The Griswold Inn

A lovely place to visit, this place is quintessential Americana having been founded before the revolutionary war and still in existence for our enjoyment today. First time we’ve been there simply because today is July 4 American Independence Day. We were given four different menus to review and landed on delicious New England clam chowder with the 1776 hamburger and an overwhelmingly lovely Cobb salad. The waitress was so attentive just a lovely experience. One thing they may want to improve upon on a very hot day is to turn up a little bit of air. We will be back when it’s cooler and will be telling our friends and family keep up the great work you’re an asset to the community.

This is perhaps the most disappointing hotel experience I have had in CT, where I have stayed in many hotels. Essex is a lovely, historic town with a picturesque Main St. filled with shops and restaurants. The Griswold Inn, one of the oldest continuously operating hotels in the U.S., sits on a lovely piece of ground here . Sadly, the flags and promotional praise cannot hide the almost total lack of renovation or modern conveniences. There are no TVs, and the beds we stayed in, two standard twins, were so short that our feet hung off the bottom. The room itself was small, and the bathroom was long and narrow with no bathtub. There was a small window with no view. There was only one small chair in the room, with no vanity table and no armchair. The hotel advertises a free breakfast, which consisted of rolls, muffins and coffee. The cost for one night was $339 plus tax and fees, for a total of more than $375. The Griswold badly needs a refresh and major renovations. We will not be staying here again.

We had a terrible experience at "the Gris." My family was traveling in Connecticut from Hawaii and made a special trip to the Gris to hear the sea shanties on a Monday evening. I specifically told the Gris the purpose of our trip and that I was traveling with my two small children when I made the reservations. They told me there would be no problem attending the shanties and suggested a suite room to accommodate the little ones. We arrived to find no bed made up for my young children despite paying extra to have the "suite" room to accommodate them. The room was also not on site. Rather is was across the road located above another business up a steep set of outdoor stairs very reminiscent of an airbnb. This would be impossible to navigate with suitcases or any walking impediment. It was very difficult for us with our children. We travelled to the Gris specifically to hear the shanties on Monday nights. This was told to the Gris when we made our reservations. They told us to make a 7:45 reservation in the dining room which we did. We arrived to find ourselves seated as far as possible from the tavern, unable to hear, unable to see. I expressed my disappointment to the management after our stay, and was met with no concern at all. For a single night we paid about $450.00. This is highway robbery for the product and customer service provided.

My husband and I stayed Friday to Sunday at this historic gem. We thoroughly enjoyed our delicious Tap Room meal, followed by dancing and singing with the locals to the Psychedelic 60s band in the bar area. We splurged on a superior suite with a king bed. It was over the chocolate store across the street from The Griswold Inn. It was very spacious with ample seating, a large bathroom with a stall shower, views of the square/Griswold Inn as well as a small side view of the water from the bathroom window. No TV, but it wasn't missed. The cool, quiet, dark room was perfect for us Brooklynites! The continental breakfast included filled us up until lunch both days. Every staff member we encountered seemed genuinely happy to serve/help us. Without a doubt, we'd recommend The Griswold Inn as well as stay here again.

Really nice old inn-comfortable and clean-friendly staff-very good breakfast-parking is on street or a lot across the street.We didn’t eat here but it looked good.other restaurants are in walking distance also.If you enjoy old historical and unique inns I would recommend you give it a try,I’m sure you’ll like it!

The Griswold Inn is located in the centuries old Potopaug Village AKA Essex, CT. The building{s}stands alone as a testament to Yankee ingenuity. This museum, within itself, tastefully catches the eye with an array of historical original artifacts on display also offering fine fare, comfortable lodging and a hip local hot spot to socialize in this quaint and quite town. The Friday night gathering of family and friends also extends into Thursday and Saturday evenings when/where highly charged dancing flows into the foyer as some of the nation's coolest music rocks the house. Firmly entrenched along the Connecticut River since 1776 affectionately known as 'The Gris' does not boast about its {almost} seamless history, However, the best is yet to come when the place will burst with pride and a hell-u-va grand celebration on its 250th birthday in a year and a half. So, after a day in the park, sitting for some great wine and dinner then cutting a rug in the tavern til late evening, sleep will come easily in their clean, comfortable bedrooms. Some have gas fireplaces for that added ambience when relaxing. This overall quality experience is fondly shared by travelers the world over. Go and enjoy life at The Griswold Inn. Peace, James M

We recently dined at the Griswold Inn for Father's Day, had lunch and sat outside. The weather was perfect, I wish I could say them same for the lunch we had. My wife and daughter ordered fish tacos and I had the $25 fish and chips.( $25 for lunch?) Smallest serving of fish and chips I ever saw. The two little fish tacos served were so wet they were hard to handle. I would rate the food below average at best.

On the Saturday before Easter, we dined at the Griswold Inn which was seemingly a delightful spot with an expansive menu. It was odd that only three minutes after our order the food arrived, and we all remarked on how fast it was. That should have been a signal. The short ribs ($42.00) were smaller than the fist of a small hand. But the problem was that more than half was grizzle. We told the waitress who said she would tell the chef, but nothing happened, so we asked for the manager. A young woman came to the table and as if this were a negotiation, whisked away the grizzle plate, and said she would credit a glass of wine ($12.00). No apology or concern – just a robotic reflex – evidently with a perfunctory and practiced solution to just move on. And move on we did, skipping dessert, with a bad taste about this place. The Griswold may be a historic building, but it is NOT a fine dining establishment.

This inn is amazing, from check in to check out staff were so welcoming. Inn was built in 1700's. So much history everywhere throughout the inn. Room was charming, wide plank falls, uneven corridors which were great. Entertainment and food were top notch, can't wait to come back.