One of The Best Hotels to Book in Paso Robles is An Inn Built in 1889—Here’s What It Was Like to Stay There
I absolutely love Paso Robles as a weekend getaway in California—especially since it‘s an easy destination to get to from both LA and The Bay. It‘s also a highly underrated wine region (though that is changing) and a great alternative to Napa if you‘re looking for a wine getaway that‘s a bit more lowkey.
But before it was a wine region, Paso Robles was known for something else entirely: its natural hot springs. Salinan tribes used them for centuries, and by the late 1700s the area was already drawing visitors as one of California’s earliest hot springs resorts. The town of Paso Robles was built up around those springs, and officially incorporated in 1889. Just two years later in 1891, the Paso Robles Inn first opened its doors.
Even though it’s one of the oldest continuously operating hotels in California, its modern form is far from dated or dowdy. The historic hotel got a $25 million renovation in 2024, breathing new life into the space and bringing in modern style while also keeping its old-world charm intact. I had a chance to stay at the hotel in one of their garden suites recently, and here’s my honest review of staying at the Paso Robles Inn.
At a Glance: Paso Robles Inn
LOCATION: In downtown Paso Robles [see on Google Maps]
VIBE: Modern west meets old world charm
HIGHLIGHTS: Large garden, central location, and comfortable rooms
ROOMS: 98 rooms and suites across several buildings
DOG-FRIENDLY: Yes! 🐶
BOOK NOW: Hotel website | booking | hotels | expedia
The Property: A Historic Hotel in Downtown Paso
Paso Robles Inn is a large space just off the main plaza—in fact, it takes up almost a full city block! Spread out across the spacious and garden-filled property, you’ll find a historic main house, the 1889 House, which was the original Victorian-era building, and a sister boutique hotel called The Piccolo next door. A fire in 1940 destroyed most of the main hotel building, and it was rebuilt in 1942 using salvaged brick, then renovated again in 1999. The most recent update came in 2024, when owner Peregrine Hospitality completed a $25 million renovation.
Today, the vibe is hip and modern blended with a dash of Old West charm. On property, they have a huge garden area with fire pits (my favorite spot) and a small outdoor pool, as well as a fitness center on site. They also have a restaurant and a rooftop bar — but more on that in a minute.
Modern Rooms With Historic Charm
To be totally honest, I'm always a little nervous the decor will be old and dated in historic hotels. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find clean, spacious rooms with modern amenities like a coffee bar station, hip and colorful bathrobes, TVs with streaming, and large, comfortable beds. I stayed in one of their Garden Rooms towards the back of the property and liked how quiet it was. My parents booked a room in the 1889 House and said they could hear noise from the nearby Salina Rooftop Bar until about 10pm, but overall enjoyed the comfort and spaciousness of their room.
Which brings me to an important point: When I was booking the hotel, I was a little confused about which room type to book, so let me try to break it down. There are basically four categories, and each category is in a different part of the hotel:
Park Suites/Rooms: in the main building, overlooking the street/plaza
Garden Suites/Rooms: in one of several buildings surrounding an interior garden
1889 House rooms: in the original 1889 building, above the Grand Ballroom
The Piccolo: a separate 24-room sister hotel next to the 1889 House
I liked the Garden Suites/Rooms the best, especially since I could access my room from an outdoor walkway (I just like stepping outside first thing in the morning) and they were set in a quiet part of the back garden. However, the 1889 House rooms did lean into the historic aesthetic a bit more with the design. The 1889 House and Piccolo both have elevators, too, if that’s a consideration.
Central, Walkable Location, but Quiet
Paso Robles Inn is on the main plaza in town, making it a central option and walkable to many bars, shops, and restaurants. But despite this, I found it to be a very quiet and relaxed place to stay (even on a Friday!)—thanks in large part to the large garden between my room and the street. It’s walking distance to dozens of bars, tasting rooms, and restaurants—Il Cortile and The Backyard on Thirteenth are a couple of personal faves. Paso Market Walk, a small collection of restaurants and shops is also nearby and while it's a little too far to walk, it’s an easy, flat bike ride using the hotel’s loaner bikes.
Cattleman’s Bar and Salina Rooftop Bar
Cattleman’s Bar
Salina Rooftop
It wasn’t just the rooms that got an update. The hotel’s culinary program got a major glow-up too with the help from celebrity chef Charlie Palmer. Cattlemen’s Bar, which opened in February 2026, revived the property’s original 1942 watering hole with an elevated Western menu featuring dishes like hearty steaks, a wedge salad with homemade ranch dressing, and a caramelized onion dip alongside tasty cocktails. I loved the western, cowboy decor—there were even classic Western films playing on a projector. It’s a great nod to the supposed Wild West characters who visited back in the hotel’s early days. Rumor has it that John Wayne and Jesse James have both been here.
There’s also the Salina Rooftop, which opened in June on the top floor of The Piccolo. It’s Paso's only true rooftop bar, serving tasty dishes like wood-fired pizzas and lamb shish kebabs, alongside a rotating cast of garden-forward cocktails and spritzes perfect for enjoying the view on a warm evening. If you can, time your visit for sunset.
A third concept, The Pass by Charlie Palmer, is billed to open later this fall.
Overall + Price
BOOK NOW: Hotel website | booking | hotels | expedia
Overall, I think Paso Robles Inn is a very good value for the price. Rooms start around $200 per night for non-peak days, but I’d expect to pay closer to $300-$400 depending on room type and time of year/week.
The hospitality is excellent and the staff genuinely welcoming, the rooms are well-sized and appointed with everything you need (those colorful, lightweight robes were a fun touch!), and parking is free. Between the central location and how comfortable and full of character the whole property feels, it’s an ideal hotel for anyone who wants to stay in downtown Paso Robles while embracing a bit of the area’s historic past.
