4 Diamond Lodging in Mendocino Town. A Select Registry Inn and Distinguished Inn of North America

During three decades of Hospitality the Joshua Grindle Inn has grown in style and comfort. Building on its long established success, our Mendocino inn now enjoys the coveted Four-Diamond distinction (the only Historic Mendocino B&B with this honor in the village). Longevity being just one pillar of excellence, the many small touches evident throughout the inn, adds to the travelers' delight.

Histsoric Water Tower Structure with three unique guest rooms

Saltbox Cottage Room

Beautifully appointed baths

Ocean Views

King Bedroom with wood stove

Private, quiet, well lit and thoughtfully appointed rooms lull one into a state of blissful relaxation. Wonderfully hearty and original breakfasts warm and satisfy. Easy walking distance to fine restaurants, shops and galleries, makes the Joshua Grindle Inn the perfect portal for your exploration of Historic Mendocino. Many if not most rooms boast cozy fireplaces, Jacuzzis, libraries and magazine selections for all interests. Finding the will to leave may be the hardest part of your visit.

The Joshua Grindle Inn, built in 1879 by the town banker, is set on a two-acre estate with views of the Pacific Ocean, Mendocino Bay and the quaint town of Mendocino. Six of the ten spacious guest rooms have fireplaces and two others offer ocean views. All have private baths and comfortable sitting areas. Tastefully appointed with Early American antiques and pine furnishings, there are five rooms in the main house, three in the water tower and two newly-renovated rooms in the cottage behind the house. The parlor with its cozy fireplace and antique pump organ is a delightful gathering place for making new friends over good conversation and sherry.

Breakfast is a time to enjoy conversation with new acquaintances around the circa 1830 pine harvest table while savoring daily menus containing either fresh baked muffins, scones, sweet and satisfying french toasts or waffles, and on alternating days, savory frittatas or quiches, a selection of fruits, cereals, yogurt, coffees and teas. Every morning is a new treat as the menu constantly changes with seasonal availability of the freshest ingredients. After breakfast, perhaps a stroll along the headlands to take in the rugged, mystical sometimes fog-cloaked beauty of the coast would be in order. The entire village can be enjoyed on foot, for it is but a short walk to the restaurants, galleries and shops.

Guests will find a split of local wine from a local winery lovingly displayed in their room upon arrival. Other extra touches include rubber ducks in every bathroom, an array of magazines, shelves of hardback books and gorgeous purple orchids to brighten every room. Conveniently located just adjacent to the parlor, the Master room in the main farmhouse is a favorite for guests with its view of apple trees and garden, four-poster queen bed, antique wardrobe and desk, and elegant private bath with whirlpool and tub. In the Saltbox Cottage, the North and South Cypress rooms have recently been beautifully renovated to include whirlpool tubs and slate surround gas fireplaces.

For those seeking something truly unique, a short climb up the stairs of the Historic Watertower reveals the cozy room known as Watertower II. Once tucked away in this room with its Vermont casting fireplace on a raised brick hearth and a view of the ocean and cypress trees, guests find themselves kicking off their shoes and their cares and wanting to stay a long while. The beautiful and lovingly maintained gardens, visible from the rooms, beckon guests to take a pleasant stroll. The gabled porch and Adirondack chairs on the lawns invite them to catch up on some reading or simply relax and take in the small-town surroundings and the ocean beyond. A game of croquet is the perfect way to unwind and while away the seemingly endless hours. The baseball field just beyond the white picket fence and across the street, provides local flavor and a nostalgic reminder of how the game was played in the good ol' days.