* Yes, the garden. It occupies 110% (not a typo) of both sides of the front walk. It's beautiful,…read morefragrant, 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.

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

This review is not for the hotel portion of their operation but for their bar/catering. We…read moreattended a birthday party hosted in their first floor bar & parlor rooms (and their outside balcony). The spaces are gorgeous - the architectural detail of the rooms is beautiful. The waitress who served this group of 30-40 people did a fantastic job getting a thirsty group their drinks. She was super friendly and very helpful. The selection of both hot and cold appetizers was very tasty. The cocktails we had were top-notch and served in cut glassware. It was a high end affair. I would consider holding a similar event here (though I have no idea what the cost was...)

My husband and I were offering an adventure and he wanted to try Madison, Wisconsin for biking…read morearound the lakes and hiking. The weather was stunning and Mansion Hill Inn was a phenomenal choice. Every single concierge at the Inn were charming, delightful and accommodating. Our room was spectacular. The bed was wonderfully comfortable. Conversation with the several concierges was particularly enjoyable. The restaurants in Madison were truly incredible experiences. Each night we had the finest food. We were then off to our next adventure, to be cheerleaders for our son running in the Chicago marathon. What a delightful city you have, and Mansion Hill Inn is the premier bed-and-breakfast to choose. I wouldn't recommend any other location.

Would definitely recommend this hotel. It's clean, and compared to the other hotels in the area…read moreprice-wise it was a no brainer. Included were free parking, a free drink per person per night from the bar below, and free breakfast from the hotel restaurant. So not a "breakfast buffet" like you get at other hotels. You can walk to the capital and there is a very nice overlook of the lake across the street to sit and have a drink and hangout. They also have a cute patio off of the bar that's private. I really liked it. The rooms are a little old but like I said before-very clean. And the beds are comfortable with nice mattresses. You do get earplugs in the room since you are over a bar and on a busy street. It actually wasn't too bad. My husband and I slept pretty peacefully. We would definitely stay here again. I think it was a bargain.

My husband and I were staying in Madison on a Thursday night, and the prices of most of the hotels…read moreseemed unreasonable, especially for a weeknight during the summer. I stumbled across Hotel Ruby Marie which was more reasonably priced, and found that a friend had stayed there giving only positive reviews. The hotel is primarily a one-man show. The same gentleman had answered the phone, checked us in, was vacuuming the rooms, and seemed to have put together the continental breakfast. He was very nice, as I had accidentally booked the wrong Thursday. He was very polite and allowed me to rebook without charging the no-show fee. Also, I found that they seem to offer a discount to customers who call. The hotel is located a short distance from the capital building, right by the Lake Monona running path. It shares its parking lot with a couple bars and restaurants. The stay comes with fee parking, welcome cocktails at Up North Tavern, and a small breakfast. It is really a beautiful, old hotel with antique furnishings and small touches that make you feel at home, such as candy and bottled water in the room. The location has a lot to offer, as many businesses are walking distance or a short drive. The cocktails at Up North were great. Though the breakfast was nothing fancy, it was fresh and hot and served in an attractive dining room. I think the main issue with the location is that if you have a first floor room (we did not) you are likely to be bothered from the noise in the bar. Also, it is near the train tracks. A long train passed by in the early morning hours and woke me up. I should also mention that our lake-view room did indeed have a lake view, but it was really more of a partial lake-view. All in all, we enjoyed our short stay at Hotel Ruby Marie. It was unique and had a historic feel. I would definitely return.

We so enjoyed our stay at the Buckingham Inn . The Varsity Suite was beautiful and comfortable. We…read moreespecially loved spending time on the porch, relaxing and browsing through books about Camp Randall and the rich history of the Wisconsin Badgers football team. Breakfast each morning was a highlight--homemade, delicious, and beautifully presented. Tom and Heidi are the epitome of gracious hosts, and their warmth and hospitality made our visit memorable.

The Buckingham Inn is the cutest, homiest, warmest, most inviting, and excellent place to stay in…read moreall of Madison, if you ask me. Especially if you're going to a game at Camp Randall Stadium. They have thought of EVERYTHING down to the last detail, even having your name on a list with the State Police to allow you access to the parking lot. The proprietors communicate well, give great advice of where to eat, and provide an amazing and delicious spread for breakfast! We were in the Varsity Suite over the weekend and it was truly like coming home. But to a home with a jacuzzi tub and four-headed shower. We already said that when we come back to Madison, this is where we are going to stay. Thank you for sharing your wonderful B&B!

I am VERY surprised at how great a find this hotel is…read more Location is obviously great for parents of UWisc students- but it's the attention to details that were so surprisingly satisfying. The breakfast was actually good . The coffee was actually good. The Brunch Club restaurants attracted to the hotel was a solid 7 for dinner. Ingredients were FRESH and the meatloaf was excellent and NOT a dense log like so many other places. The hotel room was adequately appointed and the bed was not Ritz quality but it was a solid 7 . The hotel staff were helpful and enthusiastic. All in all a surprisingly excellent place to stay- and UNBEATABLE for thr price and location. Great job Hampton / Hilton.

Great hotel. Good location, spotless rooms, comfortable beds, good climate control, fast elevators,…read moreGREAT staff. Feels brand new despite being a decade old. Exceptionally well maintained. I can't think of anything to complain about, and I love complaining. This hotel has jumped to the top of our list for when we visit Madison.

Came to the Hilton Monona Terrace in Madison for an overnight stay and was greeted to a lovely…read moresuite as well as a phenomenal executive lounge. The welcoming staff not only created an, inviting experience, but provided helping assistance along the way. I would highly recommend staying here again. A couple of the great highlights are the great views of the lake as well as the state capital!

We stayed at this hotel for a week, which gave us plenty of time to adsorb the full experience…read more Before you even think about coming here, you need to be aware of the parking situation if you're bringing a car. We played the car parking juggling game by using street parking after 6 PM which is free, but you better move it before 8 AM if you don't wanna ticket. They do have a garage at the hotel but it is $28 a day. We found that the city garage directly across the street charges on average $10 less for overnight parking. Either way, you pay. In order to keep this review from becoming too long, I'll just list the pros, cons and some notes. PROS: very comfy bed and pillows, hot water/pressure, room safe, mini fride, ironing board/iron, blackout curtains, plenty of outlets, decent TV, airport shuttle, gym with a Pellaton, jacuzzi, pool, they do offer a dry cleaning service, The Audrey restaurant and bar. They have some small conference rooms upstairs. Behind the Audrey they have an ATM and charging stations. The hotel has a direct skyway connection to the conference center across the way. Nice room views. Very close walking distance to the Capital and many shops and restaurants. CONS: No stationary/pen, no microwave, no room service after 10pm, no laundry facilities, parking, AC unit was clunky and noisy, there's also a noticeable intermittent compressor- like noise cycling on/off all night long that reverberates throughout the building which drove me nuts. The bathroom is straight out of a Best Western, no walk in shower, carpeted rooms instead of laminate, no complementary breakfast or coffee ($4), no free room water unless you're a Hilton's honor member. NOTES: this hotel is very dog friendly and allows pets in the rooms which you may or may not be happy with. If you have allergies, you may wish to reconsider this place because it's very likely a dog has been in your room. The carpeting only exacerbates the problem. I was told that floors 6+7 tend to be pet free. They do have a small commissary downstairs where you can get your morning Starbucks, and other snacks, etc. finally, you need to use your key card every time you use the elevator. The general consensus after almost 200 reviews is 3 1/2 stars which is what I agree with. 10 informative photos for your consideration.

Double trees have always had a special place in my heart for some reason…read more We arrived at around 2 o'clock, and the staff that greeted us were super friendly. The concierge, with the utmost friendliness informed us at a room was not ready, but she did give us a parking pass to get into the parking garage and assured us at a room would be ready when we return. What if we returned right after the car was parked in about 30 seconds? I thought that might be a little bit optimistic so we elected to walk down to the capital to get some lunch. After a nice meal and a very casual stroll down State Street, we returned shortly after 4 o'clock and were again very warmly and friendily greeted this time. We had good news waiting for us because our room we were informed specifically as being on the top floor was ready for us. I got the very complementary "thanks for being a diamond member" and for one reason or another, we got to drink vouchers to use. This was quite the contrast from our last stay, just the proceeding days before, where nothing was recognized and I was put on the bottom floor and basically forgotten about. It can be a bitch to get your bags from the car once it's parked, but in this situation is actually very easy. The elevator is very close to most of the spots if not all of the spots in the parking area so once you wheel your luggage on over you basically are just in the elevator to your room. Our room was lovely very large TV very nice window with a decent view of the city that includes a capital building in the distance. The location of the place was great many restaurants and other items of interest within walking distance. Shower was great. Bed was great. Towels were great. So many good things to say about this place.

Wow this hotel is a gem! The service here is absolutely incredible!…read more This hotel does charge for parking and it is $25. The parking is very easy and they have two lots. They have one that connects directly to the main front entrance and is on the second floor of the hotel. Then they have one behind the hotel. Now this hotel is a 15 minute walk to the university and 15 minutes to the capital. Now if you don't want to walk they offer a free shuttle up to two miles in distance. This allows you to leave your car and enjoy the shuttle. It is such a fantastic experience being able to text the hotel as I'm paying my dinner bill. Then I go to exit the restaurant and I see the shuttle ready for me. Overall if you are looking for a hotel in a nice area, a complimentary shuttle, easy parking, and truly some of the nicest staff I've ever encountered then stay here. I look forward to staying here every trip to Madison.