At the Helm Hotel

I love the details and care they put into our experience! The dinner and drinks were great! It is right on the Marina and it is quiet and peaceful! We used the wellness suite with the hot tub and sauna. The whole staff was amazing and we would highly recommend this stay.

Quirky hotel still in evolution from an old building into a trendy style boutique hotel. They are tied to the Pub downstairs which is only open Th-Su currently. I had a difficult time reaching someone a few weeks before arriving as only the bartender was available. That said, the gentleman who greeted us upon arrival (who was also an excellent server) made us feel welcome right away. We had a large two bed room, but it was rather dark with limited lighting (in a warehouse style), but with funky touches in large bathroom. We viewed a few more welcoming rooms facing the water (they are right at the mouth of the Columbia River in an old warehouse area), which were delightful and much brighter and cheerier. All were spacious. The food was indicative of a pub with good beer/ale choices, fresh seafood (e.g., really fresh fish and chips), and convivial environment. They also have a spa (hot tub essentially that can be booked free--one couple at a time) that we did not know about until we arrived.

We spent two lovely nights in the Blazer room. It was spacious - had everything we could want - a super comfortable king bed, robes, coffee maker. Breakfast was delivered - we had choosen 8:30 and it arrived right on time and we dined on the little table in our room look out on the harbor.

We've stayed at The Helm 2 times, 4 nights total. Really like the hotel is now adults only. The rooms are comfortable and post-industrial decorated. No air conditioning. No in-room servicing is available during your stay. Make do with only 2 washcloths for the entire stay. No staff most of the time. Breakfast hours are not conducive if you charter a fishing boat as the hours are late and not long (about 2 hours). Free wine and beer at check-in was a nice surprise but not anything you'd want another glass of. The chef for the restaurant does a great job and food is very tasty, but again, hours are very limited. Reserved two rooms over the phone but when we arrived with our guests, there was only one room. Had to roam the hotel to find someone cleaning a room to get any help as nobody answers the phone (this was experienced both stays, with no one to get assistance from). Fortunately, there was another room available, so we didn't have to come up with a plan B. The Helm Hotel is hands down the best accommodation in Illwaco.

Perfect quieter location just outside of Long Beach tourist area; caution: No elevator, 1-2 flights rooms up avail; a work in progress but still well worth it. Unit on west side corner, nice view of marina (but outside HVAC fan noisy). Designer lighting poor for reading. No closet or drawers, wall hooks only. Industrial chic design; Echo player in bedroom, no phone/need own smartphn to call desk afterhours, Nespresso coffeemaker. 5 mins to Seaview/Long Beach, 20 mins from Astoria, hour from Canon Beach. Pub food outstanding. Would stay there again, off season prices better. Sat. market right outside, fishing charters avail in marina, cute boutiques along marina walk, rode their retro bike around flat marina lanes. Great Ilwaco Bakery few doors down on marina walkway; absolutely loved our stay.

Right before God rested on the 7th day he created The Inn at the Helm! My fiancé surprised me for a birthday weekend getaway and our entire stay blew us both away. We truly didn’t want to leave! Needless to say, I’ve worked in the service industry for many years so I have a fairly high standard of excellence that I’m used to. Yes… I can be fairly picky. But, our entire stay was beyond exceptional. I don’t have a single thing I would’ve changed. Everything was beyond perfect. From the breathtaking view from our room, the adorable room itself, the welcome drinks and snacks in our room when we arrived, the outstanding complementary full breakfast and mimosas each morning and my birthday dinner and melt in your mouth chocolate lava cake with raspberries… I can’t stop thinking about it! Each and every meal we had was beyond delicious! The freshest seafood I’ve had in the longest time! Now on to the customer service. Irene and the owner were both beyond gracious and welcoming. They made us both feel like old friends visiting their home. I’ve worked for a 5 star hotel and also high end restaurants for well over 20 years. They both are literally the best of the best at what they do. I’m reluctant to write this excellent review because I want this hidden gem all to myself! Thank you for making this much needed getaway so very special and beyond memorable! We can’t wait to return! Next time we’re staying longer!

Never disappoints! Every time we drive through Ilwaco, we have to eat at this little gem of a spot. The seafood nosh board is spectacular! Irene is the friendliest server around and the food can’t be beat. Fresh seafood, salads, sandwiches. We’ve never had a bad meal. Beautiful view of the Port of Ilwaco. Don’t miss this little out of the way spot!

Okay, so the weather ****** but it didn't matter. The room was cozy, lots of space to enjoy, beautifully decorated. Best parts: staff went out their way to provide the little things to make the stay comfortable, relaxing, and indulgent. I was just so happy :)