THE LIVINGSTON INN, MADISON, WI, IS CURRENTLY ON THE MARKET: POTENTIAL BUYERS BEWARE OF REPUTATIONAL BAGGAGE NOT EVIDENT FROM THE OTHER REVIEWS HERE! I am wondering who this gracious Peggy is. Our encounter with Peggy and the Livingston was an absolute train wreck. We chose a Livingston Inn stay as a wedding gift for our daughter and new son-in-law, and knowing their arrival would be after midnight, because of the reception, called on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and offered to drive to Madison to pick up their room key. "Oh, no; not necessary," Peggy assured us. We have a safe place to leave the key for them. On Friday we even dropped off special surprises for their room and she still would not give us the key. The bride and groom arrived after the reception and were locked out. They looked everywhere around the building, even in the bushes in their wedding finery and THERE WAS NO KEY. They called me and I immediately called the only number available and got an answering machine. NO ONE ANSWERED! This left the bride and groom driving around Madison at 2:00 in the morning on their wedding night looking for an available room. I did not hear from Peggy until the next morning at 11:00. Oh my, how sorry she professed to be, that she had gotten a phone call the previous afternoon, which left her distracted and she forgot to put out the key. OOPS, SO SORRY, BUT NOT SORRY; if her subsequent actions were any indication. I told her the first thing she was going to do was pay for their hotel room from the night before and then find a way to try to make it up to them. What did she actually do? When they came the next afternoon to get the things we had left them, Peggy started the conversation not with "I'm sorry!" but with, "Your Mom thinks I am going to pay for last night's hotel room. WELL, I am not giving her a refund and paying for your room, as well. I can't afford that!" (Hey Peggy, Business 101: You may not charge for a service you did not provide. You had no alternative but to refund my credit card!) The mistake, of no key, is not the worst of this situation. Everyone makes mistakes. The unforgivable part was the unwillingness to make amends. They were offered a future free two-night stay, but who would want to stay somewhere that reminded them of that terrible situation! There was no heartfelt apology or sincere attempt to make amends. Despite the fact that this happened some years ago, when I SAW LAST WEEK A "FOR SALE" SIGN IN FRONT OF THE LIVINGSTON I WANTED TO WARN ANYONE THINKING OF PURCHASING THIS BUSINESS: Don't bank on or pay a premium for the goodwill that would seem to exist from the other reviews that are posted here. The incompetence and heartlessness were too epic to be an anomaly or for me to believe that my family is the only one to experience a train wreck ala Livingston Inn. Considering that the asking price is more than one million over the city's 2024 assessment there seems to be a great deal of, in my mind, questionable value placed beyond the property value and onto the listing as a business. Karel O read more

Had an amazing, wonderful time here. the innkeeper Peggy was AMAZING. Went out of her way to make sure we had everything needed. would definately stay here again. Her breakfasts were amazing and her hospitality was the BEST!! read more

Clean, comfortable, welcoming and enjoyable, the historic Livingston Inn was a great way to visit Madison. Frequently, people make our experience stand out and that was certainly true here. Peggy the owner, communicated well, made sure all of our questions were answered and that we were comfortable. She provided here expert advice on what to see and do in the time available. The rooms all have a rich history and are decorated in period décor. The bed was comfortable with a high quality, firm mattress and it was a relatively large room. One of the most memorable and enjoyable activities was sitting and relaxing on her pier in the lake and watching the sun set. Just spectacular. Peggy provided superb dinner recommendations as well. Breakfast was exceptional - hot coffee at 7am, and breakfast at 8. Overall, the Livingston exceeded expectations. read more

The Livingston Inn - Patio - Bed & Breakfast Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

See all

Stayed here this weekend and really enjoyed it. The house is really nice and clean. The beds were comfy and the bathrooms were stocked with good products like Aveda shampoo. There are lots of great restaurants in walking distance of the inn. You can even walk to the farmer's market on Saturdays. Peggy the Inn Keeper is helpful. There are snacks around the house like fruit and homemade cookies. The house was quiet and the bed was comfortable. Slept really well here! Would definitely stay here again! read more

See all

Stayed here for my anniversary. I can't say enough about how wonderful it was. It is walking distance to some good restaurants and to rent a bikes. We loved it. The owner was very chatty in a good way and sat with us at breakfast. We will be staying here again. read more

Read the fine print before booking this property! Hostess is NOT accommodating in any way! My daughter was driving across country and booked this property at 9:15p not noticing there was a 10p deadline for checking in. Fortunately she noticed this at 10p so she immediately tried calling the property repeatedly to arrange a late check in but received no answer so in desperation she cancelled the reservation at 10:15p hoping that despite the no refund policy the hostess would refund it since it was within an hour of making the reservation but when contacted she refused to give her a refund. Not very understanding at all. So much for doing the right thing! read more

I couldn't ask for a better B&B experience in Madison. Peggy is a gracious host who greeted me with a glass of wine and made sure we had plans to accomodate my need for earlier breakfast in the morning. I stayed in the Willow room and slept in comfiest bed ever! All the pillows... it was heaven! She had decaf coffee ready for me early both mornings. The first morning, she cooked eggs and bacon with toast especially for me because of my schedule. The second morning, I enjoyed the egg bake she makes for the whole "crew" at 8am. When I came back for the night each time, she had a tray of treats waiting (toffees one night, chocolate caramels the next). She gave great dinner recommendations, all within walking distance. The only issue I had was with parking. I came home later one evening and struggled to find a spot. read more

If you are looking for a grand old mansion which has turned bed and breakfast this is the place to stay in Madison, WI. The home predates the civil war and sits on lovely lake Mendota. An easy trip to Madison's downtown, amazing breakfasts are freshly cooked each morning by Peggy, the owner. We were served heavenly homemade blueberry scones warm from the oven and a full spread of eggs baked casserole style with broccoli and seasonings, fresh fruit, breads, muffins and coffee, juice, tea - wow! The home is grand and complimentary wine is available in the main living room. We know where we will be staying on our next trip up. Lynn and Jeff Bakiares read more

This is a wonderful and historic B and B in Madison. The rooms were tastefully decorated with period antiques and wallpaper. The beds were comfortable and it was quite clean. Our room had a large bathroom with a tub-sized shower. Breakfast was good with fresh fruit, yogurt, an egg dish, bacon, and muffins. Beverages, including beer and wine, were always available. Peggy, the innkeeper, went out of her way to assure our comfort, and she had many great suggestions for places to eat and things to do. We had nice, but not intrusive, breakfast conversations with our fellow guests. The Livingston is within easy walking distance of downtown Madison (about 15 minutes if you stroll). Make sure to visit the impressive Wisconsin State Capitol, and take a walk down State St. toward the University. Downtown Madison has a number of superb restaurants, and Peggy knows what's good and what's overrated. Check out the Heritage Grill or Forequarter for small plate meals as well as delicious cocktails. Madison has very strict parking regulations, but Peggy will help you navigate them to avoid a costly parking ticket. The Livingston is a lovely and warm alternative to the standard hotels which dominate Madison. Five stars. read more

Our first time in Madison, WI; so glad we chose the Livingston Inn. Beyond the beauty of the building, which is evident everywhere you turn, is the hospitality of Peggy and David. At a B&B, home cooked breakfasts as an expectation is a given, but Peggy never failed to surprise us. We were there for five days and each day yielded a different egg dish, along with home made muffins, scones, blueberry coffee cake, biscotti and granola. Peggy is an Ina Garten fan. This equates to hearty breakfasts to start your day. Complimentary beers from local micro-breweries were available as well as wine. Peggy is the consummate tour guide, travel agent and hostess all rolled into one. We had a list of restaurants and when I sent an email asking for suggestions, I anticipated an e-mail reply. Instead, she called to refine our list based on our preferences. Peggy will organize your days (if asked) based upon your interests. She was especially hands-on with guests from Italy who spoke little English. Absent someone to tuck you in at night, it is difficult to imagine one would desire anything more in a B&B. read more

Highly recommended! Peggy, the innkeeper, was super friendly and welcoming. It's no surprise then, that breakfast conversations were fun and lively. She also provided excellent restaurant recommendations. We stayed in the second floor Lake Mendota room, which has two windows--one faces the lake; the other faces the street and has a cozy window seat. We'll definitely be back! read more

I travel for work Mon-Thurs and had a project where I was in Madison WI every other week for a year. I endured two harsh winters in Madison (one including our favorite polar vortex) and one great summer. During the first February that I started in Madison, I became quickly disenchanted with the Marriott West and decided "I'm in Madison! I should look up a cute bed and breakfast." After a little analysis settled on the Livingston Inn and it was the best decision I could have made. Every other week I was welcomed into a historic building by a loving and enthusiastic family who couldn't be prouder of living in Madison and living in this house. Throughout my stays, I've made a temporary home of every room in the house - all of which have working gas fireplaces and unique character. Each room has different textured wallpaper and is aesthetically striking. Breakfast is made with love and accompanied with wonderful conversation with Peggy. Dave makes granola from scratch which can be served with "Greek Gods" yogurt (best.yogurt.ever). If you're traveling during the spring/summer/fall, you can read in the conservatory and be surrounded by the beautiful foliage in the backyard, which also has a walking path to their dock on Lake Mendota. I've sat with Peggy and her son, Daniel on a bench in the backyard watching the sunset on a couple occasions. Long story short, the house is gorgeous, the family is amazing and staying here greatly contributed to my day to day happiness level. read more

Created my Yelp account after all these years specifically to rave about the Livingston Inn. Proud UW graduate coming back to Madison to show my girlfriend the old stomping grounds, the campus, the Capital, etc. The Inn is in a great location and a sight to behold inside and out! What I admired the most, besides the decor, was the owner Peggy. She was welcoming and friendly. The night we stayed at the Inn, we realized that our flight back to San Diego was early in the morning. We asked Peggy if we could get the "Breakfast", of the "Bed and Breakfast" at 6:00 am. Peggy happily obliged and we had a delicious meal before we flew out that morning! Overall, the wonderful atmosphere and Peggy's graciousness made this place one of our favorites in Madison! I highly advise and recommend The Livingston Inn to all planning to travel to Madison! read more

Recently spent three wonderful days at The Livingston Inn. The owner Peggy is a wonderful hostess. She loves Madison and enjoyed hearing of our and the other guests adventures. The room was very comfortable with a bath and fireplace. The Livingston Inn is a very well kept historic home built in 1854. It is walking distance to downtown and many restaurants. Would definitely return. read more

My husband and I stayed here for a second time in February after spending a week last October. This place is consistent! We were investigating Madison as a place to move anyway, and Peggy was the best face to represent Madison that we could hope for. She is knowledgeable about local restaurants and attractions, as well as the local flavors of the various neighborhoods in Madison. This really impacted our decision to return and investigate on a serious basis. It is clear that she is not on auto-pilot, which could be easy to do. The breakfasts are varied and delicious, the place attracts individualistic folks from all walks of life who also make the stay an enriching experience. A fireplace in February? Yes I will take it--wonderful! Special shout-out to Dave for his granola, as well as being an additional resource about Madison. read more

After having just stayed at the Livingston Inn for three nights, it was important for me to add a review. The house and the rooms are exquisite, beautifully decorated and spotlessly clean. Being the end of January and the age of the house my room was warm and cozy without any drafts or chilly spots. My bed was so comfortable I was sad to get out of it each morning. Peggy, the owner and innkeeper, was priceless. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to enjoy breakfast while there (due to early appointments I had scheduled) but her coffee is scrumptious. She is welcoming, gracious, knowledgeable of everything Madison and eager to make your stay as wonderful as you want it to be. By the time my stay was over, I felt like I was saying goodbye to an old friend. Unless you are committed to a chain hotel for accommodations, do not miss this gem of a bed and breakfast. read more

My husband and I spent a long weekend in Madison and stayed here. It was a perfect choice for so many reasons: location(so close to downtown and all that it has to offer), immaculately clean and so well-appointed with amenities, beautiful outdoor areas on the pier and in the solarium, privacy, delicious breakfasts with something for everyone, well-maintained and comfortable rooms throughout, comfortable period decor throughout(contemporary bed and bath, tho) and a fantastic hostess. Peggy is warm, friendly, so accommodating and helpful. I cannot recommend the Livingston Inn highly enough. read more

Amazing quarters! Loved staying here. Had wonderful conversation with the proprietor. So much to eat and explore around here.