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June 2025 by Jenna Maguire
This strange little gem was the highlight of our recent trip to Madison to see notorious garbage person Morgan Wallen in concert. It's a small, no-frills hotel (actually, the curtains are very frilly) with pretty basic amenities. It's clean and quiet, and there's a bar/restaurant onsite and free breakfast in the morning. Where Hotel Ruby Marie really stood out was with service. After returning to the hotel drenched from rain and disappointed by a truly awful concert, we were in desperate need of food and drinks. Apparently nothing in Madison is open after midnight on Sundays, so we were losing hope we'd find anything. As we walked into the bar after midnight, the bartender/innkeeper was closing up. We asked if we could have a quick drink to go- and he not only served us at the bar, he made us a frozen pizza and played the music we wanted to hear (not Morgan Wallen) on touchtunes. He could have easily said they were closed, but stuck around just for us. Excellent service and the highlight of our evening. Thank you, innkeeper! We'd definitely stay again.
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June 2025 by M Peacock
Absolutely a hidden gem. This beautifully decorated hotel has wonderful hospitality. Dylan answered all our questions. He gave great food suggestions. The room was very clean and bright. The hot water was quick to heat. Breakfast was downstairs and there were good options. The employee there was polite and made certain we had eaten well. It's walking distance from many shopping and eating places. We felt comfortable walking around the town and lake. We had tasty drinks in the bar. The bar was decorated with humor. We couldn't quit smiling. Parking is available on site.
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May 2025 by John L (John Elvis Lyons)
Very nice place to stay ! Updated with the old time feel. Breakfast in the morning is included.
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May 2025 by Joaquin
Why stay in a boring chain when this exists. Seriously, first time visiting Madison and I was blown away by its convenient location. Perfect for me who cycles. It’s right across a bike shop and the lake loop.
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May 2025 by Nick Scalora
Very loud. Expect to not get sleep
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April 2025 by Sarah Lishin
What a weird place, I love it! Its an old building, so there are quirks that you just can't find elsewhere. The layout is basically a maze (the hotel is on the 2nd and 3rd floors, there is a bar on the 1st, and a cafe on ground level) but a fun place to stay, 10m walk to the capitol, 1m walk to the lake.
-1 star because of the train (so loud!) but they did give us earplugs in the room. A small sign stating what they were for would not have been remiss.
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April 2025 by Emery F
Fantastic hotel, full of character and great staff. Break away from the generic hotel experience and stay somewhere interesting for once. They provide so many perks at the surrounding businesses, including a breakfast and free drinks at the bar each night. It's within walking distance to all the fun that downtown Madison has to offer, so you'll never be bored. Choose the Ruby Marie!
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March 2025 by Jim Carlson
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!
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February 2025 by 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!
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February 2025 by Tiffany Kern
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.
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January 2025 by Susan Simonson
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.
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December 2024 by Adam Murphy
Lovely lovely, the train comes right by the building but it's still lovely. Like right next to the building... lovely.
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November 2024 by Louis Putz
Beautifully renovated in tradition.
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November 2024 by Carrie Johnson
It is older, but clean and cozy.
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November 2024 by Lance Krieg
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!
