The Madonna Inn

A San Luis Obispo landmark, the Madonna Inn with it’s Swiss-Alps exterior, pink rose garden and lavish pink booths, is famous for rooms named “Love Nest, Just Heaven, Cloud Nine and Yahoo.”

Created in 1958 by Alex Madonna, an entrepreneur and construction magnate, with his wife Phyllis. It was an expression of one couple’s imagination and dream which began as a motel with only 12 rooms. Now a landmark destination with 110 guest rooms, tourists stop to see the famous rock waterfall urinal in the men’s bathroom and the opulent pink booths and pink floral carpets in the Gold Rush Dining Room, which looks like a scene right out of “Some Like It Hot.”

The hand-carved marble balustrade in the Gold Rush Dining Room came from the Hearst Castle. The etched copper tables and chairs were fabricated on site, and the 28-foot gold tree fixture in the main dining room was formed from electrical conduit and copper remnants, while the elaborately carved wood doors, beams and railings were created by specialty wood carvers.

In the casual dining room and bakery, tables are set with Syracuse China floral cup and saucers with pink Carnival glass type goblets. Even the sugar for your coffee is pink crystals.

Famous Pink Booths

In 2010, the Inn provided the backdrop for ABC’s famed reality show “The Bachelor,” as bachelor Jake Pavelka and nine women take a road trip on the coast, staying the night at the Madonna Inn.

The waiters say that Phyllis Madonna is on property every day.

If anything, don’t miss tasting the Pink Champagne cake.