My family and I were coming to enjoy the New England Christmas weather and wanted to stay near, but not in, Boston...we have visited Salem in the past and felt it would be a great "base camp"...and The Merchant has been an absolutely amazing experience... Jennifer (the GM) has been wonderful, and her other staff members have been equally attentive...the property is beautifully kept and while the decor is not "traditional" to the home, it is comfortable and relaxing while being elegant...no pretentious attitudes or posturing...my 13 year old son is perfectly at ease, as are myself and my wife... If you are looking for a home away from home when traveling in the area, I highly recommend The Merchant...with our key to the front door and the relaxed and friendly staff we feel like we are staying with family or friends instead of a soul-less chain hotel... read more

Really cozy and chic hotel! I loved the complimentary tea, coffee, and snacks. The staff was very friendly an accomodating! My husband and I would definitely go back. read more

This hotel is beyond beautiful - its aesthetic is funky yet sophisticated, chic yet cozy - with an acute attention to detail in every corner. Clearly a lot of love went into crafting this space - and the staff were friendly an helpful. We cannot recommend The Merchant highly enough and will definitely be returning! read more

Just spent two nights here in the George Washington room. I loved staying here . I loved the room , the bathroom, the decor . The staff leaves at night and the house is yours. I loved that part. Breakfast is awesome as well. My only minus is .... I just didn't sleep well there ... don't read about it before you go !!! read more

If you are looking for a little getaway, look no more! The Merchant is the place to be. We came up for a Sunset Sail and decided to spend the night here. The rooms are beautifully decorated, outrageously clean and mirror what they look like on their website. Service was amazing! When entering the room, we were greeted with a little note thanking us for staying, cookies to have as a snack, and bottled water. We chose the George Washington room. The fireplace and heated bathroom floors are a must! There are so many restaurants and shops walking distance to this location. We will definitely be staying at The Merchant, next time we visit Salem! Thanks again! read more

We stayed in the George Washington room and it was awesome! Staff was very helpful! Hotel was clean and sanitized. We are definitely going to return! read more

We chose your property because it was a LARK property and loved your place on Martha's Vineyard. This is now my favorite hotel to date! Thank you for your hospitality. We loved everything about our stay! read more

The perfect place to stay in Salem for our honeymoon. Everyone was very helpful way before booking and during our stay. They always answered my emails/messages and were able to accommodate my late check in. We stayed in room 7, which also happened to be my husband's favorite lucky number, and the view was awesome! The bedding was even more awesome! The snacks were complementary and the parking a easy walk. In fact, we did not use the car the entire time in Salem because everything was pretty much in walking distance from hotel. The merchant even went beyond hospitality by leaving us a note, champagne, and two glasses in our room. We will for sure be back!!! read more

See all

My husband and I were looking for a quick overnight getaway to celebrate an anniversary and had been wanting to visit the Peabody Essex Museum. I checked around on the web and The Merchant kept coming up and looking good. We booked a room and got a mini vacation. The building is a beautiful old Federal Mansion that has been both lovingly preserved and with just enough added color and pizzazz to keep it from being too stuffy. Small and intimate, the public areas were very inviting and there's a deck which will be great when the weather warms up. Parking is free nearby and you can walk to just about everywhere you'd want to see from the hotel. Our room was just funky enough up in the eaves. All the rooms have big, comfy beds, gas fireplaces, free wi-fi, apple TV, a blue-tooth clock radio and the use of and iPad. There are snacks and coffee and beverages available all day and we got a voucher for breakfast at a nearby coffee shop which filled the bill nicely. Our room had a huge soaking tub which was great after a day of sightseeing. There's lots to see and do in Salem and the Museum is excellent and can take a whole day. The best part of the experience was Jennifer, the manager, who made us feel like long lost family as soon as we walked in the door, making us feel right at home showing us where to find everything and giving us the grand tour. She was very knowledgeable about the area and suggested some great dinner choices - the Firenze was wonderful! And then like any perfect host, she vanished until we needed her assistance again. She made a great visit truly memorable. We've already recommended this place to our friends and as we would to anyone else. We'll definitely be back. read more

Very quaint, very nice looking!!! But if you're looking for a hotel that embraces Salem's history, don't go looking here. It's not your Halloween-town place. I feel like they're trying to have nothing to do with it. The Merchant - before renovation - has quite a bit of a macabre history, which none of the staff seems to acknowledge. Very pleasant though! ...Besides a few pretentious people working there. Do NOT book through any other site besides the Merchant's itself. Booking.com gave us $180/night, but the Merchant charged us 360/night...it was quite a surprise, and no, we were not reimbursed. read more

I went stayed here for my birthday in the George Washington suite. The hotel is great. The room is nice, clean and comfortable. I love the heated tiles in the bathroom and the softness of the bed/ fire place. This is my favorite hotel out of all hotels Ive stayed at. The only reason I deducted a star was the parking situation. We went on a day where most of the hotels in Salem were sold out in the winter due to dome ball event. The directions on where to park weren't clear on the website and it was impossible to turn my car around in the small driveway they had. read more

We came to town for a family wedding and were delighted with our stay at The Merchant. The room was more than comfortable, absolutely beautiful, quiet, and we had all of the comforts of home. The staff was super helpful and the little kitchen with snacks and foods available, coffee, and other beverages was a lovely addition. The entire facility is total comfort, beauty, and in a wonderful central location of Salem for perfect sightseeing opportunities. We highly,highly recommend The Merchant for your stay. read more

My favorite boutique hotel. Charming colonial era mansion converted into a hotel. It manages to keep the feel of an old historic place while staying exceptionally clean. The amenities are luxurious and the hotel is decorated by someone that must be an accomplished designer. We stayed in the George Washington room. The location is ideal to get to the tourist sites and the surprisingly fun night life. read more

Beautiful hotel , great decor and perfect location. BUT be sure to ask and get a description of the room you are staying in. We stayed in room #2. It was on the first floor and next to reception and kitchen. You could hear people coming and going, the AC unit must be in the basement below room 2 since it sounded like a freight train coming a couple times an hour. The room looks onto nothing- a cement wall, rusty fence, a bunch of crap and a small front parking lot. We were not told this was the case- it would seem all other rooms have a decent view. We were in Salem for the weekend for a wedding . The bathroom lighting was extremely dark - no way you could attempt to put makeup on and there was no full length mirror. The person that worked there gave us a small lamp to put in the bathroom - unfortunately didn't help the situation- we were also brought a mirror - but honestly we shouldn't have to ask for these things- just inconvenient. We asked to change rooms but they were fully booked and other hotels in the area were full as well. I would recommend the hotel but not room 2!!! For $500 a night I expected a better accommodation. Kinda bummed. read more

My girlfriend and I stayed here for a long weekend and loved it. The beds are the comfiest I've ever slept in, the decor is excellent, and the customer service is friendly, helpful, and welcoming. In addition, the hotel is so conveniently located, right in the middle of downtown Salem. We definitely want to stay here the next time we're in town! read more

Can't say enough good things about this place. We are both local but our stay was a great "getaway" without leaving town. The rooms are awesome, the staff is super friendly and accommodating. read more

We booked most of the rooms at the Merchant Hotel for our sons wedding this weekend. The hotel is lovely. The beds are ridiculously comfortable, the decor fun, the social areas of the hotel ( so much more than a lobby) are intimate and were a great place for us to congregate. The breakfast essentials were plenty for us- fresh fruit, yogurt, kind bars but the hotel is currently providing coupons for breakfast at a local restaurant Jennifer, the manager, is lovely. She went out of her way to accommodate our party and make us comfortable and welcome. She even captured wonderful photographs of the wedding party and helped make hair and make up appointments for our out of town guests . I would absolutely stay here again and wouldn't hesitate at all to recommend the Merchant. It's really a standout. read more

We stayed at The Merchant on 12/30/15 for a little one night getaway. The Inn is gorgeous; so comfortable, with a very successful and warm marriage of the traditional and stunning 18th century architecture with contemporary colors and whimsy. We stayed in the historic George Washington Room, which we suspect George would barely recognize :) The fireplace and heated bathroom floors were welcoming and luxurious on a chilly, rainy day / night. The bed was extremely comfortable, and linens perfection. The view from the front windows was charming; framing a holiday lit village snapshot. The room, bathroom and hotel were SPOTLESS. The thematic decor in the room was terrific: the eagle over the fireplace, the star spangled ceiling, and the George Washington silhouette pillow -special favorites! But, the whole experience was 'made' by the lovely hotel manager Jennifer. She was simply fantastic (had to save a fitting superlative for her!) From our arrival in wet dreary weather and her warm greeting, welcome, tour, and 'settling us in', until we checked out, she was so warm and welcoming, knowledgeable and helpful (without being intrusive). She recommended great restaurants for lunch and dinner. An example of her over the top hospitality: I called prior to arrival date to ask if there was a refrigerator in the room, and was there an ice bucket and ice, as we thought we would be bringing a very good bottle of champagne. We opted not to, but when we arrived, Jennifer had four ice buckets (including elegant cut glass) from her home to choose from, and ice. WOW!!! She is charming; we could not imagine anyone better suited for this job. We have already recommended the Hotel to friends, have a reservation made in a few months, but hope to be back sooner. What a lovely experience. Thank you! Jeanne and Jack read more

Had such a pleasant stay at this true gem property . Almost perfection ! Makes you want to Yelp .

Although we have not stayed at this hotel we were on a tour with a couple that was staying here at the time. They asked a bit about the history of the hotel and the tour guide told them that the hotel has been known to have some paranormal events take place. She explained that at night you may feel a weight at the end of your bed as if someone is sitting at the foot of the bed and people have explained to seeing a shadowing human like figure standing in the corner of your room in the dark only to disappear every time you flick the lights on. The staff apparently gets pretty "grumpy" when you bring it up or ask questions for fear of losing business. Like I said, we have not stayed here however I'd do my research when staying in any 17th and 18th century Home in Salem! We truly love the town and all the spoils and thrills it has to offer, I just don't know if we'd want to sleep with other unwanted guests in the room! Whether you're into those thrills or not, the town itself is so fun and has so much to do!! Happy sleeping y'all! read more

Loved this hotel! We stayed at six hotels during our trip of New England and this was my favorite by far. It was charming and the staff was accommodating and super friendly. Great location, central to everything and free parking. Amazing decor and extra perks like snacks and drinks offered during the day. Delicious breakfast buffet and terrific surprise of a dry bar in the evening (they don't have a liquor license yet so we were able to bring spirits in from liquor store down the block.). The room was lovely and romantic. Loved waking up to the fireplace and heated bathroom floors. We were even given an upgraded for our anniversary!!! I didn't even realize the building was known to be haunted and has such an amazing history related to the witch trails and George Washington once stayed in the building. This gave it an extra element of fun and mystery. Loved our stay!!! read more

Our stay here was great! The location is central to everything. The room was kept very clean and they went out of their way to accommodate you. The breakfast they had in the morning was so good! I will definitely be staying at a Lark hotel again in the future. read more

Beautiful boutique hotel right in the middle of Salem. Gorgeous room, amazing amenities, and friendly staff. I was a late arrival and not only did they email me self check-in instructions just in case, they stayed extra late to make sure I got in ok and helped with parking. Awesome location right at the top of all the touristy stuff in Salem, easy walking distance to everything you'd want to see and great recommendations. Room was clean and comfy, breakfast and snacks were yummy, and it was so convenient to have pantries with water, coffee, tea, and seltzer available at all hours. Would absolutely stay again! read more

Loved the staff, atmosphere and our room! Well maintained historic house with a really cool modern vibe. Every room has a fireplace! Snacks available 24 hrs a day, water bottles in the room, kitchen available to use, beautifully furnished lobby with gas and wood fireplaces. They have a "breakfast alignment" with The Front Street Coffee House which is also a great hip little coffee house with friendly staff and cool atmosphere! Jennifer, the Inn Manager, is personable and ready to make it the best stay possible. She genuinely cared about our needs and wanted to know what we thought about our whole experience. Also want to mention Kiera, one of the Inn staff members, who was very sweet and friendly and attentive! read more

Had a great brief stay. Comfortable rooms, great decor, pleasant staff, good location. Wished we had a longer visit and were able to take advantage of the quiet 2nd floor deck. read more

The Merchant was the perfect choice! Very clean and beautifully appointed rooms. Extremely clean bathrooms and friendly, helpful staff. Our room was hidden away, so it was extremely quiet - well, it is only and 11 room hotel, after all. The breakfast was great, and, the 24 hour snacks were awesome! This boutique hotel was in the center of everything! If you want to know where the locals eat to avoid the tourist traps, just ask somebody at the desk! We will definitely be back! read more

Absolutely outstanding. What an extraordinary boutique hotel. I still can't believe how wonderful our one night stay was here. Welcoming staff, thoughtful treats for guests, picture perfect accommodations... I mean, we will go to Salem again to spend more time here. We only saw one room but it blew our expectations out of the water. I wish I'd gotten the manager's name when we were there - she was really great. Very chill, professional, and friendly. We were a little alarmed that our room was being cleaned before we checked out (it was early, we'd just run for breakfast, came back a half hour later to pack up and get out but the staff was already turning it over...) but that was just a misunderstanding. The parking is a little different in that you have to park in a lot down the street, so check with them first if you are traveling alone and handicap. They have a tiny lot and might have something reserved, I dunno. Actually, they don't have an elevator (I think) so also make sure you check that, too. This place is definitely worth the splurge. Walking distance to good food and sites, Lyft works fine in Salem and the ride to farther sites wasn't expensive. You'll find you'll want to hang out in your room and in the common spaces. There is a patio too. I literally have not one negative thing to say, and only mentioned the premature turning over of our room and the parking to demonstrate I'm trying to be a little objective. The room was spotless, the bathroom well appointed with heated floors, I think we had a fireplace, the decorations and design were so exciting - my enthusiasm for this place runs over... Find all the pictures you can online - the best ones really do look that way in real life. Our pictures, taken for friends and family, don't even do it justice. It must be a real labor of love for someone. read more

I wish I could give Jennifer and The Merchant more than 5 stars. This was the best hotel experience ever. And we were snowed in during Salems 3rd Noreaster! We were on the first floor, in room 1. The room was beautiful and so comfortable. We had big windows that overlooked the front street, down comforters, a gas fireplace and a sitting area. Jennifer made breakfast, lunch snacks and found restaurants that were open during the storm so we didn't go stir crazy. Internet, cable tv channels and netflix kept us busy while we watched the snow fall. You are able to sit in the living areas of the house in front of fireplaces and read, play board games and visit. The hotel provided snacks like pretzels, pirates booty, clementines, and soda water. Breakfast was quiches, peanut butter & banana on bread, yogurt, granola, fruit, coffee and orange juice. Lunch was hummus, cucumber slices, crackers and grilled cheese. Guests have access to the store their own food in the hotel refrigerator. I didn't realize when I booked how close to many attactions the hotel was. Walking distance to many stores and restaurants. Because of the storm we did not get to visit the attractions we wanted to, but because of Jennifer we still enjoyed or trip. But I would plan a vacation again just to stay at this hotel! read more

What a gem! My husband and I loved celebrating our anniversary at The Merchant. It was an intimate and cozy atmosphere but modern and classy at the same time. We felt right at home. From our arrival to checkout the manager Jennifer was so warm and welcoming. Our room had a cute congratulations note with a lovely bottle of red wine and yummy cookies. What a special and nice touch to arrive to. The room and property were gorgeous! Very spacious and lovely views overlooking Washington Street from our room. Everything was impeccable and clean. The bed was so comfortable! They provide you an iPad during your stay loaded with information on the area, and places to eat. That was tremendously helpful. There was also a small kitchen with snacks, tea, coffee that was at your disposal anytime. Location was perfect, walking distance to everything in the historic district. I cannot stress enough how much I recommend The Merchant! We cannot wait to go back! Thank you for making our stay so memorable. read more

See all

Great decor, helpful staff, centrally located. It was a great surprise. We'll return.

This is a beautiful hotel/inn with gorgeous rooms and a great breakfast. In Downtown Salem close to all of the attractions. I can't say enough about the hotel or staff. I have rarely stayed in a place (and I travel a lot) where the rooms are so well appointed and everyone is Very helpful and accommodating. Loved it! read more

Nice charming building in best location of Salem. Friendly staff. clean room. Very pleasant stay. Great value.

My husband and I spent 4 nights at The Merchant and had a wonderful time! The hotel is designed beautifully. And while we had to carry our luggage to the 3rd floor, I wouldn't sacrifice the historic charm for an elevator. The staff is very helpful and accommodating. The pantry is well stocked and there is a refrigerator available for the guests. You couldn't ask for a better location. We will definitely book again should we find ourselves in or around Salem! read more

My fiancee and I recently stayed here for a night to celebrate our third anniversary. We chose the hotel because of a Travel Zoo deal that made the price very affordable for a night away. The small size of the hotel and the historic ties were both pleasant surprises that we learned about after booking a room through Travel Zoo. We really enjoyed our stay at this new hotel. The interior is updated and very modern. Some features, however, preserve the historic nature of the building and blend old and new--the rustic door handle on the front door, exposed wood floors, and uniquely shaped rooms, closets, & bathrooms. Our room was clean and welcoming, with many aspects that made our stay very comfortable, such as a bluetooth capable clock radio, wine glasses, and light blocking shades for the several windows. In the common areas, complimentary snacks and beverages were provided. The employee who greeted us upon check-in was very welcoming and helpful in getting us settled in, and also provided an iPad with suggestions for local activities and restaurants. A few negatives that we experienced during our stay... We found that the water in the shower would not get what we considered "hot." It was warm at best, but consistent in temperature through the shower (i.e. it did not get freezing cold, thankfully!). Due to the historic nature of the room, the TV had to be mounted on a wall parallel to the bed, and thus felt like it was at a bit of an odd angle for TV viewing. Finally, I found a large clump of hair on the bath towel I used--clearly matted into the towel from the laundering process, but unpleasant nonetheless! Overall, we really enjoyed our stay in this interesting, historic, and quiet hotel. The location was very convenient to numerous restaurants and shops, and we enjoyed the ability to walk to dinner in just a few minutes. One other note--plan for a short walk if you drive, as the parking lot is not onsite! read more

I loved it so much I'm planning to stay again in November. Two things you should be aware of if you're particular. 1 no elevator. 2 it's in an OLD house. Which means creaky floors and stair case. I liked this though. It gave it something special. It was an and old feel without it being creepy. Spacious rooms beautifully decorated in a modern decor. Super comfy beds, gas fireplace in the room and great toiletries. You get a real key for the front door and for your room instead of those plastic cards. The staff is very sweet and helpful. Great location if you're walking everywhere. read more

The Merchant is a creative blend of the new and the old, a beautiful and elegant historic building with all the modern amenities anyone could ask for! All 11 guest rooms are spacious and inviting, with gas-fired fireplaces for those cold winter evenings. The flat-screen TV, free wi-fi, and Apple-TV make you feel connected, while the quiet rooms, insanely comfortable furnishing and bedding, and great common spaces for just hanging out make you feel you've gotten away from it all. And the little touches, like underfloor heating in the bathrooms, give that little sense of luxury missing in some many hotels today. Can't recommend The Merchant highly enough. The Merchant is within walking distance to all the Salem attractions, and too many good restaurants nearby to count. We had a really great stay! read more