Dolly Madison Inn (The), Madison

My husband and I were on a weekend getaway. I grew up in CT and had moved away and not been back for about 17 years for a minivacation. We were traveling along the coast and looking for a place to enjoy some seafood in a quiet off the beaten path location. We happened about Dolly's on our way to another restaurant. We popped in for a visit and loved it. It's an old place probably built in the late 1800's or early 1900's and probably few updates since that time, just charming. The food was great, drinks great and service was great also. We got what we were looking for: a nice place to eat (similar to an old english pub) off the beaten path, about a block away from the beach with a quirky fun crowd of locals. Dave the bartender took great care of us and we'd go back again!

Although way overpriced at $170/night for 2 double beds, honestly it wasn't too bad, as we showed up on their doorstep at 10pm, after a full day at Hammonasett State Park Beach, and dinner at Lenny & Joe's. We live in Simsbury, CT and planned a last minute, end of summer, weekend at the beach 3 little kids, ages7, 5 and 2. We had a few names of B&B's and Dolly was the only one w/an available room. We were the only family staying in the house, and I actually kind of liked that part. I had my husband get the keys from the bar, while I stayed in the car with the kids who were sleeping, and we crept up the back porch to our room. It wasn't until the following morning that I realized was a wreck the outside of the place was. The inside was old but whatever, I was thankful to find a place to sleep. We quickly washed up in the morning and went to the beach which was amazing! I grew up in Greenwh, CT and the beach is what it's all about!

Without a doubt, this is the dirtiest, filthiest place I have EVER stayed. The food is horrible, the service is non-existent and the buildings are about ready to fall down. I would not insult fleas by calling this dump a flea bag...it's much worse than that. Don't even THINK about going here!

I have traveled all over the world and have stayed at B&B's and Inn many times, over the 15 years that my friend and I have travled together this is the worst place and the biggest rip off of them all. There is not even a real reception area, you check in at the bar. Yes the people were nice, but I felt i was in some hole in the wall. The room was extremely cold when we went in, the room had cheap wicker furniture, the bedding reminded me of what my brother had for his bedding when we wer younger. There was no tub which I had expected for $190.00 a night. There were no toletries, there was used liquid soap and used shower wash. Our room was above the bar and the noise was bearable until they had karokee and a banc at 12:00 in the morning. Let's say I was supposed to get away to have abreak from my kids and be able to sleep, I was able to get away but I did not get any sleep. The restuarent forget about it, we just had dessert which was a piece of frozen chocolate pie that was hard as a rock, sloppedup with chocoloate syrup and cereal thrown in top of it, for $19.00 we expected more. This place is a bitter disappointment.

We enjoyed our stay at the Dolly Madison the location is perfect, one block from the beach. We stayed in the old part of the hotel and the rooms were basic and affordable. The food was good and service was ok when you could get someones attention - the check-in process was the most challenging part. The rooms are actually behind the bar and restaurant so there is some noise but with the air conditioners running we weren't bother by it and enjoyed being so close to the beach.

The biggest advantage of this hotel is its close proximity to the beach. They also can give you a day pass to the Madison town municipal beach, which is very nice. The hotel itself is centered around its restuarant, which can be quite noisy. There's actually no hotel lobby. You use the same entrance as restuarant customers. The "upgraded" rooms are very nice, although the rooms that have not been updated are truly a dump, reminiscent of what you might find in depressed areas of the South.

I reserved 3 rooms for my wife, children and my parents. If you one hand towel and no bath towels - if you want a hotel to recyle soap by leaving the previous tenants soap in the dish - if you like toilets which you have to remove the lid to get them to stop running - if you like a dirty shower - if you like mustiness - if you like checking in in a bar full of smokers to get your key - if you like to walk through broken beer bottles on the breakfast patio - if you like leopard sheets and dark blue indoor outdoor carpeting - if you like an unprofessional owner prone to the expression "what the frig" - if you want to have them lose your reservation because the people who work there are incompentent.......Well if this is your idea of a fun family vacation then by all means go to the Dolly Madison Inn for a memorable weekend stay.

We live in NJ & had been invited to a surprise retirement party being held at the 'Dolly'. Being from England originally [1960's] we found the 'Dolly' to be quire reminiscent of an English pub 'B&B'.The accommodations were simple,clean and adequate. The bar is as close to an English pub as one is likely to encounter in the US We did not eat here in the morning as we wanted to return to NJ asap as it was Christmas Eve. We would stay here again.

Say what you will about "The Dolly", this has been a successful family owned and operated inn, restaurant & local watering hole for more than twenty-five years. Whether in search of a hearty meal or a hearty handshake, this is where to come to enjoy the un-homogenized character of small town New England. Quirky, at its best, this is a place that you will either love or hate on its own merit. Unpretensious, yet glamourous, it is a crap-shoot experience that everyone should try at least once before it too passes into fond memory. P.S. I have loved the joint since its day-one!

The food did not meet the expectations of the reputation that preceeded this place. Will never go there again. In the 80's I use to go all the time. What a disappointment.