Carriage House At the Harbor — Hotel in South Haven

We chose the Carriage House at the Harbor in South Haven, Michigan, as our honeymoon destination, and it couldn’t have been more perfect. We’ve been to South Haven before, but this was our first time staying in an inn, and after a lot of online research, we selected the Carriage House for its attention to detail and promise of a gourmet breakfast — and let me tell you, it did not disappoint.

We stayed in the Victoria Room, which included both a bedroom and a cozy sitting area with a sofa and chair. The inn’s décor is traditionally elegant, and the bathroom has been beautifully updated to a modern style that complements the charm of the room. The inn offers a variety of rooms to choose from, each with its own character.

The location is ideal — close to everything in South Haven and just a short drive to Saugatuck. On our first night, we were able to walk to dinner, which was a wonderful bonus.

And the breakfasts… wow! We were there for three mornings, and each meal was a true standout — visually stunning and absolutely delicious. The presentation and explanation of each dish were such thoughtful touches, and even my non–scone-loving husband became a scone fan by the end of our stay. The afternoon coffee, cookies, and popcorn were also lovely treats that made the experience feel extra special.

Innkeeper Kelly was warm, personable, and full of great recommendations. You can tell she genuinely enjoys hosting guests, and her staff was equally top-notch.

A few small suggestions: our room didn’t have a ceiling fan, which we usually like to keep the air moving; the bed was a bit softer than our usual preference and moved a little when one of us shifted; and we would have appreciated a few more outlets for charging devices.

That said, this is truly a premium inn that delivers on every promise. If you’re on the fence because of the price point — go for it. It’s worth every penny. One of the best inns we’ve ever stayed in, and we’ll...

Wow. We had a wonderful stay at a delightful inn. Innkeeper Kelly and staff were friendly and helpful for our entire stay. The three day stay in the Barouche third floor room was as advertised. Beautiful view of the harbor from the balcony became even more spectacular when the harbor lights came on at night. Room included an in-room 2 person jacuzzi, TV, comfortable bed, chairs, full bath, and fireplace. The inn is from the late 19th century and has that theme throughout. Now we come to the breakfast. Breakfast is served each morning at 9 a.m. in the porch dining area overlooking the docks. While this may seem too regimented for some this is done to assure the meal hot out of the oven can be enjoyed. And did we enjoy it. Each morning was fantastic. They varied each day, but included fruit, breakfast meat, a main dish, juice, scones, sometimes another pastry, and hot beverages. Coffee is available starting at 7:30 a.m.in the lobby. Comparing to other B&B breakfasts this was our top experience, and that is not cast dispersion on any of the others. In the afternoon cookies and popcorn were available in the lobby. Room cleaning and entry by staff was restricted because of covid and they required masks when in the common areas. They have outdoor seating overlooking the marina, as well as a firepit. They are located about 1 block off Northshore Dr with lake access at that point. From that access one can see the lighthouse. Perfect stay...

The White Chapel room was gorgeous with an awesome corner balcony up in the treetops which was a great, breezy spot with a view of the harbor and the sweet sound of the birds singing. The room provided much comfort and the jacuzzi tub was so relaxing and just right. The room was so pretty with the added bonus of the beautiful stained glass window in the bathroom. The inn was just lovely everywhere we walked, inside and outside the property. The popcorn and cookies set out for along with tea and coffee available were delicious. The gourmet breakfast was delightful and the lady that sat us was so friendly and nice and helpful. It was the morning of our 30th Anniversary and she offered to take our picture for us. All the guests at breakfast were so nice and friendly, congratulating us and wishing us much happiness, as it was also my husband’s 50th birthday. Our kids gifted us our stay as a Christmas present and we definitely felt spoiled being able to stay there. It was a treat! Being so close to Lake Michigan was absolutely perfect for us. The town of South Haven was so pretty and peaceful. We enjoyed walking to dinner on the Black River. They had some nice options! Cute shops, too, that we enjoyed the next day, before saying goodbye to South Haven, as well as the brewery. We hope to be able to return...