Mendocino: Brewery Gulch Inn; hotel review

1 North

Brewery Gulch Inn  

9401 Hwy. 1 N., 1 mi. S of town, (800) 578-4454, (707) 937-4752.  11 rooms; $$-$$$+.  Unsuitable for children under 12.  All gas fireplaces.  Evening wine & appetizers; full breakfast.  Massage pavilion.  No pets.  $7.50 tip fee/guest/day for food servers.

entrance to Brewery Gulch Inn in Mendocino, California

Nestled in a clearing ringed with redwoods and pines and perched back from the dramatic cliffs of Smuggler's Cove, this contemporary inn is reached via a  short rural drive that leads past a 2-acre woodland garden of native plants.  Wooden Pomo Indian tepees await exploration on the state park land adjoining, which also has picnic tables.  

Upper floor guest rooms have an ocean view filtered through tall pines.  Check-in occurs at a handcrafted redwood desk topped with granite in a reception area paneled with eco-salvaged redwood.  The public area beyond, known as the Great Room, has a soaring 14-foot-high ceiling and a dramatic, gigantic, freestanding steel-and-glass-paneled wood-burning fireplace.  It is the perfect place to relax with a good book, and it is where guests gather for the wine hour.  

Great Room at Brewery Gulch Inn in Mendocino, California

wine hour at Brewery Gulch Inn in Mendocino, California

appetizer tray at Brewery Gulch Inn in Mendocino, California

Breakfast is eaten at one of several massive dining tables at one end of the Great Room, where diners enjoy a spectacular view and choose from a menu that might offer a classic bacon and eggs (the Millionaire's bacon is salty, sweet, and spicy--a don’t-miss) or a brioche French toast.  Alternatively, breakfast can be delivered to your room.  The complimentary wine-tasting hour includes a boxed tray of heavy appetizers that is generous enough to stand in for a light dinner.  Beer from Local breweries is also an option.  All this and 100% pure, sweet well water comes out of the taps, too! 

breakfast at Brewery Gulch Inn in Mendocino, California

guest room at Brewery Gulch Inn in Mendocino, California

view from guest room at Brewery Gulch Inn in Mendocino, California

The story of how original owner Dr. Arky Ciancutti built the inn is fascinating.  As luck would have it, one night in a local bar he overheard some locals talking about “bottom cuts.”  The term refers to giant virgin redwood logs up to 16 feet in diameter that sank in Big River sludge back in the 1800s.  He decided personally to salvage as many as possible.  To make a long story short--and it is quite a lengthy, fascinating tale wrapped around a lot of hard work--he used this magnificent wood to build this gorgeous inn.  

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images ©2022 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Mendocino: Kelley House Museum; things to do

 1 North

Kelley House Museum

45007 Albion St., (707) 937-5791.  Thur-Sun 11am-3pmr.  Free ($5 donation).  

exterior of Kelley House Museum in Mendocino, California

This ocean-view house was built by William H. Kelley (Daisy MacCallum's father) in 1861.  See MacCallum House.  Unfortunately, the gigantic cypress tree that once grew in the front yard was knocked down by a storm, but thankfully the gardens and pond remain.  Now a museum, its mission is “to collect, preserve, protect and share the rich history of the Mendocino Coast.”  The Kelley House Museum’s restored first floor displays a collection of photos from the 1800s as well as changing exhibits of local artifacts and private collections.  A “Then and Now” exhibit shows comparable area scenes photographed approximately 100 years apart, and a Pomo exhibit provides an historical overview of the town’s earliest residents as well as photographs and artifacts from this Native American tribe. The three upstairs bedrooms are furnished with items that belonged to the Kelley family or that are original to the period in which the family lived in the house.  Town walking tours are available; fee.  

parlour at Kelley House Museum in Mendocino, California

view of water tower from Kelley House Museum in Mendocino, California

children's room at Kelley House Museum in Mendocino, California

doll collection at Kelley House Museum in Mendocino, California

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images ©2022 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Mendocino: Ford House Museum and Visitor Center; things to do

 1 North

Ford House Museum and Visitor Center  

45035 Main St., in Mendocino Headlands State Park, (707) 937-5397.  Daily 11-4.  Free or by donation ($2/person, $5/family).

exterior of Ford House Museum in Mendocino, California

                Inside the historic 1854 Ford House an interpretive center focuses on the area’s cultural and natural history.  A popular exhibit is a scale model of Mendocino as it was in 1890.  Also on display are artifacts and tools used by loggers in the 1800s, a display of Native American artifacts, and several works by artist Emmy Lou Packard, who was a friend of Diego Rivera and Frieda Kahlo and who lived in Mendocino in the late 1950s.  China used by Martha Ford, who resided in the house from 1854 to 1872, is also displayed. 

                Seasonal exhibits include a fall display of living local mushrooms that is kept fresh with updated specimens added every few days.  From December through April whales migrate close to shore.  At that time, from the bluff-top trails in the Mendocino headlands located just outside the house, they can sometimes easily be seen "breaching," or soaring out of the water.  During this whale-watching season, museum visitors can see a collection of grey whale bones and view a related short orientation film as well as get information on interpretive programs available at the adjacent Mendocino Headlands State Park.  In spring, fresh wildflowers are displayed alongside the work of local artists.  

                The Ford House also serves as the village’s official visitor center.  Picnic tables offer a spectacular ocean view, and the museum has the town’s only public restrooms.

interior room with ocean view at Ford House Museum in Mendocino, California

fresh mushroom display at Ford House Museum in Mendocino, California

fresh mushroom display at Ford House Museum in Mendocino, California

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images ©2022 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Mendocino: Stanford Inn by the Sea + Ravens Restaurant; hotel review + restaurant review

1 North 

Stanford Inn by the Sea  

On Comptche-Ukiah Rd., Mendocino, (800) 331-8884, (707) 937-5615.  33 rooms; $$$-$$$+.  Some kitchens; all wood-burning fireplaces.  Indoor heated pool & hot tub; sauna; fitness room.  Afternoon tea; evening snack; full breakfast. 

Located on the outskirts of town, upon a bluff above a scenic llama farm and duck pond that is also home to black swans, the luxurious yet cozy pine- and redwood-paneled contemporary rooms at Stanford Inn by the Sea are decorated with antiques, fresh flowers, and the work of local artists.  Many have views overlooking gardens to the ocean beyond.  Operating as a self-sufficient ecosystem, this unique property has a certified organic garden, nursery, and working farm spread over 10 acres.  The greenhouse-enclosed pool and hot tub are like a tropical retreat, and mountain bikes are available for guests to borrow at no charge.  Dogs get VIP treatment with special bedding, bones, biscuits, and water dishes. 

indoor pool at Stanford Inn by the Sea in Mendocino, California

The inn’s exceptional, totally vegan restaurant, Ravens Restaurant (B&D daily; $$.  Reservations advised.), offers exciting, refined cuisine using only the freshest ingredients.  In addition to serving complex dishes such as wild mushroom galette and blackened tofu Creole, this elegant, creative gourmet venue also offers pizza, polenta, and a portabella burger.

 

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pool image ©2015 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

food images courtesy of venue

Mendocino: Blair House Inn; hotel review

1 North

Blair House Inn  

45110 Little Lake St., (800) 699-9296, (707) 937-1800.  4 rooms, 1 cottage; $$-$$$.  No TVS.  Some shared baths.  Unsuitable for children under 6.  Continental breakfast.  Pets ok. 

exterior of the Blair House Inn in Mendocino, California

Famous as the exterior for Jessica Fletcher’s house in the TV series Murder, She Wrote, this charmingly unaltered 1888 Victorian is constructed of now absurdly expensive virgin clearheart redwood.  All the rooms in the Blair House Inn are decorated with antiques and hand-crafted quilts, but the spacious Angelas Suite has 10-foot ceilings, oriental rugs and a four-poster bed, and a bathroom with a rare Victorian pivoting dip sink and a clawfoot tub.  Beds are cozied up with featherbeds and comforters, and some rooms have ocean views.  The exterior of the house looks much as it did when originally built and is surrounded by a white picket fence and a cottage garden.  Each room gets a half-bottle of Husch Vineyards wine upon arrival, and breakfast consists mostly of organic local products, including Thanksgiving Coffee and Cafe Beaujolais’ Early Bird Cashew Granola.

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image ©2013 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Mendocino Shops; things to do

1 North

Mendocino Shops

Mendocino Twist  

45140 Main St., (707) 937-1717.  Daily 10:30-5:30. 

Mendocino Twist purveys “Eco-groovy” clothing (including organic hemp hoodies), peace-sign potholders, organic notebooks, and more.

Gallery Bookshop  

Main St., 937-BOOK.  Sun-Thur 9:30-6, F-Sat 9:30-9. 

The Gallery Bookshop is the perfect spot for a good, long browse.  It’s even more perfect on a rainy day.




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images ©2013 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

1 North

Mendocino souvenir foods

I’ve made many visits to Mendocino through the years and have built up quite a shopping list of locally-made foods to purchase when I hit town.  I also have some favorite products I collect a few miles north in Fort Bragg, and I’ve  also found goodies that I stop for on the drive in or out.  When you discover how delicious these foods are, you might want to add a few to your own list.   Read more.


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image ©2013 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Mendocino: Artists’ Co-op of Mendocino; things to do

1 North

Artists’ Co-op of Mendocino  

45270 Main St. (west end, upstairs above quilt shop), (707) 937-2217.  Daily 10:30-5; irregular hrs. on Tu in winter. 

interior of the Artists’ Co-op of Mendocino in Mendocino, California

Overlooking the bay, the upstairs gallery of the Artists’ Co-op of Mendocino showcases an ever-changing array of handmade artworks from many of the well-known artists that live in Mendocino.

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image ©2013 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Mendocino: The Watertower Gallery; things to do

1 North

The Watertower Gallery  

611 Albion St., (707) 937-5664.  Thur-Sun 10-11:30am. 

Inside the town’s oldest working water tower, you can view the art of--or take a class from--pastel artist Suzi Long. 


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image ©2013 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Mendocino: The John Dougherty House; hotel review

1 North

The John Dougherty House  

571 Ukiah St., (800) 486-2104, (707) 937-5266.  8 units; $$-$$$.  Unsuitable for children under 12.  Some wood-burning stoves.  Full breakfast.  No pets. 

water tower guest room at The John Dougherty House in Mendocino, California

The 1867 salt box-style John Dougherty House is one of the oldest in town.  Depending on the weather, a communal living room with fireplace or sheltered deck with lounge chairs is a good place to enjoy coffee or tea and afternoon cookies.  Rooms are in the main house, in an adjacent water tower repurposed into a charming two-room suite with a 16-foot-high beamed ceiling and wood-burning stove, and in two cottages amid a lovely English garden that holds a memorably fragrant purple rose bush.  All of the cozy rooms are a little different, and most have pine furniture, stenciling on the walls, and ocean views.  Bed linens are 600-thread-count Neiman Marcus sheets, and they are always ironed.


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image ©2013 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Mendocino: Blue Door Inn; hotel review

1 North

Blue Door Inn  

(Formerly the Whitegate Inn)  499 Howard St., (800) 531-7282, (707) 937-4892..  6 rooms, 1 cottage; $$-$$$+.  All gas fireplaces.  Afternoon wine; full breakfast.  No pets. 

garden at the Blue Door Inn in Mendocino, California

Surrounded by a garden and white picket fence, this updated 1883 Victorian is tastefully furnished in contemporary English style.  Housebaked cookies are always available at the Blue Door Inn, and in the morning guests are served a gourmet two-course breakfast in the formal dining room. 

breakfast fruit plate at the Blue Door Inn in Mendocino, California

Rooms are named after royal residences and have similar decor.  Beds feature padded fabric headboards and are dressed in posh Neiman Marcus linens.  The Buckingham room has a large bathroom with a magnificent oversize soaking tub with tiny jet holes around the bottom (three rooms have this kind of tub) and a fast-fill waterfall faucet, and the Kensington room has an ocean view.


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images ©2013 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Mendocino: The Highlight Gallery; things to do

1 North

The Highlight Gallery  

45052 Main St., (707) 937-3132. 

handmade Noah's Ark at The Highlight Gallery in Mendocino, California

Inside the spacious The Highlight Gallery you’ll find fine ceramics and beautifully crafted jewelry, too.  But the piece de resistance is the exquisitely detailed Noah’s ark that is the shop’s window centerpiece.  I still regret not splurging on this for my grandchildren.  


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image ©2013 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Mendocino: MacCallum House Inn & Restaurant; hotel review + restaurant review

1 North

MacCallum House Inn & Restaurant  

45020 Albion St., (800) 609-0492, (707) 937-0289.  19 rooms; $$-$$$+.  Some wood-burning fireplaces & stoves.  Hot tub.  Full breakfast; restaurant.  Pets ok in some rooms. 

guest room at the MacCallum House Inn & Restaurant in Mendocino, California

Built in 1882 by William H. Kelley for his newlywed daughter, Daisy MacCallum, this converted Victorian mansion was one of the first B&Bs in the area.  The six attractively decorated rooms are furnished with antiques, many of which belonged to the original owner, but TVs are, unfortunately, no longer covered with fabric TV cozies.  The second-floor communal game room has a spectacular ocean view.  A water tower suite is fitted with a bed on the first floor, a bathroom with an ocean view on the second, and another bed with an ocean view on the third.  (The water tower has a working redwood tank on the very top, and the original 50-foot-deep hand-dug well below still produces water.)  Accommodations at the MacCallum House Inn & Restaurant are also available in newer cottages adjacent to the house.  Some rooms have private hot tubs.  Non-guests can purchase a gourmet organic breakfast, which is served in a sunny cafe or, in good weather, outdoors.

The restaurant (D daily; $$$.  Reservations advised.) serves dinners in the house’s dining room.  The regional menu might offer Niman Ranch rack of lamb with a lavender-rosemary popover, or crispy fried chicken with green-onion mashed potatoes and mushroom-sherry gravy.  On cold nights, guests are warmed by crackling fires in two fireplaces built of smooth river stone.  Light dinners and snacks are available across the hall in the cozy Grey Whale Bar & Cafe, also operated by the restaurant.  Drinks are handmade with organic fruit, herbs, and spices and include margaritas and daiquiris.

view from the restaurant at the MacCallum House Inn & Restaurant
in Mendocino, California

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images ©2013 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Mendocino: Patterson's Pub; restaurant review

1 North

Patterson's Pub 

10485 Lansing St., (707) 937-4782. No cards.

exterior of Patterson's Pub in Mendocino, California

Twenty-eight beers are on tap in this cozy traditional Irish pub, and the menu features pub fare--fish & chips, pulled pork sandwich, Philly cheese steak, burgers. Best of the lot is the grill-cut sweet potato fries. Peanuts and popcorn are complimentary, and a leave a book/take a book exchange is available in the back. Patterson's Pub has eight TVs and operates within an 1866 structure that was once the Rectory for Saint Anthony’s Catholic Church.


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image ©2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Mendocino: Alegria Oceanfront Inn & Cottages; hotel review

1 North

Alegria Oceanfront Inn & Cottages

44781 Main St., (800) 780-7905, (707) 937-5150. 10 rooms. Some TVs; some wood-burning fireplaces & stoves. Full breakfast. Hot tub. No pets.

Built as a residence for a sea captain in 1861, the rustic Alegria Oceanfront Inn & Cottages overlooks Big River Beach and features a weathered-wood exterior. Most rooms on the ocean side have a sun deck and ocean view, and Cove cottage has an ocean view from the shower. A private trail leads down to a beach.


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image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Mendocino: Corners of the Mouth; things to do

1 North

Corners of the Mouth  

45015 Ukiah St., (707) 937-5345.   Daily 9-7. 

red building is Corners of the Mouth grocery in Mendocino, California

This collectively operated natural foods store is cramped, but fun to browse and a good place to pick up picnic supplies.  Located inside a recycled old rust-red church, Corners of the Mouth has an old-time hippy feel and sells nice, mostly organic produce as well as Cafe Beaujolais’ Early Bird Cashew Granola in bulk.


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image ©2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Mendocino: Heritage House (REOPENED); hotel review

1 North

Heritage House 

has reopened.  See blog post update 


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Mendocino: Agate Cove Inn; hotel review

1 North

Agate Cove Inn 

11201 N. Lansing St., (800) 527-3111, (707) 937-0551. Unsuitable for children under 12. No TVs; some fireplaces. Hot tub. Cookies; full breakfast. 10 rooms.

Located up on a bluff at the edge of town, this comfortable inn’s single and duplex cottages are spread out on 2 acres. Two rooms are in a cozy 1860s farmhouse, as is the breakfast room overlooking Agate Cove and featuring a stunning ocean view. Breakfast entrees at Agate Cove Inn are often cooked on the kitchen’s 100-year-old Belleville wood stove, and a tray can be delivered to the room. Most rooms have an ocean view, but the Sunstone room has a little porch, bed, and bathtub--all with ocean view.


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image courtesy of inn

Mendocino: Cafe Beaujolais; restaurant review

1 North

Cafe Beaujolais   

961 Ukiah St., (707) 937-5614. L W-Sun, D daily; $$-$$$. Reservations advised.

exterior of Cafe Beaujolais in Mendocino, California

This long-time restaurant operates within an 1893 Victorian farmhouse, now updated with a clean-lined contemporary sleek style featuring sedate colors and dangling track lights. According to one local resident, “This is the best restaurant in town.” Lunch items at Cafe Beaujolais are enticing and might include a Niman Ranch burger, crab cakes Benedict, or quiche. Dinner entrees might include roasted chicken with plenty of mashed potatoes and roasted garlic, a vegetarian spanakopita with sunchokes, or the house specialty pan-roasted California sturgeon fillet with housemade tagliatelle and wild forest mushrooms. For dessert, it’s hard to go wrong with coconut cream pie in a chocolate macaroon crust accompanied by herbal tea served in special plunger pots.

Exceptional breads, including a dense Austrian sunflower version, are baked out back in the Brickery’s wood-burning oven. Do return to pick up a loaf and perhaps a package of the delicious Early Bird Cashew Granola before leaving town.


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image ©2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers