Cypress Inn

There must be a reason we comeback year after year for our anniversary. It’s simply a wonderful boutique Inn. Terrific people, food and location, love the dogs

We recently stayed at the Cypress Inn. When making the reservation I ignored the negative reviews thinking that people didn’t understand that it is/​was a boutique hotel. Please read and take the negative reviews seriously. Without making this a novel, I’ll list the issues that motivated me to write this!
Most are repeats from previous reviews. Incredibly small bathrooms, shower could turn around. I’m 6’3, 217 but this was ridiculous. Room was small and it did look somewhat run down but the pictures on the website are deceiving. The rooms are small. We did have a room on the second floor which was away from the noise in the courtyard. The issue that saddened us was the fact that not one staff offered to help us with our luggage or even open the door when they saw us struggling or not struggling. When checking in the ‘clerk’ said the staff who showed us the room would help us with the luggage… just after he showed us, he bolted out of the room and we could not find him. At this point we were so disappointed by what we saw vs the website pictures, that we just knew we were going to be disappointed with our stay. If you are ok with spending a lot of money for a very small bathroom, chipped paint, small rooms, the noise, unhelpful rude staff, then by all means make a reservation. Otherwise stay at another inn. There are plenty located within this lovely little town! Sorry guys! Doris is a wonderful actress who is loved by many but she really needs staff who don’t sugar coat the negative reviews.
SORRY!

Had dinner here with my boyfriend while staying in Carmel. The food was fantastic. Love the theme of this restaurant/​inn. I had the Moroccan Chicken which was so juicy and a few Vespers. Our waiter was fantastic and our overall experience was pleasant. I will definitely be returning next time we are in town. The bar is also dog friendly along with the whole town. We were able to bring both of our French Bulldogs in and have a few cocktails.

This is a must-​see spot if you’re in Carmel with Fido or Fifi. The is a dog-​friendly hotel owned by Doris Day with dog-​friendly eating areas and a special doggie menu. The bar is well-​stocked, and there is a great bar menu with small bites like lamb meatballs (excellent)! My little pups like to order chicken breast from the dog menu, served warm and sliced. We’re always welcomed here and never feel rushed. We try to come at least once each day we visit Carmel.

Really cute spot, definitely a dog lover’s date night spot. Carmel is such a dog friendly town, it’s nice to have a «nice restaurant» to go to where we can bring our dog!
Food and service was good, the setting is a 5 star rating in itself. Very classic dishes in a classic setting. Will return!

We stayed at the cypress inn for our honeymoon weekend and were quite unimpressed. I originally only wanted to stay two nights but was told it was a three night minimum. This is unfortunate because the bed was as hard as a rock and there was no way we could’ve slept there three nights, so we left anyway when we woke up the second morning.
The restaurant, Terry’s lounge had tasty food and was reasonably priced. The down side though came when we were told breakfast was served only until 10am. This in itself was fine, but we showed up at 10:10. We didn’t want to order breakfast, only a couple of mimosas and there were still a crowd of people in the lounge eating. But we were told the kitchen was completely closed at 10 so drinks weren’t even available. We asked the concierge for recommendations on where to go and he had no idea, even said he didn’t think anything was open in Carmel that had mimosas at that hour. Thankfully another employee came along and directed us to a neighboring hotel.
The room itself was a mixed bag of pros and cons. As I mentioned, the bed was ridiculously uncomfortable and the bathroom was so tiny and poorly lit. One big issue we had though, especially given there was a three night minimum was that there was no refrigerator in the room. We had brought some wedding cake with us and drinks and had nothing but a bucket of ice to keep refilling to try and keep things chilled. The other disappointment was in the fact that I had selected an upgraded room with a garden view. That was a let down, the garden view was actually an adjacent wall with a plant growing up it and the window view was of the roof.
The upsides to this hotel were that the staff are friendly, the valet parking was absolutely a fantastic addition and the dog friendly atmosphere was very neat. I was actually surprised the entire hotel was as clean as it was with so many dogs around.
All in all, it wasn’t horrible, but for the price compared to the amount let downs, we likely won’t be giving it a second try.

Great location, very friendly and helpful staff, nice fun lobby. Beyond that I would say it’s in dire need of updates, granted this is Carmel and not Vegas, but quaint doesn’t have to mean tired. The climate control in the room consists of a radiator heater, beyond that open a window or put an extra blanket on. The bathrooms are tiny and have not been updated in 30+ years, while it is clean it feels very worn out. For drinking water they give you a thimble of a cup and a carafe that you have to go downstairs to fill which becomes very inconvenient. Felt that the price point was a bit steep for what you are really getting.

I have to admit I am a little biased about this place. A long time ago in a galaxy far far away, I was married here to my one and only wife. We return for our anniversary on occasion, and stopped in twice this year. It is great that we can bring our dog, and the location is perfect for a quiet getaway. The only issue we ever have is parking, they only have 9 spots, but the last two visits we got lucky and landed a spot right out front for the night.

We were very disappointed in this hotel. Our room was directly off the hotel bar, restaurant and public restrooms. the nose level was horrible. After a sleepless night we asked to move rooms and they said we could, but at a higher rate and we would have to pay. Horrible customer service and bad attitude all around. I view a hotel as a service business where customer service is key and this hotel lacked it. The room was small, and should not have been available for stay due to the location. Most of all the staff was very rude. We will not be returning!

Nice hotel desperately in need of updates. The rooms are extremely clean, very nice linens, the lounges are lovely, free coffee and breakfast, great location, lots of friendly dogs… but the rooms and bathrooms are punishingly small. I could barely turn around in the shower, and we were in a «larger» room. Although the rooms are well maintained they are not updated at all… poor lighting in the bathroom, old fixtures, no lights in the closet, very few plugs, barely space to walk around. I’m a small person, I don’t know how anyone could feel comfortable here.

I don’t think I’d want to stay anywhere else in Carmel. The most dog friendly town with the most dog friendly Inn. Everyone is extremely helpful and friendly. They go out of their way to make your dogs as comfy as you are. In fact the whole town feels like that. Never had such a good vacation with the pooches. This place kicks some butt for sure.
Owned by Doris Day. Feels like an old haunt for old Hollywood bigwigs in the evenings. Feels like everyone knows everyone from their Hollywood heyday. Live music in the living room… with your dogs in tow. Wish all hotel were like this. Really a special place

This review is for the bar at Cypress Inn:
We were in town last weekend for a dog show and loved the fact that we could come here for a drink and actually bring our dogs INSIDE the hotel. Very cool atmosphere, dog friendly, excellent service, and great drinks. Whether you have a dog or not, this is an awesome place to stop for a drink in the evening. Tons of history, lots of character, and a quality bar. Well done Cypress Inn

So. First, most important thing. If you are allergic to dog or/​and cat, don’t come to this place.
Beside that, you will never find something to say about animals in this place (and I really can’t accept when a dog or a cat are making some noise).
The food was very good. The service was perfect (even if I was looking if the waiter touching animals was also touching food, but I didn’t find anything to blame them about that… (Good job!)
So you have to try this place. Really!

We’ve been to Carmel many times and happened apron this charming hotel because we heard people laughing in the patio during happy hour. We walked into the courtyard and saw about 5 – 10 very well behaved dogs sitting with the owners and evening the beautiful weather. We are dog lovers so we planned our next trip that night. We stayed at the Cypress Inn to celebrate a birthday with our 2 well behaved dogs and our friends and their two dogs stayed too. We got the adjoining rooms and have a wonderful birthday party all together.
The hotel is old world charming and beautiful. When they say «dog friendly» they mean it! The staff was wonderful. The lobby and patio are fantastic. The rooms are fine but, nothing over the top but, they are nice, clean and pretty but, most importantly we were here because they were dog friendly. Great hot breakfast and THE best location close to the best shopping and the best dog friendly beach! We can’t wait to go back.

Very cute place to grab a drink or coffee. Have a fireplace in the garden and perfectly manicured. Coffee excellent! Stop by or stay!

Super cute place where they allow dogs. I had the fish and chips, which came with garlic french fries and it tasted amazing. The fish was fried to perfection with great flavor and the french fries were crispy and well seasoned.

How has it taken me 4 – 5 visits to Carmel to discover the bar at Cypress Inn? Maybe it’s because I come down here to solely drink wine, but still, a cocktail after a day of vino is oftentimes a good thing!
Tucked away behind the lobby is a throwback to the old days of Hollywood. A time when ladies curled their hair, wore nylons, gloves and lipstick just to walk down to the curb to get their mail. And men ordered for two.
I mean, I wasn’t actually around during these times, but it’s sure fun to imagine that’s how it was «back in the day» while at the Cypress Inn bar. Order a martini, a milk punch or something super nostalgic and dream about days gone by (even if you weren’t yet born). The bartenders will take good care of you!

I’m used to staying at Motel 3… it’s only half as nice as Motel 6. Boy was I in for a treat at the Cypress Inn. After calling in to book the room, I got an email explaining about the itinerary and linking me to sites and events around Carmel. When we checked in, we were greeted cheerfully and professionally by the front desk and taken to our room. They still use an actual key, instead of those magnetic cards. After our stay, I received an email thanking us for our stay and welcoming us back. I’ve never received so much personal contact from a hotel.
When you enter your room, they have complimentary sherry, fruit and nuts waiting for you. A big breakfast was included with the room. The rooms are beautifully furnished. It’s a boutique hotel for a romantic weekend, not a business hotel. The courtyard outside allows you to enjoy the day and Terry’s Lounge always seems to be happening. There wasn’t a desk to work at, but you don’t want to do that here anyway. The hotel is centrally located in the downtown Carmel area within walking distance of shops, restaurants and bars.
This hotel isn’t just dog-​friendly… they want you to bring your dog. They welcome dogs and most guests brought their dog with them. Dogs are welcome in the restaurant and in your room.
My girlfriend is obsessed with Doris Day. So booking a room at this hotel was a must and she was in heaven. My girlfriend wrote a fan letter to Doris Day and included pics of our dog since she is a dog lover.
I snooped around the internet and found a free lunch deal with a hotel stay. When we checked in, I got the free lunch for two deal on a business card and it’s good for three months. Doris Day bought us lunch!

I am a local who went here because someone paid for our stay due to us having a dog. The place is very nice but I would not take my dog again. Why? People’s dogs are not necessarily nice just because they go somewhere with them. My dog was nipped by another dog, and one of the staff warned us about another woman’s dogs who were splayed out across the main corridor making it hard for us to walk through on leash. On top of it there were so many dogs there my dog was awake all night and wanted to go walking outside of the room all the time (it was really out of the ordinary for him, not relaxing at all for is, and it’s not like he even wanted to engage with the other dogs — it makes me tired even thinking about it), We have gone to many dog parks (50+) and have very well mannered dog and the nip from the other dog was nothing my dog did to deserve it. I am starting to get why rich people carry their dogs a lot.
Bottom line. It is a «cool» place for people to bring dogs so they flock there and the numbers can speak for themselves. There are no set dog rules out of the ordinary.
I travel with my dog more often than not and find the experience far more enjoyable to be one of the few people with dogs (go elsewhere) instead of one of the many.
If I went back? I would take my dog to boarding and stay at the Cypress without him so I would not have to worry about other dogs. But, honestly, I would probably just go to my mainstay in Monterey County or board the dog where he will get a good workout.
The staff are exemplary at the Cypress. I like the outdoor patio and put my dog in a chair so he is not as accessible to random dogs. He knows that is the signal to be a well behaved dog (not pull on the he leash, walk under people walking by, ect).
The rooms were very nice, the price was fine, and I got great advise on where to go for dinner with my dog from the staff.
My true experience because of my dog was three stars, the hotel staff and accommodations are not responsible for dumb customers with dogs so want to give them 4 stars. I am torn with the stars. I tend to give more stars if I do not want to ding a place, yet I also do not want to lead dog owners astray so will pick 3 stars for right now.
This is a quick review because I just saw an article in a magazine about all the swag places to go with dogs, saw the Cypress listed and upon checking realized I had not reviewed it. I believe people should be informed about the down sides to the surge of «dog friendly» marketing so they can make an educated decision. You can always ask me for my private list of dog friendly stays in this area, and you can always go to our dog parks (again, ask me) and have one of the most awesome stays ever. I did not work with our dog for 2 – 3 years to expose him to people who are more into themselves than their dog. Not saying they are all like that there, on huge contrary 85% (maybe) were fab… but two sets of dogs were not and we stayed there lounging with those people was too big a risk. And this is coming from the person who goes to dog park almost every single day.

I went to the Inn for Sunday brunch and had a nice experience.
I was initially surprised by how small and cozy the dining area was. I felt like an intruder at first since it was obvious that all the other tables were filled with guests of the Inn. A waitress brought me some coffee before I could flee without being seen and I am glad she did! I enjoyed the Doris Day memorabilia and film playing overhead, and after a few minutes I felt comfortable enough to simply dine and relax.
The menu was thoughtfully created and small enough that I felt comfortable ordering anything. The prices were very reasonable. I opted for the Cypress benedict, which came with a generous amount of crab– and not of the cake variety! The hollandaise sauce was magnificent. It had the perfect amount of acidity so that with the luxurious runny egg, my crab and english muffin were elevated to maximum heights. On the side were standard potatoes and fruit. The food was perfectly balanced.
The only reason I am not giving it a perfect 5 is that the dining area felt cramped and didn’t seem very inviting to people not staying at the Inn.