The Ahwahnee - Yosemite Valley, California

Bob C.

This hotel is ideally situated and grand.
However, it has a tired feel throughout.
The staff are delightfully and a special thanks to Stephen, at the bar, and Basil at reception. Both very helpful and informative.
We dined in the amazing dining hall and the beef was wonderful. Sadly the rest of the offering was poor. For instance, sloppy mash and no other potato alternative. The beef deserved to be served with roast potatoes, perhaps parsnips and cauliflower cheese. Without these, the meal was over priced.
Our waitress explained about the long running kitchen refurbishment and operating from a container, which limits the offering. Perhaps another container should be considered as this has been going on for two years.
Our waitress was delightful, but I am sorry I cannot remember her name.
All the staff were very pleasant and overall we enjoyed our stay.
Bob

Kevin D.

The Valley... breathtaking. The lodge... majestic. The service... engaging, wonderful and attentive.

Right from the start Basil, Brent and Renee welcomed us a warm hello and settled us in quickly. Basil went above and beyond when it came to reservations, friendliness and helpful insight into all the Lodge and Park can offer! You know it's going to be a great experience when you get the opportunity to meet and engage with people like him!

The only reservation from awarding a full 5 star experience is the detail/comfort/amenities within the room once checked in. Even with that, we look forward to the remainder of our trip and coming back again!

Chad C.

We come to Yosemite a couple times a year and this time we decided to stay in a cottage at the Ahwahnee. It was definitely worth it. I've stayed in the rooms before, but the cottages have an entirely different feel to the whole experience of staying at the Ahwahnee in the valley! The cottage was phenomenal! The staff was incredible. The pool and the restaurant were great. The entire experience was amazing. We will absolutely be making it a priority to stay at the cottages again in the future!

Gabriella L.

do yourself a favor and don’t stay here. me and my boyfriend were so excited to stay here after all of the hype around this hotel. we checked into our cottage and at first glance it was run down, old, and dirty. i have no idea what “charm” everyone is talking about. it was FREEZING in our room. so cold we could not even sleep. my boyfriend asked for more bed sheets and blankets and the lady at the front said to use the space heater and that they would bring blankets. the blankets never arrived. They will charge you 65+ dollars for a buffet that tastes like hospital food. this seems less of a place with charm and more of a place that’s old and that’s the excuse for why it’s dirty and outdated. i literally felt like i was trapped in a jail with cabin fever and could not wait to leave.

Katie H.

My family was visiting Yosemite for Christmas 2024 and even though we were not staying at the hotel. The hostess at the bar restaurant was very helpful and friendly. Without reservations she got us a table for 5 in the lounge. The waitress and staff were kind and friendly. Thank you for a wonderful experience. Food was delicious 🥰

Alexandra H.

This is a beautiful and authentic historic treasure. Our stay was a birthday gift from my husband and, while it took me 70 years to get here, the reality met the dream. We stayed in the Mary Curry Suite which is charmingly reminiscent of what Queen Elizabeth may have seen when she visited. From the comfortable bed to the cozy reading area, to the table large enough to play a game of rummikub, all matched our idea of a lovely getaway. The staff was very cordial and helpful (though one dining hostess seemed weary of repeating to people that there is a wait list). The buffet breakfasts were hardy and varied and the evening buffet had just enough variety with thoughtfully prepared meats and fish. And the dining room, itself, is a marvel to enjoy during a meal. Housekeeping was prompt and respectful of our hours. I encourage those visiting the Ahwahnee to recognize that it is historic and authentic. It was designed in 1927 to feel like a luxurious country home, and the present day rooms reflect that. Renovations must be thoughtful, careful, and respectful of its status on the National Register of Historic Places. It is also open to a public that is likely hiking the park during the day, with the attendant gear. Personally, I find its somewhat worn appearance charming and comfortable and would not hesitate to sing its praises.

Martin B.

This place is not worth half the price.

The price you are paying for the Awahnee hotel is not justified with anything and you are neither getting a service nor a hotel somewhere near the price you are paying. Some may say you are getting a unique experience with 1920’s charm. But there’s no charm anymore. This is a 1920’s building completely run to the ground. Every carpet is disgustingly stained or completely worn down. There’s dust and dirt in every corner. The wallpaper is stained and peeling off. It smells of mildew and mold. There is mold around the bathtub. The former great hall is decorated with the care of a train station and there’s not enough seating for the guests. Every room is dark like a dungeon (maybe so you don’t see how filthy it is?). And if there’s one more thing other than money you need to bring to waste it is time. 2 1/2 hours wait for a table for dinner (for mediocre pub food), 1/2 hour wait for a coffee to go are just normal here.

TrailBlazer723067

What an experience! We arrived on a Sunday afternoon and we were welcomed as if we were the King and Queen. The staff is fantastic. We stayed at The Ahwahnee as we were attending the Bracebridge Dinner (which was amazing). The hotel is old - built in 1927. If you are looking for a 5 star modern hotel, don't stay there. If you are looking for an experience of staying in a piece of California history, you won't be disappointed. The majestic beauty of Yosemite is overwhelming, and the location of the hotel capitalizes on that beauty. Yes, the hotel is undergoing some retrofitting, so some views are obscured, but really only from the main dining room. Some of the carpet could be replaced, but it was clean. We loved our room as we had spectacular views of the mountains, and we were only on the 2nd floor. It is winter in the valley, so it gets cold. Want to warm up? Step into one of the two giant "walk-in" fireplaces. No kidding. One of them even has benches inside. We will definitely go back. It is worth a visit if only to admire the architecture.