Blackberry Inn Yosemite — Hotel in Sonora

Our first time visiting Yosemite and we could not have found a better place to stay! We stayed at the Blackberry Inn, which is just outside the park, for 3 nights, and then stayed 3 nights inside the park at Yosemite Valley Lodge. We were wishing we had just stayed the whole week at Blackberry Inn, it was so nice! The room was spacious, the bed very comfortable, the HUGE soaker bath tub divine, and the small refrigerator, tea kettle, electric fireplace and wall heater, and dining table and chairs in the room provided everything we needed. Our first night we got pizza in town (Groveland is just 15 minutes away), and were able to save the leftovers in the fridge. They even had a microwave out on the patio we used to heat it up the next night.

The grounds are amazing - it felt like we were in our own private valley, with magnificent views of the fall foliage and changing colors on the hills' trees, about 50 wild turkeys and several deer grazing in the mornings. There's even a peaceful walking path that takes you around the little valley and, up under the trees on the hillside, we saw more turkeys and a young buck deer. The owners have obviously done a lot of work to clean up the area and maintain the land.

Steve and Alex were very caring and amiable hosts. Upon hearing of my wife's love of horses, Alex arranged a private lesson for her, and spent more than 3 hours introducing her to the horses and instructing her in how to communicate different commands and move them about the pen with simple hand signals and body movements (think Horse Whisperer, here;)). She even got to take the horse on an obstacle course! Alex was so patient and my wife will be talking about this experience the rest of her life. I think Alex plans to offer this as an add-on in the future, and it'll be worth every penny if you are truly interested in getting to know and interact with horses, rather than simply climbing on and riding (we were not able to ride, nor were we looking to do so - these are highly specialized Arabian horses that compete in endurance races all over the world).

I know I'm missing something, but really have absolutely nothing but good things to say about our stay here. Oh, the breakfasts were great, too! Definitely better than I can make at home, including an egg soufle and apple french toast. We also ordered the made-to-go lunches, which were perfect for our day trips, and even came with little coolers to keep everything cold and organized.

Thank you, Steve and Alex, for a fantastic stay. We can't wait to...

We stayed at the Blackberry Inn near Yosemite as a couple and it was an unforgettable experience — easily one of the best romantic getaways near Yosemite National Park.

The inn is super clean and beautifully decorated with carefully curated 1800s-inspired décor and restored antique furniture. We stayed in the Bridal Veil Room, which was warm, inviting, and felt like stepping back in time while still enjoying modern comfort. Every corner of the property reflects thoughtful detail.

Breakfast at the Blackberry Inn is truly special. Steven, the owner, makes everything fresh each morning: we had a savory frittata one day and fluffy pancakes the next, along with cooked apples, chocolate croissants, orange juice, and fresh coffee. It felt more like dining in a friend’s home than a hotel — personal, warm, and delicious.

Steven also has an amazing life story that he shares if you ask — don’t miss it. On top of that, he gave us tips about a lesser-known Yosemite spot that turned out to be one of the highlights of our trip. That kind of personal touch you won’t get at bigger hotels.

The property itself is set on a beautiful farm-like landscape, with horses nearby and an adorable porch where you can relax, enjoy a quiet evening, or look up at the stars. It’s peaceful, intimate, and romantic.

Location-wise, it’s very convenient: only about 30 minutes from Yosemite’s entrance gate, with a couple of restaurants nearby for dinner after a day in the park.

If you’re looking for a romantic getaway near Yosemite that combines comfort, history, and genuine hospitality, the Blackberry Inn is perfect. Between the spotless rooms, Steven’s unforgettable breakfasts, the farm setting, and the personal attention, this is the kind of place you’ll want to come back to every time you visit Yosemite.

Best bed and breakfast near Yosemite for couples. Romantic Yosemite lodging with breakfast. Top boutique inn near Yosemite...

From the moment we pulled up to The Blackberry Inn (at 9 pm) to see our porch lights on, our room lights on, the air conditioning set at a comfortable setting and the ceiling fan moving the air around, the keys waiting for us exactly were we expected them to be and a plate of fresh chocolate chips cookies wrapped in plastic wrap, I knew I stumbled upon a first class B&B. You knew the minute you met Steve and Alex that they truly enjoy what they do. They were kind, warm, friendly and just genuine people. We began every morning with a wonderful breakfast the minute we walked out our French doors, set up on our cozy porch. And we were welcomed back home every evening with a plate yummy chocolate chip cookies. Steve is a first class host who helped us navigate the park by taking the time to talk with us about what we were interested in and what kind of experience we wanted. He offered some recommendations that we were thrilled to explore and enjoyed. He knew of every hike we had picked out and helped map up a plan for us so we didn’t waste time. We stayed in the Bramberry room which was just lovely and comfortable with beautiful solid and unique furniture. I felt that the accommodations were brand new with antique cozy decor. As we looked around the room you can see they take pride in great attention to detail. It was clean, fresh and delightful. Truly a very peaceful stay, a great way to unwind after a long day hiking and exploring. We had to leave at 6 am on our last day and would miss breakfast. Steve wouldn’t have it, so he made sure the coffee pot was setup and turned on for us. He packed us a to go breakfast including to go cups for our coffee. Truly a 5...