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Bee and Thistle Inn

3.5 star property
Riverfront inn in Old Lyme with restaurant and bar/lounge

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your current months are December, 2024 and January, 2025.
December 2024
January 2025

Photo gallery for Bee and Thistle Inn

Front of property
Bar (on property)
View from property
Room Five | Premium bedding, individually decorated, individually furnished
Room Eleven | Living area

Reviews

8.8 out of 10

Excellent

Popular amenities

  • Free breakfast
  • Bar
  • Spa
  • Free WiFi
  • Free parking
  • Restaurant

Main amenities (12)

  • Daily housekeeping
  • Near the beach
  • Restaurant and bar/lounge
  • Room service
  • Spa services
  • Massage/treatment rooms
  • Meeting rooms
  • Coffee/tea in a common area
  • Garden
  • Lobby fireplace
  • Multilingual staff
  • Concierge services

Feel at home (6)

  • Private bathroom
  • Garden
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Premium bedding
  • Free self parking
  • Free toiletries

Room options

View all photos for Room Eleven

Room Eleven | Premium bedding, individually decorated, individually furnished

Room Eleven

Highlights

Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Premium bedding
Private bathroom
Shower/tub combination
Free bottled water
Daily housekeeping
  • 179 sq ft
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Room One

Premium bedding, individually decorated, individually furnished

Room One

Highlights

Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Fireplace
Premium bedding
Private bathroom
Free bottled water
Daily housekeeping
  • 280 sq ft
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Room Two

Room Two | Premium bedding, individually decorated, individually furnished

Room Two

Highlights

Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Fireplace
Premium bedding
Private bathroom
Shower/tub combination
Free bottled water
Daily housekeeping
  • 325 sq ft
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

Room Seven

Highlights

Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Premium bedding
Private bathroom
Shower/tub combination
Free bottled water
Daily housekeeping
  • 133 sq ft
  • Sleeps 1
  • 1 Double Bed

View all photos for Room Three

Room Three | Premium bedding, individually decorated, individually furnished

Room Three

Highlights

Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Fireplace
Premium bedding
Private bathroom
Shower/tub combination
Free bottled water
Daily housekeeping
  • 338 sq ft
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Room Five

Room Five | Premium bedding, individually decorated, individually furnished

Room Five

Highlights

Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Premium bedding
Private bathroom
Free bottled water
Daily housekeeping
  • 195 sq ft
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Room Eight

Room Eight | Premium bedding, individually decorated, individually furnished

Room Eight

Highlights

Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Premium bedding
Private bathroom
Free bottled water
Daily housekeeping
  • 255 sq ft
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Room Nine

Room Nine | Premium bedding, individually decorated, individually furnished

Room Nine

Highlights

Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Premium bedding
Private bathroom
Free bottled water
Daily housekeeping
  • 210 sq ft
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Room Ten

Room Ten | Living area

Room Ten

Highlights

Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Premium bedding
Private bathroom
Free bottled water
Daily housekeeping
  • 249 sq ft
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Room Four

Room Four | Premium bedding, individually decorated, individually furnished

Room Four

Highlights

Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Premium bedding
Private bathroom
Shower/tub combination
Free bottled water
Daily housekeeping
  • 195 sq ft
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

Similar properties

Exterior

Water's Edge Resort & Spa

Pool
Spa
Free parking
Free WiFi
8.8 out of 10, Excellent, (1001)
The price is $217
includes taxes & fees
$188 per night
Jan 6 - Jan 7, 2025
Water's Edge Resort & Spa
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About the neighborhood

Map
100 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT, 06371

What's nearby

  • Florence Griswold Museum - 1 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Goose Island - 6 min drive - 4.0 km
  • Essex Steam Train - 7 min drive - 9.2 km
  • Rocky Neck State Park - 7 min drive - 8.4 km
  • Dinosaur State Park - 9 min drive - 8.0 km

Getting around

  • New London, CT (GON-Groton - New London) - 24 min drive
  • New Haven, CT (HVN-Tweed - New Haven Regional) - 37 min drive
  • Westerly, RI (WST-Westerly State) - 39 min drive
  • Bradley Intl. Airport (BDL) - 61 min drive
  • Fishers Island, NY (FID-Elizabeth Field) - 93 min drive
  • East Hampton, NY (HTO) - 25.6 miles/41.2 km
  • Montauk, NY (MTP) - 27.2 miles/43.8 km
  • Old Saybrook Station - 9 min drive
  • New London Union Station - 18 min drive
  • Madison Station - 18 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Burger King - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Starbucks - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Coffees Country Market - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Mystic Market Kitchen and Eatery - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Mad Coffee Roasters - ‬6 min drive

About this property

Bee and Thistle Inn

Bee and Thistle Inn is a great choice for a stay in Old Lyme. You can indulge in deep-tissue massages, facials, or aromatherapy, and grab a bite to eat at The Chestnut Grille, which serves American cuisine and is open for dinner. Other highlights at this Georgian inn include a bar/lounge and a garden.

Languages

English

At a glance

Hotel size

  • 10 rooms
  • Arranged over 3 floors

Arriving/Leaving

  • Check-in time starts at 3:00 PM
  • Minimum check-in age: 18
  • Check-out time is 11:00 AM

Restrictions related to your trip

  • Check COVID-19 restrictions.

Special check-in instructions

  • The front desk is open daily from 9 AM - 9 PM
  • Guests must contact the property in advance for check-in instructions; front desk staffed during limited hours
  • To make arrangements for check-in please contact the property ahead of time using the information on the booking confirmation
  • If you are planning to arrive after 9 PM please contact the property in advance using the information on the booking confirmation

Required at check-in

  • Credit card, debit card, or cash deposit required for incidental charges
  • Government-issued photo ID may be required
  • Minimum check-in age is 18

Children

  • Children (16 years old and younger) not allowed
  • No cribs (infant beds)

Pets

  • Pets not allowed

Internet

  • Free WiFi in public areas
  • Free WiFi in rooms

Parking

  • Free onsite self parking

Other information

  • Designated smoking areas
  • No stag/bachelor or hen/bachelorette parties

Property amenities

Food and drink

  • Free full breakfast each morning 8 AM–9:30 AM
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/lounge
  • Coffee/tea in a common area
  • Room service

What to do

  • Beach nearby

Working away

  • Meeting rooms

Services

  • Front desk (limited hours)
  • Concierge services
  • Tour/ticket assistance
  • Free newspapers in lobby
  • Luggage storage
  • Wedding services
  • Multilingual staff

Facilities

  • 1 building/tower
  • Built in 1756
  • Garden
  • Picnic area
  • Fireplace in lobby
  • Spa services
  • Massage/treatment rooms
  • Georgian architecture

Room amenities

Sleep well

  • Turndown service
  • Premium bedding

What to enjoy

  • Individually furnished and decorated

Freshen up

  • Private bathroom
  • Free toiletries

Stay connected

  • Free WiFi

Food and drink

  • Free bottled water

More

  • Daily housekeeping

Special features

Spa

Guests can pamper themselves by indulging in the onsite spa services. There are massage/treatment rooms and couples treatment room(s). Services include deep-tissue massages, hot stone massages, Swedish massages, and facials. A variety of treatment therapies are provided, including aromatherapy.

Dining

The Chestnut Grille - Overlooking the garden, this fine-dining restaurant specializes in American cuisine and serves dinner only. Guests can enjoy drinks at the bar. Happy hour is offered.

Fees & policies

Pool, spa, & gym (if applicable)

  • Reservations are required for massage services and spa treatments and can be made by contacting the property before arrival at the number on the booking confirmation

Policies

This property's policy is to refuse certain bookings for the purpose of group events or parties, including pre-wedding stag/bachelor and hen/bachelorette parties.
This property does not have elevators.
This property accepts credit cards.

Also known as

Bee & Thistle Inn
Bee & Thistle Inn Old Lyme
Bee Thistle Inn
Bee Thistle Old Lyme
Bee And Thistle Hotel Old Lyme
Bee Thistle Inn Old Lyme
Bee Thistle
Bee and Thistle Inn Inn
Bee and Thistle Inn Old Lyme
Bee and Thistle Inn Inn Old Lyme

Frequently asked questions

Are pets allowed at Bee and Thistle Inn?
Sorry, pets aren't allowed.
Is parking offered on site at Bee and Thistle Inn?
Yes, there's free self parking.
What are the check-in and check-out times at Bee and Thistle Inn?
You can check in starting at 3:00 PM. Check-out time is 11:00 AM.
What is there to do at Bee and Thistle Inn and nearby?
Bee and Thistle Inn has spa services and a picnic area, as well as a garden.
Are there restaurants at or near Bee and Thistle Inn?
Yes, The Chestnut Grille offers American cuisine and garden views.
What's the area around Bee and Thistle Inn like?
Bee and Thistle Inn is located by the river, a short 1-minute walk from Florence Griswold Museum.

Reviews

8.8

Excellent

9.4/10

Cleanliness

9.0/10

Staff & service

4.6/10

Amenities

8.6/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

2/10 Poor

THEY ARE OUT OF BUSINESS!!!! YOU BOOKED ME A HOTEL THAT NO LONGER EXISTS!!!!!
1-night romance trip
Verified Expedia guest review

2/10 Poor

2-night trip
Verified Travelocity guest review

2/10 Poor

Dean, 1-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

8/10 Very Good

1-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review

8/10 Very Good

1-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review

6/10 Good

I was billed twice for my final payment. First when I checked in and then when I checked out.
2-night family trip
Verified Orbitz guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Lovely Inn and staff was very friendly and helpful. Dinner was beyond excellent!
Lynne, 1-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

8/10 Very Good

1-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

4/10 Fair

Bee and Thistle was a huge letdown for us. The outward appearance of the property and grounds are very nice . The rooms however are a different story. Dark, dreary and desperate for deep cleaning and coat of fresh paint in cheery color. The bathroom is almost unusable. Small , dirty, shower that barely functioned. The bed was very uncomfortable , pillows etc. The owners need to give this place an overhaul. The dinner experience was also bad. A server touched our food with bare hands in front of us. We could not get coffee until 8 am so we had to go to a convenience store . 😭
2-night romance trip
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

1-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Bill, 1-night romance trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

6/10 Good

Lovely area, the hotel could improve in some areas
Overall we would have to say that this hotel was okay. Nothing special but also not horrible. It is a beautiful house that has a lot of charm to it. The grounds around the house are also nice to walk around. We had only a couple issues, though to us they were important. We knew we were going to arrive late, and called the day before to let them know. They contact us via hotels.com and informed us that if we arrived after 9pm then out keys to our room would be in the basket outside the front door. Easy enough. Well, when we arrived, around 11:30pm there was no key in the basket and no phone number to call. Luckily, the last restaurant worker was leaving, making sure the front door was locked, and saw us arrive. They were kind enough to open the door, find out key in an envelope that was inside the house (not helpful) and showed us our room. Definitely not their job, but they did it. Which was very nice. Unfortunately that was the last of the good customer service. The following day no one said hello, gave us a welcome talk or provided us with information. When we went to ask the front desk person didn't know the answers to most of our questions. The second issue was the bed, after two nights sleeping on it, our backs started to hurt. Could use better pillows as well. However, otherwise we really enjoyed our visit to Lyme, the sites and the beach. It is a lovely area to explore.
Guillermo, 2-night romance trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Charming inn
Friendly, helpful staff that provided great information about the area and things to do. Inn was a comfortable charming place with o stay.
Dawn, 2-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Philip, 2-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Absolutely amazing place, very comfortable accommodations. Ate dinner there too, and it was probably the best I have in a long time. A little issue with the hair dryer early in the morning and no one around, but it was such a minor inconvenience I don't want it to detract from the review. I would absolutely book there again in a heartbeat. Staff have limited hours, but when they were there, they were so attentive without being overbearing. Wonderful musicians on a Sunday night during dinner, great wine selections, and chef has a real creative way of using local items. Bar tender also creative with drinks, though I loved the wine selection. Bed SOOOO comfortable. Enjoy!
Kim, 1-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Love the original art on walls, the garden with live music and happy hour. The restaurant was fantastic!
Sandiphoto, 1-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review

4/10 Fair

For years we have passed the Bee and Thistle and always wanted to stay there. What a disappointment. Great staff and location but boy is the place run down. It looks like there must be absentee ownership that has either run out of money or just doesn’t care anymore. Many areas badly in need of painting, filthy windows and windowsills, poor AC, threadbare carpets, water stains on ceilings etc., etc. Considering the condition of the property the rates should be a fraction of what they are. I’m aware of the term “shabby chic” but the current Bee and Thistle is just shabby.
Eli, 1-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review

6/10 Good

Nice to experience how people lived in the past.
No TV in the room or on the premises. The breakfast was outstanding.
1-night business trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Unique place. Great outdoors
Pete, 1-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Wonderful New England charm &art
My room was nice and quiet, staff were friendly and assisted with local outdoorsy info .The breakfast was delish. I love the shore area in ct.and the inns along the coast
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Quick one night stay
Wish I had more time to explore the area, but the dinner at the restaurant was excellent and the breakfast was plentiful and pretty good too!
1-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Patric N, 1-night romance trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Relaxing, quiet... beautiful
Great way to spend our anniversary....great food too
1-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Charming inn
Very charming inn. Cookies were delivered to our room in the evening, and we received a bag with water and apples at checkout. The breakfast was very good, with an egg dish, bacon, toast, and assorted delicious pastries and gourmet coffee and tea. Staff was very friendly and helpful.Only negative was slow-filling tub on the third floor, but completely understandable with the age of the house.Lovely toiletries.
Karen, 1-night romance trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review