Sweetwater Branch Inn

Bed and Breakfast

We just had our wedding at Sweetwater Branch Inn on 2-11-22 and couldn't have been happier! From the beginning, their event staff have been professional, accommodating, informative, and responsive. They have many different options to work with you at different price points, and they provide a reception coordinator, catering, and linens and basic decor which is nice. The venue is beautiful and I couldn't have been happier with how everything looked on our wedding day. Everything ran smoothly and the food was delicious as well. We also stayed in one of the rooms at the BnB the night before and of our wedding, as did our families and friends coming from out of town. The rooms were beautiful, comfortable, and all decorated differently. We had so much fun just checking out everyone's different rooms and hanging out on the property. The breakfast was delicious as well. All in all, we had a great experience!

I was there with my son for a kayaking trip two weeks ago. We had a two room suite that led right into the living room. Since the weather was in the 30s and 40s the fireplace was going most of the time and it felt wonderful to sit there in front of it with a cup of coffee in the morning just chilling. The food was fantastic, the service great and it was the most at home I’ve ever felt at any B&B. I highly recommend it.

Great place to stay, Great staff and Great food!

Absolutely wonderful experience! Thank you!

This place is amazing! We stayed in the Carriage House. There was a lot of room for our family of 4. Breakfast was delicious. Staff was very friendly. Even my children commented on their hospitality. We'll definitely stay here again and recommend to our family and friends.

The grounds were beautiful, the beds were very comfortable.

We enjoyed our stay! Excellent Staff and beautiful relaxing place. Our fur babies Charlee & Sammie loved it also! Thank you!

We stayed here recently and loved it. Charming, great service, beautiful location not far from UofF.

So happy I stumbled upon this inn while looking for places to stay. It is an absolute gem. The staff is amazing — they go above and beyond from the moment you reserve until you check out. we rented the Victoria's cottage and it was sweet. It had a kitchen, private jacuzzi and clawfoot bathtub. It was impeccably clean. The garden is a perfect place to soak in some peace with a swing chair or in their pool. It feels like it is isolated but it's minutes from the historic center of downtown Gainesville. We went during COVID and it was still an incredible experience. We had prepackaged wine and cheese between 5 and 6 pm. Breakfast was packed in our fridge — yogurt, home-baked pastry, hardboiled egg and OJ. You pass by the restaurant for coffee and a wrapped hot burrito or sandwich. we also requested an upgraded picnic to take with us to Devil's Den which was 27 minutes away. We will be returning. It is perfect for a girls trip, a romantic getaway or family trip.

Absolutely beautiful property, amazing customer service and food. Our family (13 of us) enjoyed a wonderful weekend filled with history, tours and gorgeous sights! Cornelia arranged for the very best private tours and most knowledgeable guides. Fun times and treasured memories!

I stayed here for a few days and we just absolutely loved the place. We stayed in the Isadora room and it had a perfect sunroom to enjoy the sunsets and a rainy day. We made sure to take advantage of their wine and cheese hour and we spent a lot of time by the pool. Also, we loved their breakfast! I personally loved that there were vegan options for myself. I highly recommend this place as it is very affordable and has everything you could need.

I had my wedding here on December 4th, 1999. It was a beautiful outdoor wedding followed by a sit down dinner. The place and staff were awesome. I highly recommend!

Everything was great I really enjoyed my stay staff was great my room was clean I give it a 10

I stayed at the Nora Belle cottage prior to my wedding and had my reception at SWB. The entire experience was fantastic — spacious rooms, comfy beds, cute space, friendly staff. My bridal party was able to get hair and makeup done easily. The gardens and reception hall were perfect. I could not imagine anywhere else for my reception and I’m so glad that Gainesville has a gem like this!

Was there for a wedding. The staff and location were amazing.

Wonderful job done by staff! Very helpful and gracious. Maria was the best!

Place is truly amazing. Historically a trip back in time with all current amenities. Staff is fantastic and owner is gracious as well as a awesome chef. Looking forward to my next tine here already! Truly a gem.

The whole experience was great, fantastic food and grounds were immaculate.

Highly recommend great place. Gentle helpful staff, beautiful gardens, tasteful, lovely designed, renovated dwellings. Unique. Great food! Can't say enough good about this place.

Absolutely delightful, from our cozy clean accommodations to the delicious food to the relaxing landscaping. Thank you.

The beautiful Victorian ambiance is present throughout the entire inn. The staff is so friendly and accommodating, and the rooms are cozy and comfortable.

Wonderful atmosphere for wedding or special events. Staff is professional and helpful. They specialize in helping to capture the magic in meaningful moments! Garden and grounds make for a lovely experience. Loved doing my event there and highly recommend them. Maria was outstanding! Easy Elegance Events had a smooth coordinating process and a great time! Looking forward to our next event!

Pristine Victorian property with luscious gardens, landscapes and event facilities. A most beautiful and romantic bed and breakfast is on site with well appointed charming rooms and gathering areas. You'll enjoy a fresh and exquisite breakfast. The honeymoon suite is awesomely done! Great atmosphere and food!

It’s a great place for any celebrations! Maria and Casey the event coordinators go out of their way to help you make your event memorable! The staff are also the best.
We stayed in one of their cottages and it was perfect.

Got married here on Saturday and couldn’t rave more about it. They did everything to help us out in the rain and made it perfect. Easy to deal with and such a beautiful venue to both stay at and host an event.

My daughter and I were enchanted with this place. The employees treat you like family and the entire place is extremely clean and well cared for. There is no place else we’d rather stay when visiting Gainesville. Be a little adventurous and break the chain habit!

Amazing experience! Very cute and family oriented.

Everyone at SWB were very helpful in bringing my wedding day together! Having such amazing catering options on site with their own chef was a big crowd pleaser for sure (everyone LOVED the food). The garden makes it so easy and affordable for the ceremony because it’s effortlessly beautiful and you don’t have to stress about so many decorations. I highly recommend having your wedding here!

Absolutely loved staying at this beautiful bed and breakfast. The staff is exceptional! Thank you to Sarah. The owner Cornelia cooked one of the best breakfasts I've ever had in a BnB.
The rooms are beautiful and clean. WIll be staying again in the future. Thank you Sweetwater Branch Inn for a lovely experience!

Just wrapping up our stay here and it’s been a wonderful home away from home — delicious food, friendly staff and pleasant surroundings. Today we got a special treat of live music during breakfast — heartwarming and sweet just like Sweetwater Branch Inn!

This place is the best kept semi secret in Gainesville. Stayed in the Carriage House. Delightful. Practical. Clean. Molly, Sarah, Christina and the owner Cornelia are nothing short of exemplary hosts and professionals. Mega impressed with the green efforts and recycling options. This ACR will be back for a get away!

I have only attended events here, but they are always pleasant & the staff is very courteous & attentive. Food is always good too!

Comfortable room with lots of unique touches. Delicious breakfast!

My wife and I have stayed here twice for our anniversary and have nothing but great things to say. The property has some amazing historic homes that are maintained in excellent condition with porches and deck to enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning or play a board game in the evening. The grounds/gardens are really peaceful whether you want to go for a night time stroll under the hanging lights or pull up in the shade and read a book. The location couldn’t be better; it buffered by a park and trees and far enough away from downtown that it doesn’t have the noise but is still only a quick walk to the restaurants and the nightlife. The breakfasts are first class and the owner cooks the best sausage gravy and biscuits I have ever had. When you stay at the Sweet Water Branch Inn you can tell that the owner, Cornelia, is following her passion with servants heart and is providing an incredible level of hospitality, an amazing place to stay and preserving history. Definitely the place to stay in Gainesville.

Our favorite bed and breakfast. A step back in time with modern day conveniences. Calm, comfortable, rejuvenating and always inviting.

Visited Gainesville recently due to some medical exams at UF, looked for a place to stay for a few nights, Sweetwater Inn has wonderfully glowing online reviews so I made reservations. What a cool inn! All the employees are so kind, helpful and nice. The grounds are so lovely, took to exploring them as well as the Blue House, I stayed in the Peach House. Breakfast in the a. M. Was delicious with a nice variety to choose from. Most importantly, I supported a locally owned business!

I did not want to leave the Sweetwater Branch Inn! What a fantastic retreat and so convenient! I felt right at home in the charming, restored Victorian home. The cheerful owner, Cornelia, has thought of everything. The breakfast spread was amazing and afternoon wine and snacks were a so refreshing in the late afternoon. With gorgeous rooms, lovely porches, a pool, hot tub, fountains, and fabulous gardens on the property to explore, what else could you want? It is only a 10 minute walk to fabulous restaurants in the historic district. Check out the coffee table book of the before and after story. I will definitely stay there again!

Mary's high tea was absolutely wonderful. Everyone went out of their way to help us have a wonderful event. Many thanks!

Great place to have a wedding. Good venue and catering. Also a nice place to stay. Highly recommend!

Our room was lovely with one double and one twin which was perfect for our family visit to UF. The front desk was very helpful and recommended a terrific restaurant for lunch. Breakfast was unbelievably good, I just kept saying, "Oh my gosh" with each bite. It was a fabulous stay and we will definitely be back.

I thoroughly enjoyed my stay at the Sweetwater Branch Inn. A lot of it was because of the special event I was attending, but another big part was the Inn itself. We had a lovely room in the Cushman House. The grounds are beautifully manicured and I loved looking at all the antique furnishings. I liked it so much I want to make plans to return. The staff was extremely helpful and friendly and the food was wonderful. It was great to discover this peaceful haven in my own state. A discovery I am glad to have made.

Wow what a lovely B&B that I stayed at last night. Staff are like family and the best part was waking up to the smell of delicious food being made by Miss Bridget. I definitely recommend to anyone staining in Gainesville.

I grew up in Gainesville, but my wife had never been there. So when the time came to introduce her to the charm and Southern hospitality that is Gainesville, the Sweetwater Branch Inn was the ONLY choice. She loved it. The staff is amazing … and the properties are extremely well kept. Highly recommended!

Sweetwater was a magical stay in a convenient yet peaceful location in Downtown Gainesville. Great hospitality from the hosts, the rooms were adorable and the breakfasts were out of this world!

An absolutely incredible experience that’s lightyears beyond your average hotel stay. A bed-and-breakfast by definition, Sweetwater Branch Inn is steeped in rich history with a beautiful campus made up of several impeccable Victorian homes. The individual homes themselves are gorgeous inside and out, and furnished in a period-correct style. You get an actual key to your room, too! The only hint that you’re not in the late 19th Century is the (admittedly welcome) presence of A/C and Wi-Fi, so you’re getting the best of both worlds here. Sweetwater Branch can handle large parties and weddings, especially with the large wedding pavilion and courtyard, from which several brick paths branch out towards the pool, koi pond, front office, and the various homes. We were neither a large party nor wedding, but that didn’t stop us from exploring the grounds. The pool is a nice feature as well. The beds are much more comfortable than those of most hotels, and the rooms are wonderfully furnished in Victorian style. Each has its own bathroom which is a bit more modern than the room it accompanies. Free Wi-Fi and A/C are also notably modern additions, but otherwise the place has a lovely old-timey feel. Each bedroom floor has a coffee/water/ice/refrigerator room, which looks like a sitting room. The ground floor of the home we stayed in was laid out like a museum of sorts, with plenty of plaques explaining the history of the home and its residents over the years.

Our client Kim Shelter is a touring musician who recently stayed here while performing nearby, and loved it! The room was perfect, clean, and quiet, and the staff was super friendly. There was a free homemade breakfast in the morning which was amazing — especially after being on the road for so long. Thank you for taking such great care of Kim, we're looking forward to working with you again soon!

We attended an event with my work. The houses are nice and also the patio.

I attended a wedding at the Sweetwater Branch Inn, and it was absolutely wonderful. The catering staff was professional and kind, the food was delicious, and the facilities were beautiful. A very green lawn with tall trees and flowers, it made for a spectacular setting for the wedding.

Excellent venue for meetings, private events and other activities. Southern atmosphere with delicious food and cordial service. I’ve personally attended many events here and rate it as a unique place for intimate as well as large gatherings!

I can truly say that I was blown away, starting from check in all the way to check out. Christina at the front desk works hard to make everything run smoothly. My room (Isadora) was magnificent, included a jacuzzi and an office area. My only regret is that I didn't have time to take a nap on the window seat! Breakfast is a homemade wonder, with organic Greek yogurt, eggs made to order, a variety of quiche, and French toast made to order! Didn't use the saltwater pool (it's April) but git a look at the grounds, and my daughter-in-law remarked that if she had known about this place, she andy son would have married there. The meticulously maintained grounds are a wonder, as is the stunning ballroom. And to cap it all off they have cats that roam the property. Stayed 4 nights this past week, and I'll be coming back to spend a night next week. This is my go to place to stay. In Gainesville!

Let’s just say private romantic dinner for two! We loved this place and all the staff for making my proposal night absolutely PERFECT! Words cannot describe how special our time was—everything from the meal to the scenery! The staff went beyond my expectations and made sure we were taken care of!

Absolutely lovely. Peaceful, easy feeling. Breakfast simple and devine. Wish we had more reasons to be in the area. This is where we would be.

It was a beautiful place to have a wedding. Very efficient staff. Just perfect!

Had a friends wedding here. This place was amazing. Great views and amazing layout. Would recommend it for a wedding!

Excellent venue to have your wedding or private event. My first time here to provide DJ Entertainment. Staff very helpful.

This place has real potential but I stayed here around June of 2017 and it was horrible first we paid $250 for our room and it was super small and depressing. So we switched to Lily's cottage with was $300 or so. We got there and there was hair in the bed we asked them to change the sheets and while we went to the area for wine and cheese the porch is closter phobic with plastic on the screens. We went back to the room and the bed had been changed but there was still hair in it. Behind the TV is dust cobwebs and bugs. In the cupboard was dirty dishes. On the porch my daughter picked up a razor blade. In the Jacuzzi room it says leave the water in it but I wanted to get in it also so I emptied it and there was the most nastiest stuff including pubic hair in the bottom my daughter had hairs on her when she got out. They gave me a full refund. But I had to send my husband over to talk to the manager. The owner had no real idea of what was going on. I would not recommend staying here until they get there stuff together.

Beautiful landscaping and cottages — really established a peaceful and inviting ambiance. The breakfast was delicious, but was a bit slow to serve since only a single person served food rather than a buffet style. This wasn't a huge issue, but for groups of 5 or more it may be slow to get everyone seated and fed. Dining facilities were gorgeous and comfortable.

Beautiful house. Cornelia, Land lady is a wonderful lady. She is caring and friendly. She makes you feel like you are home. 5 stars for her.

Boyfriend and I were exhausted driving back home to Tampa from Georgia. We randomly selected this place on the road and couldn't have been more delighted. After hours check in was easy, the room was gorgeous with a huge, comfy bed and a Jacuzzi tub and fireplace. What really stood out were the little details, from the filtered water and coffee available at any time, to the lit up Christmas tree in the living room, to the extra amenities like makeup remover. We slept great, and woke up to organic yogurt, fruit and homemade granola with coffee and OJ, fresh marmalade for the toast. And that was all before the main course of custom made Mexican omelets, hash browns and a sinfully good chocolate trifle. I would have happily paid extra for the breakfast. We sat by the fire and read the new york times and usa today as we ate. Cornelia was easy to talk to and made sure she knew Everyone's names and dietary preferences. You could just tell she took such pride in her beautiful place. We took keurig coffee to go but didn't want to leave. We could have stayed there for days and never needed anything but Cornelias hospitality and amazing food! Highly recommended for a stop through, but make it a stay cation so you don't have to leave right away like we did!

Beautiful place to have your wedding reception and honeymoon. Even a weekend getaway. Very romantic and quiet. They serve breakfast. Gorgeous place to go to.

The Sweetwater Branch Inn is outstanding in every way! My entire family stayed here for my niece's graduation, and all of us loved it! The house is so beautiful, the food is AMAZING, and the staff go above and beyond! My only complaint is that we didn't know of the Sweetwater Inn when Steph was a freshman. I will definitely return!

The staff was very nice. Breakfast was very delicious! Room was clean and neat and perfect for our needs. Had a really great time here!

Very nice decorated B&B and a nice toutch with wine and cheese for you to serve your self at no extra cost. The room was cozy and clean. The downside is when we and just two other people who stayed at the B&B got the rooms next to each other when there is at least 5 more rooms to choose from. You could here everything and when they went through their doorway it sounded like they went in to our room…

I was here for a company party and it was a very nice venue. There's a fat orange tabby named Buttercup who is pretty friendly. He (she? ) will very likely approach you for back scratches. Buttercup may roll on his side and assume prime belly rub position. Tread carefully, as every time I tried to go in for a belly rub, Buttercup ran off. You have been warned.

The venue was perfect for a wedding as the building and grounds were beautiful. The staff was friendly and the food was good. My only issue was that there were no microphones set up for the actual ceremony, so I couldn't hear anything that was said.

I'm currently staying at this charming gem in downtown Gainesville. I came for work and had stayed at the Hampton a couple blocks away but was recommended this B+B which was by far more value for the cost than a chain hotel. The complimentary breakfasts are homemade with a wonderful southern charm — I would have easily paid money for the care given to the breakfast options. The complimentary wine and cheese hour is fantastic. Guests get the opportunity to mingle in a wonderfully preserved Victorian parlour room or have some quiet time in the outside patios. Every room is given a highly personal touch with attention to tiny details and beautiful architecture (I've taken countless Insagram moments). The owner and staff are very attentive and accommodating with pristine care given to the grounds and buildings, very impressed. Location, location, location — it is right in the downtown so there is plenty of walkable access to the parks and local bar/foodie scenes with many opportunities to appreciate the area. It's very safe, quiet, cozy, and parking is not an issue (something that was not taken care of in other downtown hotel options so added bonus) I cannot rave enough about this place — it improved what would have been a drab business trip to a memorable experience and a renewed sense of pride in local Florida culture.

Was a great venue. The staff was super nice, the food was amazing. I would consider doing an event there my self.

Breathtakingly beautiful. Very well maintained, clean and very friendly and helpful staff. I would return in a heartbeat.

This is such a beautiful place to stay! It has all the comforts of home, plus all the extras to make you feel valued and cared for. The staff are amazing, my favorite place to stay in Gainesville by far!

Such a beautiful place! Our sorority held our bid day here 2 years in a row. The staff was wonderful and the grounds are very gorgeous!

The place was extremely beautiful and the staff was exceeding professional and polite. The food was exceptional. I would recommend this place to anyone.

Unique place to eat. Food is good but a bit pricey. Service is good, coffee is out of this world good!

I attended a wedding at Sweetwater Branch Inn and I loved the environment. The garden area was beautiful and the main house was a well preserved throwback to the gentrified history of Gainesville. It is an excellent place to host a wedding. However, I was disappointed with some of the food options. The chicken served was dry and the noodles were overcooked. I felt like the serving could have been more attentive, especially towards the bridal party. I gave this location 4 stars because I am being extremely picky and I still enjoyed my stay. I would consider having something hosted here and I would definitely lodge here. It is a very nice place despite some of my complaints.

Very good good with southern flare. The setting in the restaurant were interesting and very charming. Loved the boiled peanuts.

Beautiful venue. Patio and reception room were fantastic. Staff was very kind and helpful.

Great spot for a wedding or banquet. Small, quaint, and surprisingly quiet when you consider the actual location.

The serving of dinner at the reception was ridiculously slow, not sure if that was the plan for the wedding or not. The grounds are beautiful though and the food was delicious.

Fantastic! Stayed in the Tea Rose Room. Huge, comfy bed and a jacuzzi! Attended a wedding reception, good was great and downtown restaurants are within walking distance.

Very nice staff. Comfortable beds. Delicious breakfast. Parking is cramped.

Great staff took great care of an extremely important day for someone special. Great job guys!

We stayed two nights and loved it. Breakfast options were hardy and very well prepared. Wine and cheese each evening was a nice touch. Mae's cottage was quaint and comfortable. Staff were friendly, outstanding and very helpful. Locations is the best. Close to downtown, entertainment and events.

This is from the groom's perspective: This place was great! We had our ring ceremony and wedding reception here. Everything was absolutely perfect. The staff was on top of everything and they didn't let us worry about a thing because they had already thought about it and taken care of it before an issue ever crossed our minds. It was so smooth and they treated us like we were handing out hundred dollar bills. They catered to our every need. One of my aunts said it was the best wedding she had ever been to. She's in her 80's. You can imagine how many weddings she's been to. The food was also great. Neither one of us ate much and we were disappointing because it was so good and we had been looking forward to it for months, but for some odd reason we just could eat more than a couple of bites. I've never been married before, so I can't compare this place to any others, but I'm willing to say this is the most professional staff in Gainesville.

Very disappointing stay this weekend — fireplace in the room was broken, Internet did not work, skimpy breakfast. Not a great choice for Valentines Day! Not again I'm afraid.

Note from the "Father of the Bride"! Wedding two weeks ago — — 144 guests — we booked a number of rooms for the wedding out of town visitors — — family and friends — every comment from the folks and the wedding party was positive beyond belief. Got lucky for an outside wedding — early evening — no rain (that is more than normal for this time of year) and a great reception — the food was superb! A very special setting! Our family and friends staying in the inn reported (as we did also for the wedding night) reported great accommodations and a very special breakfast. The staff were exceptional! These folks are doing it right! I wish this Inn every success in the world unreservedly recommended this place to all.

Stayed here while in Gainesville for an interview. It's a small, locally-owned bed and breakfast with a lot of local color. The staff was friendly and the rooms were very charming. The breakfast consisted of a great spread of hot/cold options that I'm sure will satisfy most tastes. The wine and cheese hours in the afternoons were a great opportunity to relax and interact with the other guests. The Sweetwater Branch Inn was a nice change from the typical hotel chain.

We absolutely LOVED our stay at Sweetwater! We stayed in one of the cottages and it was the cutest! We had a living room, full kitchen and dining room, bedroom and bathroom, and a patio with a Jacuzzi tub. The décor was beautiful and gave a very country chic feel. The staff was so friendly and remembered who we were after one meeting. They all greeted us each morning and asked about our days and if we were enjoying Gainesville. The woman cooking breakfast actually remembered me mentioning the day before that I didn't like eggs, so she sautéed some potatoes and cheese for me and they were delicious! I was surprised she went the extra mile for me, but even more so that she remembered! The food was some of the best we've had. Everyday was something new and unique for breakfast and we were never disappointed. The wine and cheese hour was wonderful also. The baked brie was to die for! My favorite thing about Sweetwater Inn is the garden. We sat in the swing for hours enjoying the gorgeous weather and the beautiful flowers all around. The Bills were often there hard at work and were always friendly and cheerful. They answered all of the questions we had about the grounds and the B&B itself. This was our first stay at a B&B and they've set the bar pretty high. We had such an amazing time and we can't wait to go back.

As a wedding hair stylist I often go to the Brides Location. I love be asked to go to Sweetwater Branch Inn. It is really convenient and cozy for the bride to have her hair and make-up done at the cottage. No need to travel to the Salon. The bride often times is sipping coffee and sampling Sweetwaters gourmet breakfast while she is relaxed getting papered. The staff are friendly and helpful in making the day stress free for all.

This place was great! First, we arriving after operating hours and were accommodated; which other B&B's were not willing to do. Second, the breakfast served was scrumptious both mornings we were there and was much better than anything that could have been found at a local restaurant. Finally, the staff was very friendly and accommodating. Our trip was a spur of the moment one with our needs changing constantly as we were figuring out what we wanted from our travels as we did not plan anything beforehand. The staff of the Sweetwater Branch Inn and their lovely accommodations really made our experience special and helped us out along the way. If you can stay at this beautiful Victorian home and say hello to Tina for us.