I had great hopes for this inn in the beautiful town of Grafton. Although the restaurant was well-hyped, the food was sub par. The free range chicken was overcooked, as were the scallops that accompanied the fish. On day 2 we'd had a late lunch and didn't want to try another dinner. So we decided to just go down for dessert and coffee. After waiting for several minutes at the hostess stand, I went in to the restaurant in seach of someone. I asked a gentleman in the bar if my wife and I could get dessert. He suggested that I go back out to the front hotel check in desk and ask them. I asked him "you mean I should go back out to the front desk, to ask if I can come back in here?". He didn't offer to get the hostess or waitress, etc. So I went out to the front desk and waited a few minutes for the lady to get off a personal call. When I explained my situation she said "Oh, he's just the bartender, he doesn't know anything"
Anyway, not the level of friendliness or service I expected from this quaint Vermont inn.

We stayed at the Old Tavern the last weekend of September, 2007, and it was fabulous. We were upgraded to a suite, The Cricketteer, which is a separate house with a meeting room on the first floor, so there was no one underneath us. The whole top floor was ours and extremely private. The furnishings and bedding were lush and comfortable and the huge bath with jacuzzi was amazing! A lovely patio in the back made it a perfect retreat. We toured the grounds during the day on Saturday, which turned out to be Norman Rockwell-like; nothing commercial, but rather quaint and unspoiled. Just the entire atmosphere was relaxing and totally "autumn like". It didn't hurt that the weather was magniicent! The food was great, and the surroundings fit the mood perfectly; a beautiful dining room with period pieces. I would recommend this inn to anyone looking for a peaceful weekend in the country, but with all the amenities of a large, upscale hotel. We are definitely coming back next year or sooner!

I first visited this inn whilst on a business trip from the UK to Vermont some 10 years ago. I was so impressed wth the tranquility and old New England charm of both the inn and the village of Grafton that I promised one day to bring my wife back and visit it again on holiday.
A decade on we did, and we were not at all disappointed. We stayed in a charming large 3rd floor room in the main building. The ambiance, staff and overall cleanliness of the inn were all spot-on. Dinner in the restaurant was excellent (preceded by an entertaining chat with Fred in Phelps bar). The B&B and restaurant prices were very reasonable.
Not a great deal to do in the local area during the Fall other than a visit to the cheese factory, a ramble around Grafton ponds and relax in the wonderful countryside.
If you are visiting New England, this place is certainly worth a detour!

We had the most wonderful time at The Old Tavern! Our stay was incredibly relaxing - such a peaceful retreat! In addition, our meals were fantastic, the staff was so friendly, our room was very comfortable, large, and clean. This is the perfect place to stay in the most perfect of Vermont towns! We are already looking forward to our next trip.