The Oliver Inn
"A perfect 5.0-rated Victorian B&B walking distance from downtown South Bend and the St. Joseph River."
About The Hotel
The Oliver Inn is a 5.0-rated (517 reviews) Victorian B&B at 630 W Washington Street in South Bend’s West Washington historic district, a short walk from downtown East Bank Village and the St. Joseph River. Run by gracious innkeepers Alice and Tom, it is one of the highest-rated stays in all of Indiana. Near-perfect subratings across the board (5.0 cleanliness, 5.0 service, 4.9 rooms, 4.9 sleep quality, 4.8 location and 4.8 value) reflect a consistently exceptional experience. Amenities include gourmet breakfast, board games, outdoor furniture, a beautiful garden, and special-diet menus on request. Select rooms feature a fireplace and a large soaking tub — a recent 5-star guest called the Tippecanoe room’s cozy fireplace and 2-person tub ‘a perfect getaway.’ The Butler’s pantry stocks cupcakes and cookies. This is a character-driven historic B&B rather than a marketed in-room-jacuzzi spa property; the appeal is Victorian hospitality, gourmet breakfast, and a walkable downtown location.
What Guests Are Saying
“This was our very first B&B and what a delightful experience it was! My husband and I were on a road trip and decided to stop in South Bend last minute. We called the Innkeepers at 10 PM requesting their last room for the night. Our ETA was going to be 12:15 AM and Alice could not have been any sweeter, letting us know how to let ourselves in and to make sure to grab a treat from the Butler’s pantry before bed! Delicious cupcakes and cookies greeted us upon our arrival at the beautiful mansion. Our room was the Tippecanoe room with a cozy fireplace and a 2 person tub! We had a delicious breakfast in the morning with other house guests and really enjoyed meeting and talking with them while Alice and Tom made sure our coffee cups were always full!!! I’m usually a hotel gal and always felt a bit intimidated by B&B’s…this was definitely a stop that I’m sooo glad we made!!! Alice and Tom make you feel very welcome in their beautiful home! You will love the Oliver Inn!” — Amy L., 5 stars
“The Oliver Inn is by far the best B&B I have ever stayed at: elegant and historic, beautifully maintained, comfortable beds, great breakfasts, excellent location, and gracious hosts. We especially liked spending time on the front porch and in the beautiful garden. Alice was really helpful in terms of guiding us to the other sites in South Bend such as the Oliver mansion, the Studebaker mansion next door, and a Frank Lloyd Wright house across the street, as well as providing background on the Oliver family. A perfect getaway!” — Mary, 5 stars
“This was a first Traditional trip this year and after the wondered experience I will do it again next January! 24 hours off the grid .. no phone .. no tv .. no electronics! Loved the garden tub & the fireplace in my room! Such a beautiful and quaint bed-and-breakfast! Charming! Even the breakfast was a phenomenal experience… the attention to details made me feel like I was back in the Victorian era! Love, love love this place. I would recommend this to anyone!” — Julie Z., 5 stars
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- A perfect 5.0 rating with near-perfect subratings across the board
- Gracious innkeepers Alice and Tom with gourmet breakfast
- Historic Victorian character; select rooms have fireplace and large soaking tub
- Walking distance to downtown East Bank Village and the St. Joseph River
- One of the highest-rated stays in all of Indiana
Cons:
- Not a marketed in-room jacuzzi property; select rooms have soaking tubs, not jetted whirlpools
- No pool or fitness center on site
- Books up well ahead for Notre Dame home football weekends and commencement
The Location
630 W Washington St, South Bend, IN 46601 — In the West Washington historic district, a short walk from downtown East Bank Village and the St. Joseph River. You can find more details or book your stay on TripAdvisor.
South Bend,
South Bend.
Guest reviews
What guests are saying about The Oliver Inn.
"The Oliver Inn was a magical experience. Service was friendly and personable. Tom and Alice were lovely hosts and we were perfectly accommodated. The Inn itself was beautiful and well maintained. Historic details were present throughout, along with beautiful Christmas decorations. It felt like stepping into a hallmark movie! Thank you for a wonderful stay, wishing you and your family a very merry Christmas!"
— Sierra Eagleson
View on Google"The 4th (or maybe 5th?) visit for my wife & me to The Oliver Inn over the last 10 years, and what was at first an intriguing South Bend lodging option for sporting event visits to Notre Dame has since become: "Let's drive up and stay at Alice & Tom's place for the extended weekend, and explore the area & go to a couple of hockey games while we're in the neighborhood." The owners are down-to-Earth excellent hosts who proudly & lovingly maintain their historic home so they can share it with others. A simple but thoughtful variety of high quality breakfast buffet items are served daily in the formally decorated first floor dining room (with beverages served at the table by Tom or Alice), giving the guests a satisfying & filling start to their days while offering casual group conversation across the tables. The other public spaces are also filled with historically sympathetic decor, and we recommend guests make time to explore & admire the first floor rooms on their first visit to set the mood for their stay. We have stayed in a different 2nd floor guest room during each visit to Oliver Inn, and each room has been unique in its bedroom furnishings & ensuite bathroom layout while equally comfortable & clean. Our latest 3-night stay was in the west-facing Gertrude's Room with a queen bed and comfy loveseat that left floor space to move around, plus a large bathroom and sufficient bedroom closet space for hanging clothes. We will (and we must) return to Oliver Inn, so we can sleep & relax in some of the guest rooms we haven't occupied so far. We hope that many other travelers are equally drawn to this special South Bend getaway, and that they appreciate the hospitality and comfort and personal service that Alice & Tom offer in their beautiful home."
— JMC STL
View on Google"We have stayed several times at the Oliver Inn. We have stayed in the main house and in the carriage house. Tom & Alice are so nice and accommodating. The rooms are always impeccable. The breakfasts are homemade and delicious. I would highly recommend the Oliver Inn to anyone staying in South Bend. Go Irish."
— Michael Paul
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