South Pier Inn

Hotel

Great place to experience. Right on the water. Watching the bridge go up for huge freighters to pass…spectacular 💕💕

And the view and location is great!

Great place to stay, with clean, quiet rooms. The owners and staff are welcoming, and the view can’t be beat!

We booked a get away 9 months ago to stay here. The view we had was amazing. The little balcony allowed for us to enjoy coffee and the view at one time! Great location to so many things to do!

Love this place. Beautiful view. Very friendly staff and owners. Will be back again to stay here. L.

I was able to stay over in Duluth is weekend and secured a room. One of the nicest boutique hotels I've ever stayed at. Accommodations, quality of the furnishings-robes-bedding all top notch. The staff was very polite and helpful, the continetial breakfast fresh and with local offerings. I got lucky and had one of the famed laker ships go through the Canal, perfect vantage point.

Quaint and well appointed suite! Loving the view♥️

What an amazing experience! We really enjoyed our room and the amazing view.

The best room I’ve ever stayed at Harborview 903

Great views wonderful amenities.

Gave me a good experience for my first time in duluth staying over night (s) ❣💯 nice people& rooms (also really nice view).
Thank you Guys!

Absolutely loved our stay. Spacious clean rooms and wonderful friendly staff! I plan to go back yearly. Thank you for your wonderful service!

Very clean and spacious suite … comfortable bed… faced the canal… great view of ships coming in. Loved the 1st floor private balcony and the fire pit sitting area by the front office. Best place we have ever stayed. We will be back!

Nice relaxing vacation, beautiful views. The staff was friendly and helpful.

Very clean, homey, great views. Met the owners that were awesome. Definitely going back.

Fantastic location, great service, updated, nice staff and close to restaurants, bars and lake walk.

Thank you so much for the lovely experience! The room was spacious, clean, and comfortable. We loved the hot tub and cozy fireplace with views of the canal. This made for a perfect Covid-safe getaway on NYE for me and my partner who got engaged that night! Would recommend!

We just stayed in a beautiful canal-view room this past weekend. I cannot recommend this hotel enough. Excellent location, locally owned, exceptionally clean, and beautiful rooms. The hot tub and fireplace were perfection! Wasn't our first time staying here and certainly won't be our last. Thank you!

Great views of ships coming in! Great location!

Nice rooms. Great views. Friendly staff.

As I sit in my room watching a ship pass in the night right next to my window, it is easy to see why this is the best location EVER! I can’t recommend this place enough! Get a canal facing room and you won’t be disappointed! Very clean rooms and wonderful people!

Walking distance to downtown eateries and pubs. Amazing rooms and even more amazing owners.

Great views, nice balcony’s very friendly owners and staff. Love this place.

Awesome views! Great fire place in our room, private balcony, and jacuzzi bath tub. I never want to leave!

A beautiful place to stay. The rooms are clean, up to date, and spacious. Being so close to the lift bridge is awesome! Staff is friendly and the continental breakfast was great!

Beautiful rooms with amazing views! Wonderful staff working there and fun listening to the owner's stories about the Inn. We are repeated customers!

We never stay anywhere else when in Duluth. The rooms are beautiful, Great Lake views, always great service. They include amenities other hotels don’t. We feel like we are staying with a good friend when we visit.

Beautiful views, feels like you are in Lake Superior. Shout out to housekeeping, great job!

Loved that it was right on the water. The king suite with harbor view was a beautiful room. Expensive but we had a very nice time. Clean and abundant towels. Only negative for me was the bed was too hard. Otherwise fantastic!

Great prices very friendly staff.

The rooms and views are incredible and the staff and owner are all very friendly. The beds were very comfortable. We loved it and will definitely be back!

Stayed there once and absolutely loved the place!

We've stayed here twice now (Canal view suite both times) and love the Inn and the location. The rooms are suprisingly quiet for being right next to the bridge, and the grounds are very relaxing. Close enough to Canal Park to enjoy the offerings there, and just far enough away from Canl Park to get away from the "bustle" and noise so you can just relax.

Such a charming place to stay on the water w a nice view of the harbor. They have everything you will need, from robes to binoculars. They have a beautiful lobby and chairs to sit outside, there is even fire pit out front. Very friendly gentleman greeted us and checked us in. Charming ✨

Great place to stay. Very friendly and the room was very clean and the bed was comfy. The view was great and it's nice staying at a place that isn't huge.

Wonderful staff, and amenities! Clean! Great views!

Great place to stay in Duluth right next to the Aerial Bridge! I would've given them 5 stars but the continental breakfast they had didn't offer a whole lot which we were bummed about, no hot food : (

What a wonderful spot on the canal to watch the ships go by from your room nice place great people would stay here again in a minute.

The view and location were incredible. The room was really nice (binoculars were a nice touch) and breakfast options were as advertised. I didn't give 5 stars because I could hear the neighbors when they were moving around, which was a minor annoyance.

My husband and I stayed here for our anniversary and it was wonderful. The view was gorgeous and the room had it all; jacuzzi, balcony, fireplace and a comfortable bed. The staff was also very friendly. Will definitely stay here again.

I have lived in Duluth my whole life and everytime I've driven past this hotel I've wanted to stay there! It looks so cool and awesome from the outside. So when my friend said she booked a room there for her bachelorette party I was beyond excited!
Until we got there and we were so rudely greeted by the owner who kept asking us how many people were staying. We said 4. That's what we booked the room for. Then she proceeded to remind us that this is a "quiet hotel" and there will be zero tolerance for noise… After dealing with that and her tellinf us she will be watching us we didnt feel welcomed and who wants to spend their bachelorette party like that? We got our money back and got a room at the Canal Park Lodge. They were much more accommodating and very nice!
I would NEVER recommend this hotel to ANYONE.

If I could give zero stars, I would. The owner Betty is very rude and disrespectful. We paid and then hadn’t even stepped foot in the room before she came up to us and began yelling. I expressed to her that we haven’t done anything wrong to which she replied “Let’s keep it that way”. I have never been treated with such disrespect especially after we paid her almost $400 to be there! The front desk staff were very nice though and they refunded us right away apologizing. I will never stay there. I recommend the Canal Park Lodge. It’s nicer and closer and more affordable!

Had an awful experience with the owner. We hadn’t even got to our room yet and she came out to our car as we were unloading and yelled at us for no reason. She said she could see the decorations in our car and she was going to be watching us. She was nasty and rude, assuming that we were going to be out of control. We were there for a bachelorette party, which I indicated months earlier when making the reservation and confirmed again shortly before our stay. She was extremely disrespectful and when we went to complain she made it apparent it didn’t matter because she was the owner. We got a refund and stayed at a much nicer hotel for less money. I’m sure this hotel won’t last long with such an unprofessional owner. My advice, spend your money somewhere else.

Rooms were beautiful and the view was amazing. We will recommend your establishment to all of our friends.
The staff was friendly and the attention to detail and the needs of the guests was perfect.
Thank you for making memories a little more special.

The room was very nice and very clean. I splurged and reserved a harbor view room and it was worth it. I sat on the deck and watched the ships and smaller boats. I'll stay again!

Well worth the stop. Right on the canal so you can watch both the bridge lift and the ships pass under it. Easy walking distance to numerous restaurants and sites (the Corps of Engineers museum should be a must see). Rooms are spacious, bright and very comfortable.

Very nice, clean hotel, close to the town. You pay more for the appearance and being right on the lake than you do for comfort though, the beds were hard and the rooms were cold, turning the heat up didn't seem to help. Overall a nice place with friendly staff and a good location, just wish it was a little more comfortable.

The rooms, views, and staff are all wonderful. For boat watchers, there is no better place to be. A great place to get away to. The only downside is the breakfasts are not up to the standards of the other near by hotels.

It was a perfect experience. I bet this place has got to be the best way to experience a freighter going thru the harbor. You could literally sit in your hot tub and watch the ship go by!

The hotel is nice, the view is wonderful. Our room was on the main floor and next to the stairs so it was extremely noisy. We also had a really terrible experience with the front desk staff. Overall, unfriendly. But after given a late checkout we were called by an extremely rude manager and told that she was no longer allowing us that late check out and if we weren't back to the hotel within 5 minutes she was going to be packing up all of our stuff. We were at lunch with a one year old, so as you can imagine things take longer than planned and is an extreme challenge to do anything quickly. Needless to say our child's first vacation ended with a really sour taste in our mouth after this experience. Pretty disappointing. Follow Up — After my review I was contacted by a very polite and respectful manager would was legitimately concerned with the issues that I had. He sent me a certificate for me to stay again. We will return and hopefully my next review is much better. This was a much appreciate gesture that shows that he truly cares about his guests experience.

Stayed in the top corner suite, best hotel I’ve ever stayed in due to the location/views! Ships floated by, and was able to listen to them talk to bridge, etc… The ship wake up call worked perfect as a 1, 000 footer came in at 4am that would have missed. I highly recommend this place over anything else in canal park or town. Easy to walk anywhere from here.

This place is so cute and clean and overall a lovely expierence so far. The outside is just as cute as the inside. Having been to many different types of hotels in my life this is by far one of my favorites. It's so clean! The room we had may be a bit small for some people but the perfect size for me. Very sweet and not too really showy if that's the thing you're looking for. Did I mention how clean our room was? Oh my god, I love this place and will definitely come back.

The hotel is nice, the view is wonderful. Our room was on the main floor and next to the stairs so it was extremely noisy. We also had a really terrible experience with the front desk staff. Overall, unfriendly. But after given a late checkout we were called by an extremely rude manager and told that she was no longer allowing us that late check out and if we weren't back to the hotel within 5 minutes she was going to be packing up all of our stuff. We were at lunch with a one year old, so as you can imagine things take longer than planned and is an extreme challenge to do anything quickly. Needless to say our child's first vacation ended with a really sour taste in our mouth after this experience. Pretty disappointing.

Leaving a good review because of the awesome customer service I had. I don’t remember the exact date sometime last week but I booked a hotel ONE day in advance. Let me remind you I’ve stayed here MULTIPLE times in the past. Nice place. Anyway the guy I called (he works in the morning) was super cool and I told him I might need to cancel my hotel I’m not 100% sure and I’m sorry and I know it’s only 1 day in advance. He said sure no problem the manager/owner is super cool and will be understanding. I was like awesome. So I called back later that SAME day to cancel. Well that was about 11PM at night (a different guy was working) and he was kind of rude saying I need to let them know 48 hours or 72 hours or something in advanced well I explained about the situation but he was kind of a dick and seemed to say I would get charged anyway and that I need to call the next day and speak with a manager. Well I called the next morning (same dude I spoke with when I booked the hotel answered) I believe it was on Saturday morning and he explained managers don’t even work on weekends but he’d leave a note and if I do get charged to call back and they will take care of it. Well I did NOT get charged and I am very happy I did not. I have stayed here I wanna say 3-4 times in the past I’m not sure you’d have to look me up in the system but I am very happy with that and because of that I will be staying again. Room and view is awesome as well. Thanks again!

Location on the quieter Minnesota Point, hotel has amazing views of Duluth and the harbor/canal. Depending on the room, there is a lot of ambient light and noise that can be difficult to block out. Something to keep in mind if you're a light sleeper. Rooms are spacious and most have a gas fireplace but the decor is nothing special. Also I didn't find the bed to be overly comfy but that's probably preference. Overall this is a great, quiet place that's well run. However, keep in mind that you're mostly paying for the view.

We love visiting Duluth, and that is partially because of South Pier Inn. Easily the best hotel I've ever stayed at in my entire life. Small and quaint. Staff is always kind and welcoming. Breakfast is usually minimal but it's enough! Rooms are clean and some offer a wonderful view of the water or the Aerial Lift Bridge right next to the hotel. Rooms have a small balcony, as well. Such a unique and memorable place to stay!

We were so happy to find this place. Given how expensive it is to stay in Canal Park, the price was very affordable for this spot, literally just steps away across the lift bridge. We'll definitely be back. We loved our room with a view.

Very clean, quality bedding, walking distance to restaurants and shops. We wish there was a fire pit outside to keep warm by while taking in the evening view. We will definitely return!

Enjoying our honeymoon in lake-side, canal-view room, warning up by a beautiful fireplace in whirlpool tub, before dinner. We'll then do some big-ship watching with the provided binoculars and our scenic view of Duluth's night-time city lights and lift bridge. Everything is fantastic!

The View is the best in the city! Being able to watch the lift bridge, and the ships come in and out, from the privacy of your room and/or private balcony, is an unforgettable experience. The hotel is very clean, with extremely comfortable beds. Staff is very nice and accommodating. You feel like a true "guest" at this hotel, and they genuinely care about your stay. We have stayed at several hotels in Duluth, but this is the most memorable by far. It is always our first choice when traveling to Duluth.

The room was very nice. The staff was friendly and the overall experience was perfect. I'd definitely stay here again.

I really enjoyed my stay. We had a deluxe canal suite. We saw the ships up close as they came thru the canal. It was great. Beds were comfortable. The in room hot tub had a great view of the canal and lift bridge.

Ohhhh this is a beautiful place. The view from or balcony is spectacular! We can even hear the blues festival music (softly) from across the water. Very nice! Our suite was very clean and spacious. Jacuzzi tub felt great after a busy day. Fireplace set the mood. Short walk over the bridge to restaurants and fun! Lovely. Lovely. Lovely.

We loved staying in our canal-side room at South Pier Inn this past weekend! Friendly owners, helpful staff, beautiful views, cozy rooms, fun little touches (binoculars at the window, which came in handy! ). Wish we could have stayed more than 1 night. The layout of the rooms is pretty innovative so that many rooms have a good view of the canal or harbor, but not much view of each other. Our room gave us a unique, up-close feeling that really complemented the excitement and wonder of Duluth. One tip — do ask for the wake-up service if you want to see a ship come in overnight. We missed the ship that came through right outside our window as we slept. Like a ship passing in the night… we didn't hear anything! It was the only big laker to come under the lift bridge during our stay. Next time…

Nice room great view of the lake and very close walking distance to down town.

South Pier Inn is an amazingly beautiful hotel, with wonderful views, amenities in the lobby, and clean sheets and giant clear windows. The only problem I discovered was that they weren't able to accommodate for 3 people. We couldn't get a roll away for our room, so we borrowed sheets and a foam mattress from my grandmother while we stayed in Duluth. The front desk was not helpful in making sure we had the best of stays. Although, Lake Street is only a quick 5 minutes away, and you get spectacular views of various ships that go by during your stay, I'd say this place isn't perfect for more than 2 people.

My girlfriend and I stayed here on a visit to Duluth. This was a very solid, affordable hotel that was close to a lot of what we wanted to do and see. The only annoying thing was crossing the bridge every time we wanted to go somewhere. I would recommend to others.

Fantastic room with a hot tub and an amazing view of the canal and Aerial Lift Bridge. Great decor, friendly staff, and within walking distance of so many fun shops, restaurants, and attractions.

Nice rooms! Very clean. Staff was awesome. Very nice location right across the bridge. Was lucky not to get caught by the bridge being lifted.

Our room faced the canal and it was absolutely beautiful. We have the opportunity to watch the aerial lift rise and u. S. Ship coming through. The rooms are clean, nicely decorated and the staff was friendly and helpful. We definitely will return to the South pier and I don't next trip to Duluth!

We've been coming here for a while. Clean rooms, pleasant staff, and a great view of the harbor.

The people weren't very friendly and the person working the desk mocked my friend because they had to pee. The place is also small and everything (although looks visually pleasing) still had stains scattered throughout the room.

Awesome place with a great view! Love it!

The view was stunning, the staff were polite and professional, and the attention to detail was impressive!

Great view, and very hospitable staff.

The room was very neat and clean. Had a nice big jacuzzi tub and the view was just amazing!

Clean, well kept, good service and great location.

Not a bad place, just a poor value. My wife and I felt more like we were at a discount chain hotel, not a place that's been awarded "Property of the year". The room was nothing special, and probably one of the smallest we've ever stayed in. We thought we were getting a room with a view of the water, but we had no view of anything other than the parking lot. Speaking of which, the parking lot is tiny, our options were to park in front of the dumpster or a few blocks away on the street. There are really no amenities to speak of other than the breakfast which consisted of mediocre baked goods and bottled juice. Certainly far from the worst hotel experience we've had, but definitely not what we expected when we paid nearly $500 for a two night stay. We've stayed at many places that had nicer rooms, far more amenities, and cost considerably less.

I have stayed here maybe eight times over the past 11 years. This place is awesome! Very, very clean and the view is amazing. You can walk right over the bridge to Grandma's and get some great food or walk down the pier and take some pictures. Your balcony is so close to the canal I have actually yelled conversations to the boat crews! Most people I show pictures to can't believe I took them right from my room! I understand the concern of some of the reviewers of the neighboring room being able to see into yours from the smaller east window, but without this side window the view wouldn't be nearly as good. You wouldn't be able to see out into the lake to scan for ships or more importantly see the beautiful sunrises from your room. Keep in mind the people in the other rooms are interested in watching the ships go by, Duluth and the sunrise. I have never felt like I was being intentionally spied on. There are also plenty of blinds you can adjust or even block out the different windows if you feel uncomfortable. There is a gas fireplace, ceiling fan, refrigerator, dvd player, flatscreen TV (if not two), whirlpool, binoculars, and the view. I cannot stress enough how fun this hotel is.

We stay here as often as we can. Great clean rooms, lovely views and wakup calls for ships in the night. Love it.

The view wasn't nearly as good as I had hoped or read about in all these reviews. I was hoping to be able to see more of Lake Superior and not just the harbor. Also, the staff wasn't the friendlest. However our room was nice and clean. With that being said I probably wouldn't bother staying here again.

Relax Mike, the architecture is not as bad as you described. Close the blinds partially if you are shy. The views and rooms are beautiful and well lit that are more desirable in person than the pictures portray them. I would stay here every time I come up to Duluth.

People I never felt so compelled to warn other people about hotel, so I'm writing this review. I want to start out by saying that I have stayed at many hotels in my years as a Fortune 1000 executive. However, I'm a realistic person and know a good or bad thing when I experience it. I was so excited to be so close to the bridge at South Pier. I wanted to be as close as possible to the boats. The rooms are clean and location is great. All rooms other than the large corner suite will have the terrible situation I will describe. Every room has a main window and a smaller (but still large) window facing either the bridge or harbor. The smaller window allows the guests in the next room to look right into your room. I don't mean a little look, their view faces right in your door and all of your other windows. This was the poorest architecture I have ever seen. They can see your ENTIRE room including a full view of your bed. Two separate neighbors in two separate nights and my wife caught them looking in at her and our room multiple times. They were probably unintentional but you can't even enjoy your stay. Your neighbors come to that window when they see boats, so you will see them multiple times daily/nightly. We had to close the blinds! There was no way to know when your neighbor would be at their window, so you couldn't relax at all. If you choose to stay there after reading this, you were warned. Trust me you will never stay there again due to this terrible window placement.

Great location, could use some down pillows but that was about the only thing lacking. Can walk to everything in Canal Park and the ship watching from the canal view rooms is unbeatable.