Craftsman-style lodge built from eco-salvaged redwood on a Mendocino bluff, featuring a spectacular glass-and-steel fireplace, made-to-order breakfasts, and nightly wine hours with gourmet Mendo boxes.
Brewery Gulch Inn & Spa stands on a wind-swept bluff overlooking Smuggler's Cove, a masterwork of rustic-chic design constructed from 150-year-old eco-salvaged redwood. Designed by architect Caroline La Pere and built in 2001, the lodge is framed with "sinker logs" reclaimed from the bottom of the nearby Big River. These massive timbers, buried in river silt during the logging boom of the late 1800s, were perfectly preserved by the cold, mineral-rich waters before being salvaged during a bridge retrofitting project. Today, they form the structural backbone of the inn, radiating a deep, historic warmth. At the heart of the property is the Great Room, defined by a 15-foot cathedral ceiling, a three-story skylight, and a massive, four-sided glass-and-steel fireplace crafted by a local shipbuilder. Arts and Crafts-style furniture, quarter-sawn oak tables, and large windows frame views of the restless Pacific and the surrounding pine groves.
The inn offers 11 guest rooms, including 10 ocean-view sanctuaries and the Meadowview Suite. Named rooms like Heron, Pelican, and Lookout feature private redwood decks, gas fireplaces, and feather beds dressed in Italian Sferra linens. The deep soaking tubs and private balconies provide quiet vantage points for watching migrating whales or tracking the fog as it rolls over the bluffs. Under the stewardship of innkeeper Guy Pacurar, general manager Steven Smith, and the Enthusiast Hotel Collection, the property maintains an intimate, residential atmosphere that feels like a private coastal estate. Outside, the three-acre grounds feature manicured gardens, wetland ponds, and a trail that leads through the pines down to the edge of the cove, bordering the vast Jackson Demonstration State Forest.
Culinary excellence is central to the experience, overseen by Executive Chef Stephen Smith, a veteran of Jeremiah Tower's legendary Stars restaurant in San Francisco. Mornings begin with a cooked-to-order breakfast featuring the inn's signature "Millionaire's Bacon", a thick-cut, sweet-and-spicy treat prepared with brown sugar and red pepper flakes. Guests can pair this with fresh-squeezed juices, local pastries, and seasonal specials like lemon ricotta pancakes or huevos rancheros. In the evening, the complimentary Wine and Appetizer Hour introduces "Mendo boxes", custom-made redwood bento boxes crafted by local woodworker John Myers. These heavy-weight boxes hold a rotating selection of gourmet small plates, such as herb-crusted lamb lollipops or sesame-seared ahi, paired with exceptional Anderson Valley wines. It is a generous spread that easily serves as a light supper, allowing guests to remain by the fire rather than driving into town.
Request a second-floor or loft-level room like Heron or Lookout for the most expansive ocean views. Be sure to order the sweet-and-spicy Millionaire's Bacon at breakfast, and save room for the nightly 'Mendo boxes' during the complimentary wine hour.
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