Name: The Oxbow Hotel
Address: 516 Galloway Street, Downtown Eau Claire, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, United States of America, Eau Claire, Eau Claire County, US
Price range: $106–$212 per night
Rating: 8.28

What guests think

The Oxbow Hotel wins praise for its friendly, welcoming staff, walkable downtown location, and distinctive indie vibe, with fun touches like in-room record players, a lending library of vinyl, live music at The Lakely, and bikes to borrow for exploring.

However, several guests report musty or mildew odors and some worn elements (carpets, showers, stained doors), indicating inconsistent upkeep. Noise from the bar, patio, or nearby roads, limited parking, added fees, and the restaurant's limited hours (often closed Mondays, no breakfast) are recurring drawbacks. Expect a character-filled, music-forward stay best for travelers who value vibe and location over full-service amenities.

Facilities

Cleanliness

Rooms

Service

Location

Dining

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Facilities

On-site bar/restaurant with live music and a lively patio are highlights; guests also enjoy in-room record players, a vinyl lending library, and bikes to borrow. Downsides include limited parking, added fees, and limited restaurant hours with no breakfast service.

Related guest reviews

4

Kurt

Aug 22, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The hotel consists of two buildings. The one we were placed in had no elevator to our second story room. At our ages (70s) we did not appreciate having to lug bags up a flight of stairs. Also hotel charges a $10 fee that was not described in Expedia listing.

10

Recep

Aug 5, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The hotel was very cute and clean. Staff were friendly and accommodating. There’s a record player in the room, and we could check out up to 3 records at a time from the front desk. There were also bikes and board games to check out, all included in the resort fee. Parking was tricky though. Parking lot is conveniently located but it’s difficult to find a spot in a limited parking area if you arrive past 8 pm.

8

Stephen

Feb 25, 2025

·

This hotel does everything well... although, bummer that their awesome bar/restaurant isn't open on Mondays.

10

Brent

May 26, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Amazing hotel and better than any chain hotels. Close to all the biking trails and downtown! They had bikes on site so we were able to ride 20 miles when we were there. Lakely restaurant was also amazing - great food, drinks, and live music!

10

James

Apr 18, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Parking is a little limited right in front of the units but not too hard to hide a spot near the Hotel.

10

Jane

Sep 21, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Great eclectic feel. Fire pits on patio and classy live music on site were great addition

8

Annika

Nov 10, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Great staff, good location for being Eau Claire. Walkable. Property has some really great decorations/ ideas like vinyl record library for the in every room record player- but we tried 6 different ones and they all skipped to much to be played. Great art work. We’re not fans of carpeted rooms because you never know what hides in there- but it’s an American thing and hard to find rooms without it in the US- Slightly worn out at this hotel but we’ve seen worse. Overall, this is not a $200 (what we paid) hotel for a town like Eau Claire. But nicer hotels are limited in this town so we would probably stay here again next time. Attached restaurant and all the staff we ran into were great. FYI- no breakfast or breakfast option on site. Free tea and coffee whoc I was nice.

10

Christina

Apr 30, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

A nice hotel downtown. Cute rooms that have a record player and vinyl to checkout at main desk. Games and bikes available as well. Friendly staff and a nice bar and restaurant onsite.

8

Jennifer

Sep 21, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

The hotel is in a great area for exploring downtown. Clean room and friendly staff. We were surprised that there was a $10 “experience” fee added on for each night, not sure what that would be for as you don’t getting special perks… That gave us a negative feeling as it felt like a hidden fee.

10

Aaron

Aug 27, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Nicely updated rooms. The bar/restaurant is very fun and has a great vibe to hang out in.

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Cleanliness

Many guests found rooms very clean or spotless. Others noted musty or mildew odors and worn elements like stained showers or carpets, and occasional soiled surfaces.

Related guest reviews

6

Lakesha

Oct 31, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The room walls were dirty in the bathroom. I always bring clorox wips wth me . When I checked in the young lady was very short wirh me. I’ve never stayed at this hotel. The one i always stay at was full for family weekend

10

Brenda

Feb 11, 2024

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Stayed 1 night

Very clean rooms and friendly staff

10

Chris

Jun 17, 2025

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Stayed 1 night

Very clean and centrally located

6

Carol

Aug 17, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

We thought it was the best motel 6 we had ever stayed in. The room had a smell of mildew. The lighting was poor. Not adequately updated for USB cords. The television kept losing connectivity and had to be booted multiple times. The shower was stained with mildew. The bed was quite good though.

10

Shawn

Oct 31, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Spotless hotel. Great location.

8

Aaron

Jun 26, 2024

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Stayed 1 night

Nice and cute place, centrally located. The 2nd floor hallway stunk bad and carpet was gross, thankfully that didn't continue into the room.

10

Les

Jan 5, 2025

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Stayed 1 night

Stay was great! All the staff was really friendly, bartenders on New Year’s Eve were excellent. Smashburger was delicious. Only issue would be the showerhead in room 21 does have buildup on it. So while taking a shower, it shoots out a bunch of tiny streams, which are slightly painful.

10

Steve

Mar 4, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Incredibly friendly front desk staff, the room was absolutely spotless, easy in and easy out.

8

Kailyn

Aug 3, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Bed was very comfy and vibe overall was good! Staff were wonderful. However, the room was very outdated and smelled of mildew and urine heavily during the stay. I also felt uncomfortable closing the bathroom door the entire way because there was a dark liquid stain that began at the top of the door and ran to the floor. I wanted to love this place because it was so cute, the staff were absolutely wonderful, and the location was great. But I was very worried about the overall cleanliness.

10

Amy

Mar 25, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Nice trendy room, clean, in good condition

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Rooms

Rooms have retro, boutique decor and record players; many mention comfortable beds and some spacious layouts. Drawbacks include noise from roads or venue areas, barn-style bathroom doors that compromise privacy, and a few comfort or storage shortcomings.

Related guest reviews

10

Debra

Mar 17, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

This hotel has a fun, retro decor and ambiance. Rooms are large, clean and comfortable. Lobby has an art gallery and vinyl record library guests can check out and play on the record players in every room. Located in downtown Eau Claire and close to entertainment.

4

Troy

Jan 16, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Room was just ok. Smelled musty. AC unit was noisy every 20 minutes. Staff did not seem to care when I told them.

4

Don

Aug 13, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Platform bed was hard.

6

Lisa

Apr 4, 2025

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Stayed 1 night

Loved the record player and little shop. Loved “The Local Store” and proximity to restaurants. Bathroom needs some storage. Even a couple of hooks and a shelf would help a lot. Nice water pressure, but the shower pressure hurt our faces.

6

Cullen

Apr 12, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The hotel was fine, there was only one main reason for my rating, and it was the bathroom door. For some reason unknown to me, hotels like to put barn doors on bathrooms now, but this one in particular was really bad. Not only did it roll open 6” on its own and not say closed (no way to lock it either), but there was. 2” gap around the door to the wall anyway. So not good for sights and worse for sounds…so if you’re staying here be prepared to be very comfortable with the person you’re staying with.

10

Anna

Jul 24, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

This place rocks. Comfiest bed I've ever slept in hotel wise.

4

Kathy

Sep 21, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

We stayed in an outer room right off the parking lot and next to the outdoor patio. It was raining the night we were there so nothing was going on on the patio, yet the outdoor music was on and it was loud. We could hear it clearly enough in our room that I could make out the lyrics. Finally at 10:00 my husband called the desk and asked them to turn off the music, which they did. The room was also noisy because of street traffic. The room was adequate but nothing special. The window only had a blackout curtain so it was dark when that was down but if you want to let daylight in, there is no covering on the window to hide the view into your room. We were supposed to stay a second night but decided not to see how noisy it would be on a Friday night with good weather and went home early.

10

Matt

Apr 9, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Just a cool place. From the record library to the bar. Walking distance of almost everything. My only complaint which is not huge. Is it can be a tad loud at night.

8

Tedd

Aug 11, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Air conditioner fan is a bit loud. Otherwise, hotel room was comfortable and clean.

6

Larry

Oct 11, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Futon couch very uncomfortable. Need tv in bedroom also. Dinner menu needs an upgrade - more selections other than burger and sandwiches. Some staff could improve their dress. Should be better than a grubby t-shirt and sweat pants. Otherwise a cool place. Dig the record player!

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Service

Service is frequently praised as friendly, welcoming, and helpful, including standout front-desk assistance. A few reports mention brusque or unhelpful interactions.

Related guest reviews

8

Jessica

Dec 15, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Staff were amazing and the accommodations were neat and clean. The most challenging element of our stay was parking.

10

Jessica

May 16, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Everyone at the front desk was great, especially Jose, and the hotel is super charming and has a great location… and easy parking.

10

Lesley

Feb 26, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

The Oxbow Hotel is very cool, relaxing and the staff is the best. Loved the team in the Lakely. They took care of our every ask. Rooms were comfortable and clean.

10

DARRIN

Oct 5, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Great service on checkin, very informative and friendly. Nice cozy overall. Bed was comfy and property was well kept overall. Carpeting in room could definitely use replacing. Definitely recommend. Great location but parking was slightly challenging.

10

wendy

Aug 26, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Staff was very accommodating, friendly and assuring to having the best experience

8

James

Jul 11, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Got in late, staff was waiting and welcoming.

10

David

Jun 21, 2025

·

Stayed 5 nights

The entire hotel has a wonderful warm and friendly vibe. I felt like I was old friends with all of the staff members. They were very helpful prepping their tandem bicycle for my wife me to take a long ride. We had a blast at The Oxbow and will happily stay there again on our next visit to Eau Claire.

10

Barbara

Jul 12, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

The front desk clerk was so helpful. We had to unexpectedly leave a day early. She couldn’t refund us the money because I booked it through Expedia. So, she took it upon herself to contact Expedia and did all the work to get our money refunded. I’ve never experienced that kind of service before and really appreciated it. We will be back!

10

Bergen

Oct 28, 2024

·

Stayed 4 nights

Amazing staff and property

10

Bridgette

Nov 13, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

This was hands-down the best hotel experience I've had in an extremely long time. The service from the entire Oxbow Hotel staff was 2nd to none. We were blown away by the first person who checked us in with a delightful attitude and over-the-top customer service. Later I asked another staff member a simple question and was met with a jovial response and, again, next-level, unexpected service. The next 2 employee experiences were equally as delightful. I will never consider staying anywhere else next time I'm in Eau Claire. Well done, staff. Well done.

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Location

Walkable downtown location near the Pablo Center, parks, restaurants, and bike trails. Some guests experienced street or music noise tied to the central setting.

Related guest reviews

8

Eric

Jul 31, 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

Good location for everything that Eau Claire has to offer on a summer weekend.

10

Joan

Aug 18, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Great place to stay downtown. Bike paths are right across the street. Didn’t need to drive any where

10

Chris

Jun 17, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Very clean and centrally located

10

Angela

Sep 28, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

We had a great experience at this hotel. We borrowed the bikes and enjoyed the trails that are very nearby. The location of the hotel is excellent for walking to restaurants and venues. We.would definitely stay here again. Minor, minor complaints would be there is no free water in the lobby, and the free coffee is terrible. But there is a really good coffee shop nearby!

4

Kathy

Sep 21, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

We stayed in an outer room right off the parking lot and next to the outdoor patio. It was raining the night we were there so nothing was going on on the patio, yet the outdoor music was on and it was loud. We could hear it clearly enough in our room that I could make out the lyrics. Finally at 10:00 my husband called the desk and asked them to turn off the music, which they did. The room was also noisy because of street traffic. The room was adequate but nothing special. The window only had a blackout curtain so it was dark when that was down but if you want to let daylight in, there is no covering on the window to hide the view into your room. We were supposed to stay a second night but decided not to see how noisy it would be on a Friday night with good weather and went home early.

8

Callie

Jun 26, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Cute, artsy hotel, in the heart of Eau Claire’s downtown. Right across the street from the best ice cream in town, and walking distance to beautiful Phoenix Park, bars, and dining options.

10

Nicole

Mar 17, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Lovely, quaint, cozy and hip little gem of a hotel! Rooms are very clean and quiet. The staff are friendly and personable. Location is perfect whether just passing through or on a relaxing weekend getaway.

8

Christian

Jul 15, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Great update to a classic Motel. Easy walk to Downtown.

10

Lucille

Dec 10, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The parking was safe and the hotel was conveniently located to the Pablo Center where we went for a program. It was a delightful walk from the hotel.

10

Jeanette

Oct 15, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

We really enjoyed staying in beautiful downtown Eau Claire, and there were a number of great places to eat and visit within short walking distance. The Lakely bar and grill, on the same property, is a great spot to unwind and enjoy live music with friends. The record player in the room and album lending library were great additions. Nice clean room, comfy bed, great shower and climate control.

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Dining

The Lakely earns frequent praise for tasty food, cocktails, and live music. Limitations include no breakfast, a sometimes limited menu, and closures on some nights (often Mondays).

Related guest reviews

10

Mary

Aug 9, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Great service. Food at the Lakely was excellent. Hotel very unique and comfortable. I highly recommend staying at the Oxbow.

10

Sean

Mar 30, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Loved this hotel for so many reasons. Very friendly and welcoming staff. Great location. Very comfortable rooms, although I am not a big fan of the barn-door on the bathroom, but that was not a big deal. We had an awesome dinner and drinks at the restaurant (The Lakely) during our stay. The whole stay was awesome!

10

Scott

Jan 11, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Last minute stay that turned out rerrific. The Lakely bar and jazz club iana great little place attached to the hotel.

8

Stephen

Feb 25, 2025

·

This hotel does everything well... although, bummer that their awesome bar/restaurant isn't open on Mondays.

10

Brent

May 26, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Amazing hotel and better than any chain hotels. Close to all the biking trails and downtown! They had bikes on site so we were able to ride 20 miles when we were there. Lakely restaurant was also amazing - great food, drinks, and live music!

8

Emily

Jan 31, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

This is a very cute boutique hotel. The record players are a fun touch. We enjoyed our stay. Beds were comfortable. Although the restaurant wasn’t open on a Monday there were still walkable options close to the hotel.

8

John

Sep 13, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Nice hotel with personal charm. Nice staff. There is a bar. The restaurant really only serves bar food and even then not everything was available.

8

Annika

Nov 10, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Great staff, good location for being Eau Claire. Walkable. Property has some really great decorations/ ideas like vinyl record library for the in every room record player- but we tried 6 different ones and they all skipped to much to be played. Great art work. We’re not fans of carpeted rooms because you never know what hides in there- but it’s an American thing and hard to find rooms without it in the US- Slightly worn out at this hotel but we’ve seen worse. Overall, this is not a $200 (what we paid) hotel for a town like Eau Claire. But nicer hotels are limited in this town so we would probably stay here again next time. Attached restaurant and all the staff we ran into were great. FYI- no breakfast or breakfast option on site. Free tea and coffee whoc I was nice.

6

Michael

Jul 30, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

Quirky boutique hotel, great location near downtown. No microwave, just refrigerator. Record player in room, records available at the front desk. Attached bar with appetizers, no full restaurant. Fried cheese curds and fries were excellent. Shower had no shelf for soap, shampoo, etc. Biggest negative: carpet had apparently been recently shampooed and feet/socks were wet the entire 3 days. Minor negative: policy is that housekeeping doesn't come at all during your stay, only after you leave.

10

Jeanette

Oct 15, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

We really enjoyed staying in beautiful downtown Eau Claire, and there were a number of great places to eat and visit within short walking distance. The Lakely bar and grill, on the same property, is a great spot to unwind and enjoy live music with friends. The record player in the room and album lending library were great additions. Nice clean room, comfy bed, great shower and climate control.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Month	Average price
January	$109
February	$110
March	$112
April	$119
May	$132
June	$130
July	$139
August	$130
September	$121
October	$121
November	$102
December	$107

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17 $189	18 $167	19
20 $107	21 $144	22 $147	23 $136	24 $106	25	26
27 $123	28 $123	29 $156	30 $154

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
				1 $129	2 $212	3
4 $122	5 $127	6 $129	7 $130	8 $126	9 $162	10 $167
11 $125	12 $125	13 $125	14 $126	15 $121	16 $175	17
18 $122	19 $125	20 $123	21 $125	22 $121	23 $164	24 $162
25 $123	26 $116	27 $118	28 $119	29 $114	30 $137	31 $137

The Oxbow Hotel

Prices for The Oxbow Hotel

Monthly average prices

About this property

Location

Room options

King Flat (Exterior Entrance)

Main House Queen Studio

Main House King Suite

Queen Flat (Exterior Flat)

Queen Flat Adapted (Exterior Entrance)

Main House Queen Suite

Main House Queen Suite Adapted

Main House King Suite Deluxe

Guest reviews of The Oxbow Hotel

Who stays here?

What guests think

Property Policies

Check-in instructions

Good to know

FAQs about The Oxbow Hotel

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