Glen-Ella Springs Inn

We ate at the restaurant. Our vegan meal was delicious! The setting is lovely! This is an old inn with an abundance of charm and warmth. The garden is beautiful. The setting is remote. Perfect for a getaway but close enough to other restaurants and activities. We saw wild turkeys on our way in. What a treat!

10 Star! First, the establishment is beautiful. The attention to detail is noted from the minute you pull up. The landscaping is impeccable, the rooms are exceptionally white glove quality with added touches of homemade treats, the pool/deck clean as fresh rain, the courtyard from the restaurant breathtaking, the culinary experience exquisite. Second, the Inn Keepers, Ed & Luci Kivett are true angels. We came in via motorcycle and unfortunately the bike slipped when we were turning it around and I suffered a wrist injury. Ed graciously drove us into town and waited with us at Urgent Care to drive us back. Luci held our dinner, which was beyond incredible. This is truly a hidden gem. Tranquil and beautiful. It definitely is worth the stay.

We stayed here one night as part of a 3 week USA road trip. This was one of 3 historic properties we stayed in, all very different in quality and character. The setting is beautiful with charming gardens a large lawn area, beautiful outdoor dining patio and pool area. Our drive to the hotel was down quite a long unpaved dirt road. We weren't sure whether there was another way to get to the hotel on sealed roads but we would recommend this if possible as the car and windows were covered in dust when we arrived and after we left. We had a rear facing room at the end which had clearly been thoughtfully furnished with higher end furniture. The room and bathroom were small but perfectly functional and spotlessly clean. We managed a quick swim in the pool (which closes at 6pm) and dined in the outside patio area of the restaurant. The food and wine were excellent although the service was a bit lack-lustre and we had to ask for water twice and our empty plates were left for some time. The only disappointment for us was being unable to enjoy the full breakfast. Breakfast isn't served until 8:30 which is really too late if you are planning an outing or en-route elsewhere, especially in summer. We did ask if we could get an earlier breakfast and as there was another group leaving at 8:00 we were offered a tray in the room at that time. The breakfast was nice with small pots of granola, yoghurt, juice, coffee and a hot muffin. It was just a shame we could have enjoyed the full breakfast included in the rate. The owners do a great job with the hotel which is borne out by the fact the hotel is so popular despite its quite remote location.

How does a 140 year old primitive setting rate five stars for rooms, ~ by the attention to detail in leaving history intact as much as possible, but with thoughtful efforts in providing reasonable backwoods comfort. Having an owner helping out with services and letting his staff run the show was most classy. The owners surely know 'what sells' and have truly thought out their accommodations, restaurant menus and bare necessity entertainment options (wi-fi, pool, directions to Northeast Georgia attritions, etc.), but I would hope two items could possibly be addressed: wine and coffee. The wine options listed were comfortable except for the lack of representative Georgia wines. Some nearby local wineries, other than the commercial Helen, GA examples, would truly enhance the Glen-Ella Springs experience. Why not list wines from Stonewall Creek (Tiger, GA), exceptional wines from Crane Creek (Young Harris, GA), etc. Needed is a guide/map for a day tour of wineries/vineyards. Let me add, the last breakfast before leaving the premises should be memorable. The breakfast option(s) almost completed this, except for the lukewarm, non-descript coffee. Take a page out of the coffee served along Virginia's Skyline Drive lodges with a never to be forgotten 'Roar' (restaurant available brand) coffee. We will be back in any case since the owners left, thoughtfully, a 'professional' corkscrew opener in the room for guest to enjoy their own wines or that which may have been purchased from the Inn. Note: personal wines are not allowed in the restaurant during meal time.

The Glen Ella Springs is good but we can't share the enthusiasm of other reviewers. Perhaps we were spoilt by the other great Inns we had stayed in during our trip and the Glen Ella could not match our raised expectations. The Inn is in a great location providing an ideal base for walking. The grounds are beautiful and peaceful, although our sleep was disturbed by the large number of AC units in use by other guests. The staff were very helpful and friendly and the service was excellent throughout our stay. We ate at the Inn on three nights. The food was good but, to our taste, not exceptional. Based on the reviews we had expected something a bit more special. Breakfast was disappointing - we did not enjoy the hot dishes and the cold buffet was limited. Room tip: We stayed in one of the suites (room 27), which have balconies facing the road. Most of the other rooms have balconies overlooking the meadow from which you can enjoy the evening sun.

Tucked remotely down a gravel road. Limited dining seating without a bar. Greeted by the most friendly people. Glasses of wine offered as we waited for our seating. Terrific diverse menu. Reasonably priced wines. A hidden gem worthy of all its top notch reviews. Go, observe, relax, partake, enjoy.

This Historic Inn nestled in the Northeast Georgia Mountains houses one of the Best in Fine Dining Restaurants one could hope to experience. Excellent dishes paired with sides to enhance the pallet are comparable to any big city restaurant. Beautiful ambiance, Excellent service and a must go to for anyone visiting the area! Hats off to Glen Ella for exceeding expectations!

My husband and I took a spur-of-the moment overnight trip just to get out of Atlanta, do a little hiking, and get some fresh air. We booked a queen size room facing the back of the property. The room was cutely decorated and was immaculate. I was delighted to find there was no television in the room itself which made it all the more easier to disconnect and simply enjoy the peace and quiet. (Although there is a television available in Garden Cottage open to guests at all times should anyone want to see tv.) Staff were very kind and professional. We had an excellent dining experience in the restaurant on Saturday night, and our breakfast on Sunday morning before checking out was equally outstanding. Check-in/check-out was a breeze. This was our first stay here, and hopefully not our last. We loved it.

Every day is Valentines Day. We just got back from a delightful mountain weekend getaway at Glen-Ella Springs Inn. They have an excellent restaurant that alone is worth the trip. The rooms are comfortable and super clean. They just got fiber and now have the best internet of any hotel we've stayed at. This was our first visit in cold weather, and we wondered if the room might be cold and drafty. We were toasty warm. Some rooms even have a fireplace. We can't recommend this place highly enough.