The Exeter Inn

I live in Exeter and have a small home but my sister discovered this treasure! Now I will have all my family and friends stay at this charming and New England representative of hospitality! It is within walking to our beautiful town and is truly a special combination of old world and modern convenience. The people were kind and professional and made my sister and her family feel special and at home. Best location, also near beautiful park and you can be ocean side in 20 minutes. I am proud of my town and that I can offer visitors a lovely place to stay!

Lovely hidden jewel. More like an upscale hotel but with the charms of a local inn. Had to stay here overnight due to a storm that prevented me from driving home. The lobby was warm and welcoming. Rooms were well appointed with modern bathrooms but retained the beautiful quaint feeling of an 18^th century inn. Nice restaurant downstairs but did not stay long enough to try it. Rooms are very affordable and I booked last minute during a storm and the presidential primaries and still got a good deal. Also seems like it would be nice for vacation or quick weekend getaway. I would stay here again.

Stayed here two nights in a suite with a Jacuzzi with the romantic package. We had a great time, good food (comes with coupons for dinner, excludes alcohol) and great location. Turn down service is included, and the staff is very friendly! We Wil be returning!

Our company had a banquet event at The Exeter Inn on December 18^th. Laura handled all of the details for us in a very professional manner. When we arrived, we were greeted by several friendly and helpful staff persons. The holiday decorations were lovely and tasteful. The food was outstanding and exactly what we had ordered. We would highly recommend The Exeter Inn for any type of function.

We stayed here for my friend’s wedding on a Friday. The hotel itself was fine (and their complimentary chocolate chip cookies were a plus!) and would probably be worth about 4 stars. However, the front desk service there was amazing!!! Cindy especially was, hands-​down, the best. Cindy is the reason this hotel earned 5 stars from me. She was unbelievable helpful, friendly, and genuinely warm and welcoming to the guests. We all agreed — the Inn was good, and it was Cindy that made it great!

Classic New England charm at a very reasonable price. I love the location, the town, the character of the place.

A quick one night stay while we were in the area for a sports event. Beautiful, quaint brick inn on lovely grounds next to Phillips Exeter Academy.
Our room was small but clean & comfortable. Bathroom was spacious with a nice walk-​in shower. Beds were super comfy. Cookies with turndown.
We ended up getting room service as we were exhausted. Speck-​wrapped pork tenderloin & flat iron steak from the hotel’s Epoch restaurant were both excellent. Perfectly cooked, seasoned & presented… very nice!
I wouldn’t hesitate to return if I was in the area. All the employees were friendly & helpful. The area itself would be fun to walk around once all this snow melts!

There was a loud banging in the wall next to my bed in room 205. It was a single loud bang that repeated every 40 – 80 minutes. It woke me up each time. I was able to get back to sleep until the last bang around 5:30 am at which point I went to the receptionist to see what was the matter. She didn’t know. She offered for me to move rooms but I was dog tired and was checking out later that morning. I went back to sleep only to be awakened 3 more times by the bang. I didn’t sound like a clanking radiator. It sounded like a mallet banging against wood. Whatever it was woke me each time. I suggested they not let anyone sleep in that room until they fix it.
Otherwise it is a great room. Lots of charm and tasteful touches to room and bathroom.
Other things to be aware of: The hallway can be noisy if people are walking by and talking. The clock was still on EST so was reading 1 hour off and the outlet in the desk lamp don’t work unless the lamp is on so recharge your phone on other outlets.
The staff was very friendly, the lounge area was very comfortable and close to the stairway. The room rates were reasonable.

This is one of my favorite hotels in the US. Extremely reasonable pricing affords you a level of comfort, congeniality, attentiveness and historic charm that is rare to come by. The hotel is small but just large enough to give you a rich portrait of Exeter life (many local businesses and organizations make use of their gathering spaces). Rooms are compact and functional, nicely appointed with very comfortable beds. Fitness area is minimal (hit the nearby Phillips Exeter Academy Woods Trail for amazing trail hike or run). Walking distance from downtown. Safe, secure, sublime.

Stayed here 2÷7−2÷8 2014. I would stay here again if I had to, but I would not look forward to it.
Evening adventures:
Had to go outside around 10:00 PM to try again to get a parking space because the town does not allow on-​street parking yet the hotel’s parking lot was full. Cold night, and not a fun way to spend an evening, just trying to get my car someplace it would not be towed. Staying at a hotel? Really? This problem? It seemed ridiculous to me.
Room situations:
Tiny, tiny space. Okay, but I am talking wicked tiny. Worse was the mold in the bathroom on the walls and ceiling.
Noise situations:
The worst was probably the 7:00 AM Saturday vacuuming that had to happen at 7 AM on a Saturday.
Food poisoning/​allergies situation:
No, the worst was the false promise of allergen-​free food in the restaurant. One of us has food allergies. Whenever we ask if the allergies can be accommodated, an answer of, «No,» is always fine with us. We understand. No problem. It’s when a restaurant assures us that, «Oh, yes! We can make you a meal without your allergens!» And then one becomes violently ill as a result? Not cool.
False claims about a bill:
They said they wouldn’t charge for the meal that made one of us ill, but when the credit card bill came yes, they charged the full bill for the meal. I’m not sure what was good about our stay here actually, from start to finish it was pretty horrible.
Ultimately:
I’m honestly giving three stars to give some benefit of the doubt that it’s not always this horrible (?).

I had my September 2013 wedding at the Exeter Inn and could not be more pleased with the choice. With about 75 attendees, the Inn was the perfect size to accommodate our group. The staff was very easy to work with and helped us tremendously as we planned the wedding from another state. Sherri in particular was an absolute joy to work with. She was experienced and professional but also very warm and enthusiastic. Exeter is lucky to have her! The event spaces, including the courtyard, worked perfectly for our wedding. The Inn staff was fantastic, as was the food! I highly recommend the Exeter Inn as a wedding venue.
Most of our guests stayed on-​site at the Inn and we heard nothing but positive reviews. Our suite was terrific, and the perfect place for the ladies in our bridal party to get ready. The rooms are clean. The beds are comfortable. The staff is accommodating. It was a great place to spend the weekend.

This pretty hotel is quiet and charming in a low-​key way. No bells and whistles, but friendly service throughout. Free internet (unsecured). Bed is comfy. Bathroom is large with nice rain showerhead. Our room had no tub. Décor is nice and understated. My only gripe is that whoever installed the wallpaper did a poor job. Almost everywhere you look you can see it peeling.
Bar is nice and barman very friendly and helpful. Security seems non-​existent. Exterior doors are unlocked at night and you can easily get in without being seen, I never felt unsafe, but some may be bothered by it. Others may find it useful for smuggling bodies out. Or hookers in.
Would stay again.

This is indeed a first class historic hotel. The room was nicely appointed and very comfortable. Great historic feel! We are not the foo foo bed & breakfast types so we were looking for a modern hotel experience in a nostalgic, New England facility. This was it! The restaruant was first class-​ittle pricey though. The hotel staff made us feel very welcome and were very knowledgeable of the area on what to see and where else to eat. If you’re headed to New England, don’t miss this hotel!

In the last year I have stayed at the Exeter Inn four times for a total of 13 nights. I am going back this month for another 4 night stay. It is a fabulous inn!
I have stayed in rooms ranging from the small junior queen room to a suite. All have modern, brightly lit bathrooms with a good selection of amenities. Epoch Restaurant offers a fine menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner in a comfortable, exposed brick setting.
I have read several negative on-​line reviews, but I strongly disagree with them. Do not expect a big box hotel. This is an inn. It was built in 1932 and retains its old world charm.
The front desk employees have always been polite and accommodating. Once I was checking out at 4 am to catch a flight at Logan and the front desk employee handed me my printed receipt and a hot cup of coffee on my way out the door. I will continue to be a frequent guest at the Exeter Inn.

Once again it didn’t fail sat here waiting this week for about 2 hours for my room to be all set so I could check inn redicullous. Didn’t have to pay for it cause my company was but if I was paying for that service and that’s what I got I would take my business else where. No apologies for the wait just a we will call you when it’s all set when I’ve been working all day in the hot sun and want to take a shower they make u wait 2 hours so they can clean the room glad I will not be going back to this place. I wrote a review before but must have gotten taking down. Just do yourself a favor if you ever go here walk right back out the front door and head down the street to the Hampton inn

I recently stayed there on a business trip. My first impression was quaint but small the hotel was less than a mile from the center of a beautiful community. Like past writers stated, my room was very small but others in my group had a full suite. The hotel offered very few amenities but comfy and warm. The fitness room was comical offering 1 treadmill and a bike but if weather permitted the town was great to see on a run. The best thing of all was the staff, VERY friendly, warm and made all difference. The food was good drinks were on the high side but standard to hotel prices. I was told the burgers were great overall stay was ok I would stay again mostly because of the staff who took great steps assuring a comfortable stay.

GREAT place!!! If you are in the dining room ask for Theresa! Very yummy food. The beds are so comfortable and the rooms are great. Its like a mini Ritz

This summer, I chose the Exeter Inn to stay at for my annual long weekend to the area. The hotel website raises expectations and as a person who appreciates the historical beauty of things, I thought this hotel would be cozy and beautifully maintained. Upon arrival, my boyfriend and I walked through the back garden and veranda. It was a good first impression especially when coupled with the prestigious exterior of the building. However, once we walked through the door we were greeted by a bizarre smell. I thought funeral home and my boyfriend thought horses. Suffice it to say, it was not the clean scent a guest would expect from a hotel’s lobby and hallways. Also, from the website, I expected glistening wooden paneling but it just seemed old.
As for the room, it was not large but good enough for two people with duffel bags. However, there was only the desk chair as seating so everything (including eating room service) had to be done on the bed. The door also required a lot of strength to fully close which was just awkward. Finally, I loved the old building aspect which was part of the reason I was drawn to the Exeter Inn instead of a chain hotel. But I would be remiss to not mention the complete lack of ventilation in the bathroom. Therefore, the paint and wallpaper were peeling and cracking which is unfortunate because it was obvious the bath was recently updated.
Overall, we were disappointed. The Inn failed in delivering the historical inn with modern amenities that I had expected. Upon my return to the area next summer, I will not even consider returning to the Exeter Inn.

When we checked in, I could sense one of the two people at the front desk looking us over – maybe because we were in casual clothes (jeans/​sweats) and most people who stay here – rich people who pay $ 30−40k/yr for their kids to attend a high school (the nearby Phillips Exeter Academy) – don’t usually wear such clothes. As we filled out our info (my car plate), the staff asked for our email (they said it was to contact us in case we left anything behind, or to email us about special offers, or something like that). My boyfriend declined, since he doesn’t like getting spam or «offers,» esp. from places that he’s likely never to go to again (we’re in Exeter, NH, remember?). More on that later.
The exterior of the inn was typical of an inn – looked like a large, well-​maintained house. Inside, the lobby – from the carpeting to the decorative wall/​shelf by the restaurant – looked more like an upscale hotel.
We took an elevator up to our second floor room, and the character of the hotel changed yet again, into what looked more like a nice apartment building in NYC. Polished brown wood doors open into the rooms. Our room was at the end of the hallway, in something like an alcove. Once inside, the bathroom was on the right and not «down the hall» as described on Expedia, which made me think it was to be shared with another guest. It was actually *in* the room, just on the other side of the bed.
Based on others’ reviews, I expected the room to be cramped. It wasn’t, really. I mean, we had two small rolling suitcases, a bookbag, duffle bag, and one or two other bags, and it was alright. Then again, we put our stuff on the oversized sofa chair and all the surface areas we weren’t immediately using.
The bed had about 8 pillows on it, which made it look nice, but ultimately proved impractical as we had to toss most of them off (onto the floor; hey, no other space for them). The bed «cover» (more like a heavy comforter in an olive-​colored duvet cover) was really soft, but it was too much with the other one (in a white-​sheeted duvet cover) underneath it. The bed and blanket were among the most comfortable I’ve ever experienced.
The bathroom is blindingly bright – not hospital white, but immaculate. Until you notice the little things, of course. Like the stray hairs on the shower tiles, or the rust on the door hinges, the dust accumulated on the cotton swabs/​balls container, or on the sink, or, most disturbingly, on the room doors’ decorative molding. I mean, I’m not OCD about cleanliness, but when a brown door has parts of it that are white with dust, that’s when I take issue. When everything else is immaculate, what dust there is becomes really noticeable and off-​putting. When a place tries to convey the image of luxury and delivers instead something rough around the edges, it’s disappointing and laughable (like when the «luxury» towel so described on a card in the bathroom with a bright red ribbon tied around said towel turned out not to be as soft and fluffy as even my towel at home but as rough as those in motels and, dare I say it, those used in my kitchen to wipe spills on the table.
After we checked out and had driven 20 mins to our next destination, I realized that I forgot my phone at the hotel. I called them, and the woman who answered must have been the same one who asked us for our contact info, because she said, in a patronizing tone, «You didn’t leave us your contact info.» (I wanted to tell her that first, we didn’t leave it because we weren’t likely to be back there, nothing personal; second, if we had left anyone’s email address, it would have been mine, which would have been useless since I wasn’t checking my email on the road anyway).
I didn’t appreciate the staff person’s patronizing manner, but the hotel itself was not bad. I should really email them about the cleanliness of the room, because it would have been a great experience otherwise.
The inn is usually between $ 100 – 150, but we were fortunate enough to get the room for around $ 80 – 90 on Expedia (last-​minute booking for a Sunday night stay).

I needed a room last minute and i am so glad i called here. Luckily they had a cancellation and was able to fit me in. I stayed in a Jr. Queen room and it was amazing. Jr. meaning that it was just the bed, nightstands, tv, and bathroom. That was fine for us caz we dont need a desk. The Bathroom was amazing, so modern and pretty. The bed was like sleeping on a cloud, the sheets and comforter were so soft, and i love down comforters. i hate hotels like best western caz they are so gross so i am so glad this place was nothing like that.
The outside is so pretty, i couldnt believe the price for what u got, i would have expected to pay a lot more for this place. it has a real old school feel to it.
I didnt experience the bar or dinning room though… thats why its only 4 stars, didnt want to give the whole 5 without trying everything out.
Overall BEAUTIFUL place i would def stay here again.
Hope this was helpful =)