Grass Valley, California
Holbrooke Hotel
Restored Gold Rush inn
Restored Gold Rush inn
The hotel has welcomed travelers since 1853, running as a living Gold Rush landmark with a bustling ground-floor saloon.
“Now, as part of the Holbrooke Hotel, it claims to be one of the longest operating bars west of the Mississippi.”
What it’s good at
Remarkable
Operating since 1853, with 1860s fieldstone masonry and original mining tunnel doors.
Notable
A 2020 overhaul by Anne L’Esperance brought custom millwork alongside vintage furnishings.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Also in Condé Nast Traveler.
It’s the region’s longest-operating hotel, but it’s not stuck in the past — the rooms...are full of historical personality but also filled with modern comforts.
Right in the middle
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Historic Main Street sits right outside, lined with preserved Gold Rush facades, local shops, and regional tasting rooms.
The rooms
Rooms in the main hotel and carriage house have vintage furnishings. Select rooms retain their original clawfoot soaking tubs.
Bar
Golden Gate Saloon
The saloon pours local drafts across a white marble counter and serves farm-driven California fare beneath ornate woodwork.
How it began
The saloon owners sold whiskey from a tent in the rubble the day after an 1855 fire leveled the town.
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.