Mirabelle Inn & Restaurant

We've come to this hotel about once a year for seven years, but this was the last visit. The guests we passed were friendlier than the young woman at the front desk. She was rude and unwelcoming whenever we saw her in the lobby, barely spoke when we arrived, and offered almost no help or information. Her attitude made the stay uncomfortable. I can't understand hiring someone with such poor people skills to be the first and last person customers deal with. We're NEVER coming back. By the way, another review from six months ago mentioned trouble with this same person.

The hotel itself was quite nice for the price. The lobby, entrance, and restaurant share one very small room, so it was hard to get away from the front desk woman's bad mood. I was staying alone and meeting my elderly parents for morning coffee. Since breakfast for two was included, I asked if I could pay for a third continental breakfast so they could join me. The weekend desk clerk seemed put out by the question and said they didn't allow it. She eventually offered a one-time exception, but by then we felt awkward and unwelcome, so we went elsewhere. A little more warmth and tact would have made the whole thing a non-issue.

For $400 a night on an off-season weekend, I expected more than this overpriced three-star hotel. The location is nice and the building is cute, with pleasant interior decor, but there are better options nearby or comparable places for less. Water pressure was weak, there was no fridge in the room, and the supposedly fancy breakfast was just fruit and danishes, nothing filling. The bath and some fixtures looked like they were from the 1980s.

We loved our stay at The Mirabelle Inn and are already hoping to return. The staff were thoughtful and welcoming, always ready to help with a real smile. Solvang and the Santa Ynez Valley were easy to explore from this spot near downtown, and we enjoyed wandering around town. The inn has fewer amenities than a big hotel, but its cozy, rustic feel and European character made it feel like being at grandma's house in another era. It was charming and full of heart, a real home away from home.