Wawona Hotel

We stayed here in late September around the time when it was announced that the hotel will be shutting indefinitely for restoration review. There was already a lot of restoration construction happening obscuring the front view of the hotel, but I hope it all continues because this was a really nice place to stay. It felt like a step back in time; nestled on a beautiful hillside it is quite the escape. Rooms were dated but still perfectly nice - no AC, so if you come in the summer beware that it will only be a fan that saves you. Plan on about a 45min drive to the Yosemite Valley Village area. About 10min to Mariposa Grove area.

High on Victorian CHARM! Lovely, authentic furnishings and decor in a historic building and setting. The staff are warm and helpful. Be prepared to step back in time- stairs (no elevator), shared bathroom for some rooms. No AC but a fan was perfect for our September visit. Limited WiFi - our cell signals were weak (ATT).The room and bed were very comfortable- we slept soundly! Robes were even provided for the stay. Dining is excellent! It would be my first choice when visiting Yosemite in the future.* Note- the building is undergoing repairs and will close 12/2/24 - a reopening date has not been announced yet.

I love this place. Very charming. Rustic. It's set in a scenic environment. In the evenings you get to enjoy Tom Bop playing the piano.

We stayed July 20, 2024. Hotel does not have AC (posted on their website) so had to sleep with doors and windows propped open. (A first for me). All other guests in our building that I could see were doing the same thing, doors and windows open. Our door luckily faced outside. We placed the fan outside, blowing in the room to suck cold air in. Hard to sleep because it was stuffy and uncomfortable. Keep area temperatures in mind before booking here.Shared restrooms/ showers (also posted on website) HOWEVER--Hot water not working in our building so had to take a cold shower. After several days backpacking this was not the worst for me, but this is unacceptable for a hotel. Host at restaurant stated dishwasher not working so they were serving meals with paper plates & plastic utensils. We did not eat at restaurant after looking over menu options, prices, and yelp reviews. Pool out of order.WIFI only works in lobby (and sunroom?) not in guest rooms. Scaffolding obstructing views.Hotel in overall state of disrepair. Major maintenance needed. Cracks in walls, room was clean but overall grime in other areas if you look around. Chipping paint to exterior. Shabby furniture in room and not in a chic way. Walls have obvious plaster cracking and repair issues. Transom and window in room difficult to open for ventilation. Staff were so lovely. Board games available in armoires in upstairs hallway. We played on veranda outside of our room at night while trying to wait for room to cool down. I hope this hotel gets the attention and upkeep/ work it deserves.

We had car trouble and were stranded for days at the park due to an error from roadside in replacing our damaged rental.Wawona hotel was our beautiful refuge during this time. The staff were friendly, kind and supportive and we wanted to take a minute to share our experience at this wonderful place. Many thanks to the staff: Cecilia, Sheila, Lincoln, Robert, Preston, Nathalie and many others who went out of their way to take care of us and make sure our stay was comfortable!We had no cellular service in the park and team went above and beyond to assist us in keeping in contact with our rental company and insurance. Each team member was extraordinary in terms of professionalism, politeness and friendliness - we firmly believe that people are what makes a hotel and Wawona Hotel completely nailed that!Decoration and history:The hotel is well decorated with beautiful pieces of history and scenery of Yosemite. The history of the location is well documented throughout the walls and the staff is also well versed on the topic.Amenities:Pros:There is wifi in the lobby and sun room.The bar offers free iced water, as the hotel can get pretty warm (no air conditioning).The pool is under renovation but we heard good things about it.The night sky is beautiful once the sunsets.Walking distance to Wawona Chevron and Wawona store.Culture: The staff and guests at this hotel have a culture of friendliness and openness. Perhaps due to the lack of cellular service for most, you can strike up interesting conversation for hours with the people here.Cons:Not all rooms have private bathrooms or showers. We heard from the front desk that the rooms with bathrooms and showers are booked many months in advice.Food:Pros:The waiters and servers go out of their way to make sure your cups are filled.Staff are friendly and will do what they can to make your stay enjoyable. For example, the barkeeper is very accommodating to whatever drinks you might want.Cons:Note that the kitchen staff are usually limited and so seating and food might come slow.Menu might be limited due to the remote location of the hotel. For example dinner had 3 options of steak, roasted chicken and pasta.Tim Bopp is a wonderful musician and just a character. He will keep you entertained for hours with delightful music and conversation.All in all we recommend Wawona hotel if you are looking to spend a night in the park. The historical significance of this site and the people who bring it to life make the stay very worthwhile.

If you want to stay relatively close to the center of the action (about 45 minutes to Yosemite Village) and not pay an absolute fortune, Wawona is a great option. Yes, the room was very hot at night, though there's a ceiling fan and an oscillating fan included to help you out somewhat.The bed was comfortable, the towels were fresh and the bathrooms were clean. It's an old property so it's not pristine, but that's part of the charm in my opinion. The staff was friendly and everything was as described. I would stay here again!I only removed a star due to the restaurant. The service was very quick and the wait staff were exceptional, but the quality of the food was quite poor. Avocado toast was in fact avocado white bread - not toasted at all. Overcooked eggs and underwhelming french toast. For $55 all in, I'd expect better quality.The pool was also closed, though it was full and didn't appear to be under construction. I'm always confused when places take on these kinds of projects during the height of tourist season. Not a deal breaker for us, but good to know for anyone visiting in the near future.

Wawona, oh Wawona, I really wanted to give you 5 stars but you let me down. Was it the location? Nope - 5 stars there. The buildings? Nope - 5 stars. Plus, now the lighting is with LED lamps so it is nice and bright. Was it the staff . Nope - 5 stars there too. Thank you Michael, Lori, Ann and others who I didn't get their names. Then there is Tom Bopp [https://yosemitemusic.com/bopbio.html]. That's 10 stars, or more.Strangely enough, these was the ubiquitous hotel amenities book in the room, with a list of phone numbers for services and emergencies. There was no cell or landline service, and no WIFI except in the lobby. Come on NPS and Aramark, it's ¼ through the 21ST century alreadyThe kitchen, the food; major disappointments. The Thanksgiving meal had been left on the steam table or under heat lamps far too long. The plating was not well laid out. Little splashes of gravy, but not on the mashed potatoes or stuffing. However, the salad was delish. The meal on Sat was basically the same. Mary's chicken was dry and tough. The rib eye was the thinnest cut of meat I have seen called a rib eye. Just not a good experience for dinner.Breakfast was hit or miss. Again, too much time on the warming table. I should have just had the fruit plate. You can't destroy that, or can you?Aramark, the concessionaire, has to hire good kitchen staff who can make the diner's really happy. I'm not asking for exotic foods or large portions, they were too large but that's another story, but food that is well prepared, plated nicely and not left to dry out and toughen.Wawona Hotel is one of our go-to places that is away from the Valley's crowds. Great hikes abound and the Mariposa Grove is right down the street. Regardless, we will return.

This hotel is magnificent- such a great stay to get into the feeling of Yosemite. The rooms are very clean, and the staff is remarkably friendly. You are instantly spirited away to a bygone era, and the feeling stays with you the entire trip. You are right next to the pioneer history center with all original Yosemite valley buildings- which is an added perk. The restaurant is great and the wait staff is exceptional. We stayed in a room without bathroom, but it was fine as the bathrooms were close and always very clean.

Summary: The hotel is within park boundaries, has electricity, and is clean. The beds are comfortable, but there is no AC and most rooms have a shared bathroom situation. You are paying for location and convenience. Service is friendly and there's a restaurant on site which serves 3 meals a day. Plus a great bar starting at 5pm!Detail: Set your expectations appropriately and prepare to be satisfied. This is a hotel in a national park (dare I say one of the most trafficked in the continental states?) that has been running continuously for over 120 years. In fact it's hosted multiple presidents-- at the turn of last century. The hotel is proud of its history-- and rightly so! Antiques and period pieces adorn the lobby and the rooms. This is a hotel that begs for people to congregate outside of their (tiny) rooms. People hang out in the lobby and on the verandas. The pool, when open, is popular. There are tennis courts and a ranger station on site in the summer. Star gazing at the golf course is epic. They have a piano player most weekend nights playing show tunes (it's a little kitsch and he doesn't seem to know any tunes from after 1950) and the wifi is spotty in the lobby. Wifi is non-existent in the rooms, and no TVs anywhere.In terms of amenities-- bring shower slides but otherwise the rest is well appointed. Towels and robes are provided, and hot coffee and tea are available every morning. There's also an ice machine for use to keep your ice chest cold.Service is awesome. This ain't the Four Seasons but staff try to make your stay pleasant. Lee at the front desk helped me get acquainted with the hotel and dinner reservations, the room staff and handymen were helpful, and the restaurant staff were pleasant despite the oppressive crowds and demanding patrons. Anthony, our server most meals was awesome -- he kept us informed of the specials, our drinks (coffee or Negronis or beers) filled, and provided us with some awesome hike recs. We were grateful for his conversation and help each meal in ensuring we got what we ordered, in a timely fashion, and guided us to some great dinner choices. We were bummed to not be seated in his section our last night but he was covering multiple large parties and did wave to us as we left for the evening.Lori was our sever another night and she was pleasant. The dinner restaurant manager did a great job keeping the trains moving and the staff on track. It was impressive to watch.The food is what you'd expect for a national park-- dinner for 2 with drinks and a starter salad and desert will run you $120 with tip. Breakfast for two is around $30. Most meals will take you about an hour and the food comes as it is ready. If you have extensive dietary restrictions or require four star treatment you may need to bring your own food to eat on the veranda. There is no microwave or mini fridge so it's what you can keep in your cooler. That being said, I found the convenience of the restaurant worth it. In terms of dishes:Breakfast:- yogurt parfait: small but delicious, thick Greek yogurt with fresh berries and granola- two eggs: solid hikers breakfast - they do a great job with the eggs and the hash browns are dreamy (with hot sauce added)! The bacon was also great and plentiful- oatmeal: basic, heaping portion- short stack pancakes : delicious and fluffy. Reminds me of the pancakes up at Tuolumne tent cabins. The small portion is plenty for a single person.Lunch: N/A -- brought our own lunches since we were on the trail for lunch each day.Drinks:- Negroni: hard to mess up but perfect after a long day hike.- perfect Manhattan: surprisingly well done-- right ratios and ingredients - solid beer and wine selection tooDinner:- wedge salad -- amazing fresh iceberg with homemade blue cheese dressing and lots of bacon and tomatoes. So good- fettuccine Alfredo with chicken -- solid comfort food with appropriate creaminess. Moderate sized portion- burger -- well cooked, fresh, and solid (got it 2x)- tilapia -- the fish was good but the sides were mediocre; risotto tasted like a boxed meal and the side of sprouts (which was 2 Brussel sprouts) were undercooked. Anthony helped swap this out but be forewarned.- pot roast-- delicious, with great red skin mashed potatoes- chicken with verde sauce - amazing dish that was on special the night we were there. Their chefs were doing a Honduran menu that night and this dish was smothered in the most savory lightly spicy green sauce. I could've eaten two.- steak - solid, a little more cooked than I'd like, but good seasoning and solid sides (mashed potato)- tri-tip special-- very tough and the bbq sauce was kind of off. I'd avoid.Overall we found our stay at the Wawona for four nights an excellent way to spend some time at the park, at a fair price with loads of conveniences, and would be back in a heartbeat.

September Fri-Mon- Parking is all over, complimentary, and not particularly easy to get to. At night you are shuffling in the dark. - Rooms. My dad was flabbergasted that the restrooms and showers were outside of the rooms. I compounded his shock by showing him the little toilet under the stairs that was listed on the map. Later I found the bigger restrooms and showers a floor below. They're pretty nice, and outfitted with bright lights, big mirrors, reliable hot water, and a hairdryer. Consider bringing shower sandals. My parents, being Asian, brought their water heater pot. There were a total of three outlets in the room with a queen bed and a twin bed (and a desk). It looked like every other room had a shower and restroom. I evidently cheaped out at $187/night, although I believe I snagged the last room in all the hotels within Yosemite national park. No microwave or fridge, but I had my cooler and the hotel had a crushed ice machine. We were on the first floor of the two story building; it never got too hot or cold. - Amenities. Wi-Fi was nonexistent in the rooms. There were crowds at the lobby, probably trying to catch the free Wi-Fi and failing. T-mobile signal does not reach here. I had lost reception about 20 minutes prior to reaching the hotel. The one drinking water we were told about is located behind the check in, above a tub of mushrooms. My mom gushed about the delicious, sweet drinking water and talked of refilling all our water bottles before we check out. The live piano and singing at night was nice. The front desk staff is super pleasant. Chairs and tables are arrayed all around the grounds. Coffee and hot water and half and half and milk are freely available in the morning. - Dining. Three meals served a day. My portobello mushroom doused with ranch was great. Overall a neat stay, albeit far from Yosemite valley but super close to the mariposa grove.