Padre Hotel

Driving through downtown Bakersfield, you can't miss the Padre Hotel. The Padre is a historical landmark that was originally constructed almost a century ago. The Padre is surrounded with spooky lore- as any Bakersfield native will warn you, you might get more than you bargained for with a stay. There are many stories of haunted encounters because of a fire that occurred on the seventh floor in the 50s. I've heard all sorts of stories about people trying to escape from the exterior fire ladders and it's hard to know what's real or myth! Either way, this place has been featured in many a ghost hunting show.Although I've never stayed overnight at the Padre, I've visited many different times to enjoy meals and a drink. The lobby has a coffee shop and the Brimstone Bar. The bar offers a daily happy hour from 3-6pm and it's a great place to grab a drink and watch a game on one of the TVs. The hotel has nice and well kept common areas. Knowing some of the lore, the only creepy thing is that the lobby bathroom is downstairs on the basement level. In addition to the Brimstone Bar, on Thursday-Saturday evenings, their "rooftop" bar is open. (I use quotations because it's on the second floor but it provides open air access). There's often live music on Thursdays and you can grab a drink in a nice open setting. The Padre Hotel is iconic for many reasons and whether you visit for a meal, a stay or a haunt, you're in for a treat.

For some reason we were allowed to reserve a 4pm seat for the 11am-4pm Christmas brunch....odd, but were reassured it would be ok. We were one of only 3 tables seated so no atmosphere....again we were reassured more guests would arrive...they did not. Last year champagne was included, this year it was not, yet the price was the same....our" server" said alot of things had changed from last year.The "buffet" was truly awful, cafeteria quality food. The brussels sprouts tray was only half full and luke warm, there was no dressing at all and the carver disappeared shortly after 4pm. The dessert area was a handful of cookies and some toffee cakes....certainly not in abundance and certainly not warm. There was no coffee or hot chocolate or cream.Our server was for the most part absent and clearly ready to go home. We ordered a bottle of champagne and following the first glass had to poured it ourselves. Shockingly our server then showed us a tip screen on the bill for 18% 20% 25%....lolololol. I have spoken to my friends, family and coworkers about this disgusting money grab and despite enjoying a lovely lunch at Brimstone 2 weeks ago we will never return.

I love the food here. I got the hot wings which had a great gouchujang flavor, and the Blue Burger which was awesome. I'm kinda biased Cus I love blue cheese.Our server, Tamara, was amazing! She let me know that they had Beyoncé's new whiskey 'Sir Davis' available which I've been dying to try and was delicious. Everything came out super fast and looked great, I wish I had taken a picture :(Not related to the food but the rooftop was decorated really nicely for Christmas and the severs were wearing matching Christmas sweaters during service which was very cute. 10/10 experience, I'll definitely come back. Thanks again Tamara!

The Padre Hotel never disappoints! I recently attended an event here, and from start to finish, the experience was top-notch. Upon arrival, I was greeted right away, which set a welcoming tone for the evening.The highlight for me was the bartender--friendly, attentive, and clearly skilled. They crafted drinks with precision and kept the energy of the event lively.The food was equally impressive. Every dish I tried was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. It's clear that attention to quality and detail is a priority here.Whether you're stopping by for a quick drink or attending a full event, the Padre Hotel delivers an exceptional experience. I'll definitely be back!

We drove up to Bakersfield for a family occasion without the kids. So my husband and I wanted to make our stay special. We were not disappointed at the Padre Hotel. It looks very impressive on the outside and inside. We only stayed one night, but didn't have the opportunity to go to the restaurant. I hope we can return on a future trip to enjoy all its amenities. See you soon!

It felt simply amazing!The Haunted Tavern experience was nice. We hit the bar after and it was really nice, very lively.

Delightfully posh and quirky decor, very good location, excellent and attentive service. I loved the old historical but updated building. I would check if they have any weddings or big parties booked, because the one night they had one while we were there was loud. They conveniently have a restaurant and bar downstairs. Gym. Coffee shop. I would happily stay there again. They even allow dogs!

Wow, just wow!! Never ever in my wildest dreams would I have imagined that one of the coolest hotels I would come across in my lifetime would be in Bakersfield,CA!!Let's face it Bakersfield doesn't have the greatest reputation and or charm but I was totally blown away by this property!! While I wasn't expecting much, this will be probably my go to hotel while traveling up north. On top this hotel was very well reasonably priced compared to some other local hotel chains in way more worse locations.As a matter of fact, I felt quite safe in Downtown Bakersfield and would stay again in a heartbeat. The valet parking and the check in was a breeze and everyone was super friendly and helpful. The hotel itself is beautifully decorated and it's a historic landmark. The rooms are very charming but also very modern. I also was blown away by their coffee shop and their restaurants and bars. Overall this was an amazing experience and I can't wait to come back again soon!!Plus I got a good night rest in their comfy king size bed with fluffy pillows and nice hot shower before heading back home.

I love the padre, it's like stepping into a piece of history when u see it, the outside is as beautiful as the inside. The staff is amazing. I recently took my brothers pictures there and valet was so nice to us going in and the staff. I really do pray we never lose this historic piece, because I know a lot of people want new things but I prefer history over new.

We broke up a trip to SoCal by staying the night at the Padre Hotel. There is just one reason why we didn't give this hotel a fifth star. Yes, it is a dog friendly property. Our dog was allowed everywhere in the hotel, including the exterior parts of the restaurants. More on that further down this review. The downside to bringing a pet here is not really the hotels fault but that of the hotel property. The hotel doesn't have a pet area so, you get to walk the streets looking for a bit of lawn or landscape bark for your pet to relieve themselves. Honestly, not a comfortable feeling once the sun goes down. The neighborhood itself is not great. Like most cities, I'm afraid. On to the good stuff. We asked for additional pillows and coffee and both were in the room before we arrived. The corner room was on the 6th floor and did have a nice view at night. The rooftop patio is where we ate the first night. The team up there was great. Aubrey, in particular, as well as Michael were both the bomb. Food for the rooftop is prepared by the Brimstone, downstairs which we were told we could not bring the dog. Told would have to eat on the patios outdoors. Okay. When we arrived all the patio furniture wa stacked up and outdoor heaters stuffed in corner. That is how ended up on the rooftop. That's ok. Their policy, right? The food was very good. We had a Crispy Fish Sandwich with Onion Rings and a BBQ Burger with Truffle Fries. The house Chard is good at 10 bucks a glass until you find out that a bottle goes for 10 bucks. Breakfast the next morning was at the Farmacy Cafe on the first floor. Here's where the dog communication was odd. We were welcomed into the Cafe, with our dog. Of course, we loved that but were confused by the communication we received about pets not being allowed inside the restaurants. Make up your mind, Padre.All in all, a good stay. The staff was great, the room nice, the food very good. We would certainly stay here again, if we were not travelling with our dog. It's historic, haunted and a brilliant period piece of Bakersfield history.