Knickerbocker Mansion

We stayed at the Knickerbocker for two nights after one of the el niño storms. Location is ideal as it is walking distance from the village but still tucked away right outside of it. Its to the right as you are driving up and has a visible sign. The owner is an extremely friendly and helpful guy. We had to leave early one morning and a car had blocked us, so he personally shoveled the snow to make additional room and guided us as we reversed down the drive way. We appreciated that more than he knows since driving in the snow and icy conditions was a nerve-​wracking experience for us. The rooms were cozy and well cleaned, and we had no issues while staying here. If you are making a trip with a small group, I would definitely recommend you stay here. We will be back as soon as we can!

Recently took a trip with my wife and friends to Big Bear. Our last meal was dinner at the Knickerbocker. Easily one of the best meals I have ever had. To start, the place is on 2.5 acres of gorgeous land. The service was unbelievable. Every staff member would really talk with us, even the owner dropped by to have a word. Then the food came and the New Orleans twist they have on this place, amazing. I had the Gumbo which was out of this world, every other plate that was delivered to our table was better than the next. After dinner I walk out to where there is a fireplace and notice the owner just sitting there with a glass of wine taking everything in. A perfect end to our trip and well worth every penny. Or just drive up and look around the land, its breathtaking up there.

My wife and I went up to Big Bear for a weekend getaway. There aren’t a lot of great lodging options, but when we found this B&B and saw the rates were comparable, we gave it a shot. We absolutely love this place. There are several rooms spread throughout the main mansion, the carriage house (an old but renovated barn), and the owners’ home. It’s got a rustic yet comfy feel. Very quiet area, smallish room with a comfortable bed. Just minutes from the Village and Snow Summit.
They also have a bistro where they serve breakfast every morning and dinner on Friday and Saturday nights. Breakfast on Sunday was hot (omelettes with bacon) and continental-​style on Monday (pastries, meat & cheese board, yogurt, and fruit). All very good. Dinner was excellent, likely the best you’ll find in Big Bear and very reasonably priced. The owners are transplants from Louisiana, so in addition to New Orleans Jazz playing in the background they have a gumbo on the menu that is excellent.
The owners are incredibly nice and very accommodating. We definitely plan to stay here again!

DO NOT STAY HERE… came on a Wednesday. All roads clear except this one. Drove past several times that evening and could not find. No cell service so went to Village and called. Owner said sign was out because of the snow. Went back and could not get up to parking lot because driveway was not cleared from snow. Had to park below by garage. At check in owner says no partying to us… what my hubby is a conservative lawyer. OK he says breakfast is 8 – 9 and he picks up everything at 9:15 SHARP. We asked about a restaurant to have dinner and he said there are 15 restaurants in village. It was 6:30, I thought they had a Bistro? OK he then takes us out and up more steps to our room. Which is NOT the room we selected online. Opens the door and comments on how hot it is in there. Said the ONLY source of heat was this electric fireplace. Showed us how to turn off and left. We turned it off and went to the Village for dinner.
We returned to have to carry all of our luggage up steps never cleared from snow to finally get to our room and it is still HOT. We had to open the window to cool it off. Tried to unpack and no dresser? What, have never stayed in a room without even a dresser. Hubby sits on bed and says we are in trouble. HARD as a rock, pillow was old without any stuffing. Joke. Look at the beds carefully in pictures, not cozy or even acceptable. They claim nice sheets and bedding. Afraid not. We had no cell service and no phone in our room. Owner said he lives in a house 3 houses away… the room had central heat and it had to be set at 100′ ran all night, we looked for thermostat but could not find one. We had to sleep with window open. Horrible
Owner put us in the handicapped room… WHY?.. Only one other car in parking lot. Left early next morning. Owner asked if we wanted to stay for breakfast. NO we are done. He did say that he was thinking about clearing the stairs of snow that day…

The meal here is
. Everything from the food to scenery. I felt at home. Great food!

Delightful dining experience and the food was great! My husband and I went in with a party of 6 for their bottomless champagne brunch during busy Christmas weekend. The owners were extremely friendly and accomodating. The food was top notch! Ask for the homemade scones. They’re absolutely delicious! Champagne came with fresh squeezed oj. Price includes entrée, bottomless mimosas, scones, coffee, and banana foster for dessert. Unbeatable for big bear. Looking forward to my next visit.

This review is for the Bed & Breakfast. My boyfriend and I stayed here for two nights right before Christmas and it was the perfect getaway! The mansion was surrounded by snow and had a spectacular view. Breakfast during the week was served continental style, but still very good. Artisanal cheeses, fresh breads, a variety of meats, and fresh baked pastries. There was also the more traditional fair such as bagels and cream cheese, oatmeal and cereal for the families with kids.
It was just a short walk from The Village where we explored the shops and some great food for dinner. At night the town was decorated with Christmas lights and Christmas carols were playing, it was magical!
All in all, this was a great trip. The inn keepers made us feel at home and we really got to experience a White Christmas. We’re already dying to go back!

This is probably the ONLY place in BB for decent food.
We came in for dinner on a Saturday night as we were staying at a vacation rental on the North Side.
We had emailed our table reservation in advance and had a quick response from Vickie. Her husband even knew who we were when we walked in! Impressive.
The restaurant was busy but service was of a high standard.
The quality of the food was second to none in the area!
Leave room for dessert!

My review is for their brunch! I recommend this place for brunch! They have the best scones ever! Better than the afternoon teas from hotels! Very nice ambience and cozy place! Customer service is superb!!! I will definitely comeback here!

There’s no doubt the Knickerbocker is both elegant and historic. That being said, there should be a different Unilocal entry for reviewing the B&B vs. the Bistro. I can’t speak for the inn; I can speak for the dining experience.
My spouse and I decided to try the Bistro recently and, true to reputation, did not find the service or the atmosphere lacking. Unfortunately, the food was not up to the décor. Although it was a relatively slow night, both of our spinach salads came complete with every single stem protruding from the leaves. I don’t mind a few stems here and there — but totally untrimmed straight off the bunch? I wasn’t about to complain, however, because other than being a bit messier than necessary to eat it was otherwise good. Then it came time to order the main course. Spouse lucked out with a moderately-​priced entrée. I ordered the most costly dish on the menu — a dish I’ve enjoyed at every restaurant that has offered it in the past — but unfortunately it was downhill from there. I was asked what the problem was and when I failed to appreciate how the entrée was prepared I misdiagnosed the origin of my complaint. In hindsight, I wish I had NOT been asked to venture a guess as to why the entrée was too salty; it would have been more helpful to have had the method of preparation explained to me so that I could appreciate whether preparing a less salty version of the same dish was even an option. Long story short, I incorrectly assumed it was the reduction and when the entrée came back sans reduction but again overloaded with sodium there wasn’t much to do but re-​order an alternative off the menu and wait another ~25 minutes — which we weren’t about to do because, well, it was our anniversary and we didn’t want to be holed up at the Bistro long after closing (effectively ruining our evening). When it was time to leave, my spouse and I struck out once again. We agreed to wait for our dessert to go, and although it was nearly closing and we were the last remaining customers in the restaurant it took an additional ~20 minutes for what turned out to be a very small portion (which we had intended to split).
I would chalk this up to a fluke, but when I ordered a hot beverage midway through dinner and it arrived lukewarm — twice — there was no way out of the awkwardness: come off like the world’s most picky patron or say nothing. I suppose it’s possible that the Bistro chef was having an off night. But when we reported the initial problem with the main course, the owner — in spite of introducing himself to us prior to being served — did not come back around to inquire about the problem. (I don’t think he was aware of what was going on at that point.) While on any other occasion we might have pushed the point, our wedding anniversary was not the occasion — at nearly 9 p.m. at night — to raise additional concerns about the meal. My spouse instead attempted to resolve the situation the following day, to which the owner’s response was to offer a partial comp on a $ 39 entrée.
In day-​to-​day dining experience I’m no «foodie», which is to say not particularly hard to please. Occasionally I’ll ask for a botched meal to be replaced, like the time Roadhouse Grill allowed my plate of hot food to cool for 20 minutes before they got around to serving it – I could see it from my seat waiting to be picked up and served — or the time my then-fiancé’s burger arrived dangerously rare on Valentine’s Day and was returned just as blood-​red as ever — and stone cold — 20 minutes after we asked for the burger to be recooked. The odd thing here is, on the rare occasion we’ve had a problem at a restaurant in the Big Bear area the initial solution has been to offer a discount on a future visit as opposed to comping the unsatisfactory portion of the meal. In five years worth of annual visits to Big Bear we’ve only had one prior unsatisfactory dining experience, to which the owner’s solution was to offer a discount on a future visit even though we explained that we are from out of town. When we came back the following year, the restaurant in question had gone out of business. So when the owner of the Bistro offered to discount a future meal, we turned that offer down. Yes, I appreciate that will make us come off as if we only wanted to receive money back on a costly meal; however, we only had one day left in town. As for returning for a future visit? That remains to be seen. I can only conclude that while the atmosphere and the service is first-​rate, the kitchen needs better help.

Fabulous hotel and in Big Bear of all places! The Bistro food is probably better than any other hotel food I have eaten around the world, we’re talking 5 star here and at extremely good value. Staff wonderfull. Ed the owner is charming and Chris our server was a sweetheart making sure my wife had a veggie alternative in morning for an equally delicious breakfast. Did I mention the shower OMG its a treatment its so powerful. Unfortunately the next-​door room decided at around 5.30 am Sunday they would take their turbo showers and the noise of the plumbing woke us up. This is partly due to the fact we had booked into the cheapest room, which is a bargain but next time we will book into the better rooms which I advise everyone to do as I think its big step up in this place. Very difficult to photograph the hotel as it looks like it was designed by Vlad the Impaler which is a huge surprise when you step into the most relaxing and cosy environment you could stay in. Did I mention the shower…

One of the few classy places in big bear.
The spinach salad and ravioli with their special sauce were great. The rack of lamb had a sauce i did not care for but it was very tender.
***The parking can be dangerous.***
It is not lit at night and my wife had to get out of the car to see if it was safe to go down hill.
Service was very good.

Fantastic Sunday brunch. Crawfish étouffée omelette tasty. Lobster chorizo sweet potato hash delicious. Homemade scones, oven fresh and fantastic. Mimosas, beverage and pastries all included in menu price. Professional prompt courteous service. Highly recommend.

Omlet with spinach was good. Breakfast included ice cream, orange juice and baked scones. They did not have a salad or fruits on the menu

We come to Big Bear every summer with family friends. FINALLY, we have found a great place to eat! Wine was good, service was great, good was superb. The innkeeper greeted us on the porch and knew our name. (memorized the reservation list?) The ambience was memorable, it was a historical log cabin type building with lovely antiques and yet they pulled off classy in the dining room.
The large salad with homemade raspberry dressing was enough for all four of us to share, a variety of artisan bread choices came with the meal also.
We enjoyed Salmon with an agave glaze, Jerk Chicken with authentic beans and rice and Filet Mignon with season veggies and homemade fries.
Oh, how I wish we were staying another night so we could come back for Sunday Brunch with bottomless Mimosas!

My stays at Big Bear have usually been at places south of the Village. But if you head further north, past the Village, you will find this amazing gem that is the Knickerbocker Mansion and Bistro. My girlfriend and I headed up to Big Bear for a spring weekend get away. Stepping through the front door and into the main living area you immediately sense the coziness of this historic building. The best part was the warm greeting we received by its hosts. We were welcomed by Ed Harris and later by his wife Vickie. They are the owners of the Knickerbocker and made us feel so at home and comfortable throughout the entire stay.
We stayed in the Mansion Suite which I highly recommend. The suite is located on the uppermost floor of the mansion and is super spacious. It includes a king bed, couch, a day bed, television, tub with jets, wood burning fire place, Keurig coffee maker, bottled Italian water, complimentary bottle of wine, and its own private balcony! The weather was crisp during our spring stay but warm enough to leave the windows open at night and wake up to birds chirping in the morning. Ahhh, nature. This was exactly the type of relaxing get away I needed.
The Knickerbocker Mansion was already exceeding my expectations with its accommodations, but what also set this place apart was the food. You wake up to breakfast every morning at the bistro and it is far from what I expected an included breakfast to be. We were served a chorizo dish the first morning and a vegetable omelet the next. In one word, delicious! The amazing dishes weren’t limited to just breakfast. We also ate at the bistro in the evening and dinner, which consisted of tuna tostadas, lamb chops, and bread pudding, was equally impressive. Sitting in the bistro with a great view of Big Bear, amazing food, and a decadent glass of wine was the perfect way to end the day.
I highly recommend the Knickerbocker Mansion and Bistro. It is such a charming place I could go on and on about how great it is. My experience here was so positively unique I already can’t wait for the next trip to Big Bear so that I can once again visit the Knickerbocker.

This review is for the Bistro. Went here to celebrate my sister’s milestone birthday based on having tasted the gumbo at The Bath Workshop Big Bear during wine walk which was fantastic.
No disappointment — the food was amazing. Fresh, made to order, just the right amount and decent prices for the calibre of what you get.
I tried three dishes. The lobster chorizo, the chicken and waffles, and the filet. All were cooked perfectly, very flavorful, and just yum. My sister had the salmon and shrimp and loved it.
Definitely fine dining (although casual atmosphere) and very friendly staff. Will be coming back.

I grew up in Big Bear so the first time I got to visit this lovely B&B was when I left. Now for all you LA people who need class (and all the rest of you classy people who don’t live in LALA land!) — here is your place. The inn is in a quiet neighborhood with a spectacular view, a dedicated staff, and two Innkeepers who really want to make you feel at home. Ed and Vickie Harris are amazing hosts and you will feel welcome from the start to finish of your visit. Also, did you know that it’s the tallest log cabin west of the Mississippi? Well now you know. Check out those logs when you are there, they’re beautiful.
They host groups and weddings and even yoga retreats.
During the winter, the Inn is on the side of town that retains snow, so you will be able to build snowmen and sled on site. Yeah! Bring your own sled :)
In my honest opinion, the Knick has THE BEST food in Big Bear. Now remember, I grew up there, and have since moved to LA where foodies are as abundant as Range Rovers :), so trust me when I say that I know Big Bear and it’s THE BEST food. The chef is amazing, I had the opportunity of meeting him and wow, can he whip up a great meal. The restaurant is open Friday & Saturday night and Sunday for lunch. We had lunch, but sampled some of the dinner appetizers. Our whole meal consisted of :
1) Shrimp cocktail — southern style, battered with a delicious sauce, think gourmet sweet and sour
2) Ahi tuna over a seaweed slaw (amazingness!) on a crispy wonton with a bunch of dipping sauces
3) Gumbo — oh ehm gee. Just get it and you will see what I mean
4) Butternut squash soup. You will never have tried butternut squash soup like this in your life, I swear
5) Sweet potato hash with lobster and chorizo topped with hollandaise sauce. Yes, it’s pretty much as awesome as it sounds
6) Salad with blackened chicken and a spicy dressing. I had to order this to balance out everything else I was eating, and it was wonderful
7) Sirloin steak with a hollandaise sauce (green) and fries. I tried this from my MIL’s plate and it was Y to the U to the M.
8) Kids meals. Both my kids had chicken strips and fries, and they were happy. They also serve waffles or mac and cheese for your littles.
9) They had chicken and waffles and I really wanted to try it and I will just have to go back. I can only imagine how decadent it is
By the way, we were not hungry for several hours after eating here. In fact, we went for lunch and my husband didn’t eat until lunch the next day. It’s THAT GOOD.
Also, there’s a woodpecker just outside the restaurant and you can watch him working and it’s really beautiful to connect with nature :).

Wow! Impressive B&B and the most gracious hosts you may ever encounter! Under new ownership and they are the best of the best!!! Just read all the recent reviews and it is indeed as good as it gets!
I used to live in Big Bear and looking for a place to stay when I come back had always been a challenge. So, in the few times that I have been back, mostly for weddings and funerals, I’ve tried staying at a couple of places that I had heard were considered the best and I have to say that I have been disappointed until I stayed at Knickerbocker Mansion… First of all, the innkeepers, who are both originally from the South, are the «hosts with the most» if there is such a terminology. Ed and Vickie Harris were so charming and very welcoming, made us feel like we were in our own home. The rooms were very clean, (no cobwebs considering this place was built a long time ago), nicely decorated with new carpets and amply equipped with a Keurig coffee maker and refrigerator and a microwave. Huge bathroom with a spa bathtub in the Carriage House. The towels were spa like, nice and thick and soft and cuddly.
As for their service, the staff were super nice and friendly and very helpful, were constantly asking if we needed anything else. We had breakfasts and one dinner night at the Bistro and the food was not only delicious and enjoyable but the presentation was most appealing as well. Plus, we got a taste of some Southern staples like fried chicken and waffles and gumbo… hmmmmm
Needless to say, we left Big Bear with an instant desire to come back soonest and stay at the Knickerbocker Mansion. I have traveled to many places worldwide and have stayed at 3 to 5 star hotels and I would definitely recommend this place. It is world class!!!
It’s a «must stay» and say hello to Ed and Vickie Harris, they would love to chat with y’all…

My wife and I take a long weekend every October to celebrate our anniversary. For our 14^th, we chose the Knickerbocker in Big Bear Lake, CA. This place is what a bed and breakfast is all about. It’s charming, rustic, and has great character. The owners are from Louisiana and brought their southern charm to the Knickerbocker Mansion. Upon arrival we were immediately greeted, offered an iced tea or coffee, and a cookie.
The Room
We stayed in the Bill Holcomb room. The room was comfortable, had plenty of space, and was very clean. We had no noise or privacy issues.
The Bistro
If you enjoy a nice dinner, I advise you to stay on a weekend and book a dinner reservation in ‘The Bistro’ — the Knickerbocker’s restaurant. It’s a great atmosphere, limited to around 40 seats. The menu is as diverse as the character of the Inn. I ordered a real southern gumbo for an appetizer; the cup is as big as a bowl in most restaurants. They have a nice dinner selection, including a great Filet, which my wife ordered, and Osso Buco, which is what I ordered. Both were exceptionally well prepared. The server staff is friendly and checked on us often. The pricing is $ 20-​$ 35 for dinner (definitely fair) and they’re fair with their wine pricing as well — I think we paid $ 23 for a bottle of Merlot.
Breakfast
Some B&B’s offer a better breakfast experience than others. The Knickerbocker offered the best I’ve had at a B&B. Day one we had a french toast casserole with fresh fruit, juice and coffee. It was a healthy portion and provided us enough calories for a 2 hour hike and horseback ride. Day 2 was amazing — I’m not sure what they call it but it included seasoned potatoes, spicy chorizo, peppers, onions, and two over easy eggs. Oh and fresh fruit and a scone. This was a perfect breakfast.
Overall
We’ll definitely be back. If you like to stay in a true B&B that is comfortable, memorable, and makes you feel like you’re away from it all — then put the Knickerbocker Mansion on your list. I can only imagine what this place looks like over the Christmas Holiday!