I'm trying to decide between the Green Gables and Seven Gables Inns for a few nights over New Year's and would love any help in distinguishing between the two. They both sound lovely. My husband and I are just looking for a nice quiet and comfortable place on the water to spend some down time. Thank you!

I stayed at the Seven Gables Inn just for one night when I was in the area on business. I stayed in one of the smaller rooms in the Beach House and it was lovely. I liked being able to get up in the morning, cross the street and take the path along the coast. It goes on for miles.

I just about missed the evening wine but there in time to have a quick glass. The food laid out was more than your usual cheese and crackers. Breakfast in the morning was outstanding. A full hot breakfast with lots of choices. When I was there it was during the week and a little off season so wasn't really crowded. I think there were only about 10 other rooms booked. I can't compare it to the Green Gables but I think you and your husband would have a romantic New Years Eve at the Seven Gables.

We stayed at Seven Gables this past July. It was lovely. The food and service were excellent. The room was very clean. Location is great. We had an great 3 day stay.

We are partial to Seven Gables and have stayed in their Breakers room a few times and loved it. It's on the 2nd story of the Main House and has a wall of windows, more than what you see online,including a windowed gable that looks directly onto the Rocky Shores area of Monterey Bay, with it's otters and sea lions lolling about there. Panoramic bay views extend from Lover's Point in the west all the way around the bay to Santa Cruz. As nice as it is to walk along the ocean, the views from up in that room make us want to stay there all day! The night lights around the bay are pretty, too.

What you can't see from the website is the very beautiful Main House lobby and "living rooms" with their exquisite antique furnishings and local artisanal glass windows.

So far, I haven't been successful in getting my husband's photobucket shots of those areas to paste into this post, (not sure if it's possible), but I'll put them on if I can do it, maybe tonight.

We like to stay during the week, but our last stay there this month fell on a week-end and both houses were fully booked, (the adjacent house formerly called Grandview Inn is now called the Beach House),yet I was surprised that it wasn't at all crowded as I had imagined it might be. You can maintain your privacy, if you choose. We also like to have coffee in the pretty garden between the two mansions, which has a small brook and waterfall feature, as well as bay views. Seven Gables looks a little "dressier" (for lack of a better word) than Green Gables, which would make it especially nice for New Year's Eve, but they are both very comfortable, top-shelf inns--they're Pacific Grove's finest.

Thank you so much for these helpful replies. I have since learned that Seven Gables requires a 3 night stay over the holidays while Green Gables does not, so we are booked into a Carriage House room at Green Gables, which is all that remained open, with a partial water view. I am sure it will be nice. Staying the full 3 nights would require us to subtract one of 2 nights in Big Sur (we are visintg the west coast for a week from NYC), which I would like to avoid doing. We will just have to return another time to sample both! Thank you for the input.

We live in Pacific Grove. The GREEN GABLES INN is where a friend of mine grew up. Now a great B and B. You will enjoy your stay there and in PG.

Check out the restaurants in downtown PG while in the area. PASSIONFISH, CHOP HOUSE, RED HOUSE, FAVOLARO'S, FANDANGOS, JOE ROMBI'S ...all good.

My favorite Pacific Grove restaurants are Passionfish and the newer Melange. Both have talented chefs, very good food and excellent wine lists at low mark-ups.

Re: the rec for "Chop House", I'm sure the poster means The Cellar Door Chop Shoppe (& Wine Emporium). Quite a name. I didn't care for them, especially their lack of a wine program. Basically, the owner tells you he has hundreds of wines to choose from, but he has no wine list. "Just tell me what type of wine you like, I'll choose something for you" until we find what you want. That might work ok for people who don't know wine well, but I do and I want to see a wine list.

The obscure glass of white wine he chose was not great, cost $8.50 and I later learned it retailed for $8/bottle. I should have rejected it and tried more of his suggestions, but our table was discussing business and I just didn't feel like playing his game. Just so you know.

I'm sure you'll enjoy your stay at Green Gables, eenytoo -- have fun!

Regarding this comment from above poster:


"Re: the rec for "Chop House", I'm sure the poster means The Cellar Door Chop Shoppe (& Wine Emporium). Quite a name. I didn't care for them, especially their lack of a wine program. Basically, the owner tells you he has hundreds of wines to choose from, but he has no wine list. "Just tell me what type of wine you like, I'll choose something for you" until we find what you want. That might work ok for people who don't know wine well, but I do and I want to see a wine list. "

This is a good example of a "one time" visitor to a restaurant. We live in PG and go to this restaurant frequently with local friends that all know wine. The owner knows wine and enjoys discussing wines at any price level. We send people here because of the personal service and the great atmosphere. We have never been sold cheap wine at inflated prices. Do not let this review of a person that was expecting a wine list persuade you not to go here. It is a great place and is developing a local following that all restuarants in this area want. I am sure the reviewer meant well....he is just incorrect.....and no, I have no interest in this restaurant. It is the last business I would get involved with.