In an era where quiet luxury is all the rage, The Pembrooke Inn Bed and Breakfast in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin offers a historic charm and Victorian whimsy to travelers seeking a comfortable and pampered stay.

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Guests are surrounded by thoughtfully selected beauty that transports them to a time of opulence and refined taste. A wealth of common areas promotes a feeling of community and a sense of home. The Inn features large, elegant rooms with richly deep wood paneling echoing the grandeur of the late 19th Century.

The décor combines antique furnishings with tasteful modern touches. The rooms exude sophistication and are likewise filled with items of whimsy and hidden moments of great fun and storytelling. The current owners, Carla Morgan and Brett Goetsch, have filled the Inn with intricate details that reflect the house’s storied past.

Originally built in 1886 by Joseph Wolter, the founder of Sturgeon Bay’s first major shipyard and president of Sturgeon Bay Shipbuilding, it has gone through several hands and uses with Morgan and Goetsch lovingly restoring it to its Victorian elegance while incorporating those modern amenities that today’s travelers demand. They reopened it as a bed and breakfast on Oct. 1, 2020.

The three-story mansion’s original purpose was to serve as a luxurious family home and it continues to this day to offer that taste of luxury and refinement. Tucked away in a charming neighborhood close to downtown Sturgeon Bay, it contains seven private suites—each given a name—with in-room double jacuzzi tubs and fireplaces.

The home features large, elegant common areas, stained-glass windows, ornate woodwork, and charming wrap-around balconies filled with white wicker chairs and a hammock.

Why You’ll Love It

The Pembrooke is a place of peace.

A stay at The Pembrooke Inn Bed and Breakfast offers comfort, luxury, and Old-World charm. While there is much to do in the surrounding Door County area, it is equally lovely to spend a day or two just exploring this Inn.

Filled with books, collectibles, and games, it invites its guests to spend mindful moments to rejuvenate and restore their souls. With a yard full of gardens and small sculptures, The Pembrooke Inn provides a place of rest and quiet, a touch of nature to ease the spirits.

What to Expect

The service at The Pembrooke is personal, as one might expect from a bed and breakfast. The innkeepers are present on the property, available to extend a warm welcome, conduct tours, and accommodate special requests. Both Carla and Brett have stories to tell, whether about the Inn itself or their own richly eventful lives.

The services at Pembrooke cater to comfort and convenience. While the Victorian ambiance is on full display, there are plenty of modern amenities such as free Wi-Fi, connectivity outlets, plush bedding, and elegantly decorated en-suite bathrooms. Parking is complimentary and there is a fitness center on the property.

While it has been updated, it retains much of its original structure, one where multiple staircases lead to different areas of the property. One suite (the Pembrooke Suite) is built off the main floor to provide greater accessibility for those who need it. The East Wing has two suites on the second floor and one on the third. The West Wing has three suites on the second floor.

While each room has a sitting area, the communal rooms are open for all guests to enjoy. These include the Grand Parlour and Library, both of which are filled with board games, chess, books, and a large television. When weather allows, Pembrooke hosts an outdoor firepit in the evenings.

Their check-in is as early as 2 p.m. and a minimum of two-night stays are required.

Cuisine

The owners are amazing cooks and it is well worth making time for the fresh, hot breakfast they serve every morning at 8:30 a.m. in the main dining room. Early birds can partake of the coffee and tea service starting at 7:30 a.m.

Breakfast is served around a long dining table that promotes family-style community among all those staying at the inn. During our visit we had a delicious, home-cooked, stuffed French toast with Door County’s iconic cherries. It was served with a rich, moist, fruit-filled coffee cake and juices.

From 5 to 6 p.m. each day, they host a happy hour in the parlor. This is a time for guests to sample local wines and cheeses.

Nearby Attractions

One major feature of The Pembrooke is that it is only a block away from Sturgeon Bay’s historic downtown promenade where guests can shop, dine or take in the scenic waterfront. It’s an easy walk to the marina where you can charter a boat or take a trolley tour. Some nearby Sturgeon Bay attractions include:

The Door County Library and Miller Art Museum

Connected to the local library is a public art museum with both standing and rotating exhibitions. Founded in 1975, they work with young artists and special communities in some of their exhibitions while also preserving the artistic legacy of Gerhard Miller.

Open Door Bird Sanctuary

Spread over 34 acres, the Open Door Bird Sanctuary gives a forever home to injured or ill raptors who are unable to be released into the wild. In addition to caring for these animals, they conduct tours and open their grounds for hiking and small group activities. The tours introduce guests to such birds as Oslo, the snowy owl, and Fisher, the bald eagle.

Bridge Up Brewing Company

For guests wanting to toss down a few of the area’s best microbrews, Bridge Up Brewing Company offers a fine, rotating selection of beers, including a peanut butter and jelly flavored one. Guests can choose between a conversational cluster of loungers surrounded by vinyl records or one of the high-top tables overlooking the Sturgeon Bay.

Door County Maritime Museum

The Door County Maritime Museum is an interactive attraction that offers fun activities and a sweeping view of the bay area. Each floor has a different focus from the area’s geology to Indigenous history to shipwrecks and more. Guests can practice steering a boat, interact with maps and view a group of live shipbuilders creating a wooden, life-size boat that gets auctioned off every year.

Plum Bottom Gallery

Chad Luberger has galleries in four locations spread throughout Door County and his newest one is in Sturgeon Bay. Guests can wander through the gallery and purchase art from the local artists he has cultivated throughout the years.

Insider’s Tips

The locking system at The Pembrooke Inn Bed and Breakfast hearkens back to an older era. The doors are still operated with physical keys, ones that have antique looks about them. While it isn’t high-tech security, the area is safe. I felt comfortable enough throughout my stay that I rarely locked my door—even overnight and when I left for several hours.

Ask the innkeeper for instructions on how to open the inn’s front door. The lock has a secret to it and without that knowledge, you might find yourself locked in the way our group did.

Sign the guestbook on your way out—and take the time to flip through the pages to read what others said before you.

Accommodations

The Pembrooke offers a variety of rooms, each designed to provide a comfortable and memorable stay. They’re all named after English shires, with the names engraved on a plaque outside the room. You’ll open a sturdy wood door to a room exuding romance and intimacy.

When I visited I stayed in the Kensington Room, one that is sometimes called the Honeymoon Suite. It features a canopied king-sized bed, an electric fireplace that can be easily switched on and off, a two-person Jacuzzi, and access to a large wrap-around balcony equipped with a hammock.

Several throw rugs provide a warm, comfortable look while a cluster of armchairs and a coffee table provide room for sitting back and enjoying a book or a glass of wine. I especially appreciated the access to the balcony and took advantage of a mild February day to nap in the hammock and soak up the afternoon sun.

Other rooms include:

• Welsch Suite: Deluxe with private balcony

• Scott Suite: The smallest suite

• Essex Suite: Deluxe

• Dover Suite: Deluxe with access to 2nd floor wrap-around porch

• Carrisbrooke Suite: Deluxe, the largest suite

• Pembrooke Suite: Deluxe with handicap access

All rooms have ceiling fans while large windows let in natural light. Small tables hold an ice bucket with complimentary bottled water. Like the rest of the inn, the rooms are designed in Victorian style. Some are covered in flower-patterned wallpaper or trimmed with decorative strips. Walls are painted in white and salmon.

Small knick-knacks are found throughout the room, artwork that invites a smile and provides a homey atmosphere. The beds are covered in pillows and a luxurious comforter and blanket.

With its intimate hospitality and beautiful setting, The Pembrooke Inn Bed and Breakfast is a Sturgeon Bay gem, one offering a blend of historical elegance and modern comfort. It provides a unique and enriching experience that stands out among typical accommodations.

Whether you’re exploring the cultural attractions of Door County or just relaxing in the serene surroundings of the inn, Pembrooke promises a memorable and delightful stay.

For more information and to book a stay at The Pembrooke Inn Bed and Breakfast, call 920-818-0239 or visit their website. To book your next visit, click here. Follow them on Instagram: @thepembrookeinn

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410 N 4th Ave, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235

[Photos by Bridgette Redman]

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Bridgette, who is a second-generation journalist, fell in love with spas and travel while working as a writer and editor for 16 years at the Educational Institute of the American Hotel & Lodging Association. As a freelancer for the International SPA Association, she co-wrote two textbooks, nine workbooks, and numerous case studies on spas. Her freelance career began in the 80s and she has written for publications in Michigan, Arizona, California, and Texas along with several regional and national publications. She is a committed storyteller who loves sharing narratives which improve people's quality of life and build community. Born and raised in Michigan, she currently lives in Lansing with her husband and son. See more of her writing at bridgetteredman.com.