Hotel Ruby Marie - Madison, Wisconsin

Annie B.

We had an absolutely wonderful stay at Hotel Ruby Marie! Staying in a room with a bathtub was a must for me, and I took full advantage—at least four relaxing baths! The fireplace was an unexpected bonus, adding to the cozy atmosphere. Our room was spacious, impeccably clean, and had stunning views. It truly felt like a warm and inviting retreat.

One of the highlights of our stay was the breakfast downstairs on Saturday morning. The meal was freshly prepared, and the coffee was excellent. We also appreciated the free drink tickets for The Up North bar downstairs. Although there wasn’t a band that night, we had a fantastic time chatting with the bartender and some friendly locals.

On Sunday, we enjoyed using our meal tickets at The Come Back In. The atmosphere was lively, and the beer and food selection was impressive. My husband had walleye with eggs, while I had a delicious fish sandwich. Their selection of German beers was another highlight!

Before booking, I had read countless reviews about Hotel Ruby Marie, hoping for a more intimate and unique experience compared to the larger hotels we had stayed at in the past. This charming hotel exceeded our expectations. We even loved hearing the sound of the train passing by—it was a nostalgic touch for us.

While we didn’t have many interactions with the staff, those we did meet were incredibly friendly. One particularly kind and handsome gentleman checked in on us during breakfast, making sure we had everything we needed and offering room service. His attentiveness made us feel truly cared for.

The little details also stood out—complimentary parking, a selection of candy by the bed, chilled water in the fridge, and real creamer for the coffee. Hotel Ruby Marie’s location is fantastic; despite a snowstorm, we were able to walk everywhere with ease.

With so many options for lodging in downtown Madison, we are thrilled to have found this gem. Our stay was memorable in all the best ways, and we look forward to returning again and again. Thank you, Hotel Ruby Marie, for such a delightful experience!

Rachel H.

I've stayed in a lot of hotels and this one, by far, was my worst experience. They don't advertise this but the bar underneath the rooms is extremely loud and very much a dive bar. When we arrived they "upgraded" our room without telling us it was going to cost an extra 30 bucks. Once we checked in at the bar, we went up to our room, all the furniture was at least 25 years old and so rickety my husband who is not a large man almost crushed the wooden chair. The shower was CLEARLY not cleaned as there were lots of tint hairs in the bottom, the rest of the room just looked dirty and worn out. They're definitely trying to look antique but there's a difference between high quality well preserved antiques and worn out mass produced items. the room we were in was directly above the live band and all we could hear was shouting clinking glasses and the same 4 beat bass line on repeat. I started to feel unwell so my husband left to get me some medicine and while he was gone I got a really bad feeling because someone was knocking on our door without responding to me and there was no peephole to see who it was. After he returned we packed up and left immediately. I still never got a refund for the room upgrade we didn't ask for.

Susan S.

Overnight in this historic hotel was a step-back-in-time experience. Renovated into 15 Victorian decorated rooms & antiques throughout was definitely different than the standard highway chain hotel. If you don’t want German food nearby, there are many bars and restaurants in walking distance, as well as the beautiful capital building. Earplugs are provided for the downtown passing train which was actually very quaint. Two drinks were included for the downstairs bar. Breakfast was good. Our only issue was how overly warm the room was we couldn’t control the heat with the thermostat.

Tiffany K.

We enjoyed our stay here in this unique B&B! The room was clean, beds comfortable, and check in was the easiest I’ve ever had! We loved the Come Inn Again downstairs-thee BEST wings. They were large and juicy, the fish & burger were excellent! We did not utilize the free beverage that came with our stay at Up North, but they do give you 1 free drink per person. We stayed as we have a loved one staying at UW Health, it was 15 mins away from the hospital and they have a large parking lot & overflow lot. We had to be at the hospital early so we didn’t stick around for the free breakfast that starts at 7 am in the cafe downstairs, but the menu only listed omelets & breakfast burritos so we opted to stop at Short Stack Eatery which is a 4 minute drive away. We would stay again for the unique rooms & comfy beds.

Jim C.

Stopped in for the night traveling thru Maddison. What a wonderful hotel. Location was perfect. Many bars and restaurants within walking distance. Great breakfast also!

TravelinFieldGuy

My goodness this place is funky, but it is lots of fun. It is historic, with creaking floors et al, and our room in the corner had a great view looking out over the street in a fun part of town. Our bed was comfortable and the room was well appointed with period furnishings. There is an attached pub complete with the smell of stale beer the looks like it might get lively on a weekend night. Rumor has it bands play there, but not on our Sunday night stay.||Check-in was a bit odd. You have to enter through the back, go up an elevator, and wind your way to the desk -- which might or might not be staffed. If nobody is there you call a number, which works fine. The college kids running the place are sharp and capable, so everything worked out fine.||If you are sick of chain hotels and want something local and fun, this is your spot.

Lance K.

I was here for four nights to attend a convention at Monona Terrace, an easy and pleasant walk even in July. The room and amenities, along with the cozy historical atmosphere, made this one of the most pleasantly surprising sojourns in a long career of business and personal travel. I can't say enough good things about the hotel, its bar, and the adjoining restaurants. Very highly recommended!

Peach F.

One of the nicest hotels we’ve ever stayed in! So happy with our time at the Ruby Marie. Not only was the room clean and cozy with beautiful vintage decorative elements, but the breakfast in the morning far exceeded our expectations. You can tell the chefs really put their hearts into the continental breakfast options. We arrived late and were greeted by a very friendly and welcoming host at the bar. We stayed in room 13 and are so happy it was available. I have been under the weather and was thrilled to find the fire place working, REAL coffee and cream in the fridge, and complimentary bottled water. We will absolutely return and hope to get to stay in this room again.