Old Rittenhouse Inn

The staff excels in friendliness and professionalism. Guests appreciate the delicious breakfast and central location. The cozy atmosphere and immaculate cleanliness are also highlighted. Unique decor adds to the charm.

Historic Inn with all the old world character you would expect. We stayed in the turret room in the Le Chateau property. Spectacular outlook to the bay and lovely suite with sitting space. The whole house is available for guests staying so if you want to dine in style or sit on the veranda and feel like you are a country resident you can. The restaurant at the main house offers a locally sourced quality dining experience and good breakfast. Well located for the lovely town of Bayfield and visit to the Apostle islands. Although the staff were very friendly we did have to manage luggage without assistance at the house were there are only stairs for access to the higher floor rooms. If you are looking for mod cons and satellite TV this is not the property for you. If you are looking for a step back in pace and digital detox this is a great choice.

As mentioned in the room descriptions, you can stay at the main inn or at the Chateau location. There is also a smaller cottage. Be sure to think carefully about what you want when choosing a location. As there is no elevator (to be expected in properties of this age), I booked a room on the second floor of the main inn. The Chateau only had availability on the third floor. This would have been okay except for hauling luggage. *Main inn: You will be onsite for check-in/check-out and breakfast. Staff is right there to assist you with any questions. This is convenient. The parking lot is level and adequate. I was always able to find a spot. You are fairly close to downtown, but must be able to walk up a hill. I was able to walk to the ferry docks, boat cruises and restaurants. Unfortunately, the rooms do not have fridges, and there is no guest fridge. To be fair, the room description does not mention a fridge. I had to ask staff to put my cooler items in the staff fridge. They accommodated the request. I ended up buying non-perishable items for my picnic lunches because I didn't want to impose on them all the time. The main inn is a busier spot. The restaurant is very popular, and the clientele who come are dressed up a bit. The restaurant clientele will be sitting on the porch drinking wine before or after dinner. I felt a bit awkward reading out there in my sweat pants, but that's just me. The porch had comfy seating and nice views. The gardens are beautiful. *Chateau: This is also up a hill. It also has a porch with a view. Other reviewers mentioned that the parking situation is trickier. I can't speak to that. They also mentioned that there's a fridge specifically for guest use. The desk clerk at the main inn told me the Chateau is quieter. I think this might have been a better fit for me. Overall, the staff was very pleasant and professional. Stephanie (sp?) is a gem. The property is well-maintained. Breakfast was delicious. It is included in the price. This is technically an inn and not a B and B. At B and Bs, from my experience, the owner usually serves everyone at a large table and is not tipped. At this property, you will be at your own table with a server, so do plan on tipping. Other than the fridge situation, the only other thing that really bothered me was the quality of my mattress and pillows. I could feel the springs and lumps. For $300 a night, I was hoping for some pretty plush bedding. I ended up folding the comforter in half and placing it under the fitted sheet in order to get some cushioning. I would probably stay here again, but would book earlier to get a room at the Chateau on a lower floor. I would also bring a mattress pad, but hopefully the mattress situation is not an issue in all of the rooms.