Wharf Master's Inn

Parking was the one tricky part. There are plenty of spaces on the lower levels, but the closest spots to the rooms are limited, so getting back up means taking stairs or walking up the road. The inn sits on a hillside. We had a romantic Valentine’s Day in 2026, and it stayed quiet even on the holiday. From our room and balcony, we could see the harbor and watch the sun set to the west. The landscaped courtyard gives the walk to the rooms a garden feel, and the owner and hostess made us feel welcome at check-in. We also enjoyed visiting the nearby wildlife preserve, with plenty of hiking around the area.

We’ve stayed at Wharf Master's Inn three times in six months since my husband found it around mid-2025, and the relaxed, comforting atmosphere keeps bringing us back. The courtyard is lovely, with calm landscaping, corn-hole and darts to play, and a little garden patch for Tilly the turtle. I still haven’t had the honor of seeing her. Our rooms and the shared areas have been clean and pleasant, and we’ve enjoyed the ocean views from the rooms we picked. The people are a big part of why we return. Karen, the owner, is kind, fun, professional, and hardworking, with incredible stories. She also makes awesome gumbo. Her crew is friendly too. We like having a private in-room jacuzzi to use when we want, within reasonable hours. For my husband, the location is a good place to rest after a coastal motorcycle ride from SF/Bay Area or pause before heading north. I love the ocean view. We’re also hoping to explore more nearby spots on future stays: the pizza place and bar with live music on certain days just below the Inn, plus a pastry shop, coffee roaster, pub, restaurant, and trails around town and the Inn. A few things I’ve learned: their website has detailed room descriptions, which helped me compare price, view, size, and accessibility, especially since there are no elevators. If a room you like says to inquire, it’s worth calling, since this small business has limited staff and some less-booked rooms may be available by request. Come with reasonable expectations for a small business rather than a corporate-run venture. For the experience and the area, we find the price reasonable.

I paid over $300 for one night, far more than I expected after seeing $164 on the Google listing. Paying extra for my dog was understandable, but the much higher total made the stay feel especially frustrating. It was late, I was tired, and my choices were this or sleeping in my car in the cold. The only other place in town wouldn’t take my dog, so I felt stuck. Getting my things to the room was difficult too. I’m 73 and have arthritis, and with no elevator I had to carry everything slowly up the stairs. Parking wasn’t adequate, so I also had to haul my things up and down a hill. The bed was extra high and could use a step stool, and the TV picture quality was terrible. It was nice in other ways, but I wondered if they can charge so much because there are so few options nearby. I wouldn’t have minded as much if I hadn’t been charged so far above what I expected.

The room was clean and well cared for, and Karen and Cliff were wonderful hosts. You can hear the waves from your room, since the place is right on the water. It’s roughly halfway between the northern California Redwoods and San Francisco. Point Arena is a beautiful, fun town to explore, and the locals are kind and engaging. If you can, stay two nights.