Red Lion Inn Review

The Red Lion Inn is located in Stockbridge, Massachusetts and is one of the most quintessential, boutique, country hotels in the Berkshires. I had the pleasure of staying there over Halloween weekend. And between the fall foliage, crips outdoor air, historic landmarks and cozy experience at the Inn, it made for a truly memorable stay. The town of Stockbridge is small and quaint, making it an ideal location for your trip to The Berkshires.

Located right in the downtown center, you’ll find Red Lion Inn with its pleasant and charming aura that stands tall and welcomes all. Decorated with pumpkins and hay on the outside (during the fall), you’ll be greeted with a friendly sign as you walk up to the screened porch with rocking chairs and lounge seating. The main floor and check in area is filled with antiques, rustic decor, a wood-burning fireplace and warm-welcoming staff.

Immediately upon arrival you’ll feel how peaceful, calm and relaxing this Inn really is. I first heard about Red Lion Inn when I moved to Massachusetts and did some research on the best places to stay in The Berkshires, a location that had been on my bucket list for quite some time. Red Lion Inn seemed to be one of the best spots to be. And after I heard about the experience from a fellow blogger, I was sold. It is truly the place to stay when visiting The Berkshires.

Red Lion Inn Review

Check in & Lobby

Entering the Inn is a wonderful experience because you can see the cozy lounge, wood-burning fireplace, grand piano, exquisite dining space, glass chandeliers, rich upholstered furniture and an overall vibe that screams historic New England luxury. Check in was smooth and the staff was extremely smiley and friendly, excited for us to experience the Inn. They provide the old-fashioned keys for the room as well as the lowdown on the Inn and everything they have to offer.

The Inn itself was rather quiet when we checked in late afternoon. But fills up quickly by the evenings for dinner and entertainment. They have a classic birdcage elevator that operates on a cable-driven system which adds a whole other spooky vibe to the hotel…but we’ll get to that later. You can opt for the elevator or the stairs when heading to your room. Although the elevator was out of service during our stay there.

Rooms

The Red Lion Inn offers four different lodging experiences between the Main Inn, Maple Glen, Village Houses, and a 2-story standalone building and guesthouse for a truly unique stay. All the lodging options are interesting and unique in their own way. We, however, experienced the Main Inn during our stay.

King Room Suite

We were truly in awe of the king room suite we stayed in. Equipped with a living room, flatscreen TV, working desk, modern and updated bathroom with soaking tub and shower for 2, large bedroom with a four-post bed to relax in. The decor is a bit old and outdated but definitely stays on par with the atmosphere and experience you get at such a rustic and historic inn. All main suite inns are equipped with an extra sitting area, a sofa-bed, a refrigerator, and plenty of natural lighting.

The room itself was a bit stuffy temperature-wise and the bed wasn’t the most comfortable but we really didn’t spend too much time in the room as there are so many great onsite amenities to enjoy. I am also not the best sleeper, so foreign beds always throw me for a loop!

We were pleasantly surprised to see how modern the bathroom was, so if you love to indulge in hot bubble baths, large standing showers, and luxury bathroom products, this is the place to do it. My boyfriend and I had plenty of space to enjoy our rest times throughout the day and evenings in such a cozy room.

Hotel Amenities & Services

One of the best things a hotel can offer is amazing amenities, in my opinion. When you come to Red Lion Inn, you simply will not run out of things to do between the amenities, dining options and onsite entertainment.

Here are some of the in-room amenities you have to look forward to:

Flat screen TV and DVD player
Free WiFi
Iron & Ironing board
2 Terry Cloth Robes
Hair Dryer
Alarm Clock
Luggage Racks
Complimentary Toiletries
Luxurious Linens
Hypoallergenic pillows and blankets available
Water Glasses
In room telephone with free local calls

Here are some of the onsite amenities you have to look forward to:

Seven Salon Spa (just around the corner from the Inn)
Year-Round Outdoor Heated Pool and Hot Tub
Township Four
Pet-Friendly Accommodations
Dining & Live Entertainment

Restaurants at the Red Lion Inn

Main Dining Room

The Main Dining room is truly a masterpiece all the way from the architecture and decor to the food and drinks. Between the crystal chandeliers, antique china and colonial pewter, it’s the ideal location for dinner whether with family or a significant other. You’ll find a blend of seasonal and classic New England style dishes, as well as an extensive wine list, year-round.

For breakfast, they offer a plethora of sweet and savory dishes that you look forward to at brunch. My boyfriend and I are more into savory dishes, so we went with the make your own omelet and American breakfast with eggs, bacon, toast and home fries. It was so delicious!

As for dinner, we went all out with the classic Roast Beef Prime Rib and the Red Lion Inn Turkey Dinner. It got me so excited for Thanksgiving! For additional sides, we had warm bread and butter, Bader Flame Beet “Carpaccio” and a New England chowder soup. For dessert we couldn’t resist the Affogato cake with midnight cake, caramel, expresso, vanilla ice cream and whipped cream.

Everything was absolutely delicious and we were thoroughly impressed with all the dishes and flavors. The restaurant itself was packed with almost every table taken. The great thing about Red Lion Inn is you can book a table reservation even if you’re not a guest at the Inn.

Widow Bingham’s Tavern

Named after old Widow Bingham, one of the Inn’s original owners, this rustic and family-friendly tavern offers traditional favorites and updated classics. The tavern is located right next to the dining room and offers a more laid-back atmosphere. Here, you’ll find hearty sandwiches, fresh salads and savory soups in a cozy atmosphere with historic signs, old posters, wicker baskets, and a hodgepodge of other memorabilia. You can stop by for lunch and dinner or just for a drink whether a glass of your favorite wine, a legendary Bloody Mary or a pint of locally craft-brewed beer.

Drinks on The Porch

One of my favorite memories at Red Lion Inn was grabbing an apple cider margarita with cinnamon sugar on the rim and relaxing on the iconic porch in the nostalgic rocking chairs. It’s a familiar tradition among many people that visit the Inn and a must-do when you’re here whether before or after dinner.

The Lion’s Den

One of the very unique and exciting offerings at Red Lion Inn is the Lion’s Den, an underground bar and entertainment venue experience. The Lion’s Den offers cocktails, bites and plates, making it the perfect post-dinner spot for some relaxation and entertainment. They offer live music and what they call “Den Sessions” and “Jazz Sessions” on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. You can check the full schedule here to stay up to date.

The vibe here was laid-back, moody and a ton of fun. Everyone, between the staff and guests, were so kind and the crowd ranged drastically in age from millennials to Gen X, all together having a great time. We loved the live music and thought the artists were particularly talented between singing, playing the guitar, the harmonica and the piano.

It’s not often that hotels offer this kind of upscale after hours experience which truly makes Red Lion Inn stand out, especially for a millennial like myself who still likes to stay out every once in a while, especially on vacation.

Is The Red Lion Inn Pet Friendly?

One of the many accommodating features that so many hotels are adapting to is being pet-friendly. As someone who covers hotels frequently and plans to get a dog soon, this is especially exciting. Quiet, calm and well-trained dogs and cats are the only pets allowed and they will be prioritized to first-floor rooms.

Here are a few things to note about their pet policy (taken directly from https://www.redlioninn.com/inn-life/pet-friendly/):

Prior reservations are necessary and available on a limited basis. Please let us know ahead of time. There is a $40 fee per night.
Please keep your animal on a leash when outside your room. This is for your pet’s protection as well as in consideration of other guests and staff.
Please do not leave your pet unattended all day in your room. Pets must be secured in crates when left in the room. Housekeeping will not attempt to enter or clean your room if your pet is not secured in a crate. A limited number of crates are available from the front desk.
Pets are not allowed in public areas.
Please manage your pet’s barking or other noise in consideration of your neighbors.
Unattended pets that disturb others will be relocated at the owner’s expense.
Guests are responsible for any and all damage or injury caused by their pet and do not hold the Inn or its staff liable for injury to another guest or staff member.
Please ask your pet to be considerate of our antiques and do not allow them on our furniture.

Is The Red Lion Inn Haunted?

I sure do love a good haunted hotel and story. The Red Lion Inn happens to be one of them. The Inn dates back to 1773 and has direct connections to the Revolutionary War. Many protests happened at the Inn having to do with the British Parliament’s Acts of Intolerance amid the buildup to the American Revolution. Many have come and gone through The Red Lion Inn including 5 U.S .Presidents. While this hotel has been considered a crown jewel to Massachusetts, many think guests have decided to come back after their death as well.

The entire Inn is said to be haunted, but the most paranormal activity is said to take place in room 301 where there have been reports of strange apparitions, bed covers being tugged, the sound of footsteps heard and felt throughout the room and strange figures at the end of the bed. Despite all the reports of hauntings at this hotel, many still flock to get a taste of the great reputation and memorable experience!

I don’t necessarily believe in hauntings, but it did feel a bit eerie the first night we stayed there which may explain why I had trouble sleeping! You’ll just have to experience the spookiness yourself…