Name: Hotel Ruby Marie
Address: 524 East Wilson Street, Madison, Wisconsin, 53703, United States

TL;DR

Location: Capitol Neighborhoods, Madison – away from University bustle but close to downtown and lakeshore.
Historic Charm: 1873 brick building, renovated in 2000, preserving antiques and plush décor.
Atmosphere: Cozy, independent B&B with excellent service and a low-key neighborhood vibe.
Amenities: Coffee/tea stations in rooms, onsite bar, live music, parking, local tips from staff.
Check prices here

If you’d like to explore Madison away from the University bustle, this historic hotel in the Capitol Neighborhoods is the perfect place.

Even if you don’t mind the old college spirit, this is an impeccable find.

We’d call it a hidden gem if we hadn’t just decided to start singing its praises to the internet.

The independently owned bed and breakfast occupies a stunning 1873 brick building with a super-charming sign and unique architecture.

It’s not the building’s first time as a guest house, though the entire interior was renovated in 2000 to accommodate modern-sized hotel rooms.

They’ve maintained the historical charm with plush decor and plenty of antiques.

Hotel Ruby Marie the kind of place you’ll be excited to get back to at the end of a day’s wandering, even if it’s just along the gorgeous lakeside nearby.

We love every aspect of the place – their website has a distinct Y2K feel to it, the neighborhood is low-key, and the service is excellent.

What are the rooms like?

Number of rooms: 15
Room style: Unique, antique-inspired décor with four-poster beds, copper soaking tubs, quilts, and armoires.
Space: Cozy, comfortable, ensuite bathrooms; turret rooms or rooms with bathtubs recommended.
Amenities: Coffee/tea station, seating, mini fridge; check individual rooms for specific features.
See each room in detail here

The original architecture was pretty bare-bones, and you can see a little of this in the hotel still.

Back in the day, each floor had one bathroom; your room had a washbasin and a bed. That’s it.

In 2000, the number of rooms here was more than halved to give you all ensuite bathrooms and seating, but don’t expect post-industrial-style giant windows and lofted ceilings.

No, it’s still very much an inn, cozy and just a bit small. Not actually small, just enough to make you feel a little bit coddled.

The decor is…old-fashioned…ish? We know those quilts didn’t come from the turn of the century, but they still have a timeless style that fits well into the space.

There are deft touches in each of the rooms that maintain an antique aura, from the four-poster beds to the copper soaking tubs to the lovely armoires.

Rooms are completely unique, so make sure to check the amenities to get exactly what you want.

We recommend snagging a turret room or any of those with bathtubs.

All of them will have some kind of coffee and tea station, seating, and a mini fridge.

What are prices like?

> Check prices here

And what’s the food like? Any facilities we should know about?

Dining: Roseline’s Café, and the Come Back In Tavern nearby.
Late-night: 10 PM–1 AM menu for snacks, Up North onsite bar with happy hour and live music.
Facilities: Complimentary parking, staff provide local recommendations.

Unlike your average B&B, Hotel Ruby Marie offers multiple dining options.

A weekday breakfast happens at Roseline’s Café, the spot for a morning coffee and baked goods.

It’s not the breakfast guests are raving about, but it’ll take the edge off.

Come Back In is the nearby tavern, where you can catch a full-on breakfast menu on weekends, complimentary for hotel guests.

All other days, you can stop in for some pretty typical pub fare. It’s nothing that’ll make Conde Nast’s list of gourmet hotel eateries (protect the hidden gem status at all costs!), but it’s a solid menu of classics.

The star of the situation, however, is the 10 PM-1 AM menu, a small but mighty list of the perfect late-night munchies.

Up North is the actual onsite bar, where guests can catch a complimentary happy hour.

They also have an extensive schedule of live music, nice for anyone wanting to laze it up while still doing nightlife.

Beyond this, you’ve got complimentary parking and a staff very willing to supply you with local recommendations.

How is the neighborhood? Anything interesting nearby?

Walkability: Lakeshore across the street, Capitol within 15 minutes, Farmer’s Market nearby.
Attractions: MOCA, Orpheum Terrace, Veterans Museum, Chazen Museum of Art, State Street dining & bars.
Neighborhood: Capitol Neighborhoods, low-key yet central, good for exploring Madison on foot.

The location depends mostly on your needs. If you’re here on University business and you don’t like walking or parking, it’s not the best.

If you’re here to check out a super-cute midwestern city, you’ll do well here.

It’s one of the better places for nightlife, with plenty of bars and restaurants in walking distance.

The lakeshore is accross the street, an excellent place for a daily walk.

It’s an easy walk to the Capitol, easily under 15 minutes. Once you’ve explored the Farmer’s Market you can wander around the various museums.

You’ll find MOCA, the Orpheum Terrace, the Veterans Museum, and more, an easy walk from the Capitol Building.

It’ll take a full half hour walk to the outskirts from the hotel. If you like to walk, it’s a cute town, and you’ll probably enjoy it.

Once there, check out the Library, the Chazen Museum of Art, and plenty of other academic attractions.

If you want some local color, head to State Street and basically turn into any place that catches your fancy.

And what about the reviews? What did other guests think?

Some things guests liked:

“A gem of a hotel. Elegant and comfortable with an outgoing and friendly staff. Views of Lake Monona and proximity to downtown make this a great place to stay when traveling through Wisconsin….”

“Love this historic hotel very near the WI capitol building. Easy walking to great restaurants. UpNorth Bar in the building with live music is relaxed and you can take the elevator to your room. Nice breakfast included….”