Cypress Inn Carmel-by-The-Sea

We recently stayed at the Cypress Inn and while the property itself is charming and in a fantastic location, the service throughout our stay was consistently disappointing. Nothing catastrophic happened, but it felt like we were inconveniencing staff rather than being welcomed. We experienced multiple instances where basic hospitality was lacking. At meals, we often had to ask for water, request the check, and follow up on things that should have been proactive. One evening we came downstairs for dinner around 8:25 PM and were told the kitchen stopped taking orders 30 minutes before the restaurant closed. While that’s certainly their policy, it wasn’t communicated beforehand and the interaction felt more dismissive than apologetic. There were several small moments like this throughout our stay. Individually they may seem minor, but together they created an atmosphere that felt awkward, rushed, and inattentive. Given Carmel’s reputation for hospitality and the price point of the hotel, we expected a much warmer and more polished experience. The inn itself has a lot of charm, and we enjoyed the area, but the level of service simply didn’t match the setting or our expectations.

I had wanted to stay here for a night as had been a massive Doris day fan growing up. Was pricey for a night ,so decided not to stay but to have meal and drink here instead. When we arrived at the hotel no one welcomed us, or asked if we needed help! Instead a lady on reception ignored us as did the guy who was working the restaurant ! We stood there for about 5 mins then just had a wander through the bar, again we were ignored ! Staff looked at us but still no one asked if we needed any assistance. We sat down in the bar and ordered 2 drinks and felt very uncomfortable . Decided not to eat here as felt very unwelcoming and sadly we won’t be back. Had a Quick Look at the Doris Day memorabilia which was lovely.

We first stayed at the Cypress Inn for a wedding in the early '90s. We vowed at that time that we wanted to return, but next time would bring a dog. Fast forward more than 30 years, with our seven-month-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel at our side, we fulfilled our dream. Shame this dream did not exceed our recollections (especially for what it cost). It was fated from the start. There was no one to help get the luggage up the stairs necessary to get into the lobby. Finally, someone arrived but he was far from accommodating. Then we asked about valeting the car. Forget that. We were told, "There is no off-street parking available. Find something on the street." The two-hour limit would have require moving the car several times a day. We get to the room and immediately notice the bathroom is as big as an oversized phone booth. (Remember them? Am I dating myself?) Well, believe me, more than half of the guests could not only remember phone booths but rotary dials and maybe party lines too. While the place has the charm of the olden days (especially the Doris Day movie posters, as she was an original co-owner), it has all the downsides too. Thin walls, creaky floors, a plug-in heater if you need warmth. We got reservations to eat at the restaurant, Terry's, and were seated literally in the hallway with guests and their dogs zooming by continually. The server was sweaty and distracted; the food was ok but not worth the price. (Let's face it, there are many better options in Carmel.) The self-serve breakfasts were much better. It was noticeable that the staff was limited and not very friendly or helpful. We came to the conclusion that they don't enjoy working here and that aura carried true. That's a shame. But as Doris famously said, "Que será, será."

We had a lovely time at Cypress Inn. It is a charming, beautful hotel with a geat bar and restaurant. Everyone is friendly and helpful. Professionl staff. Very pet-friendly too.

I really appreciated the attention I received; the service was excellent, and everyone I interacted with was exceptionally kind and professional. I felt genuinely well cared for throughout the entire experience.

I love spending time at the Cypress Inn. It is such a special spot. The staff goes above and beyond, the rooms are comfortable, location is perfection and breakfast is such a treat! I will come back again and again to enjoy the inn and the pleasures of Carmel.

It's not often you find a place that allows your furry family member to be with you inside it's facilities. This hotel is quaint and in an excellent location! We loved the outdoor dining experience too! Our room was lovely with a balcony and large jacuzzi tub! The champagne that was waiting for us, was above and beyond what we expected on our anniversary trip! We had a lovely time here. It is a bit steep in price, but well worth it.

The location is wonderful however it is a historic building so noise is a bit of a factor. Prior to arrival it wasn't clear that there is very limited on site parking so you have to park and walk a few blocks to the hotel once you have unloaded.

I think this is a nice boutique hotel, but not for the money. We paid over $700 a night and for that price I would expect a higher caliber experience. The front desk staff was very nice, breakfast was decent and the bar area has a good vibe. The room is dated and in need of a renovation. There is no a/c and we found the room to be pretty stuffy. They gave us a fan, which helped, but important to note in case you like a cool room. The entertainment on Saturday night was fun and full of people so we did enjoy that and the location is great since it is almost in the center of town. However, I would not stay there again simply for the value given the rates.