Stevenswood Spa Resort

We ate at Terra Mar, their sister company, and it was delicious. They welcomed our dog inside, which was such a relief on a road trip when we often have to get food to go. Back at SCP Mendocino Inn + Farm, the whole experience was lovely, with friendly, upbeat staff, coastal views, trails, lush flowers, and peaceful little paths around the property. The location is perfect for visiting the beautiful town of Mendocino. Breakfast comes in a basket, delivered by hand, with an egg dish and a chance to say hello to the chickens that laid them. The farm-to-table food was divine, and the avocado mattresses were amazing. I slept like a baby. I seriously want to move in. If you love supporting local and sustainable places, this is where you want to stay. I love you all, SCP!

The staff were friendly and nice, and the chickens were cute. We fed them three times. But I wish I’d known a couple of things first. We booked the so-called ocean view suite, yet there was barely any ocean view. The website’s room pictures don’t match what we got or what we paid for, and I found them misleading. Zoey’s earlier review is accurate, and their photo matches the actual view. This feels much more like a motel or inn for a quick overnight stop than a resort for a vacation. The facilities are old, and the walls are thin enough that we could hear people walking and talking in other rooms, as well as the kitchen in the morning. There was no water boiler or coffee machine in the room, and the restaurant was closed, so there was no food. There wasn’t much else to do around there. It doesn’t feel worth $400 to $600 a night, especially when there’s not much to do in the area. The ocean itself was okay, but you can see similar coastline along Highway 1 almost anywhere, and it’s foggy much of the time.

Our Deluxe King Suite was very clean and had a small kitchen sink, microwave, and mini fridge, which was much more convenient than using the shared facilities. Across both properties the WiFi coverage was pretty good, though it could be quite slow in the property across the street. There were shared amenities too: a microwave, hot coffee for much of the day, tea, and a shared fridge for units without one. There was plenty of parking at the main property and across the street, where the former Inn at the Cobbler's Walk is, and a reasonable number of EV chargers at the main property. Walking the lovely grounds was one of our highlights, with a small garden, chickens, and even llamas. A few things fell short. We chose the place for its advertised wood-burning fireplace, but a sign in our room said not to use it. Listing it as an amenity felt deceptive if guests can’t use it. There were five or six EV chargers, but most seemed broken. I believe only two worked, one by reception and one near the second parking area at the main property. They weren’t in high demand during our stay, so it didn’t affect us, but it could be frustrating for someone choosing the property for EV charging. The former Cobbler's Walk units across the street don’t really have a view. Some higher rooms might have a VERY distant glimpse down Highway 1, perhaps half a mile away, but listing an ocean view for any of those units seems misleading. The photos are telling: if there were a stunning view, it would be featured prominently. If you want real ocean views, Heritage House and Harbor House are examples of other places to consider. Breakfast was included each morning after check-in, but we found it merely serviceable. Many of the egg “dishes” were scrambled eggs poured into a Pyrex and either microwaved or baked in a water bath. In the four-room unit across the street, the walls were so thin we could hear regular-voice conversations through them. If you’re staying on that side, the standalone cottage is definitely the better choice. Our central air didn’t work at all, in either cooling or heating mode. We used the two screened windows to regulate the temperature, but I wish the bathroom window and balcony slider had screens too. We left the bathroom window open to vent shower steam and got a few mosquito or insect bites while sleeping. There’s no daily cleaning, so it feels more like a managed AirBnb than a hotel. You can ask for fresh towels, but trash builds up during the stay. Lastly, they adjusted our breakfast order after I texted about it, but never responded to my question about an outdoor bin for trash. I thought that was extremely poor service. It would have been fine if they’d just said there wasn’t a bin, but choosing not to reply was very disappointing.

Getting around was easy: the location has walkable access to coastal trails and Van Damme state park, and check-in was simple with clear directions to find the cottage. Breakfast was amazing each morning, and they worked around my partner’s egg allergy with delicious alternatives. The staff made the trip especially memorable. Monse, Antonia, Luis and Jack shared local tips and the history of SCP Mendocino Inn and Farm, and took us to meet the llamas. They were such a joy to spend time with. We can’t wait to return and see them, and all the chickens, again. Thank you for a wonderful stay.