Century House of Salem, OR

my mother and I were in town for my grandmother’s passing. I wanted to find a cozy,
serene, comfortable place to stay for my mom after all the emotions were becoming a bit too overwhelming. Jean put us up in the cedar room. we had 2 beds (super cozy with lots of pillows and blankets) and our own bathroom in the suite. there was also a kitchenette just outside for our use, including filtered water in the fridge (a nice touch in my opinion!). there’s also a small sitting area upstairs with plenty of books, kids toys, and maybe games if I remember correctly.
there’s a frugal option to skip breakfast in the morning, but DON’T DO IT! the meal was incredibly delicious with homemade muffins, fresh fruit dolloped with honey Greek yogurt and toasted almonds, and the main course included an omelet with green tomatillo sauce and coconut fried yams. I’m a foodie to my core and I loved every bite. coffee and juice were also included.
Jean chatted with us a bit about the history of the house (and the piano) and was very warm and accommodating. I really appreciated our time there and it was definitely exactly what we needed. thanks Jean!

Lovely night’s stay, wish I had more time to lounge around and enjoy the deck and back yard. Comfy and clean. Highlight was the delicious breakfast! Host (Jean) asked if I had any special food needs; I said no, I’m quite flexible — then added as an afterthought that I like to eat healthy. Breakfast was… Truly a treat. Prettily arranges fresh fruit, yogurt, a scone — good stuff. THEN comes the omelette — not too big, which I appreciated — filled with absolutely fresh spinach and mushrooms, topped with a dusting of Parmesan, accompanied by sliced yams gently cooked with cocoanut oil. Healthy and decadent at the same time. Good coffee and apple cider to wash it down. Ate every bite.
So why only four stars? Unilocalers tend to be pretty loose with five stars but I reserve that for the very few places. Neighborhood was nothing special; a few sugar ants in the sink area in the morning (which Jean was clearly sorry to hear, jumping into action on that.) so it’s not ShangriLa — but a really good place, kind host, I felt really well taken care of here!

I am a big fan of B&B’s when travelling for business — it is much quieter than a busy chain hotel and much more personable.
I stayed at Jean’s house twice now, and would do it again in a heart beat! She is an extremely attentive hostess — initially I felt almost awkward being spoiled too much. She was extremely accommodating, getting up to serve breakfast at an early hour, making sure I get my favorite organic Oregonian carrots every time! :)
The Pine room with a private entrance and its own shower is the best — too bad, it was not available on my second stay.
I think Jean’s personality makes the Century House experience so unique, so far it is the best B&B I have stayed at in the US.
Thank you, Jean!

I recently stayed here for 3 nights and would do so again when I am in Salem. This is a historic, but very comfy house with large rooms and a wonderful garden with several seating areas. Jean is very knowledgeable about Salem and a gracious and very accommodating host. Great breakfasts with healthy, locally sourced ingredients. Bicyclists take note: she has locked bike storage and a shop area with tools.

My fiancée and I stayed with Jean over the Christmas Holidays and she was a fantastic host. The house was extremely clean and inviting and she even went out of her way to make our favorite desserts. What more can we say? It was a way to our hearts! She also cooked up a mean breakfast that was just the right portion and very delicious. She is pet and bike friendly and just a very pleasant person to be around. We will definitely be going back.