The Martha Washington Inn and Spa

Very nice, historic hotel. Older place, but is has been meticulously kept up, inside and out. Staff was excellent, very professional and helpful. The rooms are well appointed, plenty of space. The beds are wonderful — slept great. Internet works well.
My only grip comes from the restaurant — they «lost» our reservation. We did get promptly seated, but the service was painfully slow — 30 minute wait for a martini?

If you need a place to stay in Abingdon, you could do a lot worse than staying at the Martha Washington Inn. It isn’t modern. It isn’t new but it this is place will show you what hospitality in Southwestern Virginia is all about. The Sisters Restaurant is always consistent and does great service. Of note — the crème brûlée was excellent. The sugar top was obviously not done with a blowtorch. I could have eaten 3 of these!

the 4 star review is for the atmosphere and the beer. they have an often changing tap list that usually has at least 1 beer on that i am a fan of. the couches and the chairs that are in the bar area are great for small to medium (7) sized groups to hang out. if you are hungry you would be hard pressed to find a better burger in abingdon.

Obviously, «The Martha» is not everyone’s cup of tea. But as for us, The Martha IS the focal point of wonderful experiences in the Abingdon area. At the top of the list is getting «The Barter Theatre Package» (for 2) offered by the inn AND including a performance at the fine professional theatre just across the street! This DEAL also includes a THREE COURSE DINNER at Sisters Restaurant at The Martha… and the continental breakfast the next morning. We have been enjoying this excellent deal regularly for many years!
The Barter Theatre is the STATE THEATRE of VIRGINIA… a professional theatre with a long colorful history of fine performances to appeal to many tastes and all ages. I encourage everyone to visit its website and explore offerings of this wonderful cultural treasure:
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I realize that some people do not recognize the difference between a «continental» breakfast and the «complimentary» breakfast served in variations at some hotel chains. FWIW, continental has always meant some sweet rolls, cereal, juice, coffee, and maybe fruit and/​or yogurt. As for the complimentary breakfast at MOST motel chains… eggs&meat on par with fast food breakfasts plus «continental» inclusions.
Yes, Sisters has burgers on the menu… but it is more than a burger joint. There is a full menu of great entrée offerings (maybe a bit pricey for Abingdon, but on par with fine dining in the big city of Charlotte, NC). Our Sisters dining experience this trip was excellent. Our reservation was for 6PM, and we told our server we were going to the Barter for a 7:30PM performance. She thanked us for telling her AND proceeded to serve us attentively and efficiently so we were able to fully enjoy our 3-​course meal unhurried and yet depart for the theatre by 7:15PM!
Appetizer (chosen by both of us): Fried Green Tomatoes (stack of 4 slices) done nicely and as good as I’ve had anywhere… a bit different, too. The green tomato slices were stacked on top of thin layers of sauteed baby spinach in a light sauce… both seasoned perfectly. The FGT were also topped with crumbled goat cheese which added a nice tartness and was complimented by a sweet port wine reduction drizzled on the serving plate before plating. ALL GONE X2.
Wedge Salad (wife’s choice): A very generous salad with blue cheese and crisp bacon bits. It must have been delicious because my wife finished nearly all of it knowing that her entrée was yet to come.
Crab Bisque (my choice): I was hesitant to order this INLAND, and I do love crab soups which I judge by my expectations set by Charleston, SC, restaurants. As I told the waitress after finishing it: «Compliments to the chef. This crab bisque was excellent! As good as I’ve had anywhere at the coast.»
Entrée (chosen by both): The filet mignon, prepared to order… served atop a browned potato cake, topped by a blue cheese cream sauce, and a 3-​inch high stack of crispy thin onion strings. Grilled zucchini and yellow squash on the side. Amazing… generous 8-​oz fillet cooked perfectly, very fine blue cheese cream sauce, and you won’t find better crispy onion strings anywhere.
As I said earlier, the a la carte prices might seem pricey to some, BUT this meal alone would have cost us just about as much as the listed menu prices if eaten in Charlotte or Charleston. Definitely a $ 90 – 100 dining experience & worth it!
So let’s get the full picture of the Barter package: one of the comfy clean well-​furnished rooms at the historic inn for the night, 4PM port in the library, two 3-​course meals, two tickets to the Barter Theatre (excellent seats according to lady who seated us), two continental breakfasts the next morning, any snack/​water/​ice requests delivered to the room (no charge), plus Keurig coffee & tea in room. Quaint creaky floors, library resources, historic artifacts, front porch comforts, and other inn amenities included. A special experience where old George Washington himself slept… for about $ 250! Valet service IS always available in turn!
Or I could have stayed cheaper for $ 100 – 130 out by the interstate, paid $ 80 for Barter tickets I got myself, got breakfast at Mickey’s for $ 10, paid about $ 50 or so for dinner for two elsewhere in Abingdon, done without the port in the library (and porch rocker)… and paid $ 240-​$ 270 total without any historical charm, with a drive and parking search for the theatre, and had a room that would not have had the comfort and convenience of The Martha.
I have not used the pool or spa at the inn, but I have friends who have and did not have the same poor experiences some have mentioned. Perhaps those amenities are not consistently good OR bad. There is a miniature golf course on the property, and assistance to enjoy the Virginia Creeper Trail by bike if you choose.
Thanksgiving at the Martha is FABULOUS… the meal is memorable! Shopping art and antiques in Abingdon is worthwhile fun. Check into the Highlands Festival in early August, too.

We stayed two nights in June and we were very disappointed. The rates were outlandish for the service we received. The room we were given was okay, but it needed updating and it had a funny odor The floors squeak all over the hotel, like a creaky old haunted house.
My wife had her hair done by Janna and it was cut shorter on one side than the other — quite noticeably so! Janna kept cutting and cutting despite my wife telling her she didn’t want much cut, just a trim because she was letting it grow out. It’s short now so it will take a while to grow out. Oh, boy. Never again! The salon is dirty around the corners and the staff are not pleasant and do not greet you. The cashier had the nerve to ask how much gratuity we wanted to add! She put us on the spot, so my wife added gratuity, begrudgingly.
The dining room is dingy and dirty and the décor is very worn and tatty. Fortunately, there are many good spots to eat around the local area.
We won’t be back.

Elegance and excellence is probably the best description for this Inn. The history portrayed on every wall portrait, sculpture, and choice of furnishing is exquisite! My most memorable historic tale was when I spoke with Dot (in charge of the restaurant reception area) and she narrated one of the historical legendary tales of a young soldier who lost his life defending his sweetheart. She also told me more about the history of the building and the various transitions that had taken place.
Every area that I stepped into had a unique and special ambience. The ballroom is absolutely magnificent, as soon as I stepped inside i felt like I had traveled through time to the 1700’s. The atmosphere throughout was solemn, intimate, relaxing, and private. Aside from the legendary reflections of the cultural history, they have a spa, swimming pool, tennis court, workout rooms, salon, jacoozi, a glamorous restaurant, a scenic outdoor view, a shuttle service that can take you to the Virginia creeper trail, and many more amazing treasures that you can uncover as you explore with an open mind. This was truly one of the most amazing experiences that I have ever had! And to top it all, all the staff that I met were very cheerful, kind, respectful, concerned, attentive and hospitable. All my experiences in this Inn have truly been wonderful and memorable. The next time I visit the town, i will definitely make a stop here :)

This place is incredible. I stayed here with my mother over a weekend for a wedding (whose reception was held at the Martha Washington) and I can’t say enough good. Here’s why you should stay here:
1) Extremely clean. Seriously, their housekeeping is the best of the best. Not only were the rooms completely spotless, but the hotel itself has this amazing smell to it (the fresh and clean smell which you can tell takes alot of work)
2) Staff. The staff was courteous and professional. They left us alone to wander the Inn, but were very friendly when we needed help with something.
3) The layout of the rooms. First off, I love the décor of the rooms. They kept them historical, while adding modern amenities like these amazing walk in showers. I really liked the lighting in the rooms, between the gorgeous natural light and the soft light of the various lamps.
4) The bedding. Besides the bedding being extremely clean (i’m a stickler on that), the beds were some of the best I’ve ever slept in. If I could take one home, I would.
5) The store inside the hotel was great. It was nice, yet affordable. Great taste.
The only two little things I would point out is that our bathroom didn’t have a vanity, which made it extremely difficult to do hair and makeup. Also, the valets could use better training. We weren’t greeting when coming or leaving, sometimes they were no where to be found, and just didn’t give off that welcome vibe. However, those are relatively unimportant things and don’t affect my view of the Inn at all.
STAY HERE!

My family and I stayed here over Thanksgiving. It was a wonderful experience. The rooms were spacious and the food delicious. Although the offerings for the continental breakfast were limited, they were also fresh — freshly baked muffins and scones. There was the option to purchase a full hot breakfast. I do not understand the complaints in some other reviews about these two options.
The complimentary port in the lobby was lovely. I stayed here once about 10 years ago, before the spa existed, and at that time there was a decanter of sherry in every room. This seems like a nice substitute.
The cleaning staff was top notch. Really very gracious and polite.
The outdoor hot tub and fire pit were blissful. The hot tub in the snow was an unparallelled treat. The indoor salt water pool was never crowded and was the perfect temperature.
I loved that although the rooms are expensive, they do not nickel and dime you for wifi, bottled water, in-​room snacks (there were many, candies and crackers, plus delicious fresh cookies and tea in the library downstairs, all complimentary) as so many higher end hotels inexplicably do.
I agree with the reviewer who said his or her elderly relatives should not have been put on the fourth floor where the elevator doesn’t reach. I would have pursued that further at the time of check-​in, and asked for a manager — it sounds like there was a young, inexperienced clerk manning the desk that day. That happens in small towns.
The person who complained that no valet lept to help them with their bags must realize these valets are young folks, recent local high school graduates from Abingdon, and not the trained career professionals you will see at a high end hotel in New York City, where you will be paying for than three times as much to stay. If you wanted help with your bags, it would have been appropriate to ask. I found all the staff at the hotel to be responsive and polite.
Overall, we could not have had a better stay.

Beautiful hotel and nicely appointed. We stayed Oct 28, 2014. Staff was unbelievably lazy and untrained… will stand and watch 90 yr old guests struggle with suit cases in the rain and then tell you they would have helped if you asked. Night clerk put my 2 aunts (one 90 an one 86) on 4^th floor where they had to walk up stairs. clerk told us she’d get in trouble for giving them a room on a lower floor with elevator. No signs showing where to check in and no one to meet us at driveway at 5pm arrival. Continental breakfast was lacking. not half as nice as Hampton Inn or Best Western. Dinner was expensive. .Suggest eating out. Port in lobby was nice touch but the $ 10 resort fee was explained as a fee to cover amenities in room including in room coffee! This place is a joke. I do not suggest bringing elderly people here.

Don’t visit the hair salon. I just recently had my hair cut and colored at the Martha for the first time. A stylist named Jenna did my hair. WORST COLOR AND CUT OF MY LIFE! I have streaks and stripes all over my head where she messed up AND she chopped my hair all to pieces when I told her I did not want layers. I have cursed her name every day since when I’m trying to fix my hair. Can’t believe I paid $ 145 for this horrible mess. Will NEVER go back there.

The hotel and the location is very charming. Even though I had no option, but I’m glad the company that I came for 2 days to see reserved my stay here. My only gripe, which probably is common in a small town, there was no late night food service or a snack shop anywhere for me to get food. Unfortunately I arrived at 12:30 A.M. due to missing my flight, there was nothing around for me to go eat, so I put my alarm on at 7:00 A.M. to not miss the continental breakfast, I was starving. Needless to say, the continental breakfast was a joke. 1 tier of either a muffin or a lemon pound cake. Not even bagels, toast, just yogurt and your choice of 2 muffins. I asked if they had eggs and bacon and they said, I would be able to order from the menu, which I did and it cost me $ 12.00. I had no choice, I was already dying from hunger.
The room was comfy and the amenities were great, a Kurig coffee maker and Aveda body products. They really need to add a snack kiosk somewhere just for last minute, late night munchies!

Excellent physical facility. Lovely hotel and very nicely done rooms. The spa and pool, which I believe are relatively new additions, are first rate.
We were disappointed by the restaurant, which we remembered fondly from a previous visit. It is now pretty much a burger bar. Not bas for what it is, but not up to a hotel of this quality.

I was here for an out-​of-​town wedding from 3÷28−3÷30.
1) At The Sisters bar, Suzanne & Jen are THE BEST bartenders. On ³⁄₂₈ Suzanne catered to my huge family with an upbeat attitude. I even asked for tea that night expecting a mug with some hot water and a teabag… instead I got a whole pot and a mug. Suzanne didn’t seem to mind and brushed off my apologies for any inconvenience.
Jen was my bartender on ³⁄₂₉ and she was an absolute sweetheart. She was talking to my sister and I like we were old friends – but she didn’t neglect any guests, she did her work efficiently! She also made me the greatest White Russian ever with Reese’s infused vodka! I highly recommend you try that.
2) The food at the wedding was rather bland. I had a chicken dish that was not very warm and left much to be desired. The greenbeans as the veggie had more bacon on them than there were beans. I’d say the salad was the best part.
3) The free continental breakfast is kind of a joke. Considering the rate for our room was about $ 200/​night, I was expecting a few options (I mean, at lesser chain hotels I’ve been offered bagels, muffins, even waffles, or other simple foods). Here it was a small container of one flavor of yogurt (which I am allergic to), mini muffins, or other petite pastries… the spread of options was on one dinner plate it seemed. Luckily you can also order breakfast. The french toast I had was delicious.
4) Overall I thought that the price of everything was pretty steep. At the wedding reception beer & wine were hosted, however a small glass (with a lot of ice) with well liquor was $ 7 and name liquor was $ 10. Maybe I’m just picky, but when I was thinking about the price they were going to end up getting per bottle for things the mark up kind of blew my mind.
5) The hotel itself is beautiful. Lots of history all around you. There’s a library next to the front desk that you MUST check out. It looks like a library/​parlor straight from a magazjne.

What’s not to like about a wonderfully restored 1823 hotel. The rooms aren’t large but certainly adequate and incredibly well decorated. Lots of area to walk to in the hotel and a massive front porch that is the only place to be in a late evening night. Can you say rocking chair? Abingdon is a unique town in in western Virginia… historic and old est in the late 1700s. I’ve eaten in the restaurant and it’s nice. There are other terrific places to eat in Abingdon… if you want to leave the hotel for a few hours. With a number of modern motels priced above a $ 100, this is a treat you may want to experience.

This is a wonderful hotel with a salt water pool, hot tub, lovely restaurant and friendly staff. Not as cheap as the on the highway way stations but honestly a much better value. Treat yourself! You won’t regret it.

Had dinner at Sisters tonight and it was not good. The Scallops were over cooked and the bacon cheese ravioli tasted like imitation bacon bits it was terrible. I asked for my steak to go and the waitress said she would take it and box it up for me. I looked up and she stacked the dirty dishes on my steak as she cleared the table. Now the dog has a $ 31 treat. Will never return was a waste of $ 85.

This is a wonderful old fashioned styled hotel with a modern amenities, and I believe to be the best place in town.
The rooms brings back the charm, as does all of the hotel, of yesteryear. In the evenings there is complementary Port Wine in the library and in the mornings complementary continental breakfast in Sister’s (the hotel’s restaurant) for those not wanting a full meal.
The exercise-​fitness room, pool and spa are top-​notch. You won’t be disappointed. We especially enjoyed the way the look of the hot tub blended in with the environment giving it the appearance of a pond with a small waterfall, nice touch.
Sister’s restaurant is wonderful. The layout of the dinning area with four semi closed booth spaces accommodating parties up to 8 that line the wall are elegantly done and add to the ambiance. The food was equally as good. My only complaint would be a larger menu because this chef can cook!
Overall: I’ve been here twice. Stayed once in a standard room and other in a suite both are equally comfortable. The size being the only major difference, which means every guest is treated fantastic. I know everyone that I traveled with would attest to that. I can’t see myself staying anywhere else when visiting the area, 5 Stars!

This is a stunning old antebellum building. Friendly staff. Our room had been updated with a beautiful bathroom and poster bed. There was even a small bottle of port in the living room area of our suite. The grounds are beautiful. It is on the main street so exploring restaurants and antique shops is easy. We felt like we spent a day in the early 1900’s. The memories of this hotel and town will stay with us.

Real old times charm. Wonderful.

Went for the easter weekend to ride the Virginia Creeper Trail. This is a beautifully restored and enlarged antebellum home with huge rooms, lovingly tended. The staff was courteous and thoughtful. We had a spa package that included dinner one night in the hotels «Sisters» Restaurant. The meal was outstanding. The spa has recently been enlarged. There is a delightful perfectly heated indoor pool and two large comfortable jacuzzi tubs outside. Our only less than optimal experience was a problem with the facial treatment equipment. Another treatment was substituted and the balance pending was refunded.
After dinner sherry in the library free for guests is a nice touch. The beds are comfortable. The place is spotless. Would highly recommend.