Is The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa worth it? Honest pros and cons
Yes — The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa is worth it if you want to stay in a historic, centrally located hotel with multiple on-site dining options, a full-service spa (Kelly's Spa), and event space for weddings or meetings. Expect period architecture, a living museum on the property, and extra fees for parking and a daily resort charge.
In this guide
Location & neighborhood
The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa sits at 3649 Mission Inn Avenue in downtown Riverside, within easy walking distance of local museums and the Fox Performing Arts Center. The hotel occupies a full city block and is listed as a National Historic Landmark featuring Mission Revival, Spanish Gothic, Moorish, and Mediterranean architectural styles.
Because it’s downtown, you can walk to the Riverside Metropolitan Museum, the California Museum of Photography, Riverside Art Museum and the Riverside Convention Center in just a few minutes. Rideshares and taxis are commonly used for airport transfers; LA/Ontario (ONT) is often cited as the nearest major commercial airport.
- Address: 3649 Mission Inn Ave, Riverside, CA 92501
- Walkable to Riverside museums and the Fox Performing Arts Center
- Nearby transport: Riverside-Downtown Metrolink ~10–15 minute walk
| Nearby landmark | Approx. walk time |
|---|---|
| Riverside Metropolitan Museum | 1 minute |
| California Museum of Photography | 1–3 minutes |
| Riverside Convention Center | 5 minutes |
Rooms: types and what to expect
Rooms range from standard Deluxe and Queen/King rooms to suites and the Junior Suite. The property lists 238 rooms across five floors; room décor follows the hotel’s historic character, so expect varied layouts and decorative touches in different room types.
Common extras include in-room coffee, bottled water included with the daily resort fee, and access to public-area Wi‑Fi; note in-room internet policies vary by listing, and some third-party pages historically showed an in-room Wi‑Fi charge.
- Room names to know: Deluxe Room, Deluxe 2 Queens Beds Shower Room, Room, Room (Glenwood), Junior Suite, Room (Raincross), Deluxe Room (Shower), Room (Mission)
- Rollaway/extra beds and cribs are available subject to availability (fees listed on third-party sites)
| Room type (exact name) | Beds (as listed) |
|---|---|
| Deluxe Room | 1 King Bed or 2 Queen Beds or 1 Queen Bed |
| Junior Suite | 1 King Bed or 2 Queen Beds or 1 Queen Bed |
| Room (Mission) | 1 King Bed |
Dining & bars — multiple on-site options
The hotel offers several distinct dining venues on property, including the Mission Inn Restaurant, Duane’s/ Mission Inn Steakhouse, Bella Trattoria, Las Campanas Mexican Cuisine & Tequila Bar, the California Lounge and the Presidential Lounge. Breakfast is available for a surcharge rather than being included with room rates.
Reservations are recommended for the Mission Inn Restaurant and Duane’s Prime Steaks & Seafood (Steakhouse) — Duane’s has a semiformal dress code and has held AAA Four-Diamond recognition. The Mission Inn Restaurant also operates a Sunday Brunch with a separate charge and champagne/mimosa service.
- Mission Inn Restaurant: breakfast, lunch, dinner; Sunday Brunch offered
- Duane’s Prime Steaks & Seafood (Mission Inn Steakhouse): dinner, upscale business-casual dress required
- Bella Trattoria and Las Campanas: more casual patio and sidewalk dining options
- Presidential Lounge: cocktails and signature drinks; regular hours listed
| Venue | Typical service |
|---|---|
| Mission Inn Restaurant | Breakfast, lunch, dinner, Sunday Brunch |
| Mission Inn Steakhouse (Duane’s) | Dinner (semi-formal) |
| Bella Trattoria | Lunch & dinner (patio seating) |
Spa, pool and wellness
Kelly’s Spa (The Spa at the Mission Inn) is a full-service, Tuscan-inspired spa on site with Roman-style bathing tubs, hand-painted frescoed treatment suites and 12 treatment rooms, including private villa-style rooms for couples. The spa is open to both hotel guests and day visitors with appointments.
Spa visits include access to the heated outdoor pool, Jacuzzi, eucalyptus steam room and relaxation lounges. Popular signature offerings include the Fountain of Youth bathing ritual and Citrus‑inspired Signature Massage options.
- Spa name: Kelly’s Spa (The Spa at the Mission Inn)
- Spa features: 12 treatment rooms, Roman baths, steam room, relaxation lounge
- Pool: heated outdoor pool and Jacuzzi open daily 6:00 AM–11:00 PM
| Amenity | Notes |
|---|---|
| Kelly’s Spa | Open to hotel guests and day visitors; signature treatments available |
| Pool & Jacuzzi | Heated; year-round; open 6:00 AM–11:00 PM |
| Fitness center | Modern cardio/strength equipment; open 6:00 AM–11:00 PM |
Events, weddings and meeting space
The Mission Inn has extensive event space — roughly 20,000 sq ft — with multiple historic ballrooms, chapels and outdoor courtyards. Options include the St. Francis of Assisi Chapel, St. Cecilia Chapel, Grand Parisian Ballroom, Galleria, Spanish Art Gallery and several terraces and courtyards.
Capacities range from intimate (St. Cecilia Chapel seats about 10) to large ballroom receptions (Grand Parisian / Grand Ballroom capacities listed up to about 300). The property is commonly used for weddings and conferences where guests want ceremony and reception on the same historic property.
- St. Francis of Assisi Chapel: nondenominational, seats about 150 with Tiffany stained-glass windows
- Grand Parisian Ballroom / Grand Ballroom: largest indoor event space, up to ~310 depending on setup
- Multiple courtyards and galleries for smaller ceremonies and cocktail receptions
| Venue | Typical capacity / note |
|---|---|
| St. Francis of Assisi Chapel | Seating ~150; Tiffany windows |
| St. Cecilia Chapel | Intimate ceremonies ~10 |
| Grand Parisian Ballroom | Large receptions up to ~300 |
Practical matters: fees, policies and tips
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM and check-out is 11:00 AM. The hotel requires a debit or credit card at check-in and will authorize the full stay plus an incidental hold (the site cites an additional $100 per day authorization). The minimum age to check in is 18.
A daily resort fee applies and covers items such as fitness center and pool access, housekeeping, in-room bottled water, in-room coffee, in-room safe and phone calls. Parking is available (valet and self-parking) for a surcharge; an EV charging station is on site. The property accepts service animals only and is not pet-friendly otherwise.
- Check-in: 4:00 PM — Check-out: 11:00 AM
- Daily resort fee applies (includes fitness center, pool access, selected in-room items)
- Valet and self-parking available for a surcharge; EV charging station on site
- The hotel accepts service animals only (no pets)
| Policy / fee | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Deposit at check-in | Card required; authorization of full stay + $100/day for incidentals |
| Resort fee | Covers fitness, pool, housekeeping, in-room bottled water/coffee, safe, phone calls |
| Parking | Valet and self-parking available for an additional charge |
