Samuel’s

Beware! I went to
to arrange for a hotel for a 3 day trip to the Boston area in the first week of July, 2014. The hotel reservation was booked with The Andover Inn in Andover, MA. This reservation was made through Expedia. I got an email the day before I was to travel to the Boston area (September 10, 2014) advising me that my reservation was cancelled due to «overbooking». Odd, since I had a confirmed reservation for more than two months. No way it was an overbooking, rather, it probably involved a higher paying direct customer. Rude treatment by the hotel and indifference by Expedia. Every other time I have been bumped, the offending hotel comped my visit and arranged other accommodations. Expedia offered (but has not delivered a $ 200 coupon for a «future visit»). Why would I use Expedia or
again if neither would live up to my confirmed reservation made two months+ before. Poor treatment but I guess this is what «customer service» has come to — no calls, just a robo email!

Super convenient if you’re picking up or dropping off a student at Phillips Andover. Clean and quiet with comfy king sized beds. Easy free parking right out front and a friendly staff. My only recommendation would be to get towels that are more absorbent.

This review is two-​fold. First, my entire family and friends stayed at the Andover Inn for my son’s wedding. The staff was helpful, the rooms were charming and the location within walking distance to the town was wonderful. There is a restaurant on site and the food was good as well as convenient. There are good walks around a preserve as well as Phillips Academy along with an art museum and other sights readily available. I would stay there again should I visit Andover in the future.
Secondly, The Andover Inn provided the rehearsal dinner venue for my son’s wedding. Jennifer Lawlor, the event manager, was wonderful to work with, exhibiting both professionalism and warmth. I planned the seated dinner for 52 guests by phone and email as my husband was seriously ill and I could not visit the site. She worked with me on every aspect from the menus to the rentals to choosing a florist. The delicious dinner was held in the Phillips Room, one of two rooms the Inn has for events. Had my numbers exceeded the rooms capability, she also offered the lawn, with or without a tent. She checked in with me regularly over the months prior, and although the Inn provides tables, chairs and white linens, she arranged for other options to be rented to fit the look I wanted. Our rehearsal dinner started with a cocktail hour, dinner with table service and dessert. The wait staff, Paul and Brian, were so pleasant and to task, that many of my guests mentioned them later. Allyson, the bartender, served all the guests in an efficient manner and Cody Webber helped me choose wines for dinner, getting me an Oregon Pinot Noir to showcase our part of the country. I can’t say enough positive about this experience. Jennifer even tested our musical slideshow on their AV equipment before I flew out for the wedding to make sure it would work. At a time in my life, attending our son’s wedding without my husband who was unable to travel, Jennifer made this as stress free for our family as was possible. The whole evening was very special with all our guests enjoying a delightful evening preceding our son and now daughter-in-law’s wedding, a chance for both families to meet over good food and conversation. I give much credit to Jennifer and the Andover Inn for making the dinner such a success.

Just came here for drinks. Seems like a nice hotel. Would stay here if I were in the area.

Do not eat at The Andover Inn.
Went there for Mothers Day. What a disaster. The buffet was disgusting, seemed like it was cooked the previous day. A total rip-​off at $ 40 per person, and 18% gratuity tacked on for good measure.
Spend your money at The Capital Grille or Burton’s. Comparable pricing to The Andover Inn, but far better value.

This was horrible. We went for dinner and the service was terrible and the food was obviously pre-​cooked at lunch and served at dinner… just thrown on the grill to heat it up. We got a gift certificate for $ 100 from my parents and still have $ 50 left because they had to take one of our items off the bill because it was terrible. The ambiance is beautiful, but the food is horrific, especially for the prices.

Creepy to arrive to in a snow storm. Front desk lady flat out bizarre. Explained to her that I was from 500 miles away and had to get off the road to get out of freak oct blizzard. She began talking to herself and typing forever into computer and never told me the rate! I asked two more times before she told me what I’d be paying. Elevator jumped between floors. Lights flicked alot. Power went out. (not their fault, but fit the oddity.). I felt like I was in The Shining. Went down to the Inn bar and asked for a bowl of soup. Was told no. No explanation. They WERE still open. I walked away and went to bed. F that. Was too tired… back to room up dark staircase. Lights went out again. and again.
On upside, room was nice. In morning, went out to my car and it had been completely cleaned off and shoveled out! Awesome.
On the up

NOTE: THIS HOTEL HAS BEEN FULLY RENOVATED AND IS UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT SO IS NOT REFLECTIVE OF THOSE REVIEWS PRE-​2010
The only thing that is keeping me from giving this a 5 star is the inattentive front desk staff. We were coming in last Sunday night and called for direction clarification and the phone rang off the hook. When it finally was answered we were given bad directions with an attitude. Upon arriving we found this person, Gregory, to be about as interested in his job as he was in programming his iPod which I caught him doing upon arriving to the desk. We had a Priceline confirmed room and had called ahead to make sure renovations were complete and confirm our accommodations. This Gregory had us in a King room when we had reserved two beds. We had the print out of the room reservation in hand but it still took 20 minutes for him to get it together and switch us out. We were the only people there and had been travelling all day, NOT the reception one wishes for.
Thankfully the rest of the hotel was perfection. The Georgian Revival brick hotel is charming. The lobby is spacious with a gas fireplace welcoming you into the inn. The restaurant and bar are exactly what one would expect from an inn on the campus of the country’s second oldest private school, Phillips Academy (PA).
The room we were given was on the third (top) floor and was up to the highest standards of any 4 star property. Beautiful design, great amenities (MP3 clock, large flat screen TV, plenty of light, and wonderful colors and comfortable beds/​sheets. The bathroom had only a large shower stall but that wasn’t an issue for us. Overall we both agreed this was THE place to stay for anyone sick of the threadbare crap that lines 495 near the Merrimack Valley
Since there was no room service we headed down to the hotel lobby and into Samuel’s restaurant and sat at the bar. John, the bartender could not have been nicer or more attentive. We had a great meal (burger, squash soup, salads) and left satisfied and feeling welcome and appreciated. It was a rainy gloomy night and the bar with its worm woods and wonderful old school design was just what the doctor ordered. If I lived locally I could easily see this being the upscale town «hang out» as it has something hard to find or copy.
The only other slight glitch in our experience was the morning room service where some items were left off our tray and it was obvious that the servers were not the normal ones. We later found out that the AM front desk clerk acted as our room service waitress. Props for diving in, but a slight negative for not having staff to do room service. I am sure this is a minor glitch. We did have a good meal in our room. I am holding to my 4 stars based on the facility and restaurant/​bar. Get with it front desk! Support this place, it deserves it.

Since I grew up in Andover, I’ve never had a reason to stay in a hotel there… that is until this Thanksgiving, when a bunch of us came home to visit the folks. As my old bedroom is now my parents’ computer room, it was time for me to find some different lodging.
Andover Inn recently underwent a huge renovation. The rooms are now comfortably sized and well appointed. Obviously, they went to the trouble of ensuring their upgrades were high-​end. Wonderful Frette sheets and towels, comfortable mattresses and a nicely furnished bathroom. My only complaint is that our 2^nd floor room had terrible water pressure.
If you have reason to stay in Andover, my recommendation is that you skip the chain lodging out on River Rd and give the Andover Inn a try. Located on the campus of Phillips Academy and a short walk to downtown shops and restaurants, it’s well worth a visit.

Please be open by Christmas. Last years Christmas was so stressful with the whole family camped at the house. We need you to be open. Please.

Elegant. Food is good, but was much better under the previous management. They do need to stop putting nuts in everything, since so many people are allergic. Very pleasant venue for a smaller wedding.

we came here for easter brunch one year. there was a set menu for easter (only 3 entrees you could order). it took over 3 hours for us to get our salad. and we didn’t leave the place until 5 hours after sitting. the place is poorly managed, possibly understaffed, and the kitchen took forever. $ 60 per person.
lots of people left yelling and shouting. what a way to spend easter day…

The Andover Inn is about 25 miles north of Boston on the campus of Phillips Academy.
The location is, well, wonderful. Within walking distance, you’ll find the Addison Art Gallery, featuring American art and free to the public, and the Robert S. Peabody museum, featuring an extensive Native American archaeological collection, and also free.
Just steps away, there is a 125-​acre sanctuary with paths throughout for a cross-​country jog or walk.
As for the rooms in the Inn, however, there is a great deal of variation. Some rooms are suites with adjoining rooms and private baths, others (like the one I had) force guests to share a bathroom and shower (one per floor, and far from pristine).
There were a few nice touches… homemade cookies on the pillows, bottles of water, and delicious complimentary soaps. The room itself was clean, but the shared bathroom just left a bad taste in my mouth.
The staff was professional and friendly, and the bartender was even persuaded to stay open an extra hour to accommodate a late-​night party.
Overall, this is a great place to stay, but just make sure you request a room with its own bathroom.