I am a huge fan of B&B's, especially those of the vintage and Victorian variety, so naturally when I was researching places to stay for my brief Madison getaway, Hotel Ruby Marie definitely caught my eye! It's so charming and well maintained for a building of its age! It's not a cookie-cutter-corporate hotel. And compared to the hotels in the surrounding area, it's a bargain to stay for one night! My check-in and check-out interactions went smoothly and were very pleasant. The room was tidy and I appreciated the small details--a secretary desk for addressing a few quick post cards to pals, a vintage feel to the toilet--a high placed tank and long chain for flushing, and of course a tub with Jacuzzi jets which came in handy for unwinding after my evening exploration! Other pros include: the free drink vouchers for happy hour at the Up North Bar (which in itself is a real gem--a fine and interesting mix of pleasant folks, live music in the evenings, great bar tenders), the location of the hotel downtown (it was just a few minutes walk to breathtaking scenery by the lake, fine dining, and the venue of the concert I was attending later in the evening) and in-room fridges (which had complimentary water but were otherwise empty, leaving plenty of room for leftovers--I hate when the fridge is packed with mini-bar options and leaves no room for items you may bring back to the room/have brought with you). There are just a handful of cons though; nothing was a big enough deal-breaker that I wouldn't stay again, but I would like to make note of them. Previous reviewers have mentioned the noise issue: depending on where you're located in the hotel, it is possible to hear noise from the Up North Bar and their nightly musical guests; I could hear them when traveling about the hotel but not from my room. What I COULD hear from my room (which faced the lakeside) were the trains as the tracks practically run right below your window. It was difficult to sleep uninterrupted, particularly around 3 am as that seems to be prime time for train travel through this area. I'd advise some earplugs if you find yourself in one of these rooms. Also, when I booked my room a month or so ago, I was delighted to hear that I'd be staying in a lakeside room, but as you'll note in the photos accompanying this review, the view is more of the traffic surrounding the hotel than the lake. I came to Madison to explore though, not to laze about in my room and unwind, so I wasn't super bummed about the view, but I definitely wouldn't make it sound like a treat to staying in the room I occupied. My biggest gripe was the breakfast. I've stayed in many a B&B and breakfast is the star of the show, usually. Not so with the Ruby Marie. It's more continental style, rather than made-to-order and it was mostly baked goods and cereal and under-ripe fruit. I had high hopes for the savory pastries as they appeared to be the only warm options, but it was obvious they'd been reheated and not thoroughly. After a raucous night of concert going and then staying up in the Up North Bar, I definitely would have appreciated tucking into something warmer and substantial (though I guess late night shenanigans aren't on the ticket for most week-day guests but hey...). To make a long story short, I'll definitely be back if I find myself in Madison again, just maybe with some ear plugs in hand and alternative breakfast plans... But I'll definitely stay at the Ruby Marie! read more