We've stayed at The Darling a few times now as we have family in the area. We tend to gravitate towards boutique hotels beyond "big box" properties and The Darling definitely fits the bill in that regard. The rooms are always clean, the Elderwood is an ice touch, and the vibe is always fun. During this trip, all was fine when what sounded like the HVAC system above our room started to knock. It's an old historic building so, things happen. The knocking though quickly turned into a roar. We contacted the front desk and this is where the true professionalism of the hotel crew, and particularly Maria, shined through. Maria quickly came upstairs, assessed the situation, triaged with other teams inside the hotel, and identified a solution within 20 minutes. Given the scope of the repair was unclear at the time, she moved us to another room and even upgraded us (even though she didn't have to!) for the inconvenience. Things happen, that's not an issue for us, it's how the team addresses them when they come up. The Darling team rose to the occasion with flying colors so seamlessly in this situation, especially Maria. So for us, just underscores a series of positive experiences at the hotel. This isn't an ultra luxury 5-star hotel, so don't come here expecting that. But it's a great place to stay in Visalia with a premium, boutique vibe, great restaurant, and clean well apportioned rooms. We will be back. read more

I had a good 1 night stay. Hotel is centrally located with lots of restaurants and a Starbucks in walking distance. Check in was quick and easy. The room was clean. Room service was good quality, appropriately priced and arrived quickly. The only reason I couldn't give this 5 stars was there was no internal secondary lock on the door which made it feel a little unsafe as a solo traveler and also there were not clear instructions about how to enter the gated parking lot upon checking in. Otherwise I had a good stay and would consider visiting again just to eat at the restaurant. read more

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Stumbled upon this place for a quick overnight stay on our way to Sequoia NP, it sure has a beautiful art Deco designed. It was a historical courthouse Annex and was converted to a hotel in 2020, so fairly newish. Centrally located waliking distant to restaurants, movie theater, Fox theater and shops. Street traffic was very noisy with cars that has loud speakers blasting music and mufflers, must be the local things. You can hear it all. The room.has high ceiling which was an added feature. Lovely details such as free snacks and water. And all day coffee / tea station near the lobby. Small boutique hotel, clean, comfortable enough bed, could use better linen, as it was rough...and insulation as you can hear everything in the room. Very noisy from doors closing to street traffic., people talking, foot step, water running. Not a restful sleep for sensitive sleeper like us. We didn't use the gym or.pool but they seems to be nice and clean. One of the shower head was also out of order. So more of a 3.5 star really . read more

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Loved everything about The Darling! What a gem of a hotel in Visalia. Work brought me here for a conference. I'd just happened to see a PBS special on Visalia a few months prior to my stay and learned of The Darling and its fabulous rooftop restaurant, Elderwood. I knew right away that this was the place for me. Delightful accommodations. Absolutely beautiful room - and bathroom! All the little touches make a big difference, like the self-serve coffee/tea/water bar and the in-room complimentary snacks and water. Don't miss the restaurant upstairs! I enjoyed an early breakfast my first morning there and dinner the next night. (See my separate review for Elderwood.) Never thought I'd say that I forward to returning to Visalia but I'll coming rushing back to The Darling when I do! read more

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Stayed in room 101 which is the basement floor. The room was tiny basically a bed with a TV on the wall, felt like a prison cell inside a dungeon. The view from the window is a concrete wall. Cost 398.00 for one night. Never going back to this place again. read more

The Darling Hotel - Hotels Near Me - Visalia, California

The Darling is a quaint and lovely hotel in downtown Visalia. It is historic with the best views of the city. If you're into vintage flair with some slight modern touches, then this is your hotel. They also have a gorgeous on site restaurant and bar. I love old school buildings with high ceilings. The architecture here is beautiful. read more

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Excellent service and cocktails! We were recommended to stop at The Darling by several friends. Recently after a day up at Sequoia Park we stopped for cocktails because it was too early for dinner. We were sat in their beautiful bar and ordered two appetizers and a round of cocktails and all went well. I will be back for their rooftop restaurant soon! read more

Well situated with a gated parking lot. You have to have your room key to access. So if you are checking in, pull into their white zone in the front first to take care of the check in process then get your bags after you park. All the rooms are unique so sometimes it's hit or miss if you get a better lay out or not. I had a basement level room this time and def wasn't a fan. read more

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The best view in the area My go to spot when I visit my grandparents I love the atmosphere and the drinks here I haven't tried the food yet but it's on my list read more

The Darling Hotel - Nice views - Hotels Near Me - Visalia, California

I stayed at this hotel and enjoyed breakfast in the morning on the rooftop deck. The food here is great. The service is over the top as they make sure you have everything you need and keep checking on. You The hotel is also great. The rooms here are very nice and well put together. Parking is at the back and there is a gate you can get through so I feel safe parking my car here. read more

The Darling Hotel - Rooftop - Hotels Near Me - Visalia, California

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How this hotel can advertise itself as 5* is beyond me. It is a 3* Marriott at best. The front desk is unattended, they do not have bath robes or slippers, the towels are cheap, and the worst--no duvet. The comforter is between two sheets, just like in Marriott. Do not waste your $ there; there is Marriott down the street. BTW, the restaurant is average at best. read more

I accidentally left something in the room and they called the next day to let me know and shipped it to me. I was so happy! Thanks again.

Best hotel in Visalia. Love a quality conversion/ upcycle, and stay here every time we come back to visit my parents. The rooms are clean, beds comfortable, bathrooms spacious and water hot. Love the big windows, and the vibe. They could totally level up if they offered robes, skirt hangers, and a more efficient way of closing/ connecting the curtains (we bought a clips at the dollar store). I will also say, depending on the room you get, noise carries more than you'd like--especially if you're under the restaurant (chairs being moved around and such). If you have trouble sleeping with noise, ask for one of the rooms on the perimeter of the building, and/or bring some earplugs. The location is great for being able to stroll around Main Street. Parking is gated and there is a fee for that. A couple nicer perks: they do have some decent snacks included for no additional cost, and offer some nice upgrades to level up your experience. We ordered a little cake since we were visiting for my dad's birthday and it was fantastic! They have umbrellas if you need to borrow one, so that also ended up coming in handy. We'll be back. read more

The Darling is beautifully restored with period appropriate and in some cases original details, such as the original elevator and lighting in the lobby. The bath rooms are lovely with spacious showers and plenty of room, though I wish there was a bit more storage space for toiletries near the sink. The mini fridge and tea pots were very useful for making a light meal or snack and the tea bag style coffee in the room was excellent. Be aware that if your room faces Court street, you will near traffic outside so bring some ear plugs, especially if it is a weekend. I had noise canceling earbuds and didn't hear any noise sleeping with those. We stayed three nights and paid for an upgraded large room on the top floor which faced Court street and it was quite loud on a Saturday night, so our last two nights we asked to move to a quieter room. This second room faced the opposite direction and was very quiet, though not a large as our original room. I didn't get to use the heated pool as it was rainy and cold on the day that I was free to use it, but it looked lovey and clean, with fountains on both sides and the water was very warm. The workout room as also very clean and the staff were attentive, pleasant, knowledgeable about the history of the hotel and the area and very helpful in moving us between rooms. Overall, I would stay here again. read more

The Darling Hotel - Fabulous bathrooms - Hotels Near Me - Visalia, California

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A beautiful place to be and high price on the roof top bars so go with experience and moderation in mind

Great service absolutely delicious food. We r in Visalia and stopped in the Darling hotel roof top.. The biscuit and gravy was delicious. The Hickory Smoked Bacon hash was so so delicious. It is also a large size so sharing is good. A must have to stop in and enjoy breakfast brunch. Our server Jesse was a very professional attentive service very pleasant. We will be back. Such a Jem of a discovery read more

The Darling Hotel - Sorry this picture is after we ate up the food! - Hotels Near Me - Visalia, California

The Darling Hotel is an outstanding jewel in the San Joaquin Valley. The owners restored the county's old administration building without losing any of the art deco charm. I was transported to a boutique hotel that you would find in any big city. The attitude of the employees was outstanding with the servers in the lovely restaurant deserving of great praise. Stephen who helped me during breakfast was charming and saved me a trip to a closed national park! I highly recommend the hotel which is deserving of five stars! read more

I've never stayed at the hotel although I have friends that have and they raved about it. I've had the pleasure of eating at the restaurant, The Elderwood, on a few occasions. Each time was a real treat. The food is magnificent, the service incredible and the view makes for the complete package. Great for a romantic evening read more

I spent 2 nights here in December. Can't beat the location, right in the middle of downtown Visalia. Lots of restaurants, shopping, bars in the area. My room was on ground floor, overlooking parking lot. Very spacious room. Beautiful details in the room, you get bottled water and a few snacks (chips and granola bar) bed was comfy, room was quiet. There is a coffee pot and mini fridge in room. Windows don't open. I like fresh air, and I like it COLD. Since it was December the room stayed nice and cool. Im assuming the thermostat in the room turned on the heat but I never needed it. Don't skip on their rooftop bar, it was excellent, especially the service. I went there a few times, and the servers were great. Really makes a difference. The Elderwood bar also offers happy hour prices on drinks and snacks during the week, I believe it started at noon ending at 4. The rooms are a bit pricey (~200) and they charge for parking ($19 a nite).. But at least they don't charge a 'resort fee' most hotels charge lately. If you are considering staying in the area, you should definitely consider staying here. read more

Great hotel. Clean, absolutely fantastic staff, and nice rooms. Ceilings and windows after surprisingly high in rooms, bathrooms are classy, sheets are cold. Both sides of the pillow will be cold. Hotel had a pool thag we believe to have likely used to be a fountain as there is water being shot into it. At first it was inconvenient but then it was pretty fun. floaters and beach balls at pool. Has a private gated in parking area in the back. Used to be an old courthouse, that was tore down and rebuilt. Imagine having your parents custody battle here years ago and coming back and staying in the same room! read more

Loved my stay here. Staff were polite and welcoming upon entering. Provided wonderful recommendations. Rooms were clean and well maintained. Will absolutely be returning read more

Drinks recommendations by our waiter were spot on! They did not disappoint We ordered several appetizers but the one that stuck out the MOST (like won't be able to find anywhere - finger licking good) the pork belly! So Rich, juicy and full of bold flavor! The texture was addicting crunch with tender insides. Drink recommendations: the darling (if you like sweet!) it comes with a beautiful rose made of ice! Authors note was my favorite! :) it had several layers and a Citrus that wrapped it all perfectly! Sparrows delight! Was the waiters favorite and it did not disappoint the salmon dish was for dinner! It was cooked to perfection but could have used more flavor ... I would take two orders of the pork belly over the main course but that's just me! read more

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I stayed here for one night to support teachers in a neighboring school district and I loved everything about this hotel! It smells good, the vibe is sweet and elegant, and the rooftop restaurant was amazing! There's a cute pool area and the high ceilings and cozy beds made the room really chic and lovely! Plus the little town area it's located in feels like a little slice of Stars Hollow! I'll definitely be back! read more

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Great gem of a hotel. Really nice accommodations in all regards, and very classy. Highly recommend to stay here.

I had a reservation for 10:30am me and my party arrived on time and we were seated and forgotten about for 40ish min while others were seated and served drinks. I had to ask a worker if someone was going to take our drink order soon. Then I believe a manager came out and offered us free apps and discount drinks ect. It still took awhile to be served before others. We didn't receive our drinks until an 1jr and 3 min later which was frustrating. Also when the check came they didn't comp the appetizers like they claimed they would. I had to remind them, which was a terrible experience. We usually don't have service so horrible but today was a whole new level. I'm not sure why we were forgotten about and dismissed and mistreated. read more

Just as promised, we returned to The Darling to celebrate our 1st Anniversary on New Year's Eve. We were greeted with warm hospitality, and champagne awaited us in our room. We enjoyed a beautiful dinner in the main dining inside and received superior service from their entire team. They put a lot into making every guest feel special and we highly recommend The Darling for a fabulous date night, wedding or any celebration. It will be worth remembering for years! read more

The Darling Hotel - We returned to The Darling for our 1st Anniversary. Loved it!! - Hotels Near Me - Visalia, California

This is our getaway. We have not been away from home in over a year and this is IT for us. Going to a wedding in Three Rivers, we wanted to treat ourselves to a nice weekend for some R & R. This hotel is beautiful, art deco decor, and tastefully decorated. Staff are friendly and welcoming. Our room is beautiful, high ceilings, comfortable bed, beautiful bathroom, with lovely architectural detail. The hotel itself is quiet, however, cars revving their engines all night, all morning, road racing, all with what seems to be cars without mufflers... awakened all night long. Truly disappointing when sleep is something my husband and I both lack due to our work schedules. Of course, this is something the hotel can't help, it's just the nature of the beast. My solution is purchasing earplugs for tonight's slumber. read more

The Darling Hotel - Sweet dreams - Hotels Near Me - Visalia, California

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Long over due review My wife and I got married at The Darling Hotel on 12/12/24. This was the THIRD venue we had gone through after having to cancel one during Covid, and the other just not being the right fit.. so we were DEFINITELY ready to get married. We booked with KYRSTAN MARTIN (director of sales) 9 months prior, which in wedding terms, is not a whole lot of time. We decided to go with the pool area for our ceremony, and booking both sides of the in house restaurant (Elderwood) for our reception. We didn't have any vendors, photographers, dj's, wedding coordinators etc. you get the idea.. we had nothing booked yet! Kyrstan was so reassuring and patient and did what she could to refer us to vendors and lead us on the right path to get everything set up. Kyrstan referred us to our wedding DJ (DJ SAL) from bliss entertainment.. BEST DJ EVER! As the date got closer, she was definitely on it! Making sure we had everything we needed. She brought us in to go through the menu, the placement of chairs and decor styles, photographers and dj's... she nailed EVERYTHING. Even the little things that we forgot! We also booked the "his" and "hers" suites for the wedding. I stayed in room 210(?) and my wife in 430(?). I might have gotten the room numbers wrong but mine had the cool walk in closet that used to be a giant safe (pretty cool!) and my wife had such a beautiful suite that over looked the pool. Most of the family and friends who attended from out of state/town were able to reserve rooms with the room blocks that The Darling were able to provide. I'm not even kidding when I say LITERALLY THE ENTIRE STAFF AT THIS HOTEL.. from the restaurant staff, the front desk, the maintenance engineers, and the housekeepers.. from top to bottom, went ABOVE and BEYOND with the most exceptional service to make sure all of our family and friends felt welcomed and had everything they needed. Even family and friends who were staying at near by hotels were treated so well while they were on the property! Elderwood staff: our guests were RAVING about how good the food was and how the restaurant staff were so accommodating! From the appetizers, the main course, desserts and drinks, everything was 5 STAR RESTAURANT QUALITY AND SERVICE! Bottom line: The Darling Hotel is not a HUGE venue or property, but it was PERFECT for us. We had a very small and intimate wedding (80-100 ppl). Surrounded by the most important people in our lives in attendance. As most people know, weddings are never on time, things don't go according to plan, and it can be chaotic. Our day couldn't have been more perfect and it was all possible because of Kyrstan and the awesome staff at the darling hotel. From setting up flowers, chairs, and the restaurant.. you made our wedding day the most amazing day of our lives! We will continue to visit the darling and it will ALWAYS hold a special place in our hearts.. not because of the beautiful property.. but also because of wonderful staff and how we were treated on one of the most important days of our lives! Photographer and video: SB PHOTOGRAPHY (Sal & Eddie) Wedding DJ: Bliss Events Group (DJ Sal) read more

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recently reviewed the "Elderwood" restaurant, but the hotel itself is gorgeous. stayed here now twice with a super accommodative and supportive staff. our first stay we had an error with our reservation and the women helping us was extremely helpful and kind, we were able to figure it out & they upgraded our room! our second stay was amazing, super comfortable beds, gorgeous bathrooms, great amenities (including gated parking which was perfect)!! great stop for a long california road trip! read more

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The Darling Hotel is very charming! We decided to stay here for our trip to Sequoia, because it was the nicest looking place to stay based on our research, plus we got to explore the town. The room we stayed in was spacious, the ceilings were very high, and it made the bathroom look super grand. We stayed on the second floor (same floor as the lobby), and my only complaint is the outside can see through the windows in the bathroom so you really have to adjust the curtains to ensure it is closed all the way. They have a parking lot in the back that is gated. They don't have any chargers so if you have an EV, you'd have to drive a few blocks down to a different parking lot to charge. read more

Not the best hotel I've stayed at. It's the cleanest you'll probably find around the area other than the Marriott across from the hospital. And that's kinda saying a lot. Despite all this, I would stay here if I wasn't staying with a friend or family member. It is near some god coffee shops and Visalia downtown. Convenient location. read more

The darling hotel is truly darling. It has high ceilings and comfy beds. The people working there are all so nice and will do just about anything to make your stay at The Darling perfect. If you have little kids do not stress about renting another room they have a little cot that you may keep in your room. The decor has a wonderful touch of old timey. The pool is also a wonderful place to go cool off after a hot day. This place is amazing definitely come by. Luci age 11 read more

The Darling Hotel - Hotels Near Me - Visalia, California

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We stayed at The Darling Hotel in Visalia in early April and enjoyed our two-night stay. The staff were friendly and the rooftop restaurant and lounge was very nice. We loved the retro architecture and our experience could not have been better. If you stay here try Dimples Restaurant (named for the dimples of the owner's granddaughter). JKust 12 miles away in Exeter are over 30 beautiful wall murals that re beautiful artworks. read more

The Darling Hotel - Hotels Near Me - Visalia, California

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We spent 3 nights there. Very cute, refurbished, quaint old building. Very clean & great bed. The room we stayed in was very small. No desk or place to put on makeup. I had to sit on the floor in front of the full length mirror. The bathroom was very cute but had no counter space. They definitely had men designing the interiors. I felt like a mouse in a maze rolling the cart to our room. Or anything with wheels for that matter, You had to take two elevators. Check-in & out was fine but not overly friendly. Which I thought was interesting because I pictured a more animated employee in that position. The Housekeepers were friendlier. Not that we came to watch tv but it kept freezing, which was annoying. Soooo.... It's a toss up, between 3.5 & 4 stars when rating this hotel because it had great points & not so great points but I leaned more towards the positives because it was a good memory & a much needed vacation! & our daughter recommended it. But the no place to put makeup on or work from if you were on a business trip, was definitely an issue. read more

My reservation wasn't ready on time. Room was rushed and a lady's pressuring device was left in the room. We didn't notice it while we were in the room. We were called back to retrieve some personal items after we had checked out. I was handed a clear back with a phone charger, my wife's glasses and the previous guest's vibrator. I should have known by the laughter on the phone when they called. Professional? No. Funny? Yes. The roof top bar is fancy, the food, not so good. Room was noisy. Overall, terrible way to spend a 5 year anniversary. read more

What a great hotel. Located in Downtown Visalia amongst other unique shops and businesses. This restored vintage courthouse has a new life as a small, chic boutique hotel. The space feels very authentic yet modern. I went with my partner and our son for a quick weekend getaway. We were in town to see the Sequoias. The Darling hotel is a quick 1 hour scenic drive from the park. We selected this hotel as it offered more of a luxury feel as opposed to some of the more rustic hotels near the park. I mainly saw couples and groups of women that appeared to be on a girl's getaway trip. My son was the only child that I saw while visiting the property. This is totally fine and I love the fact that this property os an option for more of an adult getaway. We ate at the rooftop restaurant on site and the menu was exceptional with gourmet cuisine featuring local seasonal ingredients. The rooms were comfy and I caught up on some much needed rest while I was there. read more

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We held our reception of 110 people at The Darling Hotel, on their North Courtyard. We love Visalia & very glad we made the decision to stay local! The Darling staff worked with us so well & made our day run so smoothly! Our set up was beautiful & everyone enjoyed their time! We are looking forward to our next celebration at The Darling Hotel! read more

Amazing little gem in the Central Valley. Great Staycation hotel if you're looking for something that takes you back in time and makes you feels like your in another place. Great location and is within walking distance from Visalia's downtown. The roof top restaurant and bar are really nice. The pool area is a little bland but nice if you need to get out of the Valley heat. I would definitely recommend this hotel if you're looking for something different than your normal hotel. read more

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Yes! Great hotel in downtown Visalia.... who knew!! Staff were very attentive and responsive! Will definitely go there again!!!

Very nice atmosphere. I can see losing track of time. The food was great. Employees were very nice.