This was the second time we’ve stayed at Casa Madrona Hotel and we opted for a more expensive Bay view room this time. We arrived a little early and were quickly checked in at the front desk and shown to our room by congenial staffers. We noticed that the coffee maker was missing; reported it and by the time we moved our car from a municipal lot to the valet (an extra charge, but convenient) and returned to our room, the coffee maker had been installed. Our room “Bridgeway to Hollywood” was on the 4th floor and afforded a wonderful view of the harbor and bay. The windows were expansive enough (and openable for a nice breeze) that we didn’t at all miss having a balcony. True to the theme of our room, it was furnished in a classy, subdued glam-style with a faux fur throw on the bed, mirrored walls, glossy photos of classic Hollywood stars like Gable, Taylor, Monroe, Bogey and Becall. It was a lot of fun perusing the 2 coffee table books with famous photos of the even more famous stars. But I wondered how many “under 40’s” would be able to identify most of them. Our spacious and light-filled room had such a beautiful carpet that I actually took a photo of it. The queen-size bed felt comfortable, but the mattress was on the soft side for my back. The bath was a decent size with marble checkerboard flooring, an oversize shower (the head did leak a bit) and a mirror framed with bright lightbulbs--another nod to the Hollywood stars. When we checked in, I asked if our room had wine glasses since we’d brought a nice bottle of Zin to enjoy and using drinking from water glasses just wouldn’t be the same. Rick at the front desk assured me that there were, indeed, proper wine glasses already in our room--something that many places of lodging don’t provide unless asked for. We would give our room “4 stars” and it was a true pleasure to relax and stay in. The only negative of our stay was having a little kid next door who loved to run, run, run and scream at the same time. He/she sounded like a small buffalo with a screeching parrot on its back, but the hotel shouldn’t be faulted for that as no walls could have blocked out such sounds. As most people know, Casa Madrona’s hillside buildings have been added on to over the years and there are many flights of exterior steps to negotiate. The elevator will only get you up part way. Those with limited physical strength or abilities should always inquire about access. Both times I’ve stayed at the hotel, I’ve enjoyed the little workout I received getting up to my room, and the stairs make the property much more interesting than a single level facility. It’s a unique and lovely hotel. We loved being able to just walk down those stairs to the street level and have dinner at Poggio. The restaurant is as great as ever and their house-made pasta is fabulous. Altho’ the place was busy, service was efficient and attentive. Unfortunately, we didn't have an opportunity to take advantage of the hotel's spa services. The next morning we took a stroll down Bridgeway and had a delicious and hearty breakfast at the cozy Bridgeway Cafe. We sat next to the window and had a nice view out to the Bay. It’s a great place to watch the world go by. All in all, our short stay at Casa Madrona in Sausalito was a very welcome respite from a busy schedule.
