Friends booked a suite in the "Barn" for my birthday. The suite was huge, with two sofa beds, a king size bed , fireplace and kitchenette. There was a little yard area for the dogs as well. Aside from a hideous ceramic cat staring down at us from the kitchen cabinets, the room was fine if not a bit uneven with the heating. No instructions on how to work the TV was a bit upsetting since it was hard to figure out how to watch a DVD. The Inn generally was nice. There were some real problems though and these can be summed up with the people that work there. Either they're not happy with their lives or their jobs or somebody there sets the energy at mean, passive-aggressive. The service in the restaurant is completely ungrounded. Everything people said about it is absolutely true. Nothing short of terrible. Junior HIgh School kids could do a better job than the nerve-wracked disorganized kitchen staff. The food was pretty good with a few exceptions. I ordered a strawberry scone that had 1 sliver...yes ONE sliver of strawberry in it. I sent it back advising that I ordered a strawberry scone not a plain scone. I saw three waitstaff people holding my plate in the kitchen staring down at the scone and I overheard them saying... he didn't like it. He didn't like it. Hmmmmm. Weird. I never said I didn't like it. They brought me another scone that had the exact same issue, so I just let it go. There is this general air of "us versus them" at this establishment. which is especially apparent with the women that run the front desk. There is this sugary niceness they attempt to disguise their vitriole with. A real passive-aggressive quality that smiles at you while the real message being delivered is hostility and condescension. Hags worthy of Shakespeare's quill. I've been to many a female dominated business in the past, and unfortunately this one has succumbed to the pitfalls of female competition, ego, and a dependency on "group think." Asking for a cup of coffee shouldn't be a melt-down event for a waitress whose "perfect pictures" are weighing on her so heavily she actually stood there with coffee pouring out onto the floor from the absurd caraffes they use while she was telling us how incredibly busy her morning was. It didn't look that busy to a neutral onlooker. One gets a sense that the people there genuinely want to do well and want for you to have a good experience, it's just that they are all so laden with fear of some kind that they ultimately can't deliver it. And when they can't deliver it, it magically becomes YOUR fault.

I hope whatever or whoever is causing the issues here realizes that what they are doing is very noticeable to the guests. It's a shame because people come here to relax and have a good time and not be challenged by miserable, scared people pretending to care about you.

This was our first stay at Stanford Inn by the Sea, although I had eaten in the restaurant previously. The inn is located just across Big River from the town of Mendocino - not really walkable to town or the ocean without a balancing act on a bridge with no sidewalk - but just a 3-5 minute drive to both. We ended up leaving on our trip later than expected, and the staff was more than accomodating, attaching our packet to the door of our room, so that we could arrive any time we wanted. They were also very helpful and spent quite a bit of time explaining the best route to take, as some of the roads can be very curvey. Upon arrival, we found the room to be extremely cozy. The walls and ceiling were wood, and the furniture is older, but the room we had created a rustic but overall extremely pleasing and inviting ambiance. Our room had a private balcony, wood burning fireplace with fire already built and ready to light, and huge king bed with fluffy feather bed and lots of pillows. There was also a view of the ocean through the trees. We hardly wanted to leave the room, it was so cozy. The inn does a great job at leaving little things to surprise you - such as homemade cookies, mints, etc. We were able to park right in front of our room, and found it very convenient. The room was very clean, and although the bathroom was small, everything seemed to fit together nicely.

Breakfast the next morning was included, and we were amazed at the quality of the food and the choices available. This is no typical complementary breakfast, but a gourmet event with lots of options. The complementary breakfast is to include coffee, OJ and one entree, but we also had two scones (I believe lemon/raspberry - utterly delicious) and these were also included. Portions were very generous, and the food was outstanding! Breakfast here is a MUST whether you stay here or not!! All vegan of course, but you won't notice. The dinner menu was not as pleasing, especially if you are not a big fan of mushrooms, but this may be seasonal. The braised tofu skewer with peanut sauce was amazing. Dinner can get a little pricey if you let it.

One thing I need to add about the inn is that it is extremely pet-friendly. There were several cats lounging in the lobby, and a separate dining area for guests who wish to dine with their pet - mostly dogs, but they do allow others - reportedly even pot-bellied pigs (no, we didn't see any). Practically all the other guests had brought their dog(s). This all seemed to work well, and actually added to the fun of staying here, since we love pets - we'll bring our dog next time. One suggestion - leave any leather, fur coats, or hunting attire at home. The only time we had any treatment less than polite and friendly was when my wife went in to the lobby wearing a fake leather and fur coat, which is not readily apparent to be faux. Mendocino has its share of tree-huggers, and the inn is no exception.

In addition to the room and lobby, we found the grounds to be well-kept and blend well with the natural environment. Large vines grow up the buildings, and the inn feels very one with the natural beauty. The organic garden and duck pond complemented the serenity. We were also surprised to find a large indoor swimming pool - well heated and inviting - bring your bathing suits!! Overall, we found the inn to be great value considering the breakfast included, and it struck us as a well-run establishment. We hope to stay again soon.

I stayed at the Stanford Inn recently with a friend of mine. We had a great room with two absolutely heavenly beds! We had our own private deck, overlooking the amazing gardens, animal pastures, and further to the beautiful Pacific. Though it was cold outside(december), we had a great wood burning stove in our room to keep it cozy , with ample free fire wood. This is the first truly pet friendly inn i've stayed at. I didn't bring my own dog, but enjoyed the animals that lived there. They had friendly dogs and cats to greet us in the lobby, plus several horses and even llamas! I loved all the animals that make the inn feel more like a home than a place of business, and I can't thank Joan and Jeff enough for welcoming us into their home.
I also have to thank them for introducing me to vegan eating. I was really wary of the food since i've never eaten vegan, but was amazingly surprise. I had a vegan raspberry (?) muffin that was to die for, and the staff even took the time to go over the recipe with me in their great cookbook that I bought. It was truly an enlightening experience, and can't wait to go back.

This was my first time visiting Mendocino, and what an experience it was! I was warmly greeted by Joan, one of the inn owners, and was privileged to be taken on a personal tour of the property, including the lovely herb gardens and animal areas. My room had a breathtaking view of the Pacific Coast from its balcony! The bed was very comfortable and I've never slept with so many pillows in my life! It was great! I really love and appreciate how aware Jeff and Joan, as well as the inn staff, are of our impact on the environment; they make every effort, while sustaining quality, to make their service as eco-friendly as possible. And the breakfast...that was truly amazing! I never realized vegan could be so delicious! I had a wonderful time and am already planning my return trip!