Poplar Springs

3.5 stars. After posting my Unilocal review and calling Travelzoo, I was contacted by Inn management, who apologized and swiftly refunded the overcharge.

The staff at the inn was extremely friendly. We checked in fairly quick and found our room to be beautiful. Each room has its own large shower; on the 1^st floor all rooms (as it looked) have a door to access the outside, and our room, itself, was very spacious inside!
We had dinner at the restaurant, and all of the food Chef Nate prepared was incredible. The Carrots Three Ways was phenomenal. We really enjoyed the Risotto and the Mushroom/​Black Truffle Tagliatelle. The Pork Loin was also a favorite with the Granny Smith Apple flavor. Our server, Mike, was very knowledgeable of all the food and wine in the restaurant. He made us so comfortable and took great care of us with help from the other friendly workers on staff.
I cannot wait to return and have another delicious meal and relaxing stay at this property!

The food and the atmosphere definitely deserve 5 stars. Every time I go I feel very welcome and spoiled. The servers are always attentive and have a smile on their face. Nate’s (the chef) food is exceptional and the flavor combinations are always on point. The plating is always pleasing to the eye. No matter how you turn your plate it always looks like a masterpiece. He is truly a culinary artist.

I attended a group spa day for a co-​worker at Poplar Springs Spa where the 6 of us had a variety of services. The ladies that had massages and/​or facials were very happy with their experience. Those of us that had our nails done there were not as fortunate.
I called and made my appointment for a Shellac mani & pedi well in advance of our gathering and when my co-​worker who organized the event called them, they did not have my booking. Luckily they still had the availability and my co-​worker re-​booked them. When I checked in, they had incorrectly listed my services as a Shellac mani & regular spa pedi. I told them that I would like both of my services to be Shellac and the receptionist said that would be fine. I had my Shellac manicure first, which was definitely not what I expected. For being such an expensive manicure, I expected to get the works. I had not had my nails done in quite a long time and they needed some attention. I did not find that the technician was very careful while clipping or filing my nails & had to have her touch them up. She also did not touch my cuticle, but simply painted on top of it. When she was finished, I pointed out one nail that was looking particularly rough at the tip and she had to redo it — which she was pretty grumpy about. When they were done I noticed how jagged they looked toward the cuticle — very lumpy and uneven. When she finished, I also realized that she hadn’t even put lotion on my hands at any point and went ahead & applied it myself. Unfortunately due to the fact that she painted over the cuticle, the polish did not adhere very well and peeled up in the back within a few days. When I asked my co-​workers about their nails, it turned out they were also less than thrilled.
After the manicure, my appointment was then turned over to yet another nail technician to do my pedicure. The technician explained that it would probably be better to just do a plain pedicure because trying to put your toes in the Shellac UV machine can be difficult and they had other top coats that would last almost as long as the Shellac. I was trying to be agreeable and told the technician that I was open to whatever was easiest. She was very pleasant and I did not have any problems with the pedicure itself. I even accidentally messed up one toenail when she was finished and she was extremely nice about re-​painting it.
When I went to the front to check out, I paid and then realized that I had been charged more than what I had anticipated paying. When I quoted the prices from the website, the receptionist informed me that because I decided not to do Shellac for both of my services, I couldn’t receive the discount I was quoting from the website for bundling them. Apparently it costs about $ 15 more to pair a regular spa pedicure with a Shellac manicure than it costs to do a Shellac mani & Shellac pedi! I explained that I was basically talked into doing the spa pedicure by the technician, and she eventually refunded the difference. There was no effort to apologize to me for what happened at any point in the refund process, which took about 10 minutes.
Overall, I would consider coming back to Poplar Springs for a massage or facial treatment, but will not be paying over $ 50 for nail services that were sub-​par.

My review is specifically for experiences in the Manor House Restaurant, Lounge, and Outdoor Patio.
I’ve been to Poplar Springs many times for cocktails on a Friday night. Some nights we are in the Lounge — during cold weather months there is a fire in the fireplace crackling merrily along — providing warmth and ambiance!
They have a reasonably well stocked bar cocktail-​wise — and have enough wine options to please most folks. The one area I wish they would expand is to have a better selection of local craft brews. To be clear, they have a few, but I would like to have more options. My current go to Ale is the Graffiti House West Coast IPA (Old Bust Head Brewing Co., Warrenton, VA) — in bottle.
One evening we sat out on the patio, enjoying cocktails and listening to a pretty good rock band cranking out the tunes! There was lots of dancing and fun being had.
They have a selection of appetizers on the bar menu — I think the only thing I’ve had recently is the fried oysters, served with an Aioli dipping sauce. Pretty tasty!
The staff is very nice at Poplar Springs!

Went here with my fiancé for a weekend trip. She found a living social deal. Never heard about it before, but the short drive and relative obscurity appealed to me. It’s not quite a straightforward drive in the final stretch. There are a few country roads to traverse to get to the Inn.
Once you arrive, you’ll notice the rustic landscape of the Inn. A pebbled road leads to the Inn and the restaurant on the property. The building resembles an old country cottage. The staff was very friendly and accommodating. The rooms were very clean with nice amenities. We were upgraded to a suite with fireplace and jacuzzi. It’s great for a day trip or weekend getaway.

This is the 2^nd time I’ve been part of a group that did a buy out of Poplar Springs. This time they have new owners, but it is still the same great place. The setting, location and grounds are gorgeous. They have a bar with live music on Fri nights and the restaurant offers lots of local choices. Marcus the restaurant manager is fantastic and very customer service oriented. We did some catered events and they have a little work on timing and getting things out, but I’m sure they will get it. The rooms are decorated all slightly differently, but in true country inn style. I did not get to use the spa, but heard amazing things about it. It is worth treating yourself to a weekend or better yet for a great deal stay on a Sun, Mon, Tue or Wed. Enjoy!

My first experience with Poplar Springs was in 2013 for a wedding. While a bit off the beaten track, I feel it’s easy to find but beware leaving after the sun sets, it’s dark road back with no lighting. The grounds and buildings are exquisite! Since I cannot recall the details of the food, I will be kind and say it was good. Fast forward to last Saturday for a special event with 40 participants in the Carriage House. First, let me say the wait/​event staff were great! Very attentive with their only flaw being a small lack of knowledge about the ingredients in one of the entrees (cambanzole cheese sp?).
We had a limited menu with 4 or 5 appetizers and the same with entrees. Once our orders were taken it took almost 2 hours for our food to start arriving. To be transparent, there was another event taking place in the main restaurant; however, that does not negate a clear lack of planning on management’s behalf.
One member of our table ordered a plain burger and was served the entrée exactly as described, onion, lettuce, and a cucumber type sauce on the bun. The server immediately and kindly took it back to the kitchen and offered the person a free beer. Another plate arrived quickly and seemed at first to be delightful– that is, until he ate past the initial ¼ inch around the perimeter. The burger was beyond rare and un-​edible! While I do not think $ 18 is out of line with a resort restaurant, I was sorely disappointed when I noticed that most everyone had the same rare burger. The wait staff had announced that the steaks would be medium rare and the tuna would be rare but no mention of the burger.
My steak was medium rare which I like but there was a great deal of fat and gristle, when finished it amounted to about the size of a small deck of cards. Most disappointing was that it was served tepid at best as if it set for a while before being served. The fries were the best thing on the plate and the steak au jus was wonderful as was the blue cheese sauce on top. $ 32, again not exorbitant but I did not feel I got my money’s worth. I believe that a few who ordered the shrimp and grits were slighted on the number of shrimp too.
The very best items were the wonderful bread basket that had a variety of breads such as a honey rye, a cornbread that may have had dill and the luscious honey butter. I also heard the crème brûlée was the best every had… so there were a few redeeming items.
My bill consisted of 2 rib-​eye steaks, 2 angus beef hamburgers, 2 glasses of red wine and 2 bottles of specialty beer for a total of $ 157. What I realized the next day was a 22% service charge of $ 32…I was a bit taken back! With such a failure all around, I can say without a doubt that I will not return. While the grounds and buildings are beautiful, the food is sub par for the experience and value expected.

I am really not impressed by Poplar Springs.
My boyfriend and I stayed there for our anniversary and although our room was comfortable, the décor was off putting. The room had floor to ceiling green floral wallpaper, with matching curtails and pillow shams in the same pattern. It was nauseating to say the least.
There was also not a fridge in our room, which was inconvenient as we were unable to chill the bottled water and wine we had brought.
The real disappointment however, was the breakfast that was provided. Recognizing that Poplar Springs is considered a B&B, we woke up earlier than we would typically, to have a nice breakfast.
There were a few plates sitting out in the lobby, without any type of refrigeration or ice. The «breakfast» consisted of deviled eggs, a bowl of nuts, a few weird pastries cut in half, and some sliced fruit. Nothing looked particularly appealing, so my boyfriend grabbed a glass of milk and I grabbed some coffee. The milk was soured and promptly dumped in the sink. Needless to say, we went out to a nice breakfast at a little bakery in downtown Warrenton, rather than eating the spread that had obviously been out for a few hours.
Given the cost of the room, I was very disappointed in the lack of accommodations that we were provided with. I would never spend the money to stay there again.

So for Valentine’s Weekend we decided we wanted to do something different. We were referred to Poplar Springs from someone who used to go before the new owners took over. We did the entire experience at Poplar Springs.
1. We did the Spa Package, Starting at $ 399 This deal was not given due to the Holiday weekend, but they were very accommodating to us and allow us to use this package during our stay.
2. This is beautiful venue, we loved the feeling we got from arriving. The room itself was okay. We got the handicap room, so we had no tub or anything. It was just an open bathroom like you see at the gym. The room was clean itself, however we did have an issue with the thermostat. We set it to well over 90degrees and it stayed at 60degrees the entire night. No one was at the front desk when we went to say something. So in the morning they took 50% off our room itself.
3. The Complimentary Breakfast, is not what you may think it is. It’s just juice, coffee, fruits, muffins, and cold bagels. Which stays out for like 4 – 5 hours? Luckily since we didn’t sleep at all due to our room, we got them as fresh it could be.
4. We went to The Manor House for the Valentine’s Dinner. It was okay. I got the prime rib with mashed potatoes. The prime rib was amazing, but mashed potatoes were so bland you could’ve just done without it. My fiancé got the salmon and risotto. The salmon was so undercooked, it was literally raw, I understand under cooking it but that was way undercooked. The risotto was phenomenal. The bread they serve as appetizers were amazing. The Manor House ambiance was beautiful, loved the stone walls and candles everywhere. Service was difficult to get a hold of. We did feel just because we were so young, we weren’t as acknowledged. We weren’t recommended to try or experience anything from the server. So we just stuck with simple. We truthfully just filled up on bread because we weren’t pleased with our food.
5. The SPA WAS PHENOMENAL. We highly recommend this. We did the couples massage and facial, and it was just amazing. An experience you really can’t get anywhere else. We loved the service in the spa, the cleanliness, the experience, the people, etc. The Spa sealed this rating for Poplar Springs. If it wasn’t for the Spa I would’ve rated this place 1 – 2 stars. If I could rate the Spa alone, they would receive 5!
6. Poplar Springs has great service, they try to accommodate you and are truly concerned when your unsatisfied. Due to this experience, we don’t believe we would come back here, unless it was just to experience the Spa and not the Inn or Manor House. Sad part we did come here to see if this would be a great wedding venue for us. They had a beautiful setting for a wedding, and the scenery is amazing. However, the fact the room and food was the downfall it pushed us away to saying no. But we will definitely come back for the Spa!

My wife and enjoyed a fantastic evening here just a couple of weeks ago. We arrived early for our reservation and were greeted at the door by a very helpful and friendly attendant. She gave us the option of possibly being seated for dinner early, or to have a drink in the lounge, and she would come get us when our reservation time came. We opted for the lounge and we’re glad we did. Excellent drinks, excellent bartender, and beautiful ambiance aided by a crackling fire in the fireplace. As promised, the attendant came and took us to our table at reservation time. Again, absolutely elegant and beautiful dining room — magnificent fireplace, stonewalls going to the high ceiling, private tables, and very unique architecture. The food and service was fantastic. We had the lobster bisque and pork belly appetizers… both incredible. Ribeye and Filet Mignon for dinner… again, fantastic. Dessert was a mixed bag — the little chocolate cake was way below average, but the fresh mint ice cream was unique and delicious. The only reason I’m not giving this place five stars is because our steaks, which were ordered to be between rare and medium rare, were actually cooked a little past medium rare. But still, the cuts were delicious… not sure where they get their beef but it’s good stuff. We’re so thrilled that the Warrenton area finally has a great, fine dining restaurant. We’ll be back for sure!

Have been here twice over the last 2 years and it needed many improvements, both in management, training, renovations, restaurant, and response to customers.
The whole property seems to have gone down hill, and it seems to be a hit or miss situation. Some friends liked it, some were disappointed. Including me.
I have heard that the place was sold sometime in 2014, and that there is going to be much work done in the winter months of 2015. HOPE this is true.
Because I had decided never to come back again, there are too many other countryside places to spend my money on, where I know the experience will be good in all areas. Twice burned, third time shy.
First of all, like the other poster, they don’t seem to answer their phones all the time. And this is not just this year, but quite often in the last few years.
Secondly, it is hard to find this place at night (much less the daytime) It is outside Warrenton in a rural area, with no street lights, signs, gas station, nothing.
Third: It is not quaint out there, there is nothing but the property. It is NOT Middleburg, Little Washington, or the Plains with a cute town, shops, beautiful country estates, or wineries nearby…
You want to like it, because living in Northern Va, it is nice to get away from the traffic and crowds and stay or have dinner «out in the country»
Fourth: the food.
Quality, taste, and creative, it is hit or miss. One of you might have a good entrée, and the other not. OR you might enjoy one meal and then another is not that good.
With these prices, and the drive, you want it to be totally special. It should not be just hit or miss. That to me is not acceptable.
Fifth:This might be ok for a small wedding party or a couple for one night, if every one is staying at the Inn. But driving home when it gets dark outside, be careful
Because it is hard to see with no street lights, and even if you don’t have drinks/​wine at dinner, (and most people do) you may run off the road.
Sixth: If you have a problem with something, the management response is not that positive, helpful, or in a timely fashion. There does not seem to be anyone that has the authority to resolve any type of problem quickly
Conclusion:Is it worth the time, the money on the meal, or the drive to get there, in my opinion, there are SO many better places «out in the country». When I go out for a nice dinner or a night or two at a country INN, it is to have a good experience.

Updating my review to say that brunch was amazing and the restaurant was really beautiful. Santa was very friendly and took lots of time with the kids. The first course was served buffet style– delicious smoked salmon, shrimp, croissants, fresh fruit, oysters, roast beef and more. Everything looked beautiful and tasted great. The main course was ordered and delivered directly to the table. I liked this a lot because in the past we have been to places where the main course was buffet style and for these types of entrees (crabcake benedict, omelettes) you always end up stuck in a line waiting for a long time. Our server was very nice and the manager stopped by to fold our napkins and inquire about our meal. Santa really did an excellent job, he is the first santa my daughter ever wanted to sit with. The desserts could have been kicked up a notch, but I am not much of a dessert person. All in all we were really pleased with our experience.