This past weekend, I packed an overnight back and drove about 15 minutes away to one of those best kept secrets in Phoenix-The Hermosa Inn! If you haven’t visited this lovely little boutique hotel located in Paradise Valley you’re missing out on a private, relaxing and quaint gem. The inn itself was originally built in the 1930s, so unlike many of the resorts in town, it has an elegance in its history that you can feel. With beautiful accommodations located in a handful of charming hacienda-style casitas, the inn is a secluded oasis in the middle of the bustling city. Yes you are just steps away from plenty of restaurants, shopping and activities but you would never no it and there is really no reason to ever leave.
When I arrived I was lucky enough to check in early and head to the quaint pool for some quality cabana time! I opted to bring a girlfriend on this trip and give JZ and the hubby some quality father and son bonding time. I will say, the Hermosa Inn is quite romantic and perfect for an anniversary or special occasion celebration- just not for me on this particular visit!
The pool at The Hermosa Inn has an intimate feel to it—no DJ and fist pumping here- thank God! They have lush landscaping all around the pool, and our cabana was tucked a few feet towards the back of the pool area behind a little garden. We had a small walkway to get from the pool to our cabana, but since there were a few families at the pool, it was nice that we were a very quick walk away from the pool so we could escape the small crowd for a few minutes to eat our guacamole and drink our delicious white sangria in peace.
The cabana service was exceptional, and the staff around the inn in general was top notch. Our pool server helped us with our cabana for the day, did an excellent job checking up on us and making sure we had plenty of water and snacks, and was able to answer all our questions about the history of the property!
When we finally made our way back to the room- we had more goodies waiting for us there- they sure like to keep guests tummies full here and I can see why, the food is amazing!! The casita-style rooms are large and comfortable. Each room offers plenty of privacy and is tucked away through weaving paths and pretty water features.
LON’s at The Hermosa Inn is the upscale on property restaurant I have always loved and made it a point to visit regardless if I’m staying on property or not. They have one of the most gorgeous outdoor patios lined with rustic adobe and iron features in addition to a romantic outdoor fireplace with stunning views of Camelback mountain. Since it is the summer, we preferred to dine indoors since there was a monsoon predicted!
We had a lovely 5 course dinner that included seared ahi tuna on a hot rock, tortellini, short ribs, and lemon blueberry cheesecake just to name a few favorites. The staff at LON’s at The Hermosa Inn was kind and attentive, and they were knowledgeable about all the menu items. We got suckered in to (ok, it really didn’t take that much convincing!) – the LON’s signature cowboy candy bar, and the s’mores bar which you just have to go there to expierence first hand.
The next morning, we were back with our appetites for breakfast! With a variety of fun mimosas and a dish solely dedicated to sizzling bacon- the brunch menu at Lon’s is pretty spectacular. By the way, this is home to dare I say it: the BEST cream cheese monkey bread ever.
I’ve stayed at a ton of resorts and ate at many restaurants in town and hands down, the staff at The Hermosa Inn was so kind and down-to-Earth, and more than happy to do whatever they could to help make our stay exceptional which I think makes all the difference in the world when you’re talking about hospitality. If you’re looking for a little escape in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the big city, I definitely recommend The Hermosa Inn.