Wonderful hospitality! Have stayed many times. Peaceful and ideal location. Come in for a drink Thursday - Sunday 4- 9 pm read more

Voss Birchwood Lodge - Spider lake - Hotels Near Me - Manitowish Waters, Wisconsin

So all the reviews currently on Yelp appears to be for the restaurant, versus the accommodations. Well, I can't help you on the food part but we did stay for 3 nights do here's how the overnight part shakes out: Your experience will depend entirely on your interpretation of "vintage", your need for creature comforts and your tolerance for absurdity. There are cabins for rent if you have a bigger group, but we stayed in the lodge which was built in the 1920's and renovated in the 70's - nothing much has changed since then and they are very open in telling you that staying here is a "step back in time". You can interpret that a lot of ways. What you get for $110/night (off season): * A quiet property just off Hwy 51 * Lots of mature trees, a quiet bay and piers if you have a boat * History - the lodge is still owned by the family that built it. In fact, one of the original owners was the guy that snitched out John Dillinger to the FBI. * Firepits with wood for campfire good times * Clean, very basic rooms * Window AC in summer (as you can see from the photo of our bathrooms, ours was removed but left on the floor) * A restaurant that is open at random days and times in the off season (we never managed to catch it open) * Exciting bathroom adventures - ours was carpeted (!), another had a puffy toilet seat and best of all, the last room had a toilet that flushed only steaming hot water. What you don't get: * A TV (2 of the 3 rooms didn't have them) * Heat - it looks like most rooms have space heaters * Although rooms are advertised as having a fridge 2/3 didn't though one had a microwave(?) * Tons of privacy - our deck was shared with another room and there was only a fairly sheer curtain on our doors Overall, it was just a really interesting experience - staff ranged from awesome to indifferent - YMMV. I think for $110/night off-season you can probably do a LOT better in terms of finding a place with amenities but you certainly will miss out on a true up north old school experience. If you have a good sense of humor, check them out - it might be your jam. read more

See all

Wonderful old rustic resort, beautiful decors in lodge and cabins. Beautiful views from cabin we stayed in and very comfy. Restaurant was closed when we were there but I know it's supposed to be fabulous. Hopefully we'll reopen soon. read more

Premier Northwoods lodge from the 1910's for dinner lakeside dining. Recommend the sautéed walleye with capers, herb mashed potatoes (the BEST) and salad. Cherry pie is a must (if available) or butterscotch sundae. Take lakeside walk after dinner. Be in a 'no rush' mode for dinner. read more

Voss Birchwood Lodge - Sautéed walleye with herb mashed potatoes. Plate shows extra capers as requested. The BEST! - Hotels Near Me - Manitowish Waters, Wisconsin

I came here for a special night out and ended up being disappointed. The lodge itself seems like a great place to stay. Moose heads, deer and muskie are found plastered all over the walls of the main sitting room. It's very cozy with the wood fire and the employees were very informative and helpful. Apparently, the woman working the desk has a husband whose grandmother is the person who called the FBI about John Dillinger and he was shot shortly after in the woods nearby. Top that for a fun story! However, my review is strictly for the restaurant. The actual dining room left a lot to be desired. It went from North woods atmosphere in the sitting room to pictures of flowers in the dining hall. Also, the table clothes and chairs made me feel like I was back in the 80s. The waitresses still roll out all food on those noisy carts that squeak as they move around. The prices were fairly high - almost $25 for a steak that was overcooked. My apple pie dessert was definitely store bought and I was hoping for homemade. I really don't have much good to say about the food here. Voss looks like a fun place to stay for a visit but their dinner menu is something to look past. Northern Wisconsin has too many great places to spend hard earned dollars at a place stuck in the past. read more

This is a historical lodge on Spider Lake. The ambiance is why people go, not for the food, or service. When you walk in, you are greeted by excellent period decor - big fireplace, stuffed animals, carved wood furniture, the works, and the birch wood paneling. You might just want to stop by, get a drink in their bar, then find another place to eat nearby. If you do eat at Voss', it's not bad, but it's not great. And it's really not their fault, they want to be great, but it's a seasonal place; so most of the staff is seasonal and they don't have enough time to get in the full swing of things and that's too bad. Still worth a visit on your great Northwoods vacation, though! read more

See all

The atmosphere of this place is great- a classic north woods lodge. There's lots of antiques and animals on the wall. The food on the other hand was not great. The vegetables were from a can, mashed potatoes seemed to be from a box, and the pie did not seem homemade. Definitely not worth it for the price. read more

Our friends who live in the area wanted us to try the Voss restaurant both because of the food and the antique dining room. We enjoyed the depression glass and other very valuable antiques. The food, on the other hand, left much to be desired. My stuffed walleye was bland and the fish had no taste. The buttered red potatoes were a mushy mess, and none of us found them edible. My wife's steak was not a top cut, so was chewy and hard to cut. Our friends had deep fried scallops, which seemed frozen with a breading that overwhelmed the scallop taste. They also were fried too dark. The husband had the "fisherman" and his fish was passable, but the red potatoes were also unedible. The salad was just a common dinner salad, but the cream of mushroom soup was bland and nearly bereft of mushrooms. I might give them a second chance. Finally the service was spotty despite a dearth of diners. We were seated for our 6 pm reservation, and our entrees were presented at 7:15 pm. Don't be in a rush if you choose to eat here. Our friends were devastated after wanting to take us to a great northwoods supper club. read more

Great food. Love the flare of the restaurant and the history. Hands down the best breakfast. Just a little slow on service. But it is all about the experience. So sit back and enjoy the views while you wait because they are beautiful read more

Such a sweet spot! Beautiful and old-timey. Lovely owners and very good service. One of the most nostalgic places around, we just love it!

I have been to Voss Birchwood Lodge probably 6 or 8 times in the past few years. We keep going back because the place is very Northwoods and the food and service are above average. The place has birch bark décor with mounted fish and deer on the walls. Exactly what you think of when a nicer Northwood's lodge comes to mind. The food swings between average and excellent (this may be dependent on choices, I don't think I have ever ordered the same thing twice). I would recommend the blue cheese stuffed fillet, this definitely peaks the excellent meter! Voss's is accessible by boat on Spider Lake, it is tucked away in a small bay so you need to know where you where you are looking. If you see a white footbridge crossing a bay you have found it. The restaurant is open seasonally. Memorial Day through October 1 or there about. Skiers and snowmobilers are out of luck (too bad). read more

Joke. Ridiculous as a restaurant but great as an antique shop or haunted house. Food and service terrible, although they did sorta try, soup was probably can of Campbell soup with 4 cans of water added, yuk, there was one half a chunk of dumpling and a half a chunk of what was probably chicken, in the chicken dumpling soup. Everything took a long time, a drink, the bill, the food, checking on us after we got the food. Unable or unwilling to throw a few tables together to accommodate a large party, even with no one else in the place. My expensive steak was bone dry, not a drop of juice in it, how is that possible? Please don't go there and put yourself through that. read more

A very special place, a 100 year old resort that has stayed in the family, with a beautiful view of Spider Lake. The birch bark trim in the dining room you won't find anywhere else. Fresh flowers on the tables. A leisurely atmosphere that reminds us of a bygone era. The wait staff is often young people from Europe, another treat. I like everything on the menu, including the lamb, crab stuffed sole, and steak. If you want big city food and atmosphere, do not go here. If you want a unique experience and a trip back in time, with good food at reasonable prices, three generations of my family go there every summer. Call and make reservations so you make sure you have a table. read more

We've been going to Voss' to eat for years. Never had a bad meal. Their walleye dinner is fantastic! Last week I ordered a 6oz filet mignon stuffed with blue cheese and wrapped in bacon - it was wonderful. Higher priced dining but you get great quality food for your money and a wonderful atmosphere that would be hard to beat. This year they opened their birch bar and we had an outstanding time there. read more

We love visiting this place and we're happy to see we could have dinner before they closed for the season. Once again, it was one of the best duck dinners we have had! Another delicious meal to top off our vacation. read more

This review is nothing about food and everything about hospitality. Tonight we arrived at the Voss restaurant at 7:45. Instead of being greeted warmly, an older woman sneered that they only serve food until 8. Fine, kitchen is closing, we'll go elsewhere. It was the rude tone that was offensive and I was ready to try someplace else that is open later on a Friday night. Then she huffed that she could set up a table. My husband wanted to stay since we had driven six hours and everyone was very hungry. She proceeded to set the table for four (we were five) and did so slowly and begrudgingly. Then another woman at the front desk yelled at my five year old for chasing his brother around a couch in the lobby. I was already telling him not to run in the lobby. Again, what could have been minor grievance was rude and exaggerated. We have a summer home in the area and are frequent patrons of the lovely supper clubs and tasty restaurants that the Northwoods has to offer. I cherish family time in a friendly, slower pace of life community. Take a pass on the Voss. These women don't deserve your business and they certainly won't get mine. read more

Voss' Birchwood Lodge is a historic Wisconsin treasure, run by the same family for more than 100 years! Various friends visiting from the Chicago and Mikwaukee areas request we return there time and again to experience the 'real' northwoods. Love their birchwood bar overlooking Spider Lake! For dinner, walleye is our favorite. Their use of antiques throughout the building, as well as in their table settings, adds an ambiance not found elsewhere. Truly, Voss' is a dining experience like none other in the northwoods. read more

Honestly, the most authentic Northwoods setting in the area. Turn of the century decor is all original. The view is spectacular. The menu has had minimal tweaks as it continues to be passed through generations of original family owners. We had our wedding reception there years ago and continue to return every year. read more

From the moment I walked in I should've known. The decorations and atmosphere are like out of an old eclitic movie that came to life! Creepy!! Staff not friendly. Menu old, tattered and only 10 choices for the evening. Ordered salmon. Salad was "rusty" and I had to remove many pieces. Some of the crackers were stale. Salmon came, topped with cheap maple syrup. No taste. No texture. Vegetable was snow peas, cooked way too long, no flavor and mushy. Rice was good. No one came to check (and was nowhere to be seen) and by the time she did my husband was done with his meal. He ordered steak and it was not prepared properly, had no flavor and mashed potatoes were watery, mushy. Upon telling staff the issue, she said that's really rare. Um, hope so. She offered free dessert. I said, it was bad. Then she took some money off our bill. UNREAL. I've never had a more terrible meal. The only reason we stopped was we couldn't get in at little bohemia. Not worth it, keep driving! What a waste of money! read more