The Madonna Inn in San Louis Obispo is a one-of-a kind experience. The outside exterior is truly wonderful with white similar stylistic carvings resembling the riverboat in the infamous musical “Showboat.” There are at least 4 extraordinary spiraling staircases, leading to the upper floors with red and green colored windows on the towers. Around the gigantic Inn structure are adorable pale pink Lampposts, which are lit at night along with the entire Inn adorned with white Christmas-type lighting.

Each room has a different theme; ours was room #157, the traveler’s suite. It had 2 step stools, leading to majestic kind sized beds, adorned with Victorian-style porcelain lamps. The large bathroom housed a 6-foot long bathtub with two sinks and a red tinted window. 1/3 or the room was taken up by a rock fireplace, reminiscent of the flint stones, but with the modern convenience of a flat screen TV attached on it’s side. This room was easily the size of 3 rooms combined. A couch and two chairs surrounded the over-sized mouth of the fireplace and there was also a round table with 4 red velvet, cushy Victorian-style chairs placed in front of large wall-sized window.

The Steak House was a unique and fun experience. With it’s hot pink leather booths and outrageous ornamentations all around, it was an over the top night. The highlight of the evening were the astonishing and remarkable big band, which played for several hours. These musicians are clearly in the top of their league. We haven’t heard big band played that well since we were forced to watch Lawrence Welk on TV as small children. We were engrossed by the talented dancers both young and old and truly enjoyed dancing ourselves, after a satisfying dinner.

If we could change one thing, it would be more logs for the fire and a longer set with the band! The Madonna Inn is a must-see-to-believe type of journey, suited for young and old a like.


Fawn and Vincent

My 13 year old daughter visited the Madonna Inn website while we were planning our trip to California and Oregan and kept stating our stay at the Inn would be the highlight of the trip. I was so happy to find the Inn was just as expected and we were not disappointed. We stayed in "American Home" and found it very unique. I have seen the word "taky" used in many descriptions and while true, the room was very comfortable and clean and part of what makes the Inn so different. The decor was red, white, blue and included a very comfortable couch, dining table and chairs and a small refrigerator. The bathroom was very pretty, although the 7 foot bathtub was nothing more than a 7 foot long tub. Being from Florida I couldn't imagine needing to light a fire in July, but it was cool, so having a fire was an added bonus. Dinner in the Inn was delicious and we even had fun shopping (although a little pricey). My husband even purchased a pink, Madonna Inn baseball cap. We waited with several other women for all the men to leave the men's bathroom so we could see the famous rock urinal...(I wouldn't spend too much time waiting to see that). Overall, our stay was very enjoyable and will not be forgotten.

We'd just spent 5 days in San Francisco and rented a car to drive down the coast to L.A. This hotel is located about half the way, so it seemed to be a nice solution. We'd also heard about this hotel here in Norway before we left here. The hotel is special, strange and unusual to say it in few words. Special because we're never experienced anything like it, strange because we've never experienced anything like it and unusual because...yes. It's difficult to explain and you'll have to experience it. The staff could perhaps be more service minded, the rooms could perhaps been upgraded a bit, the price is a bit high, but all in all we're satisfied and we'll probably never forget this special hotel.

We stayed at the Madonna Inn to celebrate our second anniversary. We stayed for two nights in the Matterhorn room on the second floor.

The room was very blue and rounded, since it was on an end. It had a king size bed, a nice tv with a few cable channels, a desk and a sitting area with two comfy chairs and a table. The bathroom had two sinks (very useful) and a rock shower. There was also a nice balcony with a view of the surrounding hillside. There was a very large cowbell that hung next to the tv and I rang it a few times before I realized that the neighbors around us were probably cursing us.

We enjoyed the room size and the rock shower. No problems with the shower, but it was just a regular shower with rock, not a waterfall rock shower. The downside to the room was that we could hear our neighbors in other rooms- I mean, I heard the man in the room above us sneeze. But, with the tv on, it wasn't that big of a deal. And everyone ususally sleeps after 10. Also, the balcony does overlook a driveway, so if you want privacy, be sure to close the drapes (the balcony side of the room is all window).

The service was fast and friendly. We ate at the steak house for dinner and it was delicious. My husband had the steak and I had the bbq chicken. The restaurant is very pink, but it was also quiet and they gave us a free dessert and a "happy anniversary" balloon to celebrate.

We did pay about $240 a night for the room, but it was a great special trip. Not sure we would spend that for just a stay on the way to another place, but we would definitely like to return to the Madonna Inn in the future. Maybe for our 52nd anniversary!