The Cutest Rooms to Book at the Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo
Hotel pool deck and colorful patio furniture at the Madonna Inn.
Located in the heart of San Luis Obispo, the Madonna Inn has become a California landmark and a favorite road trip destination. As one of the most photographed hotels in all California, the Madonna Inn has so many unusual sights that you could spend hours exploring the grounds. The Madonna Inn sits on over 1,000 acres and is home to many friendly horses and cows.
One of the first things you might notice when looking at all these photos is "My gosh, the decor is just so tacky!". And you would be spot on to think so, the fabulously tacky style of the Madonna Inn is it's claim to fame. Each of the 110 rooms has a unique theme with an over-the-top interior design scheme, making each stay at the inn a new experience. Legend has it the founding husband and wife had a competition to outdo each other on the outlandish room decor. The result is a hodgepodge of rooms ranging from explosion of glitter to sleeping inside an actual rock cave.
When planning your trip you really can't go wrong with any of the rooms listed below, in my opinion they are the most memorable. I highly recommend booking several months in advance, these rooms are popular and are often booked up.
Madonna Inn's famous Pink Champagne Cake.
Madonna pink ice tray, sweet treats and baubles from inside your hotel room.
Madonna Inn colorful vibes and decor on the sun deck.
Top 15 Most Colorful & Photogenic Rooms at the Madonna Inn
1. Room 218: Carin
"Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair!" With an explosion of pink color and storybook spiral vaulted ceilings, you can climb up four floors and enjoy the view from your castle.
2. Room 164: Merry
This room is the blogger number one favorite room to photograph and it's no surprise why. Sparkling glitter walls, grand double chandelier, and floor-to-ceiling vibrant pink colors. This room is pretty much any girlie girl's dream come true.
3. Room 118: Fabulous Fifties
I love the soft pastel color palette in this room, it feels very light and airy compared to some of the darker rooms. Style is Inspired by 1950's "domestic bliss".
4. Room 169: Vous
With rich blue tones and ornate decor, this French inspired room is like sleeping in Versailles. Enjoy a luxurious deep sleep and dream under an embellished chandelier. Another blogger favorite for all the photo opportunities!
Madonna Inn colorful vibes and decor on the sun deck.
Wooden spiral staircase leading to the sun deck at the Madonna Inn.
5. Room 183: Love Nest
Looking for a room with a view? This room comes with extra bell and whistles including crossing over a bridge into the suite and a spiral staircase up to a stained glass viewing tower.
6. Room 150: Romance
The soft pastel blues in this room are very calming and the carved wooden details add a charming vintage touch. I've seen some great photo shoots done in this room, the colors photograph very well!
7. Room 172: California Poppy
As bright and cheerful as California itself, this quaint floral room delights with a pop of yellow color.
8. Room 208: Pony Room
Hello red! My family and I stayed in this room on a road trip to SoCal when I was a kid and I can still remember the red burning in my retinas. Perfect room for a bold lipstick lover or red bottoms heels kinda gal. 💋
9. Room 185: Sky Room
Take your travels to another level with this two story suite. This open and airy room has muted tones but does not lack in pizzazz. With the carved wooden staircase up to the second level, this room was designed to give you a feeling of sleeping in the clouds. Perfect for a large group, accommodates up to five guests.
Pink leather interiors inside the Alex Madonna’s Gold Rush Steak House.
Ice cream sundae from Copper Cafe at Madonna Inn.
Close-up detail on the Madonna Inn colorful glass goblet.
10. Room 198: Canary Cottage
If Tweety Bird decided to decorate a bedroom, this would be it! This room is adorned in fun and playful canary yellow tones, my favorite being the solid yellow brick wall.
11. Room 104: Captain's Bridge
Inspired by a day on the ocean, the vibrant blues in this room are meant to replicate ocean and sky. This reproduction of a sea-worthy ship’s cabin is ready to set sail. Nautical touches can be found in the furnishings, brass lanterns and the beach-like pebble stone bathroom floor.
12. Room 174: Krazy Dazy
The name says it all with a dizzying array of bold daisies embellishing the walls of this room. My favorite is the color contrasting argyle pattern in the shower, adds a bold pop of color!
13. Room 155: Hearts and Flowers
Surround yourself with red velvet flowers and deep saturated tones of burgundy in this floral themed room. I love the scarlet red velvet sofa!
14. Room 193: Safari Room
This is one of the few rooms where the name perfectly describes the theme of the room. A jungle paradise with bright green walls, lush tropical wallpaper and a rock shower with overhead waterfall.
15. Room 149: Old Fashioned Honeymoon
Last but not least, we have the room we stayed in. As you can see from the photos in this blog post, the bathroom with the vintage bathtub is the showstopper.
Pink wallpaper and leather interiors inside the Alex Madonna’s Gold Rush Steak House.
Pink vintage furnishings inside the Alex Madonna’s Gold Rush Steak House.
Madonna Inn pink and gold embossed cake box from the bakery.
Ice cream sundae from Copper Cafe at Madonna Inn.
Looking for the tackiest, wackiest or just plain weird rooms? Here you go:
Room 137: Caveman
Live like the Flintstones and experience primitive life inside a cave.
Room 142: Gypsy Rock
The best way to describe this room is a circus decides to set up tent inside a rock cave.
Room 206: Old Mill
Have you ever dreamed about sleeping inside a coo-coo-clock? Here's your chance!
Room 166: Round
This room looks like a child's nursery gone wrong with green glitter walls, a circus bulb chandelier and vintage whimsical animal decals on the wall. In my opinion, the saving grace is the colorful bathroom with a green brick wall.
Room 158: What's Left
If you've ever done sewing projects you know that you'll end up with a ton of mismatched scraps of fabrics. Well this room is the results of trying to put all those pieces together into one room, regardless of how awkward they look together. Check out the patchwork tile bathroom, it's a sight for sure!
Room 132: Yahoo
After a long day out on the trail with your horses, you can rest your weary eyes in the back of your 4-wheel wagon and get some shut-eye.
Vanity flower decor details inside the bathroom of the Old Fashioned Honeymoon Suite at Madonna Inn.
Painted tiles and bathtub inside the bathroom of the Old Fashioned Honeymoon Suite at Madonna Inn.
Our Stay in Madonna Inn’s Old Fashioned Honeymoon Suite
I booked Old Fashioned Honeymoon because it had my favorite themed bathroom with an ENORMOUS vintage bathtub. After spending three days traveling all over San Luis Obispo, I decided to have a spa day and relax with a bubble bath and enjoy a slice of cake from the Madonna Inn bakery. During our stay we swam at the pool, visited the horses and cows and shared milkshakes in giant goblets. While the sweet treats from the Madonna Inn are perfect to satisfy your cravings, I don't recommend eating at the restaurant. You can find fresh food options on my San Luis Obispo restaurant guide.
Bubble bath inside the huge vintage clawfoot bathtub in the Old Fashioned Honeymoon Suite at Madonna Inn.
Bubble bath inside the huge vintage clawfoot bathtub in the Old Fashioned Honeymoon Suite at Madonna Inn.
Madonna Inn's famous Pink Champagne Cake.
Madonna Inn Secret Garden has blooming flowers and it's a great place for portrait portrait photography.
Madonna Inn Secret Garden has blooming flowers and it's a great place for portrait portrait photography.
Vintage carved wood and stained glass decor details at the Madonna Inn.
On the Madonna Inn sprawling property they have horses and cows grazing in pastures.
Vintage carved wood stairway rails at the Madonna Inn.
Hotel pool deck and colorful patio furniture at the Madonna Inn.
Colorful patio furniture on the sun deck at the Madonna Inn.
Hotel pool deck and colorful patio furniture at the Madonna Inn.
Enjoying cake, views and sunshine on the sun deck at the Madonna Inn.
Pink wallpaper, rose flowers and leather interiors inside the Alex Madonna’s Gold Rush Steak House.
Pink barstools inside the Silver Bar Cocktail Lounge at Madonna Inn.
Madonna Inn room key makes a great souvenir.
