: Totally overrated. Service was great and nice dining atmosphere, but the food is mediocre for the price you're paying. We had the pheasant and the lobster and while the presentation is very impressive, the taste is lacking. If you want good quality food, go to Uneda Eat in Point Arena and you still won't pay as much! read more

Stayed at Sea Ranch for a week. We had better dinners on our own. Service fair. Food alright but no flair. Lamb was good but pheasant dry. Desert was some sort of caramel basket and great. No espresso. read more

TERRIBLE, If you are looking to get a good night sleep (good luck). At St. Ores The room was so loud that I was up most of the night. I could hear pots and pans and banging noises for hours! Staff was loud! I even got up to talk to the management and it still continued for most of the night. The room was so hot and outdated. Sharing bathrooms and hearing people pass your room over and over again throughout the night gets irritating. We were there celebrating with a group of people and we thought the food was ok but over priced. We went back after dinner to get a coffee and dessert, We had to ask for the check 3 times! They also gave us the wrong breakfast time and we had to wait, It wasn't even worth the wait. read more

Vey beautiful place. Lovely architecture. We stayed at the Fern Canyon cabin situated above a nice little creek. Nice place to get away and escape the cities. There is a great jacuzzi and sauna (though we didn't try the sauna). Complimentary breakfast... However, I do not think it is worth the price, especially the restaurant. There is no wifi in the cabins, which is great if you're trying to get away from it all, but there is also no cell service, or even a hardline. No way of contacting the front desk if you have an issue. If you want more towels you have to get them yourself from the sauna showers. If something goes wrong in the room, you would have to drive down the road (Shoreline Highway) half a mile to the front desk to let them know. Some issues we had with the cabin were: the toilet seat was not properly connected to the toilet (a screw was missing), it also would not open and close properly, the cover and seat would move together because the hinges were too tight or need oil or something; the toilet would not flush properly, it would continue to run like it were filling back up unless you jiggled the handle to get the float in the right place; the screen door was warped and didn't close completely but luckily there were no bugs; the second day our bed sheets had some yellow stains on them; the entry way was not exactly narrow but it was hard to get through because the swing of the door took up the entire space so you have to open the door completely to go through because the heater that sticks out from the wall about a foot was right there for you to walk into if you don't open the door completely; there is no way to prepare your own food unless you have instant oatmeal or something that only needs hot water because there is a coffee pot; there were cob webs on the ceiling. Some issues with the service: a complimentary breakfast is nice however there is no choice so if you don't like it, it goes to waste; also, we are 99% sure that someone from the cleaning service stole one of our drinks we had put in the fridge. Issues with the restaurant: way over priced! the salad was small, a few pieces of lettuce with some blueberries and a few little bits of some kind of flower petals and a vinaigrette dressing, the parsnip soup was ok, but the rack of wild boar was no where near a rack, it was two little chops that were rather tough and not hot, the vegetable side was a single boiled carrot and a bit of mashed potatoes, not very flavorful, there was also an 'apple pancake' which tasted pretty much like apple pie (it was ok), but the main issue is that there was only a single employee working as bartender, server, and busser, he was also making drinks for the dinning hall (we ate in the bar area), we gave him a great tip because he was doing the work of at least three employees and doing it well, but the whole time we just kept wondering where does all the money go? The portions are small, they are understaffed, and it does not seem like they have been doing much upkeep or renovations; so why is it so expensive? Overall it is still a very nice place to escape to if you can afford it. I suggest bringing your own entertainment and snacks or other ready to eat foods because the next place to get food besides their restaurant is several miles up/down the highway. read more

My wife and I have a vacation home at Sea Ranch. We have been going to St. Orres for over 20 years. Its definatly on the expensive side but the food and service have always been good. However the last few times we have gone we have gotten the "bum rush" even though it was not crowded the drinks and food came fast and furiously like they could not wait to get us out. At the money they charge you should be able to take your time and enjoy and not feel that we are inconvienencing them by being there. read more

Our 5th trip back to the Mendo coast with St. Orres being the past high point of our dining experiences. Upon arrival we were told to sit at any table SET FOR 2 (in the past it was any table...). Service was inattentive at best -- we always looked forward to being visited by the owner -- not this time. Wham bam thank you Ma'am here's your food see you later. What a let down after all the great experiences of the past. Sad faces all around here. read more

Great service & great food & selections. Real drinks...never disappointed you can count on top shelf service & food!

I have been eating at St Orres over the pass 18 years. I have found the food consistently good and well thought out. OK, I went there once on a Monday night and you know the chef is not in the kitchen. Everything was off. But, most often, like this past saturday night, the food was great. We started with red peper soup, which has a fresh red peper taste and not overly spicy. The salad of water melon, arugula and goat cheese was a great combination and the water melon was actually quite sweet. For the entree, I had the wild boar rack of loin dressed with baked apples and vegetables. MY husband had the stuff rabit and its was juicy and delicious. St Orres's menu always has a great selection of wild games that you just don't find anywhere else. These entrees are generally very well cooked. I often wonder whether they are worth the $45, soup and salad included, and I decided that if you like wild game, then its worth it, if you want a romantic dinner in the middle of nowhere, then its worth it. otherwise, you should go to Achor Bay Grill for a family dinner for much less. I have happily paid the premium price all these years. St Orres has recently open for brunch on saturday and sunday. My husband and I went back on Sunday to try it out. I must say the breakfest items looks great, at least those serves to the table next to us, but $20 for eggs benedict is a bit steep. I had the wild mushroom ravioli. excellent, but there were only three for $13, also a bit steep. I know there is not much competition for good food in Qualala, but for the sake of the community, please lower the price and add another ravioli to the dish. read more

I took my husband for a weekend getaway to Gualala, California for his birthday. I wanted to stay in a cozy and quaint little cottage and St. Orres seemed to be a good pick. We loved the architecture of the main hotel. We had a reservation for the tiny Fern Canyon cottage, but Rosemary, the owner, asked us if we wanted a free upgrade to the Treehouse cottage! I was shocked. Not only was Treehouse twice the size of Fern Canyon, but it also had a fireplace, sitting room, king-size bed, little kitchen sink and mini fridge, wardrobe with iron, and our own bathroom with a tub and hand shower. There were fresh towels in the bathroom, shampoos, and what looked like homemade soap, fresh and really nice sheets and blankets on the bed, and it was spotlessly clean. The perfect getaway place. We spent two nights there. Rosemary let us have the key to Fern Canyon so we could see it and the spa nearby. Fern Canyon would have been fine for our weekend getaway, but it was very small (hardly large enough to fit a queen size bed, 2 sitting chairs and a bathroom). The spa/sauna area looked really nice, but we didn't use it because our Treehouse cottage was in another location (we would have had to drive to it). Breakfast was delivered hot to our door every morning and breakfast was good! We had scrambled eggs, fresh fruit, a piece of spice/pumpkin bread, granola cereal, delicious orange juice and fresh milk. Breakfast was pretty similar the next morning, but still delicious. We loved the little wooden box it came in! Everybody we met at St. Orres was friendly. We had such a wonderful stay there and highly recommend St. Orres cottages. read more

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My husband and I recently stayed here at the recommendation of our friends. The place was fantastic and exactly what we were hoping for in a short get away. We frequently travel with our dog and I am fairly certain this was our dog's favorite trip yet. Our room was set in a meadow with exquisite views of the ocean. The rooms are rustic and whimsical, which may not be 5 stars for some, but for us the charm was perfect. The service and hospitality were excellent. They even brought food to our room, despite being in the middle of a dinner rush at the restaurant. Even better was the recommendation for a small beach to take our dog. I would highly recommend this lovely place for a quiet trip and good eating. For those of you that also travel with dogs, this is a can't miss. read more

We love St. Orres! We've stayed there several times and each time it just seems to get better. At the beginning of March we went back after a number of years away and had a great time. The architecture is unique and creative, the staff are totally friendly and helpful and the place is beautifully situated in the woods by the sea. This time, instead of staying in a room in the main Russian onion-domed inn building, we stayed in the Tree House, one of their elegant and comfortable cottages. As for meals, we were glad to be able to eat in the main dining room, even though we ordered from their pub menu, rather than choosing the more expensive prix-fixe option. Our dinner was really good - fun, sophisticated and sourced locally. An excellent and hearty hot breakfast was delivered to our cottage the next morning. St. Orres is truly a place to relax and retreat from the stresses of urban life. We hope to return there very soon! read more

We arranged a quick getaway for the night at the St. Orres and the guy at the front desk was very nice and helpful. We checked in the grounds are beautiful and the structure of the restaurant is so unique our kids thought we came to a castle! They are VERY dog friendly which was cool. We were given directions to our cabin and loved it right away. But quickly noticed there was no running water. And no phone to dial out (and of course up there the cell service is shotty at best) SO I had to drive down to the front and let them know we needed water. They said they would call the maintenancce man. 45 minutes later I returned with dinner and found water running but no hot water! So back to the front I had to drive to let them know. The maintaniance guy was very kind but let us know there was a leak in the water system which was why the water was turned off at the cabin, he would return to let us know what we could do if we felt we would need hot water (um...yes we do....we all wanted showers and are a family of 4). By the time he returned it was after 9pm and it was suggested we move cabins. It was after 10 before we were situated, half our things in one cabin half in the other....and kids out of control (it was way past their bed time). But we did get hot showers and the accomodations were very nice. In the morning when I checked out the front desk woman did not ask anything about our stay just took the keys and said thanks "Bye". Then scurried off before I could talk about our inconvienance. When I called the next day I was told the manager/Owner would call me back to talk about our stay.....and that has yet to happen. Overall it was a beautiful place with poor service and a lack or organization which made our stay stressful. read more

We had a great time at St. Orres this weekend. The food was delicious and the property was charming. Although we had a great experience, I can see why there are some low ratings on yelp (cleanliness, etc). Of course it could be improved, but we still really enjoyed our time there! We'll definitely be back!! read more

After talking about dining at St. Orres for the past few years we finally did it on March 5th. When Saturday evening came four of us drove to St. Orres, with great expectations, for what we anticipated would be a wonderful dining experience. Unfortunately we could not have been more mistaken. When we arrived we noticed another couple in the lobby waiting for a table. After about 10 minutes a women appeared, and as she was taking the couple to their table said she would be right back. Another 10 minutes passed, so my wife went into the dining room to see if she could find the Host/Hostess and was asked by another women if she needed any help. My wife told her we were waiting to be seated and was told she'd be right there. Another 5 minutes passed before she came out and showed us to our table. As it turned out this was just the beginning of our troubles with the wait staff. After our order was finally taken our appetizers, soup, and salad were delivered at a reasonable pace but apparently the staff doesn't know how to serve a table of four all at once. Everything came out two at a time, which left two of us waiting 3 or 4 minutes for the rest of our order. The same thing happened when clearing the table. Two plates would be removed and we'd wait 3 or 4 minutes for the other 2 to be removed. After finishing our salad it took 30 minutes before our plates, 2 at a time, were removed. Then after another 20 minutes lapsed we finally got the attention of one of your staff to inquire about our entrees. We were told it would only be a few minutes, whereupon I told her we were very displeased and that we were going to leave in 5 minutes. In the meantime, the couple seated before us had already left and diners that arrived after us were eating their dessert. Finally our food arrived but it wasn't much to celebrate about. My pheasant was over cooked, the Boar ordered by one of our friends was tough and tasteless , my wife's Quail was not boneless as noted on the menu, and all four of our entrees were from room temperature to cold. Needless to say we passed on dessert and asked for the check as the plates were cleared, 2 at a time. In spite of all this, the worst part was that no one apologized, asked how they could make it up, or offered us any compensation. We had hoped for a wonderful experience, but the staff made it terrible one. It's truly disappointing to spend good money for average food and very poor service or attention to detail, and to realize that the no one seems to care. read more

What a beautiful, enchanting place! Our cabin- was very comfortable and the details like domes and skylights are are just charming! They deliver a gourmet breakfast every morning that you can enjoy at your leisure, what a great way to start the day. On our arrival they upgraded us to a bigger cabin- which we thought was very generous! The hotel restaurant is very good, we had dinner (kinda pricey) but delicious and beautifully presented. The hotel staff and restaurant staff are very friendly but unobtrusive. We also enjoyed the amenities like the hot tub every evening. If you want to relax, the ocean views, setting and rooms will make you feel like the hectic life is a million miles away.. read more

We stayed in Blue Iris and Black Chan-something. Stay in the Black Cabin your whole time there--completely worth the $$! Looooved our stay here for our babymoon! read more

I had to add my .2 cents here, especially after reading some of the less favorable reviews of both the lodging and the restaurant (separate entry on Yelp) at St. Orres. My wife and I recently took a little retreat up there and ended up choosing this spot because it seemed a bit more interesting than the standard Sea Ranch options just to the south. We stayed in the Pine Haven cottage, which was bigger than we needed (2 bedrooms), but was affordable and stand-alone. The exterior was very nice - rustic and festive at the same time. The 3 stained glass spires on the roof mimicked the Inn down the street. The front porch is really nicely designed and wraps around the side, complete with several large Adirondack-like chairs. We didn't use it, because the water didn't look super clean, but there is a hot tub in the adjoining building. At first, the interior seemed a bit sparse and dark, but after the first night it grew on us. Very warm and cozy, even though spacious. Although there's not a full kitchen, there's a microwave and mini-fridge and a comfortable eating nook. The fireplace is large and inviting, too. Not "fancy" by any means, the cottage was very basic (no phone, TV, wireless - but does one really need all that when visiting the gorgeous north coast?) and a bit worn down in the details, but none of that amounted to much and the overall stay was a lot fun - especially with the wild turkey alarm clocks on your roof and free breakfast delivered to your door each morning! We ate at their restaurant one night and, after a lame dinner at the Sea Ranch Lodge the previous evening, we were relieved to have such a delicious meal. It was fixed menu, $45/pp, but they were patient, pleasant and generous with veg options as well. The dining room is small, intimate, with a beautiful open ceiling and a large, illuminated spire at the top. Seating is slightly awkward and almost tight, but nothing to really complain about. To be brief, every dish was quite good - even great. From the chilled pumpkin soup and salad, to the grilled Swordfish entree and individual apple pie dessert. I'd definitely return for a dinner and overnight stay! read more

I was so excited to be returning to St Orres since our last visit a few years ago. We had stayed at the Tree House and loved it. This time we thought we would try the Pine Haven cottage. I wish I could give a glowing report but this place was so full of HUGE cobwebs. Cobwebs with lots of dead bugs were over the door to the bedroom, cobwebs around most windows, around bottom of mini frig and LOTS of cobwebs on the overhead stainedglass window. The carpet was old, stained and just dirty looking. All the vinyl blinds need replacing as they are terribly bent out of shape. The ones in the bathroom were either dirty, moldy or dirty/moldy. Speaking of mold, the inside of the shower door was full of mold. The unit is dated--wood needs to be cleaned and waxed-but it was the mold, dirt and cobwebs that keeps me from recommending this beautiful spot. When I mentioned it to the lady who was at the front desk, she just said she would talk to the maid. Maybe they need to hire someone who will actually clean the cottage.The restaurant food is very good and very pretty on presentation. One night we ate in the dining room and one night we ate in the little bar area--both were quite nice. The view from the small breakfast nook area was spectacular--we could see and hear the ocean- and each day we watched the chickens and the deer roam the grassy area around us. My hope is the management will take note of this posting and bring the cottage up to clean standard..it really is a beautiful cabin if it were clean. read more

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We had dinner at the restaurant Sunday night. At a flat rate of $45 per plate ($50 for some of the specials) and a high Zagat rating, I would have expected far better. The pizza we had for lunch at the Upper Crust pizzeria was, by far, better quality and actually reasonably priced. Each entree came with soup and salad. We had a choice of two soups: a warm roasted red bell pepper soup or a cold pineapple coconut soup. Neither soup sounded appealing to either of us, so we ordered one of each. My husband said the roasted bell pepper soup was okay, but the best part of it was the little smidgen of cheese in the middle. The pineapple coconut soup tasted like a virgin pina colada and, especially with its squirt of canned whipped cream in the middle, would have been better served as a dessert than pre-dinner course. The salad was alright. Mixed baby greens with half an undercooked and cold roasted pear, two pieces of candied walnuts, one small (less and an inch) cube of blue cheese and a pear "vinaigrette" which had the consistency of a slightly thinned apple sauce rather than any sort of vinaigrette I've ever had. Had the roasted pear been fully cooked and still warm it probably would have been delicious, but as it was presented, the two small pieces of candied walnut were the best part of the salad. The first loaf of bread that was brought to the table was undercooked and still doughy in the center. The next loaf was fully cooked, but cold. Not just room temperature cold, but cold cold...as if it had been in the fridge or placed up against something frozen. My husband loves mussels, so when we see them on the menu as an appetizer we usually get them and last night was no exception. Needless to say, we've eaten a lot of mussels and these were by far the worst we've had. Several of them were definitely past their prime and smelled overly fishy and some of them just turned to mush when we tried to remove them from their shells. Having never seen it on a menu before, I ordered the rack of wild boar. I expected some sort of "gameyness" and had a little difficulty trying to place the flavor...but then it hit me. It tasted like a pig sty smells. I tried to force down a couple more bites while thinking of the price, but just couldn't work through the taste. It was repulsive. My husband ordered the sturgeon, which came stacked on top of a pile of mashed potatoes with peas mixed in. The mashed potatoes had a few layers of overcooked and essentially inedible phyllo dough. At first we couldn't understand the purpose of the phyllo dough layers, but realized it was probably for presentation purposes to keep the weight of the fish from collapsing the pile of potatoes...but if that is the reason, then the chef should find a new way to present the dish because the layers only distracted from the actual eating of the dish rather than enhancing it. It felt as though we were eating some sort of crazy concoctions from one of the first-to-go-home contestants on "Top Chef" rather than a creation from a supposedly world-class chef. My husband said his glass of sauvigon blanc was good, but my water glass sat empty for the last 20-30 minutes of dinner. With as disappointing as dinner was, we weren't about to pay extra for dessert. Our experience with the hotel was no better. We spent two nights in the Sorrel Glen cabin. Upon entering, we were both taken aback by the strong musty/moldy smell. My husband and I both spent more time awake than sleeping each night. Instead of the attached mediocre, overpriced restaurant, they should offer free chiropractic adjustments or massage therapy as compensation as every joint from my neck to my hips ached each morning from the over firm mattress. I honestly don't think I've ever slept on such an uncomfortable mattress. For the price charged per night, you'd think they could put in a decent mattress. I'd recommend saving the money and just go camping, but forget your sleeping pads...you'll be more comfortable than sleeping on their rock hard beds. While the breakfast delivery to the cabin each morning was initially charming, finding moldy fruit on my plate and a rusty AND dirty spoon didn't win me over. Also, the handle on the inside of the bathroom door kept falling off. We left it off hoping the maid service might take note and fix it, but when we returned we found it precariously balanced in place...which then fell off again the first time one of us tried to use it. read more

This place is beautiful. Great ambiance. The food was extremely mediocre verging on just not that good. The staff was nice but not terribly professional. Meh. read more

Location on the sleepy coast, traffic is all gone by the time you get here. Incredable buildings made by locals using salvaged timbers and lumber in russian onion dome style. Lots of details a carpenters dream. Blink and u will miss it. Food was good but pricey ($50 three course meal] but considering the location it well worth it. The star of the show were the Martinis, and mixed drinks ask for a Ginito! Loupe the Tarbender is a joy, funny, sweet a real card she knows everyone and acts like you'r a local even if you'r not.. We rented a cottage, modest but vert clean and fresh. Cont. Breakfast delivered to the door. Great place to discover the best of the sleepy coast. read more

My wife and I celebrated our anniversary on the Mendocino coast and being that we have never eaten at St Orres we decided to give it a try. Attempting to get reservations was nearly impossible but with persistence we were able to do so. The prices were what we expected and we were looking forward to a great meal. The presentation was superb! The problem is with the food. The entree came to the table cold, the vegetables were so under cooked it was almost as if they were raw. I had butternut squash that I couldn't even scrape off with a knife, couldn't cut through it either. The mashed potatoes were bland and the other vegetables on the plate were undercooked too. Why didn't we send the food back? We were pretty much ignored by the wait staff. Too bad because this place is truly a gem to look at. Eat at one of the other less expensive places you will be better off. read more

This was perfect for us. We were in the area for a wedding weekend and the hospitality and style of the place suited our jaded, crowded city lives down to the ground. A balcony with a view of the woods, a Jacuzzi with a view of the sea and a delicious breakfast dropped at your door every morning. Could you ask for more? I would even considering returning to the area to get a larger cabin and bring the kids. How nice to have the opportunity to stay somewhere with eccentric architecture. At my price range interesting hotels are few and far between read more

Lodging is wonderful, if the 30 years plus carpeting doesn't bother you. (We've been going for 30 years.) Love the cottages by the ocean. The one star rating is for for overpriced meals that are a joke. The menu always looks impressive, but for the third time I've had a weird plate of food. Last night I ordered the pork chop with apples and figs. What came was a very plain grilled chop devoid of any seasoning, a medium sized baked red potato with a dollop of mashed potato on top. Next to that was more mashed potato stuck with a carrot, a spear of asparagus and some random peas and a piece of zucchini with 3 apple slices. The veggies just seemed steamed, and the apples maybe sautéed in a little butter...that was it. Our young waitress did ask how dinner was. I told her that I was missing the figs. She said she'd check with the chef.....came back and very dryly said, "it was a mistake on the menu..sorry. She didn't wait for a response, just turned and left. We'll go back for a stay in one of the cottages again, but I won't be paying $50 for such a lame plate of tasteless food trying to be something just because of some silly vertical arrangement. read more

We celebrated our wedding anniversary here on a Thursday evening, with an early reservation. The hostess greeted us with a big smile, let us choose a window table in the interesting dining room. She explained the menus--prix fixe as well as "small plates," which turned out to be quite generous--and took our drink orders. I appreciated her friendliness and good humor. Our waiter was also pleasant, an older gentleman, who served us with just the right balance of attention and privacy. We ordered the Stilton cheese/apple plate (delicious), the clam chowder (really good, in large bowls), and the salmon w/salad. We left no room for dessert, but what we saw being served looked as good as the entrees. We were really glad to have had this place recommended by the owner of our vacation rental. A wonderful, romantic place to celebrate a special occasion. read more

What is this place doing here??? I have no idea! Why is this Russian, St. Petersburg type castle plopped so neatly onto the rugged coastline, tucked neatly onto a tree covered hillside? This place is truly amazing, if you are ever driving up Highway 1 this far you simply have to stop and gaze. I've never stayed over night but I've peaked into some of the rooms, each totally individual. It's like being in a really high class version of Dr. Zhivago. The cabins are set back into the trees, some in their own private meadow. Or you can opt to stay in the main building. A room at the top of one of the Russian Spires. The food is simply amazing, very rich. I had lamb in a cherry glaze and a wonderful chocolate mousse concoction. The wind was howling and the fire was burning, seriously. Like being inside a 19th century Russian Novel. I've never seen anything like it. The stained glass, the beautiful wood, the art and tapestries. It's simply beautiful. read more

Very nice dinner in a beautiful setting. We checked out the menu on line and it seemed rather pricey, however, they will let you order from the bar menu in the main dining room as well. We went to have a look at the place in the afternoon to see if we would be back for dinner, and the owner was more than inviting and pleasant, let us check out the dining room and told us more about their excellent menu. Upon returning in the evening we had a great dining experience and did end up choosing the prix fixed menu after all. Everything tasted great and the service was excellent. I think we will try to stay here next time we want a quick getaway from every day life. It's a beautiful area and the cottages look very inviting. read more

My husband and I have stayed in the exterior accommodations here many times over the years and plan to keep returning. I always find it to be a restorative experience. You can explore all of the cabins and cottages on the website; they range from small and quite rustic to the fabulous Black Chanterelle. I have always found them to be well-appointed (good quality coffee and tea stocked in, excellent bedding, soaps, etc.) and very clean. A few that we've stayed in have saunas (Blue Iris, Black Chanterelle), which is quite an amenity. They are pet-friendly for a fee. We do not always have dinner there because (1) it is priced at the top end of our budget and (2) is richer than we normally eat, but each time we have it has been outstanding. As many others have noted, the hot breakfast delivered to you in the morning is a luxurious treat we look forward to. It is vegetarian-friendly but hearty, and is dropped at your doorstep in a clever box with a knock on the door before the staffperson quickly leaves (read: you can collect it in your nightie without worry). Saint Orres is a destination and an experience, not just a casual accommodation. You will not find phones/radios/televisions. For me it's all about the forest, the Pacific, and the incredibly starry skies overhead that are invisible in the big city. If you and yours like to enjoy distractions, I recommend that you bring them along with you. read more

For a formal dinner out, you can't miss St. Orres. An eclectic hotel and main dining area, that shows a passion to make something meaningful. It's Russian Onion domes done in copper and wood gives you endless opportunities of views. We were just walking around before our reservation time when a staff member who was busily moving about to prepare for the nights dinner service noticed our intense architectural observations. She then proceeded to welcome us in with quick background that she felt passionate about sharing. It immediately made the evening exciting and personal. Our meal was wonderful, from the baked bread to main course. We were stunned at the size and perfection of the scallops - highly recommend! We noted the meals were either garnished or made with area ingredients which again felt like you were being welcomed into the region. For an experience and formal dinner for two (with wine) it was around 200, which I assure you is exceptional both for price and taste. It is a gem. read more

Recently my husband and I visited the Gualala, Ca. area and did our online research of things to do and I found the website for St, Orres restaurant. When I showed it to my husband, he said we gotta go! I wanted to go just because it was so picturesque architecturally but what a delightful surprise. It was a wonderful and charming dining experience. My husband had the wild boar and I had the venison. Excellent! The wild mushroom ravioli is to die for. The chef, Rosemary, is a certified mushroom forager and what a delightful lady. I requested veggies instead of the usual accompaniments to my dish and they were wonderful. If you are in the area I heartily recommend a trip there. The wine list is great. We were only going to splurge on one meal but had to return and shared another dinner and since we were touring wineries around the area brought our own wine and paid a very reasonable corkage fee. The ambiance is lovely but understand that it is rather off the beaten track area and sometimes trained servers are hard to come by but the warmth and friendly atmosphere more than compensates. Best part, the wonderful rescue dogs! read more

I have been going to St. Orres for almost 30 years. The last two times have been a disappointment. My last visit, on January 14, made up my mind that I am not spending $50 per person for dinner there any time in the future. The first course soup was wonderful. After that, it was all down hill. The salad was nothing: a little lettuce. The main course not only was served almost cold but had no taste. There were hardly any vegetables on the plate. The drawn butter that was served with my lobster and shrimp was the size of a thimball. I could have made much better mashed potatoes. The service was slow toward the end of the meal. I remember (in the far distant past) when flavorful meals were served with creative side dishes. Now, the portions and creativity have gone astray to save money but the cost has doubled. I will not be a customer any longer. read more

What a cool place to stay. We were here this past week and had such a nice time. The service and food were excellent. The breakfast was AMAZING. Seriously, the best granola I have ever eaten. It was obviously homemade. Our room was quaint, well-kept, charming etc. The environment was idyllic and offered us a chance to unplug, relax, and escape from the real world. Rosemary, the proprietor, was welcoming, informative and helpful. We recommend St. Orres highly. read more

We've been coming here on our anniversary for many years and have never been disappointed. The cabins in the woods are cute and/or luxurious depending on what you feel like paying and the surroundings are beautiful and peaceful. We always have dinner at the restaurant. It's true they've kind of settled into a groove over the years and very little changes, but the food quality is excellent and so is the service. I notice a few people gave bad reviews, but IMHO they didn't give the place a chance. It's unique. read more

We have eaten at St Orres many times over the past decade. It has retained the ambience but the service and the food have deteriorated . The menu has remained much the same but the presentations and taste have not. On our last trip we sent the soup back...something i have never done. The halibut was so so..not very tasty. Will we return. Maybe but not in near future. read more

One of my very favorite coastal dining spots. great food, terrific ambience, and a wait staff that allows diners to relax and enjoy a meal the way that food is meant to be enjoyed. One delicious, exotic dish at a time. Plating is a work of art, and the way the chef blends flavor is not to be missed! A real treat. read more

St Orres is an amazing place to stay with ocean views and redwoods at your back. Absolutely the best place to stay in the area. We recently stayed in the Black Chanterelle which boasts a double jacuzzi and Sauna. It was very comfortable with the best jacuzzi, as It was hard to force ourselves out of it. The views of the ocean are awesome with lights from boats seen at night. Deer and wild turkeys walk by your cottage on a nightly basis. The best breakfast left on your doorstep promptly every morning coming in a nice wooden box. Fireplace or wood burning stove (depending where you are) with unlimited wood. Very clean and maintained. Can't ask for much more. There is no phones or TV which forces you to relax and enjoy the moment! Can't wait to go back! read more