Governors Mansion Inn

Love it in January, when things are quiet and cold. The Mansion feels warm, inviting, like you're settling into a good book and each page you turn to has something interesting to keep your attention. Perfect location - walkable to everything you might want, but complete with view and access to the lake. The service staff is awesome.

My friend and I stayed here on a Sunday night. We had tickets to a concert at the Orpheum Theatre. We arrived with clear instructions on where to park and how to enter the front/side door and our room. Although our room was small (we knew that when booking), it was very clean. Our room was a former servants quarters and had two twin beds that were very comfortable. The bathroom was clean, spacious and even had a little heater in it. We walked the half mile to the Orpheum and felt very safe. In the morning, there was a self serve breakfast of coffee/tea, scones, bagels and cream cheese, fruit, cheese and oatmeal. We were pleased with the variety and care in which it was presented. After breakfast we walked to the dock, thanks to the suggestions in the room. We would definitely stay here again and would recommend to others.

This is a fine place to stay if you just want the basics and have no desire to interact with hosts. Easy in/out. Our room, White, was quite small. Bathroom was lovely. Location was perfect for all of our explorations.

We were in Madison for a concert and bad weather moved in. Our daughter got us a room at the Mansion. We weren't sure of what to expect, having only been to one b&b before and didn't enjoy it. After parking on the street, the parking lot and information could have been better explained... We entered the building through a nice inviting glass door with a cozy entrance. Our room was so clean and welcoming. We couldn't get the fireplace to cooperate but that was ok as the room was a bit warm for us. Glad I packed a little fan!

Absolutely perfect. Great location, so so clean. David was extremely accommodating, as we had to make multiple modifications to the reservation due to winter weather and travel delays.

Pros: Great location, in the beautiful Mansion Hill area, close to Capitol Hill, lakes, and UW campus. It's a beautiful old home with lots of history and is well-appointed with antiques in the rooms. Bathrooms have been renovated recently, and it's quiet. Cons: This place looks like a traditional B&B, and yet, we are instructed to let ourselves in the house and in our room because there is no host. There was someone there serving breakfast, but he really didn't play a host role. Despite it being this very historic home, the way it's appointed gives it kind of a sterile feel, which seemed a bit off. Lastly, the mattress needs replacing in the room where I slept - very saggy. Would I stay there again?: Probably not. I think there are better choices in the area. I stayed at the Mansion Hill Inn last summer, just a few doors down the street, and it was truly exceptional.

This place is definitely a must-go experience. It is close enough to the State Street area to walk and has a really nice view of the lake. The beds are very comfortable and the overall decor is beautifully curated. Parking is abundant, it's quiet, and the neighborhood has many gorgeous homes.