Lowell Inn

The location was great. Very convenient to downtown Stillwater.

The beds/pillows were not very comfortable.

It was a weekend of a big birthday celebration at the neighboring Domacin Wine bar, so family and friends gathered in Stillwater. Some stayed at other hotels, but there was no question that the most comfortable hang-out was at The Lowell Inn! We all enjoyed the brunch together on Saturday morning, and were delighted with the excellent service, and the delicious beautiful plates of food. Thankyou for contributing BIG to a wonderful birthday weekend!

Built in 1927, the Lowell Inn is an historic landmark located in downtown Stillwater, MN just steps away from the scenic St. Croix river which forms the border between Minnesota and Wisconsin. This property is a must do destination especially during the picturesque summer and fall seasons, not necessarily for the vintage 1927 guest rooms but, rather instead to experience their fine dining and culinary offerings carefully crafted by a talented and experienced kitchen crew. We attended their annual Christmas Day Buffet and were very pleasantly surprised. For a modest price, the buffet, while limited, served up a well-rounded selection of entrees, salads, fruits, and deserts. Each and every item was fresh and delicious, especially the Swedish meatballs and the Polish kielbasa sausage, 5 stars, the best we’ve ever had! The ambiance was cozy, comfy and reflective of an older, historic 1927 built structure. The three different dining rooms each have a unique feel; The George Washington Room with it’s Old Colonial Betsy Ross theme, The Matterhorn Room with it’s warm cozy supper club vibe complete with Swedish wood carvings, and the Garden Room with a fresh, wedding party feel. The kitchen staff worked diligently to insure the buffet line items were always replenished quickly so that everything was fresh and plentiful. And the coffee was hot and delicious, right out of an old school, golf course country club dining venue. It’s obvious the main draw for this “Inn” is the delicious food. Reservations are required for both the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day buffets so be sure to book early since they always sell out. We are now looking forward to trying their regular weekend brunch menus, their afternoon “Tea” offerings, Special Event menus, and also their nightly Fondue dinner in the Matterhorn Dining Room. Definitely worth a visit. We’ll be back!

A post Thanksgiving extended family gathering was planned for 35 family members. The menu was the Deli Lunch Buffet at $21.95 per person. There was to be a cash bar that required the inclusion of sodas for $2/glass. Water and coffee was provided. Kids meals of chicken fingers were $13.95 each. The Lowell Inn has always provided a lovely meal in a lovely setting. Today’s meal presentation was a great disappointment. The bread and rolls for the deli sandwiches were dry and cold. The meats were flavorless, the cheeses spare and two flavorless cold salads were in small bowls. The cookies were not fresh. It was certainly not up to the usual standards of this historically fine dining restaurant.

There was no breakfast. Location was okay - reasonably close to shopping & restaurants.

The new rooms are stark/dismal - similar to a Holiday Inn, etc. but with a bigger price tag. Have Bed(s), TV, drawers, no coffee maker. Dinner and breakfast served only a couple of days - not while we were there. We stayed there in one of the original rooms years ago and enjoyed their 5-course fondue dinner - all very high caliber. Original rooms may still be nice but - so sad to see how far this Inn has declined.

Location.

No elevator!!! Very old paint and decor ….

I was very dirty. The tv did not work. We tuned the heat on and you could smell electrical burning and then the smoke detector went off. I told the front desk that I didn’t feel comfortable in the room. They gave us a new room. The breakfast was not good and was not included in the stay.

The lovely old Lowell Inn never disappoints. Beautiful, comfortable old rooms and public spaces, an elegant white-tablecloth dining room with good and interesting food, the Matterhorn Room and its unforgettable fondue dinner, and a lovely shaded patio. All this just a block from Stillwater’s Main Street. There is a modern wing with smaller, plainer rooms (some with balconies), but I’ll always choose the charming old rooms. They’ve been remodeled, but retain their old world charm. We had a corner suite, with a multi-windowed bedroom, sitting area, walk in closet, sleek new bathroom and entry area. Friendly and helpful staff too. We’ll be back!