Bernadine’s Stillman Inn

It sounds like this is only an appropriate choice White Supremacists!
I wonder what Dave and Bernadine have against Jews and Christian’s married to them. How about Black people? Muslims?

My wife and I decided upon a last minute trip to Galena and after looking at a number of places decided upon the Stillman Inn. We are so glad we did as upon arrival, Dave, the proprietor met us and proudly gave us a tour of the lovely inn. Each room is cozy and beautifully decorated by Dave’s wife, Bernadine. Dave was a former building contractor and he has set his skills upon restoring this beautiful house.
Each morning we had an excellent and filling breakfast made to order by Bernadine. Dave introduces the guests to each other as each arrive to the tables. All of the guests were so friendly, each suggesting restaurants or activities to try on for our day’s adventure. The Inn itself is located within walking distance to the Grant Home and with good weather an easy walk to downtown Galena.
I would recommend the Stillman Inn to anyone that is considering a trip to Galena. The Inn set in this important historical American town is not only a romantic getaway but also a window to another era.
Cheers,
Dan

My fiancée and I decided to take a trip to Galena on Christmas Day and stay for a couple of days. Let me just say that Dave and Bernadine are FABULOUS people and you can tell they enjoy hosting individuals who come to stay with them. Friendly atmosphere, and attention to details all around — from the explanation of how things work, what time breakfast is, and a history of the B&B. They even found a way to make breakfast seamless with my food allergies.
The rooms are all charming and cozy, everything is clean and comfortable. Walking distance from Grant’s mansion and on warmer days, you can take a long walk downtown. We felt right at home, and it was just wonderful. We’ll definitely be back to visit with them. Thanks for a wonderful stay, Dave!

This was my first bed and breakfast and I was very happy with my choice. The Stillman Inn is beautiful just like the owners. Dave and Bernadine are fantastic, very interesting and lovable people.
I had first class service from the time I arrived to the time I left. The rooms were clean, and the breakfast was very filling (and I like to eat!).
I stayed in the Honeymoon suite and the grandeur overwhelmed and inspired me. I want my house to be just like this room. It was so amazing and luxurious.
Go here and you will not be disappointed.

The Stillman Inn was spectacular! It’s impeccably clean and well decorated. Your every wish is provided for before you could even ask for it. The rooms are spacious with warm cozy fireplaces. Every morning you’re greeted with delicious coffee and a gourmet breakfast. Dave and Bernadine are sweet people; they make you feel like family the moment you arrive. We had a wonderful stay! Can’t wait to come back!

We just got married here on October 3^rd, and it was such a lovely place. Dave is the nicest person and he really makes you feel special on your important day. The ceremony was beautiful and decorated so pretty. I recommend Stillman Inn for your wedding and reception. If you want a quaint, scenic location than this is your place. I am glad we had such a nice experience here and I cannot stress more about how nice Dave is. :)

Dave and Bernadine were very gracious hosts, and their B&B is charming and homey. Our room was clean and comfortable, and the breakfast each day was delicious. If you’re coming to Galena I’m sure you couldn’t find a better place to stay.
Now, something I wished I’d read in other reviews about Galena…
As a young couple from New York City, we did find Galena itself to be a bit underwhelming, even though we were looking for a relaxing vacation after a few days in Chicago. We loved the Blaum Bros. distillery nearby and highly recommend that anyone who visits check it out and take the tour. The area wineries feature only very sweet wines so unless you’re a fan of grape juice, steer clear! As history lovers we were attracted by the museum and historical sites, but they weren’t all that compelling compared to other historical towns we’ve visited on the east coast. Grant’s home was closed Monday and Tuesday, so we didn’t get to check out the inside. The stores on Main St. would probably be more interesting to an older crowd who likes shopping for antiques and knick-​knacks. And the restaurants left much to be desired if you’re a «foodie.» Let’s just say that Bernadine’s breakfasts were the best meals we had in Galena!

Bernadine’s Stillman Inn was a joy to visit. Proprietor Dave and his family made us feel more than welcome in their beautiful home. Dave clearly enjoyed his role as host, and was as generous with interesting stories and recommendations for things to do in the area as he was with the delicious breakfast options. Do yourself a favor and if you find the time to enjoy this lovely town, be sure to check with the Stillman Inn first!

This was our first B&B experience and we were a little hesitant at first. Dave, our host, was great in welcoming us to his home. He went over everything in our room, we stayed in the Honeymoon Suite. Dave gave us information on places to eat and things to do in the area. We had decided to walk to town, so he told us how to find the path to the stairs on Grants property so that it would be easier coming back up the hill. I loved the hand drawn map Dave provided us and used it the whole time we were there. It was indispensable.
Our room was a two room suite and is the biggest guest room in the house. It is on the first floor just as you come into the home. It has two fireplaces, two ceiling fans, and a huge whirlpool. You also have a semi private porch to sit out on and watch the sun set or listen to the frogs late at night. Other details of the room is listed on their website.
Breakfasts were great and it was fun to meet new people. Talking to the people and finding out what they were doing for the day and what they had already done and liked or disliked was a great advantage for visiting Galena. Dave provided entertaining conversation and introduces all the guests, just like a perfect host should. The Banana bread was wonderful. They even made decaf coffee for me.
Make sure you stop by the kitchen door to say thank you to whom ever cooks your meal that day! Dave’s wife is in the kitchen cooking breakfast most days, so we don’t get to see her much, but on our last day she came out to clean up the dinning room and we got to talk to her for a bit.
I felt like I was staying with friends and I would definitely recommend this B&B.

I had some hesitations about staying in a bed and breakfast but glad we got out of our comfort zone and gave it a try. I wasn’t sure about staying in someone’s house and having to eat breakfast with strangers. Neither my boyfriend or I are super outgoing nor are we morning people so I wasn’t sure how that would go. Everything was perfect while we stayed with Dave and Bernadine. We did eat breakfast with people we didn’t know but Dave did a good job of introducing us to everyone else. Some mornings were busier then others but I never felt uncomfortable while there. Our room was spotless and decorated is a style of the period that Grant lived. It was a nice touch to staying in such a unique old town. Dave did an excellent job of suggesting places we could eat and visit during our stay. It was kind of like having our own personal guide to Galena. Every morning we could choose an egg dish or some other breakfast entrée. My favorite were of course the love cakes but grandma’s banana bread was a close second. Considering the price of our room was comparable to hotel prices and included breakfast I would definitely recommend staying here while visiting Galena. In addition to that you were only a few minutes walk to downtown Galena and you got to stay in a beautiful old mansion!

Loved staying here. Warm and friendly hosts. Delicious breakfast. Peaceful setting. Beautiful home.

On our recent mid-​week visit to Galena we stayed at «Bernadine’s Stillman Inn» and had a thoroughly enjoyable overnight visit. We traveled with our long-​time friends who were visiting from Mexico. We stayed in the two «Royal» rooms on the second floor & found them to be quite comfortable, yet within our travel budget. Our host, Dave, was most accommodating (before, during and after our visit) and he made us feel quite at home. The breakfast in the dining room had a variety of very tasty items. After breakfast we walked the short distance to the Ulysses S. Grant home that shares the same hill and discovered the wonderful, commanding view of downtown Galena that can be seen from the location of the statue of General Grant’s wife that is near their home. The two women in our party definitely preferred Dave and Bernadine’s B&B over the other that they stayed at in Galena, on a trip made years earlier. We will be recommending it to others who ask us about our visit.

We had an excellent stay at the Stillman Inn! It is clean and beautiful, a close walk to town, has delicious breakfast and is extremely reasonable. We liked the relaxing atmosphere Dave and Bernadine provided, along with a ton of information about great places to dine and shop! We go to galena twice a year and will definitely be staying at the Stillman again.

My wife, I and our friends spent a few days at the inn end of first week Jan 2013. We enjoyed our stay a lot given that this was our first time at B&B. The rooms were very clean and a lot of effort was put in to make them look cozy, but modern. Dave was very hospitable and not only spent time getting to know us, but also educated us about the restaurants in the area. Great place for a quiet get together with family/​close friends.

Note: Would give 4.5 stars if possible, rather than the 4 shown above.
LOVED:
–Dave: the flamboyantly friendly co-​owner who made us chuckle constantly and was consistently helpful and gracious
–Bernadine: the warm, caring co-​owner who made us her famous «lovecakes» [pancakes shaped like hearts] one morning and named her dog Drago after the Game of Thrones character
–Our room: «Dreams of the Past» was elegant, relaxing, and we absolutely adored the fireplace that we could turn on with a simple light switch
–The Christmas décor: we came looking for a place we could get-​away from the hustle and bustle of our city lives but still feel connected to our Christmas traditions — the beautiful garlands, lights, and Christmas kitch made this feel like a perfect still-​homey get-​away
–The price: affordable for everything they offered and the quality of the room in this cute, historical town
–Random perks: A DVD collection that was unexpectedly good, a bottomless cookie jar that I took from every evening, a place to connect our laptop to decent speakers in our room, a wonderful quirky map of the area drawn by Dave himself
Meh:
–Our bathroom: the small 70’s pink plastic shower and washed out yellow walls didn’t fit the elegance of the room or the maticulously detailed rest of the experience.
Would come again!

My husband and I had such a great time staying here, Dave and Bernadine are the kindest, funniest, and most hospitable people we have ever met & they put together a GREAT breakfast! They made our honeymoon experience amazing and we will definitely be back for future anniversary celebrations ! I highly recommend staying here if you are planning a trip to Galena!

My husband and I stayed at the Stillman B&B for an early Anniversary get-​away. It has nice up-​to-​date facilities, although the décor is dated, but it IS a historic town. David, the owner was very helpful and, being from the south, his hospitality rivaled our own! The breakfast was absolutely delicious every morning! We couldn’t have asked for a better stay.

My husband and I celebrated our honeymoon at the Inn. It was our first trip to Galena and we couldn’t have picked a better spot to stay! Dave and Bernadine were both so warm and went out of their way to welcome us.
The Inn itself is beautiful, and very well kept. Our room (we stayed in the Grand Romance Suite) was cozy and very comfortable. We really enjoyed the delicious complimentary breakfast and getting a chance to get to know other travelers, but never felt like our privacy was impeded upon (something I’d been nervous about, having never stayed at a B&B).
We would highly recommend the Inn to anyone passing through Galena and we can’t wait to return someday soon!

My husband and I went to the Stillman Inn for a long weekend get away in the winter. I understand the Mansion is supposed date back to the 1800s but the décor is a worn out, a bit tacky and dated. I didn’t find the breakfast amazing, but rather mediocre. The quiche had to be frozen and simply tasteless, the yogurt was standard and the coffee was bad:(The pancakes were ok, but mine was not fully cooked, so I couldnt finish it. The cookies lying around were store bought and stale. Nothing seemed fresh or homemade. The host was nice, as previous reviewers said but he leaned on the side of pushy.
In general I didnt get that charming and homey feeling. I would not go back because this place is mediocre and there are many other B&B’s to try out in Galena.

This was mine and my boyfriend’s first time in Galena and at a B&B and we had the greatest time! The Stillman Inn was cozy, Dave (the owner) was more than hospitable, and the breakfast was delicious. Dave also gave us his suggestions for places to visit in Galena and he was right on the money. Go to Fritz on Frites and Otto’s Place. Also, the wine time at the inn was a wonderful get together with the other guests. Lots of converation and laughter! Overall, we had a relaxing visit and felt at home. WE WILL BE BACK :)